22. Xeraphine

22

Xeraphine

I t's been two weeks since I last spoke to Kairhyse, but that doesn't mean it's been the last time I've seen him. I can't catch a break, despite my efforts to lead the most uneventful life possible. While I continue my search for leads, I've made every effort to pursue them when Kairhyse is occupied with something other than stalking me.

A week ago, he once again was back at the Hause Sidence headquarters, and I swear I nearly ran to one of my neighbor's houses to fuck them and send him a video of it.

I was seriously on the verge of it, except, I had to sit with myself and ask: Why did it piss me off? I've still not come up with that answer, and I'm quite pissed about it if I'm honest. I've not even enjoyed playing with myself since that… shadow dance of ours. Nothing compares, and I knew he would be the death of me. Yet, I still didn't kill him and I won't, because as much as he's a fucking idiot, I'm more so.

That hasn't stopped me from trying to please myself, as I'm currently doing right now. I've got a dildo shoved hilt deep inside of my cunt and my fingers playing with my bundle of nerves, trying to find the heat that will cause my stomach to tighten and my legs to shake .

The toy is just not the same and as I'm thrusting it in and out of me, I roll onto my stomach and scream in anger into the sheets. I'm soaked, and my core throbs with a need to release the pent-up frustration that has built up over the past two weeks.

He is my undoing, and I'm a Gods damn mess because of it.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

I tear my hand away from my clit and scramble around the bed trying to locate my phone. Once I feel the vibration beneath my hand, I fumble around to answer it.

The soft click of picking it up prompts me to bring it to my ear. "What?" I grumble.

"You're doing it all wrong," Kairhyse purrs through the speaker, "would you like me to come in and show you? Or even my shadow…" My stomach tightens, and while I know he is nearly always watching me, his suggestion of being the one to fix my problem makes me feel feral. "Oh, you like that huh? I think you gushed a little—"

"Ew! Don't say that!" I roll onto my back and pull out my toy, tossing it through my bedroom's open door. I hope it landed in the sink, but by the sounds of a cup flying onto the floor, I'm pretty sure I missed.

"Left to right, my little demon." I move my phone away and go to hang up, "Wait."

Not sure why, but I do, and bring my phone back up to my ear. His soft hum makes me bite my lip with anticipation, "Turn a little so I can see that pretty pink pussy before you put clothes back on."

"You fucking snake," I pull the phone away and hang up, but not before hearing his booming laugh from the other end. "PRICK!"

One week later

"Thanks for the ride," I say as the car comes to a stop. I grab my umbrella, preparing to step out, when Tyson clears his throat. I look at him, something I hadn't done since getting into the car after work.

"Xeraphine, what's going on?" I narrow my eyes in confusion, uncertain why he's asking such a question. Rain pelts against the windshield, and the last thing I desire is to trudge home from work through the downpour. Is it really that strange? He did say I could reach out if I needed anything.

"Where is your fancy boyfriend?" he asks.

I groan, "He isn't my boyfriend."

The skepticism in his expression accompanies him grabbing his steering wheel and looking forward. "No one crosses state lines unless they are either your partner or a st—"

"Stalker. Yeah, Tyson, a fucking stalker," I interject. Truthfully, while Kairhyse absolutely is one, I don't hate that he does it. Which is so counterintuitive to my life, it's painful. "I'm not going to call for a ride from him, if that is what you're getting at."

"Why not call the authorities? That's dangerous. He is dangerous. Shit, he scared the Beyond out of me."

I let out a soft laugh, "He doesn't scare me. I can handle myself."

"He said if I touched you again, he would mail my hands to my mother," he says, his voice trembling. For a man of Tyson's stature, I'm sure that hurt his pride just as equally. "I'm both curious if it's just big talk, or if he actually would."

I bite my lip. Oh, he would, Ty, he would. Looking around, I try to see if I can spot him. I don't even smell him, which is probably a good thing. I don't need him getting any ideas about harming Tyson.

"Don't worry about me. Thanks for the ride," I say as I pop open the umbrella and step out of the car.

I sprint across the pathway to my front lobby. I wouldn't even consider it to be a ‘lobby'; it's more of a room with three chairs facing the glass door with a hole in the wall where eight hours of security sits. I'm taking the stairs because, as per usual the elevator is broken, when I see that the door to my apartment is cracked, I stop.

It's been three weeks since I've fed, and while I'm not starved, my senses are beginning to wane. I don't smell anyone, but that's impossible. I know I would never have left my door open.

Softly, I release all the air in my lungs, and then bring in the largest breath I can, holding it.

Shifters likely have the best hearing, next to Vampires. I don't know who could be in there, but I'm not taking any chances. Before moving in, I slip my flats off and tiptoe to my doorframe.

I listen in, but don't hear anything. Maybe someone just broke in. Shitty luck for them; the best they'd get is my television, and even that isn't worth much .

I hear footsteps right behind the door. I shove through quickly, my vision capturing cotton candy pink before my nails pierce through her neck. My eyes widen as Sydni stares right back at me with her sky-blue eyes.

"Hey Phiny-bear!" she says so casually, as if my middle finger's nail wasn't pushing against the vein in her neck. A bright smile crosses her lips, which are painted a beautiful shade of pink.

"What… the fuck, Syd?!"

"What?"

I'm baffled. "The door… You left it open! What if someone…" I've never felt my heart race so rapidly. Not from the fear of an intruder, but from the prospect of her being so careless, risking harm to herself. "Syd, this area is not the safest. Can you please be careful?"

Her lips part, and she looks at me like I'm the manic one.

"Don't come here unless I'm home, damn it. What if someone snatched you on your way in from your car? Have you seen yourself? You're so frail and cute and—"

I'm so immersed in my rant that I can't prevent her from enveloping me in a hug. My eyes widen, and once again, I find myself holding my breath. She has never hugged me before, or at least, never succeeded.

Gently, I place my hands on her back. I don't pull her into a tight embrace, but I do reciprocate it as best I know how.

"Listen to me," I lower my voice and sigh. "If something happens to you because you're being reckless, no one will survive." She nods, stepping away from me. "I'm serious. I'll go on a rampage."

Her gentle smile slows my anxiety. Stupid girl… I can't fucking lose you.

Brushing past her, I notice Mister sitting on the couch. Approaching, he meows so loudly that it startles me. Then he rolls onto his back, begging for belly rubs. "Okay, hi to you too," I mutter, obligingly rubbing his belly.

Brr-oww. Rowwwww.

Silly cat.

"Did I miss something on my calendar again?" I turn my head over to Sydni, who is still dazed by the moment. She's probably in just as much shock at me hugging her back, as I was that she left the damn door open.

She shakes her head and takes a breath, pulling herself from the haze she put herself into. "Nope!" There it is. My cotton candy princess is back. "I am actually here to ask for a favor, and I'll tell you where Rhysie-poo is." I wish she wouldn't call him that. I roll my eyes, exasperated by his nickname.

Though, I am curious. She has his location tracked, and while I'd love to put it on the phone I got back from him, I'm afraid he's got some spyware on it and would know. I'm already convinced he is tracking my phone and likely sees everything: like texts and who I call. Though, I can't be certain.

"Fine. First, what do you want, and then tell me where he is." He isn't around this afternoon, and I'm ready to pencil into my fury with him being at Hause Sidence.

"I…" She's so dramatic, the pause and the cat-like grin all for show. "Have a date!" As if that is supposed to surprise me.

"Great, I'm super happy for you. What's his name?" Sydni is straight, though I'm sure I could turn her if I wanted to.

"Brice. But listen, I know you aren't going to like this but—"

"No. Absolutely not."

"They aren't all bad, Phiny-bear, and he is really sweet!"

My nose twitches. "What kind?" I'm trying not to be prejudiced toward an entire race, but I've never met a good Shifter.

"I don't know…" She fiddles with her fingers, and I feel like I'm scolding her like a child, but it's because she's acting like one in this moment. "He asked me to dinner and then drinks afterward." I'm waiting for her request. Waiting for her to ask me for permission to date a Shifter. Then, I can completely deny her, as though she's my daughter or sister, or anyone that I can control.

"I was hoping you'd just come to watch over me and get a feel for him. I've done his background check; he went to college! He has a good job…" I've not stopped staring at her since she began, and I can see that my impenetrable glare is possibly beginning to scare her. "He's really cute and sweet, Phiny-bear…"

"When is this date…" My eye spasms as I speak through my teeth.

"Tonight, in—" She pulls out her phone. "Thirty minutes."

"For fuck's sakes, Sydni. I just got off work!"

"Is that a no?" Her sheepish tone makes me groan and throw my head back. "I'll cancel…" Gods she sounds so sad, and even though I would rather her date a Mundane nerd that sits on his video games all day, I do want her happy and satisfied.

I'll threaten his dick if he even looks at her wrong. Or at another woman. I should feel honored that Sydni would want me to play bodyguard. That, or she's lost her damn mind thinking I have the restraint to not kill him if he even slips up a little.

Either way, I concede. "Let me wash my face and change, five minutes tops."

She squeals.

"Where is Kai?" I interject into her joy.

"I feel like anywhere he is that isn't nearest to you is going to piss you off, but at least it isn't at Hause Sidence this time."

I groan so loud that Mister jumps from the couch and heads out the patio door.

"Piece of shit, Vampire."