Page 105 of Two Who Live On

I smiled, truly awed and in love with the best man in the world.

ChapterThirty-Eight

Chapter Thirty-Eight

I strutted through this obnoxious inner core, avoiding the literal cobwebs of untouched memories inside this witch’s head. Between the dark cellar vibes and gloomy humidity representing the deepest thoughts, I found this place unsettling. But it’d have to do. A few renovations made it bearable during my stay. I needed something close enough to my body to keep careful eyes on things yet far enough from Milo so I would remain well off his infinite radar—not an easy feat when he saw the possibilities before I’d even considered them.

Oh, how I loved Milo, but dammit, he didn’t make my task easy. So, for the time being, I had to hole up inside someone else’s mind, skirting below the surface of awareness. This lackluster witch I’d commandeered didn’t have much going on for him anyway. He held a boring day job, a weak branch, no infinity for casting, and zero potential for a bright future. Having his mind semi-hijacked wasprobably the most exciting thing that would ever happen in his bland existence.

Skirting around wobbly knickknacks, each holding some worthlessly precious memory, I approached a door that I’d turned into a little haven. A true piece of heaven, in fact. Clearing my throat, I kept calm and altered my appearance. In a mind, I could create anything with ease. The creases in my forehead faded, my skin tightened, and my hair shortened. I stared at the sleeves of my shirt and remembered at twenty-two, I had a much darker, total try-hard, gothy wardrobe, so I changed my outfit instantaneously to represent the former appearance.

Opening the door, the bright light of the hospital room crept into this person’s cellar they called homey. Quickly closing the door behind myself, I scanned the witch’s sleeping thoughts, ensuring I hadn’t disturbed him. I hadn’t. He remained dimwitted, dull, and delusionally tragic in a peaceful slumber.

“Dorian.” Finn sat up in his hospital bed, turning off the television, and thrilled for the visit. His voice was ecstasy, and it was wonderful finally being able to sneak off to visit him, even if in these shabby accommodations. “Maybe you can actually get my nurses to answer when I push the button.”

“They’re busy saving lives.” I resisted an easy smile because Finn only knew the ungrateful grouch who didn’t value everything he had.

“I nearly died.” Finn grinned, pointing to the light scratches I’d conjured so he’d remain in this room awaiting his full recovery and unaware that I’d tucked him safely inside someone else’s mind. Someone unworthy of Finn’s presence.

“You didn’t nearly die.” I sighed, dragging out my most unenthused tone. “The gorgon barely touched you.”

“Well, I’m going to die if someone doesn’t fix this remote. The TV’s been stuck on the same channel for hours.”

It was unfortunate, but I had to limit Finn’s perception in here to keep him safe, unaware. Allowing too much freedom and entertainment of news strained my magic. Thankfully, his branch helped with the bulk of the heavy lifting. Like with Milo, our magics synchronized seamlessly, so I used Finn’s retrocognition to erase his time locked inside the chimera’s mind and took him back to right before the gorgon stole him from our lives. Here, he recovered from an injury on an attack he now believed he’d survived.

Eventually, I’d explain it all to him, help him absorb the horrors inflicted on him for over a decade; however, Finn needed time to adjust and remember what living felt like. Milo needed time to distance himself from fears of what the chimera might inflict. I’d fix all this; I just needed time to get the two men I loved most in this world on the same page.

“When’s Milo coming by?” Finn asked, tucking away thoughts. He was always happy with my visits but longed for the other piece of our happy trio. Understandably, he missed Milo, too.

“Well, since killing the gorgon, he’s become annoyingly popular.” I plopped on the bed, brushing my fingers delicately across Finn’s hand.

It cast a sensation in both of us, something I needed to keep up. Unfortunately, senses dulled when in the mind, and I couldn’t afford Finn realizing where I’d placed him.

“Can you tell Enchanter Evergreen to please stop by?” Finn asked. “Or maybe convince the nurse to bring me my gosh darned phone and I’ll text him.”

“I think that was broken.” I chuckled. “I always warned you about bringing it on dangerous cases.”

Finn’s expression turned quizzical. “No, you haven’t. In fact, I’m pretty sure…” His mind searched for the words, the thoughts I’d buried away. Each fuzzy moment led to a spike of insecurity, memories fighting to be recalled. His body quaked a little as his breathing hastened.

I leaned close, pressing my forehead against his. How I wanted to kiss him, erase all his concerns, but instead, I lulled him asleep with calming dreams. Finn eased back into the bed, drowsy. While I wanted him to remember how much he loved life and living, I needed a break from endless questions and curiosities. And as much as I wanted to indulge Finn, spend every second taking in how wonderful his return felt, I had important business to contend with here.

The witch I’d stored Finn inside was perfect in so many ways. Someone I could steer while cast asunder from the whole, someone completely off Enchanter Evergreen’s potential futures, and someone who never utilized much of their creativity. I cultivated that creativity, conjuring a pristine prison because a mind was a terrible thing to waste. Honestly, I did this witch a favor by illuminating those areas with a cushy recovery room for Finn and a holding cell for that damn demonic energy tethered to the love of my life.

I exited the hospital room and walked a long corridor to check in on my unwanted house guest who’d take time to purge. Inside a cramped, putrid room lay the chimera shackled and on his knees. His arms were outstretched, resisting the chains bound to his wrists and connected to the stone slabbed walls of this place. It was less a room and more a well without a top. A perfect prison that the witch whose mind I’d borrowed kept his worst fears within, something I now renovated into a useful prison where I intended to eradicate the demon linked to Finn.

The stone slabs were slick with slime and tar. Even in a mortal form, this damn demon attempted to test his limits. Black ooze dripped down his chin, staining his frock coat.

“Despite my loss in power, it’s nice to retain this mortal form. It’s a personal favorite.”

“That’s my doing, not yours. Remember, I hold all the power in this place.” I squeezed my fist, tightening his chains, relishing in the chimera’s struggle. “I allow you to perceive yourself how you wish, and I’ll admit it’s far simpler locking up a human form than a demon’s.”

“I’m surprised you managed to whisk Finn and me away while crying on Enchanter Evergreen’s chest as he banished most of me away.”

Mocking. As if anything this disgusting creature could say would offend me. I very much had everything under control. As much as I loved and valued Milo and Finn’s opinions, they were wrong in this instance. I refused to let either distract me from the truth of things or what needed to be done. The three of us could be happy. We would be happy.

“I’ve lost my branches, not my knowledge or my power.” The chimera futilely tugged at the chains. “Who are you?”

“Excuse me?”

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