by N M Thorn
“And Damian is not an angel,” said Ace, stepping closer to Cole. “He’s a Destiny Enforcer. Not just any. He’s a Commander.” She kneeled, pressing her fist to her chest. “If you would allow me, Commander Blake, I should get going, too. I must report to Commander Moore in the morning.”
Damian sighed. “Please don’t kneel on my account, Ace,” he said, gesturing for her to rise. “I don’t kneel, and I don’t expect anyone to do it either. You’re free to go.”
She got up and took Cole’s elbow. Her other hand landed on his stomach, her fingers tracing the shape of his abs absentmindedly. Damian watched as his brother’s muscles contracted, reacting to her touch, and a lopsided grin curved his lips for a brief moment.
Cole scratched the back of his head and turned to River, a guilty smile crossing his face. “River, I’m really sorry, but I have to ask you for a favor. I’m too tired to go all the way to Phoenix, and I can’t go back to my home,” he said, placing his hand on Ace’s fingers to stop her from moving them. “Since Jesse is the official owner of the Brown’s estate, I can’t cross the threshold of my own house without his invitation. At least not until he transfers the ownership back to me. Would you mind giving me shelter for tonight?”
“It’ll take some time to get used to all this magic stuff,” mumbled River, staring at him in awe. “Vampires are actually real.” She shook her head as if trying to chase some troublesome thoughts away. “Yes, of course, Cole. Stay for as long as you need.”
“I have to go back to the Destiny Council,” Damian said, addressing Cole. “I have no idea how long they’re going to hold me there, but I’ll try to return as soon as possible. In the meantime, why don’t you take my room.”
“Watch your back, Dima,” Cole muttered, all humor gone from his eyes. “See me as soon as you come back. Any time, day or night.” He wished a good night to River and followed Sam and Ace out of the living room.
Chapter 38
~ Damian Blake ~
After everyone had left, River made her way closer to Damian. She halted in front of him, her gaze traveling up his body, not quite reaching his eyes. He stood silently, giving her a chance to speak first.
“Dima?” she asked softly, finally meeting his eyes. “Is that your real name?”
He smiled down at her. “My childhood nickname,” he explained. “My real name is Dmitri, but you probably know how Slavic names are.” He shrugged almost apologetically. “Every name has one hundred and one nicknames and endearments.”
“I like it,” she said, averting her gaze. “Can I call you that?”
“You like it better than Day?” he asked, referring to the nickname she had given him, a thin layer of sarcasm prominent in his voice despite his effort to hide it.
“Uh-huh.” Her pale cheeks turned slightly pinker, making her blue eyes shine as she nodded.
Damian glanced at Gypsy, and a wild thought crossed his mind. “I know it’s around five in the morning, but... are you up for a little adventure?”
“A little adventure? I think after everything that has happened here in the last few weeks I’m adventured-out. But what do you have in mind?” She glanced at him, her face lighting up with excitement, and for a heartbeat, she reminded him of a child waiting for a Christmas miracle.
“You heard me talking to Cole,” he said, his chest growing tighter at the thought of returning to the Destiny Council. “I have to leave, and it could be a while before I come back.”
“How long?”
“I don’t know,” he replied honestly. “Could be a few hours or a few months. I truly have no idea. So, before I leave, I wanted to fulfill a promise I made to our mutual friend, and I was wondering if you’d like to accompany us.” He pointed at Gypsy, making River burst out laughing.
“You promised something to a cat,” she said through fits of laughter. He nodded, and she stopped laughing, staring at him, flabbergasted. “Oh... You really can talk to cats.” It wasn’t a question. She just stated the fact. “I would love to go with the two of you. Where are we going?”
Gypsy perked up her ears and tilted her head, staring at Damian without blinking. “Finally,” she purred. “Get moving, peasant. Chop-chop. We Queens don’t like to wait.”
Damian smiled and tapped his shoulder. “Gypsy, up,” he said. “And this time, do try not to scratch me.”
“Hehehe. We’ll see how you behave, Sasquatch.” Gypsy gathered her body into a tight ball of muscles and leaped up from the couch, landing softly on his shoulder. “Now, let’s go. Mush!”
“I’m going to kill this cat,” he murmured, laughter bubbling up in his chest.
“Not if you want to wake up the next morning with all your body parts attached,” supplied River, staring up at Gypsy towering on Damian’s shoulder with a smug look. “Let’s go then?”
He smirked. “We’re not walking. Hold on to me tight.”
“Huh? You know you’re covered in blood and God knows what else.” She gaped at him for a moment, but then waved her hand dismissively. “Are we flying? You have those giant wings...”
He shuddered. “Perun almighty, no. I hate those things.”
“You’re so backward, Dima. People dream about having wings, of flying.” She laughed, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.
“Not this person. The farther I am from Earth, the weaker I am. The wings are a part of the Destiny Enforcer’s benefits package, but I hardly ever use them.” He shrugged.
“Can I at least see them one more time?”
He closed his eyes and channeled his power, allowing it to run freely through him. His body lit up with a soft, white glow, and two giant black wings unfolded behind his back. He brought them closer but didn’t fold them completely.
She exhaled, pressing her hand to her chest. “Do you have the faintest idea of how magnificent you... um... your wings look? What if I pull a feather out?”
“Ouch. Please, don’t do it. I feel my wings just like I feel any other part of my body.” He glanced at her, feeling strangely vulnerable.
River made a half-circle around him, her fingers brushing over the shiny black feathers. She halted behind him and a constrained gasp followed by the soft touch of her fingers to his bare back made him flinch and spin around, forgetting about the cat on his shoulder. Gypsy hissed and expanded her claws to keep her balance, but he barely registered the pain. He let go of his power, and the wings vanished, leaving him feeling more vulnerable and self-conscious than before.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to...” Her voice trailed away, and she swallowed hard. “Let’s get going. Gypsy is waiting.” She wrapped her arms around his waist, placing her head on his chest. Her hair fell over his arm as he encircled her shoulders, holding her tight.
“Close your eyes, River,” he said gently. Raising his free hand, he snapped his fingers, and they vanished from Paradise Manor.
They manifested at the foot of a large rock formation a few miles away from Paradise Manor. The sky just started to lighten up, the grayish colors of the approaching sunrise breaking into the dark ultramarine shades of the night. The air, cool with the morning freshness, was infused with the sweet scent of dirt and a light fragrance of vegetation.
“Freedom!” yelled Gypsy. She leaped down from Damian’s shoulder and bolted toward the mountains.
“Hey, Gypsy, don’t go too far,” he yelled after her. “A jackalope may get you.”
“The only jackalope here is you.” Gypsy snickered without slowing down. “Use the ‘alone’ time creatively. It’s all sooooooo disgustingly romantic.” She hopped on a rock and glanced back at him, her green eyes shining brightly in the dim light of the early morning, and he could swear the cat winked at him before disappearing from view.
Damian suppressed the desire to roll his eyes at Gypsy’s silly suggestion, but all of a sudden, he became too aware of River’s arms still wrapped around his bare torso. He grunted and stepped back, lowering on a large boulder. She turned to face him, her eyes search
ing his face as if she expected him to say something. Since he remained silent, she sat down next to him and leaned forward, propping her elbows on her knees.
“What is a Destiny Enforcer?” she asked at length without looking at him.
He glanced at her sideways, wondering how to explain it to her. “Something I’ve never wanted to be.” He rubbed his cheeks with his hand, feeling his overgrown stubble under his fingers. “You’re too new to magic and everything surrounding it, and it’s practically impossible to explain, but for the lack of a better word, I’m a supernatural cop, enforcing the laws of the World of Magic.”
She nodded, turning in his direction slightly. “So, we’re in the same line of business then. Sort of.”
“Yeah, sort of,” he agreed.
“Dima, why do you have to leave?” she asked, a shy smile gracing her face. “Sorry, I sound like a child.”
He didn’t reply right away, staring at the horizon where the first rays of sunrise colored the sky in pink and yellow shades.
“River, I know it’s hard to believe, but I’m over a thousand years old. My connection with the elemental energy of Earth makes me immortal,” he said after a while, giving her a tentative look from under the long strands of his hair. To his surprise, she didn’t react with shock or fear, instead gazing at him attentively, and he continued, “As a human, I died in the year of nine hundred ninety-six. After my death, I was brought back by the Destiny Council to serve as a Destiny Enforcer.”
He fell silent, rubbing the back of his neck. She placed her hand on his shoulder, caressing him slightly, and everything inside him flipped upside down. He already forgot the last time when someone had shown him any kind of support and affection, and to him, this simple friendly gesture seemed almost jarring.
“After a few centuries, I asked to be discharged,” he continued, his vocal cords barely functioning.
“But why?” she asked, genuinely shocked.
His fingers found his bracelet, rubbing its edge nervously. “Doesn’t matter,” he replied. “I asked to leave, and they granted my request, but at a high price. I had to give up most of my powers and assume the no one status. It’s like a non-disclosure agreement on steroids. Because of it, I was forced to lead... er... a certain lifestyle. To be honest, it wasn’t easy, but at the time, I just didn’t want to have anything to do with the Destiny Council, and I gladly paid the price they demanded.” He raked his fingers through his hair and lowered his hand, rubbing his knuckles with his thumb. “Until yesterday, that is. So, now I’m back with the Destiny Council, and their first demand was for me to return to their headquarters as soon as I get Mara and Morok under control. So, I have no choice. I have to go. It’s similar to a military chain of command, you know?”
He got up, searching the area for the cat.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her eyes widening. “Because of me, you had to—”
He looked down at her, shaking his head. “I always knew it would happen sooner or later, anyway,” he objected. “It’s not your fault.” Turning toward the mountains, he called to the cat, infusing his voice with his magic. “Gypsy, come on back. It’s time for us to go.”
River got up and stepped on the rock they’d been sitting on a moment ago, her eyes almost on the same level with his. Gently, she brushed his hair back and pressed her lips to his unshaven cheek, holding his face in her hands. A jolt of electricity rushed through him as his body reacted more eagerly than he expected. His arms moved up slightly of their own accord, but he stopped himself from embracing her, barely breathing under her touch.
“Thank you, Damian,” she said. “I don’t know how I can ever repay you for everything you’ve done for me. My house is always open to you. I know your brother owns a giant estate just a few yards away, but if you decide to live in Blue Creek when you return, I hope you’ll choose to stay in Paradise Manor.”
“Thank you.” He nodded, staring into the space above her head. “I will come back. Hopefully soon. But I’m no longer a free man, and I don’t know what the future holds for me now. The Destiny Council used to send me all over the realm of humans and other magical worlds on their missions.”
“There are more worlds than one?” asked River, but then lifted her shoulder in a slight shrug. “Sorry, I should stop asking these kinds of questions. Like you said earlier—everything is real.”
He glanced in the direction of Paradise Manor wistfully. Gypsy came trotting from behind the mountain and rubbed against his legs, her thick, black fur covered in dust and dirt.
“So?” she purred. “Was my mistress pleased with your—"
“Gypsy,” growled Damian warningly. “It’s in your best interest not to finish that statement.”
“Aw... you’re such a gentleman.” The feline snickered and hopped on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, you’ll perform—”
“Gypsy!” he yelled.
“First time is a learning exper-r-r-ience. Third time is a char-r-r-m...”
“Heaven and Earth, Gypsy.” He threw his hands up. “You are supposed to be a house kitty. Wash your mouth out with some serious soap!”
River laughed, watching him talk to the cat. “I don’t even want to ask what she said to you.”
“I think it would be better if you didn’t.” Damian offered her a hand and when she took it, he pulled her closer. “Hold on tight.”
She encircled his waist and placed her head on his chest, her warm breath caressing his skin. He took a deep breath and snapped his fingers, teleporting them back into the living room of Paradise Manor.
From his shoulder, Gypsy hopped onto the couch and curled up into a furry ball embellished by dust, hiding her nose under her bushy tail. To his relief, she was either too tired or decided to keep her smart-ass remarks for the next occasion.
For a few seconds, River didn’t move, keeping her tight embrace, and he wasn’t sure if he should pull away or say something to her. The sun was up, beating happily through the wide window, and with deep regret, he knew it was time for him to leave. In reality, he should have left as soon as Archmage Allerton had arrived, and he had no doubt Magnus would have something to say about it.
A heavy sigh escaped his lips, and as his chest moved under River’s cheek, she raised her head, gazing up into his eyes.
“Damian, I know you have to go,” she said, pulling away finally. “But before you go, there is something I wanted to tell you.” She stilled, looking slightly troubled and lost. “If you repeat my words to anyone, I’ll get Gypsy to deal with you.” She chuckled, but the sadness never left her blue eyes.
“Your secrets are safe with me, my lady,” he replied with a tiny bow.
She rolled her eyes, whispering something that sounded like ‘archaic jackass’. Her hand went up to his chest, but she didn’t actually touch him, holding her fingers close enough for him to feel the heat emanating from her palm.
“Since Nick’s death, I’ve been living in some perpetual nightmare,” she said quietly, her full lips quivering slightly. “I felt like I was in some sort of dark void, and I kept falling and falling, unable to think, to stop the fall, to live. I went to work, came back home, took care of Gypsy—everything like on autopilot.”
She fell silent and a deep wrinkle appeared between her copper eyebrows. Damian took her hand and squeezed slightly.
“You probably did live in a nightmare, River,” he said gently. “After all, the Slavic goddess of Darkness and Nightmares was after you. I’m sure the way you felt was induced by her magic. You should feel better now that she’s gone.”
“Maybe,” she agreed after a moment, but her eyes spoke otherwise. “The first moment you arrived at Paradise Manor, everything changed. That night when you guarded me, falling asleep on the floor by my door...” Her voice disappeared into silence, her gaze becoming distant as she traveled back in her memory. “For the first time since my husband’s death, I felt safe. I felt like that nightmarish infinite loop was broken, and I was no longer falling.”
Shifting from foot to foot slightly, he had no idea what to tell her. As the pause grew longer, she smiled, taking her hand out of his grip.
“You don’t need to say anything, Damian,” she continued. “I just wanted you to know...” She swallowed hard, looking out the window at the view of the morning desert, and added sounding firm, “Wherever you’re going now, I want you to know that if you want it, you have a home, and one person and a cat who’re waiting for your return.”
“Yeah, what she said,” murmured Gypsy, lifting her head. “She can definitely use you when she needs to move a couch or change a light bulb.” She yawned, showing her fangs, and then settled back to sleep, a blissful feline smirk on her face.
“Thank you,” he said to River, his throat constricted, pain and warmth fusing somewhere in his chest.
He took her hand and bent down to it, kissing her knuckles gently. He straightened and let go of her. With one wave of his hand, he opened a portal and smiled at her.
“I don’t know when, but I will return, River. That, I promise.”
Turning around, he walked through the portal.
One day.
Epilogue
~ Damian Blake ~
The Destiny Council Realm
As soon as Damian walked out of the portal, he was met by one of the Junior Enforcers. It was a young man, no more than twenty by the looks of him, but Damian knew better—looks in the World of Magic could be deceiving. However, since he still wore the gray uniform of a Junior Enforcer, it meant he hadn’t completed his initial training. The young man stared at Damian in awe for a brief moment but then gathered his wits and bent down in a low bow.
“Lord Commander, please allow me to show you to your chambers.”
“Thank you,” replied Damian, wincing at the salutation.
