Photo credit & huge thanks to:
https://unsplash.com/photos/DduZa62Shq0?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditShareLink

James' intense history reading is disturbed by his distressed girlfriend, whom he tries unwaveringly to comfort & cheer. A thoughtful token for her comes from an unlikely source in his overbearing father's unexpected visit.

The Loss
By Lonelyrider

James was reading another book he'd devoured in his ornate library, relaxing in his blue velvet robe atop his midnight blue cushioned couch with gold trim, he smiled at the lights whirling above him in the shape of the constellations, marveling at it, and turned the page with the sip of his favorite wine. He heard an urgent knocking at his double library doors and placed a quill in his tome, setting it down.
"Is that you, Luke? Come in!" James called.
"Your girlfriend is at the door, sir, she looks upset. Shall I show her in?" Luke asked, setting down a silver tray loaded with cheeses and fruit on the lamp table by James.
"Oh, thank you, Luke! Oh no, Lonely's upset? Please, yes, Luke, can you please invite her right in?"
"To the library, my lord?"
"Yes please." James tossed his butler a coin and Luke nodded and bowed, James heard creaking as doors were opened and he got up and went to his girlfriend with a deep hug and a gentle reassuring kiss on her mouth and forehead, fluffing his big black wings and wrapping them around her snug as he hugged her.
"Darling, welcome! Luke said you looked upset, what's wrong sweetheart?" James asked dotingly, his big hand on her face and neck, enveloping and gentle. Lonely sniffled and his beefy fingers wiped her tears as his face scanned hers urgently; his healing powers switched on, something all mortal angels did when they saw a loved one in pain.
"Oh Jamesy, it was so sad! So sad!" Lonely bawled, grabbing at his velvet robe, now he looked alarmed with concern.
"Baby, tell me? Are you alright? How can I fix it?" James gasped, looking her over in worry and gently grasping her face and muzzle in his big hands.
"Oh honey, I was with the midwife and Gertie, we were trying to deliver a human baby today in town, a poor woman, it was to be her second child. We did all the right things, in all the right order, the midwife said afterward. But when the baby was born...he..." Lonely sniffled more and cried into James' robe, he listened looking sick with worry and patted her back as she went on, "He was dead! Oh it was awful!" Lonely sobbed furiously into her hands, James' felt himself tear up both in sympathy and from the intensely sad story, he pulled her close gently and nuzzled her ears.
"Oh sweetheart, how awful! Poor baby! That poor woman, too." James agreed, Lonely could hear the tears in his voice too and they held each other tight as she kept crying and he fought hard not to, though he lost that battle.
"Lady said, she isn't sure what caused it yet, just that it wasn't negligence on our part." Lonely finished. James gently took her hand in his and rubbed her thumb with his own, stroking her arm up and down and keeping a warm soft wing around her, she sniffled and seemed to still, comforted by his large presence.
"It wasn't your fault darling, I wish there was more I could do, I feel a little useless." James admitted.
"Don't my love, you're helping me." Lonely sniffled, James leaned over her attentively and kissed at her tears.
"What would help best my sweet?" James asked gently, he started getting ideas and acted on them, meaning well. "I know, how about a nice hot meal?"
"Sure." Lonely agreed, her mood still sad, but she was glad to be in his company. James thanked Luke & Francine as did Lonely as they sat her down at James' beautiful dining table as he went to speak to his chef, tossing all three of them coins. James joined Lonely as his chef made them one of her favorite dishes and they enjoyed it together.
"This is very good, thank you, honey." Lonely said between bites, James gave a ridiculously huge grin, glad to hear she'd been cheered up even a tiny bit.
"Francine, could you draw my girl a bath please, with violet scented bubbles." James requested, tipping the maid, she bowed and went to do that.
"Jamesy, what were you reading?" Lonely asked curiously, as they enjoyed sweet wine and his servants cleaned up their ornate plates.
"Ahh yes, it's a volume on the history of all the local wars, I had no idea there were so many." James said between sips.
"How are you feeling, my rose?" James inquired, gently stroking her hand.
"I'm okay, thanks."
Francine appeared by the table.
"Miss, I'll show you to your bath now."
Lonely smiled at James' maid and gave James a polite curtsy and smile, then she waved at him and followed Francine upstairs to James' fancy bathroom, still clearly rather sad. James sat in pensive thought, feeling ineffective and thinking of ways he could cheer her properly. His deep thoughts were interupted by a knock at his doors, and James answered them himself, seeing his father there in a hooded black robe, who brushed past him.
"I have a colleague of mine I want you to intern under, his name is Guile Foxblood. You'll meet him tomorrow." Abaddon announced, not asking; James' servants all bowed and backed away politely; unlike James, Abaddon frightened them all.
"I was going to contact him, as a matter of fact." James said softly with an uncharacteristically slight nod.
"Really, you were?" Abaddon asked, his voice hinted with sarcasm and disbelief.
"Yes, I wanted...to get to know your colleagues." James admitted bashfully, scratching his hair.
"Hmm...that's good, lad. I heard you've been enjoying it here, I knew it, I knew you had the workings of a proper man in you. Now, what's gotten into you James, you seem distracted and lifeless." Abaddon said with a whirl, after leading James into the library.
"I..oh I, I'm sorry dad, it's just Lonely had a really rough day at her midwife internship, don't worry though, I'll be glad to meet Mr Foxblood tomorrow." James assured, Abaddon stared him down and roughly put a map into James' big hands.
"That's where you'll go to meet him, make sure you're alone. Sorry about your wench, but it's more important to focus on work, boy. You still wish to be like me, yes?"
James perked up, surprised.
"I...oh, of course, sir!"
"Then you'll go & learn the dark arts. It's time you followed in my stead. You'll be a warlock more feared than me, someday, how do you like that?" Abaddon hissed, pulling James close, James was shy but looked thrilled from the attention and praise from his father.
"You really think so?" James wondered.
"Show some mettle, where's your spine?" Abaddon snarled.
"Yes, I'll be powerful & cunning!" James said with much more fervor than he really felt, Abaddon patted the younger man on the cheek hard and went to leave with a swoosh of his long cloak, father & son's wings identical in the dimming light of James's mansion. It wasn't like him, but Abaddon decided to be unusually kind. He muttered a spell and James gasped in wonder as his father conjured up three beautiful sharp black roses, handing them to James, who marveled at them.
"For your wench, boy. Remember, Foxblood's tower, at 2 pm sharp."
"Dad, oh thank you, thank you, she'll love these! I..oh, yes sir!" James straightened up and deepened his already deep voice, saluting, Abaddon rolled his eyes at the display and nodded, backing away and disappearing with a sudden teleporation spell faster than James could properly wave to him and bid him farewell. Excited and happy now, James rushed upstairs to give Lonely the beautiful roses from his father, hoping they'd cheer her, which he was even more delighted to find that they did, very much so.