Authors: Sarah Brocious
Green eyes studied the slight mortal carefully. He understood her sadness but to let herself physically go… it upset him. He knew it would upset Nolan.
She sighed. “I thought it would be. I just…Thanatos…it’s like I’m missing part of myself.”
He shook his head. "Even so, Raina, I have to abide by his wishes. Not just because I am bestowed to him, but because I respect him and I kind of agree with him." He looked at her from the corner of his eye. “Hearing about him can only bring you suffering. It's best you start thinking about other things. Start investing into other people. I'm not trying to tell you how to live your life or how to think or feel. I'm just trying to make it easier for you. He's trying to make it easier for you." He grimaced at her frown. "You need to get him out of your system.” He shook his head, when her mouth turned down in a deeper frown.
“Why would I want him out of my system?”
“So you can move on,” he said gently.”
Raina rolled her eyes. “Don't you get it? I don't want to get him out of my system. I want to do the exact opposite!” she growled. “There has to be a loop hole…a way in. I just don’t want to settle, or to give him up!” She looked up at him pleadingly.
He nodded. “I understand how you feel, but I don’t think holding on like that is a good idea. If there is no loop hole? Where will you be then? Worse off than you are right now and I don't want that for you. If I knew of such a loophole don't you think that I would try? Don't you think Nolan would have tried?”
"I'm sure he feels the same as I do. I think he may be looking for a loophole. He doesn't want to tell me in fear that I will get my hopes up." She drew in a breath. “Tell me something, Thanatos…anything!”
He rolled his eyes skyward, and growled, knowing he shouldn’t, but her heart was on her sleeve, and he would do anything to prevent her hurt.
"Thanatos?" She prodded.
He ran a hand through his hair. "So stubborn," he murmured. "News about Nolan? Well, he’s been here, then back and forth to Florida. I think just keeping busy...keeping you off his mind. From the sound of it...that itself takes a lot of work."
She couldn’t hide her smile at those words. "Good, I hope he thinks about me at least half as much...even at that rate he has to be miserable!"
He shook his head. "The both of you are crazy."
She frowned. "Maybe."
“And it makes me sad," he admitted. "Cause it’s really not fair." He rushed a hand through his hair again.
“It’s not. I wish it were different.”
“Do you wish you’d just never met him?”
Raina looked up at him as though he were crazy. “I needed him…I love him more than…more than I’ve ever loved anyone, Thanatos! How could I ever say I wished I’d never met him? No, I can say even with the turmoil…the hurt, it’s been worth it.”
"I really feel like you need something in your life besides us immortals." The green eyes watched her carefully once more. ”I feel if you involve yourself more in actual everyday life, it will help.”
She caught sight of little ones on the jungle gym, and nodded. “You may be right.” She tilted her head at him. ”Everyday life, huh?”
"Yeh, normal things.” He grinned. “Mortal things.” He tugged Turk, keeping him under control. At the same time he gave her a steady look. “Maybe go back to teaching?"
She drew in a startled breath. “You too?”
“You’ve had others approach you with that idea?”
She nodded, losing herself a moment in thought. "Joseph. He's one of the ones who suggested it. Of course Nolan always encouraged me to return to teaching. Emily too." Raina looked thoughtful for a moment. "You know, so many keep saying that...I should probably give in."
He grinned. "Give in," he prodded.
She shoved her hands in her pockets. "I'm scared."
He cleared his throat, shaking a finger at her. "That’s old Raina speaking."
She looked up at him in surprise, and smiled. "You're right. We didn't like old Raina."
He chuckled. "No, I liked her...just like the new her a lot better. New Raina is afraid of very little. Old Raina would have been afraid of me.”
"True," she agreed. "But old Raina would have known how to deal with the pain I'm experiencing now."
He reached down and squeezed her fingers. "You're doing just fine."
She smiled and returned her attention to the children playing. "Teaching again? Do you really think I should?"
"Yeah," he agreed.
Her blues softened, and she smiled at the laughter of the children. "I do miss it," she sighed. "Children always have brought me joy." She gave a slight shrug of her shoulders. "Okay." She swallowed hard. "I'll look into it. Teaching? Yeah, that's a good idea."
Thanatos looked pleased.
He gave her a winning smile. "Yeah, very good.”
She tilted her head in curiousity.
“I persuaded a member of the school board to get you an interview. They need a teacher." He nodded to the building. “Right here."
Raina’s eyes widened. "Work here? Thanatos…the school year has already begun!”
He tipped her chin with his fingers, so she looked up at him. “I can be very persuasive…they are short a kindergarten teacher.”
She smiled. "And my interview?"
"Next week."
Her eyes teared.
Thanatos sighed, stopping her, wrapping the leash around his wrist, and setting his hands to her shoulders. “Hey now, if you’re not ready I won’t push you! I just thought…” He was silenced by her throwing her arms about his neck.
"Thank you," she laughed. “Thanatos, you are the best!”
"So I've been told," he laughed. "Though others may want to argue the point."
She shook her head, tucking her head under his chin. “You have your moments.”
He grinned, squeezing her gently, and then setting her away. Much like Nolan had, he was learning to practice boundaries. Though he had changed…learned he desired her around more then he desired her in his bed, he was still a man. Plus, he had a contract to uphold.
He liked the smile on her face, and loved that she had such an easy manner with him anymore. It had been a long while since he was trusted so completely. He liked this new life where there was no more selfishness. He was giving and in the giving receiving so much more back.
“You okay with it then?” He asked studying her face.
“Yes,” she laughed, as they continued on their walk. “How did you think to do that? I…I really did not know how much I wanted it, until now!”
He sighed. “Well, I can’t take credit.”
Her head snapped up, and he winced at the bit of hope there.
“It was his idea?” She bit her lip.
Thanatos smiled sadly. He kind of knew that she would figure that part out. “Yeah, he just asked that I make it happen.”
She smiled. “Thank you…the both of you.” She reached over, encircling his arm with hers.
Thanatos never had understood how Nolan grew attached to mortals, then grieved when they passed. He knew now because he would grieve Raina. He would grieve her with all his heart. Her little act had him turned to mush.
“If you see me lurking about, after you get your job, do not call the police on me, okay?” He grinned at her.
“Why would you need to do that?” she laughed, feeling a little light hearted. She had needed this news! “I certainly don’t need protection! I thought that was the point of the whole contract…the staying separate part.”
Thanatos shook his head. “To a certain extent you are safer now. But I’m still not quite sure about…Richard. What he may decide to do. He does not honor anything. He may come after you again.” He cringed, and looked away.
Raina bit her lip. “What more could he want from me?”
Thanatos reached for her hand at his arm, and squeezed. “You are a remarkable girl. Richard liked what he saw. I’m just scared he will try coming after you…to finish what he started. He doesn't take kindly to being one up on. You and Nolan showed them up."
"Well so did you," she teased. "Your little sun trick."
"Yes, this is true. But he doesn't know that." He winked a green eye at her.
"So… He may be seeking revenge?" Her eyes were wide with fear now.
Thanatos gave a slight nod. He really didn't want to say more. No use worrying her over something he wasn't one hundred percent sure of.
Raina paled a bit. Suddenly she didn’t feel so smothered knowing the green eyed one would be watching over her. It felt less invasive. “So you will watch for him, right?”
He sighed in relief, knowing his words had scared common sense into her. “I will protect you in every way that I can,” he promised.
She nodded. “I always wondered about him…Richard. He is obviously the bad side of immortality. Who does he answer to? How can he get away with so much?”
Thanatos drew in a breath. “Well…most immortals try to stick as close to peace as we can. There are others that have Richard’s gift, but like Joseph has told you, they use their gift to uphold our ways.”
She shook her head. “But who decides when it’s necessary for one to die? There has to be leadership.”
The green eyes darkened. “There is. “
“So they’re like the authority on all things immortal? There’s a president…an army?”
Thanatos chuckled at this. “They are called Our Sovereignty. There is no president, no army. It is just a group of very old, very wise original immortals. They live much like the rest of us…trying to be as human as possible. They meet a few times a year, and go over the petitions against the others who have misbehaved. They decide the punishment…death or otherwise; usually death when it comes to broken contracts. That is why Elenora responded to our threat at the last meeting. She knows we would report her.”
Raina frowned. “So, why has no one reported Richard?”
Thanatos shrugged. “We’ve had no reason to…until now. Others who would have reported him probably never made it.”
She paled. “Has he…did Nolan…report?”
He nodded. “He had to. There were two crimes committed. Richard meant to kill Nolan, and, Richard threatened you. Our Sovereignty will look past the occasional indiscretion of an immortal. I’ve been guilty of physical sins with a mortal. But they will not look past the actual murder or attempted murder of a mortal…especially if there are witnesses.”
“Richard expected to get away with both, didn’t he? Nolan’s murder…mine. He failed.”
Thanatos chuckled. “He was just as surprised at Nolan’s ability to fight back. Boy just would not die. You fueled him, but it’s just another one of those enviable abilities a healer has.”
Raina bit her lip hard. “So is Nolan in danger now? Will Richard come after him, knowing he would have reported?”
Thanatos shook his head. “Anything happens to Nolan now; we all know who did it. Richard would be guilty of your attempted murder, and Nolan’s death. No getting out of that one.”
Raina sighed in relief, tears springing to her eyes. She loved Nolan so much it hurt to think of him being hurt. “So you still feel it’s necessary to suffocate me?” she teased.
Thanatos remained serious, giving a quick nod. “It’s not fair that it has to be this way,” he spoke gently. “But if I don’t do this…suffocate you…Nolan will have my neck.”
Her lips curved up. She missed Nolan’s protective side…that beautiful frowny face.
“He misses you too beautiful,” Thanatos whispered as if she had spoken her thoughts out loud.
Raina smiled up at him, blinking tears. “Does he?”
Thanatos green eyes softened. “I’ve never seen his frowny face so much…than in these last months without you.”
She smiled a small smile.
“He still suffers,” he said softly. “Don’t doubt that.”
Raina frowned up at him, thinking of her conversation with herself just that morning. “So now you hear fervent thoughts like Joseph?”
Thanatos chuckled. “No, it’s written in your eyes.”
She drew in a breath, feeling tears. Talking about Nolan was not a good idea. She wrapped her fingers around his. “Would it be okay if we head back?”
Concern filled his eyes, but he nodded. “I have to head back to work anyway.” They turned about and started back for home.