SOMETHING was wrong with her.
She was so sure of it. She couldn't be in this situation right now. Her brother wouldn't allow it. Her friends wouldn't support her. Her father forbade it.
Audrey was fighting herself in her head.
She had begun to find the halfbreed attractive.
And how did she know that?
They were taking turns watching him in case he would wake up all possessed and stuff. Out of all of them he was the most banged up.
He had a broken arm, some cracked ribs, a concussion and a dislocated wrist. If that wasn't bad enough he fell on a wooden stake which pierced his abdomen. She obviously didn't like him but Blanc would kill her if she didn't comply.
Plus she wasn't totally heartless.
During one of her shifts, she walked in to see him lying in a pool of blood. He had somehow fallen off his bed and ripped his stitches.
She had removed his bandages and she had to admit to admit she liked what she saw. His body was damp with sweat but his skin was cold to the touch. His wound looked infected. She looked around and found some wipes which she used to clean the wound.
While wiping the sweat from his head , she noticed his jade eyes and wondered if they were natural. But it just made him more intriguing.
She shook off all feelings of attraction and focused on her job. When she was done, she went to find help.
* * * * *
He was drenched in sweat when he woke up.
He was in the clinic. All the beds were empty except for two.
He tried to move his hands then realized his left was in a cast.
How did he break it again?
"Bael, you son of a bitch!" he swore as he remembered.
"You're awake," said the occupant of the bed beside.
Isaac tried to seat up but couldn't. The person beside him pulled the curtains.
The energy that Isaac didn't have to sit up rushed into his body, then it vanished just as quick.
Brandon looked at him with his soft brown eyes.
"You probably know me by now but I'll still introduce myself," he said. "Hi, I'm Brandon."
He stretched his hand out for a handshake.
Isaac returned the gesture with his free hand then he realized that there was a problem.
Brandon had put out his left and Isaac had grabbed it with his right.
They looked at each other and laughed.
Isaac's left hand was in a cast courtesy of Bael and Brandon's right hand was also in one because of Isaac.
"I'm sorry," Isaac apologized.
"For this?" Brandon said referring to his cast. "No problem."
"That's not all," Isaac said. "I'm sorry for the electricity, the wind, the body triangle... what else did I do?"
"No worries," Brandon smiled.
"So how long have I been out?" Isaac asked.
"Three days, four? I'm not sure myself."
There was something Isaac wanted to know.
"How did Bael... I mean the demon possess you?" Isaac asked Brandon.
Brandon's smile lowered a little. "I don't actually remember."
Isaac sighed and looked at Brandon. He was awfully cheerful for someone who was possessed.
He tried standing up then he fell to the ground. He had a feeling that he'd fallen on the same spot before, but when.
He rose to his feet.
"Anything happen while I was out?" Isaac asked Brandon.
"Except that you're a witch with -"
Isaac's knees buckled. "What?!"
"Don't worry," Brandon said. "It's just a rumour."
"Rumour?" Isaac asked.
Brandon nodded. "Spread like wildfire."
"Well, I'm dead," Isaac said dejectedly and didn't bother standing up. "So when is the execution date?"
Brandon's experience turned serious for a moment, and then he laughed.
"What's so funny about my death date?"
"You're not dying yet," Brandon replied.
"Wait! What?" Isaac said and stood up abruptly.
"You heard me correctly," Brandon replied. "You're lucky. There was a treaty signed earlier this year between witches and exorcists. Something about putting past mistakes behind them. So what would most likely happen is that you would be questioned."
"By?"
"The Cardinals" Brandon replied.
* * * * *
Leo walked into his father's office with Adrien and Audrey.
He wondered what his father had called them for. Who knew?
His father was dressed in his usual suit and tie trend.
His father wasn't old but he had white hair, which was something Leo had seen all his life. He couldn't recall seeing it in any other colour. Just like Reyna.
As far as he knew, they were both born with white hair.
"In light of recent events," Blanc started. "I would like to -"
The doors opened, and Reyna walked in.
"How are you, Reyna?" Blanc asked her as she joined Leo. "As I was saying, you four need to get stronger."
"Aren't we strong enough already?" Audrey asked.
"I'm strong enough to take on any wraith you throw at me," Adrien said.
"Who was talking about wraiths?" Blanc asked.
That shut them up.
"If not for Isaac and Reyna, you would be dead," Blanc said, further rubbing salt in their wounds. "This is the second time he's saving your lives."
That statement was directed at the twins.
"How? What about these two?" Adrien asked.
"Leo and Reyna were of tremendous help against the demon," he said. "Especially Reyna."
Leo felt sick.
Those words alone were enough to tell him his position. He was basically useless. His charism had its limits. It was even a threat to him. He'd lost an ear because of it.
"Leo?"
His father's voice brought him out of his thoughts.
"Huh?"
"Since there are demons roaming around, what about angels?" Reyna asked.
"Some help they've been," Adrien scoffed. "They don't exist."
"Yet we've had two demons waltz into this school," Reyna retorted.
"Fair point," Leo said.
"Maybe they do. Maybe they don't, but we have to fend for ourselves," Blanc said.
"What about Isaac?" Reyna asked Blanc.
"It seems that the demon was rejected by Isaac's body," Blanc explained. "But there were some complications."
"Complications as how?" Leo asked a little too loudly.
"I'll have the Ananias Cardinal come check him tomorrow."
"Thank goodness," Leo sighed.
"Why does everybody care about that halfbreed?" Adrien asked. "It was understandable before but not now that you all know what he is."
"Would you shut it?" Reyna and Leo said at the same time.
"First of all he isn't a halfbreed nor is he a witch," Reyna said. "He's an ordinary exorcist just like you and me!"
Leo noticed that Audrey was unusually silent.
"I guess that's enough for today," Blanc sighed and dismissed them from his office.
* * * * *
Blanc watched them babble on.
When Reyna had called Isaac ordinary, he would have nearly believed it if he didn't know more about the child.
Isaac, ordinary?
He wished that were the case.
After they'd left his office Blanc adjusted his tie and set up another virtual meeting.