Disclaimer: All characters within belong to the lovely and talented Kim Harrison. Nothing belongs to me.
Chapter 1
Oh God, I really screwed this up. Didn't need backup, oh no, not me. I'm a kick ass witch—demon—thing. And a dumb one at that.
Phone, I thought, hoping it hadn't been destroyed by the beating, the fall, or the damn puddles. Puddles? When did it start raining?
I fumbled around with my good arm, searching my pockets for the phone. Just a simple bag and tag. That's all this was supposed to be. Damn it, I hurt.
I found my phone and punched the speed-dial with sticky, shaking fingers. Please, pick up. Please please please. The ringing bored into my ears.
"Vampirc Charms, you've got Jenks."
"Hi, Jenks." I said, weak.
"Rache, you okay?" he sounded worried. I wondered why. Why had I called home in the first place? I was cold. And uncomfortable.
"I don't think so. Please…get Ivy."
"Rache, where are you?" the pixy's voice was way too loud.
"Ivy knows." I whispered. "Please, Jenks…" the phone slipped out of my hand.
From far away, I heard Jenks yelling for Ivy. She would come. She always did. I took it too much for granted, knowing that my living vamp knight in shining leather would always come for me.
But I would come for her too. If she ever…needed me. My life is so screwed up.
Ivy knows, I had said. She always knew, because she made me tell her, or leave a note, with everything from locations to prospective locations to estimated time home. I'd agreed, but only to mock her anal-retentive need to plan the joy out of life. This time, I was glad to be a snarky bitch.
I pulled my broken arm over my stomach to get it out of the freezing water I couldn't quite feel, and in hopes that the pain would keep me awake.
A simple run. That's all it was supposed to be. Stupid, stupid witch. Should have asked her to come with me. Ivy. I'm so…so…sorry.