I nodded and wished I hadn’t. I grimaced as pain shot through my head.
“Honey, are you okay?” Mom asked, her tone pitched in worry.
“My head, it hurts.”
She stood. “I’ll go find the doctor so we can get those meds in you.” She smiled gently. “Then you won’t feel a thing.”
That is what I needed, wanted—would love.
The deputy turned to leave but stopped. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about. I—”
The crackle of his radio interrupted anything else he was about say. The dispatcher’s voice broke through the static. “All available units, we have code 18 on Well Springs Road. Victim is a female, approximately sixteen to seventeen years of age. Possible DOA. EMT on the scene.” Whoa. What were the odds that I’d be attacked on the same night another teenage girl died in such a small town? It had to be a coincidence. I glanced at Daemon. His eyes were narrowed. He’d heard it, too.
“Jesus,” the deputy said, then clicked on his radio. “Unit 414 leaving hospital and en route.” He turned from the bed, still talking into the radio, and left.
With the exception of Daemon lounging against the wall by the curtain, the room was empty. He raised a curious brow at me. I chewed on my lower lip and turned my head away, causing another ripple of pain to go from one temple to the other. I stayed like that until my mother came rushing back to my bed with the doctor in tow.
“Honey, Dr. Michaels has good news.”
“As you already know, you have no broken bones and it also looks like you don’t have a concussion. Once we can release you, you can go home and rest,” he said, rubbing the area where speckles of gray peppered the hair near his temples. He glanced at Daemon before focusing on me again. “Now, if you start experiencing dizziness or nausea, vision issues or loss of memory, we need you back here immediately.”
“Okay,” I said, eyeing the pills. I’d agree to anything at this point.
After the doctor left, Mom hovered as I took the small plastic cup and pills from her, swallowing them quickly. I didn’t even care what they were.
On the verge of tears again, I reached for my mom’s hand, but was interrupted by an excited voice in the hallway.
Dee rushed into the room, her face pale and worried. “Oh no, Katy, are you okay?”
“Yes. Just a little banged up.” I lifted my arm and gave a weak smile.
“I can’t believe this has happened.” She turned to her brother. “How could this have happened? I thought you—”
“Dee,” Daemon warned.
She darted away from her brother, lingering on the other side of my bed. “I’m so sorry about this.”
“It’s not your fault.”
She nodded, but I could tell she was harboring guilt.
My mom’s name was called over the loudspeaker. Her face strained, she excused herself and promised to be back in a few seconds.
“Can you leave soon?” Dee asked.
I dragged my attention back to her. “I guess so.” I paused. “As long as my mom comes back.”
She nodded. “Did…you see the guy who attacked you?”
“Yeah, he said some crazy stuff.” I closed my eyes, and it seemed to take longer than normal to reopen them. “Something about finding ‘them’. I don’t know.” I shifted on the hard bed. The bruises didn’t hurt as much. “Weird.” Dee paled. “I hope you can leave soon. I hate hospitals.”
“I do, too.”
Her nose wrinkled. “They have…such a strange smell to them.”
“That’s what I’ve always told Mom, but she thinks I make it up.”
Dee shook her head. “No, it’s not you. They have this…musty smell.”
My eyelids flickered open again and focused on Daemon. He had his eyes closed as he leaned his head against the wall but I knew he was listening to everything. Dee talked about taking me home if my mom couldn’t leave. I was struck again by the twins. Daemon and Dee didn’t belong here, but I did. I could blend easily with the whitewashed walls and pale green curtains. I was as plain as the linoleum, but these two seemed to light the room with their flawless beauty and demanding presence.
Ah, the medication was kicking in. I was poetic. And high. Bliss.
Dee shifted, and my view of Daemon was blocked. I immediately felt panic rising and struggled to move until I could see him again. My pulse quieted the moment my gaze settled on his still form. He didn’t fool me. He was trying to pretend he was relaxed, leaning against the wall like that with his eyes closed and all, but his jaw was clenched and I knew he was like a coiled spring, filled with vigilant energy.
“You’re handling this well. I’d be totally freaked out, rocking in the corner somewhere.” Dee smiled.
“I’ll freak out,” I murmured. “Give me time.”
I wasn’t sure how much time passed before my mother returned with a bothered expression on her pretty face. “Honey, I’m sorry to disappear on you,” she said in a rush. “There was a bad accident, and they’re bringing in multiple victims. You may have to stay here awhile. I have to stay, at least until we determine if we need to move them to a larger hospital. A bunch of nurses are off, and the hospital isn’t staffed to handle this type of crisis.” I stared at her dumbfounded. I felt my bitchiness gaining ground. Screw everyone else. I’d nearly died tonight, and I wanted my mom.
“Ms. Swartz, we can take her home,” Dee said. “I’m sure she wants to go home. I know I would and it would be no problem for us to do it.”