Divine Savior (11 page)

“
My name is Sara Temple MacManus, and this is my que...my friend, Melody Keeper. We would like to talk to you about your friend Shade.”

Sara didn’t think it would do to tell him Mel was a queen. Sara had thought Brent had had enough to deal with right now without throwing a magical being into the mix.

As soon as she said her name, she could feel Brent lock down and become more defensive. “I don’t know no Shade Doe, so you can just leave me alone. I...I don’t gots no friends—none. I want you to go away from me.”

Sara had to admire the young boy. He was furiously protective of Shade, but they needed to contact her for all of their sakes. Sara didn’t want to lie to Brent, so she told him the truth, something she was sure he didn’t get a lot of, except from Shade, she was sure.

“
Brent, I didn’t say her last name,” she told him softly. “We aren’t here to hurt her; we just want to talk with her, I promise you. We’d really like to help you both, but we need your help. Shade could be in big trouble. You know that, don’t you? You wouldn’t want her to be put into jail or hurt by anyone, would you?”

“
She didn’t do nothin’ to Becca. She was helping me and her. I want you to leave, or I’ll...or I’ll call the police; that’s what I’ll do. The police are her friends and mine, she told me so, and she don’t lie to me, not never,” Brent shouted at them.

Melody was nervous. And a nervous Mel was an unpredictable being. Sara watched Mel as she stalked over to Brent’s bedside. She had to hand it to the little guy. He hadn’t flinched or backed down in the face a confrontation. And for the most part, Sara thought that Mel was a little intimidating.

“
Okay, kid, here it is. I’m the queen of all that you see, and unless you want me to zap your ass, you’ll help us. My friend Colin wants to talk to her, and I like to keep my promises. Got it?” Sara looked at the woman as if she had never seen her before.

“
What the hell are you doing? Trying to scare him to death? He just lost his sister and you’re threatening him with death! I think you should let me do the talking from now on. You don’t seem to be very good with kids,”
Sara whispered through Mel’s mind.

“
Nah, he’s a tough little kid and he likes straight talk. I bet you this Shade person talks to him like he’s an adult and that’s what he understands, what he needs, not to be coddled.”

Brent looked at Mel and glared, and it was a very impressive glare too. At least he wasn’t shouting anymore.

“
I ain’t stupid, you know. You ain’t no queen. Queens gots crowns. You don’t even have a stick or nothin’. And I can’t see that far, so you must not be a very important one if it’s all I can see. You’re pretty enough, I guess, but you ain’t no queen.”

Sara nearly burst out laughing when Brent crossed his arms over his chest and stuck his tongue out at Mel. Mel, however, did not look the least bit intimidated by either the glare nor the tongue, but she was fighting a smile.

“
Why you little...smart little bugger, aren’t you? All right, you want a crown? How’s this one?” And suddenly, there was a very ornate crown on Mel’s head, and a stick—or scepter—in her hand.

The crown was the most elaborate one Mel owned, with diamonds, pearls and rubies adorning the front. Sara knew because she had seen all the others.

The motif was nature with birds, butterflies and flowers made from different jewels blended together in intricate detail. Within the setting was The Tree of Seasons, a tree most magical creatures were familiar with. It was set in emeralds and rubies. Quite impressive, if Sara did say so herself, but Mel had not impressed the little boy one bit. And the thing was heavy if the tilting of Mel’s head was any indication. Sara had forgotten that, as Mel had not worn it since taking over her mother’s position as queen some six thousand years ago, so Sara had been told.

“
Are those real? I bet they ain’t. Can’t you do no magic or something? That hat is silly lookin’ and it looks like it’s a hurtin’ your head too.”

Yeah, he was not impressed with her at all, Sara thought with a snort. How Mel had thought she could do this was beyond her. For that matter, how did she think she could ever do this?

“
What would you like? A bunny, a dog? Maybe I could just make you help us, how would that be? I could just wave my magic over you and you’d have to tell us what we want to know.” Sara knew she had said the wrong thing as soon as it left Mel’s mouth. He was tense again, and clamming up.

“
Look, kid, I’m sorry.” Mel reached over and gave him an awkward hug and a pat on the head. “I’m not any good with humans like you; I much prefer my own kind, immortals—you know, people who live forever? What can I get you so that you’ll believe us that we only want to help this Shade person?”

Apparently, her not being human got his attention. “Humans? You mean like people? What do you mean? You’re not human? Gosh, what are you, an alien then? I saw this show once were the aliens had great big teeth and ate the head off a guy.
SNAP!
And he was bleeding all over the place; it was gross. Becca was ascared, but not me. Are you that kind of alien? Can I see your teeth? Shade bought me and Becca a toothbrush one time; she said we needed to brush everyday or our teeth would just fall out one day and then there’d be no more Snickers to eat. She said that you gotta have teeth to eat a Snickers.”

He stiffened suddenly. Sara was sure that he had remembered the good time with his sister. She watched as his lower lip began to quiver slightly and his eyes began to fill. Her heart ached for him in ways she never imaged. Her own tears gathered in her eyes.

Mel must have noticed it as well because she lied to him. She told him she was indeed a giant-toothed monster, but she had to keep a low profile in case she scared the other humans in the place.

“
Can’t have that, now can we? I have to stay in this form because I don’t want to start the humans on any mayhem and panic. You humans freak out at the stupidest things. Someone could get hurt, you know? And hospitals, they’re all about helping sick people.”

Brent seemed okay with her story and settled back down. He did watch Mel very closely every time a “human” nurse came in to see if they could see she was not the real deal. Sara had to hide her grin every time the door shut behind one of the hospital staff. The look on Brent’s face was priceless in his disappointment.

When Brent was taken down to have x-rays, Mel left for a while to go back to the magical realm to try and catch up on things she had neglected while helping her. Mel did have a great deal of responsibilities as queen. Sara was actually sort of glad to see her go for a while.

Sara loved the woman like a sister, but she could be hard on the nerves at times. Sara thought that she could take a dozen kids over spending another hour with Mel cooped up in a small room with a seven-year-old.

Brent had been gone about ten minutes when Sara felt the movement of powerful magic enter the hospital. She had never encountered Shade, but had a good idea that this was her signature coming toward the room. When the being stepped off the elevator onto the floor, Sara pulled a shadow around herself, hoping to hide herself from Shade until Sara could make sure Shade was indeed who she thought.

The door opened slowly and Sara watched as a beautiful young woman walk in the room. Shade didn’t even hesitate, but looked directly at Sara. “If you’re here to hurt him, I will kill you, mark my words.” She was a great deal stronger than any of them had thought.

~
CHAPTER TEN~

“
Hello, you must be Shade Doe. I’m glad we can finally meet. No, I have no ill will toward this little boy. I’ve only come to see you. Will you sit and talk with me?”

Shade wasn’t afraid of the being in the chair that had shimmered into sight, but she was pissed off. She didn’t know who this...this person was, but she really would try and kill her if she tried to hurt Brent.

Shade touched the other woman’s mind gently and as softly as she could. She would only look long enough to assure herself that the other woman meant no harm—not for herself, but for Brent.

Shade found that Sara was a vampire. The second one she had encountered in the past week. She found a great deal of information about the man from the warehouse as well. This woman was his friend, a very good friend. Sara was there for him to get Shade to come and talk to the man. Well, that wasn’t going to happen.

“
Will you stay and talk with me now? I think we have a lot to discuss, don’t you? You know that I’m not here to hurt Brent. He’s a wonderful little boy, by the way. He loves you very much.”

Shade walked over to his bed and touched it. It wasn’t warm, so he had been gone a little while. She looked back at Sara.

“
I’ll talk with you for a little while, but not about that man, Colin. He is nothing to me, no matter what he or anyone else thinks. I felt...I could feel your power. I only came up here to see why someone like you was here with Brent. Nothing more. He’s had it hard, and I won’t let you or anyone else hurt him. Physically or otherwise, do you understand me?”

“
All right, we won’t talk about Colin, at least for now. But you and I aren’t so different, Shade. I may call you Shade, can’t I?” Shade simply nodded to her. “We both have a great deal of magic in our blood, although yours is mostly untapped. Why, I wonder...but we’ll have time for that later. You are also very strong both mentally and physically. You’re undernourished and dehydrated right now. But that’s nothing a good meal and some fresh fruit wouldn’t fix. You are also hurt, though you’ve healed for the most part. Do you heal quickly, Shade?”

“
Also, none of your business. You’ll leave my lack of food and water to me. I’m doing just fine on my own, thanks. I didn’t say anything about the babies you carry, and how they need more red meat, but that, like my health, are personal issues. I didn’t ask for nor want your input, so back off.”

“
Babies? More than one? You can tell I’m carrying twins? I hadn’t gotten that yet, but then it is often harder to read oneself than others, isn’t it? I don’t suppose you know their sex, do you? The doctor couldn’t tell yet, but, well...you may be able to.” Shade reached out and touched the unborn children.

“
One of each. Although the male is stronger physically, the female is going to be born first, which will give her all that you are, as is the way of your kind. They are both bloodsuckers, however. Anything else you want to know, you can ask them. They both have a mental connection to you and are waiting for you to open the path and talk to them. Do you know how? If not, I’ll open the path for you.”

Shade couldn’t only talk with the babies, but she could also see how they were positioned in the womb. They were very tiny yet.

“
Yes, I’d like that very much. I wasn’t aware I could speak to them. Oh, how very exciting. Thank you. Will Aaron, my mate, be able to communicate with them as well?”

“
I suppose so, if he cares enough to get involved in those sorts of things.” It had been Shade’s experience that men did not give a flying fig about babies, unborn or otherwise.

After a lesson in communication with Sara’s infants, which involved images and feelings and not so much words, the two women felt slightly more at ease. Though Shade didn’t think they’d be having a sleep over or anything.

Sara couldn’t wait to tell Aaron that they could be a part of their children’s lives so early, she told Shade. Preparing them for their lives, especially with all these two would have to challenge them, would give them a bit of a boost.

“
I can’t thank you enough for what you have given me. I would like to return the favor, if I might. Your powers are there for you to use. And, like I said, they are very strong. I can give them all to you, open them up for you. I’ll be happy to show you how to use them. And anything I don’t understand, my friend Mel could give you some lessons too. I want to be your friend, Shade; so does Colin. We all want to…”

“
No
! I don’t want anything to do with them or with you people. Don’t you understand? I don’t like using the ones that I do. They’re what get me into trouble. If you could take them all away, I’d be very happy. And as for being your friend...why? I don’t have anything. What could I possibly have that you want?” Shade backed away from Sara’s outstretched hand; she really didn’t want anything to do with the abilities. They made her different and strange.

“
Shade, we don’t want anything from you. You have so much to give, so much you could do. I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want that. With Colin at your side, you’d be safe and warm, no longer stealing food for yourself and others.”

Shade felt the surge of power from her anger leave her body and encompass the room. The lights brightened accordingly and hummed with excess energy. She grabbed it back quickly and pulled it back into herself, and everything returned to normal.

“
See what I mean? I’m a danger to everyone and everything. Leave us alone. Brent is my responsibility, not yours.”

Shade stood to leave, and would have if the door had not opened and Brent wheeled in. She felt her heart constrict; love poured from her to the little boy. Brent meant so much to her. Shade pulled his little body close to her as soon as the staff left the room. He hugged her just as tightly.

“
Shade, you’re squeezing me too tight. I can’t breathe. I’ve missed you so much. Oh my gosh. I gots so much to tell you; you ain’t gonna believe it. There was a queen here, and she has giant teeth and she hides from us humans. And I gots to eat real food today. I had a burger and a tater, some of those yellow things that looks like peaches but ain’t. They said I didn’t have to eat it all, but I knowed you’d want me to, so I choked it down. I get to sit in a real chair tomorrow. Ain’t that so cool? And they said I could have stuff whenever I want it, even chocolate milk. That’s really good stuff, chocolate milk. That nurse what brings in your stuff you send me, she said it was smooth, but she said it funny, like smooooooth.” Shade laughed as he settled down from his excitement. “Are you gonna sit with me for a little bit? I really and for truly missed you.”