Bloodfeather Read online

  “Octopuses are extremely smart and if they wanted to, they could take over the world. There have been a ton of incidents that lead people to believe that they're mischief causing geniuses. I went to the zoo with my niece over the summer and I swear that one was posing for me. There's also a sign next to the exhibit that bans flash photography. Turns out that someone took a flash photo of Lord Inky and he wigged out. They had to evacuate the area because he slammed the glass and it started to crack. He also ate a shark. A fucking shark! Poor Bruce.”

  “Maybe they'll be good leaders.”

  “What?”

  “If octopuses are going to overtake us, maybe they'll take good care of us, too. Maybe we should let them and we'll get along better.”

  “Are you fucking with me?”

  “Not in the least. I find you fascinating actually, and it makes me want to be around you all the more, just to see what you'll say next.”

  “So now I'm an entertainment show?”

  “NO! God no, I didn't mean that at all. You intrigue me and I just want to know more, get to know you. Take you out on a date. I'm only in town until tomorrow after the game, but home isn't too far away. It's about an hour and a half drive from arena to arena, I want to give this a shot, the pull is too strong to ignore. What do you say, Bloodfeather?”

  I don't know how to respond to him. I feel the chemistry he's referring to. I then realize he just nicknamed me. I'm about to call him on it, but the doctor comes back in to discuss my wrist.

  She tells me that it's a mild sprain, not broken, thankfully, but she wants me to see someone in a week to make sure that it healed. She puts me in a bandage, tells me to keep it elevated, take ibuprofen, and ice it to keep the swelling down. Dr. Pettis also tells me that if it doesn't feel better in a few days, to make an appointment with my regular doctor.

  After all the paperwork is signed to release me, Gaige guides me back out to our friends who have sobered up and look a little more concerned since we've been gone for about an hour. I roll my eyes and tell them, that I'll disclose everything in the truck, I just want to get out of here.

  Chapter Two

  Gaige...

  My thoughts drift to Dasia as I feel the puck hit my stick. I should be focusing on practice right now, but I can't seem to keep our encounter last night out of my head. She's beautiful and funny, down right captivating. She makes me see a family in my future.

  I shuffle the puck from side to side, racing it down the ice as I wind up to deke Kristof Aimes, our backup goalie. He positions himself, blocking the net, but I pass the puck to Ty who has a wide open shot. Before Kristof can figure out what's happening, Ty makes the biscuit sail right between the pipes.

  Coach Pittman calls the goal, and calls morning skate to an end. I sigh in relief as we make our way to the away locker room. The Basilisks are hosting us tonight, and I think we're ready for them. Knowing Dasia likes hockey, by her tattoo, I invited her to the game. She told me she already planned to be here, though she didn't tell me where she'd be sitting.

  “Dude, where was your head today?” Karter asks as I pull my boxer briefs and sweats on after showering.

  “Where do you think it's been? Don't worry, once the puck drops tonight I'll have my head fully in the game. Drew looked ready to catch some biscuits, and our lineup seems steady. We just have to keep focus and ignore the buzz.” He nods at me in agreement,

  “Dasia coming tonight? I was a little preoccupied to hear her answer.”

  This makes me bust out laughing as I pull my hoodie over my head. I'm surprised that he even heard me ask her with all the sucking face he was doing with Storm.

  “Yeah, she'll be here. From the way she made it sound, she has season tickets. She wouldn't tell me where her seats were though.”

  “Great that she's coming, and maybe it's a good thing you don't know. It may be a distraction letting your eyes go to her seats all the time.” He slaps me on the back as he passes me, fully dressed.

  “Har har, hickey-boy.” He stops in his tracks and whips his head back in my direction.

  “What?!”

  “Behind your ear, there's a little something.” I chuckle as he checks in the mirror beside Coach's office. He scowls at his reflection and curses as he storms out of the locker room.

  I shove my practice gear into my bag and head out to the bus. I drove my truck yesterday because I had come up separately from the team. I worked it out with Coach because my grandmother had no one else to take her to the doctor. My sister lived across the state, and my parents passed when I was a teen. She normally was able to have a hospitality van pick her up at home, but they only run on certain days to personal homes. So I asked Coach Pittman if it would be a problem, and since we didn't have a game last night, he let it slide.

  Settling in next to Drew, our main goalie, on the bus back to the hotel, we talked game and strategy.

  We're in the middle of the second period, ahead by one and I'm waiting for my line to go out on the ice. We've been in and out of the penalty box, but it seems like I'm a target. I've lost count of how many times the boards and I hugged it out. Each times someone has said something about 'their viper' and none of it makes sense.

  Coach gave us hell for all the Penalty Kills we had to run, but thankfully we've kept the lead. We've scored four, and this period they seem to be determined to keep it four against five, by crying wolf to the refs. I watch as Darmon, one of our defensemen skates to the box for interference, when the other guy really just dropped his stick. None of the refs had been watching that corner until the puck was there, how convenient.

  I jump over the board as Jaq slides onto the bench, skating toward the guy with the puck, who is quickly approaching Drew in the net. Karter gets to him before me, hitting him into the boards and trapping the puck behind their skates. When they knock it out, I'm the first to get it and pass it to Mack who somehow took it all the way down the ice before taking a shot. The Basilisk's goalie caught it in his glove, but it was worth a shot and now we have the advantage.

  I position myself to face off against Forest Marks, and hear him chirping under his breath.

  “Dude, what's your problem!?”

  “You're my problem. You couldn't just leave her alone, could you? That's one hell of a strategy to win this game, Gaige.”

  “I don't know what you're talking about, Marks. Who's her?”

  “Viper's too good for you.”

  The ref blows his whistle and makes Marks change out with Tripp, who has a smirk on his face. I'm waiting for another chirp about “Viper” when the ref drops the puck. I knock the puck back, winning the face off, but Tripp isn't worried about it. He instead drops his stick and sucker punches me in the face. Not expecting it because he normally doesn't fight and I already having a bruised up nose from Dasia, I go down, but as I do, my legs take his out. Thinking I did it on purpose, he gets his bearings and tosses his gloves, ready to fight. The wind is knocked out of me, my helmet is across the ice, and I'm not sure I should move yet. Karter's bent over me, asking if I'm okay, and I just blink while I get my breath back.

  “Yeah, I'm good. Nothing I can't handle.”

  Meanwhile the rest of our line and all but one of the linesmen are holding back the Basilisks from where I am. The free ref comes over to check me out along with an EMT, but I'm good to go and get up with the help from Karter, who also hands me my helmet and stick. Per protocol, I have to go back to the locker room to get a medical evaluation from the EMT, so I make my way off the ice, but not before I see Golden being escorted to the sin bin. I must have hit my head hard, because I'm not even mad that he took the shot. Whoever this Viper is means a lot to their team, enough to get under their skin and fight dirty.

  Normally, we have a friendly rivalry with the Basilisks, then we all go out for drinks after the game and shoot the shit. This game makes me think, that won't be happening this time around.

  The EMT says I'm fine, but if I start having any symptoms to get to Urgent Ca
re, immediately. I've heard this speech multiple times, it comes with the job. I'm able to go back out and watch the rest of the period with our back up goalie, Kristof on the sidelines, since there's only a few minutes of play left and there's no point in me getting back on the ice this period. A few fans that traveled for the game, get my attention and express their concern, but I tell them I'm good and sign a few things for them. Then I focus on my team playing on the ice. It seems without me in the mix there's more hockey going on than drama. I see that Tripp is no longer on the ice or the pine, so I ask Kristof what his penalty was.

  “He got ten for fighting, so they just sent him off the ice. From what I can see, the coach isn't happy about it, and he will be out the rest of the game.”

  So because I didn't fight back and he still went after me, they considered it a recurring penalty and ejected him from the game. It'll be up to the coach and owner if he's suspended for another game. From this view of the ice I'm able to come up with plays for next period when I'm back in. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a green and white jersey come to stand to my right. Looking down, I see Dasia with concern in her eyes.

  “You okay, big guy? I reamed Tripp a new one for that dirty stunt.”

  “I'm fine. How the hell did you get in the locker room to hash it out though.” I look at her with an amused smile on my face.

  “I have my ways. Being PR has it's perks.”

  That explains so much. Her season tickets are one thing, but the way she made it sound, she spends a lot of time at the arena.

  “So you're the media guru they hired last spring. Things are starting to puzzle piece together.”

  I'm not sure how I feel about this. Part of me says it's no big deal, that the pull I'm feeling is too rare to pass up, just because she's involved with another hockey team. The other side of me says that's going to be a problem going forward, because even though we have a friendly rivalry, it's still a conflict of interest for both of us. Even if technically there are no rules against it, with her being considered freelanced like my own team's PR team.

  “Yeah. Period's almost over, I just wanted to check on you. Good luck with the third.” She's now uncomfortable, and backing away to leave.

  “Can we talk after the game? Get something to eat or go for coffee?”

  “I can't. We have a meet and greet skate, with it being out first home game of the season. Actually Coach Tyler wanted me to extend the invitation to your team as well. I was going to let Pittman know after this period ended.”

  I scrunch my face up, thinking that she's now looking for ways to avoid me.

  “I want to say we'll be there, but it may depend on how the third period goes. Your boys seem to have it out for me over something I don't quite understand. Who the hell is Viper?”

  She freezes and her eyes are as big as saucers. Kristof chuckles and interrupts our conversation.

  “Is that why they've been targeting you, Boyo? You're looking at her.”

  I whip my head back to look at her, and everything makes sense now. I don't know how I didn't put two and two together before now.

  “Guilty. I had no idea that they'd do this tonight, it's none of their business, but ever since I came on board we've adopted each other. I take care of their issues in the media, they became family. Alice even calls me Auntie D.” She looks so defeated that I want to pull her into my arms and tell her I get it. My teammates are my road family, we hang out in the off season and check in with each other after being traded. Hell, sometimes we even hang out or go on vacation with other players in the the off season. But I can't do that. If I did, there could be major issues for her and possibly a shit storm she'd have to clean up with the media. She's taking a risk just coming to talk to me.

  Before I can say anything the buzzer sounds and the guys are starting to pile off the ice. Karter nods to Dasia, but keeps going. I look at her apologetic, and follow my team to the locker room.

  “Dude, what the hell was Dasia doing over by you? Her seats are by the home team box.”

  “How do you know? And she was checking on me, making sure I was good. Also to let me know that she ripped Sheppard a new asshole. She's Viper.” I stress that last part so he understands the importance.

  “Say what? She's the reason they're targeting you? That's not good, dude. Is she a sister of theirs? No wonder he sucker punched you.”

  “She's the new media cleaner they hired. She's not blood related, but what she just told me, they see her as family now. They'll protect her virtue as if she were their baby sister, and the way she acted, she didn't even tell them anything until just now when she tore Tripp a new one. She's extending an invite to their meet and greet tonight.”

  Coach comes into the locker room and grabs our attention.

  “Boys, we've been invited to a skate tonight after the game. I think it's a good idea after the way the first two periods have been going. Rozen, how's the head?”

  “Good Coach. I'm ready for the ice.”

  “Great. I think we're playing well, other than these stupid penalties. We're tied now, but we can pull back ahead.” We then start going over plays, while we cool down and wipe the sweat from our equipment.

  The final period goes much better. Whatever was said to the Basilisks during break, made an impact, because I'm no longer being targeted and we're just playing hockey. Both teams score another point, and we're coming down to the final minute. Since their goalie just stopped it, we'll have the advantage. Sheppard never came back to the ice, so he must be suited in the stands or in the locker room.

  After switching lines, we win the face off and I pass it to Ty, he doesn't have a clean shot, but they aren't covering me anymore so he passes it back. They come after me, but I see Karter has the opening we need, so I pass it to him and he lights the lamp, winning us the game, but before we can celebrate there's a fight. One of their defensemen, Jack Norton, plowed right into him knocking him into the goalie just after the the buzzer sounds. Protecting Karter, Ty goes after Norton. I go to try and pull Ty off him, knowing it was an accident, but the refs hold me back, letting the fight go. I yell to Karter, who is actually trying to get himself and the goalie out from under the tipped over net, and he just gives a thumbs up. I back off a bit, and when Norton's jersey is pulled over his head, the linesman finally interfere, breaking up the fight. Karter is still checking on the goalie, who says we aren't good sports?

  Once everyone is righted and a-okay, our team has a celebratory huddle and then we line up to fist bump the Basilisks, then head to the locker room to suit up. Teams years ago used to try and shake hands, but we've evolved and modernized our sportsmanlike conduct.

  All suited up, we lace our skates back up, let's get this meet and skate underway.

  Chapter Three

  Dasia...

  What a game. For real, I've never seen the guys act like this against a friendly team. Once Tripp was ejected from the game, I was furious. You'd think it would be because I didn't think he deserved it. No, this was because of how disappointed I was in him. He knew better than to pull this shit. Not just for the team, but because of me. Every player on this team knows you leave your personal shit at the glass. You skate your heart out, you fight for the goals, you don't target anyone because they're dating your adopted little sister.

  Shit, are we even dating. I mean, we haven't even kissed or done anything beyond going to the ER together. I'm pretty sure that doesn't constitute as a romantic outing. Plus, he did not seem happy with me, when he found out I work for the opposing team, or that I was sort of the cause behind his potential injury. Gah, I hope they do the meet and greet after they suit up.

  My boys are still in their gear after getting liquid into their systems and wiping down their faces from the game. They stopped targeting Gaige after I gave Coach a message from the owner. Mr. Jameson wasn't happy about the way the guys were playing, so he told them if they were called on targeting, he'd have to suspend them for three games. They listened and played hard.
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  I'm now talking to a family about how they enjoyed the game, while I watch the media camera's get their footage and interviews from not only the team but some of the fans, from my peripheral. Then there's a teacup human octopused to my leg, almost knocking me down, but making the family laugh and excuse themselves.

  “Auntie D!”

  “Alice Norton, you can't do that! You could have hurt Dasia! I'm so sorry D, she's a much faster skater than I am.” Holly, Jack's sister, comes up to us trying to catch her breath.

  “No harm done, this time.” I giggle as I ruffle Alice's hair, making her smile a thousand watts, even though she's missing one of her canines.

  “Sorry Auntie.”

  “You're forgiven, kid. You trying to be like Daddy? I see you lost another tooth.”

  That gets her going and she tells me all about the Tooth Fairy's visit, then leads into how she's doing at school, her best friend, and of course Jackal-Bear, her favorite stuffed animal, who's actually a dragon. Kids have a huge, weird, imagination.

  She asks me to skate with her, while Holly gets caught in a conversation with Gavin Hawks, our backup goalie, so I comply. This kid is going through a lot, but she's so strong. As soon as Jack is done talking to the press though, she abandons me to spend time with him. I take no offense to her not even saying goodbye, she never takes advantage of the time she gets with her dad. It's almost as if she's a tiny adult, and knows more than we do. I envy her.

  A hand links itself with my left, and I startle, almost falling on my face. Big, strong arms catch and right me, saving me from embarrassment.

  “Don't want you having to go to Urgent Care two nights in a row would we?” That deep baritone caresses my skin, even with the teasing undertone.

  “No we wouldn't. I thought you were upset with me.” I catch his gaze and it has longing in it.