Betrayed By Blood

  Chapter 4

  Kaylan woke up and stared at the familiar ceiling. She felt amazed that she’d slept at all after a night of going through her files, trying to find a reasonable explanation as to why Elijah had changed into an animal and what might have happened to Freya. But her files had provided no answers. Getting up, she passed Iris, who lay curled up asleep at the end of the bed and padded out onto the balcony. The smell of smoke and the sound of traffic and people greeted her. She smiled. It’s good to be home.

  After showering, she dressed in jeans and a purple blouse, and stared herself in the mirror to check that her glamour was in place. Her long dark red hair fell past her shoulders, and her dark brown eyes flashed red when she drew magic. She slipped a knife under her shirt and another pair into her boots before heading out.

  Her former place of employment was a large grey stone building that had seen better days. The smell of disinfectant filled the air as Kaylan hurried down the corridor. Spotting a dark-haired woman dressed in blue scrubs, she motioned the woman over. “Excuse me?” Kaylan said. “I’m looking for Celeste.”

  “She’s with a patient just down the hall,” the woman replied. “Do you have an appointment?”

  “No, I’m Anne Edmunds. I’m here to start work.” The name sounded foreign on her tongue, but it was important not to raise suspicion. She’d used aliases for most of her life after her family had been murdered by the Order. Only members of the Amaranthine used her real name anymore.

  “Good luck. We’re rushed off our feet already.”

  Kaylan moved down the hall until she found a short, red-haired woman rummaging around in the supply cupboard.

  “Celeste?” Kaylan said, recognising the Chief Healer.

  The healer turned to look at her impatiently. “You’re late.”

  “Only by five minutes.”

  Celeste frowned. “You may be a talented healer, girl. But you’re only here because I’m short staffed.”

  Kaylan groaned. Talking back to her boss on her first day back wasn’t wise. But this felt like a complete waste of time.

  “Go change into your uniform and meet me in room three,” Celeste told her.

  Kaylan changed into the uncomfortable scrubs, annoyed she would only be able to hide one knife on her body. As she moved down the corridor, someone grabbed her. Her hand instinctively went for her knife. Geth’s dark eyes met hers.

  “What are you doing here?” she hissed.

  Geth glanced around to make sure they were alone, before dragging her into an empty room. “I need to talk to you. It’s about Elijah.”

  Her eyes widened. “What about him?”

  “He said I should ask you to help out on the Stardust case. We’re still trying to find a link between the victims.”

  “I thought Sierra already broadcasted the information we had on Norbert Helswick?”

  “She did — but the Order did their best to cover up — and most people don’t believe the drug exists since it’s so hard to get hold of.”

  “When did you see Elijah?” She folded her arms, and gasped. “You knew he was alive, didn’t you?” Her fists clenched. He knew full well the amount of pain she’d gone through in the past year. He knew how much she had loved Elijah, how she’d spent every waking moment since then trying to find out what had happened. “How could you not tell me?” she demanded. “You know I’ve been trying to find out what happened that night. I thought you were my friend?”

  “I am, Red. But listen—” Geth gripped her arm.

  Kaylan shoved him back. “Stay away from me. Who else knew?”

  “Just me. Listen, Kaylan, I know you’re upset right now, but I need your help.”

  Kaylan felt tears prick her eyes but wiped them away. “Why should I?”

  “Because I know you’ll do the right thing. I know you have questions and I can’t answer all of them. Elijah had his reasons for staying away.”

  “Tell me what you want me to do and then get the hell out,” she snapped.

  Geth sighed. “I need you to go to the morgue and check out the body of Douglas Thomas. He’s the latest victim. I need you to look at his body. See if you can find out what’s causing the bodies to change.”

  “Fine, but I’m only doing this for Elijah.” She stormed out of the room, door banging behind her.

  Kaylan stalked down the hall, keeping a close eye out for guards, or anyone who might spot her. With a quick flash of her knife, she disabled the spell on the door. A blast of ice sent tiny pinpricks of pain up her arms as she entered the morgue. This was the last place she wanted to be — but if it helped find who had kidnapped her sister and turned Elijah into a wolf — she’d check every body in there if she had to.

  A quick scan of the drawers soon revealed the name of the body she was looking for. Pulling the drawer out, she yanked open the body bag. A pair of empty blue eyes stared up at her. Kaylan cringed, staring at the dead never got any easier. A flash of seeing the bodies of her parents bloodied and burnt went through her mind.

  Think of Freya. Pulling the bag open further, she examined the body, noticing the deep gashes around his shoulders, torso and legs. Claw marks? No, I would see that. But something tore through his body.

  Grabbing a vial of one of the shelves, she took a blood sample. Perhaps Geth and his alchemist abilities could help make sense of what was happening to these people.

  Kaylan took a deep breath as she prepared to go into room three, placing a hand on the door frame. She would not cry. Instead, she glanced into the room. Celeste was nowhere in sight. A man with shoulder length blonde hair and blue eyes sat on the bed. He looked just like High Lord Thedric.

  Just Freya’s type. Her sister always went for the pretty looking boys.

  He sat clutching his shoulder and looked up. “Finally! Can you help me, please? This really hurts.”

  Kaylan hesitated. Should she get to work or wait for Celeste to reappear? She didn’t want to annoy the Chief Healer any more than she already had. Or perhaps Celeste had been and gone during Geth’s little diversion.

  “Well?” he persisted.

  She sniffed and forced a smile. She had had a duty to find her sister and now wasn’t the time to fall apart.

  “Okay, let’s take a look.” She walked over and removed the cloth he’d been holding. Blood seeped from a gash in his shoulder. A layer of burnt skin surrounded the wound. “Looks nasty. What happened?”

  “I was in warrior training and my opponent hit me,” Flynn explained. “I took a strike to the shoulder. I’m no good at fighting.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Did your opponent look this bad?”

  “No, I failed to shield myself in time.” He winced. “Ow! How long will it take to heal?”

  “Hold still.” Kaylan placed her palm over the wound. Her hand glowed with light as she sent magic forth, and focused on repairing the damage. The wound sparkled and closed over smooth skin.

  Muttering a spell, her eyes flashed as she stared at him. “Where’s Freya?”

  Flynn’s eyes glowed, making him appear dazed. “Who?”

  “Freya Avilion. A blonde-haired girl with green eyes. She went to your house last week. What happened to her?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  She cursed, ended the spell. Flynn blinked, still dazed. Thankfully, he wouldn’t remember anything.

  He stared down, gasped. “How did you do that?”

  “I’m a healer,” Kaylan replied and turned to go.

  “Wait, I’m Flynn. What’s your name?”

  “Anne. You’re a Zegan, aren’t you?”

  Flynn bit his lip. “Is it that obvious? Yes, I’m the High Lord’s grandson.”

  She eyed him up and down. He wasn’t what she would have expected a Zegan sorcerer to be. They were strong, muscular men. Nothing like the gangly, clumsy youth before her. She glanced at the door. Celeste was nowhere in sight. Maybe she’d have time to quickly sneak the blood sample to Geth and get back b
efore the Chief Healer made an appearance.

  A scream came from the hall and Kaylan ran to the door. Outside, a man was moving down the corridor, knocking things over as he went. “Where is it?” he demanded.

  “What’s going on?” asked Flynn.

  “Stay here,” Kaylan told him and slipped outside. “What are you looking for?” she asked the stranger.

  He turned to look at her and she saw the gold glow in his eyes. Just like the creature that’d attacked her the night before. She instinctively reached for her knife. But no, she couldn’t use it here, not in front of witnesses. Here she was just a healer, not one of the Amaranthine.

  “Must find it,” he murmured.

  “What?” Kaylan persisted. She knew he was a mindless entity sent to do someone else’s bidding. But he still had a specific task to do or he wouldn’t be there.

  “She’s here, I know she’s here,” he said. “Where is she?”

  The man grabbed another female healer, sniffed and shoved her away. “Not her. Must find her.”

  He advanced towards Kaylan. She raised her arm, and punched him in the face, feeling the satisfying crunch of bone. His head reeled back and he lunged at her.

  She blocked his next blow and brought her knee up to his groin. He yelped and lunged again. “Where is it? Where is the book?” he growled.

  “Call the Guard,” someone screamed.

  She kicked, blocked and hit, cursing the creature’s strength as he backed her against a wall.

  A blast of light came out of nowhere, hitting the wall behind them and narrowly avoiding her head. Glancing over the man’s shoulder, she saw Flynn had delivered the strike. Idiot, she thought. Strikes are no good against whatever this creature is. Oh, to hell with it! Kaylan drew magic and gripped the man’s throat, muttering banishing words.

  The creature vanished in a burst of gold light, several people ran away screaming.

  “By the spirits!” exclaimed Celeste.

  “How did you do that?” asked Flynn.

  Kaylan’s heart beat faster, she wondered if she should flee. Hopefully, sending the creature to the other side of the city would keep it away for a while

  “I – I didn’t do anything,” she lied lamely.

  “Come with me,” Flynn said and grabbed her arm.

  Kaylan didn’t know what to think as Flynn led her towards the Zegan mansion. The house loomed over the horizon with spiralling towers and high arched windows.

  It made her feel a pang of sadness to see her former childhood home. Should she run? What was he going to do? Damn it, she knew better than to be so careless. A year away must’ve made her sloppy. “Where are we going?” she finally asked him.

  If he meant her harm, he wouldn’t win. She’d already seen he wasn’t much of a fighter. But Flynn didn’t answer, and led her up the steps into the house.

  They passed through a foyer, carried on until they came to a door.

  Flynn knocked, then opened it, leading Kaylan inside a large office. She felt like she was being dragged back into the past. A lump rose in her throat. It had been her father’s office. The same mahogany desk sat in the same place, the same smell of old tomes filled the room, but Thedric now sat where her father once had. Part of Kaylan wanted to grab the other sorcerer, and make him pay for what he had done to her family. But he was just a wizened old man now, she reminded herself. What good would it do? It wouldn’t bring her father back, nor did she want the burden and responsibility of leadership.

  Let it go. She glanced at the red and gold wallpaper to distract herself

  “Flynn?” Thedric arched an eyebrow at them. “Is something the matter?”

  “Why did you bring me here?” Kaylan put her hands on her hips, and reached for magic. She formed an invisible shield around herself, ready for any kind of assault.

  “Something attacked while I was at the hospice,” Flynn replied. “It was some kind of beast.”

  Thedric’s eyebrows rose higher. “That’s not possible.”

  “I saw it with my own eyes, Grandpa. Anne destroyed it.”

  No, I banished it to the outer city. But better you think it’s dead.

  The High Lord’s gaze fixed on her. “I didn’t–” Kaylan started to protest. ­

  “Don’t be modest, Anne,” Flynn said. “Grandpa, she fought and killed the creature. She saved everyone there.”

  She frowned, surprised at Flynn for sticking up for her, but that didn’t make him a friend. Curse it, she needed to get back to the hospice before Celeste fired her and she lost access to the latest victims.

  Thedric stared at her. “How did you know how to do that?” he asked. “Did you know what it was?”

  Kaylan hesitated. She couldn’t tell him the truth. “No,” she admitted. “I like to read. So I said a spell to banish evil spirits — and thankfully it worked.”

  “You fight like a warrior,” remarked Flynn.

  She shrugged. “My father taught me to defend myself.”

  “Who was your father?” asked Thedric, and broke into a fit of coughing.

  “He was – why am I here?” Kaylan demanded, biting her lip. “I just started my first shift at the hospice and Celeste won’t be happy with me for leaving.”

  “I found it strange that a healer could fight like that. She is far more skilled than me,” Flynn said.

  “Then thank you, young lady,” Thedric told her. “Perhaps we should consider moving you to the Guard.”

  That could prove useful, but I don’t have time to mess around and I’m not a Glistan.

  “Perhaps I could teach Flynn,” she suggested. She didn’t want to be around him but if it meant finding Freya she’d do anything. “With some practice and some proper training, I’m sure you’ll quickly improve.”

  The High Lord smiled. “You would have to be very gifted for that, my dear.”

  “I’d like that,” Flynn replied.

  Thedric hesitated. “I suppose she could help you with your training, but what about the hospice?”

  “I can still work there when needed,” Kaylan replied and smiled. Now she had her way in back into the mansion.