Underrhelm

Chapter 17

VALENTINE

I stared down in horror as my body began to tremble.

"Ray?!" I called out shaking her limp body. "RAYNA!"

"Oh gods oh gods please Ray, what's wrong?" I asked with a crack in my voice.

"What do I do?" I begged the empty air. "Edgar help me! What's wrong with her?!" I demanded. Ed squawked in distress and I realized he didn't know how to communicate in either form.

"Fuck." I whispered. I grabbed my phone and dialed Ember. She was Rayna's oldest friend and had to know if something was wrong with her.

"Hello ." she answered gently. "PLEASE EM I THINK I KILLED HER PLEASE HELP ME." I screamed.

"Oh my gods what are you talking about?!" she snapped. With a shaky voice I explained everything. How I accidently found out, how she exploded into pure unhinged crazy. How I told her I loved her and held her so tight I killed her. After a pause she responded,

"I'll be right there."

About 15 minutes went by and in that time I ran my fingers through her hair. I kissed her forehead and rocked her in my arms. "Ray it's going to be okay right? You're going to come back to me right? You said you never wanted any of us to leave. I don't want you leave either." I talked to her softly. Ember entered the apartment and fell to Rayna's side. She had me lay her on the floor as she studied her condition.

"This isn't going to be easy to hear, but she was trying to end her life." she stated with a tear in her eye. "What the hell are you talking about?!" I replied. "Rayna is a succubus. Hand made by Lucifer to birth demons. It's been many centuries since he used them for that, but the instrument still remains." she informed me as she placed her hand over Ray's heart. "Rayna can't be killed by anything except starvation." I stared at her confused. "She eats s****l energy V. She has to have s*x to stay alive and feed on her partner." she answered.

"You're telling me she hasn't had enough s*x to stay alive and is now dying." I summed up. "Yes, if you want her to live you'll have to feed her somehow. That will not be an easy task as she has chosen this end." she warned. I looked at her horrified. "I'm not having s*x with her unconscious body?! She hasn't even told me she wants that and this will not be the first time!" I shouted.

Ember looked into my eyes. It felt like she was reading my every inner thought and intention. "You're a good man despite your upbringing." she stated plainly. I fell silent in disbelief. I hung my head and responded, "How could you possibly know that? Not even Rayna knows that."

"I know everything." she said in an ominous tone. "Help me move her to the bed."

"What no I'm not doing this!" I retorted. "I know, that's why I am going to." she said standing up and walking towards the bedroom.

I looked down at Ray trying to find her fire, but it was gone. We had no other options. I scooped her up in my arms the way imagined so many times bringing her to my bed. I laid her down and kissed her again leaving my tears on her face and closed the door.

___________________________________________

EMBER

I sat quietly for a moment with Rayna. I did not want to tell V that she could hear everything being said. He might freak out even more and we have enough to deal with.

"Rayna my dearest and oldest friend. I know you are trapped in the darkness and you cannot see the hands reaching to save you, but tomorrow cannot be written be if today ends." I said low enough for only her to hear. "You did not kill your son Ray. No matter what you say or what you do you it will never be true."

I inched towards her face and leaned over her a whisper away.

"I will not pretend to understand what it's like or that this pain will go away. I know it's a lot to ask you to stay in this prison for the sake of everyone else but I am also asking for the sake of yourself." I said as I closed my eyes. "I don't think you are a coward or selfish for doing this, I think you are fighting a battle and you're losing." I finished with a kiss.

"C'mon boss, it's time to get up. There is no other side of grief, there is only absorbing it a redefining who you are what you stand for in their absence" I said with another kiss.

___________________________________________

VALENTINE

As I closed the door I felt like my world was crashing down around me. I came to the realization that sometimes love isn't enough to heal someone. Even their love for you isn't enough. If she doesn't come back she'll be taking my heart with her. How long can one live without a heart. I walked over to Edgar and gave him a pet on his head. He hopped in my arms just wanting me to tell him she'll be alright. I hugged him and said, "Thank you for taking care of her."

We sat on the couch, Ed in my lap. I thought about all the things I would say if she woke up. All the promises I'd keep. I thought about all the people I would have to look at and tell she was never coming back. The tears fell silent on face. I leaned my head back on the couch and slowly dozed off. My mind craving the escape of sleep.

"V." a meek voice called me back. I shot up throwing Edgar on the coffee table. "What happened?! Is she okay?!" I asked panicked.

"Calm down. She's awake. I won't say that she is fine. She has a long way to go but she choose to stay despite all the anguish she is in. Right now that is enough. I have to get home and take care of Quinn. Kiva and I will handle things at Umbra." she said out of breath. I hugged her and asked, "Are you going to be alright?"

"I'm am weak, she was very far gone but, I will be alright." She then grabbed my face and looked in my eyes again, "You will not leave her side until she is better. Make her some tea and then get in there." she said smiling before leaving.