Sephie, who had her head leaned against my chest, stood up and turned toward Stephen. “Misha saw the younger version of himself that was quick to judge people in Giana and it irritated him.” She immediately looked at Misha, apologizing. “Sometimes I can’t control my mouth.”
He grinned at her. “It’s okay, gazelle. You’re 100% right. Stephen didn’t even have to tell me anything when it happened. Whatever he did, I had the”I think I have a theory on that one, too. And I think Andrei is correct in that this is where Viktor comes in for all of us. Because of the subject matter that none of us were expecting today, you three instinctively tried to protect yourselves and Sephie tried to protect everyone since we’re all connected to her. Essentially, you shut yourselves down to try and feel safe. It’s completely understandable and it’s a completely normal response. I lived that way for years, to be quite honest, I think you’re still shut down, still trying to protect yourselves which is why you feel like s*it and why Sephie doesn’t want us to feel her and doesn’ want anyone in her head right now. The dam needs to be broken, if you will. Then Viktor can repair what was damaged today. I also think before we do this again, you three need a tune up from him before we go. I think that’ll help next time,” Stephen said.
“What about you, though? Did you see everything we gave you today?” Sephie asked.
“I did. I see it each time, but I also think I can recognize that it’s not mine: It might be easier for me since I’m already concentrating on sending everything back to the person. I don’t get stuck like you three have. I think that’s where the problem lies,” Stephen said.
“I think Viktor should fix you anyway,” Sephie said. “You’re not going to be everyone’s dumping grounds.”
Viktor, who had been quiet until this point finally spoke up. “I think Stephen and Andrei are both right. If you’re going to be seeing the worst side of humanity all the time, you’re going to need help. Just like it doesn’t make sense that Stephen would break half the world’s population, I don’t think it makes sense for me to go around fixing half the world’s population either. I don’t like people that much. I think you guys are there for the heavy lifting. I’m there to make sure you’re in top shape to do the heavy lifting.”
Sephie and Stephen looked at each other, then both looked at Viktor. “You still have your own issues that you need Stephen’s help with, too. If you help us, he helps you,” Sephie said, sternly. She was starting to feel grumpy the longer she carried around whatever it was she got from Battista’s associate today.
Thankfully, Viktor didn’t protest.
“Good. Let’s do this now, then. I’m not happy that she feels like she wants to shut me out. Someone make that go away before I get angry,” I said, pulling her against me once more. King of the Underworld
Adrik
Stephen stood in front of me and Sephie. I could feel she was still unsure about letting him help her. She wouldn’t look at him for a few moments. Finally, he said, “I promise it won’t affect me, Seph. I think Viktor can help me get rid of it, in the off chance that it does.*
“Let him try, love. Anything is better than what you’re feeling right now. We all know this isn’t you. We would all like you to come back,” I said.
She finally turned toward Stephen. “What do you need me to do?” she asked.
“Nothing. Just give me your hands. I’ll do the rest,” he said.
She timidly held her hands in front of her for him to take. He smiled at her. “Promise it won’t hurt,” he said, as he took her hands in his.
It didn’t look like anything was happening, but we could all feel what she was feeling. As soon as Stephen grabbed her hands, I could feel the intense pressure. She’d never struggled so much to control her emotions, but Stephen was right. It was because she was trying to contain them, not control them. In trying to prevent them from flowing through her to us, she stopped everything and that was more than any one person should ever try to contain. I could see the small smile on Stephen’s face as he found what he was looking for. Gradually, the pressure decreased, like a pressure release valve being slowly opened. We could feel her emotions come at us like a tidal wave. One right after the other hit us, wave after wave, crashing into us. But as soort as the emotions hit us, they were gone. What was left was the normal connection I had with her. I could feel everything she was feeling like normal. Stephen said something to her, but I was too busy trying to look in her head to hear it.
“You’re not shutting me out anymore,” I said to her, almost giddy that I could talk to her again. I could hear her laughing in her head, but she looked like she was talking to Stephen and watching him move to Andrei. “Don’t ever do that again,” I said, probably more seriously than I meant to given her reaction.
She turned toward me, her eyes black, and told me, “I will do it again if it means protecting you from seeing what I had to witness today. There are things in life that no one should ever have to see.” She crossed her arms across her chest, her anger preventing her from coming any closer to me. I wasn’t quite sure, but I could almost swear that even her demon was angry with me at the moment. Something felt different.
Ivan chuckled, having witnessed our silent exchange. He could feel Sephie’s anger and knew I’d likely said something to bring it out. “Stephen fixed her. She’s all s*icy and s*it again,” Ivan said. Misha clapped his hands, rubbing his palms together. “Extra-sp*cy Sephie is my favorite!”
I finally gave in and pulled her to me, whether she wanted me to or not. I didn’t like being cut off from her. As soon as my arms were around her, she silently said, “I hated cutting you off as much as you hated being cut off, but you still didn’t need to feel any of that. Or worse, see it. We’re going to need a warning from Battista next time.”
I could feel a wave of sadness from her. She still had her arms crossed in front of her, so I unfolded them and put her arms around my waist so I could hold her closer. I felt her body start to relax the longer she was in my arms. “I love you, Sephie.” She sighed, holding me tighter, hiding her face in my chest as I watched Stephen help Misha and Andrei the same way he helped her.
After Stephen was done with Misha, it was Viktor’s turn. Misha asked, “can you fix all of us at one time? Is there like a limit on how much you can do at once?”
“I don’t think there’s a limit. It’s not really me doing it anyway. Kostya does it. He just uses me when he does,” Viktor said. “Does it zap you when he uses you though?” Misha asked.
“Not the same way, I don’t think. It doesn’t last nearly as long. I might be tired for twenty minutes, then I feel fine,” he said. “How do I sign up for that,” Misha said under his breath.
I/3″Can Kostya fix you again after Stephen helps you?” Andrei asked. “Is there a limit to how many times a person can be fixed? I’m looking at you, Misha,” he said, trying not to laugh.
“As far as I know, there’s not a limit. Your aura is a part of you. It’s an extension of your energy field. As long as you’re alive, your aura will be there and will be repairable to some extent. I think you can reach a point where it’s past the point of saving. Like, I’m sure I would’ve been useless for that guy today,” Viktor said.
“Do you want to see what Andrei saw? His aura was almost non-existent,” Sephie said. Viktor hesitated. She turned toward him, moving slightly away from me. “Andrei only sees auras. It’s Ivan that sees demons. I haven’t shown Andrei what Ivan saw yet. You won’t see anything you don’t want to see,” she said. “He can show you, even. Misha can help him, the same way he helped me.”
Viktor was more agreeable to Andrei showing him than Sephie. He really was terrified of our demons. Andrei, however, was much more skeptical that he could show Viktor what he sees than Sephie was. She laughed quietly at him. “You can show him, Bubba. It’s the same as with everyone else, it just takes a little longer. You need to concentrate a little harder. Do you want a snack first?” she asked, grinning at him.
“I hate you,” Andrei said, walking to Viktor. He couldn’t hide his smile as he walked past her.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.