And back ♡ muke ↠ To the moon SEQUEL

16 ☾ musca

Part four: water

Michael Clifford was many things.

The only or one of the few people with five tattoos, connected to five different elements. The only son of Karen and Daryl Clifford, one of the richest couples in the country. An amazing boyfriend and soulmate and an incredible friend.

Michael Clifford was not nervous.

At least not typically.

They decided to meet with professor Reina on neutral grounds. They chose a hotel near where he lived as he wasn't allowed to come to them. He shouldn't even be this close to Michael and Luke but they made an exception.

"Why is there paint on your cheek?" Michael asked as they waited for Dave to return after he checked the room for their safety.

"Haven't I told you?" Luke asked and smiled when Michael shook his head. "I pain sometimes."

Michael rolled his eyes when Luke started to giggle. "I haven't seen you paint in a while. Will you show me what you're working on?"

"Maybe one day." He winked and made his man a bit less nervous.

They walked hand in hand in the large room.

Professor Reina didn't look his best. He was older than the last time they saw him and Michael could see him smile sadly at them.

He squeezed Luke's hand and when his soulmate squeezed back he knew they were okay.

"Please seat. Michael." He looked at him first. "Luke."

Luke didn't seem to look him back in the eyes but Michael did. He wanted to show that he was in charge of the situation. Even if he is the one who brought two people there for support.

"I hope this isn't a trap of some sort." Michael addressed the situation calmly.

"I could say the same." Professor smiled. "How can I know you two won't have me arrested for being in the same room as you two."

Michael took one of the papers he brought with him and slid it across the table. "It's signed by our lawyers. So you're okay. If we, of course, leave this room untouched."

He laughed. "I see you're listed as Luke's lawyer."

"We're not here to talk about our education." Luke interrupted. It was the first time he even said anything.

"Of course. I'm sorry." He fixed his position in his seat before he started talking. "I know you don't want to hear me talk about me and my sister but I have to. In order, this story will make sense."

Michael nodded.

"I see you have Luke's medical records with you and I'm a historian, I can't do much with them. The reason I connected what might be wrong with Luke from only seeing the picture of you in the newspaper is that my daughter looked just like you. And she lost her tattoo afterward."

"Your daughter?" Luke asked.

"Yes. I don't know how much you two remember, I once mentioned it in class... When I've met my soulmate she was giving birth to a baby girl, her name is Bailey and this year she'll turn thirty. Not long after she got her wind element tattoo she got sick and lost it even before she met her soulmate. We weren't sure if she'll live so the loss of her magic wasn't our priority. But it was a problem for her."

Michael bit his lip. He felt like that was Luke, he kept saying he was okay but Michael knew he wasn't.

"My sister Victoria absolutely loved Bailey. She was born just after Victoria lost her soulmate and taking care of her was what kept her sane."

"A couple of months after Bailey got better Victoria came to me and my wife and told us she found a way to get her magic back. I didn't know that at the time but she had to pay a lot of money to this doctor but it had worked. Bailey returned with a tattoo, fire one instead of wind and Victoria returned without it."

"But I saw it," Luke said loudly. "I saw her tattoo,"

Michael did too. It's what used to haunt him in his dreams.

Professor Reina nodded and smiled. "It's a tattoo but man-made not magic-made."

"My daughter needed time but she got used to her new powers."

"So Victoria just gave her her magic?"

Michael felt a fire inside his chest. He'd give all his magic to Luke if he could.

"I don't know what happened. Neither of them ever talk about it. A few weeks later I came across this other doctor who'd do it for free. I went and visited him and learned it's an emotionally draining procedure and magic could be lost in between the transition."

Professor wiped his cheek. "It's why my sister is mentally unstable. She loved magic but she loved her niece more."

"But it worked?" Michael wanted to hear it again.

"Mikey..." Luke squeezed his hand. "We won't."

"Yes. It worked. Now I don't want to say that what my sister did wasn't wrong. But like I've said, she had to pay a lot of money to get it done. I didn't know at the time but she borrowed most of it and when she invested it into Hemmings corporation, she lost it all. That's why she did what she did and that's why I helped. She saved my daughter."

Everybody in the room went quiet.

All Michael could think about was giving all his magic to Luke and all Luke could think about was how to forgive the man in front of him.

He couldn't. Not yet.

"But did they realize what was wrong with her? Why she got ill?"

"Because of me."

Luke and Michael both frowned.

He sighed. "I don't know how to explain it. I'll give you the number from both doctors but please, see the second one first. He's... wise. He's a magic doctor."

"You're not even her biological father," Luke said. "How could it be your fault?"

Michael could see he was on the verge of crying.

"Thank you." He said and took the piece of paper with the contact information.

Professor Reina was still sitting when the couple and their bodyguard were ready to leave.

"I'll be waiting for your anniversary letter." Michael smiled. "This year I'll maybe write back."

This wasn't forgiveness or gratitude. But it was a step towards closure.

☾☾☾

I really really hope this makes sense.

I really really hope you're enjoying this story.

I really really really hope you'll leave some feedback.

T H O U G H T S ?

Michael and Luke being each other's support?

Professor Reina and what he had said?

Luke maybe getting his magic back?

Love, Lucija ♡