“Mrs. O’Leary? Yes, you can send her mail,” she told the voice on the phone, whom he knew was Ronan, calling as they’d discussed earlier in their trip. It was the backup plan in case he couldn’t charm his way inside. He listened as she gave the address and room number, then hung up. “May I help you?” she asked as if it were the first time she was seeing him.
“I’m sorry. I was waiting for my cousin to get off work in the car park and I really have to go to the loo. Do you mind?”
“Oh, of course not. There’s one just inside those doors. I’ll buzz you through,” she told him, her voice indicating that she was still feeling confused from what would be to her a skip in time from whatever she’d been doing before he arrived to when the phone rang.
“Thank you,” he told her, heading for the double doors and slipping inside.
He turned and focused on her again, this time through the long glass pane built into the door, taking a few more minutes away from her until she had no memory of him or the phone call remaining. He hated taking memories from humans, but it was sometimes necessary. He couldn’t afford for her to mention anything that might tip off Trill once he arrived.
“Fiona?” he asked as he stepped inside her door.
“Yes,” she said, a broad smile spreading across a face that revealed vacant eyes.
She had no idea who he was, and there was no reason she should. More importantly, she had no idea that she didn’t know. This was why Trill kept her there and didn’t bring anyone inside with him to visit. Full-blooded shifters didn’t get dementia. Trill’s mother was half-human. Trill was a man torn between his love for her and his shame at showing any type of weakness.
“Trill sent me. He said you aren’t safe here and that I need to get you to a place where you will be.”
“Trill? He’s such a lovely little boy. Twelve this year, just the other day.”
“Yes. He’s a delight,” Niall replied, smiling down at her. “You ready to get some fresh air?”
“Oh, I’d love that!” she replied.
“Let’s go,” Niall told her.
He rolled her quickly down the hallway and out a set of double doors that led to the gardens behind the facility. There were a few people already out and about, which as good for his purposes. He quickly rolled her toward the wooded area at the back of the back lawn and parked her chair, leaning down to speak to her in a quiet tone.
“Do you know what you are, Fiona?”
“What I am?” she parroted.
“Yes. Do you know what you can do?”
“I can’t do anything. I’m old and in this chair. I’m weak,” she told him.
“You are only weak in human form, Fiona. Do you remember being a bear? Do you remember being able to change into a bear?”
“Oh, that. No one knows about that. Trill said it had to be a secret. I haven’t done that for a long time,” she told him, her voice full of mischief, but her eyes displaying a spark that reflected the woman she had once been.”
“How about we give it a go for old times’ sake, just you and me, running through the woods?”
“Running? Oh, no. I can’t run. I can barely get out of this contraption,” she told him, looking down at the metal chair.
“You could if you were a bear. You’re weak because you’ve not used your bear to heal you for so long. I think you’ll feel a lot better if you just let it run free for a bit. No one has to know but us.”
“You won’t tell Trill?”
“I will not, and I will be with you so that you aren’t alone in the woods. We’ll run at your pace.”
The old woman smiled at him and gripped the sides of her chair as if to stand. He glanced around. There were still people nearby.
“Wait. Let’s get into the woods first,” he told her.
She leaned back in the chair for a moment and he glanced about again before rolling the chair onto the narrow gravel path that existed there. It was likely made by kids who played in the adjoining neighborhood. The woods were shallow. They wouldn’t be able to go far, but that was okay. He didn’t need to take her on a journey, just out of sight.
“Here we go. I’ll help you to your feet and shift once you have.”
“You’re a good boy. What did you say your name was?”
“Niall,” he told her, not sure why he was telling her the truth but feeling he owed it to her for what he was about to do.
“Thank you, Niall. Help me undress? I don’t want to split my clothes.”
“Of course.”