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HUGH STARED DOWN at Trinity, squeezing her hand. She was so pale that if it weren’t for the beating of her pulse at the base of her throat he’d swear she was dead. That small movement was the only thing keeping him together.
“She needs a doctor,” said Curtis. “I can’t fix this. I only know the little that Tammie showed me when I was recovering from my burns.”
“Jackson...” His eyes darted around the room for the Guard.
“I’ll get Kalper,” said Jackson from right behind him before disappearing in the crowd.
“Kalper? We don’t have time to... Is there anyone here that knows what to do?” he yelled but everyone just stared at them. She was losing blood fast. She was going to die and there was nothing he could do.
“Kalper’s here.” Jackson’s large hand landed on his shoulder.
“Here? How?” The words just tumbled out. He didn’t care. It was a miracle and he’d take it.
“I came when I heard about the fight. Figured I’d be of some use. Brought some of my friends too.” The doctor knelt alongside Hugh and examined Trinity.
“Thank you.” The words were barely a whisper, panic still clawing at his throat, but now, she had a chance.
“I’ll need to operate.” Kalper covered her wound.
“Can she travel?” The floor was covered in her blood. She was losing strength with each moment. Kalper’s house wasn’t close.
“No. We’ll have to do it here. I need a room and someone to assist.”
“I’ll assist.” Curtis started to pick her up.
“I got her.” He carefully lifted her. “You will not die on me,” he growled in her ear as he carried her toward a back room. “Do you hear me? If you die, who’s going to argue with me? Torment me? Disobey me?” She didn’t move, but her pulse still beat. He entered one of the empty holding cells and placed her on the bed.
“Wait outside.” Kalper pushed him aside. “You’ll only be in the way.” His face was stern but there was a kindness in his eyes.
“Don’t let her die. Promise me, she won’t die.” He couldn’t take his eyes off her pulse, afraid that if he wasn’t watching, it’d stop and she’d slowly slip away from him.
Curtis maneuvered him out of the room, shutting the door in his face. A heavy hand landed on his shoulder and he spun around. Gaar’s face was ashen and he looked like he was going to pass out.
“Give me a minute.” He hurried into one of the other rooms and pulled two chairs into the hallway. He grabbed Gaar’s arm and helped him to a seat. How he’d walked this far with a bullet in his leg Hugh would never know.
“She’ll be okay,” said Gaar. “She’s strong and young.”
He sat, staring at the door. It should be him in there not her. Jason had been aiming at him. He stood and headed down the hallway.
“Where are you going?” asked Gaar.
“I’ll be right back.”
The Hall of Truths was in an ordered chaos. Creatures from every class filled the room, some on guard and others helping their wounded who were being carted inside. The prisoners had been separated into smaller groups with more of the AC soldiers watching them. Jason and Conguise were together away from the others. Tim stood in front of them, hand shaking as he pointed a gun at them. Jackson was next to Tim, trying to talk the Servant into giving him the weapon. He strode over to them.
“Thank Araldo,” whimpered Jason. “Hugh, tell this creature that I didn’t mean to shoot her.”
“Tim, Hugh’s here. Give him the gun,” said Jackson.
“No,” said Tim. “I’m going to kill him. He shot my daughter.” His voice broke.
“No, Tim. You’re not.” That honor was his.
“Thank you...Hugh?” Jason’s look of arrogant relief was quickly replaced by confusion and fear as Hugh slid the handgun from the holster on his side.
“What are you doing? We can talk.” Jason glanced at Conguise. “I know things you need to hear.”
The only thing he needed to hear was Jason’s skull exploding. He raised his arm and put a bullet between Jason’s eyes.
There was one scream from a councilwoman and then silence fell over the hall. Jackson’s jaw dropped and Tim looked at him, a huge smile spreading across his face. There was no reason to smile yet. He wasn’t done. He aimed at Conguise who stared at him defiantly. There’d be no begging from the professor.
“Sir, stop! Please.” A Guard hurried to his side. “That one was trying to get the gun away from the other one. I saw the whole thing from across the hall. I tried to get here, but it was too far and it happened too fast.”
“That doesn’t sound like the professor I know.” He kept his aim on Conguise.
Conguise continued to stare at him, hatred and contempt on his patrician features.
“I don’t know anything about that, sir, but I do know what I saw and this Almighty fought with the other one,” said the Guard. “If he hadn’t, there would’ve been more injured. That one”—he nodded at Jason’s body—“would’ve had time to fire more than once, a lot more.”
“Did anyone else see this?” His voice rang out.
“I did, sir.” Another Guard moved through the crowd. “It’s like he said. That one”—he pointed at Jason—“was aiming for you when this one”—he nodded at Conguise—“grabbed his arm. They struggled something fierce but the fat one managed to pull the trigger.”
There was something off about this story. He had no doubt Jason would try to kill him but Conguise trying to save him was more than questionable. Still, two of his Guards had seen the same thing and he didn’t have time to untangle the truth. He needed to get back to Trinity. “Lock him up. Lock them all up, but search them first. Search them and the rooms.”
“How is she?” asked Jackson.
“Don’t know. Not good.”
“Go. I got this,” said Jackson.
“Thanks.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Don’t forget about Cal and his army. They’ll arrive soon.”
“I won’t.” Jackson gave him a slight push. “I’ll find you when I need you.”