Page 29 of Pity the Living, Not the Dead

“Someone’s cheeky this morning.”

I slid to the side, wiping the sleep from my eyes as Liam proceeded to play the messages.

“Liam Aldrich, this is Nurse Jackie Hall from Harborview Medical Center. We are calling you because you’re listed as the emergency contact for Olivia Aldrich. We need you to call us as soon as possible at—”

The phone slid from Liam’s hand. I snatched it midair before it connected with the floor.

“Liam?” I called out, scooping him up before he hit the ground. “My love, this could be nothing. Let’s get dressed, we can be there in a matter of minutes.” When he didn’t move, I laid him atop the bed and went to the closet, selecting outfits for both of us. I dressed him first, then myself, and grabbed the keys and Liam at the same time. We were in the car and on the road moments later. “Are you okay to walk?” I asked him once we’d parked. He nodded and opened the door, then headed straight for the emergency entrance.

“I’m Liam Aldrich, I’m here to see my sister, Olivia Aldrich.” His voice quivered. I kept my arm around his waist, not only to calm him but to be near in case he felt faint again.

The nurse clicked away on her keyboard, “Okay, Mr. Aldrich. Have a seat and someone will be out to speak with you momentarily.”

“Is Olivia okay? What happened? What can you tell me?” Liam’s voice rose with each word.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Aldrich, I’m not privy to that kind of information.”

Liam growled, and her eyes damn near popped out of their sockets.

“Liam, my love. Come, let’s sit.” I guided him away from the woman at the front desk before he ripped her apart and caused more issues than we could deal with right now. We sat and I took his hand in mine. “Liam, there’s a reason they don’t give the front desk staff patient information. It would violate HIPAA policies to speak aloud in front of others. Plus, many people in these positions are volunteers.”

“I want to muscle my way in and find her,” he admitted. Had I not been there, I’m certain that’s exactly how this would’ve went down.

“That is why we train, Liam. To learn to control these urges so we can exist alongside humans.”

A man in a white lab coat emerged from behind the double doors. “Liam Aldrich?”

With Liam’s hand firmly in mine, the best way I could get him to not move too fast, we approached him. “I’m Liam.”

“Please, follow me.”

Once those dreaded overpowering hospital hallway doors that no one ever wants to be on the other side of closed behind us, he said, “Liam, I’m Dr. Hamada. Your sister was brought in earlier today with multiple stab wounds. Her body was found in a park near the courthouse. She had no I.D. on her, but we knew who she was. The wounds were deep, lacerating multiple organs. We operated for over five hours, but the prognosis is bleak.” He stopped in front of a room. “I’ve never wanted to deliver this kind of news less in my career. I consider Olivia not only a colleague, but a friend.” Dr. Hamada cleared his throat, his eyes filled with tears. He clearly cared deeply for Olivia. “If you have any other family members, you may want to ask them to come and pay their last respects. I’m sorry.” He patted Liam on the shoulder and held the door open for us.

Liam burst in and straight to her side. “Oh Liv, no!” he cried out.

“I’ll leave you alone,” Dr. Hamada said, closing the door behind him. I was thankful for that, since having to explain vampire tears to a human wasn’t something I had the patience for right now.

Liam held her hand in his, working around the vast array of wires connected to the machines keeping her body alive long enough for the family to get here to say their goodbyes. Only no family outside of us would be coming. Liam’s blood-red tears stained the starched white linens covering her lifeless body. “Liv, please don’t leave me,” he cried out.

Why did life keep handing Liam, my dear, sweet Liam, such shitty hands? Were the fates truly that cruel? He was finally sliding into his new role in the hierarchy of things and Liv had barely enjoyed the promotion she worked so hard for, only to have it taken away in the blink of an eye. Had they caught the soulless asshole that did this to her? With no one to identify him, he’d likely get away with it. Too many things like this happened day in and day out. Innocent lives lost for what? Most likely a dime bag? A hit to last just long enough for them to attack again once the high wore off? The vicious cycle of the downward spiral into the abyss of the corrupt was never ending. Countless lives lost to the demons far too many were battling.

“Liam, my love,” I said, rubbing circles along his back, “do you want me to reach out to your family?”

His sniffled, triggering a paralyzing ache I felt in my core. “No. She wrote them off when they never reached out to either of us.”

Liam suddenly bolted upright. “Elijah! Our blood?”

“Liam,” I whispered in warning, “there are far too many people here. You’d be risking our anonymity.”

“I can’t go on without her,” he professed.

Thump, thump.

“How will we get her out of here undetected?” I pointed out to him, knowing exactly where he was headed with this.

Thump, thump.

We stared blankly at each other.

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