Reaper's Lily

30 (part 2)

Liliana's P.O.V:

My eyes slowly opened to the sound of a heart monitor rhythmically beeping, showing that my heart was beating strongly. I felt something on my nose and mouth as I turned to see the small sink mirror. I had an oxygen mask on, with a hospital gown on my body. When did I get here? Did that woman send me here? No, I was in some twisted ass dream them. Slowly, I sat up, holding onto my shoulder. I grabbed the mask, taking it off my face carefully.

When I took the mask off, the door opened, and I heard, "You're awake!"

I glanced up to see Gia walking in and I only nodded. I looked passed her to see Kaiden sleeping on a small bed up against the wall with a thin blanket over him. His hair looked a mess and he had a small stubble for facial hair. How long had I been in this hospital room?

"Here, drink this," Gia handed me a small paper cup filled with water.

I hesitated before taking it, and took a small sip. It had a slight taste to it that I couldn't put my tongue on. I took another sip before she took the cup from me then she helped me lay back down in bed as she smiled at me warmly. I only pointed to Kaiden, and she looked at him, sleeping peacefully.

She admitted, "He hasn't left your side since we got you here. He just fell asleep about an hour or two ago."

"How long?" I croaked.

"Two days," she knew what I was asking.

So I'd been in here for two days, unconscious. I wanted to kick Milena's ass—wait, where was she? Did Kaiden kill her? God, I hope he didn't.

"Milena?" I asked, getting my voice back slowly.

Gia shushed me as if I was an infant, then said in a whisper, "Kaiden didn't kill her. He wanted to, but I was so glad for you fainting. It stopped him from actually killing your friend."

"Aimee?" I looked around.

"She's okay. Well, she's racked with guilt for you getting hurt trying to help us with Milena, but Jace has convinced her to not throttle Milena anymore that she'd been already. Yours truly here got to deck Milena in the face for you." Gia seemed proud of herself for that, then she grabbed a chair.

She bought it to the bedside, grabbing the bed controller, and helped me raise the bed to sit up slightly. I asked softly after seeing Kaiden stirring, "Have you heard from Liam?"

"No, none of us have. It's something that's making the boys anxious since Liam's like their older brother. Kade was having Nate blow up Liam's phone to see if he could get a hold of your family. You needed some blood donated and your body was rejecting the O negative." Gia recapped everything for me.

"Calling my family wouldn't have helped. I'm an AB negative, they're all B positive," I grunted out. I looked to see Kaiden turning to have his back facing me, then asked, "Who donated blood to me?"

"You're staring at him." Gia giggled, and my eyes widen in shock at Kaiden. She explained further, probably seeing my shocked expression, "Because Kaiden is part grim reaper, he doesn't exactly have a blood type."

"Everyone does," I retorted.

She shook her head, "Not grim reapers. They don't existence on this plane but once every one thousand years, remember?"

"But I'm..." I trailed off, stopping myself.

"You're human, I know," she smiled, then we both looked to see Kaiden slowly sitting up. Gia grinned, and said loudly to him, "Look who's finally awake."

Kaiden quickly spun to see me sitting up. He was in my face in an instant, both of his hands cupping each of my cheeks, then he pressed his forehead against mine. I closed my eyes and felt his worry in the bond lifting to relief that I was awake. Kaiden pulled away from me, letting his hands slip away from me completely, then Gia excused herself. She hurried out of the room, leaving Kaiden and I alone as he sat down on the bed.

"You okay?" He asked but I gave him a raised eyebrow. He sighed, "Stupid question. I haven't slept much since you've passed out at Jace's, darlin'. I really thought Milena killed you."

"Where is she?" I asked.

Kaiden only gave me a blank look as he said, "We have her in custody, but there's something you should know about her, baby."

"What?" I braced myself for the worse possible answer. Please tell me she wasn't killed by someone!

Kaiden sat up straight, holding my left hand, and said, "She was under a vampire's thrall, and it was caused by the vamp that's after you. The council is trying to force you into the interrogation sooner with them being here."

"Is he coming after me?" I wondered how he knew I was here when I'm sure that Kaiden did everything to keep me hidden.

Kaiden gave a single nod, then tightened his grip on my hand as he vowed, "I'll protect you with my life, baby. That leech won't ever lay one of his fucking hands on you again."

I opened my mouth to say something, but I stopped myself. I remembered what the lady had said, then looked at Kaiden. He didn't need me to protect him, but in this instance I saw what the woman talked about. He was willing to die for me if it was to keep me out of the fighting. Was the lady really telling me that I'd have to fight too? That Kaiden's stubbornness of not wanting to involve me was going to get him killed if I allowed him to keep doing things his way?

Before I could speak, the hospital room door opened, and we both looked to see his grandmother walking in with Gia standing next to her. His grandmother looked even more elegant than at the dinner. She had on an elderly woman business suit—which meant that she had on a pair of black slacks, a matching suit jacket, and her necklace of pearls shining on her neck. Her earrings weren't as chunky as it was at the dinner but still larger than I used to seeing on an elderly woman. She had a gold wedding band on her right hand instead of her left, signifying that she was a widow.

Kaiden's grandmother stared at us, then said to me, "Well, I see Gia's gift of her white magic has helped you regain some consciousness. How are you doing, dear girl? I trust you've told her Kaiden."

"Told me what?" I looked at Kaiden, only to see and feel his anger growing in the bond.

Kaiden stood up, completely towering over his grandmother, and reminded her, "I'm not bringing her in until she's recovered. You promised to keep the council off my back until then."

"I promised to try," his grandmother wasn't backing down from him, then looked at me. She asked me bluntly, "You're clearly not human, otherwise the nightshade poisoning wouldn't have taken affect on you. So, dear sweet Liliana, what are you?"

I kept silent as Kaiden growled at his grandmother, "Grandmother, you're out of line for asking her like this."

"Hush, boy," his grandmother only glared at him, then walked to the other side of me. She grabbed my healthy shoulder, making me jump away from her as she said, "Good Lord! I just touched your shoulder that's not even injured!"

"She has symptoms of haphephobia, Mrs. Larsen. You can't place a hand on her because she doesn't know you personally," Gia defended me, gently pulling his grandmother away from my bedside.

I looked at Kaiden as he only glared at his grandmother. The bond clearly showed how upset he was, and I swore I had heard him wanting to just take me out of here and running far away. Why would he do that?

"Then explain, Liliana. Tell us what you are," his grandmother said.

I looked at her, my heart threatening to explode out of my chest. My silence was speaking louder volumes. You're a descendant of Mictecacihuatl, the lady of death. Her words were ringing clearly in my ear. I didn't understand what I was either, but I knew that I didn't need to go shouting what I was to everyone. I looked down at my left hand that was placed in my lap for Kaiden had let it go and I remained silent as everyone started to bicker back and forth. I didn't budge as I felt Kaiden's annoyance hitting a fever pitch through the bond.

I didn't know if I wanted to say what I was out loud, because that meant I was admitting that I'd been truly different from my family my whole life.