Dirty Blood (18 page)

Wes frowned. “I’ll go.”

I stayed down this time, slightly relieved by the
suggestion. He didn’t sound overjoyed with the idea, but it made me
feel better, and I smiled at him, grateful.

“I’ll make sure he’s okay and call you from the
hospital. Just stay here and do what Fee says. You aren’t out of
the woods yet as far as the venom, so take it easy, okay?”

“Okay,” I agreed.

“And Tara? I’m sorry, for what I said the other day.
About it being your fault, for killing Liliana. It’s not your
fault. None of it is.”

“I know,” I said. Any lingering anger over our
argument was gone; I was too loopy to be anything but touched by
his apology. “But thanks.”

The darkness in his eyes lightened, making the gold
flecks more pronounced. He stood up and looked down at me, still
frowning. “I’ll get Fee to come sit with you until I get back.”

I tried to look insulted. “You don’t trust me.”

“Not even a little.”

He left the room, and I could hear him calling out
for Fee. Hushed voices followed, too far away for me to hear this
time. I waited, impatiently, until I heard the muted sound of the
front door clicking closed. Outside my window, I heard the distinct
sound of an engine revving and then fading away. Fee came in a
minute later.

“Wes told me about George. Jack went with him to see
if they can pick up a trail,” she said.

I nodded, comforted a little that they were taking it
so seriously, but still distracted with thoughts of George. I could
only hope he was okay. Broken up or not, I didn’t think I could
handle it if I was responsible for something bad happening to him.
Is this what Leo had meant when he said he could do more than just
kill me? If so, who would be next?

“Tara,” Fee called gently, reading the panic in my
expression. “It’s going to be okay. Wes and Jack can handle this.
And we’re going to find him, and we’re going to stop him.”

I nodded, wishing I could feel as sure as she
did.

“How’s the arm? Are you in any pain?”

“No, I’m pretty loopy. You must’ve given me a lot of
pain medicine.”

“I gave you a double dose of morphine,” she admitted.
“You were in a lot of pain when you got here. The venom had been in
your system a long time and had already worked its way into your
chest. I wasn’t sure if I could push it out and trying was very
painful for you.”

“What do you mean push it out?”

“Well, usually we can just give you a shot of the
anti-venom, near the spot of the bite. In your case, that wasn’t
enough. So I used my gift to expel it.”

“You can do that?”

“It’s not easy, and it’s pretty painful for the
patient, but yes.”

“So, you have a gift for healing? Kind of like with
Wes and the memory thing he can do.”

Fee gave me a funny look, and then nodded. “Not
everyone has extra abilities but those of us who do, it comes in
handy.”

“Is it something you can use on George?”

“Probably not. Humans don’t get infected with the
venom like we do. George’s wounds would be tissue and organ damage,
and my gifts won’t repair that. I’m sorry,” she added, when my face
fell.

“It’s fine. Thanks for healing me,” I said, not
wanting to sound ungrateful. Then something else occurred to me.
“He’s not going to like turn, is he? I mean, can a Werewolf bite do
that?”

She smiled. “No. A human can’t be turned. Werewolves
are born. It’s in the blood, just like Hunters.”

“Oh.” I was relieved. “I almost forgot. If the offer
still stands, I’d like to train with you and Jack.”

“Wes told me. Of course we’ll do it, Tara. We’re
happy to. Just get some rest so you’ll be ready. Jack won’t go easy
on you,” she warned.

I didn’t disagree with her, because even though Jack
seemed like the ‘softie’ she claimed he was, he was still a hulking
mass of fur, as a wolf. I could feel myself getting sleepy, just at
the mention of the word ‘rest’, but there was something else I
still didn’t understand. “Fee, what did Leo mean, when he said Wes
and I didn’t deserve the power of our blood?”

Fee hesitated and some muddled part of my brain knew
that this was important. “Well, we’re not sure exactly, but it
sounds as if Leo believes you to be very powerful.”

“More powerful than other Hunters? Why would he think
that? I don’t even know how to properly stake something,” I
said.

“I don’t know. But we’ll figure it out,” she said,
patting my hand.

Her explanation seemed a little too simple and vague
but my thoughts were hazy with the morphine fogging them up, and I
couldn’t even see her clearly through my drooping lids. I just
nodded, my head heavy against the pillow.

Fee saw this and told me she’d look in on me later,
before quietly slipping out. With nothing but silence to distract
me, I gave in and slept.

~ 16 ~

I woke up in my own bed, which was a little
disturbing, since the last thing I remembered was passing out in
the guest room at Fee’s. The dull ache in my bandaged arm was
evidence that the morphine had finally worn off. I looked around,
trying to get a sense for how long I’d been out or how I’d gotten
here. It was dark outside my window, and the clock on my nightstand
read 9:18. Before I could figure out what to do next, the door
creaked open, and my mom poked her head inside.

“You’re awake.”

“Hey mom,” I said, uncertainly. “When did you get
home?”

“About an hour ago. I didn’t want to wake you.” Her
expression grew worried. “Are you getting sick again? You’re not
usually in bed this early.”

“No, I guess I just didn’t sleep much last night.” I
noticed her worry didn’t seem appeased by that explanation. “I’m
fine, mom,” I added, in a firm voice.

She didn’t look convinced, but she let it go.
“Alright well, I’ll be downstairs in the sunroom if you need
me.”

“Okay.”

As soon as my door clicked shut, my bathroom door
opened, and Wes stepped out.

“What the hell? You scared the crap out of me,” I
hissed, glancing at the place where my mother had just stood and
taking a deep breath to calm my racing pulse.

“Sorry. How are you feeling?”

“My head is clear but my arm aches a little. How did
I get here?”

He sat lightly on the edge of my bed and looked down
at me with concern etched across his features. “I brought you. By
the time I got back from the hospital it was getting pretty late. I
didn’t want your mom to worry, so I drove you home.”

“I don’t remember,” I said, distractedly. I could
smell him again and was having trouble keeping my thoughts
organized, even without the morphine.

“You were sleeping,” he admitted.

“The hospital,” I said, suddenly remembering. I
glanced at the closed door and lowered my voice. “How’s
George?”

“He’s fine. Some cuts and scrapes but nothing major.
He
was able to escape back into his car,” he said, giving me
a pointed look.

I ignored that. “Good. Did you find a trail?”

“No. It disappeared on the other side of the trees
that border his neighborhood. He probably had a car waiting and
changed back so we couldn’t track him.”

I sat back and sighed. To his credit, Wes looked just
as frustrated and tense as I felt. Still, Leo was out there, and
anyone I cared about could be his next target. “I want to train. As
soon as possible.”

Wes nodded. “I’ve already spoken to Jack. You start
tomorrow.”

I nodded and let myself relax. I tried to take
comfort in the fact that soon, I wouldn’t have to rely on Wes and
Jack to protect my loved ones.

“Are you sure you’re feeling okay?” Wes asked. Small
worry lines creased his forehead just above his brow.

“I’m fine,” I said, distracted. Details were
trickling back slowly. “Tell me about Leo.”

“I don’t know much more than I told you earlier. He’s
is a known leader for the opposition. He hates the idea of
Werewolves and Hunters working together. Always has. He’s been
fighting The Cause since it first began, according to Fee and Jack.
And apparently, he perceives you as a threat.”

“He’s never been caught?”

“No. He’s always managed to slip away. I think he’s
got a gift for that. And most times, he’s not even on the scene
anyway. He likes to sit back and direct the action.”

“How do we stop him?” I squeezed my eyes shut. “I
can’t let him attack someone else.”

“We’ve got to find him first. That’s always been our
problem. We’ll get word on where he’s holed up but by the time we
get there, he’s slipped away.”

“We have to find him. Before he hurts someone
else.”

“I know.”

We were both silent for a minute and I could tell Wes
was lost in thoughts of hunting Leo down – and finding him. The
morphine haze had worn off, and I remembered my conversation with
Fee. “What did Leo mean about the power in our blood? I asked Fee
but she didn’t really answer me.”

“I don’t know,” he said, quickly. Too quickly. His
gaze flicked around the room. Everywhere but on me. “Probably just
messing with us.”

“It didn’t seem like it. He was convinced that you
and I were different, more powerful than others of our kind.”

“Well, we’re not. As evidenced by the fact that he
almost killed you,” he said. His tone was a little sharp, and I
stiffened, ready to snap some retort. Wes sighed, long and loud,
though and then said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean… You did great. I’m
just angry at myself for letting it happen.”

“It’s not your fault,” I said, but I could see he
wasn’t letting himself off the hook.

“It is, actually. If I’d met you at school, instead
of waiting for you at home, it wouldn’t have happened. He wouldn’t
have attacked.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Okay, but if you hadn’t gotten hurt, there’s a
chance I could’ve finished him.” I opened my mouth to argue, but he
went on. “Usually, age and experience are what tip the scales in a
fight between our kind. But I’m faster and very strong. I have an
advantage. I can fight better than most Weres twice my age.”

“Is that why he ran off instead of staying to finish
me off?”

“Yeah. Obviously he only picks fights he can easily
win.” He flashed a grim smile. “I wasn’t so easy to beat.”

If it had been anyone else, it would’ve sounded like
bragging. But with Wes, I knew he was just stating a fact. One that
I could personally attest to, after seeing him in action. “Your
mixed blood is your advantage, isn’t it?”

His gaze sharpened but he didn’t look as mad as I’d
expected. “How did you know about that?” Actually, he looked on
edge.

I hesitated, unsure of how much to admit to knowing.
But in the end, the look on his face decided it. He was tense, and
obviously nervous about my reaction. “Fee told me. At The Cause
meeting the other day. She didn’t know it was a secret, so don’t be
mad.”

“What did she tell you?”

“About your parents. Who – and what – they were. And
about you being a mix of them.” I waited, to see his reaction. He
looked relieved.

“And why would Fee tell you all of that?” he
asked.

“I might have let her think I already knew,” I said,
carefully.

He laughed. “I shouldn’t even be surprised.”

Some idea tickled at the back of my mind. Something
about this conversation, and the one Wes had with Leo. “She said
Werewolves call you Dirty Blood,” I said, slowly, letting the
pieces form. “Is that what Leo meant earlier?” My jaw fell open as
everything slid into place. “He doesn’t think that I’m…does
he?”

“Like me? No,” he said, his voice firm, absolute.
“Like I said, he was trying to mess with us, throw us off, so that
we wouldn’t focus on finding him or ending this.”

“Wow, yeah I guess it was working for a second. That
would be crazy, though, right?”

“Yeah. Crazy,” he agreed. “Well, I’m going to go. Let
you get some rest. I’ll be nearby, though, keeping an eye out. Call
me if you need anything.”

“I will,” I promised.

I waited, half hopeful that he would kiss me again
but he didn’t. Instead, he stared down at me for a brief moment,
his eyes unreadable, and then he rose to leave. I started to ask
him how he’d get out, without my mom seeing. Before I could, he was
at the window and pulling it open.

“What are you-?”

“Lock this behind me, okay?” Without waiting for an
answer, he pulled it open and disappeared through the opening.

I gasped and rushed over, peering into the darkness
of my backyard. On the ground, just below me, was Wes. He glanced
up at me and then jogged towards the trees, the shadows swallowing
him up.

I closed and locked the window and returned to the
warmth of my bed with every intention of going back to sleep.
Instead, I laid there for hours, wide awake. Whether my body was
tired enough to sleep didn’t matter; my brain wouldn’t shut off. I
had to struggle against overwhelming worry, and the urge to panic,
whenever I thought of Leo, and what he’d tried to do to George. I
couldn’t shake the feeling that someone else I cared about would be
next and that led to panic because I felt helpless to stop it. So,
to keep from completely freaking out, I thought of the only other
thing that could really hold my attention. Wes.

What was the deal with him? I couldn’t quite seem to
figure him out. One minute he was concerned and caring, and the
next he was cold and distant. Then there were his half-truth
answers; always holding something back. And just when I’d think I
had a handle on him, his mood would change. I wasn’t sure how much
more of it I could take. Then again, there was no question that I’d
fallen for him. Hard. So, what choice did I have?

~ 17 ~