Tipped Scales by Gareth Vaughn

Author:Gareth Vaughn [Vaughn, Gareth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JMS Books LLC
Published: 2020-10-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

The atmosphere at the Cauldwell house weighed on Sean, even before he’d parked and gotten out of the car. Something creeped along his spine, something not right; he turned to look at the path leading into the trees, but no one was there. The memory of Percival made him wonder how often the ghost of the witch showed up here and simply didn’t reveal himself to the other Cauldwells.

He knocked but no one answered; Sean tried the handle. Unlocked. He entered, even more nervous, and announced himself.

“Hello? It’s Sean.”

Something urged him to the stairs and he went, conscious of what he was doing, not sure why he was doing it. Then he realized it was witch’s influence and resisted. The urge retreated immediately, like it hadn’t taken full control of him, like he was allowed to decline. He hadn’t been fully influenced then, just nudged, but he didn’t need the directions anyway—not when a blood trail led from the back door and up the steps.

Sean followed that instead. He could hear Adonia and Hazel talking, words sharp and hurried, as he approached the door. He was about to knock on the frame when Adonia motioned.

“Over here. Have a look at him.”

Sean obeyed. Uther lay bleeding in the bed, unconscious. Something had sliced into the side of his face and he looked like he was missing an ear. He also had what looked like a hand shovel sticking out of his shoulder and several other deep gashes. Adonia and Hazel had managed to close two, although one was seeping still.

This man needed urgent medical care, care the Cauldwells’ couldn’t give and Sean wasn’t trained enough to provide. Sean didn’t need to touch him to know that. But Adonia was expecting it of him, so he placed a hand on Uther’s shoulder and tried to magically feel what was happening as best he could.

“Well?” asked Adonia.

“You need to call an ambulance,” said Sean. He put his other hand on Uther and concentrated, not knowing what to do. The old man’s pulse was faint and erratic, like his heart was beating wildly but doing very little. “I don’t know what I can do.”

“See?” said Hazel, glaring at her mother. “Now’s one of those times we need to risk asking for help.”

“No.” Adonia shook her head, moved around to another gash, and began closing it with her herbs and other supplies. Her hands were coated in blood. “I will not take my father to some hospital where we can’t use any of our healing magicks. Where he’s away from his family.”

“He needs more than we can do,” said Hazel. “Please.”

Sean concentrated hard, desperation helping him close up most of a gash deep to the bone. His fingers slipped on Uther’s bloody skin and he sagged to the side. To his surprise, Hazel caught him, steadied him.

“Take care of his head,” she said.

Sean practically fell into the bed next to Uther, feeling completely drained and still needing to help. All he could smell was blood.

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