Page 5 of A Dragon's Miracle (Fires of Fate)
Ryan
Iatethe lunch Finn’s mom made me during the flight because I knew I wasn’t going to be feeling like food later. I was right too. My stomach began feeling queasy the moment we touched down on the mainland, and it wasn’t because the flight had been rough or anything. It had been good, really. The problem was everything that came after.
But it was just like Finn had said. Sometimes we had to face our fears. I just had to get through this, and then in the evening I could talk to him on the phone and the world would be alright again for a little while. Was it pathetic that I hung on to that thought? Maybe, but I couldn’t help it. I wanted to listen to Finn all the time. He had a way of making me forget how crappy life could get, and there were days I needed that desperately. Today was one of those days. But I only had to make it to the evening.
Clutching the piece of jewelry in my pocket, I left the airport and stepped out into the midday sun. Summer was slowly coming to an end and the first leaves were changing color. I’d always liked this season, when the world seemed to quiet down a little bit. If things had been different, I would have gone home now, to my family. I might have helped my mom search the attic for our Halloween decorations.
But things weren’t different, and so I took a cab to a very different part of town from where my family lived. These streets didn’t have to be decorated for Halloween to look creepy in the dark. Hell, when you knew what kind of people lived here, they looked plenty creepy in the daylight too. I’d kind of grown accustomed to the sight of used syringes in the alleys, but I’d never find the sight inviting.
The first time I'd come here all those years ago, it had almost made me turn away. I probably would have, if I hadn’t been diagnosed with lung cancer, and if Jin hadn’t been the only one who could help me.
Shaking the memory off, I went farther down the street. I hadn't died, and I wasn't going to die anytime soon. I'd done everything I’d been asked to do, after all.
Mrs. Fireclaws's pendant felt like a heavy weight in my pocket. The woman had gotten up early this morning to make me lunch, and this was how I was repaying her.
You don't have a choice.
And I didn't, so I went to my so-called boyfriend's house and knocked.
Within a few seconds, the door opened and Jin stood in front of me, looking just as I remembered him. An unusually large Asian man with a long scar above his right eye and streaks of silver in his dark hair. He smiled as his gaze fell on me, but there was no warmth in his eyes.
“You've returned.” He stepped aside to let me in.
I shoved my hands in my pockets and entered the house. “It's not like you leave me any choice.”
“I've noticed you don't come as frequently as you used to.”
That was true. I didn't come here anymore until I absolutely had to. And as if just thinking about my health brought my disease forth, I had to cough.
Jin put a hand on my back, tendrils of magic shooting out from his fingertips. I hated the feeling—kind of like bugs were crawling under my skin--but whatever was clogging up my throat vanished. “There, there,” he said. Then he put on a thoughtful expression. Assessing me, no doubt. “You really shouldn't let so much time pass between your visits. It's not good for your health.” He stepped in front of me. “And I end up missing you too, you know.” With one long finger, he lifted my chin to make me look up at him.
“I'm sorry,” I lied.
“Do you have what I asked for?”
“Of course I do.”
“Good boy.” He kissed me, and I... did what I could to stop myself from pushing him away. Recently that meant imagining he was Finn, although that was difficult, because I was pretty sure Finn wouldn’t force himself on me.
When Jin released me, I pulled the pendant out of my pocket and showed it to him. “This is what you wanted, isn't it?”
He took the piece of jewelry from me and eyed it carefully. “Indeed.” He gave me a small smile. “Well done, boy, you've bought yourself another vial of medicine. Or no, let's say half a vial.”
“Half?” My eyebrows shot up. That was not how our deal worked. “I did all you asked.”
“Yes, but you took an awfully long time to do it.” He shook his head at me as if he regretted that he had to change the rules, but he saw no other way. “It's almost like you're avoiding me.”
I swallowed because I had absolutely no idea how to respond to that. Of course I was avoiding him. “I need that medicine.”
“Don't worry, love, I won't let you die. You'll simply have to come see me again a little bit sooner this time.”
I bit my teeth together, wanting to tell him exactly what I thought of his last-minute rule change, but the truth of the matter was that my opinion didn't matter. Since the doctors couldn’t help me, he was the only way I had to keep on living, and so he could do whatever he wanted. And I had to be a good boy.
“I believe it's time for lunch,” Jin said. “Why don't you fix us something?”
“Yes, sir,” I said, because after all this time, I knew better than to argue with Jin. I couldn't let Finn find bruises on me again.
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