An eager grin lifted the corners of Fernando
’
s lips, sending a chill to dampen the need for the truth. Before he could voice his concern Yin bit into the back of his left hand.
Searing pain spread up his arm as the scent of burning flesh
wafted to his nostrils. He watched in growing horror the cautery the simple dagger had caused. It was the sight of thin black tendrils
slithering up his wrist to his forearm that widened his eyes. Without warning the room began to spin and the bottom of his stomach dropped.
“You okay?” asked the Noble. Releasing the wounded hand, interest mixed with concern in his brown eyes, colouring his tone.
No, he was not alright. Perspiration dotted his forehead and he felt his gore rise.
“
Washroom,
”
he croaked, scrabbling off the sofa. Somewhere in the background he heard Bridget call out to him as he managed to find the bathroom fixture before it was too late.
The poison in his body shook him, expelling everything from his gut. He felt a blissfully cold hand on his forehead, supporting him, and one on his back. Another spasm rocked him and he felt the cracked rib give way with a snap. Agony stole his breath and his consciousness.
Bridget caught the Angel before he could add insult to injury by falling onto the toilet. Just as she hung up on the concierge she watched the Angel race on unsteady legs to the bathroom. Calling out to him garnered a sick reply and she raced to follow. She supported him as he vomited, his skin blazing at her touch. It did not make sense. One minute he was fine and the next she was holding him as if he were one of her prostitutes having had too much to drink. It was the audible pop and the intake of breath that confirmed the broken rib. The sudden unconsciousness alarmed her.
Standing up, the Angel
’
s weight easily managed, she found it was his bulk that made things difficult.
“
Fernando. Get in here now!
”
she shouted.
“What? What did I do?” Fernando appeared in the doorway none too pleased about being called over.
Fernando had been pleasantly surprised that the Angel decided to go along with the experiment. What had shocked the Noble was that the Angel
’
s differences had nothing to do with having been Chosen. It was not what he expected, as well as witnessing Bridget
’
s hand around the Angel
’
s slim waist while her other hand held his arm across her shoulders. Never before was it so apparent the size difference between the two. It would have made him laugh, if not for Bridget
’
s furious expression.
“Do?” barked the Mistress. “That’
s exactly what I
’
d like to know.
”
She stepped forward. The Angel
’
s lower legs dragged behind. An amused grin lighted the Nobel
’
s features.
“
Don
’
t you dare laugh,
”
she sneered.
“No, of course not,” chuckled Fernando. “I would never do anything so disrespectful.”
He broke into chest rattling laughter that brought tears to his eyes.
Petering off, Fernando wiped his eyes and cleared his throat, noticing Bridget
’
s carefully contained fury. He was about to burst into new laughter when Bridget yelled and Sent,
“
Don
’
t you just stand there. Help me get him on the bed.
”
The double onslaught rang painfully in his head, causing him to wince.
“
Alright. Alright.
”
He stepped in to assist, taking the Angel
’
s other side and was surprised at the heat radiating off of him. The touch of the Angel had not been this hot since Fernando released the Angel from the manacles from Violet
’
s dungeon.
“
You didn
’
t have to shout.
”
Bridget shook her head in resignation and led the way out of the washroom and into the suite
’
s magnificent bedroom. The soft beige continued, blending with a soft rose and gold. The sand stained headboard was simple but lent austerity to the room. Simple brocade drapes, made from the same material as the sofa and chairs, hung to block out the night
’
s jewelled lights.
Carefully laying the Angel on the king sized bed, Bridget rounded on her Chosen.
“
What did you do to him, Fernando? I turn my back for one moment and
…
What
’
s this? You cut him! I can
’
t believe you did that? You know better than anyone how iron affects him!
”
She placed the Angel
’
s wounded hand back onto the bed and scowled at the blossoming bruise around the fractured rib.
“No, actually, we didn’
t,
”
replied the Noble, dryly, his arms crossed over his chest.
“
He
’
s mortal now, if you
’
ve forgotten.
”
Bridget frowned and studied the charred edges of the cut and the receding black poison twining up his arm.
“He agreed to it,” he continued. “It seems that which marked him for Destruction had no bearing on the Angel being Chosen. In fact, being Chosen probably kept him alive longer had he been left to his own devices.”
A knock at the suite’s door raised Bridget to her feet. Jaw clenched, she did not realize she had moved preternaturally fast to the door until it loomed before her. Shaking her head, she knew she was angrier than she thought. The young man from the chemists appeared startled, his grey eyes wide as he handed her the shopping bag with one hand and a slip of paper with the other. Taking the paper, she signed it and gave it back with nary a word.
Gently closing the door lest she slam and break it, Bridget turned around and tossed the bag onto the table next to the door.
“But cutting him?” She shook her head, sending blond locks bouncing. “You couldn’
t think of another way? One that wouldn
’
t cause his broken ribs to fracture even worse?
”
“I guess I could have, but where’
s the fun in that?
”
Fernando
’
s
grin melted into a scowl at how Bridget
’
s disgusted expression twisted her beauty. Collapsing on the sofa he glared at her.
“
And pray tell what would you have done?
”
“I would have waited until he healed.” Bridget stood her fists on her hips.
Fernando snorted and rolled his eyes.
“
He
’
s mortal now. How long do broken ribs take to heal? Bridget, be real about this. I
’
m surprised he hadn
’
t checked this himself before now. Now we know and so does he.
”
“But you cut him. Doesn’
t he have enough scars that you have to give him one more?
”
“Give me a break. How else could we have determined this?”
“You could have suggested having the Angel call his—”
“No. Absolutely not.” Fernando repressed a shudder that threatened to rock him. The thought of being in the midst of the Angel’
s demons made his blood run cold. The Noble was not a fearful man, but having several times witnessed the mass murder those creatures caused, proved to him that the Angel was best under the control of the Chosen. That meant keeping the threat of Destruction away from his friend. If mortality did not change the Angel
’
s abilities, then the Angel could be even more of a danger, but at least easier to kill if necessary.
“
It
’
s all moot. The Angel
’
s differences are not dependent upon being Chosen or mortal.
”
“What are you saying, Fernando?”
“Since his reaction to iron is worse, if these differences are consistent, then he can call those things. The question we have to ask ourselves as Master and Mistress of the Chosen is what to do about the Angel.”
Bridget relaxed her arms, the anger seeping out of her face to be replaced with horror.
“
You
’
re talking about killing him.
”
She sat heavily into the opposite chair.
Fernando huffed through his nostrils. Normally he would have followed up with an impertinent reply, but the concern on her beautiful face made him reconsider.
“
What happens, Bridget, when a mortal finds out about the Chosen?
”
“They’
re given the Choice
–
death or become Chosen,
”
came the automatic reply.
“Not all are given the Choice.”
Bridget stared at the coffee table between them.
“
No. Most are killed.
”
She looked back up at her Chosen, piercing him with her gaze.
“
But he was Chosen.
”
“By an accident,” countered the Noble. “Let’
s not forget that. He was never given the Choice.
”
“And because of that he should be killed?” Bridget leaned forward. “Let him have the Choice. Now. He can’
t continue like this. If he stays in the Americas he will eventually be killed by the Vampires.
”
“And if he returns to Europe, as a mortal, he
will
be killed by the Chosen, or worse, he
’
ll be forcibly Chosen by someone who would want to control or abuse him,
”
countered Fernando.
“
He
’
s not under our protection anymore, Bridget. If he can still call those things then we
’
re all at risk.
”