Page 32 of Absolved In Death

“I'm so sorry, Michael. Of course. Unless the bond is reinstated, the only remedy to fix this episode is to rest. Eventually the pain will subside.”

Scene after scene of Michael being stricken with indescribable pain follow. They’re hard to watch, and by the end I feel as if I’m going to vomit. My tears almost choke me.

It finally stopped. Everyone in the room stared at me, with varying degrees of pity and anger on their faces. I didn’t care how they felt. The only person I cared about was Michael. I hurt the man I’d loved, and he never said a word to me.

Because he thought I didn’t love him anymore.

I pulled him against me. “I’ve always loved you, since the day I met you. I’m sorry Michael, for everything.”

His handsome face twists in agony, as tears wet his cheeks. Something about Michael that had attracted me from the moment I met him was the light in his eyes. He was so pure…so good. I wanted to have him all to myself. And I didn’t take care of him the way I should have. I failed to protect him from my own selfishness.

“I love you too, Luci,” he breathed, his voice barely more than a whisper.

I didn’t deserve his love. Or his loyalty throughout the centuries. I didn’t deserve the way he sacrificed his own happiness for Marilyn and Diana’s sake. But I promised him I’d change. For both of the people I loved, I would become a better version of myself.

“We’ll fix this,” I promised him.

Azazel, Ares, and Diana left, and I stayed with Michael the entire night, holding him through his pain. Whispering memories from the years past into his ear. Reminding him of how much I loved him, how I’d change for him and Marilyn. His smiles were the only thing holding me together.

When Marilyn came early in the morning, she didn’t look surprised to see him in that state. She crawled under the covers on his other side, wrapping herself around him.

“You knew?” I asked her, despite knowing the answer.

“Yes. I found him in a similar way after I came to the compound. He asked me not to tell you, and I didn’t want to get into the middle of it…”

She must hate me. I knew Michael was her favorite, and I couldn’t blame her if she never wanted to see me again.

“Whatever you’re thinking, stop it. I don’t blame either of you. So many things happened to bring the three of us to this point, and the best thing we can do is focus on the future andhow to fix this.” Her big doe eyes focused on me, and I felt the conviction in her words.

She really thinks there’s a happy ending for us.

“You make it sound so easy…” I wish it was that easy.

“I love the two of you too much for any other possibility,” she whispered, running the back of her palm over Michael’s beard.

He leaned into her touch as he slept, and I made another promise, this time to myself.

I promised to fix the broken bond between Michael and I. And to spend the rest of my immortal life loving these two people I didn’t deserve.

10

ARES

Istill haven’t slept, and we were due to leave the compound within a few hours. The soldiers were ready to move to the new compound in Pit 13, or as I liked to call it, Army-Pit-13…

You’re a corny bastard, Ares,Voice snickered as the other voices in my head chuckled.

I’m a sad bastard, too,I confided in Voice.

Seeing Michael in pain and learning how he’s been silently suffering for years from a broken heart made me think of how fucking selfish and wrong I had acted toward Diana before she left. I caused her pain. Mal said he watched her cry herself to sleep every night. Sometimes I wonder…what if she had never forgiven me?

She did forgive you, and the best thing you can do is be a better man. And periodically remind her how great of a father you’ll be. Make her ovaries explode, bro,Voice reminded me.

Where is Diana?

After we had faded back from Michael's room, she broke down crying. She loved both her fathers, and the whole situation between them was a tangled mess. I stayed with her as long as I could spare, but I had to organize the troops. Trying to herda bunch of paranormal soldiers was…extra. Sometimes I missed regular human soldiers invoking my presence, because they were easier to control. Feathers did me a solid by keeping me updated on her throughout the night.

He’s so sweet,Voice sighed.

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