Page 36 of Brush with Death
Cyril frowned, but Sam was nodding.“I agree,” he said.“Keeping me here won’t help anyone.Cyril needs to rest, and Katie needs to start moving on.”
“How am I supposed to do that?”she asked.
“Step by step.Day by day.Just know that even if you can’t see me, I’ll always be with you.”
Katie started crying again.Sam gently let go of her before turning to Cyril.Vale felt Cyril tense, so he pressed closer.He didn’t think that Sam would hurt Cyril, at least not physically, but that didn’t mean Cyril wasn’t in pain.
“Thank you,” Sam told Cyril.“Without you, I wouldn’t have been able to say goodbye.”
“I’ll take care of her,” Cyril promised.
Sam laid back down in the black bag.He was smiling, and a smile stayed on his lips when Cyril finally let go.Vale reached out and closed Sam’s eyes.For a moment, the three of them were silent.Even Katie stopped crying.
She looked exhausted, so Vale took out his phone to order her a ride.He would’ve driven her home, but he needed to take care of Cyril, and he suspected she’d be happier on her own.
Vale expected to have to drag her away from Sam, but she stepped back and allowed him to guide her toward the door.Cyril trailed behind them with his hand clasped in Vale’s.
Vale gave Cyril and Katie time and space as they waited for her ride.The two of them whispered together until the car arrived, and when it did, Cyril hugged her tightly.She clung to him for a moment before letting go.
Vale and Cyril watched the car drive away.Cyril’s shoulders slumped as soon as it was out of sight, and he leaned heavily against Vale.“Take me home.”
Vale was more than happy to do that.
* * * *
CYRIL WAS EXHAUSTED.He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so tired, and he was glad that he wouldn’t have to drive home.He was pretty sure he would’ve crashed the car if he’d tried.
He had his ability back.It was what he’d wanted since the accident, and he was glad to know he was still him, but at what price?He’d had to reanimate his friend.He’d had to feel Sam’s cold skin and touch his soul.He’d had to say goodbye in a way he’d never had to before.It would hurt for a long time.
He was a mess.If he’d been on his own, he wasn’t sure what he would’ve done, but luckily, he didn’t have to wonder.Vale was there for him.
He drove Cyril home without saying anything.He didn’t ask questions, not even to ask how Cyril was.He allowed Cyril to stay silent and focus on his pain.
Vale didn’t say anything even when they got home.He just guided Cyril to the apartment, and as soon as they were inside, he bundled him on the couch in a blanket.It was too warm for it, but Cyril felt like he was frozen down to his bones.
They still weren’t done.Sam had told them what had happened to him, but they didn’t know who the Master was.
They had to stop him.Cyril didn’t think that the man would be able to summon demons—he wasn’t even sure it was possible—but he needed to pay for what he’d done to Sam.Sam had died for no reason.He’d trusted someone who’d given him false hope, and he’d paid with his life.
Cyril wasn’t sure where Vale had gone, but he was glad when his boyfriend came back.Vale sat on the couch next to Cyril, and Cyril burrowed against his side.For a moment, he breathed in Vale’s scent.He felt his body relax, and the tears started.
There were only one or two initially.Cyril would’ve tried to keep them back with anyone else, but he didn’t have to with Vale.Vale understood.Vale would hold him while he was vulnerable and would keep him safe.He’d take care of him because Cyril wasn’t sure he could take care of himself right now.
Vale would stay by Cyril’s side until Cyril was done crying.Today, he would grieve.Tomorrow, they’d start looking for the master and would avenge Sam.
Chapter Twelve
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LEFT TO HIS OWN ACCORDS, Cyril wouldn’t have known what to do.He’d done his job.He’d talked to Sam and had gotten answers from him, but he was clueless as to what to do now.He didn’t know what to do with the information Sam had given them.
Luckily, he didn’t have to know.
“Okay, so the Master was only the tip of the iceberg,” Rachel said.
Her voice was coming out of Vale’s phone, which was on the kitchen table.Cyril, Vale, and Russell were sitting around it, all of them staring at the screen, even though they couldn’t see Rachel.Cyril had a notepad with a pen, just in case.He wasn’t sure what Rachel was going to tell them, but he might need to take notes.
“That doesn’t sound like I’m going to like whatever you’re about to say,” Vale grumbled.
