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Indigo no more than heard the shots being fired and found the rush of uniforms racing to the direction the sound came from. A gun or a vampire. In an instant of a choice t seemed they were more interested in gaining control of the gun. It was a fast effort on her part to get back into the limo just as it was about to race off. The acceleration of the engine sent her back briefly into a seat and she took it as a sign to stick where she was at.

“Are you okay?” Her eyes fixed on the wound but she stayed out of the way. Lelantos seemed to have it under control.

Wilson. Concern for the one who couldn’t easily dodge bullets or take one without having it do the damage had her moving closer to where he sat. A search of his clothing for any tell tale signs that the other two shots found him had her guessing. Just because she couldn’t see any didn’t mean that no damage wasn’t present.

“What the hell is wrong with people?” She spoke out loud while reaching for the taller man and sliding her hand at the back of his shoulder. “You didn’t get hit did you?”

Not that she could do anything about it but she would sure as hell try. Hopefully nothing was revealed if he moved forward. What would they do? Take him to the hospital or would they do a little back alley bullet removal? He was lawyer. It likely wouldn’t be his first choice of options. A hotel room with one wounded vampire and a couple others helping pry some lead out of his flesh.

Awareness filled her instantly with the scent of blood. She glanced to Enver. So far it was not the expected sweetness that a human would shed. Still it was blood and it’s scent was toying with a curse that she knew all too well could start to be an issue if she didn’t keep herself in check. Now she knew the curse traveled with her. Even if the powers were said to be less effective the farther a vampire traveled from Harper Rock the lure to blood, any blood, was in full force. She licked the surface of her lips and focused hard on anything that could distract her from the blood. All she had to do was hang in there a few minutes longer. That or claw the door next to her off it’s hinges and do a frenzied run through the streets and destroy everything in her path.

Indigo felt the car increase speed while she registered the sound of Enver’s knuckles pounding on glass. Orders were given and from there it was a wild ride through a dark tunnel while she tried to pull herself together. It wasn’t working. The blur of city lights made a sedate appearance through the custom tinted glass that protected them from being recognized. She closed her eyes hiding the brilliant indigo hues. Her full lips moved subtly while trying to talk the effects into backing down as if it was an inner beast within that she could reckon with. Cool exhaled whispers barely audible did little to achieve her goal. Her eyes opened like someone tagged the blinds over each and sent them snapping heavenward.

The interior of the chauffeured vehicle lined her visual field. All of it was closer to an acid trip than an emergency. While the scent of blood she first overlooked finally took her full attention and toyed with her in the worst possible way she felt her skin where it was material free cling to the leather beneath and behind it. Respirations increased then it was if the warmth from each exhale dropped dramatically. A sense of urgency pulled her from her dangerous self absorbed trip. Heat spread over her shoulder as she pivoted to turn finding she was catching what she thought was wound free.

“Wilson…”

The crimson spread outward through the material that proved less than adequate at absorbing it. The apple size spot was growing before her eyes and just like that it was becoming simply irresistible. Powerful and dominant the curse woke clawing from the inside. It was wrong and it was madness. He provoked it and now it was slithering slowly like a rhumba of rattlers leaving the shake of their warning ringing in her ears. Her hands fumbled with the material trying to start with the top button of the shirt but dropped down to attempt to get at the hole that she could envision delving the tip of her tongue in. All she wanted to do was see it but appearing deeply concerned was the mask she wore. Yes. That was it.Her hands would hold him back, One at the left and one at the right. It was doable. He was going to be…

The shove of cool hands at her sent her dipping to the side and moving even though she was planning on getting in closer. Enver. What was he doing? She felt the irritation finding a way up the back of her spine like something else was about to take on the task of cooling her down. No. She wanted this.

“CPR?” She mouthed while her face soured at the claim.

It was of course possible. It just seemed so far from which she had in mind. She slid over farther to give the boss some room. Now she was tempted by the combination of both bleeding and within reach. How much more was she supposed to take before she snapped?Then the call for a hospital stat came from the ground breaking author’s lips. She felt like climbing in the pile of frantically moving hands and limp body beneath and tearing it all to bloody hell. Her tongue darted out and slid over the fullness of her upper lip.

“Down, Indigo…” A voice called to her. One she didn’t recognize.

Everything became a blur of action. How she did it she had no clue whatsoever but soon her cell phone was in her aching hand. It felt like it needed to squeeze something, apply pressure and tear instead of make a call. Instead she was talking to a 9-1-1 dispatcher while looking out the window at the street signs that they were passing. Calm almost too controlled her voice came across relaying the information that a bloody male was in the limo and they were headed to the closest hospital. One man currently unconscious, gunshot to the chest. Her hand pushed through the small spaces around Enver’s body and found Wilson’s warm clammy wrist. Yes, he still had a pulse but barely.

Getting back to Harper Rock was a relief. Once the unpacking was complete Indigo got to work and found reliable housing for the van full of transient artists that had rolled in from California. Wasting no time she put each one on the Apiary payroll and hoped for the best. They got the leeway of the first month of rent paid for and the means to pay for next month. What happened from there was on them. Nigel and Ross gave her a brief report on everything they didn’t want to bother her with while she was away. It would seem that word was getting out about the community program and interest from all over was coming in at a steady rate. The only disappointment was news that the arts council disapproved of the bar currently in the building since it would have to fall under the same laws applied to licensing drinking establishments. The guys didn’t fall short of being on top of it. They had some creative ideas on how to remedy it. She just had to think each over and choose their plan of action. Adley would be sought out for advice. He was just as invested as she was in what they did with the Apiary and it was a partnership on many levels including their shared visions of it’s future.

Now for the part of their return that she had dressed business casual for had arrived. Indigo glanced at her watch and then to the bed where Wilson seemed to be comfortably asleep. The private duty medical staff that were tending to him around the clock were the finest that Mr. Marshall could have been fortunate to find. It wasn’t just for the publicity. It was apparent the man believed in what he was out there promoting and he backed it up with that night none of them would forget when the shots were fired. She stood up from the chair she had spent the last hour in waiting for Wilson to wake. Quietly she found her way out of the private suite door and was greeted by one of the nurses.

“I am going to have to leave. I have to meet with Mr. Marshall.” She glanced at her watch realizing that she was going to be late if she didn’t get to her car. “If anything is needed or changes will you please message me?”
“He should rest comfortably for several more hours. If anything comes up we will notify both of you. Don’t worry.” The smile coming from the face Indigo was focusing on was genuine. It earned the same in return.
“Thank you.” She glanced back one more time to Wilson then gave a nod.

Fifteen minutes later Indigo was staring at the door of Mr. Marshall's office. A sweep of her open hand at the front of her linen jacket smoothed the minimal creases the fabric had accumulated on the ride over. Since there was no other way to deal with a meeting but to arrive and begin she did just that. Her fingers curled up and she knocked lightly on the hard surface at eye level. Once that was accomplished she did what would be expected of anyone looking at an office door that was closed in front of them. She waited.

Once she closed the door her steps towards the desk and her boss behind it were relaxed. Indigo had been in this situation before. Not so much with the one who employs her but in life. Of course there were more of them lately. Especially since she took the plunge into the darkness that compromised her existence. So far her handling of each had been best in the end. Go at it head on and make no excuses. She nodded at the one on the opposite side of the desk and stood beside the chair for the seconds that it took to glance down and confirm it was empty. Part of her wondered if she would see it again. For that reason alone her indigo orbs scanned the scene in front of her before she sat down.

“I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me.” She crossed her legs and folded them to the side. “I just came from checking on Wilson. He appears to be recovering as expected.”

That was the key point of the meeting. Wilson. It could be a dance of sorts or it could come down to her taking the lead and coming right out with what was due. An explanation of her actions that certainly would have registered with her employer. Wilson would not have recognized it but certainly Enver would have. She was effective in her expected responses but it had to have been apparent that there was something going on with her.

“I owe you an explanation.” She looked at him as she did most times. Straight faced and matter of fact. “I think it is important. I don’t want you to be in doubt of my ability to continue my position with your company.”

Now it was the waiting game. She would explain what has become an issue of sorts she has been getting a handle on. Some people had to battle the cartwheel that sugar sent them on if they hit the birthday cake too hard, some couldn't process milk. Indigo Knight had her own inner battle. She was not ashamed to admit it. So far it was going well. As well as could be expected when blood was what sent her into a writhing and hot mess. That is if she wasn't handling it which in the limo she felt she did impressively well. Willpower was a huge help. Hopefully her employer would have some measure of understanding or at the very least faith in her. She was no more a monster to fear than he was.