5
Chaos reignedsupreme in the house when I finally came to. Red and blue flashing lights made a strobe effect on my living room wall and the house was full of EMT's. Margo sat right beside me and as soon as she saw me stirring, she gave me a happy lick across the cheek. I tried to sit up, but my head and body felt like they were stuffed full ofcotton.
"Helen?" Hank's voice alerted me. I tried to turn my head butwinced.
His hand touched the back of my hair. "Don't try to move yet. The EMT's need to check you out. You took quite thefall."
A quick glance outside let me know it was pitch black. "How long have I beenout?"
"At least two hours," hesaid.
"The EMT's have been here for two hours?" I blinked at him inconfusion.
He moved around the couch to sit next to me. Hank lifted my legs up and put them in his lap as if we'd sat like that a thousand times. I was too flustered to remark about it. "There's more," he said, his mouth a grim slash against hisface.
I wasn't sure I wanted to know. If Dolores' cryptic comments and the presence of medical personnel were anything to go on, I knew exactly what had happened. "Dolores?" I askedfinally.
Hank nodded. "She slipped away right in her seat. Quiet. The medics think it might have been some kind of stroke. Maybe just oldage."
Maybe a hungry spirit who was not quite her son. I swallowed hard. “I screwed up,” I whispered. “It’s all myfault.”
Hank squeezed my knee in warning. “Helen, if you’ve never listened to me before, listen to me now. Keep quiet. Something isn’t quite righthere.”
My eyes widened. I nodded. Hank gave my leg a friendly pat and we waited for one of the EMT’s to turn their attention tome.
He had a kind face. Kind for a werewolf, that was. You could usually spot them in a crowd. They were a little hairier than the average guy and their eyes tended to run toward the yellow gold side of the color spectrum. Plus their smiles were usually a little too wide. It didn’t mean they were bad, but the children’s story Little Red Riding Hood had kind of nailedit.
“Ms.Reaper?”
Inodded.
“My name is Rex Lupin. I’m going to check you out and make sure you’re okay. Is that allright?”
I noddedagain.
“Would you like to tell me whathappened?”
Hank squeezed my leg once in warning. I stuck to basic facts and blamed it on exhaustion. I told him I’d had two appointments that day and must have used more of my magic than I intended to. Once I’d released the spirit, Ifainted.
He made noncommittal noises and flashed a penlight in both of my eyes. Rex asked me what day it was, which I knew. What time it was. Which I didn’t until I looked at a clock. The medic rubbed his hands through my hair until he hit a bump that made me hiss inpain.
“I think you might have a mild concussion,” he announced as he stood from the floor. “There’s not much you can do about it, but rest, drink a lot of liquids and try not to stare at your phone or a device for too long of a time. It will make it worse.” With a nod, he left me on the couch withHank.
"They'll be out of here within the hour. Then you and I need to talk." Hank rubbed the top of Margo's head much to her delight. She jumped up on the couch and laid her head in hislap.
I rolled my eyes at her but couldn't help but smile. She was adorable. And I guess the summoning hadn't scared heroff.
The police milled around my place for what felt like forever, and every minute they were there I felt my anxiety creep up. Dolores had passed away in my backyard. I couldn't believe it. When she had said those cryptic things to me, it sounded like she hadwantedto letgo.
Would I ever know if she had wanted to or if it was something more sinister? For most people that would be no, but I happened to have just the right kind of talent and motivation. Hank, as if sensing where my thoughts were going, shook his head. "You need a week of rest, hydration and food. You shouldn't even be thinking aboutit."
"You aren't my mom," Imuttered.
Margo huffed and put a paw over herface.
An hour and a half later,the police and ambulances finally left. They had placed Dolores' body on a gurney and thankfully took her through the yard instead of the house. I felt numb. Sad. Exhausted. Starving and thirsty. It wasn't a good way to feel. When they'd gone, Hank pulled the shades down and made sure all the doors and windows were locked which made me feel like he was Jason Bourne and I was the clueless girl who got caught up in his crazy run from theRussians.
"Ermm, Hank? Whatchadoing?"
