Page 159 of Living Legend

Natalia laughed, a laugh that almost twinkled. "To raise a son like you, he would have to be a great father,thatI am completely sure of. Just go talk to them."

"I think Dani wants her space. You're right. I did put my foot in my mouth. It's not like what I said wasn't the truth, but I wasn't really listening to her. I wanted things…easier for myself." I said the last part on a low breath, as if speaking the words again finally made more sense. "For myself, for us maybe. There isn't even an us even before all this. Fuck, I don't know, Natalia. This is very much out of my scope of knowledge."

She tucked a wavy strand of hair behind her ear. "Hmm, well, maybe it's time to stop relying on justyourself, huh?"

I squinted at her, realizing she had brought the point she was trying to make back. Of course she did -- she had a way of understanding what you needed to hear even when you didn't. "You should really charge people for the advice you give."

"I should, shouldn't I?"

I folded my hand over her bicep and gave her a reassuring squeeze. I moved around her and started to make my way past the wooded area to the water, letting my feet take me further down the line of shops and businesses.

"Where are you going?" Natalia called after me, curiosity in her voice.

I turned around and started walking backwards, answering her. "If I'm going to try to make us a real team, I'll have to start with public enemy number one."

Natalia nodded. "The building has a sign near the front lawn, with a shimmering cross on it. It neighbors the apothecary. Good luck, Nicholas. Please, keep your foot as far away from your mouth as possible."

The same looks given to me when I had made my way to the apothecary earlier today were thrown my way again. I paid them no mind this time though, because I was on a mission and that mission included a very aggressive demon who I had a feeling had a lot more layers than she would like to admit. I rounded a corner and saw the apothecary come into view, smoke billowing out the top and the window to the first floor wide open, letting out heavy fumes of lavender. I looked next to it and saw what Natalia was talking about. There was a building about the same size as the apothecary, but its second floor had a wraparound balcony that overlooked the ground below, covered in daisies and clovers.

I peered over the wordless sign that just held a shimmering cross and confirmed I was in the right place. A few healers hustled around as they went in and out the doors of the balcony space. The looks on their faces were determined, if not just a bit anxious. Some of them looked down at me with interest, while others shook their heads and returned to their duties. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to mentally prepare for this conversation, which I knew was stupid since Elise was going to be an outlier in this no matter what. I shuddered at the memory of my finger bending unnaturally and the snapping sound it made.

The sound of clattering and shouting took me out of my thoughts immediately. Another loud banging noise sounded. I took a few steps towards the building and quickly jolted up the stairs, pushing open the door without any sort of normal greeting. I collided with one of the healers, who raised her hands up in frustration and moved past me the moment I mumbled out a rushed ‘sorry’.

“That shit fucking burns!” a very harsh and venomous voice rang out down the hall from where I stood. I turned to one of the enchanters who was settled behind a pull out table that came from the wall. She was folding what looked like towels on top of it.

I bit my bottom lip. “Where is she?”

She was an older woman, crinkles around her eyes and veins protruding from her hands. Her eyes were wide, but those eyes weren’t innocent, especially not when they narrowed and her eyebrows knitted furiously. “The loud one?”

“Yeah,” I said apologetically.

A tall man with a buzz cut and decorated designs shaved into the side of his head stepped up beside me. “We need more amethyst, the dose we had wasn't strong enough, love.” He had an Australian accent that caught me off guard.

Another loud clang vibrated throughout the room. “Fuck! Whatever you have isn’t working. Just leave me thefuckalone!”

The man next to me pressed his lips together and raised both his eyebrows. He then noticed me as if he was just realizing I was next to him. His eyes were teal and offset his skin, which was a rich brown color. He had gold studs in his earlobes that bounced small flicks of light across the room.“Is she one of yours?”

“One of mine?” I asked, confused.

He waggled his eyebrows and pointed behind me towards where a threatening growl vibrated towards us. “The vicious little demon back there.”

I shook my head rapidly, understanding. “She isn’t one ofmine. I mean I know her, but like we aren’t like friends. I am here to talk to her though.”

His shoulders started shaking in laughter, as he pointed at himself. “Names Xander and you should just follow the screaming I suppose. I’d check my reflexes if I were you. She’s already managed to throw a few glass jars.”

I started to turn and walk in the direction towards the hallway but I caught myself, turning back to them. “Do you happen to have that amethyst you were asking about?”

Xander looked to the woman for the answer. She grumbled something I couldn’t hear and turned her back to us and searched one of the medicine cabinets.“Unfortunately, we’re all out.”

“What is it supposed to do exactly?”

“It has healing properties that we as healers do not possess in our own natural bodies. For your little friend, it would be used more like a mini tranquilizer,” Xander explained. “It’s also known to banish anger and rage, but I’m pretty sure she has way too much of that and just burns right through what we’ve tried to give her, hence the need for a stronger dose. Whatever your cute blonde friend had in that arrow fucked with her on the inside so for now it’s just going to have to retreat the normal way. It can be painful, but trying tohelpher is painful to everyone else. If she would just calm down, a little bit would go a long way.”

I rubbed my temple with my index finger, thanking them and making my way down the hall.

Cute blonde friend? I’d have to make sure to tell Reese about that little compliment later. I heard a pounding sound, as if someone was running their fist into a table, and I looked at a wooden door right as a girl in the healer's uniform came out in a waterfall of tears. My mouth fell open just as she rushed past me.Fucking Elise. I walked the direct path the girl came from and set my fingers against the swinging door.

“Elise?” I asked, tentatively.

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