The Alphas Wonder Land Phoenix Mountain Book 9
Chapter 10

WAREHOUSE DISTRICT – WASHINGTON

The room is empty. The floor is covered in a thick layer of dust and dirt and piles of broken glass.

In the center of the room, a table stands with tipped over, wooden chairs around it.

“We need her now.”

Sounds of other voices echo through the abandoned building.

“We can wait.” The dark voice barks.

“Rex, we’ve been waiting 25 goddamn years!”

“And we can wait a few more days!” Rex growls.

Shuffling sounds of boots are heard by an old office with glass windows. “We lost 8 more last night.” A concerned voice mumbles.

The sounds of chairs scraping across a floor where the chairs lay on their sides on the floor. “What’s the head count?”

“Less than two hundred.” A voice comes from a wall with old windows.

Foot steps walk across the floor where the dust remains undisturbed. “We need…out of here, Rex!”

“We don’t even know if it will work!”

“If you don’t do something soon, that sick bitch is going to kill us all!”

A loud punch and the sound of the table legs jumping off the floor comes from the table which remains still. “Don’t you think I know that? We have to do this carefully, Greg. If we fuck this up, we won’t have another chance.”

“What do we do about Blake?”

“Have we heard from Torrent?” The voice belonging to Greg asks.

“Torrent’s a fucking coward. He refuses to fight the Falcons. He doesn’t care that they’re just killing all the packs across the country. The Dragons have gone into hiding.”

The sound of Rex standing and pacing around bounces off the empty warehouse walls. “The Dragons are pacifists. Can’t really blame them. The High King commander is a power hungry slayer and Blake is a raging lunatic. Their armies are in the thousands. We just need to lay low and stay out of their way. If Draco wants to die, let him.”

“What about the Shaman?”

A loud sigh comes from a empty wall. “That I don’t know.”

“She’s correcting a mistake.” A voice says from the empty table.

“By extermination.”

“Once we get the cure, we can leave. For now, we just survive as long as we can.”

“Better do it soon, Rex, or there’s not going to be anyone left to take the fucking cure.”

“I’ll figure out something. Let’s go.”

The footfalls gather and walk across the empty floor. They parade to the warehouse door.

The sound of the door opening and men walking out, come from the door which remains closed.

The sound of the door closing fades into the empty warehouse which was completely untouched.

****

DAMICA

I unlock my door and walk into my apartment.

I spin around to the handsome man in my doorway.

Even though it was a ride home from the hospital, I kind of feel that after date awkwardness. My cheeks heat and I give a little smile. “Thanks…for being there.” I tuck my hair behind my ear.

He lifts his head and his hands slightly stroke my hair. “For you, anything.” He leans to my lips and kisses me passionately. I whimper and hold his waist.

He slowly breaks the kiss. “Do you need anything?” He mumbles on my lips.

“No. I’m good.” I’m lost in his fabulous kissing skills.

He pulls his head back. “Ok. I’m in Phoenix for work. I should be back in a week. If anything happens…and I mean anything…you better be on that phone calling me, understand? I don’t care what time it is.” He tilts his head with an authoritative look.

“I will.” I smile again.

He kisses me again before he leaves.

I turn around into my apartment.

Before I even think of relaxing, I double check that everything reflective is covered.

Sawyer may make me feel better, but doesn’t mean I’m not still having trouble with this.

It seems now, the more I deny that the world is real, the more it becomes real. It’s made worse now that they’re attempting to take me by force. Coming into my world is ballsy. If they’re doing that, they must want me bad.

I’m too tired to think about anymore. I’m still hopped on drugs for anxiety and need sleep.

The next day, I’m walking into museum. There is an entourage of people waiting for my return.

They all clap and one girl from finance baked a cake for me.

“That’s so sweet but my name has an M in it. Not an N.” I point to the lovey vanilla cake.

She looks at the cake. “Oh, darn it!”

I giggle. “It’s fine. I’m sure it’ll taste just as good.”

I turn around and address the group. “Everyone! Thank you so much! Really, I’m just glad to be back at work. Thank you!”

They all leave except for Gerome. He walks up and puts his arm around me. “So. How was your month long nap?”

“Tiring.” I chuckle. “Honestly, I don’t even remember anything about it. I hardly remember the accident.”

“I see. Well, while you were in your state of slumber, I was earning our grant money.” He smiles.

“What do you mean?” I look up at him.

“The museum burglar struck again.” He takes his arm off me. He walks backwards.

“Really? When?”

“A couple weeks back. He took the amulet.” He informs.

“He did?” Gerome nods. “Damn.” I say low.

He stops and leans to me. “Now, for the weird part.”

My brow shoots up. “What?”

“He knocked me and Dennis out with a tranquilizer. I had my blood tested. Dami. The guy hopped me up with wolfsbane.”

“You’re kidding.” I furrowed my brow.

He stuck his hands in his pockets and continued to walk with me. “Nope. Had it tested twice to be sure. Definitely wolfsbane.”

“That’s weird. What’s wrong with horse tranquilizer?” I say as I look at the floor confused.

He shrugs. “I’d like to know where he got it from. That’s listed as an illegal substance. I did some research, he’s not buying it off an online shop.”

I arch a brow. “You’re thinking dark web?”

He nods. “Has to be.”

I think about it. “I wonder how many actually buy wolfsbane.”

“What are you thinking?” He eyes me as we turn to the elevator.

“I wonder if we were able to track down the buyer, if it would lead us to the burglar.” I suggest.

We get on and Gerome thinks about it. “That could actually work. I can’t see too many people investing their money in wolfsbane. I’ll see what I can come up with.”

We get to the lab and I set my bag down. I stop and look at the door.

I walk to the door and look down toward the elevator.

Gerome arched a brow. “You ok?”

I walk slowly back to the table and nod. “Yeah…I think I am.”

I really do think I’m OK.

I walked all the way from my car to my lab without so much as a thought to the hidden world.

Did Sawyer do something? Should I be worried or excited? I don’t know what this means.

It might be time I talked about it.

****

“Thank you for seeing me on short notice, doctor.” I sit in the chair across from him in front of his desk.

“Damica. It’s nice to see you after so many years. I’ve been meaning to catch up, but it’s been busy around here.” Dr. Berner says. He pushes his glasses up and rubs his balding head. His face looks way older then when I saw him last.

“Lots of new patients?” I ask.

He nods. “The world’s getting harder to handle. It’s not surprising. So. How can I help you?”

I play with my blue dress draped over my knee. “Well, for starters, I’ve been having…episodes.” I lift my eyes to him.

“Have you been hearing the voices?” He pulls out a pad and starts writing.

I nod. “And I’ve seen them.”

“You have?” He stops writing.

I look down. “I tell myself it’s not real, but they feel so real.”

“Have you been taking your medications?” He asks.

“Yes.” I answer.

“Hmmm…I’ll change the dose.” He offers.

“I don’t think you have to.” I smile.

“Why not?” He looked at me with curiosity.

My cheeks flush at the mere thought of Sawyer. “I’ve met someone.”

He folds his hands on his pad. “You have?”

“Yes and he’s the most wonderful man. Since I’ve been with him, I didn’t have one ounce of fear with my reflections and the episodes seem to have stopped.”

“How long have you been seeing him?” the doctor starts writing again.

I think about it. “We've known each other for a few months, but we only just started a relationship.”

“I see.” He drops his glasses on the pad and leans back. “Damica. Though it’s wonderful you are socializing on a healthy level, I don’t believe one man is a cure to your issues.”

“I feel safe with him. I don’t know what it is. It’s like I feel nothing can get me when he’s there.” I play with my dress again.

“You trust him.” He states.

I nod.

“Does he know?” the doctor asks

I press my lips together and shake my head no.

He nods. “Damica. If he’s who you say he is, he should know what’s going on with you. You know your psychosis can be dangerous. He has a right to know.”

“I know. I just…don’t know how to tell him.” I shyly look down.

“I’m sure if you sit him down and have a nice, honest conversation with him, you’ll replace the words. In the meantime, I suggest to you, as your doctor, to not start this relationship without being honest with him.”

I rub my forehead. “You’re right. It’s not fair to him, I guess.”

“Ok. So I’ll up your doses just in case and I want you to come back in two weeks. Let me know how it went.” He writes out my prescription.

I stand and take the paper. “Thank you so much.”

“Good luck with the new boyfriend.” He smiles.

“Thank you.” I blush.

As I leave the institution, I run through what I’d even say to Sawyer. He does have the right to know he’s dating a crazy person. My mind is broken. I’d love it if he was my cure, but the doctor was right. It’s ridiculous to think that my deep seeded mental problems could be cured with a handsome face.

If I had another episode around him and I hurt him in some way, I’d never forgive myself.

I mean, I crashed my damn car. What if he was with me at the time? I could get him killed.

When Sawyer comes back, we’re going to have to have a long talk.