15. Kairhyse

15

Kairhyse

S he's really pissing me off.

After sending her off to secure us a table at the diner, I'm sifting through shirts at the gas station store. The options are limited and ridiculous—it's either ‘No shirt, no shoes, no snacks–just me', ‘In a world full of options, choose that one' with a stupid arrow, or ‘Life is short–eat snacks'.

I contemplate having her switch shirts with me; there's no way I'm wearing any of these. But then again, maybe not. I like seeing her in my shirt.

Opting for the least offensive of the three, ‘Life is short–eat snacks,' I chuckle to myself. I'll just pretend the snack is my little demon.

An older lady is struggling to decide on which lottery scratcher to purchase, and it's testing my patience. I roll my head back and tap my foot impatiently.

Xeraphine is infuriating. It's as though she put an anal plug up her ass and forgot to take it out.

She clearly despises affection, that much is clear, but as I've told her, she isn't going to tell me what not to do. When I rested my hand on her thigh in the car, it was for selfish reasons, sure, but also to help calm her down from the nightmare she had.

I lied when she asked if she had been snoring. Instead, she'd been going in and out of screaming for help. I didn't bring it up because she strikes me as the type who would rather chop off her own head than talk about her issues.

I haven't broached the subject of why she's a murderous psychopath targeting Shifters, but I'm beginning to feel the urge to ask. As much as she's an obsession, I can't help but want to unravel more about her, even if it's likely futile. She's just as stubborn as I am, which I suppose is a major reason I'm attracted to her.

Did I just admit that to myself? Pfft.

Finally, the elderly woman makes her purchase, and I quickly swipe my card, slip the shirt on, and head to the diner, conveniently connected to the small store by a hallway.

The diner isn't crowded; a few patrons are sitting at the bar, while nearly every booth is vacant. When I scan the room and don't spot Xeraphine, my shoulders tense up. I glance outside, checking to make sure my vehicle is still parked, which it is, thank Belial himself.

"Shit, Xera—"

"Yes?" her voice holds an unusual gentleness, catching me off guard. When I turn, she's there, eyebrows furrowed, looking up at me. The perpetual frown on her cherry lips deepen as she tilts her head. "I had to use the restroom, is that okay with you?"

I let out a heavy sigh through my nose, trying to compose myself. "Yes, I thought you were going to run again."

She chews on her bottom lip, shaking her head without a word. Surprising, no retort? As she brushes past me and settles into a booth, I follow suit.

Standing at the edge of the table, I jest, "Would you like to stare into my eyes longingly, or have my arm around you while we eat?"

Placing her hands on the table, she slowly meets my gaze. "Whatever you want."

"Well," I slide in beside her, wrapping my arm around her, "that was a mistake." Almost instantly, she tenses, attempting to squirm away.

I cup her face, directing her to look at me. Growling, I say softly but with a commanding nature, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing!" she sneers. "What's with you? Can't we just eat and get back on the road?"

I don't want to fight, not here. Her and I could get into an argument that will end in her bent over this table and I don't give a fuck who's watching, I'll take her ass right here without a second thought. She's perfectly available for me too, no panties or bra. All I would have to do is tear off that single piece of fabric.

"Stop imagining fucking me here, Kai!" she whisper-shouts.

"Then let's be civil, hmm? Tell me what's wrong, and I'll release you and sit on the other side." I lean down toward her as she hesitates. My lips brush against her cheek while my fingers glide up her thigh. "Unless this is what you want. Then, keep silent and I'll stay right here."

A frustrated groan comes from her chest, "You shoved me earlier, why?"

That... was not what I was expecting. "You pissed me off," I answer honestly.

"Why? What did I do differently that time, for you to be so pissed?" Okay, now I'm confused. She sounds... upset.

"I'm sorry," and I mean it, because holy shit, her entire presence has shifted, and I swear I'm looking at a normal girl. Someone with feelings other than hatred. "I didn't mean—"

I watch as her lip quivers.

Oh fuck, is she going to cry?

"Xera, Gods, are you really upset?" She turns her head so quickly from me, I'm stunned into being immobile. What the fuck do I do?

It was at that moment, her shoulders jump, and a laugh bubbles from her lips. One of her hands comes up, trying to stifle it, and I release the breath stuck in my chest.

"Fuck you," I say as I pull my arm from around her and slip from the booth. The way she can shift her emotions so convincingly is impressive. I truly thought she was upset.

I slide into the booth opposite her, my expression etched with a scowl. But that fleeting discontent melts away in an instant. Her laughter, genuine and unbridled, makes my breath catch in my throat. Observing a demon in their true form is one thing, but witnessing the vulnerable moments, those glimpses between the horns, is an entirely different revelation. It's the part of them they vehemently shield from the world, the piece they refuse to unveil to anyone. And she gave it to me.

"Dumb ass," she quips, "as though you think you shoving me would make me cry. Oh my Gods."

I emit a soft huff accompanied by a quirked smile. "Yeah, right. "

She's bringing herself down from her fit of laughter, though I hope she keeps going. I know I'll rarely get to see that, so I make sure to tuck that safely in my memory to not forget.

"Nothing is wrong, I'm hungry," she says, leaning back and crossing her arms under her chest, looking beyond me trying to catch the waiter's attention.

She's lying, but I'm going to wait until she eats to pressure her into telling me. I'm also going to tell her she had a nightmare. I don't think she's slept with anyone overnight, and I wonder if she's aware she has them.

"What, Kai?"

I know I'm staring at her and she's caught me, but I couldn't care less. She'd have to take my eyes away for me to stop, and even then, once they were back, I'd continue. "Why do you call me Kai?"

Her eyebrows pull together. "Isn't that your name?"

"No…" I can hear footsteps approaching from behind me, and I lean back, draping my arm over the bench. "My name is Kairhyse."

"Good afternoon," an older woman, Mundane, stands beside the table holding a pad of paper in her shaky hands. She has a bright smile lingering on Xeraphine, and is given an equally genuine one back.

I hum, beautiful .

"What can I get you?" she addresses my little demon first.

"Pancakes, please."

"Regular, Chocolate Chip, Strawberry or Peaches?"

"Regular, with extra butter. No syrup, but—" She looks at the side of the table nearest the window, inspecting the condiments. "Honey, if you have some."

"What would you like to drink?"

"A glass of water, and if you have any, tomato juice."

Interesting , I don't think I've ever in my life heard someone order tomato juice.

"I'll check to see if we have any," the waitress, whose fine lines extend higher with her smile toward me, says. "And for you, we have O negative and B positive."

I flick my gaze to Xeraphine, expecting her to try to deny my order again, but she's glancing out the window paying no mind.

"O negative will be fine. I'll take it slightly warmed, thank you, doll. "

With that, we are alone once again.

"Kai—" she doesn't look at me as she continues, "—Rhyse. It's easier to say Kai. Does it offend you?" Something told me that if it did, she'd use it more often. That thought almost tempts me to lie.

"No, it doesn't offend me."

"Then what's the problem?" Her shortness with me makes me chuckle. I cross my legs but hit the table, nearly tipping it over onto her. "Glad you did that before my food got here, I'd be pissed if you spilled anything."

"So worried about everything that can be replaced." I fix the table, trying to stop it from its wobble. "If I ruined your plain ass pancakes I'd just order you more. Or, if I spilled your strange request of tomato juice, I'd get you another." As her lips part with what I assume is going to be a smart remark, I continue. "I quite enjoy you calling me Kai, especially when you scream it."

She rolls her eyes, her arms tightening around her waist. "Whatever."

I can't tell if she's responding to me disrespecting her choice in breakfast, or that I like her screaming my name. Either way, I can see a slight tint to her cheeks. Not much, but it's enough for me to recognize I can make her blush, and now I'm determined to do so again.

We sit in silence, but I don't find it awkward. Any partner I've been placed with, like Mathas—poor guy—I'd rarely talk with. Not that I didn't enjoy a good conversation, just never found a desired topic to discuss unless it was about work. In my little demon's and my current situation, I'm just enjoying watching her look outside. There are rolling thunderstorms coming in, I can smell it, but now that the clouds are beginning to cover the setting sun, it'll be a nice rainy drive home.

I can't get over how beautiful she is. While yes, everything from her hair down to her cute toes I saw when I took her shoes off to remove her pants is stunning, it's more than that. It's a look of deadly grace, something that she permeates instead of something that is merely a physical description.

She's deadly, and she doesn't give a rat's ass about it. The meticulous way she is, makes me hunger to know more. The file on this mystery murderer, now not a mystery to me, is that she kills high-level targets, or those associated with them. She's on a warpath, but it's not out of the desire to kill at random .

She's also a psychotic bitch, but one that actually cares for those that are important to her. Her friend, Sydni, for instance. Denying to feed from her was Xera's way of saying ‘I love you' to that butterfly. The concern for that male, Tyson, was also palpable. He just better keep his fucking hands off her, I warned him and won't give him another.

"You are so weird." She doesn't turn her head from the window, but I can see her peering at me from the corner of her eyes.

I shrug my shoulders, "It's a compliment, take it, little demon."

She groans, and I'm surprised when she asks, "Your tattoos, what do they mean?"

"Which one?"

"All of them."

Pulling up the sleeve on my right arm, I open my mouth to speak when she quickly cuts in, "By the way, that shirt is fucking stupid."

I can't argue, "Agreed." I'll take that as her thanking me for not making us swap. "I'll take it off in the car so you can stare at my chest some more." She rolls her eyes away from me, but slowly brings them back as I continue with her inquiry. "A graveyard, to me, symbolizes rest. There is no greater peace than death. Each headstone," I point to the four, "represents the deaths of those I lost because of my immortality."

I feel the table slightly shift, and she leans over to look. Adjusting to give her a better view, I rest my elbow onto the table. "One of them has your name…"

I nod, "Technically I lost myself to my immortality."

Her eyes quickly flick to mine, and then back to my arm. "Down here, there is a cat." Her nail traces along the ending of the graveyard, where there are random pieces such as the black cat she's referring to, and skulls resting in grass. "Any particular reason you went with a cat?"

"Not really, it was to fill the space. Felt like a black cat suited the design."

"There are two skulls, are they—"

"No meaning," I hope my lie is convincing, but her eyebrows twitch, which makes me think not. "Okay, there is one, but I'd prefer not to discuss it." There is no part of me that wants to dump that on her, and she probably wouldn't care anyway. Which is fine, I don't care anymore so why should she?

She licks her lips and doesn't comment; instead, she moves on. "You have space on your wrist, and this hand. Any plans?" Her nails stop at my knuckles, and I shake my head. "I see."

Moving her hand, she gestures with it to my other arm, and I oblige, turning and situating myself in the same manner. As I'm rolling my sleeve up, I can see her intensely looking at my hand. The symbol of Achille.

"The reaper and all the time items," she doesn't comment on it, "it means your time is up when death comes. Right?"

"Sort of." Her hand is taking my wrist and turning it over to look at the sundial that wraps around the entirety of my forearm. "I always found the concept of death fascinating, even as a Mundane. When I met the reaper, figuratively speaking, it was more like time was infinite. I don't hate immortality, so it's sort of a nod to thanking the creature for the time I've been given."

Without releasing my wrist, she meets my gaze, "Shouldn't you be thanking the Vampire that turned you? Not Death itself?"

I chuckle and shake my head, "That crazy bitch is dead, thank Belial himself. I didn't want to be a Vampire, don't take my enjoyment of immortality as that. I've just come to terms with what I am and will enjoy it because it's the life I have been given. Until someone pops my head off." Offering her a wink was the right move because she graces me with a slight smile.

I hum softly, you are the sweetest of sins.

"Anyway." I clear my throat and move us forward. "I'll let you explore my chest and back piece when we are naked in bed together later."

She scoffs and leans away from me, and I bark out a laugh.

"So confident in yourself," she murmurs and sinks into the bench. "You'll be taking me home and leaving me alone after this. I think we've spent enough time together."

I can't help but wonder, if I were to utter a simple ‘okay', would her heart start racing, desperately clinging to the hope that I was kidding? I'd like to lie and tell her that I'll never see her again after this. Except, the words stick in my throat and I'm unable to even joke about it.

"It is you that is quite confident you can tell me what to do." I grin, "Plus, it's not been long enough. Whether you think so or not."

"Whatever, Kai." Good, she's still calling me that.

The approaching footsteps make her straighten her posture, and she eagerly looks up at the waitress placing her plate in front of her. Her tomato juice is set right beside her water, and then my delectable blood is placed in front of me.

"Enjoy!"

For the next ten minutes, we sit in silence while Xeraphine eats and I sip. There's nothing appetizing about blood that has sat in a plastic container for likely days, but it will satiate me until I can feed properly. Achille requested my presence a few days ago, so when I go in, I'll feed on the prospects.

After she finishes her meal, I pay for it, and we head back to my car. As we walk, I notice a few other people pumping gas, which reminds me that I need to do the same. The sound of raindrops hitting the overhang above us provides a soothing backdrop, shielding us from the downpour.

"Your kind doesn't get cold, right?" I ask, turning toward her and getting the answer for myself. Her arms are hugged across herself and she's begging with her eyes for me to unlock the car. "Oh, sorry."

"I'm not a full Succubus, and while my skin is thicker, it isn't impervious to the elements." That's right, I'm not sure how I forgot she's a hybrid.

With a smile straight from the Beyond, I wrap my arm around her and flush her to me. "Good to know." Her head is pulling back, eyes wide. "I'll know to stay close during the colder hours." My opposite hand traces down to the small of her back and roughly smashes our hips together.

"Get off!" She raises her hand and swats at my chest, causing me to laugh and throw my head back. "I want the heater!"

Before releasing her, I lean down and purr against her lips, "I promise, my warmth will last hours, and hours… and hours."

"Kai!"