Chapter 19

 

Julian sat shirtless in the salt circle with his father and brother. His father had managed to give him an earful—which was no less uncomfortable at thirty than it had been at thirteen—and still thank him for saving Leira. Saba was with Leira, or at least at the hospital waiting for her to come out of surgery. No news so far.

He had avoided going to hospital, but then his wounds hadn’t been life-threatening, and in the fuss, everyone had forgotten about it. However, he still needed to be healed.

His father put his hand over the front of the wound and his brother the back. He was very glad that his brother hadn’t left yet as this was a two-person job. This was also the first time they’d healed a bullet wound. Julian was hoping it was the last time he’d get shot.

While his father had been shot and stabbed, he’d always played by the human rules, except for a little accelerated healing. But then he’d had to because of what he did. Too many people would ask the wrong questions if he’d showed up at work fully healed the next day.

His father grunted and magic jolted through Julian.

The bullet moved in his arm, and then was sucked out. He hissed at the pain that raced through him as his partially healed flesh tore. That hurt almost as much as getting shot.

His brother’s hand was warm on Julian’s skin. Maybe he was just cold. He was tired, but he wouldn’t be able to sleep.

“Am I doing this right?” Kirin asked.

Julian glanced up at his brother. “Don’t say that. Act like you know what you’re doing.”

A patient needed to hear confidence, not questions, but Kirin hadn’t done a lot of healing. He didn’t do much magic at all. It was one of the reasons their father was keen to send him out with Archie for a little bit, so he could get a better feel for his earth magic. The only reason Kirin was in the circle was because their father had insisted that he needed the practice before he left and that healing was taxing—which it was. Though not nearly as much as his father had claimed.

“What? I don’t want to give you a hideous growth…you know, aside from your head,” Kirin said.

“Boys.” Quinn had his eyes shut. “I have to pull out the bone fragment that’s in there. The bullet chipped the bone. Can either of you feel that?”

Julian concentrated on the magic. It was easier to go into the wound and feel every torn muscle fiber and capillary now that he wasn’t supplying the energy. He’d done such a rough job in the coffee shop, just enough so that the medics wouldn’t want to make him sit and stay. “Yeah, I can.”

His father wasn’t going to pull it out with tweezers either.

That weird suction started again, the bone fragment tearing through what Julian had healed as it wiggled its way free. Blood ran down his arm. There was no blood magic being used to heal him, though. Today enough blood had been shed.

“Think you can finish, Kirin?”

Julian glanced at his father. “Is that really a good idea?”

He didn’t want his brother mucking it up.

“He needs the practice.” His father dropped the bone fragment into the container with the bullet.

“Really? Last I checked I wasn’t a guinea pig.” He’d rather do it himself than let his brother have a go.

“I don’t seem to recall you complaining when you were the one playing doctor,” Kirin said.

“I am a doctor—”

“Whatever, you’re such a baby.” Kirin’s hand warmed and the heat spread through the wound. Kirin had drifted from job to job. Right now, he was working as a laborer. He had no idea what he wanted to do.

If Julian concentrated, he could feel the tissues knitting together. He didn’t like the sensation, but it was over in a few minutes. The bullet hole became nothing more than a red scar. Not the prettiest scar. Kirin could’ve made that a lot tidier. However, Julian kept his mouth closed. Kirin could’ve also made it much worse.

Dad inspected the healing. “Not bad.”

“Well, I know I’m no doctor.” Kirin stepped back.

“You haven’t had much practice with big injuries. It’s a good job.” Dad looked at Kirin.

Julian glanced over his shoulder at his brother. “Thanks.”

His brother didn’t smile. There had always been competition between them. That had been another reason why he’d gone to Sydney. Ever since Julian had saved his brother, Julian had been the star, the early magic user, the smart one. In high school, he’d seen how much that was hurting his brother so he’d made space for him by leaving. Instead he’d widened the gap between them. He’d seen how close Leira was to her sister. Julian didn’t have that with anyone in his family. His family wasn’t that close.

Dad let the circle go and broke the ring of salt. “I don’t want to be repeating that. No more heroics, okay?”

“Yeah.” It wasn’t something he wanted to repeat either.

They all checked their phones, which had been put on silent while they were busy. Nothing. No news about Leira.

His father responded to a couple of messages. “Dale asked if you were okay.”

“You didn’t tell him off, did you?” It was the kind of thing he could imagine his father doing even though he worked with Dale and had known him for years.

“We had a professional conversation about limits when dealing with Albah business,” his father said.

“You want humans on our side.” Alienating Saba’s partner wasn’t a smart move, especially if more Guardians would follow.

“I don’t want you put at risk again.” There was no arguing with that tone. Julian had heard it too often.

“Dad, I’m not a kid. I asked for help and advice and I got it. At least it’s done.” There would be no more problems caused by Emily. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her, latched on to Leira. To drag her back into the inferno or to force Leira to save her? He’d never know. Did Leira know? He wanted to speak to her.

“At what cost? Archie is going to have my hide.” His father shook his head.

Julian couldn’t imagine anyone tearing into his father, especially not another Albah. But then Archie wasn’t just anyone. He looked away, wishing his phone would buzz and save him from scrutiny. The phone stayed silent.

Kirin flicked on the TV. “Stuff is all over the news about the fire and the hero doctor. Someone filmed you coming out of the building on their phone.”

“Great. Everyone is a reporter.” Dad raked his fingers through his hair, making it stand on end. He walked over and sat on the sofa. It wasn’t the lead story—a plane missing the runway was—but it came in second.

The news station ran the footage. There was Leira in his arms. Unconscious and naked, although not much could be seen as he’d been holding her close. Had she woken up at all? Probably not. Once she was out of surgery they’d keep her sedated for a while to let her body get over the shock.

He needed to see her. The need was bone deep.

The reporter had spun a story about a jilted lover turned stalker that had ended in disaster.

Julian winced, he was not looking forward to going into work after this. He could only imagine what the nurses would say. While the story was kind of true, the biggest part was missing. “Can you imagine what the news would be if they had reported the truth?”

“Witch hunter tries to take out well-known fire witch and fails?” his father said.

“No, Guardian attacks and tries to murder peaceful Albah.” That was more what he’d been thinking.

“Do you watch the news, Jules? Have you seen the wars happening? People don’t like each other already. They’re going to hate us.” Kirin stood. “I’m going out. Meeting some mates and going to the speedway.” Julian and their father turned to look at him. “What? The danger is over and I want to make the most of civilization before I get shunted off to the wilds to get in touch with my inner earth god or something.”

When had his brother stopped wanting to use magic altogether?

Dad laid a hand on Julian and shook his head. “Have fun. Text me if you drink too mu—”

“I’ll be fine. Night all.” Kirin scooped up his keys and walked out.

“Is he all right?” Julian said.

“Yeah. That’s why I’m sending him off to be with Archie. I’m hoping she can inspire him. When you left, he stopped even trying to use magic unless he absolutely had to.”

“And you let him heal me?”

“He’s good at it. For a while wounded animals would make their way here and he’d fix them up. Then he started turning them away. Said he didn’t want to be surrounded by their pain.”

Julian could relate to that. He’d learned to shield himself from the worst of it working in a hospital. But he’d also learned how to help people. Maybe he needed to pull his brother aside.

Not that his life was together at all, it was falling apart in his hands and he wasn’t entirely sure how it had happened. But as sure as he believed in magic, he also believed in rising from the ashes.

* * * *

Julian stood in the doorway to the hospital room for a moment, before going in. Leira lay still in the bed. She was alive, and that meant he could help. But his chest was tight. It had been so close.

Saba sat with her sister just as silent. She glanced up. “I thought you were another doctor.”

“Not here.” He picked up Leira’s chart and flicked through the notes. He needed to know what was wrong and how badly she’d been hurt. Not all the news was good. She’d been stabbed by a garden fork and had an infection. Had the doctors made sure there were no flakes of iron in the wound? Of course not. They would’ve cleaned the wound, though. Her lungs had been damaged from smoke inhalation, but otherwise she had no burns that were worse than a sunburn. That was how close it had been. If he’d left it to the firemen, she’d have been much more badly burned. “How is she?”

“You tell me. She hasn’t woken.” Saba held her sisters hand as though she could stop her from leaving.

He wanted to know what Saba thought, or had seen, not the doctor’s notes. “They’ve taken her off the meds, so she should be waking soon.”

“I know. Can you…?” She glanced up at him, then at Leira.

She wanted him to use magic. He didn’t know what he’d be able to do and he couldn’t create any miracles by accident. “Silver would be better.”

“I’ve given her some.” Saba pulled out a bottle of colloidal silver. “It’s the best I could do, but that won’t make her better faster.”

“It’s better than nothing.” Humans who used too much turned blue. He’d never heard of it happening to an Albah for the simple reason their bodies used it up, something to do with the magic in their blood. Something that couldn’t be studied because no scientist knew they existed. For all he knew the drugs they were giving her were reacting differently to the way they would in a human. They could be making her sicker. He looked at the door. “I’ll have a feel.”

Saba nodded and shut the door. She pulled a piece of chalk out of her pocket and drew a faint white circle on the grey linoleum. Julian could feel it even though he could barely see it. “That’s a good idea.”

“I didn’t think flinging salt or sugar around the hospital room would be wise.” She gave him a ghost of a smile. “I knew you’d come.”

He wanted to ask if Saba had done another reading for Leira to see if she lived, but he knew that the future could change. He’d make sure she lived.

He sat on the edge of the bed and closed his eyes. The energy gathered and his palms felt warm. A different kind of heat than when he was using fire. This one came from deep within as though he drew on his own life force. Maybe he was. He should ask about it, learn some more. The idea of taking six months off work and going to Spain to see some other fire-using men was very tempting. He needed to get away from here for a bit. But he couldn’t leave while Leira’s fate was uncertain. He didn’t want to leave her.

Julian placed his hand over the bandage on her chest. He’d seen the stab wounds and had no idea how she’d survived them. His consciousness slid into the three punctures. One had torn the muscle of her heart, another had come so close to severing her aorta. Julian took a moment to make sure there was nothing wrong with the blood vessel, and he healed the remaining damage to her heart too. As he worked he felt it, an infection.

It was probably caused by the garden fork. For all they knew, Emily had used it in the garden and it was covered in all kinds of bacteria, or worse, rust. But he felt no rust, only the heat of the bacteria’s rapid growth in her wounded heart. Silver dust on the wound would help, but an infection that deep was dangerous.

“What is it? What have you found?” Saba’s voice was an urgent whisper that seemed to be coming from another room.

He couldn’t use magic to grab the infection, but he could draw it up to the surface the way his father had drawn out the bone fragment and bullet, then heal the tissue beneath. If the infection spread farther into her heart, that would be bad. Her rapid healing and miraculous rally against the infection would make the doctors scratch their heads or pat themselves on the back, but they wouldn’t go looking for magic.

This wouldn’t be the first time Julian had used his healing magic to draw out an infection on a very ill human patient. It wasn’t a hard magic as bodies naturally wanted to get rid of an infection. The magic gave the immune system a helping hand without the side effect of heavy duty antibiotics. Once he’d done a little the body would take over. Healing an Albah should be easier. Leira’s body responded fast; the wound leaked its poison onto the bandages.

He did the same for the fork wound on her calf, healing the damaged muscle too. Not enough that it would look suspicious, but enough to give her body a head start. Later he would do more. Lastly he checked the bullet wound in her other leg. It was clean and healing well, but he gave that a nudge too. Then he opened his eyes. Exhaustion hit him hard and the room did a lazy spin before settling with a bounce.

Saba pressed glass of water into his hand. “Was it bad?”

He nodded. “There was an infection in her heart. Her bandages will need changing.”

“You need a chocolate bar from the vending machine.” Saba scuffed the chalk line. “I’ll be right back.”

There was no point in arguing; he did need something to eat. He needed the energy and the grounding after working magic. Leira hadn’t moved. He picked up her hand, willing her to wake up, but he knew it wouldn’t be that easy. Her injuries would take time, even though he had helped heal the really deep tears.

He wanted to hate Emily for what she’d done, but couldn’t. She’d been taught from the time she was a child to hate, but it had been her choice to act on it. It was pity he felt for her. Her life had been wasted, poisoned by the hatred of people who didn’t know the truth because it had been warped centuries ago to feed someone else’s agenda.

His thumb moved over Leira’s cool skin. He didn’t know what to say to her now that they were alone, but he needed to say something. “I’ll be waiting when you wake up.” Not if, when. “I know you can get through this.”

The police on the other side of her door wanted to speak to her too. Everyone wanted to know what had happened. There would be more lies to tell.

Saba came back in and left the door open again. “I’m glad they are there.” She nodded in the direction of the cops.

Julian raised a smile. There weren’t going to be any more attacks. Not unless more Guardians came. He hoped they didn’t. There were Albanex out there to hunt, actual vampires who were killing people. Maybe the Guardians should concentrate on the bigger problem, the creature that was actually dangerous. Although, given what had happened to the four Guardians sent to Australia, the Albah here were looking pretty dangerous.

He ate the offered chocolate bar, the sugar hit, and the simple act of eating grounded him and gave him energy. He probably shouldn’t have expended so much, but Leira needed help. She had been wounded because of him.

“Is your mother coming back?” Before Leira had been injured the plan had been for Kirin to leave and meet up with Archie. He was supposed to be on a plane next week.

“Yes. She’ll be here tomorrow.” She looked at her sister. “She’ll take Kirin with her when she goes.”

Julian raised an eyebrow. “She’s already planning on leaving?”

Saba nodded. “She’s worried about Leira, but given the situation it’s not wise for her to stay. Albah gathering in one place isn’t a good idea at the moment.” She sighed. “I don’t think my parents will ever live here again. Perth hasn’t been home in a very long time.”

“Why did you come back here? You could’ve lived anywhere.”

“Because of your father. Mum knew he’d be able to watch over us. She didn’t want to let us go, but I was tired of traveling. I wanted a life and Leira wanted to go to a real school and have friends. I was eighteen when we came back. I’m glad Quinn was here.”

He’d been in Sydney for all of this and hadn’t paid much attention when his father had filled him in on what was happening. There had been too much studying and partying to worry about.

“Will you stay?” Would Leira want to stay?

“I will. I like it here. My shop is here. Dale is here.” Saba smiled. “Leira? I don’t know. She talked about traveling once she’d finished studying.” Her gaze fell on her sister. “I don’t know now.”

He wanted to tell that it would all be fine, but he couldn’t. “I can come back tomorrow and do a bit more if she’s still not awake.”

“Yeah, that would be good.”

He looked at Saba. The words were on the tip of his tongue—had she done a reading for her sister?

Saba stared back at him. “I’ll let you know if there’s any change.”

“Thank you.” They both knew that if Leira hadn’t got tangled up with him, she wouldn’t be in hospital now.

* * * *

Trying to wake up was like trying to claw her way out of dense cotton wool. Leira struggled and gave up, sinking back into the comfortable sleep. The next time the cotton wool was lighter, and she was sure she could hear Saba and Mum talking. That wasn’t possible because her mother was in South America…or was it South Africa? She couldn’t remember. She should know.

Leira forced her eyelids open. The light cut through her and she squinted, blinking, trying to work out where she was. It came back in a dizzy rush. She smelled the burning linoleum and felt the heat on her skin. The pain in her chest. For a moment she couldn’t breathe as she felt the tines of the gardening fork bite deep.

Then it was gone. She was in hospital. There was no burning, only the smell of disinfectant and the steady hum of the machines near her bed. She glanced down and saw that she was connected to all kinds of bits and pieces, none of which looked good.

Well, she was awake; that had to be a good thing.

Her sister and mother both looked at her, a mix of surprise and relief on their faces. They hadn’t been expecting her to wake. That wasn’t so good.

“Can I get a drink?” she’d wanted to say, but all that came out was a dry rasp and a few broken sounds.

Saba poured a glass of water and her mother adjusted the bed so she was slightly more upright.

“Don’t try to sit. You might tear some stitches.” Mum touched Leira’s shoulder as though expecting an argument.

Leira didn’t have the energy for much more than what she was doing right now. Saba held the glass to Leira’s lip. With the water on her tongue she was suddenly thirsty, but she didn’t want to rush and spill it everywhere, or choke. After half the water was gone Saba took it away. That was probably for the best, since she didn’t want to make herself sick.

“How are you feeling?” Mum still asked the most obvious questions.

“Sore. What did I miss?” How long had she been out? Obviously long enough for her mother to make it to her bedside. Had they been expecting her to die? She shivered and pain flickered through her.

“Not that much,” Saba said with a pointed look at their mother.

Why were they both whispering?

“What’s going on?” How worried should she be?

“You’re awake. We were getting so worried.” Mum gave her a hug. Then she whispered in Leira’s ear. “The police want to talk to you about the fire. Emily is dead and the whole thing is suspicious.”

Her breath caught in her aching chest. “They want to charge me with murder?”

“The cops on your door are there to guard you as well as make sure you don’t flee.” Saba pressed her lips together. “Dale has excused himself from the case.”

There went the friendly cop. The one who knew the truth.

“We can’t tell you what happened, because they will want to know what you remember.” Saba gripped Leira’s hand. “You won’t be going to jail.”

Leira nodded. Saba had checked on her future while she was sleeping. It was kind of reassuring. Once she would’ve argued with her sister about her right to privacy, even though Saba had always been ethical in her use of magic and looking into people’s futures. Ethics didn’t matter when her life was in question. “I was supposed to die in that fire.”

“No, you weren’t. You saw the fire but that was such a big turning point you couldn’t see what happened next.” Mum sounded pretty sure about that and Leira wasn’t feeling up to questioning her more.

If that was true, meeting Julian should have been a big turning point. She’d met him and it had been big, but not in the way she’d hoped. She was sure he’d pulled her out of the fire. However, she couldn’t be sure as her memories were a mess. He’d been shot. Emily had believed him dead. He couldn’t have been there. “Is Julian alive?”

Saba nodded. “Yes, he’s been in to see you, healed you a little. You had us worried.”

“There was an infection brewing that the doctors had missed.” Her mother didn’t sound impressed. “And your lungs were damaged. All better now, though.”

Julian had been to see her. Her lips curved, but the then the smile fell away. It was because of him this had happened. She’d met him too soon and Emily had gotten jealous and homicidal. Maybe she always had been homicidal. She’d been raised in a cult and taught to kill.

She was never going to bitch about any of her exes again, no matter had badly they behaved. None of hers had ever tried to kill her.

She’d never killed anyone before either. She’d lit that fire deliberately, knowing that the odds were against her and not expecting to get out. She’d been in control the whole time. She wasn’t ready to admit that to anyone, least of all her sister and her mother who had been worried about her magic for so long.

“I guess you’d better tell the doctors and the cops that I’m awake.”

Her mother gave her a gentle hug. “I didn’t know you were being hunted. I’d have come back sooner.”

“That’s why I didn’t tell you.” There’d been too many Albah in danger as it was.

Had Saba gotten in trouble for not rolling up her sleeves and being part of the action? Leira hoped not.

“I’ll get them.” Saba gave her a smile and walked over to the door.

When she opened it, Leira could see two uniformed cops in the corridor. Both of her legs were injured. She didn’t know if she could make it to the bathroom, so fleeing was out of the question. Then there were the various machines and the drips in her arm. Her stomach growled. Her last meal had been breakfast. No one had told her how many days ago that had been.