Shadows

Chapter Nine - Gregori's Point of View

Minerva and Evelyn finally fell asleep. I thought back on Minerva's words before she fell asleep. I smile as I take my jacket off and wrap Minerva up in it as she is shivering. Her shivering seems to calm as I put my jacket over her. I don't feel the cold in the same way others do. I sit back down and guard the two women for another night.

Morning stole in the windows as I was unconsciously playing the argument they had. They had saved each other using opposing magicks, and both felt guilty about it. I'm the current boyfriend what do I know.

"Anything I need to know?" asked a new man. I didn't recognize him as my normal replacement.

"Nothing unusual to report this morning. May I ask who you are?" I respond politely.

"Oh, yeah, sorry. I'm Billy. I was Evelyn's day guard. Bob wanted me here during the day. Harry broke his leg." he tells me.

"Fair. Tell Minerva she can keep the jacket. See you tonight."

"Good Day Sir."

I leave and realize I miss Harry. I call and verify the information with Bob. He was telling the truth. Apparently Billy has a crush on Evelyn, and Harry broke his leg. I smile as I head home. I sleep restfully for the first time in centuries.

I awake to find Ivan outside my door. He has a bottle and a grim look so I let him in. Its gonna be a rough night if he's around. We talk for a while and I relay the information that I have about Minerva, Evelyn, and their condition. I also tell Ivan about the shields and opposing magicks.

Ivan is very interested and says something odd. Minerva might be a Shadow Healer. A true Shadow Healer, and then something Vanessa told me kicks back to the forefront of my mind. "She will have powers undiscovered until the proper time."

"It's possible, but can we ask Shadowdancer to verify?" I ask.

"We will have to ask him. If she is I want her to train with Nicholas. He's the healer in Alaska. I think the distance will do her some good as well." Ivan tells me seriously.

"I'm going with her." I said seriously.

"Yes, you are. I wouldn't trust Nicholas with a female cat." Ivan laughed.

"She's my mate." I tell him simply.

"Let's finish this bottle and talk to Shadowdancer." Ivan offers and I agree. We make small talk as we finish the bottle. Ivan comes with me to the hospital where we see her family being asked to leave. I tell the staff member that her family is needed to see the healer, and the woman reluctantly agrees.

Healer Shadowdancer sees us and we go in with him. Minerva's family trailing. They know this must be important. Ivan begins the awkward conversation by introducing himself to Minerva.

"Healer Shadowdancer, could you run a simple test on her to see if she is a Shadow Healer?" Ivan asks.

"I can. Minerva see what you can do to this broken bone." Shadowdancer directs handing her a broken cow femur.

Minerva takes the bone and heals it completely. Even my jaw dropped when I saw the bone completely healed. She hands the bone back to Shadowdancer who takes it and examines it.

"Sorry Gregori." Is all that registered before I was on the ground in pain. Shadowdancer had broken my femur and made sure it was through the skin. Minerva jumped out of bed and knelt beside me. She saw the bone was not laying correctly and what she had to ask others to do was not going to make this easier.

"Uncles please I need this leg set properly." she says with the her voice wavering.

My leg was reset and her hands were on my thigh. She breathed deeply and with my blood on her hands breathed out healing magic. I felt her shadow wrap my leg and fix the bone then fix the skin. She sits back and looks me in the eyes with pain in her own.

"You may want my mom or another healer to check it, but the bone is no longer in two pieces. I'm gonna go wash my hands." she says getting unsteadily to her feet.

Ivan breaks the silence as Shadowdancer checks the injury he made. "That proves it. She's a natural Shadow Healer outside of werewolves. This is beyond rare. There hasn't been a natural Shadow Healer outside of werewolves born since the 1400's."

"What does that mean? Texarkana has a new Shadow Healer?" one uncle asks.

"No that means ALL of you need to leave my hospital and return in a few decades. Excuse me." Healer Shadowdancer says.

Five minutes later Shadowdancer and a very harried nurse return with two sets of discharge paperwork. "Pick them up, carry them out, and get gone. Stop long enough for clothes and cash." Healer Shadowdancer says.

I pick Minerva up in princess carry, and have Ivan grab the toys, games, and electronics. Shadowdancer and the nurse grab vases and goods. Two more harried nurses arrive with carts and load them.

We are escorted out of the rehabilitation hospital, and picked up by a mini van. I climb in holding Minerva in my lap. Ivan is right behind me after dropping his arm load in the back. The rest of the 'Get Well' gifts are loaded, and its a very tight squeeze in the van with all of us.

"Minerva's first, then Evelyn's, then interstate. Which direction do I need to go once we are done?" one of the uncles asks as he gets behind the wheel.

"Vaguely North." Ivan says.

"Toward Oklahoma. Got it." the uncle responds as he drives.

"Why do we all need to leave Texarkana?" Evelyn asks.

"The Witch Council. Your entire family is now in danger. All cellphones need to be tossed. We need to get near a lot of vampires and quickly. Gregori and I can sleep under dark blankets, but keep driving north. The first major state that I know is mostly vampires is Nebraska. I have property in North Dakota. Let's go there." Ivan suggests.

"Why are we in danger." her aunt asks.

"You're her family and have been close to her. Proximity matters in Witch business. Especially where a Shadow Healer is concerned." Ivan explains.

"You wanted an extended vacation from your children. It was just dropped in your lap, sister dear." the one driving said.

We pull up to Minerva's house. I carry her into the house and have her show me what to get. I am surprised. All she wants is an army pack, a fireproof safe box, and two black comforters. I take them to the van then come back for Minerva. She is where I left her. I pick her up and climb back into the van with her on my lap.

The trip to Evelyn's is difficult. Both women see the damage first hand. One of her brothers volunteers to get what she needs. He pops the trunk of Evelyn's car and grabs a safe box. He puts it on top of Minerva's and we drive away.

Its a long silent ride away from Texarkana. Neither woman was ready to leave the rehabilitation hospital, and this forced move has only solidified one thing. Nobody is going to take Minerva away from me. I will see war before I give her up.

A short stop is made at a gas station in Oklahoma. Evelyn finally speaks "Harry, we need a bigger van."

"We will get one in Tulsa. I know none of you are comfortable back there." Harry replies.

"Mom, why are we being forced to move? I don't understand." Minerva says softly.

"You are a Shadow Healer outside of the werewolf clans. This hasn't happened since the 1400s, and vampires made sure to turn him." Ivan says. "You'll meet him when we get to North Dakota."

I turn pale as I realize who he's talking about. Nicholas Shadowweaver. "You need to move because every vampire, witch, and werewolf within thirty miles will know in less than a full day. Your family are in danger because the witches will want to kill you. The vampires want to turn you, and the werewolves want to recruit you. What Ivan is not saying is we actually need to go to Alaska. North Dakota is only a temporary stop. We will catch a flight to Alaska in a week or so."

"Why Alaska?" Evelyn asks.

"Two reasons: One, its know for its abundance of Shadow Mages. Two, Nicholas won't leave." Ivan replies.

"Three, we can hide better in the openness of the tundra." the aunt pipes up.

"I am so sorry to be a burden. I didn't ask for Shadow Magicks." Minerva cries.

"Minerva, you have proven yourself as the most selfless of us all. I will move to Alaska just to get away from my annoying children." one of the other uncles pipes up.

"We have all misjudged you dear. We will all make the move." her aunt says.

"Its agreed. We will drive to Alaska. Everyone have their passports?" Harry asks.

"In my safe box." Minerva and Evelyn say at the same time. Affirmitives continue around the van.

"We stop in Tulsa for a bigger van, food, and a hotel for the day. Someone else takes over the driving and we go to Alaska." Harry decrees.

Minerva sobs into my shoulder though in relief or sadness I don't know. I hold her until we reach a motel just before dawn. I sleep the day away and awaken to see a sixteen seater crew van. We take off again as night settles over the interstate.