Riley tips his head back as Kit watches me. “You were going to run because you were afraid?”
“I don’t know. There was just this… feeling… and I didn’t like it.”
He lets out a soft laugh and squeezes me. “These human emotions kind of suck, don’t they?”
“Human? Hmm… I think they’re Riley emotions.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, they only revolve around you. They’re very pesky. You make me feel pesky things.”
“That sounds horrifying,” he says teasingly with a soft grin.
“It is! I’m used to feeling manly and horny! Those are my two emotions.”
“You are ridiculous, you know that?” Riley asks as he tucks his head against my neck. “How can you not hate me?”
“I very much don’t and never will.”
“Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me.”
He’s quiet for a while, so I kiss the side of his head. Then he takes a deep breath. “Come join us. I want you to get looked at by the emergency team, and then we’re going to…”
“Eat pizza?”
“Uh… no, I was thinking like… figure something out, but…” He looks around and trails off. “Eating pizza sounds easier.”
“Sure does. And I don’t need to see any healers; I’m fine,” I assure him.
Riley stares at me, so I show him one of the wounds that is slowly healing. It really will do just fine on its own.
He apparently still isn’t pleased since he starts pulling my shirt up higher to check for other ailments before I hear someone whistle. I look past Riley and see Mickey leaning against the wall.
“I approve, please continue,” he says, but Joy grabs him by the hair and drags him off to help.
“No! Joy! Please! I can only help so much before my body begins to hurt,” he whines.
“Come on,” Riley says as he walks over to a woman lying on the grass, unconscious but still alive. “Conquest said something about me being Death… is that why these souls are hovering around me? Can I control them like he did?”
I gaze at the white orbs bouncing around. “I’m going to be really honest… I have absolutely no idea.”
Riley sighs and holds his hand out, and one of the orbs rushes up to him. He seems perplexed as he stares at it and then looks down at the woman. “Can I just kind of… shove it in there? I canfeelthat it belongs to her.”
“Won’t hurt to try,” I say. I watch him grab it and press it against her chest, but it’s like he’s trying to press a solid ball against her chest while looking uncertain why it won’t just merge.
“Maybe she needs to eat it,” Mickey unhelpfully suggests. “Just like cram it in her mouth and see what happens. I should have been a doctor.”
“Should you?” Riley asks as Mickey kneels down and touches the woman then takes the orb from Riley. The soul is not pleased and immediately leaves Mickey’s hand to return to Riley. “Do you have any actual ideas?”
“Not at the moment. Maybe it needs more weight. Just like… stomp it into her.”
“Your help is extremely ineffective,” Riley mutters, but I can tell he’s frustrated. “Why can’t I do this? Why can’t I help her?”
“I don’t know,” I admit.
“Do you think this is the end? Do you think she really can’t be saved?”
