Immortal Healers/Solangelo

Chapter 4

WS, I stared at the numbers and letters. Throughout my shift I memorised the phone number and almost dialled it 3 times. I had to get in contact with Will, because when I met him yesterday he glowed. Not like he glowed, but his aura did. That would attract monsters and dark magic. I had to act, fast.

"Nico, go end your shift early so you can go on your date." Jason smirked suggestively at me. Ooh, if only he knew. He thought he knew. He thought my biggest secret was being gay. Ha, if my life was as simple as one secret, I wouldn't wear a weapon on almost every limb.

"Before I leave, I have to go through this bag. Someone left it here yesterday." I opened the messenger bag. It didn't contain much. A blue hoodie, a wallet and some papers. The papers were from a moving company and a storage rent just outside of New York City. The letters were addressed at 'William Solace'. That couldn't be possible. I scooped up the bag and my own stuff. I then quickly made my way outside and sniffed up the fresh air. Well as far as there is fresh air in the middle of New York.

I made my way to Central Park, enjoying the sun, who contrary to yesterday, was shining brightly. Most of the park benches in the sun were taken, but in the shade of a big oak, there was a bench that was empty.

Slowly I took out my phone, suddenly nervous. All my life I had searched for the saviour and when I'm working, suddenly I meet him. He was the reason that I hadn't given up after Bianca passed away. She had given her life to find him, and I wouldn't let that go to waste without a fight.

Most humans are innocent and kind-hearted. They don't deserve their destiny that awaits them. Without the saviour their destiny is set for destruction. The saviour wouldn't survive without help. Help of an immortal healer. Had this person been born 150 years ago, then he would have had hundreds of protectors. Now only I was left. The saviour, Will, had been my reason to live for far longer than he actually existed.

My fingers did the work for me. "This is Will. Please hurry as there is a paintbrush dangerously close to ruining a puppy who is about to pee against my easel." "Hey Will, Nico here. You know, the guy that literally fell for you by passing out."

"Nico, is your shift over? I'm in Central Park, near the Mary Poppins statue."

"Yes my shift is over. Good that's a 5 minute walk from here."

"Okay see you there. I've got to go. That dog is getting closer to being painted blue. Bye"

"Will I found your..." "Beep, beep" Shit he already hung up.

5 minutes later I was standing next to the Mary Poppins statue, scanning my surroundings for Will, a blue puppy or a monster.

"Nico up here! Watch out for falling paint." The voice came from above me. I looked up. In the overhanging tree sat Will, his jeans, shirt and sneakers covered in paint and an unfinished painting leaning against the trunk.

"Will, who the hell uses a tree as easel? That's why a dog would pee against it." "Sorry but I like the view up here. Now climb up, and tell me what you think of it"

Without too much difficulty I climbed the tree. The oak was bending over the road as if bearing the weight of his age. Will was seated on the thickest side branch.

The painting was from the point of view from the tree. It looked exactly like Central Park, except a lot emptier. The only living creatures were a Raven, with shiny black feathers, and a Golden Retriever, the curly fur almost coming to life, so well painted and sparkling in the sunlight.

"It's breath-taking." I was entranced by the image. It looked so real, so much like a picture out of a story that was being told. "I don't know where I got the inspiration, but this morning I just started painting. I never use so much black in my paintings but this seemed fitting. A Raven, black and mysterious. Like you."

I almost fell out of the tree. It was like he knew my connection to the Raven. See when our powers start to develop, the period you call puberty, your first Change is set in motion. Every immortal healer, and magical human for that matter, has their own animal to represent their soul. You can turn into the animal, but during puberty the Change isn't controllable. First of all, your brain goes haywire. A massive headache is the first sign, then your senses going rigid. Last of all comes the Change. The first is the worst. It can happen at any moment and you have no clue what you'll be and what to do. Changing back is even more annoying. You need to trigger certain memories, and for everyone those memories were different.

My Changes were annoying. The first time was luckily outdoors, on my 13th birthday. I was walking down a street with Bianca, when suddenly I was higher in the air, flying. I freaked out, but Bianca saved me. She helped me turn back and said: "your hair matches your animal, my Raven." After that my Changes were still unpleasant, but easier. Bianca was even easier, her animal being a wild cat. She would be asleep and accidentally Change without noticing.

That was why I thought the painting was so real. The raven and the retriever were meeting like two humans meeting for the first time.

"Do you like it?" "Yes, it looks so real like you put a picture on canvas." Will beamed with pride. A smile spread across his face, like he never got compliments about his art.

"Okay, before one of us plunges to their deaths, let's get out of this tree and eat dinner okay." Will simply nobbed and jumped down. He tried to land gracefully, but failed and landed on his butt.

I went down more carefully, taking Will's supplies with me in the process. I silently handed him his supplies and the messenger bag. He looked at it confused for a second. "You left it at The Starbucks yesterday." "See, I thought I lost something."

We made our way to a small diner. Neither of us spoke, but the silence was comfortable.

We sat down in the corner of the diner, in a booth. The waitress came and took our orders.

Will was shamelessly staring at me with wide blue eyes. I stared back, trying to make him look away, but only got a small smile. His eyes were beautiful blue as the sky on a sunny afternoon, but with small flecks of gold. They seemed to tell a story.

"So Will. Tell me something about yourself."

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WC: 1142 WHAT THE HADES!