Page 9 of Black Bird

“You okay?” he asked as she took a few light steps.

“I’m fine. Look … you seem like the kind of person that doesn’t hover like they do. Do me a favor, and don’t look at me like one of your victims, okay?”

His victims … fuck. If she only knew.

“Fair enough. Shall we?” He gestured toward the door.

When they walked out into the hall a nurse greeted them, of course asking where she was headed and if she needed anything. Sarah had assured her that she’d be back and just needed some air. The nurse had known what kind of air she meant and directed them to a spot they could venture out to without getting busted for smoking on the premises. A small, covered walkway with a single metal bench between two trash cans.At least they were letting her have one. They sat and Athan lit the cigarette from behind his ear, passing it to her and staring forward while she dragged. It took everything in him not to look over at her.

“I don’t remember much,” she said, blowing out a decent cloud of smoke. “I probably will be of very little help to you, my dude.” Athan snickered and lowered his head.

“Why don’t we just start with what youcanremember?”

Sarah took another drag and passed the cigarette back to him. The smell of city rain blew past them. “There isn’t much to tell after I saw you storm out of the bar. I stayed for a couple of hours with Wren and then I left without her.” Athan blew smoke and passed the cigarette back.

“Wren is the redhead?”

“Yep.” She drew on the butt again, smoke billowing through her nose while she continued. “She got ahold of some guy. Wanted to stay, so I left. I know it was some time after midnight. I was gonna take the bus home, but I couldn’t find the bus stop.” She puffed again and passed it and Athan accepted. “I ended up in the alley with no signal. I lit up and heard a bang behind me. Saw nothing. And then it happened.” Sarah stared off across the hospital campus.

“What happened, exactly? Do you know if someone was following you?” Every word felt like he was violating her all over again. He handed the stub back to her.

“No. I didn’t see anybody. All I remember was lightning flashing and … something dark and really fucking strong pinning me against the wall. I felt a horrible pain in my neck, here.” She waved a tattooed finger over her bandage. “And then … well honestly, I thought I died.” Athan kept his reserve, his mind flashing back to her lifeless body and her non-existent pulse.

“You said something. Not someone?”

She flicked the butt across the walkway. “Sure didn’t feel like a someone.”

So, she didn’t remember anything. Didn’t see him or realize he had stolen from her. He also hadn’t asked about that part. “Was anything missing? Mugging gone wrong, maybe?” Sarah scoffed, wincing at the movement and thumbing the bandage. He tried not to stare.

“Well … if it was, then they got what they were after. The only thing missing was my necklace. I never take it off. Maybe that's why I’m so pissed.”

“Family heirloom?”

She turned her face toward him, and he met her eyes. “More like literal family.” Athan lowered his brows. “It’s my mother’s ashes. I had them made into a stone pendant and brought her with me from Seattle. It’s where I’m from.” A chill went down his spine. Another thing he hadn’t felt in eons.

“Why would someone want that?”

She stared into him for a moment and then turned away again, her eyes trailing off once more. “We’d need a carton of smokes for that conversation, detective.”

Interesting.

Sarah swayed toward him, her eyes fluttering. He took her shoulders and held her steady. “What’s happening?” he asked awkwardly.

“Sorry, I’m just … just lightheaded.”

Athan raised and helped her to her feet. “Let’s get you back. You gave me more than enough for one night.” Sarah’s dark hair blew slightly into her pale face. It threatened to take the breath clean out of him.

“You never told me what you were doing at the club.” She smirked, leaning on him as they made their way back into the hospital.

Athan was silent for a few steps as they slipped through the heavy door. “I had business with the owner that night. It didn’t go very well.” He clenched his teeth at the thought of Dahlia’s face.

“Yeah, you looked pretty pissed.”

“How could you tell? I usually take pride in how well I hide behind a hood.” He realized how weak she was becoming after that cigarette the further they walked down the hallway.

“Your angry man-strut along the back wall said as much.” Sarah chuckled, flinching again and grabbing at her neck. His jaw feathered. She stumbled forward and he caught her before she fell flat on her face, his inhuman strength a small blessing as he scooped her up and carried her.

“Shit … Miss St. James?” He turned her face up and brushed her hair away. Her eyes barely focused and she smiled deliriously.

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