Month: July 2017

Sara took me to a group sitting around a table filled with art supplies. Mostly drawing, but there was paints and various other things too. Sara smiled, “Today is art day. I believe tomorrow you have movie day.”

One of the girls sitting at the table clapped her hands. “We’ll even let the newbie pick.”

I raised my eyebrow as Sara sat me down in an empty chair next to the giddy one. Sara put her hands on my shoulders, “Guys, this is Nox. He’ll be staying with us a while. He’s on watch so we need all of you to assist in keeping him safe.”

I rolled my eyes and the big black man next to me laughed. It was like rolling thunder yet it was very calming to see the big man happy. “I don’t think he likes that statement much.” He waved his hands. “Shoo, little miss, we got him.” When Sara left she squeezed my shoulders wishing me luck. Or that’s what I assumed. The big black man offered me his hand. “I’m Duke. This is Lori.” He pointed at the giddy girl with brown hair. She couldn’t be more than 18.

Duke pointed at the other girl sitting at the table, her head was hung, her hair covering her face and she sat with her hands in her lap like she was ignoring the world. “That’s Jo. She doesn’t talk much.”

There was a man sitting behind an easle painting, I couldn’t see what he was doing, but he was a tad bit angry. “That’s Cliff.”

Cliff was scowling at me so I asked, “What’s wrong?”

“You are sitting in Amelia’s seat.”

I stood up and nearly collapsed the moment I did so. Fuck! “Yeah sorry.” I used a weave of air and dragged another chair closer. I slide into the seat and moved it closer to the table.

“Who’s Amelia?” I asked.

Lori giggled, “Cliff’s imaginary friend.”

I looked at the empty chair. I offered her my hand and pulled the invisible friend’s hand to my lips and pressed a kiss to the third knuckle “A pleasure Amelia.” I turned to Cliff with a smile. “Do you see anyone else?”

Cliff nodded, “There have been others, but in here there is only Amelia.”

“Did you meet her here? Or did she come with you?”

“She was here. She likes you.”

I grinned, “I’ve never met a woman I cant make like me.”

Duke shook his head, “We aren’t supposed to help along our delusions.”

“Why do you assume he’s seeing things that aren’t real? Seeing ghosts is not a normal Venatori talent, but it’s a talent none the less. If no one beleives you I can see how one would think you are crazy.”

Cliff sighed and came around the table and wrapped his arms around my neck. “All the voices that I hear drove me to this point. It’s quieter here. I don’t want to leave. Don’t make me leave.”

I shook my head. “I’m not going to tell anyone. But I’d like to know more about Amelia and why she’s here. She could be trapped inside while the other ghosts are trapped outside.”

Cliff shook his head and went back to his painting. “Leave it be, boy. Nothing here needs fixing.”

That didn’t sound at all like Cliff from before. Sounded very much like a possessed man. Cliff’s body slumped and then he was back to his self I could see it in the patterns around him. I looked around trying to see the spirits here. There were at least two. I wondered what had happened.

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A thin slip of a girl came into my room while I was looking around. Her smile was perfect, her hair a perfect halo of gold around her head. She had dimples but her eyes were dull blue with not shine or spark. I hoped it was tired and not the norm. “My name is Sara I’ll be one of the nurses assiting in your care.”

“Nox.” I introduced myself despite the fact she knew who I was and probably more about me than I cared for. But such was the name of being under suicide watch.

She asked me as she stood beside me, “Do you want to try to walk on your own?”

I nodded. “Yeah.” I did my best to stand up and I was caught by the little slip of a girl when my knees gave way. “Don’t I feel like an idiot. Can’t even walk.”

Sara smiled, “That’s what happens when you’ve been lying in bed for two weeks.”

“I guess. I take it there will be PT?”

“Yes. And Madison said that knowing you, you’ll be up and about in no time.” She glanced at the yoga mat rolled up in the corner. She pointed to a rod bolted to the wall. “That should hold you. We have them in all the rooms now.”

“Isn’t that a little counter productive, I mean I could use my sheets and hang myself now.”

She paled at the suggestion. “You are on suicide watch?”

I nodded. “It’s the only reason why I’m here.”

“You don’t look like a guy who wants to kill himself.”

“I’m not but that doesn’t stop the doctors from thinking that.” Or my girlfriend for that matter I sighed.

Sara helped me waddle along the hall, my hand in hers as she held my waist and my other hand skimmed along the wall. We past a room with a boy who was screaming. I could see the patterns swirling around him like a chaotice storm. I stopped and Sara jerked my waist with the suddenness of it.

“What’s that?”

She sighed, “Don’t worry about Levi. They are just giving him his meds, he’ll calm down soon enough.”

“What’s wrong with him?” I asked as Sara tugged me towards the common area.

“He’s a little bit crazy. And very dangerous. We don’t have many Magnus here to work with him, but he can get out of control.”

“I noticed.”

She looked up at me with a frown, “You aren’t going to go all crazy on us are you. I don’t think our Magnus could handle you.”

I shook my head, “No more crazy than I already am I’m afraid.”

She grinned at me and then pointed down the hall. “The dinning room is down this way. You’ll get used to the schedule in now time.”

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Sam rolled me the infirmary elevator which wasn’t the same as the elevators used by normal transport and there was little panic plus it was only up one level in some far off corner where no one really went. Who wanted to visit the mental patients. It was kind of amazing that the Venatori had such a place. A place where those with mental illness could get the treatment and care they needed. It seemed far to loving for them. And maybe it was, or maybe someone had a heart. But I wouldn’t put it past the Venatori to be experimenting on the populace of the ward. Testing and watching, giving drugs because the Venatori won’t say no when it’s other Venatori helping them out. Stupid idiotic people.

The orderly didn’t try to talk to me as he rolled me through the empty halls. Rolling up to automatic double doors that locked as soon as they closed was disheartening. There was no leaving without permission. I couldn’t just up and walk away. Not that I could at the moment but I was about to have a lot of time on my hands.

The chair stopped rolling in front of the desk and a nurse came out and checked my vitals. “Mr. Sétanta how are you feeling today?”

“It’s Nox and I’m alive and awake what more could I ask for.” I grinned at the stocky woman, she wasn’t fat by anymeans just more wide probably one of those tough as nurses who can put a man down in a heart beat. “What’s your name?”

She smiled at me then said, “Don’t you worry about charming me, boy. You won’t be seeing me any time soon.”

I frowned playfully. “And here I thought you liked me.”

She grinned back and patted my head. “Be good for the nurses and you won’t see me until you leave.”

I nodded. “Yes ma’am.”

Sam rolled me through another set of locking automatic doors and the noise of occupancy touched my ears the moment they opened. It was loud and I could hardly think because of it. Sam said, “You’ll get used to the noise.”

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“I’m going to take you to your room, then we’ll one of the nuses will walk you to the common room where you can join your group.”

“My group?” I asked.

“We have a group treatment policy. Up to five patients who can get alone in a group to assist each other and be friends so no one is left out. Socialization is one of the best methods for the broken mind.”

“Except for those who are freaked out by being in someone elses presence I imagine.”

“You aren’t one of them are you?”

I laughed. “Me? No, never. I thrive on being the center of attention. I won’t be surprised if everyone loves me by the end of dinner.”

Sam laughed as he passed his card over a locked room. “This is your room. Madison had your friends bring some of your things here.” He rolled me inside and helped me stand up. My legs were still weak and wobbly but I managed just fine to sit down on my lumpy mattress and take the surroundings in.

It was really nothing more than my studio apartment except there was no bathroom. I had a table bolted to the floor and heavy chair that swiveled and was attached to it like you see in some of those old fashioned diners or in the cafeteria. My bed was made up of a lumpy mattress a single white pillow and a grey blanket with white sheets. I was betting they’d be red with blood tonight.

There was a plain metal set of drawers bolted to the wall. The three drawers were slightly open and I could see my clothes inside. Or more from Dorian’s purchases either way. On the desk sat a box of crayons with a note attached to it on top of several composition notebooks – no spirals here. The lined paper would suck for drawing, so would the crayon’s but Dorian knew that I’d need something to help pass the nightmares by. Rolled in the corner was a yoga mat which I found surprising that something so simple could make me happy.

In each corner there was a black orb and a camera. The door locked from the outside and there was a small thick glass window set in it and an intercom next to it. At least I could talk to someone if I needed to. The thought of being locked in this room at night made my anxiety rise. I wasn’t afraid of enclosed places but being trapped was not something I was fond of.

Sam had left me alone in the room with my thoughts. Someone would be along he’d said before he left. I wasn’t looking forward to this at all.

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Madison cam into my empty room and shook her head. “I never thought I’d see the day you had a girlfriend. Or a boyfriend. And you have two of them and a girlfriend.”

“Jealous?” I asked with a grin as she came in and handed me a shopping bag.

“I asked Dorian to bring you some ward appropriate clothes. He said he had to go shopping. He didn’t want to worry Sage over your stay.” She moved to the monitors and removed the wires and IV in my arm. Her tiny hands lowered the railing with practiced movements then she took my arm. “Let’s get you changed. Can you stand up?”

I swung my legs to the side and she she helped me stand up. My knees buckled underneath me but she caught me with ease. Venatori strength to the rescue, I was a foot taller than Madison and probably weighted more than she did soaking wet by a good hundred pounds. She was just a tiny slip of thing. “I like Sage.” She said as she helped me to the chair. It was a test of my walking skills but we made it without another incident. “He’s shy. Not what I expected of you.”

“Yeah. Me either. But he makes me feel safe.” I said as I rummaged through the bag of clothes Dorian had bought me. There were two pairs of jeans and a pair of sweat pants and a pair of shorts and several plain t-shirts of varying colors. Plus the essential boxers and socks. I really felt like I needed a shower, but I supposed that would have to wait for now.

“Dev and Dee are a couple?” She asked.

“Same as Sage and I.”

“How’s that all work?” She asked as she helped me stand up to pull the pair of shorts on.

“Same as any relationship works I guess. We’ve only been doing this for a few days for myself. Sage has been seeing them for a while now. And I just lost two weeks of that time so I’m a little behind on the whole building a relationship.”

Madison laughed, “They’ve been here everyday, either all together or alone. Dev likes to sing to you. He’s got such a good voice. Most of the nurses have a crush on him.”

“He is pretty goregous.”

Madison shook her head. “I’ll never get used to that. Knowing I was your first, but then you were jerking off to Dylan so I guess it shouldn’t be a surprised. You didn’t miss anything by not sleeping with Dylan.”

I laughed. “I stopped thinking about him a long time ago. He’s not even on my radar. He’s cute, but he’s an ass and I could do so much better than him.”

“You did do better than him. We are all kinda jealous. Three gorgeous lovers for a guy who was nothing but a player.”

“I’m sure you all still think I’m a player.” I grinned at her as I pulled the plain orange shirt over my head.

“I think most people are just curious how it works. Do you all share the same bed? Always have sex together? Or do you like date each other individually.”

I shrugged. “Honestly I don’t know. Sage and Dee have been sleeping together by themselves. He and Dev and Dee have been together. The four of us have spent a single night together and there was no sex. And the only one of the three I’ve had sex with so far is Sage. So really I have no idea.”

A man in blue scrubs wheeled a chair into the room. “Is he ready?”

“He is Sam.” She turned to me and helped me stand up. “Sam will take you to the ward and get you settled in. I’ll see you before dinner to get you situated.”

I nodded and Sam wheeled me away to my new home for the indeterminate future.

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