Out of the Black - Lee Doty [50]
Back to speechless. That was probably the sweetest thing he had ever heard. It had to be a line. "And you buy that?"
"You haven't seen him try to lie yet. It's pathetic." There was a mischievous twinkle in her eye, "Go ahead. Ask him if he has a teddy bear."
"Hey now!" Alex blurted out too quickly, blushing.
Ping turned the cameo over in his hands. The chain and back of the cameo were silver. He noticed a small etching on the back. A chill went through him as he bent closer... it looked like the same kind of mark that was on the pommel of Sieberg's retractable sword. He fished in his jacket pocket and came away with the collapsed sword. He flipped it over and examined the mark on the bottom, looking from it to the necklace and back. The marks were similar, but not the same.
"What's that?" Ahmed asked, looking at the sword.
"I was hoping you could tell me." He handed it to Ahmed. Ahmed turned it over in his hands. "This is Ivo's glyph, but I'm not sure what it's for... give me a second to Cast a Scan and maybe I can tell you."
"I think I can help you out with that one." Ping took the lock ring from his pocket and put it on. He held out his hand for the sword.
"Call me Alex, please." Ahmed handed it back.
"Ready?" Ping said. After a second's pause to allow curiosity to build, he thumbed the activating stud. As before, the sword rang from the hilt. In the small room, the metallic ring seemed to continue for a few seconds before finally fading away.
Seconds passed in silce. Finally, Rae spoke. "Honey, I know what I want for our next anniversary."
***
"Lab's here!" Anne said as she entered the ER.
She was feeling much better- almost good. The call to maintenance hadn't been as painful as she feared, but then she'd only told them that she thought something might be wrong with her locker door. She had a feeling she wasn't done answering questions about it yet.
Anne followed the screams to where Dr. Wyler waited.
"Just a sec," the doctor said while two orderlies and an EMT attempted to hold a Harm still enough for him to administer a sedative without breaking the needle.
Though she was already cuffed and strapped to the table, the Harm was fighting so hard that it took the orderlies another twenty seconds before they could fully immobilize her arm.
"His eyes open in their bathroom is the key!" the woman shrieked as she fought against her restraints and the four men, her expensive shoes kicking and her red-silver-white streaked hair drenched with sweat. Like most Harms Anne saw, this one was dressed for a hot night out; her expensive-looking black shimmering outfit was torn and stained with blood.
Finally, Wyler made his move and the needle went in. The Harm screamed incoherently. The needle came out and everyone stepped back. The Harm jerked and flailed in her restraints as the powerful sedative went largely unheeded through her veins. "You... won't be laughing on his swing. Only the mirror, the outside... only left." She moaned through gritted teeth, her muscles taut against the restraints.
"Well Anne, she's all yours!" Wyler said brightly.
"Oily bugs through the doorway!" The Harm shrieked from behind him.
"Thanks," Anne said. "Nice needle work, Doc."
The doctor put a hand on his chest and gave a quarter bow. "From you... high praise. And how's my favorite vampire?"
"Can't complain," she lied.
"You get a haircut?"
She shook her head as she inserted a flexible needle into the barrel. The doctor shrugged and glanced back to the Harm, who was now making more peaceful incoherent sounds. "I'm gonna need a CBC and a Harm screen. Surprised?"
Anne grimaced. "Nope."
"Enjoy!" He gave her a playful smack on the shoulder as he went past.
Anne took a deep breath and stepped toward the Harm, who was now wiggling her head and gurgling. This was the worst part of her job. Sure it was dangerous, these guys were nutty strong and violent, but the worst part was the anticipation. You never knew what was going to happen. So far Anne had gotten away with two ripped jackets, lots of spit, and one blood