"Oh my God, Dorian! Why didn't you tell me?" My hands fly up to his beautiful face, searching for any sign of pain. He doesn't look like he's hurting. He looks a little bit older but not much. I just wish I could see him.
"I'll be fine," he responds. He nods towards a large window. "It will rain soon."
"Yeah, but that won't be enough. And you know it. You need help, Dorian," Aurora chimes in.
I look to her, suddenly terrified and desperate. "Tell me what to do. How can I fix him?"
Aurora smirks coldly and leans forward. "You could let him breathe you. But for what he needs, it would surely kill you. You are still pathetically powerless."
"No!" Dorian growls. He takes a step forward, his eyes flickering with disgust and hatred.
"Well then, he'll have to drain someone," she remarks simply. She looks at her meticulous manicured nails as if the whole conversation of saving Dorian's life bores her. "A power source. Someone like your adopted mother, perhaps?" Aurora smiles as if the notion is humorous.
"Watch it, bitch!" I spew angrily. A few nearby people look in our direction but the roar of congratulatory cheers has masked our conversation.
"Ok, ok, settle down," she giggles. "There is a way. It's your only other option. But you won't like it."
I look to Dorian, reading the regret on his face. It must be bad. But not worse than losing him. "Anything," I whisper.
"I can transfer to him. He can breathe me," she coos wickedly.
"Absolutely not!" Dorian seethes.
"You and I both know there is no other way, Dorian. I am your last hope. Come on, if Gabriella loves you so much, she would understand. She would do anything to save you. I know I would."
I look at my lover's torn expression. He knows this is our only option. He is suffering because of me, because of my intense need for him. I have no other choice but to save him.
"Let's do it. Tonight," I murmur, hanging my head in shame.
"No, baby, we don't have to do this. It's ok," he pleads, gripping me by the shoulders.
And then I see it; there is a crack in his mirage. For just a second, I see what I have done to him. His eyes are flat, sunken in, lifeless. His skin is pale and dry. He is only a ghost of the man that I love. My heart instantly shatters at the sight.
"Yes we do," I croak, through trembling lips. I clear my throat and look to Aurora, shrugging out of Dorian's hold. "We'll do it. I'll be over at 7."
"Great!" she beams. "I'll even let you watch." And with that, she spins around and disappears into the crowd.
"You don't know what you've just agreed to," Dorian whispers. There is pain, remorse in his voice.
"I know that it will save you and that's all that matters." I wrap my arms around him and bury my face in his hard chest. I look back up at him and try to plaster on a reassuring smile. "I've gotta go. I'll see you later. Don't worry, it's gonna be ok."
As I walk out to the parking lot, I fight to hold back the tears that threaten to unravel me. I don't know what I've agreed to, but if it saves my Dorian, then I have to go through with it. He needs this, and I need him. If he can defy his father, his entire race of Warlocks, than I can surely give him this. All Aurora is going to do is help him. How bad could it be?
After a painfully awkward early dinner with my parents, I kiss them goodnight, ensuring them that I'll be back in the morning. I've told them a bunch of us new graduates are going out to celebrate though I'm sure they know I'm going to be with Dorian.
As I drive to the Broadmoor, my stomach is tied in a thousand knots. I don't know what to expect. If he is going to breathe Aurora, what does that consist of? Will he just grab her hand and take a whiff? It must be something more if he was so apprehensive. I could tell he was struggling with the idea yet he knows he needs this. I have to be supportive. He would do it for me if it meant saving my life.
"So glad you could make it, Gabriella," Aurora leers as she opens the door to Dorian's suite.
Why the hell is she answering his door? I see she's changed from the modest wrap dress she wore at the graduation into a tight black pencil skirt, silk button-up blouse and platform high heels.
I step in defensively, preparing myself for the worst. Instead, I find Dorian staring out of the French doors into the dark night. He has a crystal glass of scotch in one hand while his other arm is resting against the glass. He's weak, and it breaks my heart. He turns on my approach, his eyes glimmering faintly behind dark lashes as he smiles. Even in suffering, he is still the most stunning man I've ever seen. He is still wearing his dark dress slacks and shirt from earlier, the top few buttons unfastened exposing his tan chiseled chest. I don't hesitate to wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him, tasting the strong remnants of alcohol. His arms squeeze my waist desperately in turn. I don't want to lose him; I can't. Whatever he needs, I'm more than willing to do what it takes.
"Ok, let's get this over with. The bedroom would be the best place. Like I said, you're more than welcome to watch. I'm not shy," Aurora smiles slyly.
I look to Dorian for direction, and he nods reluctantly. "Fine."
Aurora sashays to the bedroom and I turn to follow her when Dorian grabs my arm, pulling me back to him. "If I feel you hurting, I'll try to stop. I swear, I'll try."
"I know you will. But you need to get better. That's all I care about. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't even be like this."
When we enter the dimly lit bedroom, I instantly want to scream for Aurora to get out. This is the place where Dorian has made love to me countless times; this is our sacred place. She has no business in here. But she knows what she's doing. I don't. Now more than ever I wish I could fast forward to my ascension. I wish I could let that magic fill me so I could channel it to Dorian. I should be the one healing him. I should be the one saving him.
I take the armchair as Dorian sits on the edge of the foot of the bed. We are facing each other, his expression full of pain, doubt and weariness. This is just as difficult for him. Aurora eclipses my view of him, standing directly in front of him nearly between his legs. I literally bite my tongue and dig my fingernails into my palms to keep from tackling her. This moment isn't about me or my jealousy. This is about Dorian. And no matter how much I hate Aurora in this moment, I know that she loves him just as much as I do. She is his savior right now.
"Look at me," she coos in her soft, sensual soprano. She places her hands on his shoulders, beckoning him to meet her gaze.
I hear Dorian sigh deeply before pulling his chin up to meet her eyes with his. The air in the room shifts and begins to shimmer around them. I can hear the hum of a forbidden chant in high pitched soprano, too low for me to make out. Vibrations radiate from their frames, indicating their powerful currents. This is it; Aurora is fixing Dorian. My Dorian. I hear him take in a sharp breath. I can't tell if it is out of pleasure or surprise. She moves closer into him, nestling between his legs. I want to scream, tell her to get away from him. I want to slap that smug look right off her face. But Dorian needs her; he doesn't need me. He needs her.
"Stop!" I hear him call out, breaking me from my tortured reverie. He peers around Aurora's slender body and looks to me with apologetic eyes. "Gabriella. Come," he breathes with an outstretched hand.
Slowly, I feel myself rise to my feet. I take the seven measured steps to him, grasping his hand weakly. Dorian pulls me down onto the bed next to him. He looks at me, his dazzling eyes searching the hidden pain etched in my face. He knows how I feel; my emotions are his emotions. But I've been swallowing the torment that threatens to eat me alive ever since we stepped into this room. I've been dispelling my agony so he can get better without worrying about me.
After I flash him a reassuring, yet manufactured, smile, he turns back to Aurora and nods, signaling her to continue. She sighs agitatedly at my intrusion, regaining her composure before boring her ice blue eyes into his. Again she begins to chant in their ancient, hidden tongue, her singsong voice wavering with emotion.
Hot tears pool rapidly in my eyes, sliding down my face, as I see Dorian's face transform from affliction to pure bliss. His eyes grow brighter; they are nearly glowing in his euphoric high. He grips my hand tighter, telling me he's still here, he's still with me. Aurora's face is a mixture of carnal desire and ecstasy as she purrs her admission to Dorian, as if I don't even exist in this moment. It's just the two of them. I am nothing more than a pathetic spectator intruding on their intimate moment.
Why am I even sitting here, watching like some perverted voyeur? I should leave; I should run away from their depravity. Dammit, I should kick both of their asses for making me feel so weak and disgusting! But I can't. I am a damn fool, a sick puppy. I am trapped in my own self-inflicted misery.
Dorian begins to tremble and a low growl escapes him. He squeezes my hand harder still and though it hurts, I don't dare pull away. The tears flow faster and I choke on my anguished sobs. When will this be over? Hasn't he had enough? The blue glow radiating from their transmission grows brighter still and they both begin to pant, their chests heaving rapidly. Soft moans cascade from Aurora's lips as she surrenders decades of lust and desire to her past love. It startles me, hearing her passionate cries for Dorian. I gauge his expression, search it for any sign that he feels the same passion. The answer nearly destroys me. He feels it too. He wants her; he needs her. He said he'd try to stop but her magic consumes him. He consumes her.