Cassie had no idea how long she had been asleep at the table when a sudden flash of light jolted her awake. She jerked her head up to see Charlie materialize in the apartment and fall to her knees, covered in mud, blood, and grime. The stench of swamp water and sulfur filled the room. Charlie was back—but bleeding. Dark crimson streaked down her leg and arm, and Cassie's breath caught at how badly wounded she looked.
"Charlie!" Cassie jumped to her feet and ran over to kneel beside the princess, shouting the obvious: "You're hurt!"
"I'm fine." She smiled through matted strands of hair, her demon-red eyes softening to a gentle yellow before falling into Cassie's outstretched arms.
"You don't look fine to me!"
"I killed it, Cassie. I killed the fucking thing. I'm more than alright." Charlie shifted, and the wound on her leg protested, causing her to wince. "I just brought home some souvenirs with me."
Cassie could feel her trembling. "Why didn't you heal yourself?"
"I needed the power to teleport."
Quickly inspecting Charlie's body, she grimaced. "Your wounds are deep, Charlie. If you don't heal yourself soon, you could bleed out."
"Can you use the powder? I didn't react when you used it on Kevin earlier."
"Of course." Cassie helped her rest her back against the couch and stood up.
As she went to collect the powder from the cabinet, Charlie looked over her shoulder to the empty couch. "Where's Kevin?"
"He wanted to be more comfortable, so I moved him to the bedroom and gave him some medicine. He's sleeping now."
"Is he safe enough to go to the hospital?" Cassie's earlier explanation for not taking him in still didn't sit well with her.
"Kevin's out of danger, Charlie, I promise. He explained that the reason he didn't want us to take him in was that the demon could have followed to finish the job. He feared for innocent lives over his own."
"He's so stubborn." She sniffled. "When he's better, I'll knock him silly for this."
"I told him the same thing." Cassie released a breath as she set the box next to Charlie and examined her wounds. "Shit. There's so much dirt and crud. We need to clean you up first. Can you walk?"
Charlie gave a brief dip of her chin. "I think so."
Draping Charlie's arm over her shoulder, Cassie helped her stand. Together, they slowly made their way to the bathroom.
Once inside, Cassie leaned Charlie against the closed door. "Are you okay while I start the water?"
Charlie inclined her head silently.
Moving to the tub, Cassie turned the faucets on, keeping her hand under the water while she twisted the knobs to adjust the temperature.
"Hotter the better, please." Charlie's request came out breathless.
"I know you like it that way, but for wounds like this, we don't want to burn the surrounding skin. And I can't stand the heat like you can."
Charlie grunted softly but remained silent.
With a little more adjustment of the taps, Cassie set the water at just above her own tolerance, but not scalding hot. Satisfied, she wiped her hands on the shower curtain and looked at Charlie's disheveled form. Seeing the mess of tattered clothing, she ventured, "Are you fine if—?"
"Please," Charlie answered the unfinished question, grateful for the help.
With great care, Cassie helped her lift the muck-soaked, torn black T-shirt over her head, making sure not to tug on the chain of her amulet. The jeans pressed against the cuts on her leg, and it took longer than she wanted to peel the torn denim from the wounds, cringing and wincing along with Charlie as she did so.
Cassie snipped away the remnants of the jeans with a pair of scissors until finally she could safely remove the remains from Charlie's hips and down her legs, taking her soiled panties with them. Once they were set aside, she carefully helped Charlie into the tub, who moaned gratefully as the hot water poured over her bruised skin.
Grabbing the second detachable showerhead, Cassie used it to rinse directly over Charlie's wounded arm and battered leg, causing a loud cry of pain. Cassie winced again, feeling empathy for the princess's suffering.
"I can handle it," Charlie reassured her, encouraging her to continue.
Cassie did, and in moments, she had cleared the grime and crud away from Charlie's more serious wounds. With the blockage of dirt removed, fresh blood pooled in the drain, and she saw the extent of the damage. She swore softly. "Jesus! It's worse than I thought. I'll get the powders."
"Wait." Charlie held onto her shoulder. "Wash my hair, please?"
"Charlie?"
"I need to feel clean. Please?"
Understanding flickered across Cassie's face, and she grabbed the shampoo and quickly washed her long, tangled blonde hair. Despite her concern about the wounds, she understood in her heart that Charlie needed to wash away everything from that night. As serious as the leg looked, it wasn't nearly as damaging as what the demon had done to Kevin, so she didn't argue against the request. Plus, it was wise to remove any possible contagions.
Once Charlie's body was free of anything that might cause infection, she grabbed three towels. Cassie handed Charlie one towel to wrap around her head and used the second to cover her injured leg. She then used the third towel to dry her body before applying it as a bandage to her arm.
"Okay, lie down in the tub." She ordered as she helped Charlie obey. Once she was settled, Cassie opened the green powder container and began treating the wounds. Repeating the spell Charlie had seen her use earlier, the powder burned into her wounds, causing her to cry out in more pain.
"I'm sorry, sweetie! It's part of the process, and it's working."
Charlie accepted this through squinted eyes as fresh, hot tears streamed down her cheeks, yet she embraced the pain as a sign that she was alive. As the powder began to take effect, Cassie tore the bandages and placed them along the wounds on her legs and arm, adhering to Charlie much like they had to Kevin. After treating every wound on her body, she fell back on her haunches and exhaled in relief. "The bleeding's stopped."
The pain had finally dulled to a throb, giving Charlie a small sense of ease, and her eyelids fluttered closed in relief. "Thank you, sis."
Cassie's lips quivered, touched by her words, and she flicked a few strands of hair from Charlie's face, murmuring back, "You're welcome, sis."
Seconds ticked by before Charlie opened her eyes, her head drooping to the side as she gave Cassie a hopeful look. "Would it be okay if I stayed with Kevin tonight?"
"I think it would be good medicine for both of you." Cassie checked the dressings. "How long before you can heal yourself? Do you know?"
"I don't think it will take long. The shower and your magics have helped a lot. This was more of a precaution since I've never had to choose which power I use first."
"It may be a good idea to teach you the spell and have you keep some powder on your person for future missions." She thought aloud.
"I'd like that." Charlie hesitantly agreed, her thoughts drifting elsewhere. "But right now, I want to be with Kevin."
Cassie helped her out of the tub. "I'll get you a nightgown from my room. Though I don't think he will mind you slipping into bed like this."
A soft giggle escaped: "Nor do I. But I think covering up is appropriate for now."
She handed Charlie a fresh towel to finish drying. "I'll be right back."
Charlie acknowledged with a gentle tilt of her head as she took the towel.
Moving down the hall to her bedroom, Cassie paused for a moment to brush her fingers under her eyes to dry her tears. The night had taken its toll on her emotions, and it wouldn't be tea she drank after making sure her family was safe and asleep. Shaking her head to clear it, Cassie collected the nightgown for Charlie and then helped her into the bedroom.
When they entered, Charlie let out a soft gasp upon seeing Kevin. His bare back was covered in layers of thick adhesive bandages, extending from his upper shoulders down to just above his boxer shorts. Many of the strips were stained with blood that had seeped through. Kevin looked terrible despite the bandages and the magic, and she sniffled loudly.
Cassie helped her to the bed and spoke softly, "He's resting comfortably, Charlie. You saved his life; remember that most of all."
She didn't feel much better at the reminder, her hand tracing over his shoulder as she settled into the bed beside him. "I should have been with him. If we hadn't fought—If I'd just listened to his orders in the warehouse."
"Stop it, Charlie. Please." Cassie chided softly. "You can't fault yourself for this."
"Yes, I can!" She growled softly. "We knew someone or something had killed the girl using magic, and that they knew I existed. I swore I'd be his armor and be by his side. I failed him, Cassie."
"You. Saved. Him!" Cassie hissed, trying to keep her voice down, not wanting to wake her brother. "Please focus on the good you do, not the evil others do."
Not assured, but too worn out now to argue further, Charlie shrugged in polite agreement, allowing her to pull the blanket up over her tender shoulder.
Cassie exhaled as she stood. She understood Charlie's anger, but the young demon needed to let this go. For all their sakes.
Charlie sensed her sister's frustration. "I'm sorry, Cassie. I'm just so scared for him."
Leaning down, she pressed her lips to Charlie's forehead in a motherly gesture. "Kevin's out of danger. His body is reacting to the magics even better than I'd hoped. But, in the morning, even if he protests, we're taking him to the hospital. For tonight, you two are safe and alive. Focus on that, please."
"I'll try. I promise." Charlie felt his body move slightly at her touch, and she decided that holding him was more important than arguing. "Kevin's here, in my arms, where he belongs. I won't worry anymore, tonight."
"Good." Cassie stood and walked around the bed to her brother's side, and kissed his forehead as well. Speaking softly to Charlie, she whispered, "Let me do all the worrying tonight, for all of us."
"Cassie?" Charlie lifted her head, eyes wet. "If I'm not allowed to worry, neither are you. You saved both of us. You're our angel."
Before she could stop herself, a soft sob escaped, and Cassie forced a smile, declaring, "I won't let anything happen to my family. Now, rest and heal up. That's an order."
"Yes, Ma'am." Charlie dropped her head on the pillow, giving a thumbs-up. Cassie silently approved as she closed the door.
Sniffing against the blanket, Charlie slid her arm around Kevin's torso and drew herself as close as she dared, taking care not to press against his back. She could feel his body heat radiating off of him, far stronger than it had been when she'd found him. Trembling softly, she caressed him where his skin was bare and unmarked, making a silent promise to herself to never leave his side again.
As she lightly traced his skin, the power within her gradually restored itself, and she began to feel like her old self again. Along with the return of her energy, the itch in her back called to her, and Charlie responded to its summons.
Unfurling and stretching out from beneath the blanket, her wings draped over both of them, becoming the symbol of armor she promised to be for him. As they settled like a feathered-down blanket, her powers tingled under her skin, and she felt that she could now heal herself completely.
A slight tug of selfishness nagged at her, scolding her for being able to recover while the man she loved might remain broken forever. However, she knew she needed to be at full strength to protect him. Her eyes drifted closed, and her power flowed out, warming her skin. Her hair floated around her face, and her wings began to glow, catching her attention. Opening her eyes, she studied them as they pulsed in time with her heartbeat, and her ears picked up the barest of hums floating between the feathers.
Focusing intently, she called upon the depths of her demonic power and concentrated on her wounds, channeling her energy into them. A soft hiss mingled with the ambient noise of her wings, steam wisps seeped between blood-soaked bandages, and her pain faded into distant memory.
While she lay there healing, she heard Kevin take a sharp breath and moan. Opening her eyes, she saw her wing's pulsing light misting over his body before seeping into it. Gasping softly, Charlie watched his skin swell and shift under the bandages, steam escaping through the strands, accompanied by the same soft hissing sounds. With her heart pounding faster and hope flowing through her soul, she summoned every bit of healing power she had, funneling it into a radiant burst of energy that filled the bedroom with blinding brilliance.
The energy rippled through the bed, the floor, the walls, and the ceiling briefly before everything went completely dark again. Silence ensued, and Charlie held her breath for what felt like an eternity, afraid to move to see if her hopes had truly been realized.
It was Kevin who broke the silence. "Charlie?" His voice was steady, free of weakness, and he turned easily in the bed to face her, brushing feathers away so they could see each other clearly. "What did you do?"
Elated beyond words, she answered by pulling him tightly to her and capturing his lips in a fierce, desperate embrace. As their mouths moved together, her fingers found the edge of one bandage on his shoulder. The adhesive peeled away easily, and she felt smooth, unmarred skin beneath. Breaking the kiss with a gasp, she stared at the bandage in her hand, then back at him. "I healed you! Kevin, I healed both of us!"
He swallowed and shifted to assess how he felt, and to his surprise, Kevin found himself feeling—well, perfect. He reached behind himself, fingers finding the thick adhesive strips still plastered across his back. One tug, and they came away with barely any resistance. "How?"
Charlie helped him, her hands carefully peeling away the bandages from his shoulders and spine, letting each bloodied strip fall to the floor beside the bed. "I was injured in my fight with Rygen, and I didn't know if I could heal and teleport simultaneously. So, when I got back here, Cassie had to help dress my wounds until I could get my energy back. Only after lying with you did I feel strong enough to heal. When I drew out my power, I felt the sensation of my wings twitching, so I let them come out." She paused, removing another bandage and running her palm across the smooth, healed skin beneath. Catching her breath, Charlie bit her lip. "I think…I think I can heal others when I use them."
As he listened, Kevin noticed he'd been annoyingly brushing feathers away for the last few moments. Now, he focused on them. "Cassie told me about your new powers, but I still can't really believe you have wings, Charlie."
She couldn't help herself. Giggling, she bobbed her head excitedly. "Neither can I! I have wings, Kevin! Aren't they beautiful!?"
He lifted his hand and ran his fingers along the bony ridge of one of the wings, noticing the baby-like skin texture. Charlie let out a low, sensual response, her pelvis lifting slightly off the bed. Her hand stilled on the last bandage clinging to his lower back, fingers trembling slightly. Kevin noticed her reaction, "Are you alright?"
"Oh, yes." Her eyelids fluttered shut, and she let out a soft moan of pleasure. "They're very sensitive. Especially when caressed like that."
"An odd erogenous zone." He noted with a straight, almost scientific tone.
Charlie opened her eyes and peered at him with playful annoyance. She peeled the final bandage away with a flourish and tossed it to join the pile on the floor. She clicked her tongue. "Is that all you're gonna say?"
A slight laugh escaped Kevin, and he shrugged. "Sorry, I'm just so amazed. You keep evolving." He furrowed his brows. "And the teleportation?"
Her smile faded. "Yes. I discovered that I can conjure myself and others, not just objects. I'm so grateful, though. I don't know how else I would have gotten you back here in time. You were in terrible shape, Kevin, bleeding out so badly from Rygen's attack."
"Rygen?" He had heard her say the name before, but now it was becoming clear what she was referring to.
"It's what it called itself before I drove a spear into it and killed it!" A bit of anger mixed in with her defiant tone.
With the euphoria of the moment lost to the memory of the hellhound, Charlie drew her wings in until they popped out of existence. Kevin brushed her cheek. "I'm glad you're safe, Charlie. I wish you hadn't gone out on your own, though."
"I know." She lowered her eyes. "I know it was reckless. But I had to, Kevin. I had to stop it before it could hurt anyone else or come back for you."
"I figured. It's just…I was so worried. I wanted to be out there with you. I knew how dangerous Rygen was and feared for you." Kevin drew a breath. "Instead, I was trapped here in bed, having failed to kill him myself."
Charlie shook her head and argued. "No. Rygen was a monster, and not something you would have been well-equipped to face. Hell, even I barely bested him." She stopped short and looked at him. "Why didn't he finish you off, Kevin? How did you escape him?"
When he didn't immediately answer, Charlie sensed the sudden tension in the bed. She raised her head, gave him a serious look, and repeated, "Kevin? How did you escape?"
Exhaling deeply, he pulled the necklace out from under his shirt. "Cassie gave this to me the other night. It held a spell designed to cause a demon terrible pain, to slow it down, or drive it away."
"How could she know about Ry—?" Realization slammed into her, and Charlie pulled back from him, pain evident in her face. "This was meant for me, wasn't it?"
"Yes." He let his gaze fall, unable to look at her betrayed expression. "After our fight in the car, I told Cassie what had happened in the warehouse." He spoke quickly, "I was concerned about your growing power. If you continued to manifest more and more demon-like versus your hybrid form, I couldn't be sure how much you'd maintain control."
Kevin continued, sensing she was fighting not to cry, hoping to show her how much he trusted her. "I didn't want to accept it, Charlie, but if I hadn't, I'd be dead. I told her I trusted you, but I knew she was right. I had to be ready for anything that could happen." At this point, he knew it would only make things worse if he kept piling on excuses.
Closing her eyes, Charlie worked to calm down, reminding herself to stay composed and think rationally, not emotionally. Yes, it was painful that he had the necklace and that it was meant for her if she tried to hurt him. But Kevin always did everything with careful thought and preparation.
That was why he excelled at what he did and why she loved being his partner. He was also right; he would have died if Cassie hadn't given him the necklace. Losing him would have broken her. It was painful to understand why he had the necklace, but Charlie accepted his reasons. After all, his life was more important than her feelings.
She opened her eyes and gave him a firm look of acceptance. "I understand. Yes, it hurt at first, but I get it."
Looking away, Charlie bit her lip, thinking of all that had happened to her in such a short time. "My powers are evolving faster than I can keep up with them. In one night, I teleported, gained wings, and discovered I could heal others, not just myself."
Shifting her gaze back to Kevin, she continued, "And I would have flown off in a rage if it hadn't been for Cassie knocking some literal sense into me. Possibly getting myself killed or losing myself and becoming the very thing we fight against."
Charlie lifted the necklace around his neck and stroked the beads. "In the morning, I'll let Cassie know I understand why she gave this to you, and thank her for watching out for you. This saved you when I couldn't."
"You saved me, Charlie." He corrected. "This just postponed the inevitable so that you could. Please don't be angry with Cassie for this. She cares about you."
"I'm not." She promised. "I might have been upset if I had learned about this before Rygen, but I'm definitely not mad at her for wanting to protect you. Her forethought gave an advantage that I couldn't." Acknowledging it, she cursed herself harshly. "I should have been with you. If I had, the fucking thing wouldn't have dared attack."
"Don't blame yourself. We each had our tasks to complete." Kevin reminded her, adding, "You can't be expected to be everywhere at once. Unless cloning is a power you haven't discovered yet?"
She smirked, shaking her head. "No, if there's one thing I know I can't do, is be in two places at once."
"Imagine multiple Charlies." He laughed softly.
"Are you sure you're not just fantasizing about a threesome with two of me?" She wondered with a sultry smile, tracing her fingers along his arm playfully.
Laughing again, Kevin shook his head, "No. I'm thinking about the good you could do with such power."
"The good we can do, not the evil others do," Charlie repeated Cassie's line thoughtfully.
"What?"
"Something Cassie told me earlier. I understand it now. We can't control the monsters, only be better than they are, and don't let what is out of our control control us."
Kevin gently touched her cheek, "That's good advice. Advice I should have listened to long ago, and what I'm going to do my best to listen to, now. Think you can follow it with me?"
"I'll try." Charlie gripped his hand in hers. "But I'm never leaving you again!"
"Promise?" Kevin spoke barely above a breath.
She looked at him oddly; the tone of his voice suggested something that she was unsure she understood, "Yes, of course. Why?"
He couldn't wait any longer, lest some other obstacle get in their way. "Because I've been a fool, thinking that waiting until you found your memories would make a difference when we already know how we feel about each other."
"Kevin? What are you saying?" Charlie's voice trembled, hope stirring in her soul.
Kevin pulled her face closer to him. "I am saying, Charlie Morningstar, that more than anything else in this world, I love you, and I want to be with you forever."
She blinked as his words sank in. Her lips rose, a smile growing cheek to cheek, making her dimples glow as her eyes filled with happy tears. She touched his chest above his heart, her voice breaking with a joyful sob. "I…I love you too, Kevin!"
Their lips met in a tender, lingering embrace that sent sparks racing through their bodies as their arms wrapped around each other. She pressed her mouth to his again, tasting the sweetness of his confession. They continued to share gentle caresses of lips and breath for a while before she licked her lips, savoring his sweetness, and blushed. "Does this mean we can…"
"If you'll have me?" Kevin replied, stroking her cheek lovingly.
"Are you sure? We haven't figured out my memory loss. Or, if it's safe?" Charlie didn't want to open up an out for him—not anymore—but he'd taught her well. Their safety did come first.
"Sometimes, one has to take risks." His comment held many meanings: their missions, the evils they may face, and, in this instance, their physical relationship. "I've wanted you for a long time, Charlotte Morningstar, and after nearly losing my life and never being able to tell you—show you—how I feel, I'm done holding back."
"I want you, too!" With a soft laugh of relief, desire, and longing, she was surprised by her next words: "But… I'm so exhausted."
A pause preceded Kevin's throaty laughter, which she joined as Charlie dropped her body onto him, shaking in laughter. The tension that had overstayed its welcome drained from them as they held each other, and their laughter soon faded to soft hums of contentment.
"As much as I need you, Charlie, I don't want our first time making love to end with us falling asleep in the middle of it." He quipped softly.
"I want to be at full power, in all ways, when I have you, my love." She grinned as she traced a finger up and down his bare chest.
Kevin shivered at the idea and felt himself stiffen despite being exhausted; he seriously contemplated asking for a taste then and there. However, his princess told him she wanted to be all she could be for him after recuperating fully, so he knew they'd have to wait just a little longer.
Kevin brushed his lips against her forehead, softly running his fingers along her back in return, sharing his thoughts: "I can't wait."
Nestling her body next to his, Charlie tucked her head against his shoulder, and Kevin wrapped himself around her.
She pressed a soft kiss to the hollow of his throat, murmuring, "Neither can I."
With eyes closed, it took less than a minute of gentle touches for the two lovers, now a couple, to fall asleep in each other's arms.