“Not my spell,” Sin admitted. “Well, I helped make it. Co-authored, really, but that’s not for here.” She poked the list. “There is one more big item I need. The rest we can pick up at Nika’s Naks Spell Shop.”
She fixed them both with a serious look. “The place we are about to go is very dangerous, even for me. I need you to be polite and do not speak unless you are spoken to.”
Marius gave a determined nod. “I understand.” He was ready to face down whatever this terror was.
“We will be on our best behavior.” Kazun gave Marius a supportive look. “We promise not to talk to anyone, and not to look anyone in the eyes.” That seemed like a safe bet for avoiding any kind of trouble.
Pleased with their response, Sin put her hand on both boys’ heads and in an instant, they popped somewhere else.
The room was warm and quaint, like a sunroom. There was a single white table in the center with chairs on either side. A simple white-lace tablecloth sat on its surface. It smelled like warm chocolate in the room. There was a soft clatter, then it was quiet.
A man’s head appeared from the kitchen as he peeked into the room. He had warm hazel eyes and long blonde hair that was pulled into a neat ponytail. The tip of his chin was littered with little hairs. A big sweater rested on his otherwise average frame. His brows furrowed a little, but not in anger. If anything, it was frustration that they had dragged mud in with them. He looked over the two young men, then looked back at the demon. “Sin? Generally, you call first.”
“I know, it’s rude to show up unannounced, but I’m on a time schedule,” she apologized.
The man nodded and looked back towards the kitchen. “What about lemonade? I have some already made up. Kazun, would you like some lemonade? Marius?”
Kazun looked up at Sin with horror in his eyes. His mind raced as he tried to figure out how the man had known his name. Sure, it was easy to for people to read minds, but he hadn’t felt the man intrude. Usually there was at least some kind of unpleasant sensation. This time, there had been absolutely nothing. Was it even safe to accept the drink?
“They would love some, Jeff.” Sin sat in the chair and sighed.
Jeff, who looked pleased at the answer, swirled his hand in the air, then went to the kitchen to grab the promised drinks. Before the two boys, chairs appeared as if from thin air.
Kaz stiffly sat down. At least the Jeff guy looked happy about the answer, so that had relieved some of the worry in his mind. Yet, the chairs had made things confusing again. Jeff seemed so very normal to him; there had to be some reason he scared Sin. It just wasn’t making much sense to him.
Moments later, Jeff returned with a tray of cups that were filled to the brim. The glasses were already happily sweating condensation. A single drop rolled down the side of one as he set them on the table. Carefully, he pulled a chair out and took a seat, crossing his legs. “I hope it isn’t too sour, but you like sour things, Kaz. Also, Marius, you must share with me your recipe for upside-down cake.”
Curious, Kaz took a sip. His eyes lit up and he swallowed a few gulps enthusiastically. It was the best lemonade he’d ever tasted in his life. He gave a happy, goofy smile up at Sin. Now he really couldn’t get why she was acting like that.
“I’d love to.” Marius grinned at Jeff. “It’s really not that hard, if you can get the basics down.” He leaned forward. “My secret is that I add in some raspberries to the plums so that it’s not too sweet. The tartness really cuts the sugar, and it is always a crowd pleaser.” Something was nagging him though. Why wasn’t Sin trying to pressure Jeff? Vampires didn’t scare her, so why did this boring normal guy?
As he spoke, Jeff made sure to jot down the secrets. “I will have to try that. Thank you.” He looked up at Sin. “I will give you the ingredient, Sin, but it cannot be traced back to me.”
“As always, it will not,” Sin promised and let out a relieved breath.
Jeff held out his hand and a vial appeared with a glowing light inside of it. “Here you are, then. Please though, enjoy the lemonade before you go. Sometime, you should come and chat when you don’t need something from me.”
“Sorry, Jeff.” Sin picked up the glass and downed the whole thing in one long gulp. “Things get busy on the outside, but next time I am able, we can sit down for some coffee. I can even bring some books.”
A pleasant smile appeared on his face. “I would very much like that. Good luck in your endeavors tonight. I hope all goes well for Michelle.”
Sin smiled then looked at her boys. “Had your fill?”
Kaz set down his empty glass and looked over at Marius’. The other boy had only taken a few sips. He made a gesture for Kazun to take his cup. There was no hesitation as he downed the last of the lemonade. “Thank you very much for the lemonade.” It was only after that he cringed and realized that he’d broken the very first rule.
Jeff chuckled. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you liked it.”
Sin waved before she put her hand on the boys’ shoulders and they popped yet again. This time, they ended up outside of a quaint shop. She let out a breath and ran her hand down the length of one long obsidian horn.
“That went startlingly well.” She chuckled and looked at the glass vial. “Zier will be very pleased.”
“I don’t get why you were so scared,” Kazun said at last, and offered over the box that Sin had entrusted to him. “He seemed like a pretty average guy. That was the best lemonade I’ve ever had too.”
“Where did you think you were, Kazun?” Sin asked, her tone more amused than anything.
With a shrug Kazun replied, “I don’t know, his sunroom or something?” That’s what it had looked like. Where that particular place had been, he didn't know. He hadn’t really tried to look outside at all. It hadn’t seemed to matter at the time.
“We were in the middle of the strictest super-maximum security prison of all of Eartha, of which he is the warden.” Sin walked up to the door but didn’t open it. “With only a whim, he can change reality. He knew your names because he believed he knew them. Simple as that.”
No words escaped Kazun’s mouth as he gaped up at Sin.
She gave both boys a polite smile. “But don’t worry. This is just a store. We’ll buy our stuff and leave. Zier is waiting for us.”
Chapter 30
Going to the hospital hadn’t been his plan. Ravin knew he couldn’t handle seeing what his anger had done to Michelle. But it wasn’t just him. Loviel had caused this, too. If he hadn’t been so aggressive in stopping the blast, none of it would have happened.
Loviel shouldn’t have done that. He should have known better.
He was an Angel.
He had to know better.
Kazun had let him crash in their old place. He hadn’t planned on coming back any time soon. Everything just seemed so different. Flowers and nice pillows and general cleanliness was not what he expected from anywhere that he had lived.
It was impossible for a human to keep up with his level of ‘organization.’ It was expected for everything to be messy. That’s just how things worked. Lian, on the other hand, was neat and tidy, like Kaz. That’s why they worked well together. The thought of their not-quite relationship immediately made his mind go to Michelle again. The gnawing guilt flared up and consumed every cell of his body.
His actions had physically hurt her. No. They’d probably killed her. The damage done to her was a death sentence. Between his energy and Loviel’s, Michelle hadn’t stand a chance. Neither one of them was suited for her. She was too unlike both sides. She just wouldn’t fit.
The two of them had sentenced her to death. Deep regret flooded through him. All along, she had been right. The one thing she’d asked of him was not to try to find a way to fix her.
She’d just wanted them to spend time together. She’d wanted him to make the last of her days special and meaningful. Instead, he’d filled them with stress, annoyance, and now pain. If he could turn back time, he would. H
e wouldn’t have tried to learn about Fellions or Exalts. He would have spent every moment having fun with her… with his girlfriend.
Instead, he’d killed her.
That overwhelming need to help had blinded him to everything that really mattered. He couldn’t lose her again. He’d already killed her once. That time hadn’t been his fault, or so he told himself. But in reality, both times fell on him. He had been responsible.
Ravin felt toxic. He destroyed everything that he ever touched. He’d ruined Kazun’s life. He’d killed Michelle twice. How many countless souls had he delivered to Sin over the course of the years trying to fix the mistake that he’d made with Kazun? The answer was too many, more than he could count anymore, and not one of them had made a single bit of difference.
There was no forgiveness for anything he’d done. He didn’t deserve it. He didn’t want it. Not after everything that had happened. More than anything, he wanted to finally be punished for his sins.
Maybe that’s why he’d gone to the hospital. What better creature, or person to deal out that retribution than Loviel? If anyone, other than Michelle, Loviel had a right to strike him down and make him pay, it was the angel. Because of Ravin, Loviel had done something that had harmed his partner, the person he was supposed to help defend. It was his right to cause Ravin harm.
That was Ravin’s goal. He was going to let Loviel find that release.
His feet directed him towards the Aqua Cistern Care unit. Only vaguely did he recall the way. Fortunately, the signs pointed him in the right direction. Seeing Michelle would hurt him, too. Though, Loviel hadn’t allowed him to get close enough the only other time he’d tried. That pain was well deserved.
It was nothing compared to what she felt.
Sure enough, the disheveled angel had his arms crossed as he defended the door like the protector he was. The heavenly guardian… grumpiness did not look good on Loviel. He had a face that was made for smiling and laughing, not for scowling in anger.
Eyes like clouded sunshine locked onto Ravin the moment he came into view. Large frayed wings spread in a threatening display. In a raspy voice, Loviel growled, “You have been warned. Turn away.”
“I want to see her.” Ravin couldn’t muster the energy to sound anything but completely exhausted. “I’m not going to leave.”
Loviel didn’t back down. He stood before Ravin, blocking the way. His expression was taut, yet vacant. It were as if he had allowed his base instincts to prevail. His eyes were empty, ready to do as he needed to protect Michelle from any more harm.
Her life was on the same single tether that held Loviel in one piece. “You will not.”
Ravin tilted his head up and looked into the angel’s eyes. “I wasn’t asking.” Those words would get him into so much trouble, but he didn’t care.
“Nor was I.” Loviel lifted his hand and light energy formed, though its essence much duller than it had before. He watched as Ravin walked forward, unheeding of his warning. An invisible line was drawn on the tile. The moment Ravin crossed it, Loviel stepped forward, ready to remove him from this plane.
“Move out of my way,” Ravin croaked in a tired voice. “I want to see my girlfriend.”
Like an animal with its fangs bared, Loviel stood stone still waiting to strike. Enough warnings had been given, but had not heeded. The moment Ravin was in his range, Loviel lashed out, energy ready to defend that which he held most dear. He would allow nothing to harm his partner, for she could take no more. Even if it took his last shred of energy, he would do what he must. He had to. There wasn’t another option.
Loviel paid no mind to the fact he was in a hospital. He couldn’t see past the blinders that instinct had slammed on him.
There was barely enough time for Ravin to sidestep out of the path of the energy. “Stop,” he ordered Loviel, though deep down he hardly meant it. The fizzle of the light energy on his skin had gave him something other than the gaping emptiness to feel.
The angel mimicked the demon as he landed a square punch to Ravin’s jaw, but he didn’t stop to revel in the feeling. He took no pride in his actions; he had no joy in his duty. It was what had to be done. Without waiting for a breath, he grabbed Ravin’s shirt and pulled him into another vicious strike. Cold empty eyes reflected the calculations behind each move.
Loviel put a hand on Ravin’s head, and mercilessly gripped the skin over the other man’s heart, digging his fingers into the soft flesh as light swelled in his palms and in his eyes.
Powerful hands ripped angel and demon apart. Each was held by the scruff of their neck, so their feet were up in the air. “You two are in a hospital. Control yourselves!” Zier scolded the pair. “You are officially grounded.” He shot them both looks, then teleported away with them in tow. When they rematerialized, the three were in the forest. The babbling brook was in sight, and in the distance, faint bells sang their song.
“You.” Zier lifted Ravin up so they could be face to face. “Get your shit together, man. Stop being an emo bitch. You are acting like a child.” Then he dropped the demon down onto the soft grass with a thump.
Turning to the angel, Zier set him down and stared straight into his eyes. “Loviel, I need you to come back to us,” he requested in a calm tone. “Michelle is safe, and I need you to help me make sure she lives through this. You have done a good job of protecting her, and I thank you, but I need you here with me.”
Loviel looked Zier in the eye. For a moment he tried to struggle, but then went still. His voice was barely above a whisper as he spoke. “I couldn’t protect her. She is slipping away and I can’t hold on.”
“The harder you grasp, the more you tax yourself. What I am going to do is going to keep her from vanishing.” Relief touched Zier’s heart. “I need you to come back to the present. You must focus on who you are, on where you are, and on what we must do.” The Fallen Angel leaned close and cupped Loviel’s cheek. “Loviel, I need your song, Zishna.”
The Angel of Song’s face twisted with confusion. “My song?” How long had it been since he had made music? For more years than he could be bothered to count, Loviel had spent every waking hour immersed in music.
It was his life.
Yet, it had been weeks since he had cared to try and sing. There had been so much going on.
“Yes, Zishna,” Zier cooed. “Your beautiful, amazing song. You aren’t Director of the Heavenly Choir for nothing.”
“But my voice…” His gaze shifted downward.
Delicate fingers traced Loviel’s cheek. “Is still so beautiful that it would make the King of Hell weep. Prove it, here and now,” Zier urged. “I know that you will prove that you can do it. I believe in you, Zishna.”
Loviel closed his eyes and felt the warmth against his skin. The bells in the distances rang and fell into harmony with the sweet carless breeze. Water trickled and hummed. Sweet song birds chirped. In his heart, he could feel the music. Yet it was still so distant, so far away.
It called to him. A bittersweet yearning filled him and he could imagine Michelle’s visage. Strength was in her blue-fire eyes as she held out her hand to him. That ever-present look of determination burned on. Even when her life was in the balance, her soul never wavered.
She opened her mouth to speak, and at the same time, Loviel could hear Zier’s words echo. “I believe in you, Song-bird.”
Clarity filled his eyes as he opened them, like warm sun smiling through the cloudiest of days. He started to hum, and while the sound was rough to his ears, Loviel did not cease. He mirrored the mourning doves as they sang and let the bells accompany. The beating of his heart became the syncopation as he began to sing.
“Sweet child of starlight, a heart neither dark nor sun
You inspire us all though your time near done
But I will keep fighting, my head held high
To live in your example, to be as free as sky.
The wrongs that have been done, the damage is so
Yet you shine o
n when we are all in woe
You are a blessing the heavens could never see
I cannot let you go, but I know you must be free
Stars above, I pray on my every breath
That nothing take you away, not even death
We need you star child to light our way at night
To give us home again, to make us feel right
I never knew the gift I got, when I met you
To feel our hearts connect was something so new
Now you rest away in a place that feels so far
But if you leave us now, I know you’ll be my star.”
His song rang clear through the pristine morning air, filling it with magic. Stars glittered in the bluest of skies as they danced to the sweet slow melody. The sun warmed from above; they basked in the light.
Ravin’s head lifted as clarity returned to him. Both his mind and his eyes cleared of the overwhelming pain that had clouded them. Surprised, he looked up at Zier. The music stirred something inside of him. In a way, it felt so familiar. That was how it felt whenever Loviel sang. There was something about his voice; sometimes he wondered if it was nostalgia. Before either of the others could see, he wiped away the tears that rolled down his cheeks.
Zier gently clapped his hands as Loviel finished. “Spectacular, Zishna,” he praised, like a proud parent. “I knew that you could do it.”
“Thank you,” Loviel breathed. Something felt right inside of him, like he was truly awake for the first time in days, perhaps even weeks. “I needed that.”
Ravin looked at Loviel as though he hadn’t really seen him before. “Loviel, I’m sorry.” His voice was broken as he spoke. “I’m so sorry, I don’t know what came over me. I just… I lost myself and I shou—”
“We can apologize later,” Zier cut in. “I need the two of you focused for what I am trying to do. So, I need you both in top form.”
“And what exactly is that?” Ravin asked as he rose to his feet. Curiosity gripped him, and helped force the ever-gnawing guilt down. It helped him focus, though Loviel had brought him the clarity to be able to do so in the first place.
Syndrome of Mortality (Break of Breath Book 2) Page 27