Page 67 of Rise of the Melody
“Okay, stay with her. Keep checking. I’m on my way.”
Ron made it in record time, but Aunt Lorna still wasn’t waking or responding. He picked her up in his arms like a child and ran down the steps, laying her in the back seat of his car. CooShee watched from the porch, keeping vigil over the house as Ron and I jumped in and did a donut in the gravel, kicking up dust and pebbles.
I let myself cry as Ron called the hospital to prepare them. My tears were partly for Aunt Lorna and partly from the overwhelming chaos that was Zar MacCray. Ron asked for a specific doctor to be called in for her case.
“He’s a fume,” Ron explained when he hung up. “Though it’s rare for fae-blooded to end up at a human hospital. I’ll call Mo and Leon, too.”
Two ER nurses were ready with a gurney when we arrived at the hospital. They wheeled her back and began hooking her up to an IV and monitors. I stood in the corner with my arms tightly crossed for what felt like forever before the doctor came in and reviewed all of her vitals, shaking his head. I stepped out of the corner since it was just the three of us.
“She’s in a coma,” he told Ron and me. “We’ll run some brain scans. She’s completely healthy, though. I’ve never seen anything like this with a nix. Let’s call in some of the magical community to have a look. I’ll reach out to Patel.”
Ron nodded. “I’ll do that. Thank you, doc.”
The doctor left the room, and I went straight into Ron’s arms. He held me and I wanted to cry all over again. This must be what a dad hug felt like. There was comfort in knowing he cared about my aunt like I did. In fact, he was the only one.
“She’ll be okay,” he promised me. “She’s strong. We’ll figure this out.”
I pulled away and looked up into his watery blue eyes. “I need to tell you everything that’s going on. But you can’t tell anyone, Ron.”
He nodded. “You can tell me.”
And so, I did.
Chapter19
Book Passage
Poor Ron. He was probably overwhelmed as everything poured out of me, but he sat with me in that hospital room and listened to every word, soaking in the details with full concentration. The thing that really got him, though?
“Zar MacCray,” he said. “You’re absolutely positive?”
“Well, he looks like the boy in the pictures—same features—and about the right age. And he told Aunt Lorna a story to confirm who he was, so yeah. I’m pretty sure it’s really him. Has the mayor said anything yet?”
Ron shook his head, his eyes wide. “Nobody has said a damn word. He must not have told them yet.”
“Should we?” I asked.
Again, he shook his head, his eyes distant now in thought. “I say we let the kid play his cards. The fact that he already basically attacked you shows he’s not afraid to use his magic on someone. I don’t want him coming after you for telling.”
“Nobody would believe us anyway,” I said. “And I’m not excited about everyone learning what he said about my mom and aunt.”
Ron rubbed my back as he thought. I watched the gentle rise and fall of Aunt Lorna’s chest and murmured, “I think it’s magical.”
“What’s that?” he asked.
“I think whatever put her into this coma is magical. There was a book at Bryant’s calledDark Spells for Sons and Daughters of Nicneven.I asked him about it and he acted clueless. The whole thing was sus.”
“Now, Letty,” said Ron in a very dad voice. “That’s very dangerous territory. And you have to be real careful about who you point fingers at. Let’s keep any suspicions between us for now.”
“Okay.” I nodded, even as I began to devise a plan.
The door burst open and Motifa came running in, her eyes wild as she spotted my aunt and ran to her side. I joined her, and Mo put an arm around my waist as we both peered down.
“What happened?” she asked.
I felt horrible. The fewer people who knew, the better. I would have to add this to my enormous pile of crappy lies.
“She’s been having these headaches for years. I’m sure she told you.” Mo nodded. “She’s passed out before, but this time she’s not waking up.”
