An ache he didn’t recognize burned in his chest. Was this grief? It was nowhere near as acute as Nicolas’s, but he felt it nonetheless. He’d liked Daniel, and now he was gone. And because he was a good person, he wouldn’t go to Hell. Ashmedai would never see his bright soul again.
“Nic-las,” he croaked, giving him a tug.
Nicolas pushed himself upright only to flop against him, burying his face in his neck. He smelled like Daniel’s blood. His sobs were quieter now, his body too exhausted to continue.
“Oh no,” a small voice said, and Ashmedai turned his head.
The Alvarez kids hovered on either side of Luke. Like Nicolas, they had dark, curly hair and light brown skin. Their clothes were dirty and ripped in places. The girl’s longer hair was in tangles, and the boy’s eyes were red-rimmed. They both looked like they hadn’t slept in days.
“Oh, thank God you’re safe,” Alex said, darting over and pulling them both in for a hug.
“What happened?” the girl asked, staring at the body. “Who is that?”
“He’s… a friend,” Luke said. “He was helping us find you. His name is—was… Daniel.”
Nicolas whimpered at that, and Ashmedai felt a surge of protectiveness, tightening his arms around him.
“We should go,” he said. The kids were free, and he wanted to take Nicolas home.
Nicolas lifted his head sharply. His eyes were swollen and red. “We can’t leave him.”
“We won’t,” Julian said firmly. “We would never.”
“Come, my light.” Ashmedai stood, helping Nicolas to his feet as he went.
Valac scooped Daniel into his arms. Ashmedai wondered what they would do with him. What was the human custom for the dead?
He kept Nicolas tucked under his arm as they all trailed back up the stairs and out of the factory. It was the same route they’d taken to breach the building, but the mood was far more subdued. Instead of hopeful and strong, they were shell-shocked and grief-stricken.
When they got outside in the fresh, sea-salty air, Nicolas stopped, turning to wrap his arms around Ashmedai. His breaths were slow and deep, like he was breathing him in, and Ashmedai hugged him tight.
“What can I do?” he asked softly.
Nicolas shook his head. “Just stay by my side. That’s enough.”
“Of course. Always.”
“I don’t mean to interrupt,” Talon said kindly, “but we need to know what you want us to do with the body.”
Nicolas shuddered.
“We have people who can handle any questions about the circumstances of his death, if you’d like him buried somewhere. There’s a halfling mortician at one of the hospitals, in fact. Or, if you’d rather, we can cremate him.”
“Cremate?” Ashmedai asked.
“Burn the body,” Talon explained. “Some humans choose to do this and keep the ashes in what’s called an urn.”
“No, no,” Nicolas said. He turned to face the others but kept one arm snugly around Ashmedai’s waist. “I don’t want him cremated. I don’t—want him turned to ashes. I’d rather he be buried, but I don’t have a cemetery in mind or anything. Our family is buried at the guild.”
“There’s a nice city cemetery a few blocks from my house,” Nathan said. “It’s quiet there.”
Nicolas nodded mechanically. “That sounds fine.”
“We’ll take care of it then,” Alex promised. “Why don’t you let Ashmedai take you home? Wash off that blood, get some rest. We’ll call you before they bury him.”
Nicolas’s chin wobbled, but no more tears fell. “Okay,” he whispered. “Thank you.”
“Nic,” Julian said, stepping closer. He threw his arms around Nicolas’s neck, and a moment later Nicolas returned the embrace, ducking his head as his shoulders shook again. “I’m so sorry. He was like a brother to me, too,” Julian wept. “I can’t believe it. If you need anything at all, call me, okay? Please?”
