Page 33 of Brush with Death
CYRIL’S MOOD HAD BEENgoing from bad to worse, and he hated it.He hated feeling useless even more, though, and knowing that there was nothing he could do was driving him nuts.
He also felt guilty.He wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but not having his ability, or rather, not having to deal with grieving families and dead people, was relaxing.He didn’t have to manage tears and screaming.He didn’t have to tell people that everything would be okay when it was obvious that nothing would be.He could just relax and be by himself, staring at the ceiling for hours if that was what he felt like, and focus on Vale.
He’d never had this.Even before he started working, he’d been reanimating animals.Initially, it had been to learn how his ability worked, and it had been fun.
Cyril wouldn’t call what he did for a living fun.It was hard on the best of days and impossible to deal with on the worst.
He didn’t have to think about any of that right now.
The problem was that he couldn’tstopthinking about it.
He bit his lower lip and reached for his phone.It had been a week since he’d promised Katie he would help, and he still didn’t have anything to tell her.Rachel was still poking around Sam’s social media and digging intothe Master.She’d call Cyril when she had news, but in the meantime, Cyril was at a loss.Yes, he liked not having to deal with dead people, but at the same time, he needed to do something.It wasn’t just his job.It was Katie and Sam.
Sam deserved to tell his story and for someone to pay for what had been done to him.His killer or killers were still out there, probably thinking they’d gotten away with it.
Cyril couldn’t stand that.
He looked down at his phone.It was still early, so he had time.He didn’t think Vale would be happy about his plan, but his boyfriend didn’t have to come with him.Hell, he didn’t even have to know what Cyril was up to.
Cyril got to his feet and rubbed his hands on his thighs.“Vale?”he called out.
“Yes?”
“I think I’m going to go for a walk.”
Cyril moved toward the front door, knowing he needed to get out as soon as he could before Vale realized something was off.
He didn’t even get to the front door.Vale appeared and arched a brow at Cyril, clearly knowing that Cyril wasn’t innocent.Cyril tried to keep his mouth shut, but he couldn’t.
He sighed.“I’m going to the morgue.”
Vale didn’t look surprised.“Weare going to the morgue.”
“I guess we are.You don’t have to come with me if you have something better to do, though.“
“Did you really think I was going to let you go on your own?”
“No, which is why I didn’t tell you where I was going.”
“You should’ve chosen something more believable.When have you ever gone on a walk?”
Cyril resisted the urge to stick his tongue out.Vale wasn’t wrong.Cyril didn’t go for walks.He didn’t like walking around aimlessly.He needed to have a goal, something planned, for him to enjoy walking.Hell, he needed to have a plan for everything.That was probably why he felt so unsettled.With his ability gone, he couldn’t plan for anything.
“Let’s go.”
Cyril might be glad not to have to deal with grieving families at the moment, but he was also glad to leave the apartment.He loved his place, but it was starting to make him feel cooped up, and he hated that.
He was anxious as Vale drove them to the morgue.It had been a week since he’d last tried using his ability, which was the longest he’d ever gone without reanimating someone.He had no idea if it would work today.He hoped he was healed enough, but there was no way for him to know until he got there.
It was important.It wasSam.Cyril needed to do this, and he wasn’t sure how he’d react if he wasn’t able to.In the back of his mind, he still wondered if he’d lost his ability permanently, which didn’t help.He needed it back for Sam and Katie, but most of all, for himself.
It wasn’t only that he didn’t know what he’d do for a living if he couldn’t be a necromancer.He also didn’t know who he was if he wasn’t one.
Jessica was at the welcome desk when they got there.Her eyes widened when she saw Vale, but she didn’t say anything about his presence.She didn’t even ask why Cyril was there.She pushed the register toward him, let him sign for both him and Vale, and waved him toward the back of the morgue where the bodies were.
“I can’t believe it’s that easy for you to get into the morgue,” Vale muttered as they walked down the cold hallway.Their footsteps echoed in the space around them.
“They know me.I visit at least once a week.”
