Conquest Of The Fallen: Dark Dominions

Chapter 124: A Restaurant Scandal

'BE CAREFUL MAKING WISHES in the dark; you never know when they'll hit back!' Rafel wasn't sure which of his Uncles had said this, but it had stuck with him. Hellions didn't get the choice of whispering dreams at shooting stars, or waiting for echoed fantasies by a wishing well; that was stuff reserved for princesses and shit.

In Rafel's case, the option of wishing upon the stars was ripped from him like the talons of the [Wailing Willow] that had pulled him from the lava pool of his birth.

But in all these, as Cora was rushed out of his dorm and Salem Hall in a gurney to the carriage waiting outside, Rafel found himself wishing so hard it hurt his head.

He wished for her to be fine.

Corazón Mortimer was transported swiftly to the on-campus infirmary; the best healers summoned and already on site. Several students stepped out their various rooms and watched curiously as the girl on the stretcher was wheeled away.

"Who is she?"

"I heard she just collapsed!"

"Oh gosh, is she going to be alright?"

"She's a Raven! Look at the sigil on her jacket."

Rafel couldn't hear a word they said. He rode with Cora in the buggy, her body strapped to a power orb that animated her own Mana Core; while her girlfriend stared daggers at him. And half an hour later, while he was seated in the antiseptic-smelling corridors of the large clinic, Erika abruptly ran in through the screen doors, mascara bleeding down her face.

Clearly, she was just coming off the party.

"What happened, Israfel? Oh, by the Martyr! Tell me how I can help." The Student President sat with him until the head nurse came up with a test result and a patient smile.

Her voice was sure enough to calm storms as she told Rafel of Cora's condition. "Corazón had a psyche swamp. It's basically when the brain overloads and black outs. There are several reasons why this could've have happened, but the most probable cause of hers is due to an overshoot in her memory range. Our resident Telepath determined the spike in her psyche.

We have conducted several tests, but to be sure it's a memory overload, we have to go in her head. Not surgery, please don't be spooked! I mean, a mind-read. But we'll need authorization for that. Who's her next of kin?"

Rafel thought quickly.

The problem wasn't the painting after all. The [Lady Fyre] piece had worked. At least attempted to restore Cora's memories. But someone had placed a workaround, a kind of alarm to tick off when someone else tried to interfere. Rather than restore her memories, her brain had been rigged to shutdown. Hell!

Rafel knew he was dealing with a more than competent enemy now.

He replied the nurse. "That won't be necessary, Doctor. We'd like to hear all our options first before we reach out to her family. Titans Landing is on shaky ground at the moment."

"I understand," said the nurse. "She's a strong one. And she'll beat it. For the time being, she's in stasis and sleeping it out. She should be awake at dawn."

Cora did beat it.

And she also awoke at dawn.

Turns out, her fainting was a warning sign to keep out those who would wish to interfere in her head, or investigate the situation of her amnesia. Her body would rather shut itself down than remember what had hurt her.

Experience new stories on m v|l e'-NovelBin.net

By the time Rafel was rushing out of the shower the next morning in the institute's infirmary to her room, the nurse was the only one in. She alerted him to the fact that Cora had been released that very morning after showing all excellent signs in her vitals, and given a clean bill of health by the Healers. Her girlfriend had been the one to take her. "Skyla, I think!

That's her name," the nurse confirmed Cora's girlfriend for Rafel.

Rafel took a buggy ride to Brightburn Hall, but no one had seen Cora since she'd been released from the infirmary. Rafel, fearing the worst, sent word to Percival at their room chambers to begin ground work, ordering him to enlist Rosa's help; the best [Detective] in evolution, to find Cora's present location.

By evening, word came back as he was getting a read in a solitary library, trying to kill time.

"She just pinged on our sensors, Rafel. Cora's heat signature is right over Spinazolla restaúrant." Percival gave from the other end of a crystal ball.

The sun was dimmed into a scarlet arc in the dusky sky, blue floating clouds darkening unto twilight, when a very luxury ride pulled up to the restaurant. Rafel stepped out in charcoal boots with a million buck shine. He pulled off his aviators, adjusted his crimson doublet—expensively made and marking his magical Arc—and pushed into the glass doors of the place.

A spicy dressed female chaffeur stood by the sleek carriage.

As expected, the restaurant was top-notch. It had elegance screaming from the walls.

The patrons within were boss-level rich. And their affluent tastes showed in the menus they held up to their eyes. Many of the students preferred Spinazolla's to the school cafeteria.

Rafel spotted Corazón almost immediately. Her silver hair gleamed like an Angel's Halo. Now that the dye was washed off, it splintered the light rays hitting it. Heads of course turned at Rafel's entry; his swagger alone dropped jaws. Cora turned too. Opposite her, on their windowside table, Skylar, her girlfriend had been smiling but frowned when she spotted Rafel.

"Do you have a booth reserved, Ser?"

Rafel looked down at the tiny voice of a petite server. She was half his size. He pointed to Cora's table. "I'll take that! And let's start with a jug of your oldest, brewed ale."

He started walking before the stricken girl could respond.

"What's he doing here?" Skyla hissed. "GET RID OF HIM!"

"I'm so sorry, babe! Please, let me handle this." Cora tried to pacify her girlfriend as Rafel stood, looming over their table. He didn't even smile.

"We need to talk."

"—Like fuck we do!" Cora retorted. "I'll be back, babe." She kissed the top of Skyla's head.

The girl wounded Rafel with her eyes. She still hadn't forgiven him for. . .she couldn't even mention it. The sight of him pumping Cora, HER GIRLFRIEND, was slammed in her brain like the poster of a missing kid. "Asshole." Skyla stuck out her tongue at him.

"Let's go!" Cora breathed under clenched teeth.

She led Rafel to the resplendent restroom area of the restaurant. He totally ignored the shapely figurehead marking the space gender-different. He walked in after Cora, his expensive shoes clicking against the spotless tiles. The restroom had long mirrors and porcelain sinks under each one. The six stalls were thankfully empty.

"Israfel, you can't just show up to—"

Rafel grabbed her and slammed her into the nearest white wall. He shut her up with his mouth.