25. Kairhyse

25

Kairhyse

I 've not felt this anxious since I was turned. Physically, I can't sit still, and if it weren't for Sydni, I might have subjected myself to Xeraphine's wrath and gone to the party anyway.

"I'm partial to Dion—" Sydni says, chomping down on chips through the phone. "Do you like television, Rhysie-poo?"

Xeraphine could have warned me about the nickname, but I will accept it from this little butterfly. "Not particularly, but I am curious why they keep going after the same girl." I've never understood people's obsession with terrible dating shows. This isn't ‘reality' television, because I've never met a single person who acts the way these people do.

"It's all for the dramaaaa ." She lets loose the sweetest giggle.

I'm pacing in front of the television in what would be considered a guest bedroom. I don't have one anywhere else in the house, but the thought of cuddling up and watching a horror movie with my little demon does sound nice. If she's into that sort of thing.

"Sydni," I might as well ask her. "What does Xera like? Does she watch these types of shows with you?"

The laugh that bellows through the phone is answer enough. "She'd eat my heart before willingly sitting down and watching this."

"So, why are you subjecting me to it?"

Her little giggle is so adorable, "It's distracting you."

"It really isn't." I clear my throat. "So, what does she like?"

"Killing, feeding, Mister, me..." I think she takes a drink, but by the pause, I believe she's going to continue. "You, and I force her to watch Crime Boss Hause, I think she likes it."

The casual way she just throws ‘you' in there makes me stop pacing. "Excuse me?"

"You know, CBH, it's literally one of the hottest shows—"

"Little butterfly, you just said she likes me. I know about that show."

She giggles again. "Now who is the dummy, dummy?" I don't retort, I just wait for her to continue because I know she will. After a few seconds of silence, as predicted, she does. "She'd have killed you by now if she didn't. As you know she's had plenty of opportunities to do so. Phiny isn't one to just outright say ‘I like you'—she's never said it to me, but by her actions alone, I know she does.

"There are three people, now four, in her life that she has not killed because she likes them, and all know who and what she is. Her therapist, although she does threaten her quite often, she'd never kill Dr. Harper. Then there is Tyson," I groan, and roll my eyes. "Oh, jealous are we? Don't be—he is a sweetheart, but she's got as much interest in him as she does in wearing any color other than black. I'm not exactly sure what she has told you about her past but—"

There is a pause. "No! Don't pick HIM, you dimwit!"

"Butterfly, please focus." I'm gentle. I can't imagine ever yelling at her.

"Oh, sorry, sorry. Anyway, Tyson, one of his sons dug her up, that's where their friendship began."

My eyebrows furrow. "Dug her up?" Dead silence fills her end of the phone. I have to quickly look to see if we lost connection. "Sydni?"

"Please don't say I said anything… Shoot, I just assumed she at least told you that part."

Her dreams—no, nightmares. "Down here." Who would do that to her? "Someone buried her?" I ask, and I can hear Sydni shuffling about, I think, but I'm unsure of what she is really doing.

"Rhysie-poo, I can't."

I don't want to put her in this position; that is unfair. So, I back down. "Okay, no problem, so Tyson," I take a seat onto the edge of the bed and look down at the floor. I'm beginning to understand why she is the way she is. While I imagine the trauma that brought her here was unbearable, I wouldn't want my Xeraphine any other way.

She's overbearing, thick-skulled, rude, and obnoxious.

But she's also smart, independent, strong, resilient, and that mouth of hers could set this world ablaze.

Whatever got her here, I want to help her destroy, but I never want to change her.

"—then there is me! She won't kill me because, you know, I'm me. And Phiny-bear likes me a lot."

I'm dragged from my thoughts of Xeraphine and chuckle. "Pretty sure she loves you at this point, butterfly."

Her laugh is laced with nerves. "Do not ever say that word to her."

"Pretty? Love?"

"Yes, love. Never say that word unless you want your throat ripped out."

Belial himself, I'm going to have to start taking notes.

"If I ask why, are you going to tell me?"

"Nope, but you're welcome for the warning. If there is one thing that Phiny does not do, it's love. Not even with me."

I hum. "Does she not love anything? Not even that weird tomato juice?"

That throws Sydni into a fit of laughter, and the edge of my lip curls up into a very small smile. She is distracting me, and in this moment, I appreciate it more than anything. For these fleeting minutes, it's just as though I'm chatting with my older sister about her life abroad.

"Let me tell you why she likes tomato juice so much, it's hilarious."

I relax and lean onto one arm. "I'm ready, tell me all the juicy details."

Please be okay… Please don't let my ease for your safety be a mistake my little demon.