Ghost Silk (Ghost Perfume, Book 2) | ✔

6 - Cry for me - Part 3

Around five in the morning, I realized it had finally been some time since I'd heard any sound at all.

Sometime around seven, I realized I'd been dozing, sideways on the floor. I jerked awake to mutterings behind the door.

When I came closer to the door, I thought I heard something about hot drinks and a shower. And was that Gabriel's voice? I couldn't tell. 

I staggered downstairs to put the kettle on.

As I stared at the kettle while the water boiled, a door opened upstairs and the water started to run in the shower.

I tore open the paper on a bag of the herbal tea I'd sometimes seen Gabriel drink. I added a few slices of ginger root. A squeeze of lemon. The sharp fresh smells were soothing. A spoonful of honey. I watched the orange of the honey slowly spread into the water.

The walls of the mug warmed, almost too hot under the cold pads of my fingers.

I walked back upstairs.

Gabriel's door was slightly ajar; the bathroom door was similarly half-opened, the shower running behind it. I couldn't tell who was in which room.

Was I really still not allowed to see Gabriel?

Closing my eyes tight, I knocked on the door to Gabriel's room. There was a movement of the air in front of me. I held out the mug of tea.

"He's taking a shower. You can open your eyes."

I peeked them open as Michael took the tea out of my hand. "You didn't sleep," he said gently, and not happily; but he didn't admonish me further.

"He's better now," Michael added.

I hesitantly stepped into the room. It smelled like sweat and a weak residue of vomit. The window was open, letting in fresh air, and they'd already stripped the bed.

Alexander sat in the corner with his elbows on his knees and his head hanging low, his hands clutching his hair.

Lukas must have been in the bathroom with Gabriel.

Michael had been about to put new sheets on. I helped him finish, tucking in the corners on the other side.

"What happened?" I whispered. "How was Gabriel injured?"

"A crocodile bit him," Michael said blandly. "He was with a client in a club, and the thing got loose."

"A crocodile," I repeated in astonishment. "A crocodile here?"

"A rich client who likes exotic things," Michael said with a dismissive hand gesture.

"Gabriel almost lost his hand," Alexander said. "Michael had to put a ... a strong salve on the area after the surgery. It includes the flower that Gabriel used to smoke. So he went through a small echo of withdrawal again."

Michael collapsed in the chair beside the bed, letting his eyes close.

I crept closer to Michael. "So will he really be okay?"

Michael snapped his eyes open and smiled at me. "Of course."

I sat on the edge of the bed. A small echo of withdrawal.

Michael abruptly stood, leaning over me. His warm hand gently brushed my hair out of my face. "Rose. Please don't look that way. I'll bring you the sleeping draught."

He was being too sweet, when I hadn't suffered from anything. I tried to shove the tears down. They came anyway. I covered my face.

Alexander groaned. "You – put a shirt on and do something about this."