I woke up to a loud beeping noise. I looked over at a monitor and saw that Alan’s heart rate had spiked. A nurse rushed in to check the monitor. She pushed a button to silence the alarm and stood by to keep watching his pulse. After a minute or so his heart rate slowed. The nurse checked his vitals and then moved toward the exit. This had been going on since he arrived.
“How’s he doing?” I asked.
“His fever has come down just a little but these spikes in heart rate are not good.”
She put a hand on my shoulder as she walked out of the room. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and checked to see If I had any notifications. I had put the word out to all the guys to let me know the minute they had any word on Isidra. Telling the Lieutenant that his only daughter had been attacked and was now missing, was not something I ever wanted to do again. I’ve never heard so much pain in a man’s voice as I did when I told him that. That was a little over 24 hours ago. He had every available Deputy out looking for her and had even called in a few favors to other departments. Sac PD, CHP, and the local Marshals were all on the lookout for Isidra and the vehicles I was able to describe. So far, nothing had showed up.
“AHHHHHHHH!”
I jerked my head up and saw Alan sitting straight up in bed. Eyes wide, taking in the room.
“Alan. Alan, it’s me. It’s Mike.” I said calmly.
Alan turned to stare at me, but it was a stranger looking back at me.
“Alan, you’re in the hospital. You were found by a few Deputies, bleeding to death.”
He had stopped staring at me and was looking around the room. His eyes were squinted as if the lights were too bright. I raised my voice a little.
“Alan, look at me.”
“You don’t have to yell.” He said as he turned toward me.
I opened my mouth to respond, but he cut me off.
“Please get the door.”
“What are…”
I was cut off again as the nurse entered the room. She came over to his bedside and started checking everything. She asked him questions as she worked. After a few minutes, the doctor came in. She asked me to leave. I began to protest, but again I was cut off. She was stern, but compassionate in her delivery.
I walked out into the hall and waited with the Deputy that was stationed there. He and I spoke briefly, me filling him in on the obvious and instructing him to contact the Sergeant about what was going on. Just as we finished speaking, the doc and the nurse came out of the room.
“Can I get some food? I’m starving.” Alan asked me.
“Yeah, I’ll order some delivery. Any special request?”
“Honestly I don’t care as long as it has meat.”
“Okay, bro.”
He hadn’t mentioned Isidra yet, which was strange. That woman was his world. How could he not ask about her? Something was wrong. Wasn’t it? Was I just overthinking it? I couldn’t decide, so I asked.
“Alan, why haven’t you asked about Isidra?”
He looked me straight in the eyes. I don’t know what he was searching for while he did, but he must’ve found it. What came out of his mouth next, I was not prepared for.
“I haven’t asked, because I already know. She was bitten by a vampire and taken.”
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“Alan, what are you talking about?”
“The vampire’s name is Jack. He will have turned her by now.”
“Tell me what you remember.”
Alan began to describe the attack.
I had been there so I knew most of what happened. When He got to the part where I left, I began to listen intently. Alan had been bitten and I wanted to know how. When he got to the part where the wolf Romulus had offered him a choice, I could hardly believe what I had heard. I know it hurts to lose someone, but I didn't think he would willingly choose to be bitten. That was guaranteed removal from the force. Wolves were too unpredictable and not allowed to be in law enforcement. Even Though he had been bitten and couldn't change at will, he still couldn't be a cop anymore.
I could hear the pain in his voice, but I knew why he chose this. As a cop, there was only so much he could do to get her back. As a wolf, he would have a whole pack behind him. If this Romulus was as powerful as we thought, Alan would be a force among the wolves.
After he finished describing what happened, we sat in silence for a few moments. Then I asked what I feared asking.
“So now what ?”
“Now I find the son a a bitch who took my fiance and rip his head off.”
A few hours went by before he got another visitor. This was a Hispanic woman, and judging by her appearance, she was Agent Riley. The woman from the shadow government branch that hunted monsters. She kicked me out and spoke with Alan. When she opened the door again, she addressed me directly.
“Mr. Johnson, I assume you already know who I am. I’ll make this easy, Alan will in fact turn. The Lycanthropy has taken him completely. Did he tell you who bit him?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Mr Jonoson, I cant stress how important the rest of this conversation is. I need you to make sure that Alan does not go with Romulus. He will try and recruit Alan. It is imperative that Alan stay here in Sacramento. Can you do that?”
I can try. Alan is dead set on getting revenge for Isidra. If this Romulus can help, he’s going to take it.”
“He can’t. If he goes with Romulus, we will lose him. I’ll be sending some agents to keep an eye out and track him. You stay with him as much as possible.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She left and I went back in the room. Alan wasn't looking too good. I thought being a lycan meant healing quickly. He seemed to be barely holding on. Though, I had never seen someone turn before. Maybe this was part of it.
Riley came back into the room with a beautiful blood woman. She was tall, maybe 5’10”, caucasian. She was wearing some rather expensive clothing. The two spoke softly to each other.
“ Ladies, I can hear everything you’re saying. You can track me all you want, I’m leaving here as soon as I am able to walk.”
Apparently, Alan’s hearing had already improved. I was only two feet away and could barely hear the whispered voices, but couldn’t understand them.
The blonde walked over to his bedside and whispered in his ear. Alan nodded and then she reached for his head. She cut off a few strands of hair and put them in a small bag.
“This is all I’ll need for the spell. You should get some rest. He will be contacting you soon.”
“Thank you, Chelsea. “ Alan said.
The two women left. I told Alan that I had to make a phone call and stepped out of the room after the ladies. I caught up to them just near the elevator.
“Chelsea is it?”
“Yes, that’s me. How can I help you, Deputy Johnson.”
I wasn’t sure how she knew my name, but I let it go.
“What kind of spell are you doing on him?”
“You heard him, I’m doing a tracking spell. It’s in case Romulus convinces him to leave.”
“Why do you need a tracking spell. Don’t you guys keep track of powerful wolves?”
“There’s no you guys, I don’t work for Riley. She contacts me when there are things of a specific nature that need a withes touch.”
“And this is one of those things?” Michael asked.
“Yes. “
“Okay, Why do you need to track him?”
“Romulus has managed to keep his home a secret. There have been rumors of his home, but they have never been able to confirm.”
“So you’re going to use Alan as a trojan horse of sorts?”
“That’s the plan, but only if you fail to keep him here.”
Michael let the two women get on the elevator and walked back toward Alan’s room. He stopped to call his wife Shelia and give her an update on Alan. She asked a million and one questions, but Michale told her he would give her more details later.
Michael paced back and forth outside of Alan’s room. He had a decision to make. His best friend and brother of 20 years was going through the toughest time of his life and had a path to get back or get revenge for what was taken from him. Who was Michael to stand in his way. On the other hand, what kind of friend lets you go down a path that leads to such harsh consequences should you be caught. Does he help him, or let him go it alone?