Demon Chord - A MaxTul Supernatural Thriller

Chapter 39 - Misunderstood

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Misunderstood

Max regained consciousness before he opened his eyes. He had learned years ago that it was a strategic advantage to have your enemy – or in this case – an ex-potential lover to think that you were still unaware of things happening around you.

After a few minutes of listening to total silence except for ambient room sounds – fan blades whirling overhead and the occasional chirp of a gecko, Max opened his eyes.

He was surprised to see a middle-aged man with short dark hair graying around the edges and vibrant blue eyes staring back at him. The man smiled warmly and spoke in an even friendly tone, "Hello Max. My name is Michael."

"Michael?"

The man smiled again before answering, "That's right."

"Where's Tul?" questioned Max looking around the dimly lighted room to see that it was only Michael and himself.

"He went to buy a first aid kit; we don't have much need for one here."

"You're Kate's replacement" stated Max while trying to sit up, not sure of why he was feeling hostile towards the man.

Michael pushed Max back down gently, "I am."

But Max was having none of that, so he brusquely pushed Michael's hand away and struggled to sit up and then scooted back against the bed headboard. Michael let him do it unassisted.

Once he was settled as comfortably as possible given the myriad of bruises and cuts, as well as his throbbing head, he asked, "You know who I am?"

Michael smiled again, this time it was more playful, "More or less. I've been watching you for almost a year."

When Max's eyes widened in surprise with a slight glint of fear or possibly anger, Michael laughed, "That sounded more stalkerish than I intended. What I meant to say is that I have been popping in and out checking on your welfare for almost a year."

"Why would you do that?" snapped Max.

"Because Tul asked me to" answered Michael unaffected by the harshness in Max's demeanor.

"Why would he ask you to do that?"

"Because he cares about you" countered Michael, "and wanted to make sure you were doing well."

Max's retort was interrupted by the opening of the door and the entrance of Knox carrying a familiar first aid kit, followed closely by Tul.

Knox smiled when he saw that Max was awake and sitting up, "Hey there buddy! Long time, no see." As he neared the bed, he sat down the case, "You've looked better by the way."

Max was happy to see Knox, and the first time in a long time, smiled genuinely "You're looking much better than the last time I saw you."

"Totally healed with some kick-ass scars to show for it" as he extended his right arm for Max to see. Max grimaced as he flashed back to the compound fracture of that arm as well as the other injuries that Knox suffered in the desert flash flood.

Knox sat on the side of Max's bed, "what happened to you?" as he pushed the slayer's hair to the side so that he could get a better look at the scalp laceration at the hairline.

"Got tangled up with a couple of hell hounds" he answered.

"Here in Bangkok?" questioned Knox, "isn't this a bit out of their element?" as he flashed a penlight into Max's pupils checking his dilation.