Necromancer's Dating Service (Magis Luminare Book 1)

by J M Thomas

  “Don’t judge by the eyes. His mind might not be present right now, but your fighter is all heart.” Her reassuring smile was practiced, but I latched onto it like a promise. “He’s still fighting in there, and we’ll keep fighting, too.”

  Marla glanced around. “Ethan…”

  I followed her line of sight, then leapt to my feet. Hugo was coming out of the woods, with Alena in tow.

  “Why?” I asked as he pulled to a stop, his arm around Alena’s shoulder in the same way he’d comforted me.

  “This is precisely what I was trying to avoid,” Alena whispered with a consternated sigh. “Why, you big fool?”

  “No, I mean why are we letting you be here, after what you did?” I pointed an accusing finger. “Hugo, do you not remember?”

  Hugo held out a hand in a calming gesture. “Aeron put her in charge of the guild for a reason. Let’s let her do her part, hmm?”

  “I have a private transport van from my main facility parked on the other side of that ridge.” She gestured weakly, her arm shaking from the effort of raising a finger to point. “I’ve called and arranged for a bed at the Gibson campus. He’ll be safer there and have the best care.”

  I crossed my arms, stepping in front of Hugo to meet Alena’s gaze. “Why? Why would you do that, after all this?”

  For a moment, her worn expression flashed all the pain and heartbreak coursing behind her eyes. For a moment, her towering strength returned, the ferociousness of her energy beaming forth. “I loved him, too,” she whispered. “Let me earn at least some forgiveness.”

  “No.” I shook my head as Sian and Hugo left Aeron’s care to Ethan and Marla, trotting up the ridge, then down again with a stretcher from Alena’s transport. I faced off with Alena as the entire procession worked like ants.

  We were two strong, hollow statues, brimming with pain inside, praying the pressure didn’t crack us.

  “Forgiveness is a gift,” I finally said. “It’s not a boon you can pay, ask, or owe. If all the time you spent with him taught you nothing else, you should’ve learned that the best things in life come for free, undeserved. By choice. Earning it would cheapen it, so don’t even try.”

  Alena’s lips paled as she pressed them into a thin line. She gave me a single, tight nod, then turned away and took command. “Alright, we clear out, then sound the alarm. Sian stabilized a few, and they’ll be fine until emergency services get here, but we shouldn’t hold off too long.”

  I opened my mouth to protest, then shut it again. He’d picked her to lead the guild for a reason, and it was time I left Alena to run things in the aftermath. Despite her, the guild had come when called for, uniting to make victory possible. Leaving it to her was the closest thing to forgiveness I could muster right now.

  Without saying goodbye, I slowly made my way up the hill. Come hell or high water, I was going to be in that ambulance for Aeron’s trapped soul to talk to.

  Chapter 33 – In Defiance

  I opened the blinds on the window in the recovery ward, a smile spreading across my face as a little brown finch startled and took flight from the sill. It was a stark improvement in view from the hospital’s overlook of a rooftop littered with construction debris. This place was a tiny oasis in the bustle of city sprawl.

  Alena’s place, I reminded myself. Her way of apologizing, and maybe of keeping an eye on things without getting too close.

  She hadn’t dropped by the room, at least not that I’d seen, but her car was sometimes the last one in the parking lot. Just to be on the safe side, and because I’d really rather stay, I’d remained glued to this spot when not at work this past week. I’d become something of a phantom occasionally haunting HarmonE’s main building rather than a regular fixture of it.

  This semi-nomadic lifestyle suited me—I was happy to rest my feet wherever I was rather than putting down roots for now. I’d enjoy this view and whatever view came next. Today, I’d take a load of laundry down to Aeron’s apartment, which was mostly serving as my laundromat, on my way to check my post office box, then grab a few shelf-stable things to nibble on.

  But not yet. First, I’d get emails out of the way. I pulled out my laptop and put my feet up in the chair next to Aeron’s bed.

  Things were touch and go for awhile with Aeron, but Sian’s faith in his caduceus was rewarded twice over that terrible day. It kept me as good as bubble-wrapped through our delivery to the watchling compound, and it kept Aeron as good as bubble-wrapped on our way out. Modern medicine provided the rest of the magic, and now the rest was up to time and physical therapy.

  As if in response to my stirring, Aeron gingerly pushed himself up to sitting, only afterward pressing the button to raise the back of the bed. The first day he’d been awake, he’d had a minor spat with one of the nurses about not wanting to lay back. She’d gotten an eyeful of the state his skin was still in, netting him a few hours of stitches.

  Anyone else would’ve learned their lesson about sassing the medical staff, but not Aeron. The more bored he got, the more incorrigible he was as a patient. Even I started giving him glares when he’d start working his jaw at a new-to-him staffer. Moody and difficult was a convenient way to hide the fear that he’d lost mobility he’d never get back. Irritability was perfect armor to hide his spirit chafing beneath the care he had to accept.

  The on-call doctor came in to do rounds, so I stepped outside to let Aeron have his privacy. It didn’t stop me from hearing the conversation through the door, though.

  Aeron’s voice held a challenge. “We could start physical therapy now. No use wastin’ time.”

  The doctor wasn’t even phased. “All right, then. Give me a ninety-degree bend in that knee, if you may.

  I snorted at the “If you may.” It was a perfect dodge to the “if you can” challenge. I decided this doctor was my new favorite.

  From the grunting that followed, I imagined Aeron was giving the man a valiant effort. But ligaments don’t care how stubborn you are. They only heal as fast as they can reattach.

  “Good, you’re already ahead of expectations for this type of injury. Keep up the good work, and we can reassess the dates for moving forward with physical therapy.”

  The doctor let himself out, and I returned to my spot.

  Aeron was still surly, trying to bend his knee beneath the rumpled blankets. Sweat beaded on his temples, his lips forming silent curses as he fought against the upper limits of his own body.

  I bit my lip to keep from saying anything. I couldn’t think of anything that’d soothe him, anyway. Best not to make him feel any worse. I wanted to chastise him for his attitude—these people were experts helping him. The least he could do was be grateful.

  “What?” His eyes flashed as his gaze fixed on me. “What are you still doing here? ‘Aven’t you got nuffink better to do?”

  I gave him a patient smile. “I’m looking after you.” In fact, I’d been looking after him a lot. I’d brought him his things to pay bills, turned in his rent on time, washed and dried his laundry… though I was sure he’d give me plenty of sass when he found out about the last one. Better that than dealing with old laundry, and it’s not like he could stop me.

  “Hmph.” He rolled his shoulders. “You don’t ‘ave to. It’s over. I’m on the mend. Fuck knows this lot’ll see to it I mend up proper.”

  I swallowed hard, keeping my gaze on my laptop so I wouldn’t meet his. “If you want me to leave, you can just tell me to.”

  “Sling yer hook, then.” He made a shooing motion with his hand.

  “Alright.” I snapped, shutting the laptop and shoving it roughly into the carry bag at my feet. “You text me when you want me back in here.”

  “No, I mean go.” Aeron gathered up the blankets in both of his hands, straining against his useless leg. “Go get you a place, make you some work friends. Move on wiv your life. It’s over.”

  “Mhmm. I don’t believe you.” His words stung, their harshness renewing the ache in my heart. He mig
ht not want the reminder of what’d happened, but I didn’t want it to end. I didn’t want to go.

  Aeron leaned forward. “You callin’ me a liar?”

  Alright, buddy, you might think you can push everyone away so easily. But I know better. I’ve seen your soul. I stood and straightened, finally meeting his gaze. “No, I’m calling you a horrible liar. Tell me to my face you want me out of your life, Aeron.”

  He locked eyes with me, then tears filled them. “I…”

  I took two steps closer, then leaned over the bed. “You what?”

  He took a ragged breath. “The prophecy is over, Lessie. I’m going to ‘ave to go soon. You can’t give up everyfink you worked so ‘ard to build to come wiv me.” His voice caught, eyes misting over. “It just isn’t going to work, love. You’re just an asset. I’m not supposed to get attached. I’m not supposed to, because it’s no life for you, Lessie.”

  I settled my left hand on his cheek, my thumb rubbing gently. “Then tell me you want me to go. This time, make me believe you. Make me believe this is what you really want.”

  “You don’t…” Aeron shook his head, his hand coming up to cover mine.

  My right index finger snapped up in a warning. “Don’t. You know better than to tell me what it is I want.

  “What do you want, then?” The fire in his eyes burned again, the one I could see. His will, his desire, all of it. This place could not contain it; the walls of his own body couldn’t contain it. His fingers curled around my hand, but he didn’t peel my palm off his cheek. He held it there, tighter.

  “You,” I whispered. I’d never said a truer word in my born days.

  Aeron’s lips caught mine, his fingers threading through my hair. The truth was out. Hunger and thrills coursed through me at his touch, his taste. This was it for me, and he was just as much new as he was home already.

  Breathing hard, he pulled away, his forehead leaning heavily against mine. “I’m never gonna be rid of you like this. In fifty years, when I’m this ugly fuckin’ pile of wrinkles, you remember I tried. I tried, dammit.”

  “Yeah, you tried, but it was pretty weak. Just an asset?” I mocked, feigning a swoon. “Agent Bond, don’t send me away like this!”

  Before I could kiss him again, a quiet tap on the door had me backing away.

  “Come in,” Aeron called, stretching his arms above his head like he’d just woken up. The movement displaced an IV tube, the last of the many lines attached to him they hadn’t taken out yet. It was his last tether before he’d be free again. Far from recovered, but no longer attached.

  Once he was loose, who knew what the future would hold?

  The door opened with a soft click. I smelled the cologne before I turned to see who it was.

  “Celeste…” My boss stopped in his tracks, a cellophane-wrapped basket of fruit dangling from one hand and that blasted cheap folder tucked under the other arm.

  “Mister Ortiz.” I narrowed my eyes as I stepped away from the empty seat. “I was just leaving.”

  “No, no, stay. I feel there’s much I owe you both.”

  “An explanation would be nice.” I eyed him as he apologetically set the gift basket on the countertop. It was a nice one, with fruits, granola bars, and nuts.

  He nodded. “You recognized me at the summit, I believe. I cannot stress how much it pained me to play my part in that scenario. This… this is not why I’ve worked so hard to distinguish myself as a professional. If my talents can be useful to you, Mister Lyons, in any way…”

  “Aww, shut it, Orterios.” Aeron wiggled up a little further to a higher sitting position. “You knows you was more ‘elp than ‘urt. And you knows I forgive any ‘arm what comes to my person on be’alf of the mission. And the mission, as far as I sees it, was a success.”

  “All the same,” I cut in, not satisfied in the least. “I’d love to hear more about why HarmonE picked me to do the necROMANCE server. Where you disappeared to after we sealed the portal. Why we were doing it at all. I have so much I don’t know…”

  “Do you ‘ave a minute?” Aeron gestured to the seat. “Siddown, let the lady know you mean no ‘arm. I swear, she’s like a pet leopard, ‘at one. All this being cooped up’s making ‘er grouchy.” He sent me a playful wink, and I snickered.

  Mr. Ortiz sat, fingering his folder with considerable unease. “Yes, I’ll be happy to explain as best I can. It really is the least I can do. Oh, but where to start?”

  I leaned against the door frame until Aeron patted the foot of the bed. He scooted his feet aside, giving me plenty of room to sit cross-legged.

  Pinching his tongue between his lips, Mr. Ortiz contemplated for a moment. “As a young man, it wasn’t hard to find things I was exceptionally bad at. I was a little too cross-eyed for sports or to read and write without wanting to throw the book at the wall. But it turns out I can read runes just fine. It’s no problem at all for me. Only, not so easy to find a job if all you can do is read necromancy runes. It’s more a party trick.”

  “Some party trick,” I grumbled, to which he only bobbed his head.

  “My cousin got me a call center job at a local company. With great personal effort, I didn’t suck at it so badly that they’d fire me. In my career, I soon found that people liked me better ‘not unique’ than ‘talented at drawing necromancy runes.’

  “In fact, they preferred the cheap watch, corny short-sleeved collared shirt, and plain work shoes.” He pointed to each on himself, as if he was wearing an artfully-crafted cosplay of the person he was pretending to be.

  “If I wanted to be spoken to, I had to show them a version of me no one else would find to be a threat. So, I changed tactics. During the day, I was what they wanted me to be. At night, I studied my runes and made magic. But I was alone. By then, I was the boss, so I thought, maybe we should make a dating service for people like me.” Flashing a shy grin, Mr. Ortiz glanced up at us.

  “But it failed,” I supplied. “I looked at the old documents. It never got very far at all, and couldn’t turn a profit with nobody signed up on it.”

  “That’s right.” He splayed his hands palm up on the arms of the chair. “But then, the guild meets, and I see so many people have desires for that connection. So, I think, maybe let someone new have a try. Someone with nothing to lose.”

  “Only ‘er career, mate, and ‘er chance to make a difference. ‘At’s a mighty lot to lose, if you fink about it.” Aeron gave a slight shrug, his gaze skewering Mr. Ortiz.

  “I can tell you why it failed the first time,” I grumbled. “It’s because there’s no support for it elsewhere in the company. We have teams dedicated to every other server in process, but I’ve had to do everything myself. Even my manager only contacted me about it to ask how she can justify the expense of not firing me right now. Probably because she’s a watchling. Can’t wait for that staff meeting.”

  Still fuming, I glanced out the window. The morning breeze stirred the tops of a tall, narrow conifer, sending little prickly spikes rustling harmlessly across the pavement.

  “Yes, I thought that might be the case.” Mr. Ortiz’ voice had a wistful air to it. “I can put in an appearance with the departments, but it only casts suspicion on myself. Last time, it did more to stunt my advancement than it did to advance the server. This time, I have been more subtle. But yes, I did recognize your manager, and I have made some adjustments to personnel. If only I’d known last time.”

  Mr. Ortiz brightened a bit. “But, if I’m honest, your little speech at the summit cheered me greatly. It gave me hope. Is it true, what you said about working with London to create a worldwide necromancer server where we can track boons and network?”

  I had forgotten all about that little steaming pile of cow turds I’d spilled to keep Aeron safe until just now. As I stammered, Aeron seemed to catch my discomfort.

  To my surprise, he came to my rescue. “Such negotiations are a bit early to be sayin’ for sure, mate. Got to ‘ave a face-to-face before they can
approve anyfink.” I could’ve sworn the little twitch of Aeron’s cheek was a wink in my direction.

  “Of course, of course.” As Mr. Ortiz, he was proper and businesslike. As Orterios, he was heartfelt and unsure. He cast his line of sight over at me one more time. “I really am so sorry.”

  I couldn’t help but smile. “Alright, fine, I forgive you. No hard feelings; we all did our part, yada yada.”

  A grin split Orterios’ face. “Thank you!” he breathed. Then, the real one was gone, as fast as he’d appeared. The managerial version of the man gave me a corporate-appropriate nod of acknowledgement. “I will be thrilled to hear about your progress in our conference call Monday.” Mr. Ortiz rose, and I took that as my cue to shake his hand.

  “I’ll see you at work!” I said, then held my breath until the door clicked shut. I whirled on Aeron. “You didn’t tell me Orterios was my frickin’ boss!”

  “I tell you that you know ‘im. You tell me you don’t. I’m not arguin’.” Aeron folded his hands behind his head with a grin. “Now who’s right and wrong, eh?”

  I growled. “You’re insufferable.”

  “I will never do it again.” His smirk turned smug.

  “Like heck you won’t.” I perked up again. “The jerk never told me where he went to after the fight, either!”

  “Necros and their secrets, yeah?” Aeron glanced around the room, boredom already setting in. “‘Ave Sian order us a pizza. It’ll be ‘ere when you get back ‘ere. Two larges, so the bastard’ll leave me some.”

  “Sure!” I pursed my lips. “You’re getting a stack of anchovies and french fries.”

  “If I get fish ‘n chips on a pizza, I won’t be ‘eld responsible for my actions.” Aeron let out a laugh. “A nice meat feast’ll do nicely.”

  But the door wasn’t about to let us off so easily. This time, the knock came as a rhythmic rapping, and brought Marla and Ethan. After I greeted each of them with a hug, I sent a glance at Aeron. “You know, I could’ve gotten so many interviews done if you’d gotten hurt before all this, instead.”