59: Delusional

I wake up mid day, drenched in sweat and chilled to the bone at the same time. My arm still feels as if it’s on fire, not to mention that it’s oozing and is an angry red. I get dressed as best I can before draping my green jacket over my shoulders hiding the wound as I make my way to the shop. Gretchen will know what to do.

Twice the amount of time it usually takes me to get to work, I stumble into the shop with double vision and the gate of a drunk. Monty jumps into my line of sight, her mouth moving, “what the hell happened to you?” but they sound like a whisper said across the room.

As she peers at me with confusion, my legs collapse. I barely have time to hear her yelp, “holy shit,” as she tries to catch me. “Gretchen!” She shouts as I fight against unconsciousness. My hands grab onto Monty as I try to right myself.

Gretchen rushes in and pulls me off Monty and helps carry me to my room where they drop me into a chair. Monty rushes out to the sales floor to keep people from spying.
“Hazel? What happened? What’s wrong?” She pokes at me and I cringe at her touch when she grasps my arm. She slips the jacket from my shoulders. Her face contorts in disgust as she takes in my injury. “Who did this?” She waits for a reply, which she doesn’t get. “Which demon did this to you Hazel?”

“Felix.” My lips can barely form the word.

“It’s because of those damned vampires isn’t it.” Her spine straightens and that motherly instinct washes over her. “We need to get you to a healer. Now.” She digs into her back pocket to retrieve her phone. “We will deal with Felix and Phillip later, but right now we have to keep you alive.”

She turns her back on me as she yells into her phone. “Rosmerta? Are you available? I need your help.” A pause. “Yes, demon fire. It’s bad...she’s definitely to the point of being poisoned.” Another pause.

“Who’s been poisoned?” A familiar voice says from behind Gretchen. And then Monty’s voice, “Umm, you have a visitor?”

Caleb comes rushing forward, eyes glued to my arm. Before he can say a single word Gretchen interrupts. “Yes, I’ll be there right away.” She puts the phone back in pocker and squares her shoulders to Caleb. “We’ll get details later, right now grab her and follow me.”

Caleb doesn’t ask questions, he just listens. I swat at him. “I can walk.” I stand up only to tip over and crumple over the tabletop.

“God damn it Hazel.” He scoops me off my feet, careful to not touch my arm. He bickers all the way to the car, but I only hears parts of it. “I came here as soon as I saw those fuckng vamps on TV...I knew something was wrong....I’ll kill him…”

Gretchen’s voice mixes with his. “demon fire...lucky if she survives...cut her arm off…”

I fight against the weight of my eyelids, but I’m just so tired. I’m not strong enough to keep everything from going black.

I wake up in an unfamiliar place on a cold slab of stone, an old woman hovering over me. I try to bolt to my feet but hands grab me and slam me back down. Familiar voices fill my ears. “Hazel, relax.” “It’s okay.”

Everything goes black again.

I wake up again, this time in a very familiar place. My bed. I don’t remember how I got here, but I’m happy it’s all over. The sound of voices coming from the living room piques my attention. As I climb out of bed my arm gives out. I glance down at it. I got into my pjs somewhere along the way, but one sleeve has been cut off to expose my heavily gauze wrapped arm.

I rack my brain on who did that? Nothing comes. The past how many hours are blurry, I’m blurry. What the hell did that healer give me? I shuffle along the floor to the door. It’s cracked open for them to check on me making it easy for me to spy on them.

I don’t need to see them as I squint against the bright lights of the living room. I recognize their voices. Caleb, Avery and Avalos are in the next room talking about me. I listen intently.

“I knew something was wrong and I still left. I left her.” I can hear the pain in Caleb’s voice. “I should’ve dragged her with me the night I left. This would’ve never happened.”
“She’s fine though now...right?” Avalos asks.

“She’s tougher than you give her credit for.” Avery says coming to my defense.

I don’t realize I’m walking until I’m out in the kitchen area staring at them through squinted eyes. “I agree with Avery.” I sound strong and sure in my head, but to their ears I’m slurring my words. The room spins and I have to hold myself up by leaning on the kitchen table. “How did you get in here?”

“You were still out of it when I had you mutter our welcome. When you were suffering from that vamp.”

“Demon.” Avalos sneaks in.

I can feel the glare that Caleb gives him than actually seeing it. I do however, see Caleb rush at me. “Let’s get you back to bed.” He takes most of the weight as he guides me back into the bedroom where he gently puts me back on the bed. “You need to rest. Gretchen and that healer said that it’s a must. Now sleep.”

He walks away without waiting to see if I heed his words. And even with me fighting against his command and go to sleep, my mind and body have different ideas. My heavy eyelids slowly close and the pain fades away.

*I wake back up in bed for the gazillionth time and I moan in frustration. But this time I hear Gabriel’s voice.

“Hazel.” He stands beside the bed, still shirtless, but this time instead of seducing me his eyes go straight to my arm. His eyes open wider in horror and his mouth drops open in shock. “What happened?”

“This isn’t right?” I mutter as I try to sit up, but I stop short from the searing pain in my arm. How can the pain be back? Sleep is supposed to be painless. “This isn’t real. You’re not real.” My words are feeble and I probably sound like I’m drunk.

He grabs me, his hands cradling my face and the coolness of his fingers feel great against my feverish skin. “Who did this to you?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” I backtalk. “Ha.” I shout in his face as he glares at me. “Take that dream Gabriel. I’m the teller of dreams, I control this. Not you.” I poke him in the chest clearly delusional. “You are just a figment of my twisted imagination.” I say even though he feels so real.

I can barely keep my eyes open as the room spins and a groan slips out of my mouth.

“I’m not joking, Hazel. Now tell me who did this to you.” His anger becomes a little too real and it snaps me out of my fog for just a second.

I don’t give in though. It’s about time I take back my dreams and fight with my messed up subconscious. “I nearly died. I think I recall someone saying something about cutting off my arm.” I look down the limb. “Still there though or at least I think it is. It definitely feels like it is.”

Gabriel runs his hands through his hair and grunts. Grunts in frustration. “I told you to come to me. If you would’ve just listened.”

“Listened? I don’t listen to you anymore. But hey how’s Brooklyn?” I try to sound snobbish and hateful, but it doesn't come out that way. It comes out more chatty and curious.

He turns on me, stalking across the room to stand inches from my face. “Who gives a shit about Brooklyn. Who did this?” He grabs me, both my arms and squeezes.*

Pain rips through my body and fills my very awake body. A scream rips from my mouth and Caleb comes rushing in.

“What is it? Hazel?” I follow his eyes and stare at the use-to-be white gauze turn bright red.

We stare at each other silent for several seconds before Caleb drops my hands leaving my bedside. He comes back with fresh bandages. I stay silent and bite my lip as he rebandages me.

“I’m fine.” I mutter.

“I didn’t ask.” Caleb replies. “I’ll be right out in the living with Avery. Try to sleep.” He leaves with nothing more to say, not a look back, nothing.

How can he feel worse than me?