Heroes of Falledge Book One: Black Hellebore (25 page)

His large hands engulfed hers, warming her to the very core. "I want to be with you too. Julianna, I love you. I love your courage. I love your fierceness. I love how you never quit. I love you for you. Not because you look like Justina. Because you're you." His lips covered hers again and again, and she lost herself in his arms, in his kisses, in his heart.

*****

Loving Justina had been exhausting. He was always with her: running toward an adventure, running away from school, running, running, running. They hadn't been separate people, but one. Nicktina.

But loving Julianna was freeing. He felt lighter than a feather. He felt invincible. He felt stronger. It had nothing to do with his superpowers. She was still Julianna, he was still Nicholas, and yet they were also together. Two made one and yet still two.

They entered her house, and he swept her off her feet. Her shriek transformed into giggles. Cradling her to his chest, he kissed her forehead. He carried her up the stairs to her room before placing her on her on her bed and tucking her under her covers. As much as he wanted to lie beside her and hold her until the sun came up, he had to get to work.

Nicholas donned his Black Hellebore outfit and walked to the bridge. He didn't have long to wait until a dark car pulled up. To his surprise, Big Don himself walked out and approached him.

"You killed some of my men."

"No. I apprehended two because they threatened an interest of mine."

"Well, that 'interest' is now dead."

"Not because of you."

"Immaterial. Dead is dead."

"I have a business proposition for you."

"Oh-ho-ho. This should be interesting."

"I'll kill the beast and the skeleton..." Big Don looked unfazed. How did he know about Skull Krusher? His reach in Falledge was far too long. "If you and your men stay out of my town."

"Ah, but what reason do I have to believe you won't do that regardless of me?"

Good point. Nicholas shrugged, careful to keep the visible portion of his face unmoving. "The beast seems to be targeting your men, not my people. The skeleton, too. Maybe they aren't as big of a threat to Falledge as you think they are."

"You're bluffing."

"How many of your men have died already? How many more are you willing to lose? All I'm asking is for you to stay in Lightmeadow, and I'll deal with your problem."

"No payment?"

"None." Starting over fresh in a new house for Julianna and him would have to wait a long, long time, but he wasn't about to take blood money from the mob boss.

"Fine."

"You have one week to get out of my town."

Big Don snorted. "You have three days to kill them, or else I ruin this town. Good night, Black Hellebore."

*****

After meeting with Big Don, Nicholas headed over to Gavina's. Her house looked vacant, the door closed. He knocked and turned the knob. The door opened easily, but the inside of the house looked nothing like Gavina's. Confused, he stepped back onto the porch and closed the door.

"Hello, Black Hellebore!" she called from behind him. She held up a fast food bag. "Sorry, went to get us some food. Let's go in." She opened the door, and the house looked as it should. "Safety measure," she explained.

"Ah. You really do think of everything."

"Now that you've finally clued me in to all of the goings on in Falledge, I can finally do just that." Gavina handed him a burger and opened up a chicken sandwich. A drop of mayo fell onto her pants. She snapped her fingers, and it lifted and landed on the wrapper.

"How do you do that?"

The witch giggled. "Um, magic. Hello?"

"How does magic work?"

"Well, for one thing, it doesn't work for everyone. You have to believe in it. And it has to be inside you."

"So magic isn't in everyone?"

"Nope. And there's more to it than that, but it's not important right now. I've been sleeping a lot lately--"

"You were supposed to be doing research!"

She rolled her eyes and made a point of slowly eating her sandwich and french fries before answering. "That's what I was doing. I was trying to figure out Killa's weakness through my dreams."

"Oh. Wait, Killa?"

"That's what Skull Krusher calls his cat. Stupid name if you ask me."

"Focus, Gavina."

"What? It's not like I'm talking about how you should wear red. It would be a good color for you. It'll make your eyes pop."

He glowered at her.

"Okay, okay! Geez, lighten up a little."

"Gavina. You know how dangerous they are."

"Why are you so touchy? Dealing with the mob got you in a bad mood?"

"Stop spying on me."

"Big Don is a dangerous man. He can't be trusted. I tried to discourage him from sneaking into Falledge and it was a disaster."

"What happened?"

"Let's just say that I'll have to create an outfit of my own." She grinned. "My own superhero costume. I'll wear a cape and -- oh! I'll need a name, too."

He groaned. "Gavina..."

"No fun, that's what you are. Anyhow, Killa is incredibly strong. His teeth can cut through anything. He could jump really high and far and--"

"So far, no new information." He pulled on his hair, ready to rip it out.

"Your mom did a crappy job teaching you patience."

"Did you uncover a weakness?"

"No, but you did say its teeth are able to wound it, so maybe you'll have to use one to kill it. Through the heart." She nodded emphatically.

"What about Skull Krusher?"

"Not sure what he is."

"Any potions or poisons that can weaken bones?"

"Not that I've been able to discover. Don't look at me that way, I'm doing my best. I need more time."

"We don't have more time. We're going after him tomorrow night."

"Skull Krusher?"

"Yes. You need to come up with something between now and then."

"I'll try." She rubbed her hands together, her eyes lighting up.

"You do know I'm not referring to your costume."

"Keep it up and I'm going to start calling you Super No Fun." She pouted, then brightened. Her mood swings were so fast Nicholas couldn't keep up with them. "Do you want to know what I can do? I can--"

"Surprise me. I'll see you at midnight." Nicholas walked at human pace back to Ginny's. He must find a way to kill Skull Krusher before more people came to harm in the crossfire.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Shortly after midnight, Julianna woke up. She had kicked off her covers.

Her first thought was of Nick. "I love you for you." She still couldn't believe he said those words. Or that she believed him.

She hadn't said "I love you" back, but she was sure he knew it. It thrilled her to think of what he would say, what he would do, when she told him so later today.

Julianna put on her bathrobe and walked downstairs to turn up the thermostat. The sound of someone cursing nearby led her out onto her front porch where she spied a young boy sitting in a car.

She grabbed her badge and a flashlight and strolled over. "Can I help you, Fergus?"

The seventeen-year-old stared at her, a wide smile on his face. "Hello, Officer. How are you this fine evening?"

"Losing your touch. Normally it takes you ten seconds to hot wire one."

"You know me."

"I also know this is the fifth car this month. Get out of the car."

"Oh boy, here we go. Another warning. Let's hear it."

She turned him around and cuffed him.

"Hey, what are you doing? Do you know who my father is?"

"I'm bringing you to the station. You can call your father there."

"But--"

"Fergus, you can't pick and choose which cars to joyride in. You have to take responsibility for your actions. Your father being the owner of the bank isn't going to prevent you from getting into trouble."

"But--"

"Sheriff Higgins might have been willing to look the other way, but I'm not. I didn't want it to come down to this, but you forced me."

"No, I didn't!"

"Where you going to steal someone's car?"

"It's not stealing when you return it."

"Do you refill the gas tank? Why not borrow your father's car?"

Fergus hung his head.

"Doesn't trust you with it, does he?"

"No. Please don't take me to the station. Please don't call Dad. I won't do it again, I swear!"

"I'm sure Sheriff Higgins heard that a hundred times. Come on."

Fergus complained the entire car ride over but sobered up when she forced him inside and dialed his father. He yanked the phone away from her and began to sob. "Dad, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I wasn't thinking..."

She could hear Oscar Carson yelling on the other end, and took the phone from Fergus. "Oscar, this is Sheriff Paige. Your son was caught attempting to hot wire a car tonight. He's with me at the station."

"I don't understand. Why would he do something like this?" Oscar sounded so indignant Julianna had to shake her head.

She covered the receiver. "He didn't know?"

Fergus shrugged. "When all you're given is warnings..."

"Oscar, this is at least the fifth occurrence I know of this month. There may have been others. I suggest letting Fergus sit in lockup overnight. You can pick him up in the morning."

"No, I want my son now."

Julianna pointed to a couch, and Fergus stomped over and sat in it. She turned her back to him and lowered her voice. "Oscar, your son is heading down a dangerous path. A scare might be the best tactic here."

"You want to try to scare my son into good behavior?"

"He'll be eighteen soon. Then he'd be tried as an adult. He's shown no signs of remorse. Something must be done, or else I fear he might try something even more reckless."

Oscar blew into the phone. "Fine. I'll get him at six."

Click.

Julianna hung up the phone and faced Fergus. He was tapping his head onto the wall, too tall for the small couch. Would Nick have turned out this way if Justina hadn't died, if they had kept up their petty crimes? It had all been in fun, and no one had pressed charges.

Maybe they should have.

She sat next to him. "Fergus, what do you want to do with your life?"

"I don't know. Dad wants me to take over the bank when I'm older."

"I didn't ask what your dad wanted for you."

"I don't know." He shrugged. "I just want to be me."

"Well, does 'me' look good in orange?"

"Huh?"

She grinned at his naivety. "Prison clothes."

"No!" He sat up straighter. "Would you really send me to jail if I do something after my birthday?"

"Well, it would be a judge, but yes."

His eyes widened. "Sheriff Higgins never would have."

"I'm not Sheriff Higgins."

"No, you're Sheriff Hardass."

"Thank you."

They talked for a few more minutes until Julianna realized she was still wearing her tee shirt, pajama pants, and bathrobe.

"Fergus, I'm going to get changed. Can I trust you or should I put you in a cell?"

He grinned. "You can trust me."

She yanked on his shackles and cuffed him to the couch. "Trust has to be earned."

Six o'clock rolled around, and Oscar Carson was nowhere in sight. Fergus had talked Julianna's ear off for the past six hours. He hadn't needed any of the pot of coffee she had made. When his father finally strolled in at quarter after eight, Fergus looked disappointed. "Can I come over and talk more?" he asked Julianna as she uncuffed him while his father signed a form.

"Sure."

He'd asked question after question about her job, law enforcement, and detective work.

"You do realize that any kind of arrest, even for something minor, would not look good if you want to become a police officer one day."

He nodded and turned to his father. "I'm sorry, Dad." With his head low, he left the station.

Oscar stared after him. "He did sound contrite, didn't he? Or am I imagining it?"

"No, he sounded sincere."

"Thank you. I wanted to come right when you called, but Matilda sided with you. Maybe we spoiled him too much, but we've always had a hard time telling him no. He never listens to us. I'm sorry for any grief he caused you."

"Don't be too hard on him. Just keep a close eye on him. Maybe he'll turn things around."

Julianna tucked the form into a folder when Oscar burst back into the station. "He stole my car!"

Julianna grabbed her car keys from the counter. So much for turning things around. Today was not going to be an easy day.

*****

Nicholas approached Harry. "I'm sorry about the short notice, but I need to take the day off."

Harry had been consulting the building plans. He looked at Nicholas. "Ya sick?"

"I have something I need to do."

"Don't make it a habit. Jus' today."

Nicholas nodded and raced to Hunter Walter's. No one was home, so he headed to the headquarters. It took a lot of persuading but, eventually, the scientist emerged from a long, well-lit corridor and entered the lobby. Hunter stared at him with steely eyes. "May I help you?"

"First, I'm sorry for your loss."

"Thank you."

"I was with him the night he died."

Finally, the light of interest shined in his eyes. "Follow me."

Hunter led him down a hallway, past rooms filled with scientists milling around beakers and hot plates, to a small conference room. "Have a seat."

Nicholas stood behind a chair.

Hunter sat across from him. "What happened?"

"The doctor was indirectly involved in creating two monsters."

Hunter stood back up and shut the door. "I don't know what you are talking about."

"Don't play dumb. We don't have time for that. A monster cat, and a skeleton that used to be a man."

"Lewis," he murmured. "Why are you here... I didn't catch your name."

"Nicholas Adams. I'm here on behalf of the police." That was a stretch, but hopefully Julianna wouldn't mind. "We would like your cooperation in putting the creatures down."

"You want to kill them?"