Nox barely registered that he was inside. Ana spoke, "Take him upstairs, there are plenty of rooms to choose from."
But Christian intervened, "You know he won't be comfortable upstairs." The basement stairs drew into view and Christian helped Raffe take Nox downstairs and to the little room he'd spent his nights in. It was sparse and empty like he'd left it, the bed was neatly made and barely big enough for one much less two though he hadn't had any problems before. But Nox didn't lie down when prompted. Just sat on the edge in numb silence. Raffe could channel. The Atharim knew. And he'd almost killed a man. His mind reeled and recoiled inside and the darkness fought to take hold to grab the power inside and strangle something. It wanted to kill to, maim and murder, and most of all it wanted to live on.
Nox shook with the darkness inside.
****
Christian took Raffe aside and spoke softly. "You can stay here as long as you need. But don't let him go home until he stops babbling. I can have Cruz and other of Jivana's medical staff here in a blink of an eye. If you spend the night, stay in my old room, don't let him stay here. This is safe, but he needs more than safe. He looks like he broke the wound open. I will call Cruz, Nox mentioned he had a Jivana team already. I'll make some dinner, and if he's feeling up to it, breakfast is his. If you need to leave for whatever reason I'll have a car take you. Dorian has a trained driver to lose any tails." But there was concern in Christian's eyes.
"Nox didn't throw that gun from the Atharim's hand. Have you done that before? I think Nox is apologizing because of what he did. I honestly don't believe he feels bad about hurting someone like that. But now the Atharim know you are a danger too. I think, Nox is sorry about that." Christian said patting Raffe on the shoulder. "Stay as long as you need. Our home is safe for both of you."
But Christian intervened, "You know he won't be comfortable upstairs." The basement stairs drew into view and Christian helped Raffe take Nox downstairs and to the little room he'd spent his nights in. It was sparse and empty like he'd left it, the bed was neatly made and barely big enough for one much less two though he hadn't had any problems before. But Nox didn't lie down when prompted. Just sat on the edge in numb silence. Raffe could channel. The Atharim knew. And he'd almost killed a man. His mind reeled and recoiled inside and the darkness fought to take hold to grab the power inside and strangle something. It wanted to kill to, maim and murder, and most of all it wanted to live on.
Nox shook with the darkness inside.
****
Christian took Raffe aside and spoke softly. "You can stay here as long as you need. But don't let him go home until he stops babbling. I can have Cruz and other of Jivana's medical staff here in a blink of an eye. If you spend the night, stay in my old room, don't let him stay here. This is safe, but he needs more than safe. He looks like he broke the wound open. I will call Cruz, Nox mentioned he had a Jivana team already. I'll make some dinner, and if he's feeling up to it, breakfast is his. If you need to leave for whatever reason I'll have a car take you. Dorian has a trained driver to lose any tails." But there was concern in Christian's eyes.
"Nox didn't throw that gun from the Atharim's hand. Have you done that before? I think Nox is apologizing because of what he did. I honestly don't believe he feels bad about hurting someone like that. But now the Atharim know you are a danger too. I think, Nox is sorry about that." Christian said patting Raffe on the shoulder. "Stay as long as you need. Our home is safe for both of you."
![[Image: nox_sig.gif]](http://thefirstage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/nox_sig.gif)