Page 24 of Wicked Thirst
I motioned to his wounds and my anger began to match his. I wanted to find Gray and bring him home, but I did not want to hurt him in the process. While we were standing here arguing about it, Atlas was bleeding out and Grayson was getting away. “You need to cope better or die mad about it.”
He ground his teeth together. “This is your fault. His death will be on your hands, and I will forever curse you for it.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
PIPER
“What the hell do you mean it’ll be on my head?” I had one of Atlas’ arms draped over my shoulders, and he leaned only a bit of his weight on me as we walked through the tunnels under the castle toward the lab.
“You need to stop being so bloody naïve. The curse will take him. Face it,” he gritted out between labored breaths. Blood misted from his lips and ran down from the corner of his mouth.
“You don’t know that, and the fact you’re willing to give up on your best friend says a lot about who you are as a person.”
“I’m not a bloody person, I’m a sodding vampire, and I know what’s in store for him.” He hissed under his breath. “Death would be a kindness.”
Blood seeped slowly from the jagged metal pieces jutting from his torso. It was dark and oozing as it soaked into his shirt and the top of his pants. When I kicked the doors open to the lab, everyone froze and stared at the two of us. Their jaws dropped.
Atlas groaned. “Generally, I’m not a patient here. I’m usually the reason they have patients.”
“Right, you’re the one bringing the others in on stretchers.” I sighed and rolled my eyes. “He needs help, people!”
Three lab assistants rushed forward, and I handed Atlas over to them. The three of them nearly toppled under his weight. They stumbled and staggered as they directed him to one of the exam rooms. I followed behind him not really sure what to do, but I wasn’t going to leave him alone until he explained and gave me his word he wouldn’t try to kill Grayson. The doctor rushed in behind us, and I moved to the side watching as they hoisted Atlas onto the metal table. I was glad for once it wasn’t me.
Atlas shoved the techs off him and growled at the doctor. He motioned to the metal jutting from his side. “Pull them out.”
Doctor Stanbourn looked like he’d seen better days. He was a made-vampire, so there were only a few slight hints to his age when he was turned. But even now those looked more severe from the night. His salt and pepper hair stood on edge and the wrinkles around his eyes were accompanied by dark circles. Red stains marred what used to be his pristine white lab coat. His glasses were tucked into the pocket of his coat, and when he leaned over Atlas, he just appeared exhausted.
“What happened here?”
We shared a look and Atlas ground his teeth together. “Rogue vampire.”
“I’ve never seen you injured before. Must’ve been a strong vampire.” He hurried around the room, pulling supplies from the drawers and laying them on the portable tray that would wheel around the room.
He pushed it across the room and stood before Atlas. “Lie back.”
Atlas relaxed his muscles and slapped away one of the techs who tried to ease his head down. “I’m not bloody dying.”
The doctor cleared this throat. “I think I’ll take it from here, lest one of you lose a limb.”
Atlas hissed at them. “Right. Piss off, the lot of you.”
The three techs scurried out of the room, leaving only me and the doctor alone with Atlas. The doctor picked up the medical scissors and cut away Atlas’ shirt. He dropped the pieces onto the tray. With each strip, he revealed more of Atlas’ skin. Dark tattoos covered his body along with a deep bruise that indicated he was bleeding internally. Those two metal pieces jutted from his torso, and rivets of blood ran down his sides. His muscles clenched and flexed in pain with every breath he took.
When the doctor picked up a needle and started to bring it toward Atlas’ skin, he grabbed the doctor’s wrist, stopping him. “Just pull them out.”
“No need to put on a brave face here. The pain will be great.” He hesitated with the needled poised.
The muscles in Atlas’ neck tightened as he gritted his teeth together. “Be done with it so I can be on my way.”
Sweat soaked his hair and had it sticking to his head. The doctor nodded to me. “Hold him down.”
“I have command over myself.” Atlas’ face pulled into a hard sneer.
“And yet you need my assistance.” The doctor didn’t budge to help him. “You forget yourself. I’ve seen what you can do.”
“And you think she can hold me down?” He glared in my direction.
The doctor scoffed. “And much more if she’d like.”
