Page 13 of The Vampire and the Barista

Kitty jumped up, holding her bad arm. “He’s still not woken up.”

Jamie dropped to his knees as Kitty leant against him. He slipped an arm around her and touched Karl’s shoulder. “Karl?”

His brother didn’t move. Jamie gasped at how pale his brother looked. He had a gash on his head that had bled into his hair and onto the carpet.

“Let me have a look,” Gabe said, kneeling next to Karl, as Jamie shuffled out of the way.

Gabe put his hands on Karl and closed his eyes.

“What’s he doing?” Kitty asked in a loud whisper.

“Gabe is healing your brother, princess,” Ivan told her, putting a hand on her shoulder and one on Jamie’s. “I’m Ivan.”

Kitty nodded while watching Gabe work. As they spoke, light surrounded Karl. They all watched until Gabe opened his eyes and took his hands off Karl, the light fading as Karl let out a sigh and opened his eyes.

Karl looked scared until he saw Jamie. He sat up and threw himself into Jamie’s arms, shaking.

“I’ve got you,” he said gently, hugging him tightly, then looked at Gabe. “Thank you.”

“It’s good we arrived when we did, your brother didn’t have long left. I’ve fixed his injuries and started the healing for his brain trauma, but it will take several days for it to clear completely, although I’m hoping Adrian might be able to help it recover quicker.”

“Is Karl really better?” Kitty asked him.

“Almost all better,” Gabe told her. “Can I help with your arm?”

Kitty looked from Jamie to Ivan, who gave her a reassuring nod.

“Okay,” she replied softly.

“Can you hold your arm out for me?”

Ivan carefully untied the sling and helped her move her arm.

“I’ll be gentle,” Gabe promised her, smiling softly.

She nodded and again leant against Ivan.

Ivan was surprised that she seemed to trust him so quickly. He wondered if that was normal. He was pulled from his thoughts as the bright light surrounded Kitty’s arm. A moment later, it vanished and Gabe opened his eyes.

“There now, all fixed. How does it feel?”

Kitty prodded her arm and moved it around. “It doesn’t hurt, and the swelling is gone. Thank you.”

Gabe patted her shoulder. “You’re welcome.”

“We should probably pack your things and get out of here,” Mathis suggested.

“We have a backpack each that we packed earlier,” Karl said, pulling back from his brother, still looking pale, the dried blood still on his face.

“Where are they?” Ivan asked them.

“In here,” Kitty said, leading the way to the dining room.

Ivan found the bags by the door and picked them both up.

Cairo joined them in the hall. “Troy and I packed more of your things. We’re ready to go when you are.”

Jamie looked at Karl. “Can you move?”