The Soul Healer

by Melissa Giorgio

  So then, what was I?

  ***

  “Do I look that bad that you had to shut your eyes so you won’t have to look at me?” Rafe said teasingly.

  “Gabi, what are you doing? You’re missing out on the feast in front of you!” Penny shrieked, grabbing my elbow and shaking it. “Look at this sexy beast—whoops, sorry Mr. Harkins!”

  The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was the red stain that was rapidly spreading across Rafe’s cheeks—no doubt from being referred to as a sexy beast. Then I let my eyes take in the whole yummy picture of Rafe in a suit, and suddenly I was the one blushing.

  We had gone to the Halloween dance as a couple from the 1920s, so I had already seen Rafe in a suit, but seeing him in a modern one, cut perfectly to fit his tall form, was enough to throw me off balance. The suit was black, and his tie was navy to match my dress. His hair had been slicked back with gel, and his green eyes were practically glowing as he stared at me. A smile tugged at his lips, and I couldn’t help but beam back.

  What I really wanted to do was grab him by that tie and yank him toward me, but I think it would have been kind of awkward, what with Dad standing there, frowning over Penny’s choice of words.

  “Okay, we’re going to go now, bye!” I said, fully intent on dragging him out of the house before the trouble could start.

  “Hold it right there,” Dad said. I groaned, halting. He held up his camera. “Not before pictures!”

  I groaned again. “Dad!”

  “No pictures, no dance.”

  Ten minutes later, Dad filled up his memory card and allowed us to leave only after Rafe promised to have me home by twelve. Whoa, Dad was being super lenient lately, how weird. Especially after the incident in my bedroom… I decided to be smart and keep my mouth shut, or else Dad might change his mind and ban us from attending the dance. Which I was actually excited about, now that Rafe was here.

  Normally, I thought school dances were lame and stupid, but we were going to his school, which meant I’d be free of my nasty classmates for once. I briefly wondered if Rafe’s classmates were just as bad, but I decided I didn’t care. We’d dance and kiss and drink punch and kiss some more and it would be fun! Even if we just stood in the corner (kissing), I wouldn’t mind.

  “You’re in a good mood,” Rafe said, laughing as I practically skipped to his car, humming under my breath.

  “Yes, I am. You know why?” I threw my arms around his neck, and his hands automatically circled my waist, pulling me closer.

  “Why?” he asked, his voice turning husky.

  “Because I’m with my sexy beast of a boyfriend!” I howled with laughter as he rolled his eyes.

  “Let’s get into the car before you turn into a Popsicle,” he said, opening the car door for me. I slid inside, adjusting my dress to make sure I wasn’t wrinkling it.

  Rafe came around the other side, started up the car, and turned on the heat for me. But he didn’t start driving, and I watched him, confused. Were we going to spend the night in front my house?

  Hmm, if we were going to spend the night in front of my house doing some kissing, then I wouldn’t mind too much, although I had wanted to show off my new dress…

  “What’s up?” I asked him when the silence went on for too long.

  Rafe turned to face me. “Are you okay? You looked a little upset back in the house, when I first got there.”

  For a moment I didn’t know what he was talking about, but then I remembered. I had been wondering if I was a bad girlfriend or not. I squirmed in my seat, playing with the zipper on my bag. “It’s stupid…”

  “Gabi.” He put a hand over mine, stilling my nervous fidgeting. “I don’t care if you think it’s stupid it. Tell me.”

  One of the (many) things I loved about our relationship was the fact that we were so damn honest with one another. I mean, you kind of had to be when your first encounter involved a demon. He had shared almost all of his secrets with me right away, and in return, I had been able to tell him about Mom. Most relationships weren’t like that, and I realized for the umpteenth time how very lucky I was.

  “Do not laugh,” I said sternly. “You were running late and Penny told me to call you, but my cell phone had died so I borrowed Chloe’s, but then I forgot your number and Penny made me feel bad for not knowing it by heart and I couldn’t help but wonder if I suck as your girlfriend since I’m sure you know mine by heart.” I said all of that in a rush, the words blurring together, and would be amazed if he understood any of it.

  “That—” Rafe’s mouth opened and closed a few times. “Wow. Is that really what you think?”

  “Do you or do you not know my cell phone number?”

  “Um.” He went to run a hand through his hair, then stopped, as if he just remembered he had gelled it back for the dance. “Maybe?”

  “RAFE FITZGERALD—”

  “Yes, yes!” Rafe held his hands up in surrender. “I do! But that’s what I do. And you not knowing mine is what you do and totally not a big deal. Why would you think that makes you a bad girlfriend?” He put a warm hand on my cold cheek, tilting my face toward his so I was forced to look at him. “Is there something else going on? Because this cannot just be about a phone number.”

  Of course it wasn’t. And of course Rafe could see right through me and call me out on it. But since we were always honest, I made myself answer truthfully. “You know I haven’t done this girlfriend thing before, and I can’t help but wonder if I’m doing it wrong.”

  His brow furrowed. “Doing what wrong?”

  I spread my hands helplessly. “All of it?”

  “What, is there a manual out there that we’re supposed to be following?” Rafe asked. “Because if there is, I wasn’t aware of it, which means I must be doing the boyfriend thing wrong, too.”

  “Now you’re making fun of me.” Irritation coated my words heavily.

  “No, I’m not.” He tapped a finger against my nose. “In case you’ve forgotten, you’re my first girlfriend, just like I’m your first boyfriend. So just like you, I’m making this up as I go along. And,” he leaned closer, brushing his lips against my forehead, “I have to admit, I think we’re doing a pretty good job so far.”

  I closed my eyes, wanting to savor the moment forever. “I suppose you’re right. Although you could be doing a better job. You could be kissing me right now…”

  “Actually,” he said, reaching into the backseat, “I have something for you…”

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  The incessant sound of an alarm buzzing broke into my dreams, and I groaned, rolling over and covering my face with my pillow. “Make it stop!” I wanted to go back to dreaming about Rafe. Why did the world keep getting in the way of that? It was bad enough I couldn’t see him while I was awake; did my dreams have to keep getting interrupted, too?

  “No, no, no Gabi, no more sleepy time for you!” Nina chirped as she yanked the pillow away from my face. I snarled, trying to grab it back, but she held it high over her head. Somehow, she was already dressed and her hair and makeup were done, too. What time had she woken up? Three a.m.?

  “Give me back my pillow before I kill you!” I couldn’t even make an effort to try and grab it from her; it required too much energy. I slumped over, using my hands to prop up my head. “What time is it anyway?”

  “Seven a.m.!” She did a little dance as she ran to her window and pulled back the curtains to reveal a still-dark Manhattan.

  “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?” Who got up that early? We weren’t going to school, we didn’t have jobs—what did she need to do at seven a.m.?

  “No, I’m not,” Nina said. She came back to the bed and surprised the crap out of me by whacking me with the pillow. “Now get up. You’re going back to your room, where you are getting dressed, and then we are heading downstairs and having breakfast. No more eating in your room like a prisoner, okay?”

  “How about I eat outside in an actual restaurant? Then I really wouldn’t b
e a prisoner!” Of course, the moment they opened the doors and set me free I’d run the hell out of here (and proceed to get myself lost, but at least I’d be out of HQ!).

  Nina shook her head, smiling at me. “Silly Gabi, you know that isn’t possible. Go get dressed and I’ll meet you in front of the elevator in thirty minutes!”

  Twenty-five minutes later, I pounded my fist against Philip’s door. If I had to be up this early, then so did he. Except, he wasn’t answering my knocks. I tried again and again until I heard the door unlock.

  “What?” The door opened slightly and brown eyes glared at me through the crack. “Gabi? Holy shit, do you even know what time it is? Something bad had better have happened or else I am going to be very pissed off.”

  “Something bad did happen,” I told him. “Nina made me get up. At seven a.m. To eat breakfast. So now you have to come with me.”

  He made to shut the door in my face, but I shoved my toe in the crack. We wrestled for a moment, but then Philip gave up with a loud sigh and opened his door. I walked in, threw myself on his bed, and snoozed while he showered and got dressed. Sadly, I didn’t dream about Rafe this time.

  “I’m going to kill Nina,” he grumbled as we walked to the elevator.

  “No, I am,” I argued.

  “I don’t even know why I’m going with you—I don’t even eat breakfast!”

  I gave Philip a funny look. He thought chocolate cake was disgusting and he skipped breakfast? Was he a robot or something? “What do you eat, air?”

  He shoved his hands into his pockets and scowled at the wall. “I don’t like a lot of food, okay?”

  “Weirdo.”

  “Shut up.”

  “Make me.”

  “You guyyyys,” Nina said, jumping between us. “No growly faces so early in the morning!” We aimed our growly faces at her. “Ack, you guys are so scary! And Gabiii, I told you meet me here in a half hour, and it’s been almost an hour already! It’s not nice to make me wait like that!”

  I ignored her.

  The elevator arrived and we piled in, me and Philip glaring at opposite walls while Nina bounced up and down. “Breakfast with Gabi! Breakfast with Philip!”

  “Stop. Singing,” Philip barked.

  Nina deflated like a balloon and I felt a tiny bit bad for her, but then I remembered what time it was and decided it wasn’t worth my energy. I rested my head against the wall and closed my eyes. So sleepy.

  The kitchen was on the second floor, which made my stomach turn nervously. Would we have to pass Charles’s office? I really didn’t want to see him again (or ever) because I knew he’d either scream at me or drag me upstairs to try and heal Alexandra again. Or both. Probably both. Great, on top of being exhausted, I now felt like I was going throw up.

  Luckily, Nina led us in the opposite direction of his office, and I breathed a huge sigh of relief when I saw the kitchen was empty. The rectangular room contained a few stoves and a giant fridge, along with a long island in the middle for food preparation. There were bar stools all around the island; Philip and I made a beeline for those while Nina opened the fridge and scrounged around for food. “Wake me in four hours,” Philip said, resting his head on the black countertop and closing his eyes.

  “Do you think Kain will come eat with us?” I asked in hopes of keeping him awake. I didn’t want to be the only one who had to suffer through Nina’s early morning cheerfulness.

  “No,” he answered, his eyes still closed. “He doesn’t live here. His parents are loaded; he has an apartment somewhere… Lucky bastard…”

  Lucky bastard indeed. I wondered if he could smuggle me out of here—but with the way he went on about favors, he’d probably make me his slave for life as my way of repaying him. Yeah, never mind…

  A few minutes later, Nina slid a plate loaded with scrambled eggs and toast in front of me, and my stomach let out a happy growl. I dug in, thoroughly enjoying my meal. Philip didn’t know what he was missing! And when she handed me a mug of steaming hot coffee? Forget it. I felt like a human being again.

  “All we need is some cake, and this would be the perfect meal ever,” I said.

  Sitting across from me, Nina laughed. “Do you eat cake all the time?”

  “Cake, cookies, cupcakes.” I shrugged. “As long as it’s dessert, I’ll eat it.”

  “How are you not fat?” Philip asked, his voice muffled.

  Nina gasped. “Phil, you never say that to a girl! Even if you’re gay!”

  I had been busy looking for my fork so I could stab him in the shoulder, but I froze at her words, letting out a huge, obnoxious snort. Nina caught my eye and began laughing as well.

  Philip lifted his head and stared at us blearily. “Shut up.”

  I shoved my mug of coffee in front of him. “Enough with the attitude. Drink.”

  He eyed it. “You didn’t poison it, did you?”

  “For what, calling me fat? I would never.” I gave him a sickening sweet smile and he shifted uncomfortably.

  “I didn’t call you fat!” He sipped the coffee before proceeding to drown the entire thing, much to my outrage. I hadn’t told him he could finish it!

  “Please tell me there’s more coffee,” I begged Nina. She hooked a thumb over her shoulder, pointing to the instant coffee machine. Reclaiming my mug, I dashed over and grabbed the pot. If Philip wanted more, he’d have to get it himself; I needed at least two cups to get me going this early in the morning. After adding milk and sugar, I leaned against the counter and asked, “So what are we doing today? More research?”

  Philip groaned. “Are you really trying to kill me? Seriously, was that your goal when you woke up? See how much you can torture Phil before he breaks?”

  “No, my goal was to go back to sleep, but someone stole my pillow and made me get out bed,” I said.

  Nina smiled, clearly immune to my snarkiness. “Why don’t we do something cool before heading to the library?”

  “Yeah, like what?” I asked. I was a little afraid to find out what she considered cool. Dressing up in matching outfits? Dyeing our hair pink?

  Her dark eyes glittered. “Want to go check out the autopsy room?”

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  I had just taken another sip of my coffee and I choked, half-expecting the hot liquid to come shooting out of my nose. I obviously needed to get my ears cleaned because there was no way she had just said—

  “The autopsy room?” Philip repeated (guess my hearing was okay). He wrinkled his nose. “Why?”

  “What the hell is the autopsy room?” I blurted out. “I mean, besides the obvious. What are you dissecting?”

  Please don’t say demons, please don’t say demons.

  “Demons!” Nina said, clapping her hands like a little kid who had just been told she could have a lollipop after dinner. “It’s really awesome! They’ve got the bodies all laid out with their stomachs open so you can see their guts and stuff.”

  “How is that awesome?” I asked. Awesome would probably be the last word I would ever use to describe that. Disgusting, yes. Gross, absolutely. The stuff of nightmares, oh yeah. And the smell. I couldn’t even imagine the smell.

  But at the same time, I was a little bit intrigued. After Rafe and Evan killed the demons, they bagged them up and…that was it. I never knew what happened next. And suddenly, I wanted to know. I set down my empty coffee mug. “I’m in.”

  Philip’s eyes bugged out while Nina pumped a fist in the air and cheered. “Are you serious? You want to see dead demons?”

  “I’ve seen plenty of dead, headless demons,” I told him. “But what happens to them afterwards? How do they end up here?”

  “Oooooh, I can tell you!” Nina linked arms with me, pulling me to the door. “These are demons we’ve fought here, in Manhattan. We bring them back to study, see if there are any traces of magic left on their bodies.”

  “You can trace magic?”

  “Uh-huh!” The words poured out of her, as if she couldn�
�t contain her excitement over sharing this stuff with a Silver Moon newbie. “All magic leaves a trace, and we can use that magic to find the sorcerer who summoned the demon. And then—” Nina sliced a finger over her throat and I winced.

  “Really? You kill humans, too?” I actually shouldn’t have been that surprised; Rafe had killed Davenport, after all. But Davenport was part-demon, so it wasn’t the same. Or was it?

  We reached the elevator and Nina hit the up arrow. Philip, to my surprise, had followed us. He had his cell phone out and was typing out a text to someone. “If you summon a demon, you’re guilty and you die,” Nina said. “There’re no trials or anything. It’s kill on sight.”

  I felt uneasy. “That’s pretty harsh, isn’t it?”

  She didn’t look bothered by it. “Demons kill people. When you summon one, you aren’t expecting to invite it for tea, you know? You want it to do bad things. So we need to stop these sorcerers from summoning more, and to also send the message that Silver Moon should be feared.” The elevator arrived, and we got in.

  “Is it hard to summon a demon?” I asked as the elevator took us to the fifth floor. Oh, gross. I just realized the autopsy room was on the floor below ours. Okay, I was never going to fall asleep again, thinking about dead demons underneath me.

  “Extremely,” Philip said, sliding his phone into his pocket. “You have to be highly, highly skilled.”

  “Could Evan or Kain—”

  “No.” Philip shook his head. “You need to specialize in dark magic, and you need years of practice and experience before you can even attempt the spell. Most sorcerers end up dying, you know. The demon crosses the sacred circle meant to keep them at bay and eats the sorcerer instead of obeying his commands.”

  “Ugh,” I said.

  He shrugged. “You have to be a moron to even consider summoning one. It’s not worth it.”

  “And yet sorcerers keep trying,” I pointed out. “And there’s a lot of them, right? You wouldn’t need a whole organization to stop them if only a handful of people attempted it.”