Page 47 of Changeling
“Sure I can,” Nathan said, hugging Jim tight. “Just coz we’re bigger doesn’t mean I can’t hold you. Still counts. Still means I love you, Jesse James.”
I love you, Nathan thought desperately.But I don’t know how to help you. I don’t know how to fix this. Any of this…
At the mention of the nickname, Jim giggled and pulled back to form his fingers into a playful gun. “Bang!” he said, and waited for Nathan to return the gesture.
Nathan’s heart ached as he complied. “Bang.”
He calmed Jim down as best he could and managed to coax him back into bed, but not without Nathan following in after him. Sasha had woken up too, worried, and was just as insistent to have Nathan in bed with them.
“I wish I could tell you more, Nathan,” Walter said, casually perched on the other bed. “I was banished just now. I assume because Jim’s power pushed to the surface again. If it can grip him even while cursed, then it is seeded deep within him. If there is a way to save him from his fate, Nathan, it lies with him alone.”
Then I know it will be okay, Nathan thought,because Jim can do anything.
The bed was a mess of long limbs and muscle, but the body heat was somewhat nice on a cold winter night. Jim and Sasha snuggled in against Nathan—Nathan being in the middle—and while it might have been awkward any other time, right now it was just what Nathan needed.
The words of the lullaby fell from his lips easily to soothe the others back to sleep, and before long, Nathan was drifting off too.
“May the road always rise to meet you…”
Shiarrashowedupoutsidetheir motel room the next morning in heels, a red low-cut sweater, a black pencil skirt, and an open black pea coat. Her hair was perfectly coifed in loose curls past her shoulders, and her nails had been painted blood red to match her sweater.
Nathan gaped for maybe a minute before she pushed past him into the room.
“Where is my—”
“Aunt Shi!” came the exclamation, and then a fully grown but mentally five-year-old Sasha—wearing only the boxers he had slept in last night—bounded across the room and practically launched himself into Shiarra’s arms. There was enough force in the embrace to almost knock the succubus right on her ass.
“Goodness!” Shiarra managed, returning the hug awkwardly. “Know your own strength, darling. It’s good to see you too, but I don’t think you’ve pounced on me quite like that since you were…” Shiarra trailed as she pulled away and held Sasha out in front of her.
Nathan knew just what was going through her head as she looked into those wide, innocent blue eyes. He hadn’t wanted totell Shiarra what was going on over the phone, saying only that something was wrong and he needed her help. She seemed to recognize immediately now what the ‘wrong’ revolved around.
“His…his eyes are like a child’s,” she said, brushing the hair from Sasha’s forehead. She turned to look at Nathan with sharp scrutiny. “What happened to him? And why only him?”
Valiantly, Nathan ignored the implied accusation. He shut the door and walked past Shiarra and Sasha further into the room to where Jim was sitting on one of the beds. He too was still only wearing what he had slept in.
“Not only him,” Nathan said, patting his brother’s shoulder. “Jim, this is Sasha’s aunt. Shiarra.”
Grinning goofily, Jim gave a little wave and said, “Hi. I’m Jim. Nathan’s taking good care of us. You don’t hafta worry. Sasha’s okay. He’s really nice even though he’s shy.” Jim giggled. “Shy! Like your name!”
Sasha giggled too, his head slightly bowed as he blushed.
Shiarra’s expression faded to a look that mirrored exactly how Nathan felt, like she wasn’t sure if she should be laughing or crying.
After telling the boys to brush their teeth and get dressed in the bathroom—there was a lady present now, after all—Nathan had Shiarra alone long enough to explain what had happened.
“So, what’s your plan?” Shiarra asked once she was up to date, and Jim and Sasha were both barefoot lying on the floor, coloring.
“Well, we thought the fae responsible would show itself, but nothing happened. The only lead I have is the last living relative of the curator, who lives outside of town. Jim and Sasha had some notes on him—a guy named Henry Faust.”
“Faust?” Shiarra repeated with a slight smirk.
“Yeah. Why?”
“The famous story about selling one’s soul to the Devil? Surely you know it.”
Nathan swallowed. He did know it, actually. Too well. “Yeah, who could forget?”
“Nathan,” Jim called up at him, “we’re bored. Play something with us.”
