Read Online Night Fever (A Rue Darrow Novel Book 3) by Audrey Claire - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Audrey Claire
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entertaining indeed.
Chapter Eight
I passed the threshold into death, or rather into a human hospital. The place seemed like the pathway to death, now more than ever. Although I didn’t see them, I sensed the dark beings arriving to take the souls of the dead or dying. I kept out of their way as I traversed the halls. Granted, they had nothing to do with vampires. However, you don’t tempt creatures like these—Bill withstanding, of course. I teased him whenever I got the chance.
Tonight, in the hospital, there were several cases of unexplained fever. When I heard the news, I recalled the woman at the hotel and her talk of odd fevers. In discussing the matter with Violet, or rather attempting to because she refused to answer my questions, I figured out that the situation was serious. I wanted to see a victim for myself because I had a suspicion that wouldn’t let me go until I confirmed it.
At the end of Violet’s and my call, Violet had ordered me to stay away from the hospital. I don’t know why, but her words sounded like “head directly there” to me. Go figure. When I arrived, I picked up her scent. I assumed she was investigating, and for now, I left her to it. Instead, I chose to seek out Carl, who by now must have been in the hospital a week.
Following Carl’s scent, which I recalled from working with him, I passed several ghosts. None of them clung to me asking questions like a certain someone I know. All the ghosts scattered upon sight. When one ignorant fellow lingered, another waved frantically at him to get his attention, and then the two of them disappeared. If it wasn’t so sad, it would be funny.
I paused in the doorway to Carl’s room. He lay on his bed moaning, his eyes wide and staring. A woman as thin as he was naturally lingered at his bedside. “I’m sorry, Carl. I didn’t come to see you that often. Just hang on. It’s not too late.”
I watched as his spirit rattled about his body. The wisp of energy seemed like it was losing its ability to hold on to Carl’s physical form. Rather than advise the woman it was indeed too late for Carl, I remained silent. I had intended to question him, but he was too far gone by the looks of it.
“Are you his sister?” I asked.
The woman started and looked up at me. Her red-rimmed eyes were filled with tears. “Yes, who are you?”
“A friend. What happened to him?”
“Don’t you watch the news?” she snapped. “Carl was attacked by one of those roving weirdoes, except he wasn’t in a public place like the others. Ever since then he’s been sick. He thought everything would be okay because it was just a small bite. That’s what he told me a few days ago when he could still talk. My stupid brother didn’t go to the doctor to get a shot. They probably have rabies or something.”
Rabies might be nice in comparison.
“Why doesn’t someone do something?” she railed, but it didn’t appear that she was looking for an answer. I guessed she had questioned the doctors nonstop since Carl arrived. Drifting closer, I wondered. Shouldn’t there be a quarantine set up? Maybe the doctors weren’t panicked yet. If my theory was right, they should be.
An alarm went off, and the sister and I both stared at the flat line. He was gone. Having the ability to see spirits, I had the advantage. I watched as Carl’s ghost drifted out of his body. His sister, blind to the fact, jumped to her feet, yelling and shaking her brother. Hospital staff rushed in, and I moved to a corner of the room, once again, practicing a cloak. No one paid me any attention, but I wasn’t sure if it was because of the emergency or because they couldn’t see me.
I waited for Death to arrive to take the soul to his reward. Nothing happened, no increasing darkness that made me want to be anywhere but there. Were they slack on their duties? Backlogged? Carl’s ghost spotted me, and unlike the others, he drifted in my direction. As he moved, he kept looking back
Chapter Eight
I passed the threshold into death, or rather into a human hospital. The place seemed like the pathway to death, now more than ever. Although I didn’t see them, I sensed the dark beings arriving to take the souls of the dead or dying. I kept out of their way as I traversed the halls. Granted, they had nothing to do with vampires. However, you don’t tempt creatures like these—Bill withstanding, of course. I teased him whenever I got the chance.
Tonight, in the hospital, there were several cases of unexplained fever. When I heard the news, I recalled the woman at the hotel and her talk of odd fevers. In discussing the matter with Violet, or rather attempting to because she refused to answer my questions, I figured out that the situation was serious. I wanted to see a victim for myself because I had a suspicion that wouldn’t let me go until I confirmed it.
At the end of Violet’s and my call, Violet had ordered me to stay away from the hospital. I don’t know why, but her words sounded like “head directly there” to me. Go figure. When I arrived, I picked up her scent. I assumed she was investigating, and for now, I left her to it. Instead, I chose to seek out Carl, who by now must have been in the hospital a week.
Following Carl’s scent, which I recalled from working with him, I passed several ghosts. None of them clung to me asking questions like a certain someone I know. All the ghosts scattered upon sight. When one ignorant fellow lingered, another waved frantically at him to get his attention, and then the two of them disappeared. If it wasn’t so sad, it would be funny.
I paused in the doorway to Carl’s room. He lay on his bed moaning, his eyes wide and staring. A woman as thin as he was naturally lingered at his bedside. “I’m sorry, Carl. I didn’t come to see you that often. Just hang on. It’s not too late.”
I watched as his spirit rattled about his body. The wisp of energy seemed like it was losing its ability to hold on to Carl’s physical form. Rather than advise the woman it was indeed too late for Carl, I remained silent. I had intended to question him, but he was too far gone by the looks of it.
“Are you his sister?” I asked.
The woman started and looked up at me. Her red-rimmed eyes were filled with tears. “Yes, who are you?”
“A friend. What happened to him?”
“Don’t you watch the news?” she snapped. “Carl was attacked by one of those roving weirdoes, except he wasn’t in a public place like the others. Ever since then he’s been sick. He thought everything would be okay because it was just a small bite. That’s what he told me a few days ago when he could still talk. My stupid brother didn’t go to the doctor to get a shot. They probably have rabies or something.”
Rabies might be nice in comparison.
“Why doesn’t someone do something?” she railed, but it didn’t appear that she was looking for an answer. I guessed she had questioned the doctors nonstop since Carl arrived. Drifting closer, I wondered. Shouldn’t there be a quarantine set up? Maybe the doctors weren’t panicked yet. If my theory was right, they should be.
An alarm went off, and the sister and I both stared at the flat line. He was gone. Having the ability to see spirits, I had the advantage. I watched as Carl’s ghost drifted out of his body. His sister, blind to the fact, jumped to her feet, yelling and shaking her brother. Hospital staff rushed in, and I moved to a corner of the room, once again, practicing a cloak. No one paid me any attention, but I wasn’t sure if it was because of the emergency or because they couldn’t see me.
I waited for Death to arrive to take the soul to his reward. Nothing happened, no increasing darkness that made me want to be anywhere but there. Were they slack on their duties? Backlogged? Carl’s ghost spotted me, and unlike the others, he drifted in my direction. As he moved, he kept looking back
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