When I frowned, silently disagreeing, Marcus nodded toward Ava, who I admit looked a lot calmer than she did when I first arrived. I chewed my bottom lip, and Marcus chuckled. “When you’re afraid, we know and cannot help but calm down because when you’re upset, we perceive it, and it hurts. Not sharply, but more of an ache. When you’re in pain, we desire to remove or destroy whatever caused it. For me, my soul burns and aches because I am the one who caused your hurt. My heart feels a sharp ache which is my due, so stop trying to soothe it by burying your feelings. Yes, I know that’s what you’re doing, little girl.” My cheeks heated when Marcus scolded me, and I shuffled my foot while trying to not feel awkward. “When you repress your feelings, it hurts us more.”
Raising my head in alarm, I stared at Marcus, and he nodded. “It does because it means we’ve failed you, Angel. You should never be afraid to feel, nor should you try to force yourself to only experience certain emotions because you think you need to. That is not the case at all. While you affect us, you don’t control us, if that makes sense. We can resist, at first, but once we’ve bonded with you, it gets harder for us but easier for you. Again, your type, the ones who share your gift, don’t have ulterior motives in them. It’s so wrong just talking about it makes my skin crawl because it’s that impossible. Try imagining a tiger eating only salads. It’s so wrong that your back goes up a little, right? That’s what imagining you taking advantage, or having nefarious motives does to me and those who live here. Some are unaware of you and your ability, but it still affects them, those you’ve sung to, anyway. So, hah, you won’t be able to tell the difference anymore. You noticed, but didn’t realize it,” Marcus explained with a triumphant grin.
I scowled, and he threw his head back to laugh while I huffed under my breath. “It’s hard to explain with only this small a piece,” Ava sighed, giving Marcus a scolding look when I glanced at her, and he chuckled. “But what my idiotic husband means is when you’re at peace because that’s how you feel, so are our souls. When you’re upset, our souls perceive it, and we strive to fix whatever wrong you’ve experienced. Not obsessively, however. Damn you, Marcus, this is frustrating. Asshole. But, um, Angel, don’t force your feelings down. Riff and Char affect you the strongest because you trust them the most. And, oh, how am I going to explain this?” Ava huffed.
“I may have told Angel that something within her soul recognizes something within mine which completes hers. Just as it makes mine whole too,” Riff chuckled with mirth in his eyes. “But, Angel, what I didn’t tell you, is it’s like that for you and everyone in town. Well, almost everyone. We need you in a way that Marcus will explain someday, although I agree today is not the right time. Let me put it this way, you are a coveted indulgence. Something that most like us want but can’t have. But, god, do we ever hope to stumble upon someone like you. We had someone, remember? But, a group of people who hate us killed him because they wanted us to suffer and knew that was the best way to ensure we would. We were heartbroken and miserable until you arrived. Now, we’re seeing color again and tasting and looking forward to every day with excitement, which we haven’t experienced in years. That’s how important you are to us, which is one of the many reasons we won’t let you run off alone. To you, we’re friends. To us, you are beloved and precious, and we can’t go on without you unless you don’t want us anymore.” Riff looked so much like a kicked puppy that I hugged him, and he chuckled, kissing my forehead and my soul relaxed.
“Yes, you sense our pain too, although you may not realize it,” Char added with a shake of his head and a slight smile. “You gravitate towards those who need you most without noticing. Dakota was in such a state of turmoil until you eased it. By hugging him and letting him talk to you, you allowed him to soak up your presence and soothed his ravaged soul. His and Kyler’s parents are performing a task for our town, trying to smooth things over with the group that hates us. It won’t work, we need one like you there, but they refuse to allow any entrance… perhaps not you, however. They won’t realize…” Char’s voice faded, and I stared at him warily.
“You are a true diamond in the rough, my dear,” Riff chuckled with a pleased smirk. “Normally, only those like us have your ability. But not you. No, you’re so special, there’s perhaps one like you born every century if that. You’re a unicorn, Angel.”
“The problem is,” Char continued with a frown, “if they realize what you are and they’re angry with us, they’ll try to kill you.”
“Because it will hurt you,” I finished, my eyes on the floor.
“And, it’s too late for this
