Blood of the Rainbow (28 page)

Jared grabbed Sara as best he could, silent tears streaming down his cheeks. “Myra!” he called out. “Myra – get in here – I need you – now!”

Myra ran into the room. “What is it? What’s happening?” Myra shouted, frightened at being awaken so suddenly. “I thought the drug had worn off.”

“Get my bag – from the bedroom – now!”

“What’s wrong with her?”

“Just get me my damn bag and do it now; I’ll explain later. I’ve got to calm her down before she hurts herself!”

Myra hurried in the room and handed him a small black leather case. Jared had pushed Sara down on the bed and was holding her there. “Here – hold her arm!”

“No! No! No!” Sara screamed as her body continued to convulse uncontrollably. “Stay away from me!”

It was all Myra could do, but she held Sara’s arm still while Jared quickly put a tourniquet on it.

Sara felt something sting her arm. “No!” she screamed again. “Leave me… alone!” Sara’s last words were unintelligible. She felt lightheaded and dizzy. Jared’s face changed to the face of her dream protector, the white wolf. Sara started to calm, and she smiled, reaching out to him.

Sara was barely aware of anything.  All around her things looked different, like they had a rainbow halo around them, and she could see other things. Things that couldn’t be real, pictures of places she’d never seen.

Jared kissed her, and smoothed her hair down, pushing it out of her eyes. “All right, now, don’t fight, Angel. It’s all right. You’re safe, Sara. Nothing is going to hurt you – I won’t let it. It was just a dream, Honey,” he cooed to her, as he cleaned her hand where she’d dug her fingernails in her palms.

Sara felt calmer, and started to drift. Her eyes slowly closed, but she could still vaguely understand what was being said. Jared’s parents were in the room now. Their voices filled with worry, asking questions. Sara could hear the voices, but they were getting hazy now, distant.

 “
I thought you said the effects of the drug had worn off
.”

“
It should have Mother. It’s three in the morning. The drugs should have played out around six or seven last night. It could be flashbacks, but normally you have those when you’re awake. When you’re under the effects of the drug, you normally don’t want to, or can’t sleep. It stimulates the brain, and there’s so much to see and experience; you simply don’t want to sleep.
”

“
What do you think is wrong, then?
”

“
I don’t know, Dad. She woke up from a nightmare, and it was as though she was still in it. She wouldn’t let me touch her. I couldn’t bring her around. She was screaming something about wooden wolves and wood that wouldn’t burn. I gave her a sedative to calm her down, so she wouldn’t hurt herself.
”

“
How long will she be out?
”

“
At least a couple of hours Mother, maybe more. It depends on how her system reacts to the drug. I tried to calm her. I didn’t want to give her the sedative, but she was hysterical.
”

“
Well, the best thing to do is go back to bed and let her sleep it off. The Poor Baby. She must have had one hell of a nightmare.
”

“
I’m sure you did the right thing for Sara, Jared
.”

“
I’m staying here with her. I can’t help feeling this is my fault Mother.
”

“Considering how things have gone – it probably
was
your fault!” Myra said her voice accusing. At least Sara thought it was Myra. There was so much fog in Sara’s head; it was hard to distinguish her voice from Nadine’s.

“Myra!” Tom scolded. “Do you think this is easy for your brother, seeing her like this?”

“No, but….”

Jared growled. “What are you getting at Myra?”

Sara tried to listen, but she kept fading in and out of consciousness.

“You, Jared! You’re so busy running from your future and chasing your past that you’re destroying the present! What you have with Sara is precious, Jared. Not all of us have that or ever will have that. Whether you accept it or not, however long or short it may be, you have a future with Sara - don’t throw it away!”

“She’s right, Son,” Tom added. “Some things are meant to happen, and no matter what you do, you can’t change the outcome. Even, if you never have a child with her, Sara could still die, but her death could be horrible, and at the hands of someone that don’t give a damn! If it has to be, wouldn’t you rather it be with you, someone who loves her? Someone who would die for her
or
with her?”

 Sara lay still, floating and drifting between worlds, silently listening – or at least trying to listen to their conversation. What were they talking about? Someone said something about her dying no matter what was done. Well, that part was destined. Sara knew she would die, eventually; everyone did – didn’t they? Was this what they were talking about – or was it something else?

Sara thought about the book – the secret she hid. About everything that had happened to her today – or was it yesterday now? It was today. That’s right – Jared had said it was three in the morning, so it had to be today.

Sara’s head was filling with mist. It was getting harder to concentrate. Something warm and wet touched her forehead, like being licked by a puppy - gentle, soft, and sweet. What was that smell – it wasn’t a puppy. There was something warm near her ear, the tiniest flutter of a warm summer’s breeze – or was it – Jared?

“
I love you Sara. I didn’t spend half my life looking for you, only to let you go. We’ll find a way past this Baby - both of us - together – I promise.
”

That’s the last thing Sara had remembered before she woke up later that morning.

Chapter 13

Sara opened her eyes to the morning sun. The first sight she saw was breathtaking. Lying, peacefully sleeping under her head was the object of her obsession. She watched as his lashes fluttered gently from whatever dream he was having. It must have been nice. A smile played on his lips.

Sara smiled. Words could not explain the feelings she got just from looking at his face. How could one person be so blessed?
Anyone
Jared gave his heart to, would be the luckiest girl in the world. Sara softly caressed his lips with the tip of her fingers.

Jared reached up, pressed Sara’s fingers to his lips, and kissed them.

Sara jumped. Jared wasn’t asleep after all.

He softly chuckled. “Feeling better Angel?”

“Yes. I think I’ll live, but my head hurts.”

Jared lifted her chin and kissed her. “I’m glad. I couldn’t take life without you in it. Feel like talking about it?”

“It?”

“What happened yesterday? Your nightmare?”

“Would that be before or after I took a ride on the psychedelic Ferris wheel, or strolled down the yellow brick road?”

Jared smiled. “Do you remember anything about that?”

“Oh yes, I remember everything, vividly, every ridiculous scene.”

“How about who did that to you? Do you have any idea where it might have happened?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Can you remember exactly when you started feeling strange? Where you were at the time?”

“You would have to ask me questions I can’t answer. I started feeling queasy when we left the feed store. My vision started blurring right after we left the house to come back to the hospital.”

“Were you feeling ok when I talked to you on your cell?”

“Which time would that be, you called several times?”

“The first time – when I sent you the list of things to pick up for me.”

“Yeah, I was fine then, at least I think I was. How long does it take for it to act – the drug?”

“If it’s what I think it was, it would probably have taken about twenty minutes, maybe less – maybe more. It varies depending on your weight, and how much you were given.”

Sara’s heart started pounding at the thought of someone giving her something that would do that to her without her knowledge, and without her permission. Sara had heard stories of people getting hooked on crack after the first dose. “What - do you think it was Jared?”

“I think it might have been LSD, but without testing you, there’s no way to tell. You had all the symptoms, but there are a lot of drugs that cause that same effect. If it was LSD, you may not have any further episodes, although a rare few have experienced some flashbacks. I’d like to have you tested. I can talk to Dave Whitefeather, my friend at the hospital, and have him test you. He was Granddad’s doctor.”

Sara sat up with a start. “My God Jared! Why would anybody want to do that to me?”

Jared sat up; put his arms around her shoulders, kissing the side of her neck. “Honey, some people just get a kick out of it, and some do it for a reason. I can’t think of any reason why anybody would want to do this to you, unless.…”

“Unless what?”

“Unless they were trying to get at me, but that seems unlikely. My family are the only ones who know about you.”

“What have I got to do… to be… tested?” Sara hated the idea of needles and doctors, excluding Jared, of course.

“Well, he would need to at least run a blood and urine test. It wouldn’t take long.”

“Blood test - as in out of my arm, and
not
my finger?”

Jared sighed. “Yeah.”

Sara paused for a while.

Jared started tracing kisses up the side of her neck, gently breathing in her ear.

“Jared?”

“Mmm?” he murmured against her skin.

“Is this, by any chance… to get the answer out of me… that you want?”

Jared softly chuckled against her ear. “Yes,” he breathed. “Am I getting to you?”

Sara turned to face him.

Jared stared into her eyes.

Sara’s heart raced. Her breath caught in her throat. She sighed. “What do you think?” she asked as he lifted her chin with his index finger.

Jared smiled and leaned closer. “I would think – maybe a yes?” he said as his lips met hers, kissing her passionately.

“I’d like to apologize for my behavior,” Sara said when she could breathe again.

Jared snickered. “For what part? For accusing me of being a vampire or werewolf, or nearly raping me?”

Sara blushed. “All three, I guess.”

Jared groaned. “I actually found it kinda sexy. Under different circumstances.…”

“I’d also like to thank you.”

“For?” he asked, mischievously raising an eyebrow at her.

“For being so understanding. For not judging me and most of all… for loving me.”

Jared playfully pushed her down on the bed and came down on top of her, propping his weight on one elbow. “That part is easy,” he said, kissing her again. “The
hard
part was resisting you.”

“Why did you?”

“Because Sara. When I make love to you, and I
will,
when the time is right, I want you in your body for the experience.”

Sara smiled and touched his face. “Jared, you don’t need to resist me now… I’m definitely
in
my body,” she said, kissing him and sliding her hand under his shirt. She gently slid her hand along the skin of his chest.

Jared gasped, held her hand in place, stared into her eyes for a few seconds, and then stood beside the bed.

Sara reached out and took his hand, pulling him back.

Jared sat on the side of the bed, bent down and kissed her forehead. “Come on sleepyhead, let’s go down stairs and let everyone know you’re still alive, and in one piece.”

Jared got up and walked toward the door. “Get dressed. I’ll wait for you out here.”

“Fine,” Sara said. She’d lost the battle again. Back at Wisteria Hall, before this all started, was as close to him as he was going to let her get, despite what he’d said. “I might be alive, but I’m definitely,
not
in one piece. My heart is in tatters,” she mused as she dressed.

------------

When Sara and Jared got down stairs, not a soul was in sight. “Mother?” Jared called out.

“Out here, on the patio,” Nadine answered back.

Jared led Sara out onto the patio. The instant Nadine saw them, she hugged Sara. “Sara, Honey, I’m so glad you’re all right – you
are
all right – aren’t you?” she asked, looking at Jared.

“I’m pretty sure she’s going to be fine, but I’m going to keep an eye on her for a while, just to make sure,” Jared replied, and kissed Sara. “Excuse me a minute. I’m going to call Dave and set up those tests we talked about earlier,” he said, taking out his cell.

Sara tried to sound excited. Her heart just wasn’t in it. “Oh goodie!”

Jared chuckled and pushed a speed button. “Hey, Dave, how’s it going…? Really? That’s good, I’m happy for you….. We’re doing ok. It’s hard, but it will get easier after the funeral….We don’t know for sure yet. We’re waiting to see if Joe and his wife are flying in from New Zealand…. Yeah, you remember him. He’s the one chasing the legend of The Dine’é Yá and the Yá ah-nah….That’s ok Dave. You’ve got your practice. I’m sure no one will blame you if you’re not there.  Listen, what I called about. I need a favor. I’d like to bring Sara over to your office and have you run a couple tests for me…. No, she’s
not
pregnant, yet,” he said, glancing at Sara.

“Yeah, that’s right - Sara Foster…. How did you hear her? We haven’t published it here yet…. Oh, I see…. Ok. Anyway someone sent Sara on what I believe to be an acid trip yesterday…. No, I think she’s fine now, but yesterday afternoon and last night was…
interesting
…. Yeah, I want to know exactly what they gave her…. No, Sara doesn’t do drugs. So, could you take care of that for me, and maybe we could get the results before we leave…? Oh man, Dave, I really appreciate this….Yeah, sure, we’ll leave in about half an hour…. Good. We’ll see you then. Thanks again, Dave.”

Jared put his cell away and glanced at Sara. “It’s all set,” he said, proud of himself. “Where’s Dad?”

“He’s making sure everything is setup for the funeral tomorrow. Joe has already called. He and Kate can’t make it, but they’ve sent flowers. Sara, were you planning on going?”

“I sort of hoped I could.”