Page 12 of Shadowing Bright
“Why?”
“Dark energy.”
The driver nodded and glanced at her.“Vaia?”
“Yeah.Hey, Skip.How is life without Nylora?”
“This is my fourth trainee, so you tell me.”
Vaia chuckled and relaxed into the motion of the ambulance.
After an ultrasound to show that the wound track had been climbing up her femoral artery, weakening it, she was confined to hospital bedrest in one of the blue dotted gowns.She would have been able to go home, but she lived alone.
They were giving her meds, and healers were working to strengthen the arterial walls.She was in danger of a life-threatening hemorrhage if she tried to get up and go about her normal activities.
She called her assistant and asked her to reschedule the appointments for the week.This was going to cut a hole in her bottom line.Good thing she had savings.
Things were going well with the private room and the phone charger that she had snagged from the gift shop.An administrator came to her room and said, “Everything is in order.You have excellent insurance, and the overages have been authorized.”
Vaia cleared her throat.“Authorized?”
“Yes, by the policy holder.A Mr.Maximus.”She checked her tablet.“Your husband.”
“Oh.Right.Him.”
“Yes.Very charming.Amazing voice.”The administrator was starting to smell a little hot.
“So I have heard.”Vaia nodded.“Okay, so how long is my stay approved for?”
“As long as necessary.”
“Great.I am going to make a call.Please excuse me.”
She lifted her phone and called her lawyer.“Any response from the other side?”
Dorn growled.“They are coming in for mediation.Can you be here tomorrow morning?”
“Nope.I got shot.I am stuck here until I am authorized to leave.”
“Shot?”
“Yeah.Right after you had the papers served.”
“Oh.What are you thinking?”
“I am thinking that someone sent twenty portalling mercenaries to my home.They shot through my house, and I was struck twice.So, Dorn, what do you think I should do?I hate to say it, but I can’t run.”
His gravelly voice rolled again, “Where are you?”
“Danforth General.”
“Ah, the dark energy thing.”
“Yeah, it doesn’t freak out the other patients here.”
“Does the mayor know?”
“He knows I was shot.Probably knows where I am.It would explain the guard at the door.”
