Dangerous, Diabolical
Chapter 5 - Sitting Pretty

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Four hours later I was trapped in the local hospital, at the first mention of ‘rabies’ I wanted every shot they could give me. Being part animal there could be every chance of frothing at the mouth before the day was out. Despite their assurance that one shot would be enough, I kept glancing at my reflection for any sign of craziness. Just how did Zombism brew anyway, would I feel a lust for rotting flesh?

A nice doctor informed me that my arm had a severe infection, and I might need surgery to get the gem removed from my palm. They were welcome to try. The nurse gave me a box of white circles called antibiotics that were not pleasant to crunch at all. The chemicals were unbelievable, I could feel the burn all the way to my stomach, and my tongue became a little bloody.

I didn’t give humans enough credit. They were much weaker than I was, and I was ready to pack in after the eighth one. Every TV channel was full of adverts, or static and the wafer-thin pillows were making my neck hurt. If one more nurse turned up to tell me my blood pressure was worrying low, I’d shove the sleeve up their butt.

A knock at the hospital room door interrupted my mindless channel flicking, causing me to prepare to inform the nurse where to go. But his scent hit me before he opened the door. For the last couple of hours, I’d been surrounded by; blood - which was always welcome - death, (irritating since I couldn’t eat any of it), chemicals; not so great, and then sickness. Lots and lots of sickness. My stomach kept churning. The meat in this building was very bad.

The waft of the forest, blackberries, and muddy dens in bracken was a welcome change. I inhaled the scent greedily, sitting up as much as I could.

“Ortwin, Leo.” I greeted him as he entered, grinning at his dishevelled appearance. He’d been running, but no exciting magic, or signs of a fight. Boringly the only blood stains on him were mine.

“You didn’t replace him then.” I popped out another antibiotic, trying not to look distastefully at the rest of them.

He quirked his eyebrow at me shortening his name, but didn’t remark on it.”Nothing.” He shrugged. “I’m not doubting you but I’ve had other members of the Council observe the area and there’s only one magical signature at the store.” Don’t say it. “Yours.” Of course. He ran a hand through his already dishevelled hair, pushing his scent into the room further. I inhaled. Yes, the forest was much better than the hospital smell.

With stiff shoulders, he spoke rigidly. “You swore to me you wouldn’t cast.”

I flickered my eyes to observe my hands, he shuffled around with a sigh.

“Celandine, using magic wasn’t wise in that situation.”

My stomach lurched, and the grin I’d found when he entered slipped from my face.

Clutching fists into my lap I argued back. “It was that, or being eaten alive.”

Quietly he took hold of the jug on the side table, helping himself to a glass, not looking toward me.

To fill the silence I popped out another tablet, resting it in my teeth before swallowing, trying to bypass the awful bitterness from entering my mouth again. Hurriedly, I pulled Leo’s scent in over my tongue to mellow the chemical taste.

Hare and stag, the earth.

After taking a mouthful of water he spoke again. “We assessed the affected area and ensured the humans are convinced they saw a very large dog trash the store. If it wasn’t for that amulet saying you’d been magically attacked, and the disappearances across the community, I simply wouldn’t have believed you.”

“Thanks-“ I backtracked the statement. “Hey! What do you mean you wouldn’t believe me?” I hastily swallowed the paste that had built up on my tongue, popping the next tablet out ready.

“You tampered with a spell, lied about using magic and frankly gave the least compelling account I’ve heard in this town to date. It doesn’t help the cameras were completely short-circuited so we can’t see what happened fully.” He put the glass down a little too hard, sending water spilling out. “They seemed to have been offline since early afternoon.”

A chill ran down my spine. Early afternoon? That was only halfway into my shift, way before I’d taken the console out. Groaning I realised I’d trashed the shop front for nothing! What a waste of energy.

“Impossible!” I corrected him. “I was watching the cameras all day, they were working fine.” I started to crunch the next tablet. Leo dropped into the visitor’s chair next to the bed, causing it to push out a whoosh of air. Leaning back he loosened his collar.

“And you’re now claiming to have been in charge of security tapes that didn’t record.” Leo gazed sternly under his eyebrows at me. Okay, I was starting to see how this looked bad. He threw his arms up “What time did they come in?”

“Uhhh...” how did I explain this.

“Did they enter together?” He was shaking his head at me as I fought for words.

“Urm…”

Leofstan went to get up.

“Fine.” I conceded. “Don’t tell my boss, but I may have dozed off for just a second.” I swallowed the new paste mixture that had built up, this time not being able to pull a face as it went down.

“You fell asleep?” He replied incredulously, looking at me like I’d groaned another head. I popped in another pill, which diverted his attention. “What on-the-land are you eating?” My hand hovered in front of my mouth with another one.

I pulled it away from my mouth to show him. “Antibiotics. The doctor told me to take them.” Helpfully I then passed him the box up so he could see. He paled so quickly that I did a double take at the packaging, was it hexed?

“How many have you had?” He snatched it out of my hands. Whoa, grabby much? It was too much trouble to wrestle them back, besides I really didn’t like them. He could have the rest if he wanted.

My voice was dreamy when I answered. “Ten, eleven maybe.” If it was possible, he grew even paler.

“You know you’re only meant to have four in a day?” He shook the empty box. “Spread out?”

“I’m a patient, not a doctor!” I snapped back, annoyed.

“Did you not read the instructions printed on the side?”

That didn’t warrant an answer, of course, I hadn’t.

“Loki save me, Celandine, I think you’ve overdosed.” I blinked at the two Leofstans standing at the side of my bed. Did I have fingers or claws?

“Nah, I’m….” I protested, trying to think of the last word. Holy moly, what was I even trying to say? Sure, whatever.

He pinched the bridge of his nose as if trying to answer an enormous riddle. “I’m going to help your body along and ease some of the injuries and chemicals out of you.” at my blank stare he elaborated.“Is that alright?”

“I guess?” There didn’t seem to be a reason to say no. At least he wasn’t trying to force magic on me this time. The councilman held out his hand, waiting.

Stiffly I raised my own, wincing as I opened the palm, pulling sore skin around the stone.

His long fingers wrapped around gently, the sudden warmth catching me off guard and sending prickles through my skin. A small squeak escaped my lips, sending instant heat to my cheeks as the noise. Crush him! My other self roared. Feast on his spleen! It demanded. But a smaller part of me wanted to go for a run in the woods, throw away my clothes and pick wild blackberry bushes. Undecided, I remained immobile, watching the air shimmer around him, gathering myself in readiness for a magical dart to try and not retaliate.

At first, the warmth of his skin on mine was all I could feel, but it slowly seeped further down my arm. This time instead of feeling like a bullet attacking it was more of a wave of water, trickling gently.

Each injury throbbed, and I found myself hoping the cooling wash of the magic trickle would reach and ease them. The flat pillows felt so much softer and more welcoming, and the stiff mattress seemed to embrace. The ache in my shoulder receded, and the bruising reduced from angry purple hues into a mellower yellow.

All at once the gem in my hand erupted into a detonation of pain and heat. The calming spread redacted, replaced instead with a vicious burning,

My voice wobbled, “Leofstan?” I glanced at him, his hair had grown darker, more wild. High cheekbones sunk to appear chiselled, and his ears pointed into a soft taper.

He didn’t seem to notice the burning heat exploding from my palm, his face remained serene, shoulders relaxed. Another wave of heat exploded and clenched my eyes shut with a gasp. A low hum began, and when I reopened to see, everything looked all wrong. I was no longer in the hospital, I stood alone.

Leoftan was gone, but upon squeezing my hand, there was still the ghost of him holding it, the warmth of his touch unerring.

“Ortwin?” I called, checking behind me just in case. A gust of wind lifted my hair, carrying dandelion seeds across a meadow of buds. Soft red hues lit long rolling grassy hills, and a hazy sun peeked out of the horizon. Curiously smoke filled my nose, and turning towards its origin; below in the valley, a village burned.

I glanced back to the meadow, then down to the valley. The scenes juxtaposed so heavily for a moment it was as if I’d been transported several times.

There were no roads leading down, just muddied dirt pathways. Horses screamed as livestock tried to flee the chaos. Wooden huts caught quickly, their timber frames not standing a chance.

A loud thrum began in my chest as the flames leapt into another building. My cheek twitched. With a high-pitched scream, a human ran from a hut. A grin formed and I took a few quick steps ready to chase.

Until suddenly I was engulfed in darkness from overhead, stilling me mid-stride. A dark shadow covered what little light there was. Glancing up I was met with a bellowing roar that thundered with such power the ground shook.

The setting sun caught its scales in an iridescent sparkle. Passing through the clouds, its red colouring disguised it almost perfectly in the hue of the rising sun.

The creature roared again with a ferocity even more terrifying than the first.

Normally my ears would never have trembled under the roar, but this ran through my bones, shook the earth beneath me and drove me to my knees, all thoughts about plundering the carnage below fled.

From across the field, I saw a tall slim figure emerge, running as fast as his legs could take him across the path. His curled brown hair bounced wildly, a small rounded shield strapped to his arm. Adorned in a soft grey tunic and wielding a sword he grew closer.

It wasn’t until he almost tripped over me it occurred why he was so familiar. Instead of the soft stubble I knew, Leofstan had a tangle of a beard. Long wild hair and fewer age lines.

“Lefostan!” I exclaimed, rushing to my feet.

From the valley a similar cry could be heard, the timing eerily similar to my own, “LEOFSTAN!” Erupted the high-pitched scream.