Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

EVEREST

The past couple of days have been great. I loved walking around Xendail and listening to Raven as he talked about his home. I even gave him a blow job beside the lake he showed me. There were other demons there, swimming or sitting on blankets and eating. That didn’t matter to me. I wanted to taste Raven, so I did, taking him deep into my mouth until he shot his load down my throat. It was the first time I ever did anything like that, and I liked how it made me feel. When we got back home that night, he fucked me into the mattress, making me go hoarse from how much I screamed his name.

We’re walking hand in hand to Raven’s father’s back yard to get back to Earth when he stops and stiffens, his eyes drifting closed. A string of his native language leaves his lips in a rapid pace. When his eyes pop open, he sighs. “I have to stay here.”

Frowning up at him, I ask, “Why? What’s wrong?”

“My father wants me to help him with a dispute in Lucifer’s realm. I am his eldest son, so he calls on me more than Phoenix and the others. It will not take long—a day at the most. I would bring you with me, but Lucifer only allows those he invites into his realm. You are an unknown to him, so he will not extend the invitation. I can take you back to my treehouse, and you can wait for me. ”

The prospect is tempting. I love Raven’s treehouse. It’s so beautifully made, the most comfortable abode I’ve ever visited. But I don’t know if I feel comfortable staying there alone. I know nothing and no one will hurt me there, but I’m not ready.

“No, I’ll go back to Earth. I’ll call Danae and have lunch. She’s not here anymore, right?”

“No, she is back on Earth. She only comes down once or twice every few weeks.”

I nod. At least I won’t be pacing back and forth, waiting for Raven to come back to me. I can keep busy until he returns. “We can still talk right? Through our connection?”

Raven looks sad, his black eyes full of melancholy. “Not on Lucifer’s plane. No mental links can breach his walls.”

“It’s okay,” I say with more nonchalance than I feel. “It’ll only be a few hours.”

“Only a few hours. I promise I will come for you as soon as I can,” he says. I nod, hoping I’m putting on a brave face, but I’m not sure I succeed. He sighs, squeezing my hands. “Close your eyes. I will send you back to the townhouse.”

Standing on my tiptoes, I give Raven a long kiss. Raven groans in my mouth, framing my face with his large, hot hands.

“Hurry back,” I mutter against his mouth. He nods, pecking me once more on the lips, then steps back.

“Open your eyes only when you feel solid ground under your feet and the air stops moving around you.”

I close my eyes tight. I only have to wait a few seconds before I feel the wind blowing and whipping around me. It’s a lonely trip, not having Raven’s hands in mine, but I push down my unease. When I feel the ground under my feet and the wind isn’t blowing my clothes around, I open my eyes and see I’m back in the townhouse, without Raven.

I sigh, sitting heavily on the bed. Fuck, how did I get in so deep with a man in a matter of weeks? No, not a man. A demon. How did I get in so deep with a demon so quickly?

That’s an easy answer. He treats me like I matter. Like I’m someone precious to him. No one has ever made me feel that way. It’s a heady feeling, being wanted by someone like Raven. Being desired by a demon, someone so strong and so powerful.

After I change into a t-shirt and jeans, I scoop up my phone and text Danae so we can meet up for lunch. Being out with her is better than moping around, wishing I had stayed in Xendail.

She jumps at the chance, saying she’ll come pick me up. I tell her it’s fine, I’ll catch an Uber, Raven having put his card information into the app on my phone. We agree to meet up at the sandwich place we met before in twenty minutes.

When the Uber pulls up at the sandwich shop, I see Danae has already arrived. She looks nervous, wringing her hands on the table in front of her. I give her a soft smile, hoping that puts her at ease.

“Hey,” I say cheerfully, sliding into the chair in front of her.

“Hey, Ev.” I smile at her use of the nickname. “I really thought you’d be mad at me for not telling you the truth.”

I shrug, glad she jumped right into it. “Nah. I know you weren’t doing anything to hurt me. The opposite, really. You wanted me to have my Raven.”

She grins, nodding earnestly. “Yes, I did. He’s my favorite cousin. He was a mess before you summoned him. Every day, he got more and more angry that he couldn’t help you. With my mate, I was able to give him suggestions. I led him to a book on the occult. The one I said I read?” I nod, leaning forward and giving her my undivided attention. “So it was easy for me. Raven didn’t think that would work with you since you were already so wary of him. So I came. My mate really is a doctor, so after I found where you lived, he was able to get a job at the hospital the next town over and we moved.”

“So you didn’t get abused by your ex?”

She shakes her head, but her eyes are stormy. “Not me. My mate’s sister. Her ex-wife was a real bitch. Mental and physical abuse. I got rid of her as soon as he summoned me.” She says that last part in a low rumble and I shiver. Demons really are capable of great evil. I can only imagine what Danae did to her mate’s sister-in-law.

“I’m sorry she went through that.” No form of abuse is okay. I’m glad Danae helped her escape that hell. “How is your mate’s sister now?”

A lovely smile blooms over her face, lighting her up in a way I’m sure nothing else can. “She’s doing great. Really thriving. She’s a strong human. I love her very much.”

I grin, my hand going to my chest. Leaning forward, I whisper, “You demons really are a loving bunch.” I wink at her, making her laugh.

“Yeah, well, that bullshit you humans learn isn’t the truth about us. You’ve seen that with Raven, haven’t you?”

“I have. He’s been so good to me. Better than I thought I deserved.”

Danae grabs my hand, gripping tight. “You deserve exactly how he’s treating you. You do. The fucks in this town have known you your entire life, but they don’t know you. I do. Raven does. We know you’re sweet with a kind heart. You deserve to be treated well, Ev.”

Tears fill my eyes, and I sniffle and smile, thanking her. “I used to wish people here could see that, but now, I don’t. I have the people in my life that I want in it. You and Raven are all I need.”

The entire time I was in Xendail, I felt at home. It was an entirely new area, not even on Earth, but I felt like it was where I belonged. It was easy to get to used to being there. There was even cable television and internet, though Raven can’t explain how it works. To him, it just is.

There was no fear when I was in Xendail, regardless of the fact that I was surrounded by demons on all sides. I saw a few humans here and there, but demons were obviously the overwhelming population. And I didn’t feel afraid—I felt comfortable and welcome.

No one looked down on me. No one mistreated me just because they could. No one made me feel like they didn’t want me there.

Being on Earth? That’s all I feel. I’ve never felt like I belonged. Everywhere I went in this shitty town, someone gave me nasty looks or said snide comments to or about me. My father, the sheriff, Mitch, Joey... they all did untold damage to me over the years. They beat me down until I was almost no more, making me feel so low I didn’t think I’d ever rise.

No one on Xendail made me feel that way, and I’m quite sure they never would.

Danae smiles and pats my hand. “I’ll always be there for you. Soon, you can meet my mate. I’m sure you’ll become fast friends. He’d enjoy talking to someone that is mated to a demon.”

I laugh, feeling lighter than I have in a long time in this town.

We sit and talk about other small things, just enjoying each other’s company. I’m so comfortable with Danae, my first real friend in my entire life.

After we finish lunch, she gives me a long hug. “What are you going to do now?”

I shrug, putting my hands in my back pockets. “I think I’ll go to the library. I haven’t been since I got together with Raven. I think there might be some new graphic novels I can read while I wait for him.”

“I’ll give you a ride.”

I wave her off. “Nah, I want to walk and think. I have a lot on my mind.”

She nods in understanding. “If you want some company, call me.”

“I will.” I give her another hug, watching her walk to her car. Smiling I turn down the street, making my way the few blocks to the library.

I’m a block away when the cop car pulls up beside me. I pretend not to see it, continuing to walk to the library with quick but not visibly hurried steps.

The passenger window rolls down and I sigh inwardly, knowing I won’t get away without speaking. “Where do you think you’re going?” Sheriff Drake asks nastily, his tone full of disgust.

“To the library,” I mutter, putting as much bass in my voice as I can, though it shakes a little.

Sheriff Drake turns his sirens on, making me stop in my tracks. I close my eyes and reach out to Raven, dismayed when I hit a wall through our mental connection. Fuck, I hate that I can’t talk to him. Especially now when I have a feeling Sheriff Drake will give me shit.

He hefts his large frame from the car, rounding the hood and grabbing me by the arm. He pushes me against the car, frisking me roughly. “What did I do?” I ask. He can’t do this unless I’m accused of a crime. Stop and frisk searches are illegal, and he can’t rough me up just because he’s in a mood.

“Murder, you disgusting piece of shit.”

“What?” I ask, trying to turn to face him. He pushes me against the hood of the car roughly, the wind almost knocked out of me. “I didn’t murder anyone.”

“Shut the fuck up.” Sheriff Drake slaps cuffs on my wrists and drags me to the back of the squad car. He’s none too gentle with me as he stuffs me in the back, barely missing my foot when he slams the door.

What the fuck? This isn’t right. I may not watch a lot of television, but from the crime dramas I did watch, I know he can’t take me in without reading me my rights. This is an illegal arrest.

“Raven!” I shout, cursing when I run into that mental block again. Fuck, this is bad. Really bad.

The drive to the police station feels like it takes forever, though it can only be about ten minutes. When we arrive, Sheriff Drake drags me inside past the front desk to the interrogation room. The officer sitting at the desk gives us a puzzled look but doesn’t interfere. Why would he? I’m the town’s gay blight on the community. What reason would he have to help me?

When Sheriff Drake guides me hastily to one of the rickety chairs, he doesn’t remove the handcuffs. I pull at them, but he ignores me, sitting in the chair in front of me with an angry look on his face. What does he have to be angry about? He’s not the one that got pulled off the street and slapped in handcuffs.

“What is this about?” I ask, a hint of irritation creeping into my voice. “Why did you arrest me? Illegally, I might add.”

Drake’s eyebrows rise on his forehead, and it hits me that this is the first time I’ve ever talked to him this way. Usually, he’ll say some fucked up shit to me, and I’d put my head down, waiting for the slurs and angry words to be over. But right now, I’m over it. I’ve had enough of people walking all over me.

“Ain’t nobody gonna believe I arrested you illegally. So shut the fuck up about that. I’m gonna get a confession out of you for what you did to your father.”

“I didn’t do anything to him. I wasn’t even in town.” I need to keep up that lie so he doesn’t have anything on me. “You saw our check-out paperwork.”

“You were in town when Mitch was killed.” I sit back, swallowing roughly. Raven and I didn’t talk about that murder. With the news saying they didn’t have any leads, I thought we were in the clear.

I shake my head. “I didn’t kill Mitch.”

“But you had reason to. From what I hear, you got loud with him, quitting on the spot when he asked you to do your job. A witness said you didn’t like that and quit, causing a scene.”

“No. None of that happened.” He has to be lying. It was Mitch that caused a scene, getting loud and spitting on the door before I locked up. Drake is probably switching it around on purpose to get me to lose my temper and confess. That won’t work. “I quit, but I didn’t make a scene. Anyone there will tell you that.”

Sheriff Drake grunts, not caring what I have to say. He already has his mind made up about me, even if he has no proof.

“So,” he says, leaning back in his chair and putting his hands over his large belly, “you killed Mitch, and you killed your father.”

“I did not,” I whisper.

He continues talking as if I didn’t say anything. “Not only were you a shitty employee, not doing anything right for Mitch, you were a shitty son.”

“No,” I mutter, teeth clenched.

“You didn’t check on your dad after you roughed him up in the restaurant. Then you killed him.”

“No!” I stand up from the chair, breathing heavily. My balance is off with the cuffs on, but I maintain my footing. “I was a good employee, taking Mitch’s bullshit and abuse. And I was a great fucking son! I cleaned my father up when he threw up everywhere, I got him out of lock up when he got arrested for being drunk in public, and I was there for him even after he beat the shit out of me! He didn’t deserve my loyalty, but he got it! You will not stare in my face and tell me I was a bad son. He was a bad father. He terrorized me for years !”

I seethe. How dare Sheriff Drake talk to me this way when he saw the cuts and bruises I walked around with?

“You were a shitty fucking sheriff!” I’m not done with my tirade. Drake looks shocked that I’m standing up to him, but I don’t give a fuck. He needs to hear this, even if he doesn’t give a fuck. I need to get it out.

“Watch yourself, boy,” he grunts, leaning forward, getting in my face.

“Fuck you! You let him beat me. You saw what I was going through, and you didn’t do your job! You did nothing! You should hand over your badge. You don’t deserve it.”

A hard hand comes down on my face, and I stagger back and fall to the floor, my cuffed hands taking the brunt of the fall.

Sheriff Drake towers over me, face beet red with anger, his hand still raised. “Don’t you fucking talk to me like that! You should feel lucky you’re allowed around us regular folk with your perversion.”

I sit up, leaning against the wall. My face feels hot, throbbing in time with my heartbeat. I still don’t back down. “Fuck you,” I repeat, spitting at his feet. “You should be glad I didn’t file a fucking report against you. You’re the worst thing that happened to this town.”

Sheriff Drake pushes the table away, stalking over to me. I can’t put my arms up to block any blows since they’re cuffed behind my back. His foot comes down on my face, cracking across my cheek. I cry out, trying to roll away. The wall at my back prevents me from doing anything but taking the blows.

Another kick lands in my ribs, and I feel a crack. A strangled cry leaves my lips, and I curl in on myself “Fuck me? No, fuck you, boy!” Sheriff Drake roars. He bends down and grips the front of my shirt and punches me in the face. “Your daddy should have done more than slap you around a little.” He punches me again and my nose breaks, blood leaking down my face. I sob, hot tears leaking from my eyes. “Ain’t tough now, are ya? You’re just like a good little bitch, shutting your fucking mouth when you get a firm hand on you.”

The sheriff picks me up by my collar and tosses me across the room. I land heavily on my shoulder, feeling something tear. I wail, the pain unbearable. I push myself into the corner, trying to get away from Drake, who stomps over to me.

He presses his foot to my face, smashing my cheek into the floor. I can barely move, tears dripping and whimpers leaving my mouth. Before I can beg him to stop and let me go, the door flies open and his foot disappears in a flash.

“Jesus Christ, Sheriff! What the fuck did you do?” Officer Shade shouts. He pushes the sheriff back before coming over to me, his face drawn. He bends down, tipping my head up to check my injuries. “You’re okay, Everest. You’re good. Nothing happened, right? You came in here like this, right?” He tells me with his eyes to say yes, to agree so I can leave without more bruises.

I have no fight left in me. If I say no, that I’ll sue their asses, they may not let me out of this room alive. They could cover it up. No one knows I’m here, and no one is waiting for me at home.

Officer Shade is giving me an out, so I take it with both hands. “Nothing happened,” I mutter through swollen lips. “I came in like this.”

“Good,” Officer Shade mutters. He makes quick work of my cuffs, and I shout when my arm drops in front of me, pulling at my sore shoulder. “Get on out of here. I can only keep the sheriff off you for so long.”

As quickly as I can, I get to my feet. I look back at Sheriff Drake, who is shooting daggers at me, promising to finish the job. I’m lucky he doesn’t know where I live now. He would probably come put a bullet in my brain before Raven can get back.

Raven. He’s going to be pissed.

I smile, knowing that Raven will fuck Sheriff Drake up for this. We already planned to kill him, but it’ll be much worse when he gets a good look at me.

Stepping out of the police station, I shuffle onto the sidewalk, looking behind me to make sure I’m not being followed. When no one comes after me, I slide into an alley and take a shortcut to the library. That’s the only safe space I know of until I can find a way home. At least I can clean myself up before I order an Uber.

It’s about twenty minutes until the library closes, but that’s plenty of time. I almost drop to my knees and sob when it comes into view.

I hustle inside as quickly as I can, trying to hide myself so no one sees me. I don’t want anyone calling the cops, saying there’s an injured person wandering about.

No one spots me as I make my way to the bathroom. Limping over to the sink, I look at myself in the mirror and cringe. My eye is almost swollen shut. My cheek and lips are fat and puffy. My nose is crooked, clearly broken and still streaming blood. My shoulder hurts like a bitch, like something inside it is fucked up, as well as my ribs.

I groan as I try to pull out my phone. It’s hard, since it’s in the back pocket on the side that I landed on. Before I can pull it out, the bathroom door opens, and the old librarian steps inside.

Despite how I look, I’m more worried about keeping her here when she’s probably trying to lock up and go home. “I’m sorry for holding you up,” I mutter, moving to step around her.

“Come on, son. I’ll take you home.” My face must show surprise because she places a gentle hand on my cheek. “You can’t walk home like this. I’ll give you a ride, make sure you get there safe.”

My eyes well with tears, and I can’t stop them from spilling over. “Thank you.”

She smiles sadly at me, holding an arm out for me to take. I grasp it, though I don’t lean on her. She’s tiny and frail.

Her car is parked at the back door, and I hurry inside, falling into the passenger seat gratefully. I slouch down, not wanting any police officers to see me, causing the old librarian get in trouble for helping me out.

I give her directions to our townhouse, which is thankfully on the nicer side of town. The sheriff won’t think I’d be able to afford living that well, so probably won’t come looking for me here.

The lovely librarian puts the car in park in front of the house and turns to me. “Do you need help inside?”

More tears leak from my eyes as I shake my head. “No. I’m okay. Thank you for giving me a ride. You didn’t have to.”

“I know, son. I chose to. I’m just glad I could finally do something to help you besides show you books.” I nod, pulling my swollen lips in so I don’t sob all over her. “Off you go.”

Giving her one last watery smile, I get out of the car and hobble as quickly as I can inside the house.

When I’m inside with the door locked up tight, I hobble over to the couch, lying on my good side. I grab the throw blanket that’s draped across the back of it, wrapping it snugly around my body.

Raven, where are you?