Deadman's Blood (22 page)

“I’m more of an untangler. When someone gets all knotted up from a curse or ailment, I’m the one they seek. I untie the knots that bind them to another’s spell or alleviate the entanglements they’ve brought upon themselves.”

“So you get a lot of people seeking an untangling Peller?” Darby asked.

“More than you might think, child. In the spring, people come from miles around looking for my help, since that is the season I am most powerful.

“So you’ve not seen any of the ‘wee folk’ as of yet, huh?” The old woman looked around the room again. She seemed to be listening to something.

“Nope. Not yet. You seem surprised,” Darby said.

“I am. There is a horde of them all around you. Something must be going on for so many to be around. I am surprised you can’t hear them though,” she admitted.

“Can you see them? Are they in the room with us?” Darby asked.

“Oh. Darling, they’re everywhere. You seem to be the center of their attention, though. That’s why I’m surprised you haven’t seen them yet. They must be waiting for something or someone. They’ll let you know when they want to communicate with you, then there will be no stopping them,” the woman said.

“Well, that doesn’t sound promising,” Darby said, rather concerned.

“I don’t recall saying it would be a bowl full of cherries. Well, my Dear, I must be getting along. Thank you for the tea and conversation,” she said as she scurried out of the door before Darby could react.

“But wait, I don’t even know your name or how to find you,” Darby yelled after the woman.

The old woman waved without turning and said, “Oh, I won’t be far and the name is Nuala (pronounced Noo-la).” As quickly as she had appeared, she was gone.

What an odd woman? Nuala - hmmmm. Pretty name, though. Well, I better get to what I was doing
.

Darby headed back to the shed and picked up the items she had left near the door. When she walked around the front of the house, there was a large, red and white striped envelope leaned up against the door.

Hmmm. It’s addressed to Devon. It’s probably a quote from a contractor or something
.

She opened the front door and set the envelope on a little side table near an overstuffed chair, then ducked back out of doors and started pulling weeds in the giant tear drop area in the middle of the driveway.

Dominic, Melanie, and Josh made their way down the long sterile corridor of the hospital, when Josh spied Sally walking towards them. Dean rounded the corner behind her carrying two cups when Josh waved his hand to get their attention. Smiles appeared on both their weary faces.

“Hey guys. You made good time,” Dean said with a hushed voice.

“Yes. No delays at all and we were able to get the next flight out. Any news from Dr. Andrews?” Dominic asked.

“He’s been here all night, in and out,” Sally said. “He was waiting for us when the ambulance got here just as you had said he would. He hasn’t said much to any of us. He did sedate Rowan and brought in a cot for her, so that has been a blessing.”

“When was the last time you saw the doctor?” Josh asked.

Dean said, “About two hours ago. He’s probably about due for his next look-see.”

They all filed into the room, finding a tiny lump under a blanket on a small cot to one side of the bed. Rowan’s long, strawberry blonde hair spilled down over the side of the cot and barely touched the floor. Blake, on the other hand was resting on his back looking eerily still as machines beeped and IV bags dripped. For as big as he was, he looked like a child to Dominic.

As they assembled closer to the bed, the door suddenly opened and the tiny bundle on the cot stirred. The doctor entered and, seeing Dominic, smiled with a hand extended towards him.

“Good to see you, Tony. Thank you so much for taking care of Blake for me on such short notice,” Dominic said.

“Not a problem, Dominic. It’s good to see you too, although I wish it were under better circumstance,” the doctor replied.

“Indeed. Can you tell us what’s wrong with him?” Dominic asked.

“Ummm. Maybe we should go to my office and talk,” Dr. Andrews responded after looking around the room.

“I don’t think there’s anything any of these friends can’t hear,” Dominic assured him.

“Right. Well, I’ve done a few tests and the preliminary findings are not good. Something is killing his blood cells and quite rapidly at that. Being what we are,” the doctor looked around the faces of the room carefully, “that shouldn’t happen. We’ve given him several transfusions, but all with the same results, within a few hours the cells start dying off again.”

“What would cause such a thing in a vampire?” Dominic asked, confused.

“The only thing I can think of is that he has ingested some…Bad Blood.” The doctor looked directly at Dominic as if this was code for something else.

Dominic thought for a moment then said, “No…you don’t mean…”

“What already?” Dean said impatiently “What is the dreaded ‘Bad Blood’? Is that like Boogeyman blood, or what? I mean how can there be ‘Bad Blood’ for a vampire? Blood is blood, right?! It’s all good. Isn’t it?”

“Not all blood is good, Dean,” Dominic tried to explain. “If I’m understanding Dr. Andrews, and I think I am, he’s referring to ‘Deadman’s Blood’. Am I right?” Dominic looked for a sign from Dr. Andrews who nodded.

“But how can that be? Blake isn’t a made vampire. He doesn’t go around killing to sustain his thirst. He’s got royal blood in veins, for Pete’s sake!” Dean said.

“That may be, but that royal blood isn’t doing him any good right now,” Dr. Andrews pointed out.

“So what can we do for him?” Dominic asked.

“Nothing. He will eventually die,” the doctor said.

“What?” Dean blurted. He was almost in tears as Sally grabbed him and pulled him out of the room, consoling him on the way.

“There must be something that can be done,” Dominic said.

“We both know the effect that ‘Deadman’s Blood’ has on both vampires and humans, for that matter. The consequences of draining someone beyond death are high,” the doctor admitted.

“But I swear to you, Blake’s not that kind,” Dominic argued.

“He’s right,” Josh said. “I lived with him for several weeks. He was very discreet about his blood diet. The only reason I know he partakes in blood is that he told me before I accidentally found his stash of blood in a fridge out in the garage. He advised me not to go in that fridge because that’s where he and Devon kept their supply. He told me that since they had been living with Rowan and Darby, they had completely stopped feeding on humans and were receiving their sustenance from baggies of blood. Rowan even teased him about it. She said they should put it in little boxes like juice so no one would know what they were drinking.”

“Well, I don’t know how else one gets ‘Deadman’s Blood’ poisoning without having killed someone, but I’m quite sure that’s what’s killing him,” the doctor said.

“So why isn’t he awake?” Melanie asked.

“He’s in a coma. That’s his body’s way of shutting itself down to minimum, so it can try and heal itself. In this case, it’s not working,” the doctor explained.

“So you’re saying he’s not ever going to wake up,” a sad voice said from behind Dominic.

Dominic turned swiftly to find a drowsy Rowan sitting on her cot. He saw the tears coming fast and he swooped down, embracing her and holding her to his chest. Dominic stroked her hair slowly as she wept. Dominic looked to Dr. Andrews, imploring with his eyes. “Please, Tony. There must be something we can do. Please,” Dominic pleaded.

“I’ll make some calls and do some research, but I can’t guarantee we’ll find anything,” the doctor said.

“I’m not asking for guarantees, Tony. I just don’t want my nephew to die knowing I didn’t try everything and anything I could,” Dominic said.

“I understand. I’ll get back to you; in the interim, I’ll order another transfusion,” the doctor said.

“Thank you, Tony.”

The doctor tried to smile as he left the room. Josh and Melanie thought maybe they should let Dominic and Rowan have a little time alone with Blake so they went to check on Dean and Sally.

*****

Anton pulled up to the curb at the airport and helped Anne and Richard deposit their bags to the curb.

“Well, Anton. Thanks for everything and please relay our thanks to your father too,” Richard said as he extended his hand for a shake.

“Truly, it was our pleasure, Richard. I’m sure this will become a regular thing, if my father has anything to say about it,” Anton said, shaking his hand.

Anne wrapped her arms around Anton and hugged him hard. “You come and visit us, now. You’re family now, whether you like it or not. Take care of my Josh. He seems very fond of you. He always wished he had a big brother, and I couldn’t have picked a better one to fill those shoes. Thank you for entertaining us while your father was gone; I’m sure it was a big bore hanging with us old folks, but we appreciate it.”

“It wasn’t a bore. I enjoyed myself. Thank you. I’ll do my best to keep Josh from trouble. I too, had always wanted a brother, so I feel quite blessed to have him,” Anton said.

Anne gave him a big kiss on the cheek, waved goodbye as they collected their luggage, and headed inside the terminal. Anton got in the car and drove away.

“He’s a good kid, don’t you think?” Anne said as they stood in line to check their luggage and receive their boarding passes.

“Yeah. I think so. They all seem like really good people,” Richard said as he pulled his license out and handed his ticket to the lady behind the counter. “I think Josh is in good hands. I do hope we get to visit with the Larsens now and again.”

“Me too. And Melanie is a sweetheart. I’m so glad they found each other. She’s done a lot of good for Josh introducing him to Blake and...oh shoot, I forgot to tell Anton to send our best to Blake for a speedy recovery.”

“I’m sure he knows we hope that,” Richard said, slipping his shoes off and emptying his pockets in front of a conveyor belt in security.

“I suppose, but I think you should call Josh and at least leave a message before we get on the plane,” Anne said while collecting her things at the other end of the x-ray machine.

“Of course, Dear, but can I put on my shoes first?”

“Don’t get smart with me, Richard Irwin Brenner,” Anne said as they walked to the gate.

“Why is it you always use my full name when you are irritated with me?” Richard asked.

“Because I know how you hate to have your middle name repeated in public,” she said point blank.

With that, he pulled out his cell phone and hit a couple of buttons which speed dialed Josh’s phone. It rang several times and then Josh’s voicemail answered.

“Hey, son…It’s Dad. Anton dropped us off at the airport this morning and your mother and I are about to get on the plane. We just wanted to relay our well wishes for a fast recovery for Blake and please thank Dominic for everything.”

Anne leaned into the phone and added, “We love you, Josh…come and visit soon.”

“Yes, Dear, I think he knows that since you said it about a dozen times before he left,” Richard said, ignoring the phone for a moment.

“Oh just stop it, Richard, and talk to the boy!” Anne reprimanded.

“Well, we better scoot. Like your mother said, we love you, Son. Come and visit with Melanie any time you get a chance. Hope to see you soon. Bye.”

Richard pressed the end button and turned the phone off. “Don’t forget to turn your phone off, Anne.”

“I know…I know…” Anne said as she found their seat number and sat down nearest the window. “Oh, Richard, can you get my book out of the bag you just put up in the overhead cabinet?”

“You couldn’t have thought of that before I sat down?” Richard said as he got back up, trying to steer clear of passengers trying to make their way past him.

Anne ignored him as she looked out the tiny window. “Aw…Isn’t that sad?”

“What’s that, Dear?” Richard asked as he plopped down next to her, handing her a book.

“There’s a coffin being loaded into the baggage compartment. Someone coming home for the very last time. I wonder if it’s a soldier?” she said.

“That is too bad,” he said as he watched the coffin being carefully loaded into the belly of the plane.

“And there’s my bag,” Anne said suddenly.

“Well, Dear, how could you miss it with all those flowers on it?” he said.

“You are in rare form today, Richard. At least mine is easy to find, whereas yours is black like 50 million others.”

Richard rolled his eyes and sighed deeply as the stewardess started to make her announcement about the safety procedures.

Anne patted his hand casually and leaned her head on his shoulder as she opened the book and started to read.

*****

A dusty little mini cooper drove up the teardrop-shaped driveway. A little toot of the horn and Darby laughed, seeing Devon’s smiling face behind the wheel.