Page 17 of Dark Medicine (Strange Gifts #2)

Fiona watched the faces of her five new friends as they gazed out over the coastline. Standing on the Cliffs of Moher would take away the breath of any man, but for those who never saw the cliffs before, it was simply awe-inspiring. The jagged rocks covered the cliffs straight down to the waiting sea, and massive waves crashed against the shore.

“It’s so beautiful, Fiona,” said Aislinn. “I feel almost at home here.” Fiona smiled at Aislinn.

“It’s yer Irish blood coming through. Your mam’s home wasn’t all that far from here, so I’m sure she came over now and again. It’s a lovely place for a hike or run. I come this way now and then and stay at the inn in the village for a long weekend. It gets me away, and I’m able to relax.”

“It’s just amazing,” said Flip. “I think I’ll hike down that way and get some photos. You coming, poster boy?”

Spook flipped him the bird and followed his friend. As he passed Adam, he raised an eyebrow, letting his friend know that he needed to speak with Fiona about what they’d found.

“I think we’ll go get a coffee,” said Kane, pulling Aislinn with him.

“But I don’t want coffee,” she said, protesting.

“Sure you do, baby. Come on.” Aislinn shrugged and followed Kane, her hand tightly laced with his own.

“So, that wasn’t subtle at all, was it?” asked Adam. Fiona looked at him and shook her head, her face devoid of any expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong, not really,” he said, shoving his hand through his hair. “Let’s sit.”

He pointed to a rocky outcropping offering amazing views and a spectacular breeze. Adam was thankful once again that he bought the jacket and extra sweaters. It was fucking cold in Ireland. He didn’t care what they said.

“So, what’s going on?” she said tentatively.

“Spook was able to trace the IP address last night for the e-mail that Roman and George sent.” Fiona stared at him intently, waiting for him to continue. “The e-mail address belongs to a Colonel Weston Moore. For a long time, he was thought dead. We are all well acquainted with him or at least his reputation.

“About fifteen years ago, he was leading a humanitarian mission in Bosnia. At least, that’s what the Washington brass thought. Young people started disappearing from surrounding villages. At first, everyone believed they were taken to serve in the military or with the resistance. About six months into his command, the UN discovered a mass grave containing body parts. There were no witnesses. No one stepped forward. However, cameras and GPS equipment showed that the colonel himself drove to the mass grave on a number of occasions.

“Although it wasn’t proven he had anything to do with the deaths, the circumstantial evidence was enough to ruin his career. The Army forced him into early retirement, although technically he was about sixty then, so I’m not sure it was all that early.”

“I don’t understand,” said Fiona, frowning, “so this American colonel that everyone thought was dead is sending e-mails?”

“There’s more. About two years ago, they diagnosed him with stage four liver cancer. He’s sought every alternative treatment known to man, but nothing seems to be working. The only reason we know that is because of Spook. He found e-mails and communications sent back and forth between Moore, his assistant, and several clinics.”

“I still don’t understand. What does that have to do with us? With any of us? Other than my ability to heal.”

“I’m certain that’s why he’s trying to get to you, but something else we know is that Colonel Moore was stationed at Sierra Depot during the time Kane and I would have been there as children.”

“That explains the two of you, but it doesn’t explain the rest of us.”

“I’m not done,” he said, holding up a hand. “When the bodies in Bosnia were found, the grave contained an odd powder substance. At first, Washington was concerned that it was some biohazard or nerve agent. They were so concerned they sent special hazmat teams to assist the Bosnians.”

“Well, that’s good, right? I mean, what did they find?”

“Nothing. By the time the teams arrived, the gravesite was burned to the very core of the earth. Nothing remained, barely even a glimpse of the bones, let alone any tissue to study or powder.”

“Jesus,” whispered Fiona.

“We think that Moore has everything to do with the powder we all were exposed to. We also believe he’s still alive, and that’s why he wants you, which is exactly why he won’t get you. The problem is that Spook says he has some powerful help.”

“Powerful?” she asked tentatively.

“Yea, powerful in the sense that they command loyalty from their troops. Sgts. Tom Cullen, Calvin Zurvel, and Uri Bellum. Captains Dan Henry, Norris Fredericks, and Major William Groome. Kane and I are familiar with Groome. We served under him in Iraq. He was a sadistic, manipulative prick.

“Kane and I were put on a team together. I was part of the medical unit heading out with his group. I wasn’t even a doctor yet. I was still in medical school, but the Army was fast-tracking me. There was no reason to put me with Kane’s team, but they assigned me as the corpsman. I didn’t know him, and he didn’t know me, but it was our first encounter together where we suspected that the other had gifts.

“The mission was simple–pick up two insurgents held by local authorities. Except there was nothing simple about it. Kane knew right away that it was a trap. No one believed him, but he was so insistent they couldn’t argue with him. I know now that he felt the evil of the local police commander. As we left the jail, the whole area went fucking crazy. Snipers were on roofs, IEDs seemed to be everywhere we stepped.”

Fiona stared at Adam as he told the story, his face a mask of pain and memory.

“It was easy for me at first. The men who were shot could easily be pulled into a building, and I could work on them there. Then it got harder. We were clustered together, and I couldn’t just start operating without confirmation, or I would have been suspect.

“Somehow, Kane knew and forced everyone to move away from me. I was able to work on everyone quickly and at least secure the men until transport arrived. When we returned to base, Moore was standing there waiting for us. He asked the men what happened, and each one looked at Kane and me as if we had three heads.”

“Did they give you away?” asked Fiona.

“No. I don’t think they really knew what to say, and those that suspected were too afraid someone would think they were fucking crazy. Kane and I knew, though. Moore set us up. Either he wanted to see what all the hype was around the two of us, or he already knew. We pretty much worked on the same team going forward. Kane and I knew what he was doing, so we were careful not to expose too much.”

“The last tour we shared, insurgents raided a small village on the outskirts of our control. The village elder had three daughters. The insurgents raped and beat all three. When I arrived, one was already dead. The other two should have been. Kane did his thing, making sure I had a wide berth to help the girls. The elder watched me but said nothing.

“When we left, he promised to keep my secret. He called me a shaman. Two days later, he was hanging from a tree outside the base, his body stripped of its skin. His daughters said that Moore questioned him for hours about me, but their father refused to tell him anything.”

“Oh my God, oh my God, I think I’m going to be sick,” said Fiona, leaning over.

Adam stood and rubbed her back, pulling her hair away from her face. He looked back towards the hill and saw Kane and Aislinn headed their way. The tourist crowds had thinned. Only one bus and two cars remained in the parking lot below. Adam spotted Spook and Flip walking along the cliff edge, laughing.

Adam felt them before he saw them. Two men walking from the lower pathway stood behind him, not visible yet to Kane or the others.

“Hello,” said Zurvel.

“Hello,” said Adam cautiously.

“I believe you have something that we need,” said Bellum.

“I don’t know you, mister, so it’s doubtful I have anything that you need.” Adam grabbed Fiona’s arm and pulled her behind him, blocking her from the two men. He knew that if the others saw the move, they would know something was wrong.

“That’s where you’re wrong, Dr. Thorn. You all belong to us, but right now, we only need Miss Graham.”

Adam’s face remained emotionless, not daring to show his shock that these men knew their identity.

“Sorry, friend, but no one owns me or Fiona.”

He saw the man standing furthest from him pull the small handgun from his coat, holding it close so as not to rouse suspicion. Adam watched him raise the weapon slightly, and then just as quickly, it flew from his hands into the waiting sea below. He grinned, knowing that Flip was close by.

“What the fuck!? Why did you do that?” growled the other man.

“I-I didn’t,” he said, staring into the sea.

“I can send you in after it if you like,” said Adam calmly. “It’s awfully cold, but you won’t feel the cold after the two-hundred-foot drop.”

“I don’t have time to fuck with you, doctor. Give us the girl, or you will be sorry!” yelled Zurvel.

“Sorry, no can do,” said Adam, grinning. He watched as Zurvel lifted off the ground, his feet dangling, kicking out at the invisible force holding him hostage in the air.

“Wh-what the hell is happening?” asked Bellum.

“What’s happening is you’ve fucked with the wrong people. Now, you tell us what Moore wants with us,” said Adam, staring at Bellum.

Unfortunately, he took his eyes away from Zurvel for one moment too long as he withdrew a knife. The glittering blade flew through the air, lodging into the side of Adam’s neck. Seconds later, Zurvel sailed over the edge of the cliff, plundering to the surf below. His mangled body on the rocks swept out to sea within moments.

“No!” screamed Fiona dropping to her knees beside him. She pulled the blade from his neck, blood gushing faster than she could hold it. Suddenly Kane was by her side, his large hand held over the bleeding artery.

She vaguely heard the thundering footsteps of Spook, and then the large shadow of Flip knelt at his head. Fiona concentrated on the wound, her hands sliding beneath Kane’s.

“Fiona, you can’t…” started Kane.

“I can and I will,” she said grimly.

Her hands heated, closing the wound. She focused on the tear in the artery and held still, her hands repairing the vessel. Never before had she been able to see the damage until Adam. Fiona felt the blood dripping from her own mouth and nose. She knew it was normal, but Kane and the others did not. Their shocked faces registered panic, and she knew they would attempt to tear her away.

Fiona shook her head gently, notifying them not to touch her. Flip reached into his pocket and pulled out a napkin, gently wiping away the blood. Somehow, he knew. He knew that she had to do this.

“You repaired it,” said Kane.

“Not… yet…” came Fiona’s breathless reply. “Poi-poison… the blade… poison…”

It was the same as her brother, but she refused to let Adam die. It was obvious whoever wanted them was well acquainted with her skills. She focused on the blood flowing in his veins.

Unlike Adam, she couldn’t see the cells, but she sensed the poison, feeling it more than seeing it. She could identify it as a foreign body and knew she had to expel it. Feeling the spores of poison seep through her own hand, she gasped for air as Adam did the same. His eyes opened wide as he sucked in a deep breath. Fiona’s opened wide and then closed. Her task complete, she fell back against the cold hard earth.

“Adam! Brother!” yelled Kane.

“Stop yelling at me! Fiona…” he said with a hoarse croak.

He looked at the ground beside him, Flip holding Fiona’s head in his lap. Adam, weak and breathless, pushed up to his knees and held her hands. There were no internal injuries, but he could see the cells fighting something.

“Fucking hell! Why did you let her do that?” asked Adam.

“We couldn’t exactly stop her, Adam.” Aislinn’s voice was calm and soft, exactly what Adam needed to hear at that moment. She touched his shoulder, and he nodded, a tear falling down his cheek. She couldn’t die. She just couldn’t.

He continued to watch the blood fight the poison, her body protesting the very essence of it. He tried to identify the foreign substance, but it moved so quickly in her system he couldn’t get a read on it.

Adam lowered his head to hers, resting his forehead against her own.

Please, don’t take her from me. Please…

“I’m… I’m here, Adam. I’m okay.” Adam’s head popped up, and he stared down at her in awe.

“Don’t you ever do that to me again!” he yelled. “You are more important than I am. You let me die. Don’t you risk your life for me!”

“Adam,” said Kane, trying to console his friend.

“Adam Thorn,” she said softly, “don’t you yell at me for saving the man I love when I know for sure he would have done the same thing for me. As you can see, I’m fine now. I just needed a moment to recover.” Flip helped her sit up and smiled at the feisty woman.

“Thank you, Flip,” she said, grinning at the big man. “I could feel your calm in the storm. I appreciate the lap to rest my head.”

“Any time, Fiona,” he said, smiling.

“Are you fucking kidding me?! You’re going to flirt with my woman now!? Wait, you said you loved me. You love me.”

“Now, he hears me,” said Fiona as he crushed her to his chest.

Flip laughed as he stood and turned, running down the same trail Spook took. Following the path down the side of the cliff, Flip looked down at his massive feet covering the width of the path and started to rethink the idea of following. His large body wasn’t made for the tiny pathway. Turning a sharp curve, he spotted Spook heading back toward him.

“Well?” he asked. Spook was breathing heavy but shook his head.

“He had a boat waiting at the bottom. That’s how they got up here without us seeing them. He was alone, though, so I know it was just the two of them.” Flip nodded. “Adam?”

“She saved him,” he said, smiling. “Most incredible thing I’ve ever seen, but she fucking saved him.”

“Well, at least now we know who we’re dealing with. I, for one, want to get off this fucking cold island and get home. Although come to think of it, that is where Moore happens to be.”

“There is that,” said Flip, climbing back up the steep trail. “And if I get within ten miles of him, I’m going to fucking kill him.”