Page 11 of Saving Dakota

“A zombie?” Dakota’s face betrayed his skepticism. “Let me see him.” He demanded as his brittle patience came to an abrupt end. The assistant, Dr. Mane, walked over and threw a switch that brought his attention to a large observation window in the wall.

He walked over with Terrance at his side and looked into the room next door. Eric was there on a bed. There were sensors and gauges, but the room was deathly quiet. He looked like some macabre sacrifice, and it hit Dakota all wrong.

He started shaking his head and stepped back. "No, no, this isn't happening. I don't know what it is you're trying to do, but this is fucked." He moved quickly to the door and jerked it open, hearing the other yell for him to stop. Dakota rushed inside and placed his palm on Eric's forehead while staring down at him, willing him to wake.

Terrance stood beside him but did not interfere. The doctors remained by the door, and Master DuCane walked up to the opposite side of Eric's bed. "Eric," Dakota spoke, and there was a subtle movement, but Eric did not wake.

He pulled the stiff white sheet down and saw that Eric had endured cuts, bruises, and burns to his chest and arms. He then checked his lower extremities, and the injuries were similar. They weren't deep or serious, but they showed the trauma he'd suffered.

He covered him once again and again placed his palm on Eric's forehead. He then looked up at Master DuCane, who stood across from him, and their eyes locked. The last time, it was blistering, and the intensity was brutal. This time, there was a touch of sympathy in that gaze.

“Is this your doing?” Dakota asked him bluntly.

"No, this plague was placed upon him by a witch. He was infected by the blood of another who had also been plagued." Master DuCane was calm and forthright, but Dakota still believed something was not right, and after a brief pause, he told him what it was. "The only cure for Eric is finding the witch who put this upon him. Their blood is the antidote." Dakota was instantly thinking it was a needle in a haystack situation and how would they ever discover who and where they were.

"It's not as hopeless as you might think. Magics like this witch leave markers and Dr. Faraday and his assistant have already identified several. I've dispatched two teams of soldiers to follow these markers. They're combing the area between here and Toledo, and they will find them. Your friend is not lost."

“We are very good at our jobs, Dakota. Our people are specialists this witch cannot hide from us.” Terrance drove home their assurances. Dakota brushed back the hair from Eric’s young face and arranged its length along his shoulders. He had been a strong and healthy young man with dreams and aspirations which included his sister and his tribe.

"He is still here, and I can feel his life and struggle," Dakota stated, taking hold of Eric's hand. "He is young and strong, and he will fight this with everything he has." Dakota took a leather amulet bag from his pocket that Able had made and laid it on Eric's chest. He then spoke the words in his nativetongue that called down the spirits of protection, and when finished, he stepped back and took hold of Terrance's hand.

He still saw him as the thunderbird the giver of strength and he needed all he could get right now. “Thank you for your help.” He said and cast a glance at everyone in the room.

“Go with Terrance and he will answer any questions or concerns you may have. When we know more I will alert you immediately.” Master DuCane was going above and beyond for him and for Eric and having a man like Terrance at his side was a bonus he’d never expected. Terrance was turning into someone he leaned on and looked to for strength and stability.

CHAPTER SIX

Terrance’s heart went out to Dakota, and he wished he could take away his worry but they had to wait. They would find the witch there was no doubt about that, but the waiting was excruciating for his beloved. They left and did not speak until they reached the staircase. Dakota stopped and leaned with both hands on the banister and dropped his head. It was a look of being beaten and Terrance would not tolerate it.

Terrance came up behind him and took him by the shoulders, massaging the tense muscles. "Master Louis DuCane has taken on this matter personally, and he will not be defeated by a rogue vampire or a worthless witch. He has conquered nations and faced down demons from hell, so I can assure you that this matter will be solved, and Eric will come back to you." Dakota turned to him, and Terrance instinctively took him into his arms. Dakota did not resist. He laid his head against Terrance's chest and took a long, deep breath.

"I feel so damn helpless." He growled and wrapped his arms around Terrance, holding him in a firm embrace. Terrance loved the experience of having his beloved in his arms, providing mutual love and support.

"If it weren't for your relentless diligence, Eric's case would have been overlooked, and he might have never been found. His life would have been over, but you didn't stop, and you made everyone you met listen and take your concerns seriously. He would not have survived without you." Terrance drove home the truth of the matter in no uncertain terms. Dakota had nothing to feel bad about; he did his job and saved that young man.

"It's not over yet, and all I can do is wait." Dakota's voice was muffled against Terrance's suit jacket.

“You did your part and now we do ours.” They stood there like that for a few minutes drawing strength and support from one another and then Terrance suggested dinner he was certain Dakota hadn’t eaten since early morning.

“Sounds good.” He relented and they slowly made their way to the dining hall. Terrance pointed out particularly impressive parts of the Palace on their way and even stopped at one of the large windows to admire the gardens. Dakota appreciated the beauty and the craftsmanship, but Terrance could tell that his mind was still consumed with worry for young Eric Blackbird.

Dakota took in the marvels of the Palace which were many even on his short trip to the dining hall. The place was magnificent and there was no challenging that fact, but the gardens were his favorite. Terrance said they surrounded the property and took in miles each being meticulously tended and cared for. The Coven house and grounds was an extraordinary site.

Dinner was very good and definitely not your run of the mill dining hall. This was more like a high-end eatery but setup like a dining hall. Terrance told him the chef was highly trained and skilled in his art, and it showed. DuCane did nothing halfway and that was apparent in everything he owned and operated. His confidence in Master DuCane’s grew by the minute. Terrance was right he would not tolerate failure and that went directly in Eric’s favor.

Terrance introduced him to several people and they were pleasant and welcoming. The weight of the place was feeling less dire than when he’d first arrived. His opinion was lightning as well, and the vampires came across as conventional beings and not someone to be feared.

Then there was Terrance, the picture of masculine beauty and someone Dakota desired to the depths of his soul. That was a strong statement, but it was true the longer he remained in his company, the more his need grew. He'd known handsome men in the past, and not one had affected him the way Terrance had affected him. If he wasn't careful, it could turn into a full-on obsession. They were discussing Terrence's position as a soldier and the cover he held in the town as a private investigator. DuCane kept eyes everywhere, which was probably wise. Suddenly, Deputy Lawson appeared at their table, and Dakota stiffened and leaned back, not sure what to expect from him.

Terrance looked up at him, but nobody spoke. Lawson looked at a loss for words looking back and forth between Dakota and Terrance but finally he found his voice. "I wanted to apologize for the way I delt with you on the phone during our first contact and for the dismissive way I treated you throughout." He stopped briefly and fidgeted with his hat that he held in his hands. Neither Dakota nor Terrance responded sensing there was more to come.

"If I'd handled this the way it should have been handled from the beginning, perhaps Eric Blackbird would not be inthe condition that he is now. I take full responsibility for the slow start of this investigation, and I will strive to do better going forward. Again, I apologize to you, Detective Lieutenant Winters."

After a short pause Dakota responded. He stood and reached out his hand to Lawson who took it, and they shook. “I accept your apology and I thank you for ultimately doing your job and finding Eric for us.” It was a backhanded acceptance, but Dakota was still feeling a little sting from the deputy’s original contemptuous attitude.

“Thank you, sir." He said. He turned to leave but stopped and turned back. "I really am sorry, and I wish we could have gotten to him sooner." He didn't wait for a further response and simply left the room.

"That looked difficult," Dakota commented on Lawson's apology.

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