Chapter Thirteen
The Message
Dirge/Dima
Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.
– Aristotle
Dirge sat on a lone hill overlooking the city.
The cityscape looked gloomy and dismal. The streets were wet from another torrential rain from earlier in the evening.
A city usually hustling with pedestrians and vehicles alike.
The weather just mirrored how he felt inside and out.
It had been weeks since he’d seen Xolani Coleman and that loss had changed him.
He had continued his duties for the maker when it came to singing and bringing those who died passage home but anything other than that had been off limits.
The night he’d left her had been one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do.
The pain in his chest was also an ache that flooded his being.
He sensed their presence behind him and huffed, “If you’ve come to tell me I told you so, you can fuck right off.”
Felipe and Michael both sat alongside him and stared out into the night sky, just like he did. They made no sound. They were waiting for him to say something.
“I’ve done what has been requested. Fuck off!” he growled.
Michael spoke, “You’ve done exceedingly well, given what has happened. Our Maker is pleased.”
“You knew that this would happen,” Dirge accused as he clenched his hands. He wanted to punch someone. He even wanted to hurt one of them, He counted to ten the best he could. His mind focused on the confidence that oozed off Michael. Of course, the Maker saw the result.
“We’d hoped for a better conclusion. But you’re correct, this was the known aftermath. My job in all this was to observe, counsel, and report.”
“The Maker let me walk right into this. He knew that my supposed obsession was because she was my mate.”
“As you stated many a time,” Michael reminded him. “You have free will, as does Xolani.”
“And she has chosen what she wants.”
“Has she?” Felipe added.
“What do you want? I’m not in the mood for either of you right now,” Dirge scoffed.
“Are you in any kind of pain?” Michael asked.
Dirge tensed and absentmindedly rubbed his chest. He’d been in pain the moment he’d walked away from Xolani. His eyes shot from Michael to Felipe, his brow furrowed.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Felipe said.
Dirge’s eyes darkened as anger filled him. “We’ve been friends a long time, Felipe. But you’re about to fuck that up. And Michael, you just need to plain fuck off.” He turned away from them and looked in the direction of Xolani’s home.
“You do know that she isn’t just going to magically appear, right?” Michael stated.
“Isn’t this what you wanted? For me to leave her alone? Xolani told me in no uncertain terms to leave.”
“Since when has that ever stopped you?” Felipe countered.
“You love her?” Michael goaded.
Dirge wanted to be angry but he knew Michael was right. Damn it, he was always so damn right. Dirge sighed and spoke, “Yes. I love her. But I also told her she’d have to ask for me and she hasn’t.”
“If you’re in pain, she’s in pain,” Michael insisted. “Which means you’re going to have to figure out how to approach her. If the bond between you two must be broken, let me know. Otherwise, get your mate.”
Dirge waited to hear footsteps leading away from him.
“Oh, but one more thing, someone else wants to talk to you,” Felipe said.
Dirge sighed and looked behind them.
There stood Caj.
He hadn’t seen the man in a long time. But he’d recognize him anywhere. Even as a human he hadn’t changed much. “Caj,” he greeted him.
“Dirge.” There was a pause and then the former angel of death spoke, “I remember a demon who could capture a room with just a song. I also remember that ass telling me I lost my chance with Mercy. You were the catalyst for me doing everything in my power to prove you wrong.”
Dirge scoffed. “And you’re telling me all this because...?”
“You have been given the chance to love. Love is such a powerful emotion. To have the love of a good woman is everything.”
“Your relationship was different. Mercy was and is in love with you.”
“If you think you’ve lost your chance, then you’re a bigger fool than I ever was.
Find her, apologize. Shit, grovel if you must. But do all within your power as if you were ushering someone into the next life.
“ Caj stared Dirge down and then nodded once.
Turning to Michael and Felipe, they then strolled away.
Dirge stayed in the spot he’d chosen and contemplated what to do next. He thought hard about Felipe’s, Michael’s, and Caj’s words.
An hour later, he knew what he had to do. He had to find her and state his case. He had to apologize for making her feel used and cheated. If he needed to humble himself and make it known that he truly did love her, he would do so. He’d give her the option to stay, or he’d set her free.
He was being a fucking coward.
No more.
He would go and get his woman.