He paused at the landing as the last door lock was sprung. Looking into the camera, he said, Get a gurney and a sheet first.
Were coming right now, my lord, said a tinny voice.
No more than a second later, two nurses opened the door, one turning a sheet into a privacy curtain while the other rolled a gurney right up to the bottom of the stairs. With strong and gentle arms, Wrath laid out the civilian as carefully as if the male had been alive and had every bone in his body fractured; then the nurse whod handled the gurney flapped another sheet out of its folded square. Wrath stopped her before she draped the body.
I do that, he said, taking it from her.
She gave the thing over to him with a bow.
Speaking sacred words in the Old Language, Wrath turned the humble cotton sheath into a proper death shroud. After he was done praying for the males soul and wishing it a free and easy carry unto the Fade, he and the nurses had a moment of silence before the body was draped.
We dont have ID on him, Wrath said quietly as he smoothed out the edge of the sheet. Do either of you recognize his clothes? The watch? Anything?
Both nurses shook their heads, and one murmured, Well put him in the morgue and wait. Its all we can do. His family will come looking for him.
Wrath hung back and watched as the body was rolled away. For no particular reason, he noticed the wheel on the front right wiggled as it went along, like it was new on the job and worried about its performancealthough this was not because he saw the thing clearly, but rather from the soft whistle of its miscalibration.
Out of whack. Not pulling its weight.
Wrath could so relate.
This fucking war with the Lessening Society had gone on too long, and even with all the power he had and all the resolve in his heart, his race wasnt winning: Holding steady against your enemy was just a case of losing by increments, because innocents kept dying.
He turned around toward the stairs and smelled the fear and awe of the two females sitting in the plastic chairs of the waiting area. With a mad shuffle, they got to their feet and bowed to him, the deference resounding in his gut like a kick in the balls. Here he was delivering the latest, but far from the last, casualty in the fight, and these two still paid him respect.
He bowed back to them, but couldnt marshal any words. The only vocabulary he had at the moment was full of George Carlins best, and all of it was directed at himself.
The nurse whod been on shield duty finished folding up the sheet shed used. My lord, perhaps you would have a moment to see Havers. He should be out of surgery in about fifteen minutes? It appears you are wounded.
I have to get back to the- He stopped himself before the word field slipped out. Ive got to get going. Please let me know about that males family, okay? I want to meet with them.
She bowed at the waist and waited, because she wanted to kiss the massive black diamond that rested on the middle finger of his right hand.
Wrath squeezed his weak eyes shut and held out what she was seeking to pay homage to.
Her fingers were cool and light on his flesh, her breath and her lips the barest of brushes. And yet he felt flayed.
As she righted herself, she said with reverence, Fare thee well this night, my lord.
And you with your hours as well, loyal subject.
He wheeled around and jogged up the stairs, needing more oxygen than there was in the clinic. Just as he hit the final door, he ran into a nurse who was coming in as fast as he was busting out. The impact knocked her black shoulder bag off, and he barely caught her before she hit the ground along with it.
Oh, fuck, he barked, dropping to his knees to get her stuff. Sorry.
My lord! She bowed deeply to him and then obviously realized he was picking up her things. You mustnt do that. Please, let me-
No, its my fault.
He shoved what seemed to be a skirt and a sweater back into the bag and then nearly cracked her with a head butt as he shot to his feet.
He grabbed onto her arm once more. Shit, sorry. Again-
Im fine-honest.
Her bag changed hands in a messy scramble, going from someone who was in a rush to someone who was flustered.
You got it? he said, ready to start begging the Scribe Virgin to get outside.
Ah, yes, but Her tone shifted from reverent to medical. Youre bleeding, my lord.
He ignored the comment and took his hand away from her experimentally. Relieved that she stood steady on her feet, he bade her good night and farewell in the Old Language.
My lord, shouldnt you see-
Sorry I plowed into you, he called out over his shoulder.
He punched open the last door and sagged as the fresh air seeped into him. Deep breaths cleared his head, and he allowed himself to lean back against the aluminum siding of the clinic.
As the headache started up behind his eyes again, he popped his wraparounds up off his face and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Right. Next stopthe addy that had been listed on the lessers fake ID.
He had a jar to collect.
Dropping the glasses back into place, he straightened and-
Not so fast, my lord, V said, materializing smack in front of him. Weve got to talk, you and me.
Wrath bared his fangs. Not in a conversating kind of mood, V.
Tough. Shit.
FIVE
Ehlena watched the king of the species turn away and nearly break the door in half on his way out.
Man, he was big and scary-looking. And nearly getting mowed down by him put the final frazzle candle on the drama cake.
Smoothing her hair and dragging her shoulder bag up into place, she started down the stairs after passing the interior checkpoint. She was only an hour late to work because-miracle of miracles-her fathers nurse had been free and able to come early. Thank the Virgin Scribe for Lusie.
As bad attacks went, her fathers hadnt been as horrible as it could have been, and she had a feeling it was because hed downed the meds right before it hit. Before the pills, the worst of his spells had lasted all night long, so in one sense, tonight had been a sign of progress.
Still broke her damn heart, though.
As she came up to the final camera, Ehlena felt the weight of her bag grow heavier. Shed been prepared to cancel her date and leave the change of clothes at home, but Lusie had talked her out of it. The question the other nurse had asked struck deep: When was the last time you were out of this house for anything except work?
Ehlena hadnt answered because she was private by natureand drawing a complete blank.
Which was Lusies point, wasnt it. Caregivers had to take care of themselves, and part of that meant having a life beyond whatever illness had put them in their role. God knew Ehlena told this to the family members of her chronically sick patients all the time, and the advice was both sound and practical.
At least when she gave it to others. Turned on herself, it felt selfish.
Soshe was waffling on the date. With her shift ending close to dawn, it wasnt as if she had time to go home and check on her father first. As it was, she and the male whod asked her out would be lucky to get even an hour of chatting at the all-night diner before encroaching sunlight put an end to things.
And yet she had been looking forward to going out with a desperation that made her feel guilty as hell.
Godhow typical. Conscience pulling her one way, loneliness another.
In the reception area, she beelined for the nursing supervisor, who was at the front desk computer. Im so sorry Im-
Catya stopped what she was doing and reached out a hand. How is he?
For a split second, Ehlena could only blink. She hated that everyone at work knew about her fathers problems and that a few had even seen him at his worst.
Though the illness had stripped him of his pride, she still had some on his behalf.
She did a quick pat on her bosss hand and stepped out of range. Thanks for asking. Hes calmed down and his nurse is with him now. Fortunately, Id just given him his meds.
Do you need a minute?
Nope. Where are we?
Catyas smile was more grimace than grin, as if she were biting her tongue. Again. You dont have to be this strong.
Yes. I do. Ehlena looked around and kept her wince to herself. More of the staff were coming at her from down the hallway, a ten-strong posse riding shotgun on a truckload of concerned purpose. Where do you need me?
She had to get free of-No luck.
Soon all but the OR nurses who were busy with Havers had formed a circle around her, and Ehlenas throat closed up as her colleagues threw out a chorus of how-are-yous. God, she was as claustrophobic as a pregnant female stuck in a hot elevator.
Im fine, everyone, thanks-
The last of the staff came over. After expressing her sympathy, the female shook her head. I dont mean to bring up work
Please do, Ehlena blurted.
The nurse smiled with respect, like she was impressed by Ehlenas fortitude. Wellhes back in an exam room. Should I get out a quarter?
Everybody groaned. There was only one he out of the legions of male patients they treated, and coin bingo was typically how the staff decided who had to deal with him. Farthest from the date lost.
Generally speaking, all of the nurses kept a professional distance from their patients, because you had to, or youd burn out. With him, though, the staff stayed separate for reasons other than job-related ones. Most of the females got nervous around him-even the toughest ones.
Ehlena? Not so much. Yes, the guy had some Godfather in him, those black pin-striped suits and his cropped mohawk and his amethyst eyes throwing off a dont-f-with-me-if-you-want-to-keep-breathing vibe. And it was true, when you were shut into an exam room with him, there was the impulse to keep your eye on the exit in case you needed to use it. And there were those tattoos on his chestand the fact that he kept his cane with him as if it were not just an aid for walking, but a weapon. And
Okay, so the guy made Ehlena nervous, too.
And yet she cut through an argument over who got to have the year 1977. Ill do it. Itll make up for my being late.
Are you sure? someone asked. Seems like youve already paid your dues tonight.
Just let me get some coffee. What room?
I parked him in three, the nurse said.
Amid a cheer of, Attagirl, Ehlena went to the staff room, put her things in her locker, and poured herself a mug of hot, steaming perk-your-ass-up. The coffee was strong enough to be considered an accelerant and did the job nicely, wiping her mental slate clean.
Well, mostly clean.
As she sipped, she stared at the banks of buff-colored lockers and the pairs of street shoes tucked here and there and the winter coats hanging on pegs. In the luncheon area, folks had their favorite mugs on the counter and the snacks they liked on the shelves, and sitting on the round table there was a bowl full ofwhat was it tonight? Little packs of Skittles. Above the table was a bulletin board covered with flyers for events and coupons and stupid comic-strip jokes and pictures of hot guys. The shift roster was next to it, the whiteboard marked with a grid of the next two weeks that was filled in with names in different colors.
It was the detritus of normal life, none of which seemed significant in the slightest until you thought about all those people on the planet who couldnt keep jobs or enjoy an independent existence or spare the mental energy on little distractions-like, say, the fact that Cottonelle toilet paper was fifty cents off if you bought the twelve-pack of the double rolls.
Taking it all in, she was reminded yet again that going out into the real world was a luck-of-the-draw privilege, not a right, and it bothered her to think of her father holed up in that awful little house, wrestling with demons that existed only in his head.
Hed once had a life, a big life. Hed been a member of the aristocracy and had served on the council and been a scholar of note. Hed had a shellan he adored and a daughter hed been proud of and a mansion renowned for its celebrations. Now all he had were delusions that tortured him, and though they were only perception, never reality, the voices were a jail no less ironclad for the fact that no one else could see the bars or hear the warden.
As Ehlena rinsed out her mug, she couldnt help thinking of the unfairness of it all. Which was good, she supposed. Even with all she saw on her job, she hadnt gotten used to suffering, and she prayed she never did.
Before she left the locker room, she did a quick check in the full-length mirror next to the door. Her white uniform was perfectly pressed and clean as sterile gauze. Her stockings were without runs. Her crepe-soled shoes were smudge-and scuff-free.
Her hair was as frazzled as she felt.
She did a quick pull-free, retwist, and scrunchie-up, then headed out for exam room three.
The patients chart was in the clear plastic holder mounted on the wall by the door, and she took a deep breath as she picked it out and opened it up. The thing was thin, considering how often they saw the male, and there was almost no information listed on the front, just his name, a cell phone, and a next of kin who was a female.
After she knocked, she walked into the room with confidence she didnt feel, her head up, her spine straight, her unease camod by a combo of posture and professional focus.
How are you this evening? she said, as she looked the patient right in the eye.
The instant his amethyst stare met hers, she couldnt have told a soul what had just come out of her mouth or whether he replied. Rehvenge, son of Rempoon, sucked the thought right out of her head, sure as if hed drained the tank of her brains generator and left her with nothing to catch a mental spark off of.
And then he smiled.
He was a cobra, this male; he truly wasmesmerizing because he was deadly and because he was beautiful. With that mohawk and his hard, smart face and his big body, he was sex and power and unpredictability all wrapped up inwell, a black pin-striped suit that clearly had been made for him.