15.An Electrifying Conclusion

15. An Electrifying Conclusion

When I drag myself home from the hospital, I collapse into bed and sleep for two days straight. Falling into bed and not getting up was the last thing I expected after what seemed like an eternity of bedrest and waiting in the hospital.

But then Azure Serrano confessed his love for me right before he dumped me, and suddenly I only had enough energy to sleep and wallow.

The pure misery lasts for two days.

Then I get to work.

Time is running out. I need answers now. No time to sleep or stop or—

"Marty, are you in there? Open up."

—no time to open the door .

I haven't been out of my apartment in nearly two weeks. The only time I open the door is for a delivery person bringing me food. I rest when I can't go on anymore, I step away when my eyes hurt, but then I get right back to it.

Mom has started dropping by to check up on me.

"Come on, this isn't good for you." She would know all about that. "Trust me, I know all about unhealthy behavior."

Okay, she has a point. I know this isn't great, but time is running out.

There's only so much time until Az disappears for good. The more time that passes, the more time he'll have to make himself unfindable. He thinks that leaving is the only way to keep me safe. I have to find answers and break the curse before he's gone for good.

So, I am pushing myself to my limits. I am exhausting myself and not taking good enough care of myself. But it's a calculated risk. I'll stop and put myself back together after I find the answer. I have to do it fast before it's too late.

I can't give up, I can't. I'm afraid to. He can't be gone for good.

"I'm sure you think you're doing the right thing and you have everything under control. But have you showered anytime in the past two weeks?" What does that have to do with— "Are you really going to trust the judgment of a man who is two weeks overdue on basic hygiene?"

… She might have a point.

If I let her in, another set of eyes could help. And if she forces me to relax or take a shower… that's probably not the worst thing in the world either.

I'm already walking into the living room when she tries again.

"You know I could just burn your door down?"

I open the door with an arched eyebrow. "What was that?"

She raises her hands innocently. "I was bluffing. Promise."

Mom looks me over, nods, and promptly sweeps me into a big hug.

"Don't I smell terrible?"

"These are the sacrifices we make for the people we love."

I do feel a bit saner after a shower. Mom is in my room, looking over all my notes. Well, my notes have kind of exploded all over the walls and everywhere. It's an unorganized mess of papers, Post-it notes, and empty take-out containers.

"It's not as bad as it looks?" I say.

"If you believe that, you need a break even more than I thought."

She usually encourages me to have more fun and be a little reckless. I think it's her way of trying to balance things out. I had to be sensible when I was a kid for both of us, so now she wants me to reclaim my childhood and make mistakes while she watches out for me.

So, if she's telling me I've gone overboard, if this is the one time she feels strongly enough to pull the concerned Mom card and tell me not to do something, then this must be serious.

But how can I give up? If I do, I have to face that Az is gone. That he's not coming back. I'm not sure I can handle that either.

"You're not going to give up," she says. "And I'm not asking you to. Just slow down some."

I stare at my mother, the worry evident in her eyes as she takes in my disheveled appearance.

"I have to keep going. The longer it takes me to solve this, the longer Az has to fall off the face of the earth. His phone hasn't been disconnected yet. I need to find a solution while I can still get in touch with him. The answer won't help if I can't reach him."

After he left, I tried calling a few times, until I realized I should wait until I had something new to say. If I'm not bombarding him with calls, hopefully there will be more time until he changes his number.

"As soon as I figure this out, then I can rest for weeks."

"You aren't going to find the answer," she says gently. "Not like this. "

Her hand on my shoulder guides me towards the couch, and I let her sit me down. She sits next to me, her hand warm in mine as she holds on.

"Time to come up for air, Marty."

"I know you're right… I'm not sure I can."

Her hand is warmer than normal, sending soothing warmth to me. A classic firebrand trick to comfort someone. I want to pull my hand away but can't bring myself to let go.

"You finding the answer and then not being able to find Az and let him know? That's one of the worst-case scenarios," she informs me. "The other one is that you push yourself too hard and you're too exhausted to even see what's in front of you. What if you do find a solution but you have no idea what you've discovered because you're not thinking clearly enough to recognize it?"

Huh. That possibility did not even occur to me.

But now the idea torments me. Her words echo in my head, reverberating like the first crack of thunder in a storm. What if the truth is right in front of my face and I can't see it?

I can't let that happen. It's too cruel. A six-year curse is cruel enough.

Collapsing back against the couch, I realize that I can't deny it any longer. It's time to admit defeat. No, it's time to pause. Until I have the energy to resume.

"Wow," I whisper. "It turns out you're really good at being mature."

"With age comes wisdom, apparently," Mom chuckles. "You just haven't been immature enough, so I've never had the chance to drop all my knowledge on you."

I groan, letting my head loll to the side. "I haven't seen the sun in two weeks. I should probably leave my apartment, huh?"

"That sounds wise."

"Alright." Stretching my arms above my head, I take a deep breath and force a small smile. "Let's get some fresh air."

She wraps an arm around my shoulders and leads me out.

Nothing will make me give up on Az, but I do need to calm down and think things through. I should even think about finding another job soon. Something part-time and easy, maybe even something that doesn't involve magic. A job to pay the bills but that also leaves enough time open so I can keep investigating.

Everything will be alright.

I don't quite believe that, and I won't, not while Az is gone. I tell myself anyway. Everything will be alright.

Mom and I have circled the block a few times and my head is starting to clear. We're trying to figure out where to stop for dinner when Mrs. Blanchard sends me an email.

Just like that, it's time to get back to work. Because what she has to tell me could change everything. She found a way to bypass all the staff and contact Ric Oscurro directly.

Ric has agreed to meet with me.

~

Here we go. It all comes down to this. I only get one shot. I have to get this right.

"Mr. Russo?"

"Hey, over here."

Late in the evening, Ric Oscurro is still dressed for business. He's in a sharp suit, his slacks still pressed despite the travel it took to get him here.

"Thank you for meeting me."

"Of course, Mr. Russo." He strolls up the path on the campus quad, meeting me under the light of a lamppost with a polite smile. "Marty, is it? I'm happy to help."

He's never been here before and had to drive about an hour from where he was to get here, yet he acts perfectly at ease, as if he conducts meetings out on the lawn among the shadows all the time .

Frankly, his calm, unflappable demeanor seems envious at the moment. I struggle to match it. Everything at stake makes me nervous.

"Look Ric, uh, Mr. Oscurro—"

"Please, call me Ric." He has a politician's smile, and I trust him even less than a bureaucrat.

"Okay, Ric. Grateful as I am that you're willing to speak to me, you aren't an easy man to get in touch with." Which makes his friendly demeanor all the more strange. "Why are you willing to discuss Azure Serrano now?"

"My family is overly cautious and allergic to bad press." Ric waves off their concern; the light catches on the gaudy gold ring on his right hand. "They're worried about a scandal and want to prevent one."

Is this even easier than I hoped? Is he admitting—

"I'm not the wizard who cursed anyone," he continues with a laugh. Okay, not that easy after all. "But whoever impersonated me has already dragged my name through the mud enough by cursing someone while using my name. We know nothing about the curse and have nothing to gain by engaging with these rumors. You know how gossip is. Once people believe a rumor, nobody cares if it's true or not."

"Isn't it odd that this other wizard claiming to be you is also an electricbrand?" I counter .

"On the contrary, I'd say a man with a passing resemblance to me could use his electricbrand to make his story that much more convincing."

With his slicked back hair and expensive clothes, Ric carries himself with confidence. He didn't even bat an eye when I asked a tougher question. He came prepared. Any inconsistency in his claims of innocence won't be what trips him up. He has an answer for everything, and he'll have a plausible explanation for the suspicious details in his story.

I almost wish I were the kind of person who'd wipe that smug look off his face by decking him. I don't know why he's here, but there's obviously something in it for him.

"Others have reached out to our public relations team," Ric continues. " You found someone capable of getting in touch with me. I admire your persistence. The least I can do is meet with you and clear up some questions."

His story makes it seem simple. "The reason we weren't able to contact you is just one overzealous and protective family and their staff? It's all a big misunderstanding?"

"That's all."

Ric watches me serenely as I mull it over. His eyes are dark enough that I can't make out their color in this light. However, I can see the amusement in his eyes. He's barely trying to conceal it. Or he can't conceal his eagerness. He's too excited to be here lying to my face. It ruins his innocent act.

I still really want to wipe that look off his face. There's a better way than punching him. By getting answers. By holding him responsible.

"There's just one problem, Ric. Azure is convinced he didn't meet some con artist impersonating you. He met you. He's been sure of that from the start."

"Marty, Marty, don't tell me you're fooled too," he laughs. "When you're successful, everyone tries to associate themselves with you. Lots of people use our name to network and make deals. It doesn't mean we're actually in business with all of them."

"I believe him," I declare, refusing to back down. "I don't believe you."

Ric sighs, brushing dust off the arm of his suit. "Then I guess this meeting was pointless after all."

"You're really going to leave?" I ask as he turns around to go.

"What else can I do if you won't hear me out? Tell Az I said good luck."

"Az?"

He freezes for a second with his back still turned. "Huh, I must have heard that nickname somewhere."

The Oscurro staff are all about denials and no comment. I thought Ric Oscurro was a scorned lover who wanted to punish the guy who broke his heart and he had the resources to protect himself, to hide behind his team of lawyers and hired professionals to deflect blame and feign ignorance while his curse wreaked havoc.

But he's here in front of me. And he's giddy about it, like he's been waiting a long time for a meeting like this. Which means that Ric has told the truth about one thing. He wasn't the one hiding behind PR people and legal teams. He was being hidden by his family.

"Staying away wasn't your decision," I realize. "Your family was trying to protect you by keeping you from contacting Az again. But then Mrs. Blanchard was able to reach you directly, and you came running. Claim to be innocent all you want, it doesn't matter. You're here. You came here for a reason."

"Oh really, and what reason is that?" Ric laughs, though it's no more genuine than his smile. He doesn't admit anything, but he stops leaving, returning to me once more. He almost skips over, enjoying himself that much.

Only one reason for this meeting between us comes to mind, the same reason he sought Az out before.

"Are you here to gloat? Hoping for details about the pain you caused? You haven't been able to see him again, but you must like knowing that he's suffering."

His eyebrows rise. "Quite an imagination you have."

"Not really. It's the same reason you visited him the first time."

Ric tilts his head, a brief flicker of surprise crossing his face before it settles back into a smug smirk.

But it's too late.

"That isn't why you visited him?" I voice, mind racing as I try to put the pieces together. "Even now you're so pleased about what you did." Az told me Ric came to him to celebrate his victory and let the dragon shifter know exactly who was responsible for his curse. It's even easier to believe now that we've met. But if that wasn't Ric's intention at all, then why was he really there? What else could it be? "If you don't want revenge, what, were you still carrying a torch for a hookup? No, it can't be true love. You barely even knew him…"

Wait a minute. Is that the answer? Ric barely knew Az. And it went both ways. Az knew next to nothing about Ric. Just that he belonged to a prominent family and was interested in him. That is it, isn't it?

If Azure never saw this side of Ric, if he didn't realize how much of an arrogant, entitled jackass Ric is… and if Ric himself missed key details about Az , things Az never would have felt comfortable enough to show him…

Oh my god.

I told Azure I wanted to start over. Challenge every piece of data and look at it with fresh eyes. That was the right instinct, and it's essential to understanding this fucked up mess, because none of it is quite right.

I was hired to help mitigate an electric curse. But it's only when I start challenging even that assumption that I actually see how things start making sense.

"This isn't a curse after all," I say. "You didn't curse Az, you put a spell on him."

Ric laughs again at my amusing theory, ducking his head. I keep going, excitement getting the better of me as I piece it together.

"You put a spell on him. One where he'd shock everyone he touches except for you. You weren't coming back to gloat." Az was supposed to see Ric was safe when they touched. "You weren't out to punish Az. You wanted to control him."

When Ric lifts his face again, the good humor there vanishes. He goes cold, and it's like a different person stands in front of me.

"Az tried to fly away, and he was one of the most fun playthings I ever had. I wasn't done with him yet." Ric chuckles. "Damn, I didn't think you'd catch on. Did I come on too strong? I've been waiting a long time to see what happens next."

That's one of the few things he's said that I entirely believe. He seems so curious, in a sick twisted way. I find myself answering.

"You were surprised when I truly believed your motivation was revenge. If you weren't punishing Az, you had to be after something else when you used your magic and saw him for the last time."

"Az kept finding himself in shocking situations." Ric smiles innocently, like he isn't the psycho in this situation. "I just wanted to provide an alternative."

"You didn't think it was weird that everyone else called it a curse?" I question.

"No, it kept the whole thing going." He's right about that. Spells are much easier to undo than curses. But everyone was looking for a specific condition to lift the curse instead. Mislabeling the spell as a curse protected the magic he cast and meant it stayed active all these years later. "Besides, it sort of fit. Az saw it as a curse, me shackling him to one person. He hadn't seen the light yet."

My heart is pounding in my chest as I stare at Ric, disgust and anger swirling in my gut. I can't believe the man in front of me is capable of such cruelty.

"Azure actually feels bad for how he treated you. He doesn't even blame you for the curse still operating because he figures you're still hurt and have a reason for not lifting it."

"I do," Ric says.

My blood boils. "Yeah, you're hoping that Az will break and come crawling back into your bed. It doesn't matter to you whether it takes one year, six, or twenty."

His sharp smile disgusts me. "If you had the opportunity to bed him, you'd understand."

"I understand. You're a psycho!" I shout. "Your family hid your guilt and added confusion so there are no consequences for you. You have all the time in the world to wait for Azure to cave."

"Why do you say that like it's a bad thing?"

"Because how much pain and isolation does he have to go through first?"

Ric shrugs. "Don't know. Don't care. How is that my problem?"

My fists clench at my sides. I can't believe the callousness of this man. Ric didn't keep his magic in effect for all these years as a punishment or because he was still hurt. He did it because he saw no downside, not for him. His family protected him from the consequences, and if the magic still affected Az, there was always a chance he'd break and come crawling back. Ric had no thought for Az's feelings, totally content to let him suffer because he might one day get his lover back .

Az thought he was the bad guy. He made a mistake once. But he didn't know who Ric truly was, an unfeeling psycho who didn't care about anyone else, didn't care how much pain he caused as long as he got what he wanted in the end.

And Ric wanted control over Az, he wanted a lover who would be dependent on Ric. No downside for him, not with his family shielding him.

Ric cast a spell to make Az's skin emit an electric charge. Of course, a spell can be broken in numerous ways. But as long as he hid that truth from Az, Ric could have kept Az ensnared and dependent on him until Ric chose to be done with him.

"It's a shame," I say, glaring at Ric. "Az had no idea who you really were and what you were capable of. Just like you had no idea he was actually a good man with a good heart, that he loves magic, or that his grandma was a witch."

Ric blinks. "What, why does that matter?" This is the second time in the conversation I've said something he was not remotely expecting. It's satisfying.

I'm happy to deliver the bad news. "Az still has no idea he can touch you."

"What? You're lying." Now he snaps to attention, body going rigid as he searches me for signs of a trick.

"Az thinks he shocks everyone he comes into contact with. "

"No, no." He takes a menacing step towards me. "I found him, touched him, showed him."

With a few steps back, I fall out of the light's range. Good, keep the focus and the spotlight off me and on him.

"You probably thought you were so clever," I say. "To get him under your control, you wouldn't even have to say a word. One touch would say it all."

Az zaps other people. They can get hurt while he just feels a small current on his end. He also feels a current when he touches electricbrands.

"Az always felt a current when he touched you. He felt a current whenever he touched any electricbrand." Due to his grandmother's lessons, he feels a person's magic on contact. "All you did was make him feel the same current with everyone. It became the default." I laugh, unable to help it even as his face clouds with anger. "Get it? You weren't making your touch special like you thought. You were really making everyone else's touch feel just like yours."

If Az couldn't feel a person's magic, Ric's plan would have worked. He would have felt nothing when Ric touched him and realized Ric's touch was safe. Or if Ric knew about Az's talent, he could have adjusted his manipulations.

But Azure was only interested in casual sex back then. Ric was no exception. The dragon was no doubt different six years ago, but not entirely different. Azure wouldn't tell an adorable, somewhat embarrassing personal story about sitting on his grandmother's lap to just anyone. And that's who Ric was. Anyone. He wasn't someone special.

"No. No! You're lying." Ric leaps closer with a wild look on his face. "You aren't lying, are you? He always felt the current?"

I barely get out of the way in time. "If you really knew him at all, you'd have known touching him wouldn't be enough to show him you were safe."

Ric's smarmy smile looks much more sinister now that I know what he's capable of. I watch him carefully, trying to prepare for anything he might throw at me.

All the tension and darkness seems to drain from him and he's back to the friendly, confident man I met earlier. He adjusts his suit, brushes himself off like he can shake the psycho out of himself.

"Thank you so much, Marty. Meeting you was an excellent idea after all. You've solved everything."

"I did?" I did, but why is he happy about that?

"Now we can clear up the confusion," Ric says cheerfully. "Once Az knows I'm his only option, he'll see things my way. "

Like hell he will. "Az will see you're a manipulative psychopath and want nothing to do with you."

"He won't have any other choice. It's me or no one."

I scoff. "Bullshit, a spell is so much easier to reverse than a curse."

"Yes, but he won't know it's a spell." Ric nods, already planning his next move. "I'll play along with the curse angle and make up some dreadful lifting condition. He'll see the best option is giving me what I want."

My stomach drops as I realize the gravity of the situation. Ric is cruel and entitled, a very dangerous combination. Even after six years, he's still determined to get what he wants, no matter the cost. And that leaves me as the annoying loose end.

"All you have to do is get rid of me," I say. "Then there will be no one to expose your guilt. And no one to tell Az the truth."

"You're no fun." Ric frowns and pouts. "I wanted it to be a surprise when I revealed that you won't be around to tell Az anything."

A clap of thunder echoes in the air, the deep rumble reverberating through my bones. Electricity crackles around Ric, sparks dancing across his skin as he glares at me with cold fury .

I turn and run through the darkness of the campus lawn, my heart pounding. I can hear Ric's footsteps giving chase behind me.

A flash of lightning streaks across the sky above, far too close for comfort. "There's nowhere to run, Marty."

Can I get to help in time? I'm not sure. I need to do something. Do I have any tricks up my sleeve?

When I glance back, Ric thrusts out his hand and a searing bolt of electricity fires straight at me. I throw myself to the ground, hearing the crackling energy pass over me.

Ric growls deep in his throat, his eyes burning with rage. This time, he doesn't hold back, unleashing a rapid barrage of electric bolts. I roll away, barely staying ahead of the onslaught.

As soon as I get upright, he fires a bolt towards my knees and I rise just a few feet in the air to avoid its path.

It's almost like the game of tag I played with Az on this very lawn, except this version is lethal. And Ric won't run out of steam like Az. It'll take more than a few minutes of casting to tire him, and he can easily conjure powerful electric blasts.

Before I can even touch back down, Ric is firing another salvo of projectiles. A stray bolt catches me square in the midsection, the electric current lancing through me with searing pain .

I tumble from the air, crashing hard into the unforgiving ground. The hit itself isn't strong, the shock meant to stun me and knock me down. I'm an easy target now.

Coughing, I struggle to push myself up onto my hands and knees. Ric stalks over, towering above me with a sneer. Without warning, he lashes out, his boot connecting with my stomach in a vicious kick. The air rushes from my lungs in a strangled gasp as I fall back to the ground. Damn, I really wasn't expecting that.

"Goodbye, Marty," Ric growls, taking a step back. He raises his hands, channeling every ounce of electricity he can muster.

Bolts of energy dance wildly across his form, growing brighter and more intense with each passing second. This won't be a simple bolt of lightning - this strike will be pure, concentrated electric power, amplified tenfold by his magical abilities.

Here it comes, I think, bracing myself as best I can.

Ric thrusts his hands forward, releasing the full force of the built-up energy directly at me. The air crackles and hums, the brilliant flash of power searing my vision—

I jerk and go still as the magical lightning appears to strike me head-on. Ric watches me intently, his gaze palpable. After several long moments, he must be satisfied that his work is done. I hear his footsteps moving away from me.

The second his back is turned, I surge into motion. A powerful blast of compressed air erupts from my outstretched palm, slamming squarely into Ric's unprepared form. He's launched through the air like a ragdoll, letting out a startled cry as he crashes with bone-jarring force into the thick trunk of a nearby oak tree. He slumps to the ground, unconscious.

I rise to my feet, mostly unharmed. The first hit and the kick hurt like a bitch, but I had to sell the performance before he went in for the kill.

While Ric assumed his last lightning bolt struck me directly, I had already erected an invisible shield of solidified air - the same spell I created to mitigate Az's electric curse. His magical attack dispersed harmlessly against the protective barrier.

I never planned on using the shield for this purpose and I never got to do all the testing I wanted, but I had no choice. I channeled everything I had into making the shield. I'm not sure it could have withstood another hit of that magnitude, but the shield held up for one strike.

Pretending to be defeated was a risky gambit, but it paid off. By letting Ric think he had won, I was able to get him to drop his guard just long enough to strike back with the element of surprise on my side. I give the fallen form of the treacherous electricbrand one last look of disdain. Mrs. Blanchard and her son Jack are nearby in case something went wrong. They should be able to handle Ric.

As for me, I have work to do.