Blood Rites

The elevator doors opened and they pushed the gurney into a hall with harsh fluorescent lights that shined against white walls and white linoleum floors. Logan could hear sounds emanating from the right end of the hall. The emergency room, he thought. They turned left and quickly wheeled the gurney away from the noise. The hall seemed to go on forever, although Logan knew that it really wasn't that long. At that moment, pushing the gurney with Jacque on it even five feet would be too long. Just when he thought he might have to take off in a sprint, they were finally in front of the doors that would lead to the car he had waiting for them. Dr. Steele pushed a button on the wall and the doors opened automatically.

Logan had parked the SUV directly to the left of the doors, and as they wheeled Jacque over to the back passenger door Logan realized that with Jacque sick, things just got a whole lot more complicated, so he made a split second decision. When Dr. Steele walked to his end of the gurney so that she could get the IV bag to hang on the clothes hanger hook above the back seat window, Logan grabbed her by the neck. She froze as she felt Logan's claws pierce her skin, a warm trickle of blood slid down her throat.

She didn't know what the hell Logan was up to, but she did know that her role in this game had just changed, and not to her benefit.

"I cannot manage all these medicines for Jacque, so until you tell me what I need to do to make her better you are going with us," Logan growled low, his eyes beginning to glow.

Her wolf naturally wanted to submit but she just wanted to spit in his face. She looked down at Jacque. The girl really was sick and she held no ill will against her, she just happened to be caught in the crossfire. Once again to help justify her actions, and allay her guilty conscience, she would comply with Logan. "Okay, I will go with you. But as soon as I have shown you what you need to do to heal her I'm out, got it?"

Logan gave her neck one more squeeze for good measure. "We'll see, doc," he told her, his look promising retaliation if she did not keep her end of the deal.

They got Jacque loaded into the back seat. She hung the IV bag from the clothes hook above the window, then climbed into the passenger side taking a deep breath and letting it out slow. What have I gotten myself into, Cynthia thought to herself. She watched as Logan pushed the gurney back on the sidewalk, not bothering to take it back into the hospital. He walked to the driver side door and climbed into the vehicle. Without a word he started the SUV, put it in drive, and slipped off into the night while Jacque's mate waited in vain to hear of news of her well being. Cynthia couldn't have stopped the tear that slipped down her cheek if she had wanted to.

Chapter 24

Sally woke up groggily. It took her a moment to get her bearings, but then she remembered she was in the hospital because Jen and Jacque were both healing from the wreck. She put her hands to her head and moaned, her head felt like it was splitting open. As she stood up slowly, she realized that there was singing coming from the bathroom. She looked around and noticed Jen was not in her bed, and then she remembered that Jacque was really sick and in the ICU. She looked at the clock on the wall and saw that it was 5:00a.m. Walking over to the bathroom door, she tried in vain to remember what had happened last night. She gave up and knocked on the door. When the singing continued and no one answered her, she turned the knob experimentally to see if it was locked. It was. She pressed her ear to the door and realized then that it was Jen singing. Pressing closer, she strained to hear her.

"You're so hypno-something, could you be the devil, could you be an angel, your touch is something good, feels like going floating, leave my body glowing."

"Katy Perry? She's singing Katy Perry in the hospital bathroom. Just when you think you've seen it all," Sally mumbled. She knocked on the door again. Still no answer, so she started banging. Then she was banging and hollering, "JEN! OPEN THE FREAKING DOOR!" Wouldn't you know, she just sang louder. Why am I not surprised, she thought.

"They said I'm afraid, you're not like the others, futuristic werewolves'

different DNA, they like to command you," Jen continued.

"Can't you at least get the words right if you're going to be so stinking loud!"

Just as Sally was going to resume her, so far fruitless, banging the hospital room door flew open. She turned to face the would-be intruder. "Why don't you freaking wolves ever knock? Has ever occurred to you that we might be naked up in here?"

Decebel at least had the good grace to look embarrassed. "I apologize. I heard banging and yelling. Is everything okay?" He asked, glancing around the room. Before Sally could answer he spoke again. "Where is Jen?"

Before Sally could answer they both heard Jen.

"Kiss me, k-k-kiss me, infect me with your love, and fill me with your poison,

take me, t-t-take me, wanna be your victim, ready for abduction boy, you're a werewolf, your touch is so furry, its supernatural, extra-werewolf-iestrial," Jen sung as loud as she could.

Sally was shaking her head in disbelief, "This is gonna be good. I mean, she might actually be embarrassed when she finds out you heard all that."

Decebel cocked his head as if listening for something, then he sniffed the air, taking in a deep breath. "I smell alcohol. Have you two been drinking?" Decebel asked in disbelief.

"Of course not!" Sally said with obvious offense.

Decebel didn't acknowledge her answer but continued to ask questions. "Why were you banging on the door?"

"It's locked and Jen won't answer me. It's like she can't hear me."

"So, she might be drunk and she's trying to take a shower?" Decebel asked skeptically.

"That. could be. a bad thing, right?" Sally pushed out the words.

Decebel was already in action, he was banging on the door so hard the hinges shook. Werewolf strength, must be nice.

"JENNIFER, OPEN THE DOOR!" he yelled.

There was a pause in the singing and all they heard was the water from the shower. Both of them held their breath waiting for her response. One beat, two beats. "Knock, knock?" they heard her ask.

"Jen, open the door. This isn't funny," Sally tried.

"Jen, open the door, this isn't funny who?" Jen repeated and snickered.

"Okay," Sally said to Decebel. "You're right, she's tore up from the floor up."

"Jennifer, I want you to back away from the door," Decebel told her.