Blood Sickness and Other Ailments

[Serena]

I was getting my things together for training. It was nearly nine and I hadn’t seen Ford all morning. He was usually at breakfast or wandering around the house. As soon as someone was up, he would update them on anything that had happened over night.

“Rao, sweetie, have you heard from Ford? He’s not here and Garrett says he’s not at the training field.” I asked. 

Raoul closed his eyes for a moment. “He’s not answering the mind link. Maybe he fell asleep somewhere. No one will mind him missing one training session. We all know he’s worked harder than anyone else and he hasn’t been getting much rest. Let’s go train. He’ll wake up by lunchtime. He may not be eating much, but he’s never missed more than one meal.”

I smiled and gave him a kiss before we headed to our respective training areas. Today, I was doing siren training. Me and Aria would alternate between that and demon training. It was mostly learning how to use our voices most effectively in the fight.

An older siren taught the group. There were traditional songs to help strengthen our allies or weaken our enemies. We loved learning more about our people and the other sirens were more than happy to talk to us about everything. Sirens were a chattery people.

Anders told everyone about the concubus who arrived in the night. He was excited to find out what information she’d brought. His deity said she was one of the most valuable resources we’d have in the fight. Anders said it was one reason why he wanted her in the Alpha house instead of being boarded with some of the other demons.

I was concerned when he told us she was blood sick. It was a condition that could happen to concubi who killed and ate flesh instead of feeding normally for so long. Reggie would have to feed a lot in the next couple days to get her out of the starving state she was in. After that, she would have to feed daily for a while.

She wouldn’t be able to use her demon form until she was better. If she did take on that form, she’d have a strong urge to kill. Their demon sides became more dominant the longer they fed on flesh. She wouldn’t be able to stop herself. Luckily, we were well versed in demon physiology.

-

We returned to the house before noon. Everyone went to clean up and dress for the day. I sent Rao to Ford’s apartment to find him when he wasn’t in the living room or kitchen. He returned shortly after with a concerned look on his face.

“He’s not in the apartment. I tried his link again and he’s still not answering. Annie’s running out to Madison’s field to see if he’s tending the tree or just fell asleep there again.” He told me.

Anders and Poppy came into the kitchen and caught the tail end of what he’d said. I heard him send out a call to the demons through his link asking if anyone had seen Ford since dawn. The response came in negative. Poppy turned and asked Drayce to check with the dragons.

He got the same response. No one had seen him. I was starting to panic. Even though she was dead, Maddie would never forgive me for losing Ford.

We went to the main living room where the council of alphas and rulers were starting to gather. The alphas were checking with their people, with no luck. No one had seen Ford since Aria saw him at five.

“Do you think he got lost again?” I asked.

“They only took him for a couple hours last time. He should’ve been home, and eating everything he saw, by now.” Rao said.

“I’ll find him.” Moran told us.

He went to Ford’s apartment and picked up his trail. Moran followed it to the kitchen door and then down the hall. I was hot on his heels along with Rao, Anders, and Will. The trail ended at the guest room across from Anders’ room.

Quietly, he opened the door and looked in. He grinned and closed the door, motioning us him to turn around as he headed to the living room. When we arrived we waited for Moran to tell us what he saw.

“He’s in his full wolf form, curled up in bed with the new concubus. They’re sleeping. It looks like a little girl and her pet. She’s clinging to him like he might disappear if she lets go. It’s kinda cute.” He snickered.

“Ford’s sleeping?” Will said. “My cousin definitely needs his rest. Thank the goddess for the girl if she could make him sleep.”

“Let’s make lunch, then we can get them up. She’s been sleeping outside for a while. It’s probably the most comfortable bed she’s had in a long time, and if she got him to sleep this much, we might just have to move her in with him.” Anders chuckled.

“She made him a big sandwich last night and he ate it. He told me she eats like a werewolf, so it could be the most he’s had to eat in one sitting since Maddie died.” Aria told us.

“Let’s make a big lunch, then. How about spaghetti? I think that will be the most filling and it’s easy to make a lot.” I suggested.

Everyone agreed, it was a great idea and got everything we needed. There were two giant stock pots we used for the meal. The second stove top came in handy on spaghetti days. I was thankful for it.

Feeding this many shifters was a trial in itself. I just couldn’t abide the idea of wolves running around the house, calling me ‘Luna’, and bowing all the time.

-

While we worked, everyone speculated about what happened the night before and what kind of person Reggie was. Anders told us about talking with her briefly and gave us a description of her. Ford seemed to like the innocent looking girls. Maybe Maddie sent her so he could heal a little.

“Too bad she isn’t a redhead.” Rao snickered as he sliced mushrooms.

“How do you get a chubby concubus? Our metabolism is too high for that. She was only eating flesh; she shouldn’t have gained weight.” Poppy wondered.

“Some guys like chubby girls. It would make sense if she was from a line that descended from areas where women were a little heavier. We have some male concubi who are stocky rather than slim.” Anders shrugged.

“Her metabolism would keep her at exactly that size. Instead of gaining and losing weight.” I interjected. “It’s not a concern. The blood sickness should be more of a worry for us right now. She won’t be able to share energy. If she even lets her tail out, she’ll start feeling the urge to kill and eat someone. We have to watch for signs of it progressing to the second stage. She’ll need to be fed several times a day. If we’re on top of it, we should be able to stop it. Once it gets to the fourth stage… we’ll have no choice, but to kill her. We have to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“She’ll have been consumed by her demon at that point.” Anders said. “We need every person we can get to feed her. The most powerful people we can get. I can feed her from time to time, but she’ll do better if we have non-demons do it. We’ll need every alpha who isn’t mated to help. I don’t want a jealousy issue to make her change to defend herself. Aria, do you think you can feed her once you’re healed from the birth?”

“Sure. It’s less time for us than for a human. Only about a week left. Then Jeremiah won’t have to feed on those… creatures.” She sneered a little.

“You know I wouldn’t if I didn’t have to, sweetheart.” He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her temple.

Moran was the best mate for my little sister. With him, she’d grown stronger and more confident. When she became sure of herself, she started opening up more and accepted Ford as a friend. I wished Maddie was here to see them. I missed her so much.

“I know. It doesn’t make me any less upset. Those women make you smell bad.” Aria sighed.

The food was nearly ready. We’d get the sleepers up soon. I hoped Reggie was friendly. It would make it easier to integrate her into the house and the pack.

We would have her take a loyalty vow with Anders as soon as she was over the blood sickness. With luck, this was a sign that everything was going to be alright.