“Do you feel strong enough?” It was Kash who asked and gripped Sergio by the shoulder. “This could devastate you all over again.”
“I’ll go with you.” Master Hadden told him obviously understanding the need that was driving Sergio. “Prepare yourself, this will not be easy. Channel the support that surrounds you and hold onto it, do not give in to the grief.” Sergio nodded and then turned to look at Kash.
“He’s dead, Kash, my beloved is dead.”
“Like Master Hadden said, there is more going on than we know, so don’t give up.” Kash implored. “You’re my best friend, Sergio. I don’t have a lot of friends; I can’t afford to lose you.”
“I won’t give up.”
…
They drove to the hospital in silence. Sergio was deep in thought, sorting his feelings, and trying to maintain control. He didn’t want to lose himself again in the relentless sorrow and despair that raged within him. Thankfully, the Master’s presence was a strong stabilizing force and kept him grounded.
The car pulled up to the side door of the hospital that led to the lower levels and specifically the morgue. They got out and walked up to the big double doors and stopped. Master Hadden turned to him and asked. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
Sergio could only nod his head because his throat was so dry that words were impossible. The walk down the sterile hall so cold and hollow-sounding was excruciating. An attendant, a man Sergio recognized from the Coven, opened the door to the morgue and waited for both Sergio and Master Hadden to enter. He then walked over to a gurney, one of three in the room, but the only one with a sheet-covered body upon it.
Sergio found himself frozen in place, staring at the form beneath the pristine white sheet. He felt Master Hadden place his hand on his arm, and it brought him back to awareness.
The attendant stood by the side of the gurney and looked at both of them, and then when Master Hadden nodded, he pulled back the sheet to reveal the heartbreak beneath it. With his heart in his throat, he looked at the remains of the man that was to be his forever.
The form was still and lifeless, and the features destroyed by injury and nature. The hair lay in matted bunches with some of it missing. It was a lot of damage for having been dead for five to seven days. These were the strange thoughts that pervaded his mind.
What he was feeling now was in no way as powerful or crippling as what he’d felt in Master Hadden’s quarters earlier. Was the knowledge that his beloved was dead more damaging to him than the actual vision of the carnage that befell him? How could that be? His mind began to settle, and his senses started to sharpen.
Sergio reached out and took the dead man’s hand and held in between the two of his and just concentrated. He expected a connection of some kind or an awakening of his sorrow, but he felt nothing. All he felt was the cold void of the space surrounding him. “This is not Keagan.” He stated and placed the cold, lifeless hand back onto the gurney and stepped back. “This is not him.”
Master Hadden came forward and, with a glance at Sergio, asked. “May I?” He held his hand above the forehead of the dead man. He was asking permission to probe what was left of his mind. Still, under the assumption that the man was Sergio’s beloved, he asked permission before touching him.
“Yes, please,” Sergio told him and waited as he watched Master Hadden lay his hand on the man and enter his mind. If the dead man had been Sergio’s beloved, he would not have been able to give such permission, it would have been too personal, too intimate, and beyond his ability to allow. But he did not feel that way about this man, this dead man.
“His name is Carlson Bendel, a low-level criminal, mostly burglaries and assaults.” Master Hadden began to read the man. “A cold heart and a willingness to do whatever, no morals and no limits. His friends deserted him, and he was murdered by strangers, well-dressed strangers. He didn’t understand why, and they didn’t tell him.” He pulled his hand back and pulled the sheet back up to cover the man. He then turned to regard Sergio.
“This is not your beloved, but he was with Keagan shortly before he met his own death. This man, Carlson Bendel, assaulted your beloved and stole his wallet. He took it from Keagan because it appeared to mean something to him. Some people are like that just bad to the bone. He hadn’t intended to keep it for it had no value, but he was killed before he had a chance to ditch it.” Master Hadden motioned for Sergio to follow him out into the hallway.
“Where did he assault Keagan? Did you get a location?” Sergio once again began to burn with the need to track down his beloved. He didn’t even want to think about the possible injuries the man on the gurney may have inflicted upon him. He didn’t have room in his soul for that thought right now.
“Behind Red’s Rib Joint downtown.” He said, and instantly Sergio started moving towards the doors. “Wait, Sergio.” Master Hadden called to him, and Sergio stopped and turned around irritated that they were not on the move already.
“The assault happened a week ago.” Master Hadden stated and waited for Sergio to make the obvious connection, but he didn’t. He couldn’t grasp what the Master was getting at. “He may have already been brought in. He could be here in the hospital.”
“Of course,” Sergio exclaimed as his hope began to build. He tried to temper his expectations so as to protect
