“See, what you want is what’s best for you.” Once they started falling out, she couldn’t keep the words in. “That’s what everyone wants. The treatments are miserable. The pain everywhere is miserable. I just want to have fun before I have a life sentence in a bed.”
She slammed her holo-comp shut before she would have to deal with the consequences of her words.
Before she could even look up at him, Loviel was by her side, wrapping her in his strong and stable arms. She embraced him in return, hiding her face in his chest. The angel brought her comfort. Though, she wished it would have been Ravin in his place.
Then again, she decided, beggars can’t be choosers.
There was just so much on her plate and she was tired of getting the lectures, tired of people telling her what was best and what she needed to do. They weren’t the ones who woke up in the middle of the night in screaming pain because they rolled over awkwardly. They weren’t the ones who had to get the excruciating shots.
For years, Michelle had been happy to focus on her sister’s problems, because that meant she didn’t have to think about her own. Now, everyone would know about her disease and everyone would look at her with those eyes.
Stars, how she hated those eyes.
Loviel rubbed her back, doing his best to keep her calm. The emotions bubbling inside of her were potent. He could feel them as they stirred. She was upset, and it was with good reason. Most humans didn’t think their death would come until they were in their eighties. Michelle was barely into her twenties.
He wished there was more he could do to bring her solace. What he did know was that he and Ravin were going to find some answer. They were going to make sure Michelle came out okay. She deserved at least one victory.
There was a buzz in her pocket. Ravin must have sent another message. That was good. She honestly really wanted to talk with him. It would be nice when he was done with his errands; they could curl up and play more games together.
Maybe they could share another nice warm kiss. That sounded really good. It would certainly hit the spot. Better than coffee, even.
When she pulled her phone out of her pocket, she was surprised to see the sender tag. What she thought would read “Ravin” said, “Mom.”
Michelle stared down at the unopened digital envelope. Loviel’s warm grip rested on her shoulder. He was right. She should just get it over with. So, she did.
Her heart stopped and she could feel the knot in her stomach grow. Now, she was regretting indulging in the donuts and coffee. There was a clench in her gut and she wanted to heave up all over the carpet. What was she going to do?
“What’s wrong, Michelle?” Loviel asked, his gentle face twisted in worry.
At long last, she sighed and thrust her phone around so the angel could read it. He frowned and gave her an apologetic look.
Her Mother sent four little words that Michelle had never wanted to read. It meant the end of her freedom and the end of her college adventure. In four words, her Mother had pulled the plug on any hope she had of living a normal life.
The screen read in a happy font, “You are coming home.”
Chapter 7
Sunlight struck Ravin’s eyes and roused him from his sleep. He sat up, rubbed his face and stretched. He hopped up, then cracked his back. It was already close to time for his shift to start. That left him just enough time to say good morning with some tasty treats.
With a blink, he was outside a local bakery. The little bell jingled when he pushed open the door. It was a quaint place; he’d had good experiences with them.
A kindly, middle-aged man smiled at him. “Welcome,” he greeted the demon. “What can I get for you today, sir?” He had a gentle look to his brown gaze. The corners of his eyes crinkled when he grinned.
The air was filled with the scents of delicious baked goods. It was like a little slice of paradise on Eartha. Ravin sauntered to the treat counter and browsed their selection. “What would you recommend?” He already knew precisely what he wanted, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t pick up a few extra snacks.
The man crossed his arms and considered for a moment. The skin on his exposed biceps was covered in a thick layer of hair, which almost entirely discounted the notion he could be a normal human. On his shirt was embroidered the name ‘Toby.’ After a few moments of thought, Toby cleared his throat. “Well,” he started, “We just finished baking some delicious peanut butter cookies.” His voice jumped up an octave when he said the last few words.
Ravin had to bite back a laugh. “That sounds delicious.” His tail flicked behind him in excitement. “I’ll take a dozen of the cookies, and a box of donuts. Those, specifically.” He pointed to a glistening row of fried goodness. “Filled with raspberry.”
“Of course.” Toby moved quickly to fill the order. “You’re a student at the college, right?” he asked in an effort to make small talk.
“That’s right.” Ravin nodded. Well, he sort of was.
The simple confirmation was enough to make the baker radiate joy. “My daughter is a student out there. She’s studying to become an animal doctor. This is her first semester; she really loves the school. I love that she got to stay close to home.”
Ravin chuckled, “That’s always a treat.” He leaned on the counter. “I know my roommate’s dad has missed him something fierce.” Though, now that Kazun had been all but completely cleared, thanks to their immensely helpful fallen angel friend, Zier, he’d been able to see his family again. Kaz had even gotten to spend the holidays back home.
“Sometimes you just have to let your little ones spread their wings,” Toby chuckled. “Though, I can’t see Skye going too far. Our pack has been in Seneal for generations.”
There was his answer: werewolf. “I couldn’t imagine that either,” Ravin admitted as he pulled out his wallet. “Most werewolves I know never venture too far away from their families. But, I suppose I don’t know a lot of them.”
“My nephew goes to the school too. He’s on the hockey team.” Toby set the donuts and cookies on the counter and started to ring them up. “He grew into a really big boy, so I think the sport’s perfect for him.”
Ravin blinked. “Really?” His tail flicked quizzically. “Mark, right?” That was the only werewolf on the team that he knew had local roots. He hadn’t probed too much, but now that he thought about it, Mark had been the one who’d mentioned this place to him. Truth be told, he didn’t know Mark very well at all, but they’d spoken a few times at the after-game parties.
“That’s right!” Toby took Ravin’s card and swiped it. “He’s a good boy. He worked hard to get onto the team, and he really nails it on the ice.”
“He is, and he’s an absolute powerhouse.” Ravin retrieved his card, tapped a button on the display facing him and added a lovely tip. Then he signed with his finger and picked up his food. “I’ll tell him I stopped by,” Ravin offered.
“Tell him Uncle Toby says ‘Hi.’” Toby grinned. It wasn’t hard for Ravin to picture him as an excited wolf with his tail wagging.
Ravin bobbed his head. “I absolutely will.” Well, he would the next time he actually saw Mark. “Have a good day.” With that, Ravin teleported back to the outside of Michelle’s dorm. He made his way inside and set the donuts on the counter.
He cast a glance at her slumbering form in bed. She was still asleep? That had to be some kind of record. It was already getting late in the day. He had to go to work soon. He regretted that he couldn’t stay and wait for her to wake up. A good morning kiss would have been a good treat, in his opinion.
Though, he’d already planned on using work to find a solution for her.
The patrons of Sinsation would be doing him a favor today. Someone was going to help him find his cure.
He planted a kiss on her forehead, then popped home for a change of clothes. He pulled on a clean button-up shirt and his nicest pair of dark jeans. He rolled back his sleeves to his elbows and took stock of his hair. It was
still clean. He ran a comb through the blond tresses and tied them back into a tiny ponytail.
Ravin topped his ensemble with a vest and winked at himself in the mirror. Yes. Perfect.
Once he was done he sent a message to Loviel. “When Michelle wakes up, tell her she’s lazy. I’m going to work, and I’m going to look for some answers.” He didn’t need to elaborate more. Loviel would know. “There’s even a cookie in it for you.”
A few moments later the response came in. “I can do that. I appreciate the gift of a cookie.” Ravin had learned very early on that the angel had a weakness for sweets.
“They’re peanut butter.” Ravin sent back. He also knew that peanut butter held a special tactical importance; it was the chink in Lovie’s armor. He wished all angels were so easy to bribe. Yet, he’d never gotten close enough to find out. Maybe they were.
“Is it a sin to say I love you?” Loviel replied.
Ravin chuckled aloud and shook his head. “No. Love is definitely not one of the seven deadlies. Plus, it’s very flattering. Thank you.” That was one thing he’d never thought he’d hear from Loviel. It was probably the most adorable thing the angel had ever sent him. Then he added, “I love you too ;)”
The angel sent back an adorable smiley face.
He tucked his phone away and teleported himself to the bar. He was let inside without any problems, and made his way back to his boss’ office. “Ravin, reporting for duty,” he announced to Sin.
She looked up from her book, fixed him with a look and studied him. “Well, don’t you look chipper this morning? Did you work things out?”
“I did.” Ravin bobbed his head. “I went back and apologized to her, but I’m not giving up on finding a solution.” He wanted to make sure that part was entirely clear. He wasn’t content with letting his girlfriend die. “I would like help, but I know I owe you a lot right now.”
Her tail swayed back and forth. She leaned forward, propping her elbows on the desk and setting her head in her hands. “I will keep my eyes and ears open for you, Ravin.” If nothing else, Ravin had the advantage of location. Many strange and wonderful beings made their way through Sinsation. It was likely one of them could be of assistance.
“Thank you.” He bowed a bit out of respect. “After all these years, you know just how headstrong I can be. If there’s something, I will find it.”
Even if it took him to the ends of Eartha, he would do whatever it took to save Michelle.
Ravin strode out of the office, confident that he would achieve his goal today. He did a final inspection before the doors opened. Everyone had done their jobs wonderfully; everything was perfect. Sin had an amazing ability to find people who worked hard.
He glanced over at the purple-haired Erik, who was arranging one of the chairs. The buckle of his clean, white collar gleamed in the light.
Erik cast a sideways glance at the demon, but he reflected no emotions in his expression.
Ravin looked away. Erik was nothing like Michelle. For one, Sin owned him. She’d adopted him when he was 16, and he’d lived with her ever since. He could never dream of owning a human; it was too… awkward. Yet, the two of them were happy with their relationship. Erik was content to be owned.
Michelle would raise hell before she let anyone claim her.
Gradually, people began to filter in and out. Ravin made sure to play nice with all of them, even though his mind wasn’t always there when they chatted. One of them could be his solution. Though, there were only so many that could help him.
A few of the species were off the table before he even saw them. He would never be able to get a god to help them. He wasn’t even sure he knew any gods. If they interacted with the realm of Eartha, they rarely made it known that they were from Olympia. It was more likely that their offspring could help… but he didn’t know any demigods either.
The unique aura of faerie magic wafted through the air. He couldn’t identify the source, but he would recognize it anywhere. A fae could help him. They had extraordinary magic that could cure any malady. Fae were born, not made, so she couldn’t be turned. A powerful fae was a good ally to have. Yet, the downside was that he would have to throw himself further in debt.
The fae loved their deals almost as much as demons did. Actually, maybe more.
Another vampire entered. That was another dud. He trusted what Xinalist had said. He wouldn’t have lied about that. It was a dangerous chance he wasn’t willing to take.
That was three down. Surely there had to be more: the world was full of fantastic beings. Someone had to have an answer for him. He wasn’t going to give up after a few hours of looking on the job.
His phone buzzed as a message came in. A smile lit up his face as he spotted Michelle’s name. She was finally responding to him. “Yeah, I do.”
Ravin shook his head and replied, “We could hang later, or something if you’d like?” Maybe he would get to let her know that he’d found her a cure. It would be the best gift he could ever give to his girlfriend.
“I would like that.” Michelle sent back.
He would have to be sure not to let her down. That would not be his first act as a boyfriend: he’d already let her down once.
An all too familiar magic washed over his skin. He spied the owner and watched her stride across the floor with frustration in her eyes. Her long black hair was pulled into a braid. If he hadn’t known better, he would have thought she was Sin’s sister. However, she lacked the horns and tail that marked Sin as a demon.
She stopped in front of Ravin and crossed her arms. “I want to talk to Sin. Where is she?” Her vivid blue eyes glowed in the dim light.
Sin appeared with a crackle of energy. She stood beside Ravin. “What’s wrong Dj?” Her tail flicked as she studied the other with a careful gaze. The stormy energy her friend exuded could be felt from her office. This wasn’t a typical feeling for her dear Dj.
Dj let out a breath and threw back her head. “It’s missing.” There were tears budding in her eyes. “I brought it with me to the meeting we had. I always have it on me to keep it safe. But now I know. I can feel it. Someone has it.”
Ravin frowned and glanced to Sin for an explanation.
“We will find it,” Sin swore and put both of her hands on Dj’s shoulders. Her gaze landed on Ravin. “Have you seen an elaborate comb while cleaning?”
Ravin shook his head. “No, nothing like that.” He glanced to Erik and Viktor. They would have let him know if they had. “I’m sure it will turn up,” he encouraged, though he wasn’t exactly sure what was going on.
The distressed woman shook her head. “Someone took it, Sin,” Dj pressed. “I can feel it down in my soul. I don’t want to be owned, but I have a new master.”
It hit Ravin like a ton of bricks. That was it. She was a djinn, a wish granter. If anyone could heal Michelle, it would definitely be her. He kept his mouth shut, though. She wouldn’t help him if she was upset like this. It was more likely she would curse him for asking now.
“Then I will tear apart the security cameras. If you say you lost it here, we will find it and they will return it,” Sin promised, her eyes darkening. “Or else.”
“You know I can’t take it back,” Dj whispered.
Sin put her hands on her hips. “Nothing says that I can’t steal it.”
“If they know you’re taking it, they can order me to stop you.” Dj’s eyes flashed. “I won’t be able to stop myself, and I don’t want to hurt you, Sin.”
A deadly hiss escaped the demoness’ mouth. Her lips drew back into an angry snarl, showing slightly elongated fangs. Frustration caused her tail to whip back and forth. She growled. “I would crush their lungs before they stopped me, Dj. You know very well I would.”
Dj just shook her head. “I do.” She let out a sigh. “It’s been a while, so maybe they don’t know what it is. They might not use it at all.” The woman shuddered. “I could get lucky. Maybe in the meantime, you can find them.”
�
��If you had your comb back,” Ravin started, “Could you cure someone dying of a rare and terminal disease?”
The intense blue eyes landed on Ravin. “I could,” Dj replied, “When someone holds it, I can only do magic at their behest. Something like that requires a lot of energy, and it would be impossible for me to summon it up in my current state.”
Ravin gave Sin a pleading look.
“We will do what we can to get it back. If we are able to be of assistance, could you help him?” Sin gently touched Dj’s cheek, hoping to sooth her.
Dj let out a sigh and leaned into Sin’s hand. “Yes, I could help him.” She closed her eyes. “For something like that, he’d need to be in possession of the comb. It helps channel my energies. You’d have to take it from him once I did. You know how I feel about having it out of my hands. Then I’m going to hide it where no one else will ever find it.”
“Thank you so much.” Ravin felt pride well in his chest.
“Don’t thank me until I’ve helped you.” Her voice was distant as she nuzzled into her friend’s hand.
Sin wrapped her arm around Dj and ushered her into the back room, effectively dismissing Ravin.
A feeling of triumph filled Ravin. He’d found his miracle after all. He’d been able to do it for his new girlfriend. Now… all he had to do was tell Loviel, and arrange everything so Michelle could be cured. He couldn’t believe that he’d actually done it.
Chapter 8
Summer’s late haze did nothing to spur her out of laziness. Michelle lolled about in the breakfast nook, holding onto her warm cup of coffee. After her mother’s text, she hadn’t felt like doing anything.
Despite the beautiful blue sky outside, everything felt grey. The life she had forged in the town of Seneal was about to come to an end. How was she going to tell her friends? They wouldn’t understand. None of them would. She hadn’t told anyone about her illness. Those who knew had assumed it had been healed when Loviel came.
Syndrome of Mortality (Break of Breath Book 2) Page 6