[https://i.imgur.com/MUVzaP8.jpeg]

Raziel slipped into Albaer’s body as soon as she was able, and the routine began again. Albaer slept as the pair worked to make themselves stronger.

Unlike the usual state of banter between the two, on this night, they were quiet. Raziel used Albaer’s fists as if they were her own, with Lialah deflecting them with a swift but gentle batting away of the human wrists with her steel strong angelic fingers. Her flowing style of combat kept Raziel moving, feet flying over the carpeted floor without missing a beat. A steady, angry look in the red eyes of the body her sister controlled.

Teeth clenched as her own mind raced, struggling to understand the nature of what she saw and heard in the room she now thought of as a tomb. ‘Does he really believe she is alive and sleeping? There’s no way, right? How could he?’ On the surface at least, it seemed impossible, somebody had to have cut the rope, somebody had to have laid the body down on the bed, somebody had to have treated the corpse, put up the air fresheners, and done all the things to ensure nobody knew the truth.

That somebody could only be one person. ‘Then how can he think she’s alive, going to work, and sleeping? Just as questionable, where is the money coming from that he’s been using…’ Raziel’s thoughts were linear and structured, determined to get to the bottom of the matter, but in the quiet blue eyes of her sparring partner and sister, she saw only the deep and shimmering pools of pity that made her deflections soft and her movement hesitant.

‘Albaer…’ Lialah’s thoughts ran parallel to her sister’s. Nobody liked being pitied, but as his name came to mind and though Raziel threw counterjab after counterjab in response to her demonic sister’s aggressive attacks, she couldn’t help the well of pity rising within. ‘Like my imaginary friend from when Raziel was little… the one that would ‘visit’ when she was sick.’ Lialah had an inkling that loneliness played a part in their ‘sort of rescuer’ deluding himself. And with that inkling came a hint of regret that was all her own.

But even with that conclusion, Lialah’s inner healer told her it was more. She ducked beneath her sister’s strike and struck her palm against Albaer’s sternum, he didn’t crumple, but he went back coughing and hacking before diving out of the way of a followup and resuming the offensive with gritted teeth.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Only when they took a break did Lialah finally give voice to her thoughts. “How can we help him?” She asked while picking up a towel and throwing it over to her sister.

Raziel was now well accustomed to his body and snatched it out of the air, she began wiping the sweat away and said, “I have no idea. I’m no good at healing, but even if I were? This is a whole other thing. I’ve never seen it before. The only thing I can think of is to start digging into the subject. There’s got to be an explanation.”

“Are you any good with that internet stuff?” Lialah asked while Albaer’s body stretched out on the floor after throwing aside the towel.

“Yeah, pretty good, I can search for some information, maybe see what I can find… but you’re better for this kind of thing than I am. Whatever I find though, you can use it.” Raziel said and slowly emerged from his body. When she had a solid form again, she tapped the smooth cheeks with her razor sharp finger tips. He was breathing hard from the exercise, but appeared otherwise completely at peace.

“You’re a succubus.” Lialah pointed out and when Raziel moved aside after what the angel judged was a moment longer than necessary. “Making people feel good is-”

“Is not the same thing as making things better.” Raziel interjected. “I can give him wonderful dreams, stimulate all kinds of emotions, from lust to fear, but I am no healer, sister.” The demoness crossed her arms in front of her chest and shook her head with decisive force, sending her dark hair flying about behind her.

Lialah thought about that as she got on top of the sleeping body and pressed her forehead to his. Her form faded away as she took possession of Albaer’s flesh, and a moment later she stood him up. She gave the limbs a quick shake and a wiggle to ensure she had full control and then gave her sister a long, steady look. “We’ll just have to do our best… I’m going to take him for a run, and don’t worry, it’s late now, I shouldn’t come across anyone.”

“Fine, I’m going to get on the internet and see what I can uncover.” Raziel said and gave a quick dismissive wave before walking away and leaving Lialah to take off out of the front door at a dead sprint.

As soon as she was alone at the computer, Raziel began searching. She clicked open multiple tabs on the browser and despite the severity of the situation, everything from Lisa to the literal corpse down the hall… her sharp fangs were bared in a smile. ‘This is so… what’s their word for amazing and wonderful… ah… ‘cool’, a weird word to use for it, but it works! This is so cooooool!’ She exclaimed with glee as she used the information tool.

Like some goddess of knowledge, all the information, all the learning, everything she could ever dream of knowing, all right there at the tips of her talons with a few strokes of her fingers. She began typing in phrases in every search engine on every tab. Shifting the mouse around, she bit her lip and leaned in close to the screen as if doing so would let her see the results faster.

[Mental health], [Talking to dead people], [delusions], [hallucinations]. Every word she could think of that might have some hint of success, she typed in until the tabs were so many that she could only see the first letter of each website title.

“Talk to the dead, psychic services…” Raziel read the title out loud. “Huh… I thought magic wasn’t supposed to be real here? If there’s no magic, how can they talk to the dead? Well… worth a shot.” She thought, and clicked the link.