Page 24 of The Shadows of Excess

I exhaled a sigh of relief. Damon had a bloodied nose and a black eye, but he was alive. I hated being so helpless, lying in this bed.

“We tried to follow them,” Brody reported, his voice strained. “The demons...they vanished into thin air, and they took hostages.”

All three needed medical attention, especially Grady.

“Damon, check the drawers for a first aid kit,” I suggested, trying to keep my tone steady despite the throbbing pain in my own arm.

Damon nodded, rummaged around in the drawers, and found a basic first aid kit. He tossed it to Justice, who caught it effortlessly. “Grady, you’re up.” Damon winked.

Grady grimaced but complied and sat on a nearby chair. “A vampire?”

“Don’t worry.” Justice grinned. “I won’t bite.”

Justice opened the kit, then cleaned the cut with antiseptic wipes, his expression focused. Grady winced but remained stoically silent. Then, Justice began to work on the wound, his movements precise and practiced.

He expertly secured butterfly bandages across Grady’s cut, his vampire speed aiding the quick, efficient treatment. “Keep pressure on it,” he advised, his gaze meeting Grady’s. “It’s not a permanent fix, but it should hold until we can get you proper medical attention.”

Grady nodded, flexing his fingers under the bandage. The immediate danger seemed to have passed, but the air was still thick with tension and unspoken fears.

The situation was far from resolved, but for a moment, there was a small sense of relief. At least one crisis had been temporarily averted in the middle of the chaos surrounding us.

Justice turned his attention to Brody, noticing his bloodied knuckles. “Your turn,” he stated with practical concern.

Brody extended his hand. Justice grabbed a clean rag from the first aid kit and gently dabbed at the wounds. The stark white rag soaked up the excess blood, revealing the extent of the abrasions.

“Hold still,” Justice murmured, carefully examining each knuckle. He retrieved a small bottle of antiseptic from the kit, applying it with care to avoid causing more pain. Brody flinched slightly at the sting, but his face remained impassive, a testament to his resilience.

After cleaning the wounds, Justice used another piece of clean gauze to pat them dry. He applied a thin layer of antibiotic ointment to help prevent infection. Finally, he wrapped Brody’s hand in a light bandage, providing protection and support to the injured skin.

“There,” Justice told him. “Keep an eye on it. If it gets worse, you’ll need more than a first aid kit.”

Brody nodded in acknowledgment. “Thanks,” he grunted, the simplicity of the word carrying the weight of gratitude.

As Justice dressed Grady’s wound, my mind raced. If the demons were selecting their targets with such precision, it indicated a higher level of planning and purpose.

Damon surveyed Brody and Grady, his expression hardening in resolve. He wiped his nose with his arm, smearing blood on his sleeve. “All right, we need to huddle up and figure out what these freaks are planning next. There’s gotta be a connection between the hostages and the other victims. Let’s dig into it and find that link before these bastards make another move.”

Justice nodded, his gaze lingering on the wounded Grady. “Let’s start with deciphering this parchment. We’re dealing with something far more calculated and dangerous than we initially thought.”

A deathly silence fell across the room, stealing our hope. The demons had escalated their tactics. Did it have to do with Brody and his team finding the paper?

Brody finally broke the silence. “Listen, we can’t lose focus.” His firm voice cut through the tense atmosphere. “Our mission remains the same. We rescue the victims and put a stop to these attacks.

“Grady and I will look into the doctor and nurse the demons took, see what connections they might have to all this. Damon, you’re familiar with this town. Start reaching out to your contacts. They might be able to shed some light on this. Justice, send a copy of the parchment to Dr. Gould and start trying to decipher it.”

“What should I do?” Scott asked eagerly.

“You’re staying with Sawyer.” Brody held up a finger. “Don’t let her leave, and don’t let anyone come in unless they’re medical personnel.”

I focused on Brody. “Oh, I know. I get to stay in bed.”

Brody gave me a terse scowl. “If you try to leave, you could endanger yourself and everyone in this hospital. You’re better off.”

I shook my head. “Not necessarily. Those demons took my doctor and a nurse. What’s going to stop them from kidnapping me?”

Brody glanced over at Damon as if asking for help.

“Sawyer, I need to know you’re safe. I promise I’ll report back here.” He winked at me. “Besides, I know something they can’t cross. Stay here, and I’ll be right back.”

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