31. Summer #2
I nod. “He’s Uriel’s brother.”
“Unfortunately, very real,” the headmaster says, crossing his arms over his chest. His sweater strains, looking like it’s barely containing his muscles. “And very possessive of Fallen. There hasn’t been one in over a millennium.”
Rafe’s face contorts with pain again. “He’s going to be okay, right?” I ask .
“Miss Tuatha De Daanan, if you please,” the headmaster says, kneeling beside me and gesturing for me to stand.
I scoot off the bed and stand next to him. He’s almost as tall as me, even kneeling. He holds his hand out, and a black dagger forms in his palm. I can tell it’s obsidian by the way the blade swallows up the light.
“I know you haven’t taken Infernal runes yet, but they are not like others. They need demon blood to be effective, and only demon blood.”
He scoops some of Rafe’s blood onto the tip of the dagger and turns it to press the flat part of the blade against Rafe’s chest. I watch as he starts to draw a rune.
It’s difficult to see through the gore and charred skin, but once complete, it illuminates a dark red.
Now I can see the sharp lines and how black tendrils spread from the edges.
It’s like the ones he drew on the walls, yet somehow fundamentally different.
“This is the healing rune. In Rafe’s condition, I’d estimate it will need to be renewed every three hours,” he explains, his voice settling into his professor voice, and I fall into the familiar role of learning, helping to calm me a little.
I follow the lines of the rune with my eyes, memorizing and cataloging it. He then draws another rune, this one on his shoulder, and I watch in fascination as it also illuminates.
“This is a guarding rune. It will need to be redone every second day.”
I nod, memorizing it too. He shows me another handful, and by the end of the lesson, my head is spinning with information.
I curse the fact that I didn’t do more research on demons last year.
While I am still terrified and overwhelmed, I find myself intoxicated by the way the headmaster teaches.
Apart from the one capstone class I attended last year, I have never seen him in action. He’s definitely an excellent teacher.
“He’s going to heal faster than an angel, but it won’t be an easy process,” he says, and then he looks at Alice. “I will bring more brimstone. That paste must be applied twice daily. Anything that you apply to his skin will require brimstone.”
Alice nods and gets back to making another batch of salve while I go back to making sure I have the runes memorized, knowing that when they’re gone, I’ll need to re-create them.
“This transition will be an unpleasant one,” the headmaster warns again.
I nod, placing my hand on Rafe’s arm .
“That dagger will be the only thing capable of piercing his skin. Do not lose it. They are difficult to come by.”
I nod, glancing at the dagger. The memory of Connor being stabbed with his own dagger sends a shock wave of grief through me.
No. I won’t do this now. I can’t fall apart now.
“I’ll see you out, sir.”
The headmaster and I leave the room, walking down the stairs.
“This house has been odd without a Morningstar,” he says, and I can feel his intense silver gaze on me. “Seems fate intervened to change that.”
I meet his eyes, feeling the heaviness of his stare. “Perhaps you’re right.”
“Fate has a curious way around you, Miss Tuatha De Daanan. Since your arrival at Avalon, events have been set in motion, and no one knows where it shall end.” I frown, about to ask him what he means, but then my phone rings. “You should get that,” he says.
I nod and open the door. “Thank you, sir.”
“You are welcome. I’ll get his enrollment going,” he says before disappearing from the porch.
I exhale and close the door before looking at my phone. Seeing Uriel’s photo, I answer it immediately. “Dad?”
“Is he there?” he asks, his voice rough with panic.
“We’ve got him,” I say, my own voice choked with emotion.
Uriel exhales. “He?.?.?. Did he?.?.?. Fuck,” Uriel says, surprising me. I’ve never known him to curse. Ever.
“He survived, Dad,” I say. “He’s going to be okay.”
I will make sure of it. I will protect him with my life.
“Uriel?” I hear Farrah’s panicked voice.
“He’s with his sister,” Uriel says, his voice breaking in a way that makes my heart shatter.
But it’s nothing compared to how it breaks when I hear Farrah completely break down on the other side of the phone.
I’ve only heard this grief from her once, when she was told that Connor had died, and I never, ever wanted to hear it again.
Farrah gets louder, and I can just picture Uriel pulling her into his lap. “How is he?”
A tear slides down my cheek. “He’s pretty banged up, but he’s here.” I try to clear the emotion from my throat. “The headmaster has been to check on him. He’s going to be okay. ”
Uriel sobs softly. “He can’t?.?.?. he can’t ever come home now.”
I start back up the stairs, needing to see him. “I will protect him with my life.”
“You’re his sister,” Uriel says.
I nod, leaning against the doorframe of Zach’s old room, looking at Rafe. “I am.” I exhale. “Headmaster Emrys is going to enroll him.”
Farrah sniffles. “That’ll help.”
“I’ll keep him safe.”
“I know you will,” Uriel says.
“He’s safe,” Farrah says, but I know it’s more to herself than anyone else.
“I’ll call you guys later with an update.”
“Thank you, kiddo.”
“I love you both.”
“We love you so much, Summer. You and Rafey,” Farrah says, the heartbreak heavy in her voice.
I end the call and look at Alice.