21. Traveling Spirit

21

Traveling Spirit

Merin

M erin stared up at the sky, his heart sinking as he watched the veil tear further, the edges ragged and pulsing with an eerie, otherworldly light. It had been days since Roman left for the Fae Realm, and with each passing hour, the sense of unease that had settled over Willowbrook grew stronger, more palpable.

"Damn it, Roman," he muttered under his breath, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. "What's taking you so long? We need you guys. I need you."

But even as the words left his lips, Merin knew that it wasn't fair to put that kind of pressure on his mate, to expect him to shoulder the burden of their safety and their future alone. Roman was doing what he had to do, what his duty and his honor demanded of him.

As he walked, he couldn't help but notice the way the streets were emptier than usual, the way people scurried from one place to another with their heads down and their eyes darting nervously from side to side. It was as if they could sense the danger that lurked just beyond the veil, the darkness that threatened to spill over into their world and swallow them whole.

But they were trying, Merin knew. Trying to go about their lives as normally as possible, to cling to the routines and the rituals that gave their days structure and meaning. And he couldn't blame them, couldn't fault them for wanting to hold onto whatever shred of normalcy they could in the face of such uncertainty and fear.

"Merin! Wait up!"

The sound of his name being called jolted Merin out of his thoughts, and he turned to see Mira jogging towards him, her fiery red hair flying behind her like a banner in the wind.

"Hey, Mira," he said, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth despite the heaviness in his heart. "What's got you in such a hurry? I thought you'd be at the bakery by now, getting settled into your new job."

Mira grinned, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous light that made Merin's heart lift just a little. "I was, but then I realized that I forgot something important back at the house. And since you're heading that way anyway, I thought I'd tag along and keep you company."

Merin raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement warming his chest. "Oh, really? And what exactly did you forget that's so important?"

Mira's grin widened, and she held up a small, silver flask that glinted in the early morning light. "This, of course. Can't start my first day on the job without a little liquid courage, now can I?"

Merin shook his head, a chuckle escaping his lips despite himself. "Mira, it's barely eight in the morning. And you know Dominic's rules about drinking on the job."

But even as he said it, he knew that it was a lost cause. Mira was a force of nature, a wild and untamed spirit that couldn't be contained or controlled by the rules and the expectations of polite society. And if he was being honest with himself, Merin kind of loved that about her, loved the way she threw herself into life with a reckless abandon that both terrified and thrilled him in equal measure.

"Rules, schmules," Mira said with a wave of her hand, her eyes twinkling with mirth. "I'm a phoenix, remember? We're not exactly known for our love of structure and authority."

Merin sighed, but he couldn't quite keep the smile from tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Just… try not to burn the place down on your first day, okay? Dominic's taking a big chance on you, and I don't want to see you blow it before you even get started."

Mira's face softened, and she reached out to lay a hand on Merin's arm, her touch warm and comforting even through the layers of his clothing. "I know, Mer. And I appreciate it, more than you know. I'll be on my best behavior, I promise. No flames, no feathers, no funny business."

Merin nodded, he knew how much this job meant to Mira, knew how desperate she was to find a place where she belonged, a purpose that gave her life meaning beyond the endless cycle of death and rebirth that was her birthright as a phoenix.

And he was determined to help her, to do whatever he could to make sure that she had the chance to build a life for herself in Willowbrook, to find the happiness and the fulfillment that she deserved.

"Okay, here we are," he said, pushing open the door and breathing in the familiar scent of sugar and spice and everything nice that always seemed to linger in the air of Dominic's little shop. "Ready to get started?"

Mira grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief and delight. "Born ready, pretty boy. Let's do this thing."

With a final, fond glance at the bakery door, Merin set off down the street, his steps quick and purposeful as he made his way towards the little diner that had become his home away from home.

When he finally reached Willow, he was surprised to find that the diner was still bustling with activity, the tables filled with customers chatting and laughing over steaming cups of coffee and plates piled high with Larry's famous pancakes.

But as he made his way behind the counter, as he tied on his apron and grabbed a notepad to start taking orders…

He noticed that something was off, that the usual sparkle in Gem's eyes was dimmed and the smile on her face seemed forced, almost brittle.

"Hey, Gem," he said softly, laying a hand on her shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze. "Is everything okay? You seem a little… down."

Gem startled at his touch, her eyes widening for a moment before she plastered on a bright, false grin. "What? No, no, everything's fine, Mer. Just a little tired, that's all. You know how it is, working the early shift."

But Merin knew her better than that, knew the difference between the exhaustion that came from a long day on your feet and the weariness that came from carrying a burden too heavy for any one person to bear alone.

"Gem," he said, his voice low and serious. "You know you can talk to me, right? About anything. I'm here for you, always."

For a moment, Gem's mask slipped, and Merin caught a glimpse of the pain and the fear that lurked beneath the surface of her cheerful facade. But then she shook her head, the smile returning to her face with a brittle, determined edge.

"I know, Mer. And I appreciate it, more than you know. But really, I'm fine. Just need a little more coffee in my system, that's all."

Merin sighed, but he knew better than to push. Gem was stubborn, almost as stubborn as he was, and if she didn't want to talk about whatever was bothering her. Well, there was no force in heaven or earth that could make her spill her secrets before she was good and ready.

So he just nodded, giving her shoulder one last squeeze before he turned to grab a fresh pot of coffee from the burner. "Alright, if you say so. But just remember, I'm here if you need me. Always."

Gem's smile softened, and for a moment, Merin thought he saw a flicker of gratitude in her eyes. But then she was off, weaving her way through the tables with a tray of steaming mugs and a laugh that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Merin watched her go, his heart heavy with worry and a vague, nagging sense of unease.

Gem's voice cut through the chatter of the diner, her words making Merin's heart skip a beat in his chest.

"Oh, Mer! I almost forgot. Larry and Steve were looking for you earlier, said they needed to talk to you about something important. They're in their office, whenever you have a minute."

Merin frowned, his brow furrowing with confusion and concern. It wasn't like Larry and Steve to pull him away from his duties in the middle of a shift, not unless there was something truly urgent that needed his attention.

"Did they say what it was about?" he asked, his voice tight with worry.

Gem shook her head, her own expression mirroring his own unease. "No, just that they needed to see you as soon as possible."

Merin nodded. "Alright. Thanks, Gem. I'll head back there now."

He untied his apron and hung it on the hook by the door, his mind racing with possibilities and fears as he made his way towards the little office at the back of the diner.

Larry and Steve were sitting across from each other, deep in conversation. They looked up as Merin entered, their faces breaking into warm smiles.

"Mer!" Larry exclaimed, waving him over. "Come on in, take a seat."

Merin closed the door behind him and plopped down into the empty chair. "So, what's up, guys? Gem said you wanted to see me."

Steve leaned forward, his brow furrowing with concern. "We did. We wanted to check in on you, see how you're holding up with everything that's going on."

Merin sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm okay, I guess. I mean, as okay as I can be, considering the circumstances."

He glanced out the window, his gaze drawn to the pulsing, ragged tear in the sky. "That thing just keeps getting bigger, doesn't it? It's like a nightmare that won't end."

Larry nodded, his expression grim. "It's bad, Mer. Real bad. But we've got to keep our heads up, keep fighting the good fight. It's the only way we're going to get through this."

Merin looked back at them, his eyes searching their faces for any hint of news, of hope. "Have you guys heard anything from Roman? Any word on how things are going in the Fae Realm?"

Steve and Larry exchanged a glance, a silent communication passing between them. Merin's heart sank, a cold, creeping dread settling in his gut.

"No," Steve said softly, his voice heavy with regret. "We haven't heard anything, Mer. I'm sorry."

Merin swallowed hard, his throat tight with emotion. "It's okay," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I know he's got a lot on his plate, a lot of people counting on him. I just… I wish there was a way to contact him, to let him know that we're all thinking of him, you know?"

Larry leaned forward, his eyes bright with a sudden, fierce intensity. "Actually, Merin there might be a way."

Merin's head snapped up, his heart leaping in his chest. "What? How?"

Larry glanced at Steve, who nodded in silent encouragement. Then, with a deep breath, Larry held out his hand, his palm facing upwards.

"Watch," he said, his voice low and serious.

And then, to Merin's amazement, Larry's hand began to glow. A soft, pulsing light that grew brighter and brighter with each passing second, until it was almost too intense to look at.

And then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the light faded. And there, nestled in the center of Larry's palm…

Was a small, glowing orb. A perfect sphere of swirling blues and greens, shot through with flecks of silver that sparkled and danced in the dim light of the office.

"What… what is that?" Merin breathed, his eyes wide with wonder.

Steve smiled, a small, sad thing that made Merin's heart ache. "It's a Spirit Orb, Mer. A rare and powerful artifact that was given to us Celestials, long ago." He paused, his gaze distant and filled with memory. "You see, as angels, Larry and I we're not supposed to interfere in the conflicts of the mortal realm, not directly. It goes against the laws that govern our kind, the rules that keep the balance between the worlds in check."

"But," Larry said, his voice cutting through Merin's thoughts like a knife, "that doesn't mean we can't help in other ways, can't use our powers and our knowledge to give aid to those who need it most."

He held out the orb, his eyes shining with a fierce, unbreakable light. "This orb, Merin, it's a conduit, a bridge between the worlds that can allow you to contact anyone, anywhere, no matter how far apart you might be."

Merin's heart raced, his palms sweating and his throat dry as he reached out, as he took the orb from Larry's hand with a reverence and a wonder that stole the very breath from his lungs.

"Are you serious?" he asked, his voice rough with emotion. "This thing can really let me talk to Roman, even though he's in a whole other realm?"

Steve nodded, his face set with a grim, unwavering determination. "It can, Mer. And we want you to have it, to use it to reach out to Roman."

"Thank you. Thank you both."

Larry held up a hand, a glimmer of excitement sparking in his eyes. "Why don't you give it a try? Just to make sure it works, to get a feel for how it operates."

Merin blinked, a flicker of nervousness and anticipation warring in his gut. "What, you mean… right here? Now?"

Larry nodded, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Sure, why not? Steve and I can guide you through it, help you understand how to use the orb to its fullest potential."

Merin took a deep breath, his fingers tightening around the Spirit Orb as he weighed his options. He was eager to try it out, to see if he could really reach Roman across the vast expanse of time and space that separated them.

"Okay," he said softly, his voice filled with a quiet, unwavering determination. "What do I need to do?"

Larry's smile widened, his eyes sparkling with a fierce, unshakable pride. "It's simple, really. Just hold the orb in your hands, close your eyes, and think of the person you want to contact. Picture their face, their voice, the essence of who they are and what they mean to you."

Merin nodded, his heart pounding in his chest as he cradled the orb in his palms. He closed his eyes, his breath leaving him in a soft, shuddering sigh as he focused all of his energy, all of his intention, on the image of Roman's face.

The strong, chiseled lines of his jaw, the soft, full curve of his lips, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled… Merin let himself sink into the memory, into the feeling of Roman's presence, his essence, his very soul.

And as he did, as he let himself be consumed by the love and the longing and the sheer, unbridled need that burned in his veins… he felt a shift, a change in the air around him. A sense of weightlessness, of disconnection from his physical form as his spirit, his consciousness, seemed to lift and expand and soar beyond the confines of his mortal body.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself floating above a shimmering, ethereal landscape that seemed to pulse and shift with a life and a magic all its own. He looked down at himself, at the translucent, glowing form of his spirit-self, and felt a flicker of wonder, of awe, at the sheer impossibility of it all.

And there, standing beside a crystal-clear river that wound its way through a lush, verdant glade… were Roman and Adrian, their faces set with grim determination and their eyes filled with a quiet, aching sorrow.

"Roman," he called out, his voice echoing strangely in the stillness of the glade. "Roman, it's me. It's Merin."

Roman's head snapped up, his eyes widening with shock and disbelief as he caught sight of Merin's spectral form hovering above him. "Merin?" he breathed, his voice hoarse and filled with a desperate, aching hope. "Is that… is that really you?"

Merin nodded, a grin splitting his face as he drifted closer, as he reached out with a hand that passed right through Roman's shoulder, leaving a trail of shimmering, ethereal light in its wake.

"Yeah, it's me," he said softly, his voice filled with wonder and joy. "Larry and Steve, they gave me this Spirit Orb, said it would let me reach out to you, let me connect with you no matter how far apart we were."

Roman shook his head, his throat working as he fought back the tears that threatened to spill down his cheeks. "I can't believe it," he whispered, his hand reaching out as if to cup Merin's cheek, only to pass right through his spectral form. "You're here, you're really here."

Merin's heart clenched, a wave of love and longing washing over him. "I am, baby. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. Not until you tell me what's been going on, how you're holding up after everything that's happened."

Roman's face fell, his eyes filling with a quiet, aching sorrow. "It's been… it's been hard, Mer. Losing the Queen, watching Rowan take on the mantle of King so soon after her death… it's a heavy burden to bear."

Merin's eyes widened, shock and concern warring in his gut. "Rowan's the King now? God, Roman, I'm so sorry. I can't even imagine what he must be going through, what all of you must be feeling."

Adrian stepped forward, his face set with a grim, unyielding determination. "He's trying, Mer. Trying to be strong, trying to be the leader that his people need him to be. But it's not easy, not by a long shot."

Merin nodded, his heart aching with sympathy and shared grief. He wished he could be there, could offer Rowan and the others the comfort and the support they so desperately needed.

But he was here, in this moment, with Roman. And he knew, with a bone-deep certainty, that there was nowhere else he would rather be, no one else he would rather be with.

"I need you to know that you're not alone, that you have people back home who love you and believe in you and are fighting like hell to keep the world safe until you can come back to us."

Roman swallowed hard, his eyes shining with unshed tears as he met Merin's gaze with a look of such raw, unbridled love that it stole the very breath from the seer's lungs.

"I know, Mer. I know." Roman said fondly.

"I don't have much time left, but I need you to promise me something, okay? Promise me that you'll be careful, that you won't take any unnecessary risks or put yourself in harm's way." He paused, his throat working as he fought back the tears that threatened to spill down his cheeks. "I can't lose you, baby. Can't even think about a world without you in it. So please, just… just come back to me, okay? Come back safe and sound and whole, and I'll be here waiting for you, ready to spend the rest of my life making sure you never forget how loved you are, how cherished and adored and fucking essential you are to my very existence."

Roman nodded, his jaw clenching with a fierce, unbreakable resolve. "I promise, Merin."

Merin smiled, a soft, tender thing that made Roman's heart skip a beat in his chest. "I love you," he whispered, his spectral form starting to flicker and fade as the connection between them grew weaker and weaker. "More than life, more than breath, more than any words in any language could ever hope to express."

Roman's hand reached out, his fingers passing through Merin's translucent cheek in a ghostly caress. "I love you too," he said softly, his voice filled with a quiet, aching devotion. "Always and forever, until the very end of time itself."