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I patted him, enjoying the embrace, and remembered how only a week ago, I was terrified I would never see him again. He beamed as we separated and looked to his soul mate with a hopeful glint in his eye.
“Now that is sorted, how can we help?”
“Clawdia is worried that Mary will come looking for you to feed you to the dragon. I need you both and Alcor to come with me to heal the protector.” I looked at Daithi. “Can you handle that?”
His lips pinched again, but he said, “I will do what I need to.” A very faei answer. It told me nothing but satisfied me for the time being.
* * *
“Good to see you again,”Laurence said as we stepped into the car park. He leaned against a large black vehicle, his arms crossed as he waited for us to cross to him. “You brought more friends?” He eyed Savida and Daithi with curiosity.
“They’d like to help too,” I told him as I opened the passenger door and tucked into the car.
We left Charlie in the room asleep, with a note by the bedside explaining where we were going, and Daithi covered him in a protective forcefield, in case Mary found him.
Laurence nodded. “There’s room for anyone who can help.”
There were clicks from the back as Daithi and Alcor buckled their belts, just as Charlie always instructed, and in the rearview mirror, I watched Savida struggle to reach the buckle from behind his wing.
“I’m excited for this journey. I haven’t been in a car before,” Savida announced cheerfully as he finally managed to clip himself in with help from Daithi. I noted that Daithi’s hand was now resting on Savida’s thigh as though their argument hadn’t occurred.
Laurence started the car and pulled out of the hotel parking lot. He coughed nervously, unsure about how to act around a demon so chipper. “Well, I hope you enjoy it. Sorry that the belt was a bit of a nightmare. Cars weren’t made for wings.”
“They are methods of transport themselves and so don’t need cars designed for them. No, I'm sure it would be as silly as a car carrying a car.” Savida laughed at the idea. Laurence opened his mouth to respond but clearly thought better of it and so just nodded. “What does the belt do?” he asked, ever curious and unable to stay silent.
“It’s a safety thing. If we crash, it’ll keep you close to the seat so you don’t fly out and hurt yourself more.” Simon shrugged.
“How does a car crash? Why does it happen? I understand that humans can’t fly, but I can already fly so I don’t think this is necessary.” Savida bombarded the unfortunate male with questions about cars and everything else that he could think of as we journeyed back to the hotel where the witches and the protector lay.
“The council representatives aren’t here?” I asked when none of them greeted us as we walked into the hotel and stood at the elevator doors.
“They arrested Deborah and took her to a special prison for holding after you left. They said they’d be back later.”
I raised an eyebrow at that, glad the supernaturals of the human realm seemed to have good leaders in the majority of its council.
Laurence shrugged out of his coat and swung it at his side as we roamed the halls to the hotel room. He explained, “We didn’t move him from the room we found him in yesterday. He’s been given a drip and medical attention, and they are telling us his age and situation are likely to be causing his fast decline.”
He used a card to access the room but only pushed it open. I raised my eyebrow in question. “You don’t need me to help heal him. Come down to the meeting room and report when you’re done.”
“That’s where–”
“The council will deliver on its promise to the demons wronged by the witches,” Laurence said vaguely.
I frowned but stepped into the room to see the protector lying under the sheets, motionless. He looked asleep, but the rise and fall of the sheets across his chest was stuttered and shallow. I pulled open the curtains, and the light illuminated the gray tinge to his skin.
Using my power, I saw the red thread covering him, wrapping tightly over his whole body. He was dying a little more with every breath.
But why? Because of his age?
“Awwww. He is so cute!” Savida whispered excitedly. “Is that him?”
I turned, surprised, and he, Daithi, and Alcor stood behind me, peering around me at the man. They’d walked so quietly that I’d forgotten they’d followed.
“This is their protector?” Daithi asked, the derision clear in his voice. “This is the reason we are stuck in this realm?”
“He is like an overripe fruit,” Savida cooed. “So wrinkled and small.”
I shushed them both and whispered, “I need to heal him, and I can’t concentrate with you here. Go back downstairs.”
