I will

rise up

in spite of the ache

Henry followed the witch into the shop, Sterling's lifeless body cradled closely to his chest. His eyes looked down at the boy in his arms, tears threatening to fall. He wanted the witch to hurry up and get on with it. Sterling didn't have much time to spare and her slowness to help was certainly not helping matters. He was getting frustrated with her, but he was trying not to show it. She was Sterling's only chance and there was no fucking way he would blow this. The moment she said "no" would be his death sentence. That simply could not happen.

When they got to the back room, he laid his ex on the wooden table, careful to rest his head softly on the hard table. There was a softness to his actions. The way he took such care was a testament to just how much he cared about Sterling. It was with the same softly that he laid out the bird next to him.

FINALLY, after what seemed like fucking forever, the witch agreed to help him. He could tell she was a greedy bitch, the way she demanded her payment up front before she would even begin. How callous could she be to put money over the life of another? Would Henry have done the same? He liked to think he would have helped regardless, but perhaps that was the healer inside him. But as he had told her before, he would pay any price.

The exact price was slightly shocking. He did not think an antidote was worth such a cost, but because it was Sterling on the table and not some John Doe from the streets, he would pay it. He watched her turn to collect whatever she might need. He pulled out his cell phone and typed in a private number. There was a voice on the other end. "Yes, Mr. Tudor, what can I do for you on this rather late evening..." There was a sort of puzzling questioning tone to the man's voice but Henry didn't care. "I need you to transfer one hundred thousand dollars into the account of a Seraphina Dubois. I need it to be an immediate transfer" Yes, Henry knew her name. He'd been watching her shop for months, wanting to take Sterling to show his support for his lover's affinities. He knew enough to know she was one of the most powerful witches in Sacrosanct. With only one decent bank in the whole city, Henry had friends in high places on the staff. In fact, he knew the bank manager personally. He was used to Henry throwing his money away into several charities. But to give it to an individual was a strange request. "Are you sure?" The man was puzzled at the urgency of the situation and the fact that it was so late at night. "Bugles, Aaron..." The code word was a pre-arranged word that was proof of Henry's identity and that he was not under duress. Had he said "Doritos", it would have alerted the bank manager to send the cops to his current location. But thankfully, the man simply sighed. "As you wish sir. It will be processed in a few moments." Henry could hear the clacking of the keyboard in the background as the man was working on transferring the funds. "Thank you. Have a good night." "You as well, stay safe." And then the phone clicked off as Henry stared back at the witch. "Check your account." It was said coolly, as if he didn't have the time for bullshit tonight.

Henry grasp the hand of Sterling as he slid the phone back in his pocket. He could feel the vibration of his phone, no doubt the confirmation that he had sent a large sum of money out of his account and into hers. He sat on a stool next to the work table as he squeezed his ex's hand softly. "Satisfied?". Now, he would much appreciate her getting to work.?

Henry Tudor

I will rise a thousand times again