Part 1546 – And This Is Another Heart-To-Heart Moment With Ambrose And Robin

LM whispered into his hands and pushed the magic at Antioch.

The vampire fell into darkness – a sharp-bladed darkness. He clenched his teeth and fought against the increasing pressure to scream. He kept his thoughts focused on one thing: defeating Raven once and for all.

He will not be my lord anymore.

He will die.

***

“So, do they meet your expectations, Mr. Arden?” Micael asked.

“Indeed, they do, sir.” Raven pulled out his charge card and handed it to him. “I daresay they exceed them.”

“Excellent.”

As Micael ran the card through the reader, Raven glanced back at his two men.

Ambrose had changed into his Disney hoodie, black slacks, and plain black shoes.

Robin wore a close fitting light blue t-shirt, blue jeans, and his hiking boots.

Raven sighed.

It is rather like the ending to a sad fairy tale. The Prince turns back into a commoner. His glamour gone. His fine clothes turned back into dust-covered rags.

Oh, if only they could have stayed in their tuxedos at least a little longer! Yet, given their temperaments, I suppose that would have been too much to ask for.

I know Robin would have refused.

Ambrose would have gone on about how he prefers to wear comfortable clothes. Although, I fail to see how a tuxedo could be uncomfortable.

Micael politely cleared his throat. “I need your signature.”

“Ah, I am sorry, sir. I was distracted.”

***

“Seriously though, you looked all levels of hot. Barbara’ll pass out when she sees you standin’ at the altar rail.” Robin said. “And if she don’t pass out, she’ll definitely get all steamed up inside.”

“I could be modest and humble and try to deflect your compliments.” Ambrose grinned. “But that would be a waste of some perfectly nice compliments. I intend to soak them all in. So, if you want to keep going, please. By all means, keep on going.”

Robin snorted. “You wish.”

Ambrose laughed. “It’s just too bad Isellta wasn’t here. I would have loved to see his reaction to you being all dressed up to the nines and twelves.”

“I know what he would’ve done. He would’ve smiled real big and flapped those wings of his.” The old hurt set in again. “He would’ve…he would wanna know why I don’t dress like that more often. Stupid fey. As if a tuxedo is an every day kind of outfit. Stupid.”

He wanted to just crumple up somewhere.

Ambrose’s internal Robin Is Upset Detector must have gone off, because his expression turned concerned. “Are you okay?”

Robin faked a smile. “Oh, I’m just dandy. Freakin’ dandy.”

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

“Nothin’. Nothin’ I wanna talk about.”

“Is this about Jay’s letter?”

“‘course, it is. I called Jay. I spoke to him. He wants me to go runnin’ over there tonight. He asked me. He begged me. He said ‘sellta needs me to come. He needs me now. But Jay didn’t freakin’ say WHY. And I just don’t get it. Why now? Why can’t it wait till Sunday? What’s the burnin’ rush? I don’t get it! It don’t make a single lick of sense!”

Ambrose put his hands on Robin’s shoulders. “Hey. Calm down. What did you tell Jay?”

“I freaked out, okay? I freaked out bad. Told him no. Told him. Told him I need to think about it. Told him I’d call him back.”

“Okay. So, what are you going to do?”

Robin shrugged Ambrose’s hands off his shoulders. “I dunno. He didn’t say why I had to come tonight. It just feels all weird and suspicious to me. And I ain’t stupid enough to go runnin’ blind into a loser trap. That’s what I’m gonna say when I call him back. If I call him back.”

“But if you don’t—”

“Yeah, yeah. I know. If I don’t call him back, I won’t ever know. Isellta could be dyin’ for all I know. And I don’t know. And I won’t know unless I call Jay back. But I’m scared. Am’rose, I’m scared. There’s so much I don’t know. All I gotta do is call him back and I’ll know. That’s all I gotta do. But…”

He thought about Ambrose in his tuxedo, looking so proud and excited. “I don’t wanna ruin ev’rythin’ for you and Barbara. I owe you two big time.”

“What about Isellta?”

“I’ll go to him on Sunday. Trust me. If I could just run to him now, I’d run to him now. But. I need to be there for you.”

“Robin. You don’t have to—”

“Shut up, stupid. Don’t even go there. Just don’t.”