Page 13 of A Cursed Noel

I’m not in a city. Atleast, not a large one. It’s a suburb of sorts, based on the sizeof the hospital just a few yards from where I landed.

The campus isn’thuge, neither is the parking deck. I take in where the communityhospital starts and ends. Everything in the vicinity, down to theneighboring homes, reinforce my beliefs that this isn’t some grandmetropolis. But why did I land here?

More vehicles speed byme. I catch sight of their license plates and just about hurtlemyself into oncoming traffic.

No.

I whip around,inspecting the plates on each car in the lot to make certain.

I’m not in hell.

But it’s a closesecond.

I’m in New Jersey!

Of all the places Mimicould have sent me.

I return my attentionto the lot, trying to get a sense on why I was specifically droppednear a hospital.

Garland coveredlampposts with large wreaths and candy canes secured to their centersilluminate my surroundings. The bright obnoxious lighting from thedirty bulbs guides the medical staff exiting the building and givesthem a false sense of safety. They make their way toward theirvehicles, oblivious to creatures my kind kills on their behalf.

Some workers moveswiftly, burrowing deep into their coats when the wind picks up andfresh fallen snow sails across the lot. Others, although cold,shuffle slowly, evidently having experienced one monster of a shift.

I scan the group andthe next few after that. Is she here? The female I’m supposed tohelp or whatever? Mimi called her a girl. I take it she’s young.Maybe she’s an aid or cleaning person.

Or maybe I’m just inthe wrong place.

I rub my bare arms,calling forth my wolf to warm me. He takes his time, still shockedlike me to find us here. My short black T-shirt, jeans, and hikingboots were good enough for thirty-degree weather, not so much forthis.

Not one person wholeaves the building holds my attention, neither do the few visitorswho straggle toward the deck. A couple stops short halfway to thegate just to argue. She pushes him and walks away. He curses underhis breath and leaves in the opposite direction. I eye them closely,but I don’t feel a need to chase her down, nor do I sense thatshe’s in immediate danger.

The sky deepens from anashy gray to jet black, dropping the temp a few more degrees. Iglance around, waiting for anything that may clue me in on how totrack this girl.

It was morning when Iarrived in Colorado. It was also spring. It’s evening here and thetime of year when the sun sets sooner.

The bitterness I’vegrown used to coats my tongue. Being out here is giving me too muchtime to think. Why does it have to be Christmas? I barely survivedthe last few holidays. I’d prefer not to push through another onein a place I don’t belong.

I kick at the snowedging the walkway as a young woman steps out from the buildingalone. I perk up, thinking she may be the one.

She waves to a driverparked illegally. The engine roars and the woman hurries inside.

A growl escapes mythroat as my frustration grows. Where exactly am I supposed to go? Itake a sniff, hoping to pick up on anything unusual that may help metrack down the girl.

Footsteps approachbehind me, human ones that keep an odd pace.

My muscles tense.There’s something off about him.

A male with more hairon his face than on his head takes a drag from a long cigarette. Hiseyes glassy and his expression lost. “ER’s just ahead, man.You’re almost there.”

“What?”

He staggers forward,too high to run away, but not high enough to realize I’m dangerous.

“Tell them you werehit by a car.” He smacks at the crook of his arm. “They’llstart the IV there. When they’re not looking run. My boy Roz willmeet you East Main and Mechanic.”

“I don’t need youor your friend,” I growl. “Whatyouneed is to do better,human. My kind aren’t risking their hides just for you to throwyour life away.”

It’s a stupid remarkto make. Humans who aren’t mated toweresare ignorant tovamps, witches, and us. Still, that rage that’s more friend thanfoe pokes through, permitting me to say what I do.

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