“Much better.”
“You look better already.”
“She still has a ways to go,” the nurse says gently. She checks Gemma’s vitals, and the doctor comes in to talk to us. Gemma has pneumonia and is dehydrated. The doctor doesn’t seem overly concerned, and thinks she’ll be out of here in a few days.
“I can’t force you to stay,” the doctor says. “But I highly recommend you do. You need fluids and antibiotics, as well as close monitoring for the next twenty-four hours at least.”
I know she’s scared and wants to go—actually, I don’t know where she wants to go. I assume she planned on returning to work eventually, so she’d go back to her house in the city.
“Could I at least be transferred to a hospital in Philly? That’s where I live,” she says.
The doctor frowns. “Traveling isn’t a good idea right now, unless you’re bussed by ambulance. I can have that arranged for you, but it’s not cheap.” The doctor gives Gemma a sympathetic look. “I know you’ve been through a lot in the last few weeks. But it’s important you get treated right this time.”
“I know.” Gemma blinks back tears. The doctor talks to her for a few more minutes and then leaves. The nurse puts in an order for a room, and tells Gemma a room will be ready for her soon.
“Ace,” Gemma says after the nurse leaves.
“It’s okay.” I know where she’s going with this. I sit on the foot of the bed. “I’m not mad at you anymore.”
“Really?”
“Really. I wouldn’t have come all the way out to Amish country to check on you if I was still pissed.”
She smiles. “Yeah. That makes sense.” Sighing, she adjusts her pillow. “I don’t want to stay here, but going home seems weird too.”
“Actually,” I start. “You can stay with me for a day or two if you need to. You’ll still be weak for a while. Though actually, right now it is probably safer if you stay here.”
“Why, because of that…that guy?”
“Jacques won’t hurt you, so no. It’s because I accidentally opened a rift between this world and the spirit world and a ghost got out, and right now she’s going around attacking people. You’re probably safe because so far she’s only going after men who went to a certain waterfall about two hours from here, but let’s not take any chances.”
Gemma looks at me with a blank stare, as if she’s waiting for me to tell her I’m joking.
“What?”
“Long story. I’ll tell you later.”
She nods, brow furrowed. “And that guy…Jacques is his name? You…you knew him. Pretty well, I think.”
“I do. He’s my boyfriend.”
“I thought you were dating those twins I saw you with.”
“I am. I’m dating them all.”
Gemma’s mouth falls open and she slowly shakes her head back and forth. “What…what is he?”
“Remember how Marissa told you demons protect me?”
“Oh my god, are they—”
“No. They’re not demons. Not even close. They’re gargoyles.”
