Leaping from their car, Nat and Rei sprinted towards the hospital entrance. They still couldn't believe it, how had Connor ended up fighting for his life?
As the couple pushed through the doors, they immediately spotted Miranda, Chenoa, and Amara. They too were told of what happened, Miranda's brother, Miles, was currently being stitched up following a serious wound. "Miranda," Nat called, running over to hug her friend. "What's going on? What happened to Miles and Connor?"
"Vampire," Miranda sniffed. "They got jumped heading to the car." Nat and Rei gasped, shocked to hear vampires were not only back but violent once more. "I saw Miles a few minutes ago," Miranda continued. "He's got a nasty cut on his chest. Ended up needing about twenty stitches, including a few interior ones."
"And Connor?" Nat asked fearfully. Miranda lowered her head, making Nat fear the worse. As she was about to answer, they noticed Stephanie and Travis now enter. The two teens making a beeline towards their friends. "Miranda, Chenoa, I'm so sorry," Stephanie said softly, hugging her friends. "Are they okay?"
"Miles is getting stitches," Chenoa said softly. "We're still waiting on any news on Connor." As Stephanie and Travis nodded, Amara took a moment to gaze at Travis, fidgeting under the son of the reaper. "Um Travis" Amara asked. "You and your dad aren't working tonight are you?"
"Um no," Travis stated, confused by Amara's question." Why do you ask?"
"Well you know," Amara began. "It's just....your dad is Death and well...you know...you're kinda death adjacent. I'm just wondering if you...you know.." Travis raised an eyebrow, still unsure what Amara was getting at. As it finally dawned on him, Travis's eyes grew wide as he jumped in alarm. "WHAT? NO!" he exclaimed. "I didn't come here to take Connor's soul!"
"I'm just saying," Amara said. "You're a reaper. You're dad is literal death. Connor's a friend...I can see you wanting to make things easy for Connor."
"Connor's not dying today Amara," Travis sighed. "He's not dying for a while."
"He's right."
Nat and the others turned, watching as Caleb, Spark, Nina, and Rick Moreland now exit a room. A look of relief crossing their faces as Caleb approached. "Connor's in bad shape right now," Caleb continued. "Aunt Julia saw him when he came in. He's stable and on his way to surgery to stop some internal bleeding, but it looks like his hip is shattered. Julia thinks he's going to need a hip replacement."
Despite the good news of hearing Connor would live, the idea that he would need a hip replacement was devastating. As Nat looked over the Moreland family, she could see the pain in there faces. Hopefully, Connor would come out of this okay.
"Excuse me Mrs. Moreland," a doctor asked, approaching Nina. "We need your signature before we begin surgery." Nina nodded, quickly signing the paperwork. As she handed it back to the doctor, Spark pushed her way to the front, an anxious look on her face. "I want to observe the surgery."
"I'm sorry miss," the doctor stated. "Only immediate family." Spark was unmoved by the doctors statement, her brimming with tears. "I'm his fiancé!" The doctor seemed perplexed, shocked to discover a teenage girl would be engaged. "It's true she is," Nina interrupted. "My son Connor is engaged to this young woman." The doctor simply nodded, turning back to Nina to thank her as she quickly followed.
"I'm going to get some coffee," Rick stated, giving Nina a warm look. "See if I can get Julia to give us some updates." Nina thanked him, sinking into a chair. Nina looked exhausted, as if the last few months had aged her decades. "Mrs. Moreland is there anything we can get you," Rei asked.
"I'm okay thanks," she replied wearily. "Mika and Claudia took the twins for the moment. I'm just going to wait until Connor is done for surgery." The others nodded, slowly taking a seat next to the woman in solidarity for Connor. "Miranda," Nina stated. "You're brother already called your parents. They should be here shortly." Miranda paled slightly, unsure if how she would explain Miles as well as her own abilities.
"Mom," Caleb said softly. "You know I have to go." Nina nodded, understanding what her eldest needed to do. "Be careful," she said, a look of concern on her face. As Caleb stood, Nat and Rei followed. There was more to this than either one of them knew. As they followed Caleb out, Rei now called out to the young hunter. "What's going on Caleb?" Rei asked.
"The vampire that attacked us was part of the Tepes family," Caleb said. "Bastard admitted to Wyatt sending him before I took his head." Nat and Rei gasped, shocked to hear this news. Why would Wyatt attack Connor? When Spark and Connor returned from the fairy realm, they heard he had teamed with Lancelot to save the fairies. A peace seemed to have been reached between the two. "Have you talked with Duke?" Nat asked.
Caleb shook his head no. He had left a voicemail, but Duke had yet to return his message. "I'll try calling him," Nat said quickly. "Maybe he knows what's going on."
"Do that," Caleb said firmly. "Get Duke here as quickly as you can. Right now, I have a score to settle." Without another word, the angry hunter now entered his jeep, driving away quickly. Tonight, Wyatt would feel his vengeance.