Chapter 20 It’s All Better Now
IT’S ALL BETTER NOW
Cesar
Healer Torres put a up a third thoughtograph onto the light board.
“I don’t have an explanation. Frankly, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“So, I’m going to be okay?” I asked, then glanced at Artur and winked.
He blushed.
“I can’t say that. I simply don’t know. Look, here’s the photo from a year ago.
A relatively healthy brain with some minor lesions.
I told you at that point what you needed to do.
” Torres shook his finger at me. I rolled my eyes.
“Then this is the psychic scan we did only a few days ago. The lesions had morphed into large holes. This is irreparable damage.” He emphasized his statement by tapping the photo where big black spots occurred in sections where brain matter should have existed.
“I warned you that doing any further magical activity would cause catastrophic consequences, and then here’s today’s image.
“These iridescent strings are filaments bridging the distance in the holes. It’s almost as if your brain is repairing itself, and like I said, I’ve never seen such a thing.
The brain doesn’t regenerate. I don’t know what you did, or how you did it, but if we could document it, bottle it, and sell it, you’d have bone witches and others who have the genetic pre-disposition for magical dementia lining up to have your cure delivered to them. ” Torres sat back and shook his head.
“It’s all because of Artur.” I smiled.
“What’s wilder is when we remove Artur from your proximity those filaments disappear. Anything greater than three meters and like magic you are back to what we would expect with a patient who has magical dementia.”
“I told you; it’s because of him. He’s the magic.
” I smiled at my boyfriend. I could call him that now.
It had been several weeks since Dia de Muertos and now we were looking forward to Navidad.
The city was lit up with holiday lights, and various Christmas decorations adorned the Malecón.
Funny how one culture borrowed traditions and customs from another.
“Yes, I’m sure he is magic.” Healer Torres frowned. “I’m going to put you in touch with a neurologist and a home health organization. I want you well supported until we can understand this more, but for now you’re going to be walking out of here as a healthy patient.
“But, and I cannot stress this enough, Cesar. No more magical workings. As of right now you are a retired bone witch. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir.” I said, with almost a giggle. As Torres left the room I sat and waited a minute until I knew he was out of earshot.
“Here, put your robes back on.” Artur smiled as he handed me my clothes.
“We can get those sticky pads off with some rubbing alcohol and a good long soak in the tub when we get you home.” At my request, and some begging, I had asked Artur to move in with me.
That was partly selfish, as having him nearby had obvious positive effects.
But that was just a bonus. I enjoyed his company, and together we started his magical tutoring.
I may be out of commission, but Artur needed to put his impressive abilities to use.
“Maybe we can have lunch out on the terraza and watch the hummingbirds feed from the flowers.”
The tiny little birds had become our new best friends.
With a quick revamp of some of the plants in my garden and setting out some feeders designed to bring in the zippy little creatures, Artur and I spent many long afternoons lazing about naked in the garden, sun shining off our bodies as the birds zipped, darted, hovered, and chirped above our heads.
“Are you joining me in the bath too? I’m pretty sure I’ll need help removing these damn tacky pads without ripping out my chest hair, and if we’re having lunch on the terraza it had better be en cueros.
I want to see the sunlight highlighting the hair on your ass while I snack on tacos. ” I demanded.
Artur smiled, “I’ll get naked for you. Pervy old man. Come on, let’s get out of here.”
“Old man? What the hell?” I faked looking insulted.
“The only old man I want or need, and the only character I know who can think of sex while at a doctor’s office.” Artur waggled an eyebrow at me, catching on to my false indignation.
“Haven’t you ever had a fantasy about a physical examination that goes too far?” I asked
Artur stopped, stared at me, then shook his head.
“You have a boner under that fabric, don’t you?”
“Wanna see?” I asked.
Artur laughed while he grabbed my hand and led me out of the exam room.
“Let’s go home and deal with the side effects of your doctor’s visit.
” But then he turned in the hallway, and grabbed me, pulled me close so that my happiness was rubbing against his leg.
“Cesar Aguilar, you are something else, but I love it, and don’t ever change. ”
He planted a kiss on me which I melted into.
“I don’t plan to,” I said when the kiss finished. “As long as you’ll stick around, I’m not going to be anything other than what you have right now. Of course, if you walk further away than a few meters that will all change, so I guess my promises are conditional.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Artur gave me a peck on the cheek.
The tacos that afternoon were stellar.
Fridas was all decked out for Christmas. A small metal holiday tree stood on the end of the bar; tiny fairy lights illuminated it from the inside. A larger fake pine had been situated in the back corner, decorated with all manner of ornaments, blinking multicoloured lights, and tinsel.
The tablecloths had been changed, and they featured Santa faces.
The menu had adjusted serving all the holiday dishes. Tamales con pollo, mole, empanadas, were some of my favorites, and of course, flan for desert. Horchata flowed freely, and the bar was busy most nights as it was the height of tourist season.
Luckily we managed to squeeze into a table the furthest away from the bar, and Tom’s table, but closest to the Christmas tree. Artur’s face was lit up by the dazzling festive lights. It made me smile.
Tom pulled himself away from the regulars who hung out at his table.
“Well, boys, how are things?”
“Pretty damn good, Tom. Couldn’t ask for better.” I stood and gave him a hug.
“Ah, always love having my favorite people in my house. Emiliano, tres tequila aqui, por favor!” Tom yelled to the bartender.
“You know, you don’t have to give us free tequila every time we’re in here.” Artur said with a smile.
“Who said it was free? It’s already on your bill.” Tom chuckled.
As the shot glasses were distributed, we raised them together, so each glass touched the others. “Salud!”
“Is Elena coming too?” Tom asked.
“No, she’s visiting her girlfriend’s family tonight. They do Christmas a little earlier with the family. I think they said they were going to Canada for a skiing trip to avoid all the rest of the season’s craziness.” Elena had told me her plans the other day and apologized for not being around.
I had told her to stop being worried about me and to go and enjoy her new gal pal.
Besides, we always got together for New Years. That would be magical.
And Artur was the perfect companion and caregiver.
“All right gents, I’ll leave you to your carousing, but before I go, my spies and birdies have had reports of Ephraim and Magdalena.”
“No shit!” Artur said, almost choking on the sip of his beer he had taken to chase down the tequila.
“Would seem they found a small village to set up in, a couple hours north of here.”
“Oh gods, does that mean we need to go rescue the populace?” I asked.
Tom patted me on the shoulder. “No, son. You’re done, remember? Retired even. You let this handsome fucker take care of you. Leave the wight banishments to someone else.”
And on that, Tom turned and went back to his table.
I looked at Artur. He stared back at me.
“We’re going to go save them, aren’t we?” Artur asked.
“You’re damn right.” I said as we both sat down.
“But like, not tonight. Right?” Artur smiled, then slid his hand under the table and over my thigh. “And when we go, we’ll bring some backup, yes?”
I spread my legs to give Artur additional access, then grabbed his hand and pushed it up toward my groin.
We were in the darkest section of the bar. Nobody was going to see.
“Nope. Not tonight. I have other plans for us tonight. But we can’t not go.
And besides, I’m pretty sure Elena and her new girlfriend would be thrilled to help us.
” Elena had gone on and on about Camila.
Apparently she could make potions out of just about anything, but more than that, as a psychic, she had untapped abilities to read people’s thoughts and emotions. An empath.
I asked her if that caused some tension in their relationship.
She assured me that so far it had only made their lives together that much more enjoyable.
I was happy for her.
And I was looking forward to a new adventure. After all, a trained chaos witch, a retired bone witch, a seer, and an empath sounded like a good band of magic doers to go quell evil.
“You’re scheming, Cesar Aguilar. I can tell.”
“Damn rights.” I kissed Artur on the cheek.
I was the luckiest retired bone witch ever.