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22
ELRIK
We reached the open office doorway at the same time and burst into the room, finding no one there.
An antique wooden desk had been placed halfway between the door and a bank of windows that looked out at a parking lot and straggly woods beyond.
A moan rang out from the other side of the desk, and we hurried that way, rounding the heavy wooden piece of furniture and coming to a stop.
“Hazel,” Melly cried out, stooping down beside an elderly woman lying still on the floor.
Hazel wore a leotard with tights and a short skirt, and her long gray hair had been secured in a bun on the back of her head.
“Call 9-1-1,” Melly said, stroking Hazel’s forehead. “Hazel. Can you hear me?”
The older woman moaned and shifted on the floor. I called, and they said they’d send someone right away.
Hazel lay on her side with her legs curled up in a fetalposition. I didn’t see any obvious injuries or blood, though a bruise was forming on her left temple. Had she hit her head when she fell or had something more suspicious occurred?
Melly looked up at me. “What do you think happened? She’s not waking up.” She placed her hand on Hazel’s shoulder and lightly shook her. “Hazel? Hazel?”
The woman’s eyes slowly opened. “Melly?”
“Yes, it’s me, Melly. You’re going to be okay. The ambulance is on the way.”
“No ambulance.” Hazel groaned and sat, leaning back against the wheeled chair. It promptly slipped toward the window, but Melly caught Hazel before she could fall to the floor again.
We eased her around until she could lean against her desk.
“You shouldn’t be moving,” Melly said. “Wait for the ambulance crew to take a look at you first.”
“The day I stay on the floor is the day I die.” Hazel peered up at me. “You’re not an orc or an ogre.”
“I’m an ice lord.”
“What in the hell is an ice lord?”
My laugh snorted out. “Ice melts in hell.” Or I assumed it did. I’d met a few demons, and each told me the stories were true. It was freakin’ hot down there, wherever down there was.
“I see,” Hazel said.
“What happened?” Melly asked, sitting on the floor beside Hazel.
“No, dear, don’t do that. I need to get up.” Hazellooked back at me again. “You look like a strong male. Can you help me into my chair?”
“Of course.” I lifted her gently and placed her on the leather surface.
“Thanks.” She leaned back and closed her eyes, her hand rising to her left temple. “My head hurts.”
“Did you fall?” Melly got up and sat on the edge of the desk.
I stood to the side, ready to assist Hazel again if she needed me.
“The first thing I need you to do is call 9-1-1 and tell them to turn that ambulance around and take it back to the garage,” Hazel said, her voice getting stronger by the second. “I’m not going to the hospital.”
“You’ve got a bruise on your temple. You hit your head,” Melly said. “I’m sure you need to be examined.”
“Ah, yes.” Hazel frowned at me. “You’re Elrik, one of the new employees working at Monsters, PI. You were coming here today to ask me some questions. I remember now.”
