Part 13 (1/2)

”So does a Shadow Folk have a soul?” Rhonda asked.

”Well--I think the part that remains is--was--the soul once the body dissolves. Being trapped like that might just deform the soul, twisting it into something ugly.”

Gross.

”Well, I say we call it a night,” Nona said as she stood. The wicker chair created beneath her. ”Tomorrow night's the full moon--and the store's gonna have a sale on white candles and Frankincense, so I need sleep.” She pointed to Dags. ”You need to sleep here. Rhonda, are you staying?”

The look of dreamy in her eyes made me physically want to puke. But then, how often had she put up with that look on me when I thought about Daniel?

Ah p.o.o.p.

She nodded. ”I can make him a nice bed on the couch.”

I waved at them to get their attention even as I stood up. I made the motion of me getting in a car and going home. I pointed to mom and made the turn-the-key motion to say I needed to borrow her car.

”You sure you wanna go home?”

I nodded. My condo was warded, and I'd been missing from it for a while. I needed to get back there and do a little living in it. I also needed some s.p.a.ce to think, and muse over what TC said as well as think of a way I could totally screw him up.

But, Elizabeth the Volvo didn't go home--it drove to the hospital instead. Seeing as it was after one in the morning--the nurses no matter who they are--weren't going to let me in on the floor to see Daniel. So I found a great parking spot, let the seat back and slipped out of my body.

As I walked/jogged the parking garage, the elevator, the walkway to the hospital, and then in the atrium where I'd seen Mr. Spooky, and then up to Daniel's room, I really wished Wraiths could teleport. That would save sooooo much time.

The hall was quiet, as most of the patients were safely drugged in their beds. I tip-toed past the nurse's station to Daniel's room and sieved through the door. Ew. Metal.

Daniel was as peaceful as ever, though the room was bland. They wouldn't allow him any sort of flowers or decoration in CCU. But that was okay. I just loved seeing him.

And then I heard a wretched noise.

It was a snore.

Captain Ken Cooper was sound asleep in the fold out seat, his shoes and clothes still on, his head thrown back and his trench coat over him like a blanket. His mouth was open and I was amazed at how much like a child he was.

I was also touched that he was still here, in the room with Daniel. Ae--and seeing Cooper stay here way past his duty was a nice touch.

”Really? You sure his bubble-headed girlfriend isn't around? She has a knack for s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g things up.”

Or maybe not.

I shot him a bird and moved around him, not wanting any part of what he was thinking, which of course happens if I walk through someone.

Once out in the hallway I saw him.

Standing by the nurse's station--a metal clipboard in his hand.

Bonville.

CHAPTER TEN.

He hadn't seen me yet--and though I was Wraith I was certain he would see me unless I moved. But I was too curious as to whose chart he was looking at.

The presence behind me was startling, but not unexpected. ”It's your lover's chart--” TC said on the wind.

Lover's. Hah. That term indicated there was s.e.x involved between the two parties. I could only deduct that the Archer had no idea Daniel and I hadn't-- ”Oh?”

Well s.h.i.+t.

”Are your memories of our time together returning?”

Shut. The h.e.l.l. Up.

Great. I could hear that f.u.c.ker's laughter all over the hospital. I could also see my presence was garnering unwanted attention. Hospitals house--well--souls. Spirits. Ghosts. Those what don't realize they iz dead. And those souls were starting to peak out of all sorts of places. Some were in color, some in pastels, and lots were in black and white much like Maddox's son. There were always the whispy things I saw while Wraith--those pieces of Abysmal-Ethereal-Astral whatsis that looked like the black smoke after blowing out a candle. I had no idea what they were, but they were always around on the edges of things.

Bonville looked up and narrowed his eyes in our direction. Can he see us?

”No, but he knows something's here. And in a second he'll--”

A cell phone rang. I recognized the theme as a well known tune by 3 Doors Down. Bonville reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled his phone out. I felt TC's hand on my shoulder and I batted it away. No touchy!

”Yes--that's excellent news--no, I don't want a lot of them around. I don't trust them--especially since I can't tell them apart anymore. Cleanse the area and proceed. I want him brought directly into the chamber--no, I'm not crazy. I can use his power to destroy anything it sends after me. I'll be right there--just get him away from that witch!” There was actual spittle on his chin before he slammed the phone closed, turned and marched to the elevators.

Witch? Was he talking about Dags away from mom? I mean, 'cause on occasion, I've called her a few choice names myself.

”She's not the only one,” the Archer said and he materialized to my right. He looked even more washed out in the bright fluorescent hospital light. Not so--scary.

Should I follow him?

”No,” he turned to me. His ink-black shades were back on. ”You won't be able to. You'll need to get to him another way.”

I burned past the Archer to the emergency exit and took the stairs as fast as I could. It was more time consuming than the elevator, but at least this way I was getting my astral workout. Once on the landing I went through the door (yow, metal!) and made my way back to the parking lot, avoiding any contact with any of the mult.i.tude of ghosts that crowded into my way.

TC was at my car when I arrived. I stopped and frowned. How did he-- ”I don't have to run. Or take a bus, or a train, or a plane--”

b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

I sieved into the car and easily back into my body. I righted the seat, putting me back in front of the steering wheel and would have given a full scream when I noticed TC in the pa.s.senger's seat beside me. Stop doing that!

”Drive.”