Page 43

Chapter 43

Matilda was a powerful earth elemental and as such she had power over metal, since it was an earth element. The entrance to the bunker was solid iron so it would be easy for her to manipulate.

I convinced her to follow Thomas, Sidnee and me through the man-made tunnel and we wound our way back to the bunker entrance under the tractor. When we arrived, we looked up at the iron lid. From this direction, you only needed to twist a wheel to free it by retracting the eight bars that locked it into the concrete surrounding it. No way could Connor have lifted it even if he’d been Superman.

There were electronics surrounding the exit point indicating some kind of remote access from above. I understood the issue immediately: if we didn’t seal it forever, the Knight Stalkers would be back and we’d have to do it all over again. That wasn’t a Groundhog Day I’d be keen to repeat. Getting shot hurts, even if it doesn’t kill .

‘Matilda, could you make it so that the hatch will never open again? That way we can keep the mean men from coming back.’

Clicking her nails, she studied it; she was obviously agitated. ‘Matilda make whole tunnel go away,’ she growled.

That would work for me, but I hoped she’d wait until we were back in the bunker. ‘Okay, we’ll go back,’ I said hastily. ‘When we’re safe in the main bunker, you can make the tunnel and access shaft go away.’

We hauled ass because none of us were sure how much time Matilda would give us. Behind us, her cackle rang in the air, then suddenly the pressure increased as the tunnel collapsed.

Matilda was standing behind us. ‘Is done,’ she said happily. ‘Mean men gone from Matilda secret place forever.’

‘We are so happy for you,’ I murmured.

Sidnee and Thomas nodded. We all wanted to remain on Matilda’s good side.

‘Will you open the way here for us sometime if we need to look at their computers again?’ I asked.

A calculating look slid across the hag’s face. ‘Bring sugar snack? ’

‘Yes,’ I said smothering my annoyance. I resisted the urge to tell her that sugar may be tasty but it wasn’t good to consume it in vast quantities; little and often was the way forward. Still, giving dietary advice to a head-stealing hag probably wasn’t a great idea.

‘Matilda open again,’ she promised.

‘Thank you.’ I smiled. ‘I appreciate that.’

We collected as much data as we could then, exhausted, we all headed out of the tunnel that Matilda had made for us when we’d first come in, collapsing it as we went. Without some serious digging equipment no one was ever getting into the bunker again unless Matilda helped them. I smiled at the thought. Take that Knight Stalkers!

Matilda halted at the tunnel’s exit. ‘Will find you,’ she grunted to me. ‘Find more mean men.’

I blinked. ‘Sure. See you tomorrow?’

She grunted as she watched us leave.

Outside, Emma took a long breath of fresh cold air and stared up at the sky. ‘I never thought I’d feel the wind on my face or see the moon or stars again,’ she said softly. ‘Helmud loved the stars.’ She turned to me. ‘Can I see him?’

I turned to Gunnar and raised an eyebrow. He nodded. ‘He’s in the morgue,’ he told her. ‘I’ll take you tomorrow after you’ve had a chance to clean up, eat and sleep.’

‘I … I don’t know anywhere in town. ’

‘You can stay with me and my wife Sigrid tonight. She’s a hearth witch – she’ll make sure you’re calm enough to sleep and keep you from nightmares.’

Emma smiled bitterly. ‘I’ll need her help. Thank you. Has Helmud’s dad been notified of his passing?’

Gunnar nodded. ‘I did it myself.’

‘I’d like to speak to him.’

‘I can arrange that too,’ he promised.

She nodded, but I could see the exhaustion in her face. Connor and I helped her into the Nomo SUV. ‘I’ll run back,’ Connor murmured to me. ‘With Emma, the SUV is full so I’ll take a detour to my cabin in the woods.’

I blinked. In all the madness, I’d barely thought about Parker and my monumental screw up. I grimaced. ‘Okay. Ring me when you’re home?’

He nodded, gave me a fast kiss and then a longer one. We both needed it. He turned and was gone. I really needed to up my cardio game because Connor was so much faster than me. Maybe it was an age thing.

Gunnar started the engine. ‘I’ll drop you home first, Bunny, then Thomas and Sidnee. After that we’ll swing by the office and pick up Sigrid.’

‘Have you let her know you’re okay?’ I asked. ‘She’ll be tearing her hair out.’

‘I’ve sent a message to her and the council. ’

Sidnee and Thomas were whispering together in the back seat. Sidnee piped up, ‘You can just drop me at Thomas’s, boss.’

Gunnar nodded but he was eyeing Thomas in the rearview mirror; he wasn’t quite in full father-figure intimidation mode but close. ‘You got it.’

He pulled up to my house and I hopped out. ‘I hope you get some rest, Emma. Sigrid’s food is divine.’

Her stomach rumbled audibly. ‘I’m looking forward to it,’ she said with a weak smile.

‘I bet! Take care. I’m sure I’ll see you tomorrow.’

‘Yeah. Thanks, Bunny – for everything.’

‘You’re welcome.’ As always, Gunnar waited until I’d unlocked my front door and was safely inside before he motored off.

Fluffy slid off the couch and gave a big stretch then hastily came over to nuzzle me and let me know how happy he was that I was back. In contrast, Shadow raced to his empty bowl and yowled so loudly I thought my eardrums would burst.

I wagged my finger at him. ‘You are not starving. It was a long day but I’m still fifteen minutes early for your next meal.’ He rubbed hard against my legs, almost knocking them out from under me. I leaned down and scratched behind his ears. ‘You’re a rascal.’

While Fluffy waited patiently for his supper, I hurriedly filled Shadow's dish. The only thing I paused for was to turn on the kettle which, after the day I’d had, was essential.

Once they were fed, I changed their water and made myself a cup of tea. I was also hungry but I needed a pause, time to unwind. My mind kept drifting to poor Emma; to be freed and to lose her fiancé in the same day was enough to break anyone. And I kept thinking about Parker.

I showered to kill some time. Connor had said he’d call me when he was home and, fast as he was, I needed to exercise some patience. If only I could remember how.

Once I’d washed away the shitty day and the dried blood under the pounding hot water, I felt a little happier. I dried my hair and slid into my pyjamas. I honestly tried hard to stay my hand, but suddenly my phone was in it. Deciding it was a sign, I called Connor.

He yawned into the phone as he picked up. ‘Doe, I just got in. I thought you’d already be sawing logs.’

I chuckled. ‘No, that’s your job.’

‘It’s too close to daylight for lumberjack jokes.’ He yawned again.

‘You started it. How was Parker? ’

‘Okay,’ he said cautiously. ‘I gave him some blood. Last thing we need is for him to go into a bloodlust.’

‘Absolutely. Did he say anything?’

‘Not really,’ he admitted carefully. ‘He asked after you.’ I winced. Connor sighed. ‘This whole thing is eating at you.’

‘How do you do that?’ I demanded.

‘Do what?’

‘Know what I’m thinking.’

‘Because I know you . You have a huge gooey heart that still beats in your chest. You will always worry about others.’

I was silent. I’d never thought of myself as particularly kind hearted; I’d grown up selfish and that was how I saw myself. Finally I whispered, ‘Thanks for seeing that in me.’

His tone was low and soft. ‘I see everything in you. You are the good, the better, the best part of me. Now go rest. You need that, too.’

‘I will. Goodnight, Connor. I love you.’

‘I love you too, Bunny.’

With my mind quieter, I threw a frozen dinner in the microwave, dutifully downed a warm cup of blood and ate. Then, full and sleepy, I collapsed into my bed with my furry companions by my side.