Page 11 of Brush with Death (Not Quite Dead #3)

CYRIL’S MOOD HAD BEEN going from bad to worse, and he hated it. He hated feeling useless even more, though, and knowing that there was nothing he could do was driving him nuts.

He also felt guilty. He wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but not having his ability, or rather, not having to deal with grieving families and dead people, was relaxing. He didn’t have to manage tears and screaming. He didn’t have to tell people that everything would be okay when it was obvious that nothing would be. He could just relax and be by himself, staring at the ceiling for hours if that was what he felt like, and focus on Vale.

He’d never had this. Even before he started working, he’d been reanimating animals. Initially, it had been to learn how his ability worked, and it had been fun.

Cyril wouldn’t call what he did for a living fun. It was hard on the best of days and impossible to deal with on the worst.

He didn’t have to think about any of that right now.

The problem was that he couldn’t stop thinking about it.

He bit his lower lip and reached for his phone. It had been a week since he’d promised Katie he would help, and he still didn’t have anything to tell her. Rachel was still poking around Sam’s social media and digging into the Master. She’d call Cyril when she had news, but in the meantime, Cyril was at a loss. Yes, he liked not having to deal with dead people, but at the same time, he needed to do something. It wasn’t just his job. It was Katie and Sam.

Sam deserved to tell his story and for someone to pay for what had been done to him. His killer or killers were still out there, probably thinking they’d gotten away with it.

Cyril couldn’t stand that.

He looked down at his phone. It was still early, so he had time. He didn’t think Vale would be happy about his plan, but his boyfriend didn’t have to come with him. Hell, he didn’t even have to know what Cyril was up to.

Cyril got to his feet and rubbed his hands on his thighs. “Vale?”

he called out.

“Yes?”

“I think I’m going to go for a walk.”

Cyril moved toward the front door, knowing he needed to get out as soon as he could before Vale realized something was off.

He didn’t even get to the front door. Vale appeared and arched a brow at Cyril, clearly knowing that Cyril wasn’t innocent. Cyril tried to keep his mouth shut, but he couldn’t.

He sighed.

“I’m going to the morgue.”

Vale didn’t look surprised.

“We are going to the morgue.”

“I guess we are. You don’t have to come with me if you have something better to do, though. “

“Did you really think I was going to let you go on your own?”

“No, which is why I didn’t tell you where I was going.”

“You should’ve chosen something more believable. When have you ever gone on a walk?”

Cyril resisted the urge to stick his tongue out. Vale wasn’t wrong. Cyril didn’t go for walks. He didn’t like walking around aimlessly. He needed to have a goal, something planned, for him to enjoy walking. Hell, he needed to have a plan for everything. That was probably why he felt so unsettled. With his ability gone, he couldn’t plan for anything.

“Let’s go.”

Cyril might be glad not to have to deal with grieving families at the moment, but he was also glad to leave the apartment. He loved his place, but it was starting to make him feel cooped up, and he hated that.

He was anxious as Vale drove them to the morgue. It had been a week since he’d last tried using his ability, which was the longest he’d ever gone without reanimating someone. He had no idea if it would work today. He hoped he was healed enough, but there was no way for him to know until he got there.

It was important. It was Sam. Cyril needed to do this, and he wasn’t sure how he’d react if he wasn’t able to. In the back of his mind, he still wondered if he’d lost his ability permanently, which didn’t help. He needed it back for Sam and Katie, but most of all, for himself.

It wasn’t only that he didn’t know what he’d do for a living if he couldn’t be a necromancer. He also didn’t know who he was if he wasn’t one.

Jessica was at the welcome desk when they got there. Her eyes widened when she saw Vale, but she didn’t say anything about his presence. She didn’t even ask why Cyril was there. She pushed the register toward him, let him sign for both him and Vale, and waved him toward the back of the morgue where the bodies were.

“I can’t believe it’s that easy for you to get into the morgue,”

Vale muttered as they walked down the cold hallway. Their footsteps echoed in the space around them.

“They know me. I visit at least once a week.”

“You have a strange life.”

Cyril leaned closer.

“And you’ve signed up to live that strange life with me. Still no regrets?”

Vale pressed a kiss to Cyril’s forehead.

“Never. Now, let’s do this. I don’t like this place.”

Cyril didn’t say how ironic it was considering that Vale’s job had consisted of putting people in this place, but he was sure that Vale was thinking it.

Vale rolled his eyes and pushed the door open, and Cyril followed him inside.

Doctor Mahoney was in the room, staring at some X-rays. She looked up when she heard the door and gave Cyril an easy smile.

“It’s been a while since I last saw you,” she said.

“I came by last week, but you weren’t here.”

“Yes, Jessica mentioned it. Who are you here to see?”

“Sam Walker.”

Doctor Mahoney frowned for a moment before nodding.

“I remember him. He’s in drawer C-thirteen. We’re releasing his body tomorrow.”

Cyril already knew where Sam was, but he didn’t say it. Doctor Mahoney didn’t know that he’d been here for Sam last week, too. She didn’t know that he’d known Sam when Sam was alive, and Cyril wasn’t about to tell her. He had no doubt that she’d have something to say about Cyril working on this case considering how close he’d been to Sam.

“Let me know if there’s anything I can do,”

Doctor Mahoney said. She was talking to Vale now. She probably thought that Vale was Sam’s family member, and both he and Cyril let her believe it.

Cyril was used to this, so he moved around the room easily. He opened the right drawer and pulled it out, then sucked in a breath as he reached for the black bag Sam was in. His fingers shook, but he ignored it as he pulled down the zipper.

“Breathe,”

Vale murmured.

Like last time, he placed himself between Cyril and the rest of the room. Cyril was glad. He didn’t need Doctor Mahoney staring at him. She’d seen him work many times, and she’d know something was wrong if he couldn’t do it today.

His hand shook harder as he gently touched Sam’s wrist. He sucked in a breath and closed his eyes, reaching for Sam’s soul. He gently guided it toward Sam’s body, holding his breath as he pushed it inside.

It worked. He felt Sam’s hand twitch under him, and when he opened his eyes, Sam was staring at him.

Cyril had his ability back.

“I knew you’d come,” Sam said.

Cyril pressed his lips together so he wouldn’t start crying. He’d known what would happen if it worked, but this wasn’t a stranger. It was Sam.

“Katie wants to know what happened to you.”

Sam blinked. His skin was deathly pale, and his lips blue. His eyes were cloudy, and it was hard to ignore the fact that he was dead and that this was the last time Cyril would ever talk to him.

“They forced me into the lake. They said they needed a sacrifice, and that was why I was there,” Sam said.

“Can you give us more details?”

Vale asked, more gently than Cyril could ever remember him talking to anyone who wasn’t him.

Sam licked his lips, and Cyril had to look away. His tongue was black.

“It was these people I met online. I’m, well, I got fired a few months ago, and I couldn’t find another job. I was angry, and I started looking for answers in places I shouldn’t have. I met this guy online. He called himself the Master and said he had the answers to all my problems. Initially, I didn’t believe it, but as time passed and I still couldn’t find work, I started to. I needed to do something.”

“And what did he suggest?”

“The Master said he could summon a demon. I was wary, but he said that he could tie a demon to us. We’d force it to do our bidding and be rich. I just wanted my life back. I didn’t want anyone to die, and the Master agreed that we’d take it easy initially.”

“Did you summon the demon?”

Cyril asked because he had to know.

“I don’t know. I didn’t realize I was there because the Master needed a sacrifice to summon the demon. I got to the lake, and there was a fire and two guys I’d never met before. The Master said we had to go into the water to purify ourselves, and I didn’t want to, so he forced me. He came into the water after me. I was panicking. He held my head under the surface.”

He’d done so until Sam died. It was hard not to cry, especially when Cyril thought about having to tell Katie all of this. He would, though. He couldn’t avoid it.

“Can I see Katie?”

Sam asked.

“I’ll call her,”

Vale said as he stepped away.

Cyril couldn’t follow him, even though he felt like crying. If he did, Sam would drop dead again, and Cyril wasn’t sure he had it in himself to reanimate him again.

VALE COULDN’T SAY HE enjoyed the task of calling Katie, but he did it anyway. Cyril needed time with Sam, and not only to find out what had happened to him. He needed time to say goodbye to a friend.

The phone call was awful, just like Vale had guessed it would be. He decided to wait for Katie in the parking lot while Cyril stayed with Sam. He was thinking about what Sam had said. Sam hadn’t known the people who’d been there the day he died, but at least they had a place to start. They just had to find out who the Master was.

Vale snorted softly. Whoever they were sounded ridiculous. They’d killed a man, though, which meant they were also dangerous. Luckily, Vale was used to dealing with dangerous people. He’d been in his fair share of fights in his life, and he wouldn’t hesitate to take on another one if it meant giving Cyril what he needed.

He texted Rachel to let her know that the man they were looking for was the Master she’d told them about. Once that was done, he only had to wait a little longer for Katie to arrive.

Thankfully, she wasn’t driving but had taken a rideshare. She was already crying as she stumbled out of it. The man driving looked relieved when she left his vehicle, and Vale glared at him. He’d brought a woman to the morgue, for fuck’s sake. He couldn’t be surprised that she was crying.

Vale didn’t do well with emotions and comforting people except when it came to Cyril—and sometimes not even with him. Vale had been a loner most of his life, so he wasn’t quite sure how to do it. He couldn’t even try putting himself in Katie’s place. If something were to happen to Cyril, he’d tear down half the town to find the people responsible. He wouldn’t cry. He would bury his emotions until he had the people in front of him.

“He’s awake?”

Katie asked when Vale reached her.

Vale hooked his hand under her elbow.

“Cyril has reanimated him, yes. Come on.”

Katie allowed Vale to guide her into the morgue, even though he was pretty sure she’d already been there before. The woman behind the front desk had a careful expression on her face as she made Katie sign the register. Thankfully, she didn’t say anything. She had to be used to dealing with grieving families.

“This is the last time, right?”

Katie asked.

Vale cleared his throat.

“I suppose you could ask Cyril to reanimate Sam again, but what would be the point?”

“You’re right. I already asked too much of Cyril, especially with what happened to him. I guess I’ll have to say goodbye today.”

“Saying goodbye is necessary to start healing.”

“I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to heal.”

Katie would hurt for a while, and she’d probably never forget Sam, but she was young, and she had all of her life in front of her. She’d move on eventually. Telling her that wouldn’t help right now, though, so Vale kept it to himself.

The doctor who’d been in the room when he and Cyril had arrived was gone. Cyril was still standing next to Sam, who’d sat up. Cyril’s fingers were around Sam’s wrist because he couldn’t let go, and they were quietly talking.

Cyril looked more relaxed now that he had a little time to wrap his mind around talking to Sam for the last time. And having his ability back. Vale knew it had been a fear of his that he never would, and he looked relieved.

“Sam,”

Katie said with a sob.

Sam turned to her. He reached for her, and Cyril tightened his fingers around his wrist. Now that Katie was there, Cyril was once again Vale’s priority. He moved so he was on his side of the table where Sam was sitting and pressed a hand against his back.

Cyril leaned against Vale and turned his face so they looked at each other. Vale had never thought about how awkward the situation could be. Cyril couldn’t stop touching Sam, but at the same time, he would want to give Katie and Sam privacy. He couldn’t go anywhere, and neither could Vale, and they couldn’t avoid hearing what Katie and Sam were saying.

Vale could hear Katie crying and Sam quietly whispering to her. He didn’t want to listen to what they were saying, but it would be impossible not to, considering how close they were.

“You okay?”

he asked Cyril.

“I’ve been better, but I’ll be fine.”

Vale wrapped an arm around Cyril’s shoulders and hugged him sideways. He pressed a kiss against Cyril’s Temple, wishing they could be anywhere but there. Cyril had needed to know that his ability was back, but the fact that he’d found out with Sam had to hurt.

Vale wasn’t sure how long they stood there, listening to Katie and Sam talk. Eventually, Katie stopped crying and leaned against Sam. Vale knew that if Cyril could, he’d give them this forever, but he had to let go eventually. He wouldn’t say so himself, though, which meant that Vale needed to take the lead.

He cleared his throat.

“It’s time.”

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.