Eighty-Six…

Eighty-Six: Broken Wing

It was a lovely early morning (or late night) at the Haas Estate.

“Please, Reznik! At least think about it a little more?”

“I’m afraid if I keep going back to Hunter for my treatments, we’ll keep on screwing!”

Reznik laughed.

“It’s not funny, you dipshit. Hunter’s screwing around with my head.”

“Why can’t you at least try to heal my I-DAS?”

He spun around.

“I already told you why,” he said.

“Your condition is way too friggin’ complicated. I wouldn’t even know where to begin to try and fix it.”

“You healed Xeri’s broken neck, but you can’t heal me?”

“A fracture is different from a complicated condition of the digestive system, and it’s not just a matter of healing it. Understand?”

“So you won’t even try?”

Reznik sighed.

“It won’t do any good, but I’ll check out some other spell books just in case. Alright?”

“Thank you, Rez.”

He stared at her neck.

“You have a huge hickey.” He chuckled.

She rolled her eyes. Meanwhile, Rez laughed his ass off.

“Haha! The wolf chewed on Kat’s neck! Has he chased you up a tree yet? Marked his territory?” He laughed again. “His territory, meaning YOU.”

“Shut up, Reznik.”

A few days expired. Kat borrowed Rez’s car to get her through the following week.

There was only one problem…

there was something wrong with it. Whenever Kat would press the gas, the vehicle would hesitate for a moment; only to get worse.

Finally it stopped altogether.

Nervously, Kat looked around.

Need to call someone to pick me up. Pride got in the way of calling Hunter. Then she didn’t want to call her father for almost the same reason. She walked a few feet up the road.

Galloping echoed down the street. What the hell?

She saw him. At first he was just a blur riding a dark horse.

Oh my God! It’s the Headless Horseman! was her first thought. Never mind— he has a head.

“Wait!”

He pulled back on the reigns. The horse whinnied, a cry which eerily reverberated.

Kat dove to the ground.

That horse leaped above her.

Oh my… god. What the…

The stranger ceased.

Heavy hoof steps neared her as the horse turned.

He slid off. His sword vanished in a sheath attached to his jeans.

“Mademoiselle, are you okay?” He spoke in a French accent and extended his hand. “I’m sorry about that. I didn’t see you in time. Also, my horse is temperamental and I couldn’t stop him.”

Kat allowed him to pull her up. Nevertheless, anger swelled up inside her.

“What was that? You almost ran over me, you idiot!”

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to. I was chasing after someone.”

Kat’s anger evaporated. At least a little bit.

“It’s—okay. But you scared the living shit out of me.”

“Truly I’m sorry. I did not see you until it was too late.” He hesitated, then asked, “Mademoiselle, what are you doing out here by yourself? At night?”

“My car is messed up. Couldn’t go any farther.”

“I could give you a ride home. At least let me make this up to you.” His eyes lowered. He seemed to feel guilty.

“I guess.”

“I really am sorry for… what happened. I could’ve killed you.”

“It’s okay. I’ve been through worse,” she said. “So can we go now?”

“Of course. Oh, and by the way my name is Percival.”

“I’m Katerina, but you can call me Kat.” Stop smiling, she told herself. Just because he’s cute, has a foreign accent, and I’m lonely as hell doesn’t mean I have to jump his bones.

“Nice to meet you, Kat.”

She followed him to the horse. Percival mounted the stallion first, then Kat attempted to.

She struggled to climb atop. Finally the stranger reached out and helped her up.

His horse advanced through the fog.

“Don’t you fly?” Kat asked.

“I can’t. I have a broken wing,” he replied.

She wanted to ask what happened to his wing, but didn’t.

Holy shit. Is he sniffing my hair?

Once arriving at the Logan manor, Kat dismounted the stallion. Percival followed and they continued into the home.

“Nice house,” he said.

“Thanks.” Kat twirled around.

“Would you like anything to drink?”

“No, thank you. I’m okay.”

Oh, shit. Who the fuck asks a vampire if they want something to drink?? Idiot!

Embarrassed, Kat turned away from him.

“Uh, normally I drink wine around this time, but I don’t feel like it tonight.”

Uh huh. You’re only saying that to make me feel better.

“Look, I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I have to go anyway. It’s getting late.”

“No. You didn’t make me feel uncomfortable,” she lied. “It’s just been a long night.”

As Percival was about to leave, Hunter pulled up…

but stopped short from the driveway.

He’d intended to ‘surprise’ Kat with a visit while Ash watched the twins. Particularly since he hadn’t seen his ex in a few days. She was quite late for her I-DAS treatments.

Yet the surprise was on him, for his ex-fiancee seemed to have replaced him with another guy.

Well that was fast. You didn’t waste any time, did you Kat?

“Son of a bitch.”

*

Thanks for reading. I’m going to Ohio and won’t be back until around Dec. 22, that’s why I pubbed this chapter 2 days early. I’ll be staying at my parents’ house and they do not have internet.

Once again, thank you for reading and I hope y’all enjoyed this chapter. ♥ Also, comments are disabled now. Reading them is becoming too stressful, and at this time I need to cut out any extra stress from my life, if possible. Thanks for understanding.