“That’s the second time in the last week one of you have hidden something important from me,” I told him as I met his eyes. “What the fuck?”
His gaze ran over my face. “Do you believe this is a good time for that conversation?” My eyes snapped to his as my heart dropped. “After all, we haven’t told the others about your health situation.”
His eyes were shadowed and refusing to leave mine, demanding an answer. Shit. He was right; I had no room to bitch. I was doing the exact same thing. I shook my head.
“Sometimes we don’t tell people things to protect the ones we love and end up hurting others in the process,” he said patiently. “I didn’t want anyone to judge Zeke for not staying with the demon. But, yes, perhaps we should have told everyone.”
His calm voice struck me right in the heart. I finally realized how the guys felt all this time when I didn’t tell them what was going on. And that was only twice. I’d done it so many times. Shit.
“I’m sorry, Miles.” I shook my head. “It’s not fair for me to say that.”
His eyes found mine. “You have every right to be upset about this, just as they have the right to be upset about… any important news being withheld.”
I looked back down at my tea. He was right. I didn’t even think about why Zeke would keep it a secret, I just yelled. Fuck.
He leaned forward. “Now, what happened to your voice?”
I snorted. “I was an idiot,” I admitted. “Zeke and I had a yelling match outside Isaac’s room.”
His face grew somber. “So, you just damaged your voice even more?”
“My own fault. I never could shut up.” I tried for a joke. It fell flat.
“Well, try resting your voice for a few days. It might just be… temporary,” he suggested.
I nodded. The ache in my throat told me it wasn’t, but I let him believe it.
When I finished my tea, I went and found the church office. Father Francis was at the front desk talking to another young priest.
When I walked in he looked up. “Ah, Lexie. How can I help you?”
“I have some questions for you, if that’s alright?” I asked.
He smiled and waved me back to his office. His office was small and cluttered. He moved behind the desk and sat down. I took the chair across from it. “What can I do for you?”
"Do you know where that help is for Isaac?" I asked.
"Yes, they called a couple hours ago. They’re halfway and making good time. They should be here tomorrow,” he said with a smile.
"Thank God..." I took a breath before meeting his gaze again. "Now, the Templars’ tattoos. You said they prevent possession?”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “Yes, they do. But they won’t work on someone already possessed.”
“I wasn’t asking for Isaac. I was asking for me.” I swallowed hard as I began to explain. “The most dangerous part of being a Necromancer is getting jumped by the dead.”
I went on to explain what happened, the damage it caused. I even went so far as to explain the black dot on my brain. I told him everything.
“So, you would like the ward tattoo?” he asked.
“I… I think so,” I said. “It would… I would actually have a good chance of reaching thirty years old.”
He pressed his lips together before answering. “The ward tattoo is an important step in a Templar’s training. It’s a commitment to the church and this world. I can’t just give it to you.”
My heart sank. Great. Thanks. I got to my feet and headed for the door.
“But, if you worked for us, I could see that you receive the wards,” he offered.
I turned around and eyed him. “What?”
“If you joined us after high school and went through training, then we could give you the ward tattoo,” he said.
He looked like a priest, but he sounded like a dick. I turned around and walked over to his desk. “Let me get this straight. In order for you to let me get this ward tattoo and ensure that I won’t die before I turn thirty, I have to join and work for you? Is that right?”
“Well, it’s not that simple,” he tried. “We’re fighting a war against demons, we’re working to keep other species in line—”
“So you’re bribing me? With something that could save my life?” I tilted my head to the side. “Is that correct, Father? Isn’t that blackmail? Or is it extortion?”
“Your skills would be extremely useful,” he tried again.
“I bet,” I bit out. “If a priest is pulling this type of shit, you must be desperate or an asshole. Which is it?”
His face turned red. “Well, I’ve always endeavored not to be an asshole.”
“Would you keep chemo from a cancer patient?” I asked, trying to make him understand what he was doing.
He swallowed hard. “Sadly, if it meant the safety of thousands, yes.”
I shook my head. Work for the Templars? Seriously? “I can’t give you an answer now.”
He gave me an understanding smile. “That’s understandable. If you decide you do want to, then we’ll be here.”
I turned and walked out of the office, fuming. That fucker. I headed back to the living quarters. Work for the Templars? I headed down the stairs to the basement. Yeah, I could probably do it. But that would mean giving up on tattooing. It would be trading my dream for… a life. I turned into the hallway and headed for Isaac’s room. Well, it wasn’t like I didn’t have options. I fingered my beads. I sat down on the floor outside the door with Asher and Miles.
I could wear my bracelets the rest of my life. That would have the same effect, but they could break. They almost did with Mary Summers. Hell, they had heated up in this hallway just yesterday. My mind ran in circles as I sat there in the hallway. It was a long couple of hours.
Isaac looked like shit. It was almost as if he was disappearing before my eyes. Dr. Zimmer had put a catheter in, along with a nutrient IV. My poor Cookie Monster looked like death. Hades seemed to be keeping him warm at least. The dog wasn’t on him anymore but pressed along his side.
It was around two in the morning when the fucking demon changed tactics. It started using my father’s voice. I gritted my teeth and managed to keep from crying. Barely.
It smiled that creepy smile. “I’ve missed you, my love.” Clay Ordin’s voice came from his lips. I shuddered, unable to stop myself. “Would you like to know what I was thinking that night?”
I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth as my stomach rolled. Memories broke through their door and swamped me. My pulse picked up.
“Touching you wasn’t the only thing I was going to do,” it taunted. “You were my fiancé, you would have enjoyed it.” Rage tore through me.
My eyes shot open as I met those cold, lifeless eyes. It grinned. A slash formed over the skin on his chest and blood welled from the cut. My eyes snapped back to his. A smile formed on his face, as if he was wearing it like a cheap Halloween mask. Another cut, and another.
That’s it. I reached out with my will before I even thought about it. I drove that gold ribbon into Isaac’s chest and followed it down.
I landed in the dark again, still raging. I threw up a light and went looking for Isaac.
“You’re not going to save him,” the demon hissed from the dark. “He’s mine.”
“Go fuck yourself,” I growled as I kept going. I finally found him where I had left him. Standing in the clearing between pillars, gasping for breath, his arms up defensively. His eyes frantically searching the dark. Blood trickled down his chest.
I ran through the pillars of stone. “Cookie Monster?”
He spun, his eyes finding me. It was like a blow to my heart. He was thin, his muscles wasted away to almost nothing. His amber eyes were dull, his blue hair had patchy bald spots. My eyes burned as he dropped to the sand. I slid to my knees in front of him.
“Red?” he breathed, his eyes wide, his entire body shaking. “Tell me that’s you…”
“It’s me,” I whispered, my throat tight. He leaned against me. Tears fell down my face as I held him in my arms. “Hold on. Please. Help is coming.”
His body shuddered against me. “I don’t know if I can… you all left me.”