Any characters you recognize belong to Sherrilyn Kenyon or Laurell K. Hamilton. I’m just doing this for fun. This is rated PG-13 to be safe.

 

Want to once again thank my muse and my friends for getting me through a rough few days. Love you all!!!

 

Shadows (Nate’s Story: Chapter 27)

 

“I died here. You can call me Irish.”

 

Roan and I looked from the new guy’s retreating back to each other.  He shrugged and went to his room.

 

When 'Irish' came back into the living room, I suggested that he take my room while he was in town. He'd have some privacy.

 

He shook his head. “That's okay. I'll sleep on the sofa.  Acheron said it's a sleeper.”

 

“Yeah, it’s pretty comfy. I've used it when I couldn't get right to sleep. I turn on the Today Show. Puts me to sleep every time.”

 

He laughed. We talked a bit more as we were making up the sleeper sofa. Irish seemed like a nice guy. Made me wonder what he did to deserve this hell.

 

That night we decided to divide the city up into the places where the largest crowds were likely to gather. There was a concert going on at the arena. Roan took that area. Irish took the college district, which left me with the Blood Quarter. It was not my most favorite of places, foot patrol on his honor's turf. Oh joy of joys. With any luck it would go quietly… and pigs would fly. Maybe the Daimons would stay in their bolt holes a few days. Hey. It could happen.

 

I was about a block from Circus of the Damned. I had set up a grid of sorts, one that took me close but not so close to draw their attention.

 

Everything was calm until I heard this huge crash up ahead around the corner. I sprinted up the sidewalk and turned the corner just in time to see a very annoyed Doctor Maggie looking down at a box of some sort. I stood watching her steam for a second or two before I stepped out of the shadows.

 

Guess I must have startled her cause she jumped a foot before throwing something that caught me in the right shoulder.  It was sharp and it hurt. I reached across with my left hand and grabbed hold of the… throwing star?

 

I asked her. “Not using needles anymore Doctor?”

 

“Needles don't have quite the range or effect.” She blushed.

 

I shook my head in disbelief. “Well you've managed to do what no Daimon has. Put a hole in my duster.”

 

She crossed her arms. “Maybe you shouldn't sneak up on people in the Quarter after dark.  What are you doing out here anyway?”

 

“My job.” I took a deep breath and yanked out the star. I could feel the blood running over my skin.  “Here ya go. Might want to clean it up.”

 

I handed her the weapon and started to walk off. She grabbed hold of my sleeve. I turned and looked down at her with my best stone face, knowing it wouldn't work.

 

She confirmed that when she huffed at me. “Stop being a brat and let me take a look at that wound. Just what job are you doing? I listen to the radio ya know and I know you're on leave.”

 

I frowned. I missed the station. “It'll heal. You better finish what you were doing and go back inside.”

 

She looked back at the box. “That's a waste now. I'll need to get more.” Looking back at me she added. “Just come down to the lab and I can check that wound.”

 

“You do remember that your boss doesn't like me. Right?”

 

It was at that moment that a giant stepped out of the shadows. He had to be seven foot at least. He walked past the good doctor and grabbed me by the throat, lifting me off the ground. He scented the air.  Oh Jesus, this guy was a shifter and strong.  How strong he let me know as I went flying through the air to land on the hood of the doctor’s car.

 

She screamed. “Aries! He's a friend!”

 

I could help asking. “I am?” She shot me one of those looks that said, ‘One more word and I'm turning him loose.’ I shut up.

 

The big guy growled at me before turning to the doctor. “Luna sent me to check on you. You don't usually cut your friends Maggie.”

 

She apparently wasn’t too intimidated by the giant as she tried to push him out of the way. “He startled me.  Now move so I can see how bad he's hurt.”

 

He didn't. I sat up slowly and listened to the two of them argue for a bit. This was sure to bring unwanted visitors. So I slid off the hood of the doctor’s car and headed off in the opposite direction. 

 

I heard the doctor snap. “Luna wouldn't want you arguing with me Aries.”

 

The big shifter shot back. “She wouldn't want you dead either.”

 

I heard a couple of frustrated growls as I crossed the street and continued on my way.

 

It was three am. I was almost back to my car. I had to pick up the others. My cell phone rang.  It was Mitch. There was trouble at the station. I told him that I'd be there as soon as I picked up the others.

 

We arrived to see a mob of Humans First members out on the sidewalk. They were only being vocal at the moment but the broken windows and the station guards with weapons drawn let us know it hadn't just been vocal earlier. I pulled the Viper up onto the sidewalk in between the guards and the mob. I lowered my window. Ralph and Eddie both looked nervous and pissed.

 

I called to my coworker. “Ralph? What's going on?”

 

He shook his head. “They say we got a bunch of shifters working here.  Said they have proof.”

 

“And just who do they think they are?” I asked.

 

He looked me squarely in the eyes. “They say one of them is you.”

 

Roan laughed. I almost did. “You think I'm a shifter?”  He shrugged at me. “Great.”

 

The shifter beside me in the car told him. “I can assure you he isn't… but I am.”

 

In a flash he was out of the car and heading for the ringleader. Irish and I got out. We stood with the guards to watch the show. It was something to behold. Using his ability to warp time, Roan would pop up between two of the mob just long enough for one to take a swing. Of course he wouldn't be there when the fist connected but the guy’s buddy would be. Soon the mob was fighting itself. They had pretty much dispersed by the time the real cops arrived.

 

Mitch arrived soon after to assess the damages. He assured Ralph and Eddie that the rumors were not true. Then he turned to the three of us. “You want to press charges Nathan?” I frowned as he added. “Your shoulder.”

 

“Oh. They didn't do this.” I assured him.

 

“Thought I smelled blood. Who did it?” My Katagari friend asked.

 

“I startled Dr. Maggie outside the Circus.” I saw Irish go still. “She was all out of needles.”

Mitch laughed as I added, “I'll clean it up at home.” Pausing a minute, I asked him, “You gonna shut down a few days?”

 

“I'll get the windows boarded up until tomorrow. Any activity?” The radio manager asked.

 

Roan shook his head. “Nope, probably will be a couple of days. Give the pin cushion here a chance to heal.”

 

Mitch nodded. “Good.”

 

Before we left Mitch took Irish aside for a few minutes. I saw him glance at us, grin then nod. We finally got home at six. My phone was ringing. I shrugged off the duster and threw it on a chair in the dining room, before picking up the extension.

 

“Hello?” It was Nathaniel. I asked him. “How'd you get this number?”

 

“Myra got it for me.” He explained.

 

Note to self… Shoot Myra. Okay I wouldn't really. Don't panic.

 

Instead I asked him. “What do you need?”

 

“Asher needs to see you.”

 

I sighed. “I can't come to the District Nathaniel and no offense, but I'm not letting you guys know where I live.”

 

“I know where you live.” The cat told me.

 

“How?”

 

“Luna's a cop. Remember?” No I didn't but he went on. “Asher wants to see you.”

 

“Fine. Tell Luna to set it up. Somewhere away from the District.”

 

“Can I come too?” The shifter asked.

 

“If Luna says it's okay.” I hedged. I could see him grin through the telephone I swear it. I asked him, “Anything else?”

 

“My goldfish have babies. Anita says it's your fault.”

 

“How is it my fault?” I was confused.

 

My blood pressure was going up which in turn caused my shoulder to bleed more and my head to hurt. I handed the phone to Roan and headed for the bathroom.

 

I was standing in the tub with the shower running full bore as hot as I could stand it.

Irish came in. “You alright?”

 

“Just tired.” I shut off the water and got out of the shower. He handed me a towel and walked out.

 

Irish walked into my room later as I was trying to bandage my shoulder. He shook his head and took the wrapping from me. He laid the heel of his left hand against the wound and pressed hard. Warmth spread from his hand to my shoulder and through me. ‘He was a healer,’ my brain managed to tell me right before I hit the bed.

 

The next thing I knew it was seven pm, two nights later.  Nathaniel was curled up beside me and Asher was sitting in one of the kitchen chairs by my bed looking amused. What the hell?