Page 14 of Shadow of Death
The pain was immediate, the worst radiating from my ankle. The only good thing was that I couldn’t breathe deep enough to scream like a banshee.
Kicks was suddenly there, kneeling beside me. “Dammit,” he said, taking me in. “You okay?”
I nodded, the pain making it hard to speak.
“How bad?” His voice was strained, almost like he was the one who’d just gotten banged up.
Buddie was right beside him. “What the hell happened?”
“I’m okay,” I said, trying to keep the situation under control.
“She wanted to try the bike and lost control,” Kicks said.
A crowd was forming around us, more people asking. I was barely looking at anyone. I was too busy trying not to cry in front of a crowd.
“She’s all right,” Kicks said. “Let’s give her some space.” He gently touched my leg.
“Ow. Don’t touch it.” I put a hand out. “I’m okay. I just need a minute.”
Buddie was hustling the crowd away from me as Kicks knelt beside me, as if waiting for me to do something. I didn’t want to budge, but I also hated being the pack’s center of attention. It was time to get up. I gritted my teeth, trying to get to my feet. Kicks had his hand under my elbow.
Black spots started to cloud my vision.
I came to in Kicks’ arms, being carried toward the cabin, every movement shooting pain through me.
“I had it. I just needed a moment,” I said, trying to ignore all the curious stares.
“It’s broken, so if a moment translates to a month, yeah, I completely agree,” Kicks said.
When we reached the cabin, he set me down gently on the couch, cautious with my leg.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he said, and then turned to leave. He didn’t go far before he looked back at me with a firm stare. “Don’t. Move.”
“Where do you think I’m going to go? I. Can’t. Stand.” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
“That doesn’t mean you won’t try to crawl somewhere,” he shot back, hesitating as if he were debating whether to sic one of his people on me.
“I’m not leaving. Go get supplies or people or whatever. I’ll be here when you get back.”
I flopped my head back onto the couch pillow and immediately regretted it. Any sudden movement jarred my leg, sending fresh waves of pain.
How could I be so capable of killing and yet so utterly useless at something as simple as riding a bike? Death had made me into a magical savant, but with all my talents residing on the dark side. I couldn’t even heal myself. I was utterly useless for any kind of good.
The second Kicks was out the door, I said, “Death?”
I didn’twantto call her, usually avoided it at all costs, but unfortunately, I was in a real pickle now. Not only would I not be able to ride my own bike, I might be traveling with crutches. Through the wilderness. I was supposed to be scary like this?
“Death?” I called again. I waited a whole five seconds before repeating, “Death!” I used my parent voice this time, not that I expected it to work. It didn’t work on Charlie most of the time. Why would it work on Death?
No one appeared. She always popped up when I didn’t want her and yet never seemed to hear me when I called. So typical. It was like I was frenemies with the most lethal creature on earth. I took in a long, deep breath before I screamed her name again, along with a string of curses for a little extra flavor. I longed to tell her to go to hell, but she was probably already there on vacation.
“Death!” I added as much force to my voice as I could. My voice echoed off the log walls, and I wondered how many people might hear me. If they did, hopefully they’d just think I was rambling on like a lunatic, and not suspect the truth.
Of all the people—things—I had to work with, I got her? A spiteful bitch who was in charge of collecting souls?
My leg throbbed in pain, as if she were here and poking at it. She probably was, the sadistic bitch.
She suddenly appeared, showing up in that unsettling way of hers. Her expression was a mask of indifference, but it was better than when she tried to approximate human emotions.