Authors: Sarah Brocious
He was about to toss the phone away and then decided to take the bull by the horns and give Melinda call. He did not know Michael very well but Nolan spoke highly of him and he trusted Nolan.
He waited for her to pick up. He wasn't sure how to lead into the whole story and it explain to her what happened with Raina but he had to. His lungs expanded as he took in a deep breath. Hi whooshed out as he heard her answer. He cleared his throat steeling himself for a little bit of her sarcasm.
"Any news on Raina?"
His jaw went slack and then he clamped his mouth shut his teeth audibly clicking together. "How… How did you know that Raina?"
"Michael called me last night and said that you would probably be calling me. He explained everything. He's actually really nervous for me to be by myself and suggested that I might want to hang out with you from now on," she laughed.
Thanatos laughed too. "I'm sure you are just thrilled about that suggestion."
She laughed at the other end. "You're not all that bad Thanatos. Just a little arrogant sometimes and that gets on my nerves. But your confidence makes you a worthy protector. So you have to take the good with the bad."
Thanatos snorted. "Some protector I turned out to be."
"You did the best you could. Raina should've never been by herself but that was not by your choice. It was by her choice she was alone. But I spoke to Michael, like I said, and he is with Nolan on the fact that this would’ve happen whether you have been two feet or two miles from her.”
"If you say so," he murmured.
She smiled into the phone and shook her head. "What can I do for you?"
"Well there's the matter of Raina's disappearance. We don't know how long she'll be gone. Emily's been calling her nonstop and she'll be expected to be into work tomorrow. We have to run some sort of damage control. I was thinking that maybe you could speak to her and make up some ladies excuse. Emily and I haven't had the best track record and I don't think she quite trusts me. If anything I'll get blamed for all of this which sadly I take the blame for."
"First of all, this isn't your fault. That's the last time I'll say it and I mean it. Secondly, I've only just meet Emily and I don't know how she'll take excuses for me. She already seemed to have the thoughts that I was trying to steal her friend away. I can take care of the school. They won't question why she's not there. I've been there a long time and I'm well trusted. For now I'll just claim that she's sick and unable to come in. If it's longer than a week…I don't know, I'll think of something."
Thanatos groaned at the thought of having to talk to Emily. "What kind of excuse do I give? What would even be believable? I mean she's going to need answers. Raina wouldn't just disappear. Even if I told her she went to go see Nolan… went after Nolan, Raina would've told her best friend what she was doing even at the chance that Emily would try to stop her. She would've texted or called and not ignored her friend’s calls. The two of them are thick as thieves. The only thing Raina has ever kept from that girl is the immortality thing! I'm lost as to what to say." He rolled his eyes heavenward.
Melinda was quiet for one moment as she contemplated. She wasn't sure how Thanatos was going to take her answer but she would be honest. "I think you should tell her the truth." She heard Thanatos swear and drew in a breath. "I don't think Emily is going to accept anything but the truth."
He growled into the phone. "She already thinks I'm a nut bag. Besides, can I trust to tell her the truth?"
Rolling her eyes she snorted into the phone. "You were trusted with it. Granted you are immortal yourself, but still you kept it fairly a secret."
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
She knew she was poking the bear but he rarely reacted or went into action without being taunted a little. She softened her voice. "Just think how much easier it will be for her her…for Raina, if she knew. This is an emergency situation, Thanatos we can't treat it lightly and we can't keep the most important people in her life in the dark. Raina keeps this a secret for you, for Nolan. It kills her not to share it with her best friend. Besides, that Emily will know how to pray for her friend."
"How am I going to convince her?" He closed his green eyes feeling a headache coming on.
"You’re a creative man," Melinda assured him. "You'll think of something that will convince her…I'm sure."
He rolled his eyes. "Gee thanks."
"Let me know how it goes."
“I’ll do that,” he said sarcastically.
“Later green eyes!” Melinda hung up the phone.
He instantly heard Raina's phone buzzing again. He got up slowly tightened his jaw, and marched to the counter. He looked down at the phone and sure enough, it was Emily calling again. He reached for the phone and answered.
"Hey, Emily," he answered.
"Where is she? Why has she not been answering my phone calls? I've texted fifty times!" Emily's voice got higher and higher as the conversation continued. "I've been sick with worry calling all night. She left the house and I called a half-hour later just to make sure she was okay and nothing!" She drew a ragged breath and continued, "What is going on? And you better be straight with me!"
Thanatos sighed into the phone and steeled himself. "I think I should come over. I have something to explain to you."
"Explain it over the phone you green eyed devil! Why are you answering my friend’s phone? I want to know what's been done with her. Did you hurt her? I swear to God if you hurt her I will…"
He felt as though he'd been slapped. "You honestly believe I would hurt Raina? Do you not understand? Have you not seen me with her? You know I love that girl and I would do nothing to hurt her. But there are those who would and I need to come over and explain it to you because I cannot explain it over the phone. Do you understand?"
His words silenced Emily for a moment. She actually felt guilty at her words. She swallowed hard. "I'm sorry, but I'm worried over Raina and I want answers." She growled in agitation.
"Sister, I want answers too," he growled. "Is Bradley there?"
"No, he and a few friends went to go skiing up in the mountains. He wouldn't have gone if I had told him I hadn't heard from Raina. You can come over. I just want straight answers Thanatos no sugarcoating. Raina's been sugarcoating so much lately and I want someone to be honest with me. I know there's something different about you. I'm not sure what it all entails but I want to know."
"Well, I'm going to tell you and you have to promise not to freak out on me."
Emily laughed nervously. "I'll try not to."
Twenty minutes later, Thanatos was pulling into Emily and Bradley's driveway. He gripped the steering wheel, dreading what he had to do now. He put his truck into park and slowly got out. Emily was already at the door waiting for him as he walked up.
She motioned for him to come in without saying a word.
He walked through the entrance and nervously entered the living room where she motioned for him to take a seat. He did so folding his hands in front of him and trying not to look nervous. This would be the first time for him ever to reveal to someone who he was…what he was. How do you explain that you are an immortal being who also happened to be in command of protecting one mere mortal girl? How had Nolan done it? Maybe he should have called him first.
As for the protection revelation, he had failed in that area, and he was sure Emily would point that out once his story was told.
Emily gave a shrug. "So what is it? What is the secret and where is my friend?"
Thanatos swallowed hard. "I don't know where Raina is. Nolan doesn't know where Raina is. We have to find her."
Emily's face paled and she shook her head. "She’s missing?”
Thanatos nodded solemnly.
“Why didn't you say that over the phone? We should be on the phone with the police!"
Thanatos stared down at his hands. "The police won't be able to find her, Emily. Especially if I can't find her myself."
Emily scowled at him. "You're crazy you know that? I can't believe the words that are coming out of your mouth." She got up promptly and headed for her phone.
"No!" Thanatos voice came out with such authority that she nearly lost her footing. He shook his head when she turned on him.
"No? Did you seriously just tell me no like I was a little child?"
"I did." The green eyes looked at her unwaveringly and he tilted his head toward the chair that she had just left from. "Now sit down."
Emily obeyed without question. She saw something in his look that said it would be fruitless to try to argue with him.
Thanatos met her eyes again, thankful now for his gift of persuasion. “Now listen very closely to me, Emily.” His voice lowered an octave, and he saw her visibly react to it. "What I'm going to tell you is going to shock you. What I'm going to say is completely the truth and if you love Raina you will believe these words and you will not call the police. Do you understand me?"
Emily just blinked at him.
Thanatos cleared his throat and sat straighter in his seat. He pulled his coat from his shoulders to make himself more comfortable. He didn't know where to begin but starting at the beginning seemed like a good idea. And suddenly words were pouring from his mouth and he laid it all out in front of her. He started with his change and then Nolan's change all the way up until they met Raina. He discussed Richard and Elenora. He even explained why Nolan had left and what he was doing now. He went over the facts of his job to protect Raina, and finally, he told her what happened the night before, and that yes he knew he had failed her miserably!
Emily sat through all of it her mouth slack for most of it.
“So you see, you can’t call the police,” Thanatos whispered. “It will do no good.” He shook his head. “I wish it could.”
Emily had remained silent when he finished his tail.
Thanatos was nervous at the lack of her reaction.
She looked scared and she looked uncertain. She opened her mouth to say something then shut it quickly and shook her head.
“Emily?”
She shook her head. "I knew it. I just knew you were crazy… absolutely freaking crazy!" Her eyes went wide with fear and she looked ready to bolt for the door. "You honestly expect me to believe you? I’m supposed to sit here and let you tell me that that's true?" Her head continued to shake. "You’re immortal…Nolan's immortal and you live forever and you protect Raina? You have these magical powers, and heal yourselves? Really? This is fairytale land obviously!" Her words just rambled right out of her mouth.
Thanatos growled and reach for her hand with such speed that she barely had time to breathe before he was pulling her into the kitchen.
"Don't hurt me! Please don't hurt me I won't tell anyone!"
Thanatos looked at her as if she were nuts. "I'm not the crazy one lady if you think that I'm out here to hurt you."
Emily was trembling from head to toe.
“Relax,” he said gently, and she did.
Thanatos reached into one of the drawers and drew out a sharp steak knife.
Emily started to scream but he quickly covered her mouth and fixed her with that green eyed gaze. She calmed again.
"I'm not going to hurt you. I'm going to show you something and you are to be calm and you are not going to scream. Do you understand me? I am about to show you something that proves I am not a mere mortal, and every word I’ve said is true. Will you stand there calmly and allow me?"
Emily nodded slowly and thoughtfully and suddenly she was very calm. Her breathing slowed. She didn't realize his powers of persuasion were helping the situation from becoming a nightmare.
"What are you going to do?" Her voice came out like a squeak.
Thanatos drew in a deep breath and showed her the palm of his hand. He fixed her with another gaze. "Stay calm," he whispered. He then proceeded to dig the very sharp blade deeply into the palm of his hand leaving a long deep angry furrow that instantly began to bleed.
Emily looked as though she may faint.
He set the blade down and reached to hold her arm with his now free hand to prevent her from falling to the tile floor.
She tried to close her eyes but he gave her arm a squeeze.
"Just watch," he said softly.
The last thing that Emily wanted to do was look at the cut on his hand, but she obeyed feeling the effect of his persuasion. "What am I looking for?"
"You are about to experience one of the gifts of immortality. You see, we wound and we can suffer as a human sufferers, but we have a great benefit. We heal very quickly. Some of us heal more quickly than others. Nolan, in fact, would have barely had a chance to bleed. Because, as I’ve told you, he is a healer. Me? I take a minute or two." He gave her a lopsided grin.
Emily's mouth went dry as she watched the deep scarlet seam mending itself. She tried to swallow but there was no saliva left in her mouth. She shook her head. "That's impossible." Her eyes blinked rapidly as she tried to compute all that was going on around her.
Thanatos grinned again and ran his hand under the faucet at the sink. "No, that's just how we roll in fairytale land," he teased. He held his hand out for her again it was blood free and it was perfect. No evidence whatsoever that anything ever touched his skin.