Page 14 of Brush with Death
His boyfriend was still on the couch.His eyes were closed, but Vale knew he was still awake.His body was tense as if he expected more pain.
“Come on, let’s go,” Vale said as he helped Cyril to his feet.
Thankfully, Cyril didn’t argue.He allowed Vale to bundle him up into his car and drive him to the hospital.Vale’s heart raced the entire time.He didn’t want anything to happen to Cyril.Hopefully, this headache was there because of what had happened yesterday and not something worse.
Vale was used to causing head injuries and not having to worry about them.He was worried about Cyril, though.Being a necromancer was all Cyril had ever known.What if hitting his head had changed him?What if he couldn’t do his job anymore?
It was a question Vale hoped they would never have to answer.He was sure that Cyril would be okay with some rest and time to heal, but he needed to be sure, and so did Cyril.
Vale guessed that was why Cyril didn’t argue with the doctor when the man ordered a long list of tests after Vale explained why they were there.The doctor didn’t seem to care that Cyril was a necromancer.He was focused on finding out what was wrong with him.Vale was grateful, but he’d be anxious until they knew more.
He waited in Cyril’s room.He doubted that John Smith was at the hospital today, but he didn’t want to risk it.He’d wanted to go with Cyril, but it hadn’t been possible.
Vale hated to think that Cyril was alone right now, but it wouldn’t be for long.As soon as the tests were done, Cyril would be back, and Vale would find out what he could do to help him.
Vale felt better when Cyril was returned to him, but they still had to wait.He sat on the bed next to Cyril and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, pulling him close.Cyril buried his face against Vale’s neck, and Vale finally felt him relax.
“I hate this,” Cyril grumbled.
“So do I.I don’t like to see you in pain.”
“It would’ve been better if I’d stayed home today,” Cyril said with a sigh.“You and Robbie were right.”
Vale didn’t take any pleasure in knowing that.“One of the things I love about you is how much you care about people.You didn’t want to disappoint the family who’d booked an appointment with you.I understand.”
“I didn’t, but I also didn’t want to deal with this massive headache.”Cyril hesitated.“And there’s also my ability.What if I never get it back?What if I can never reanimate dead bodies again?”
Vale pressed a kiss to the top of Cyril’s head.“You can’t start thinking like that.You don’t know what happened or why it didn’t work.It probably isn’t permanent and has to do with your head injury.Once you’re healed, you can get back to work.”
Cyril snorted.“I guess I’ll have to stay away from nightstands from now on.”
It was good that he could joke about it, but Vale could tell he was still freaking out.He was, too, although not for the same reason.He didn’t care if Cyril ever reanimated a body again.Vale only wanted Cyril to be okay.
Unfortunately for both of them, they had to wait almost two hours for the doctor to come by.Vale hoped it meant there was nothing bad in any of Cyril’s test results.The doctor would have come by sooner if there was, right?
The doctor didn’t say anything about the fact that Vale was in bed with Cyril.He was focused on the tablet in his hand.“Nothing’s changed since yesterday,” he explained.“The scans look good, so I wouldn’t be too worried if I were you.”
“My head hurts,” Cyril pointed out.
“Which tends to happen when you hit it.It got worse?”
“It did.”
“And what were you doing when that happened?”
Cyril tensed again, then sighed.“Working.”
The doctor cocked his head.“Didn’t I tell you to rest?”
“I had to go to work.I missed an appointment yesterday, and I didn’t want to disappoint the family.”
Cyril bit his lower lip.As far as Vale was aware, Cyril hadn’t told the doctor what he did for a living, and the doctor hadn’t asked.Many people didn’t take it well when they found out what Cyril did.Sometimes, even the people who hired him were wary of him, which was ridiculous.
“I’m a necromancer,” Cyril explained.“I was supposed to reanimate someone yesterday, but I moved the appointment to today because of what happened.When I tried to do it today, I couldn’t.”
Vale could have kissed the doctor because he didn’t react to the news that Cyril was a necromancer beyond taking a note on his tablet.“Was the pain connected to what you were trying to do?”he asked.
“I think so.Usually, reanimating bodies is easy for me, but it wasn’t this time, so I tried to force it.That’s when the pain got worse.”
