Two weeks passed before Kate was completely healed.
Abe insisted her unyielding stubbornness caused the injury to last as long as it did, for she hardly let anyone talk her out of getting work done whenever she could.
He was probably right.
Still, Kate wasn't able to put her work aside. Mrs. Hardy's plea for justice was still fresh in her mind, and she wasn't about to give up on trying to find a way to get to Ystehogol and stop him.
The previous two weeks had gone by rather quickly. Kate found herself becoming more comfortable with the lifestyle of B.P.R.D. employees.
She'd even grown more comfortable around Hellboy. That is, after one final awkward conversation. It had taken place two days after her ordeal.
Kate had been walking down the hallway towards the library after getting herself a cup of coffee from the kitchen when she nearly collided with Hellboy who was coming swiftly around the corner. In surprise, Kate tossed the coffee into the air concurrently dropping the books she was taking back to the library. A shower of hot coffee rained down upon them as a wide variety of profanities from both Kate and Hellboy filled the hall.
After the initial shock of the incident, Hellboy exclaimed, "Damn," while he watched Kate standing there with coffee soaked hair and a coffee stained suit, cheeks red with embarrassment and shock.
At the sight of her tense form standing before him looking as she did, it was all Hellboy could to suppress the laughter he felt building up inside him. It didn't last long, for a moment later Hellboy gave in and laughed fully at her.
Kate glared back at him, but felt the corners of her mouth curving into a slight smile.
"Shut up," was all she could mutter in response to his laughter.
Clearing his throat and attempting to become serious, Hellboy sincerely asked, "You alright, kid?"
Nodding and bending down to pick up her books, Kate spoke under her breath.
"Yeah, I always shower with steaming, hot coffee in the morning."
A slight laugh resounded in the back of Hellboy's throat, but Kate chose to ignore it.
"You get burned?" asked Kate, suddenly realizing Hellboy may have been hurt too.
Hellboy shook his head. "Nah, I don't burn. Demon's perks," he explained, giving her a friendly smile.
"Then why were you so worked up about it?" she asked, knowing those profanities had not only come from her.
Hellboy shrugged. "Hey, this was a clean shirt."
Kate was smiling before she could prevent herself from doing so.
Leaning against a wall, Hellboy watched her wring coffee from her hair.
"So, what else are you planning to do today besides throwing coffee on me?" he inquired, smirking.
Kate rolled her eyes. "Hmm, don't know. I was thinking I'd booby-trap your room or something, but this was much more entertaining."
Hellboy waved off her remark with a smile.
"Feeling any better?"
Sighing, Kate copied him and leaned against the wall, shrugging.
"Eh, I guess. I probably shouldn't be back on the job so quickly, but I feel like if I don't get something done I'll go crazy. I've still got one hell of a headache too," she said, setting down her books to rub her temples.
Remembering something, Kate gazed questioningly at him.
"By the way, why were you coming to my room when I passed out the other day?"
Hellboy was caught off guard and cleared his throat.
Thinking, he crossed his arms. "I, uh…was coming to say I was sorry."
Kate raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to explain. He looked terribly uncomfortable.
"I kind of…wouldn't get off your back about you and Myers."
Smiling, Kate chuckled and stared at the floor.
"It's okay…"
Hellboy let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding in and nodded.
Kate shuffled her feet and continued to stare at the floor for a moment before finally turning her attention back to Hellboy.
"Hey, I'd better get to the library. I'm supposed to meet with Abe."
Hellboy nodded. "Yeah, well…don't stand too close to him. He's got really bad rotten egg breath."
Kate giggled and picked up her books.
"I'll keep that in mind," she said, already heading back down the hallway to her room for a change of clothes and waving to Hellboy.
Remembering the conversation fondly, Kate found herself smiling.
That had been a little over a week ago. Hellboy had become more comfortable around her since then, and she would even go as far as to say they enjoyed each other's company.
Currently, Kate was situated on the leather couch in the library, waiting for Abe. Their meetings had become more frequent as she was beginning to progress little by little in blocking her thoughts. Ystehogol had not come to her since her dream that night, and Kate was becoming worried that it only meant his next visit would be soon.
When Abe entered the room, he'd already put on his breathing apparatus. Kate had insisted he stay in his tank, as she did not want to inconvenience him, but he only shook his head.
"The glass barrier only inhibits my ability to purge your thoughts, Kate. It's much more effective if I am out there with you," he'd explained.
Kate smiled at him as he approached her, and stood up from the couch.
"Okay, I'm ready," she said.
The words had hardly left her mouth before she was suddenly experiencing a whirlwind of flashbacks.
"It's quite similar to pushing aside a memory. You shut one memory out by concentrating on another," came Abe's voice amidst the flashbacks, reminding her of what he'd taught her previously.
Concentrating, Kate brought forth the memory of her outing with Myers, drinking coffee and enjoying each other's company. Soon, the memory was so strong that it almost ceased the flashbacks. In a moment's hesitation, Kate lost the memory and was overrun with the never-ending parade of flashbacks again. The next moment, she was back in the library, facing Abe who seemed impassive.
"I apologize for surprising you, but you must remember that you will not know when Ystehogol will attempt to penetrate your thoughts. It is the only way I can test you accurately."
Kate held up her hand. "No, no. I understand. I just…need to concentrate more."
Abe nodded. "You're doing quite well, Kate. You must know that. As a human, you are less likely to catch on to this type of exercise of the brain quickly, and you've been doing well."
Kate laughed slightly. "Thanks. I do the best I can, you know, being human and all."
Abe didn't seem to catch on to the joke, and she shook her head at his confused look.
"Never mind," she sighed.
Abe unexpectedly turned to watch the golden doors behind him and soon, Professor Broom came limping into the room, his cane clunking on the floor. Kate had hardly spoken with him since their brief conversation the day she arrived at the Bureau. He always seemed to be busy elsewhere whenever she was working in the library, and rarely saw him.
As he approached them, Broom gave Kate a slight nod and a smile.
"I see Abe has been teaching you how to protect yourself," he noted, removing his hat and setting it on the arm of a chair near him.
Kate remained silent, not knowing if he was finished.
When he did not speak, she inquired, "Professor, why haven't you been around lately?"
She knew it was probably none of her business, but she felt that something was not right. No one had spoken much of Professor Broom in the past weeks, and Kate was beginning to wonder what was wrong.
The older man sighed and leaned on his cane.
"Dr. Hayward, I have been doing quite a bit of research myself these past few weeks, and just as you have, I've been going straight to the sources to get information."
Kate felt her face become warm at the realization Professor Broom knew of her escapade to Agent Hardy's house.
Smiling a bit, Broom said, "We do have security cameras, Dr. Hayward."
Kate shifted her weight, waiting for him to continue with his explanation. Abe too, was looking expectantly at him.
Broom watched them over the rims of his wire glasses.
"Agent Hardy was not the only agent to be killed by unknown causes within the past year."
Kate gasped and Abe blinked alarmingly a couple of times before speaking.
"Professor, how many agents have been killed?"
Broom's face fell. "Ten," he said, solemnly.
Kate shook her head in disbelief. "How did you find out?"
"Since Tom Manning insists on terminating any file on retired agents," he began, "I made a list of previous agents from memory and conducted some investigations. Ten of the seventeen agents I listed have been killed, including Andres Hardy. Each of their deaths has been listed the same way; unknown causes. I have sent letters to the remaining seven agents, enlightening them of this discovery."
Kate was shocked. What could Ystehogol possibly want with these retired agents?
"Why has the Bureau not been notified of these killings?" asked Abe.
"I'm not sure. Someone has been covering their footprints," Broom responded, sounding out of breath.
Professor Broom suddenly seemed to have trouble standing up, even with the help of his cane, and both Kate and Abe placed a hand under each of his elbows. In response, Broom shook his head.
"Please, don't worry about me. I haven't had much rest. If you'll excuse me, it's late and I should get some sleep."
Without another word, he continued his way across the room and through the doors leading to the hall.
It wasn't until later that night after Kate had gone to her room and prepared herself for bed that she felt the full impact of Broom's discovery. Now, they could be certain Ystehogol hadn't attacked on a whim. He had a reason for killing Agent Hardy, just as he probably had reasons to kill every other agent he had gotten to.
Trying to put the thoughts out of her head, Kate removed her glasses and set them on her nightstand, then sank happily into her bed. Within moments, she was asleep.
The cold, sterile medical bay was still.
Kate shivered and wrapped her arms around her frame.
Feeling another presence in the room, she glanced around frantically.
Kate gasped. Upon the metal table in the center of the room was a body, covered by a white sheet.
Slowly, she silently made her way towards the body. Once beside it, she carefully began to lift the sheet.
"I would not do that," whispered a dark voice.
Kate froze. "Ystehogol?" she whispered back.
A low chuckle resounded beside her.
"Well, you certainly know me. Might I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"
The voice seemed so pleasant and Kate found herself about to tell him her name.
Realizing what she was about to do, she clamped a hand over her mouth.
"Don't be afraid, my dear," cooed Ystehogol, "Please, tell me your name."
Angry at his persistence, Kate screamed, "No!"
Immediately she felt as though fingernails were digging into her sides.
"I killed them, and I can certainly kill you. Tell me your name!" he yelled in her ear.
Kate turned sharply and was surprised when bright, golden eyes met her own.
Closing her eyes tightly, she felt her heart racing.
"No!" she repeated.
And then, she no longer felt his presence.
Opening her eyes, Kate saw Ystehogol had gone, along with the body on the table.
Just as she began to relax, his voice came to her once again.
"You will regret this."
A/N: Thank you for the lovely reviews! I hope you enjoyed chapter nine. Review!