Good because he’d lived through enough changes. Some things should be immune from the cruelty of time. He wanted Simi to be one of them.
Ageless. Timeless.
Eternal.
Unlike other immortals he knew, she had never lost her faith or her child-like enthusiasm. She was as bright-eyed now as she’d ever been.
Being with her reminded him briefly of times when he’d been optimistic.
He missed that boy who had been obnoxious and cocksure. So blind to the future that was barreling down on him. Maybe that was why people had children. So that they could be reminded of a time when life had been worth living. When every day had been miraculous instead of a never-ending trudge that just led from one tragedy and disappointment to the next.
Though, to be honest, he couldn’t remember a time when he’d ever felt as if life had been worth living. It was what had made him such a fierce warrior.
Put simply, he’d never cared if he lived or died. It made no never mind to him.
Now …
He still didn’t know why he bothered. Except that these little snatches of time spent with his handful of friends made it bearable. Made him forget what he’d done to his only child.
Please forgive me, Cadegan.
He deserved Cade’s hatred, and he knew it.
Taking a drink, he watched the way Simi ate her food. With gusto as if she’d never eaten before, and yet she was older than he was. How did she manage to keep her enthusiasm?
That was the only thing he’d ever envied.
Simi’s happiness over absolutely nothing.
It was adorable.
“Do you ever worry about the future, Sim?”
She looked up and frowned, then wiped her mouth on a napkin. “I only worry about losing friends and family. Akri says that to lose things is just a dang shame. Losing people who lives in your heart … that’s tragic. Simi agrees. So long as my peeps are okies, Simi’s okies. Lucky I have friends and family with lots of powers. So, the Simi tries not to think about a tomorrow where one of them might not be here because that’s just too painful.”
Because hearts always grew bigger to accommodate new family and friends. He knew her philosophy.
“Don’t ever leave me, Simi. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
She smiled at him. “You sound like akri. Don’t worry. The Simi’s not going anywhere. I likes my eats. Love my akri and am pretty fond of Thorny-man.” She winked. “But you got to promise the Simi something.”
“Sure.”
“Don’t go evil, akri-Thorn. The Simi and your Hellchasers need you. Pay no never minds to them awful Necrodemians who think you’re evil. They just can’t see your real heart. The Simi sees it, and I know how hard you’re fighting. You can do this. The Simi believes in you.”
Thorn just prayed that would be enough to keep him from following in the steps of his father and the demons who wouldn’t let him live in peace.
20
November 11, 1993
Thorn headed for the table at the Café Du Monde where Acheron sat in a chair across from Simi. Tourists crowded the outdoor restaurant where it was unseasonably warm, even for New Orleans.
Simi had a plate of beignets she was eating while Acheron scanned the crowd from behind a pair of opaque Oakley sunglasses.
The Atlantean god paused when he saw Thorn in the shadows.
Without a word, Thorn headed for them.
