3

“That looks and smells amazing.”

His smile was pure radiance and the slight blush at my compliment warmed my heart.

“I hope you enjoy.”

“Aren’t you eating?” I started scooping eggs onto my plate.

“I wasn’t sure if you wanted me to.”

Rolling my eyes, I motioned to the empty chair in front of me. “No matter how crazy everything sounded last night, the fact remains that you saved me. If you wanted me dead, I wouldn’t be here. Besides, I hate eating alone.”

Silently, he sat, filled his plate, and began eating. I waited until he was halfway through to begin today’s drilling.

“I’m having a hard time understanding that you love me…over kittens.”

He nodded. “Love isn’t really something one can explain. There’s always that moment when it takes you by surprise even though it’s been gradual. For me, I never looked at you any way other than that of a child in need of protection. When I saw you caring for those kittens, it was then I realized you’d become a man and the heart I always knew you had, became attractive.”

“So what’s the game plan? We can’t stay here forever.”

Senon’s gaze traveled the space. “Actually we could. I have everything you’d ever need here.”

“No, Senon, I can’t. I have commitments. Speaking of, I need a phone so I can call both of my jobs and let them know I’ll need a few days off. I’ll claim it’s the flu.”

“I placed your cellphone on the charger in the living room after you went to sleep.”

“Perfect, thank you.” I stood and carried my dish to the kitchen. “Let me make some calls and then I’ll wash up the dishes.”

“No need, go do what is needed.”

“Senon, let me, please. You were nice enough to cook, the least I could do?—”

I was properly silenced when Senon waved his hand and the mess disappeared.

“Now go make your calls, Ezra.” He winked and strolled out of the room.

The comic shop was cool with it and wished me well, the hospital was a different story. My boss informed me the police were looking for me since I was good friends with Gia and was seen leaving with her the night of her murder. I had to get down to the station as soon as possible. Senon was going to love that.

“Senon?” I called out when I couldn’t find him. When I got no response, I opened the sliding door where the view of the forest was. Bizarre that where there should be a mountain there was foliage.

“Senon?”

“Up here.”

I looked above and there he was chilling in a tree.

“Uh, watch doin’?”

“I wanted to give you privacy and I love sitting high and watching the world.”

I nodded because yeah, I could understand that. “Listen, I have to go down to the police station.”

He cocked his head, and in a flash landed in front of me. “Why?”

“I was seen leaving with Gia the night she died. I have to talk with the cops or else it might appear I was running.”

“You don’t have to be a part of that world ever again, Ezra.”

“Senon, I am a part of that world. Sure, it has its faults but it’s mostly good. I don’t want my name tainted.”

“I see. What will you tell the police?”

I hadn’t thought about it. “I’m open to suggestions.”

“Perhaps the truth. The man who came into the hospital followed you both, came into her home, killed Gia, and you ran out of fear.”

“And when they ask what the man looked like?”

“Tell them…but leave out the demon qualities.”

I snorted. “Okay.” When I turned to get ready Senon grabbed my arm.

“Ezra, you must listen to me.”

“What’s up?”

“Once we leave this sanctuary, you’re no longer safe. Which means, never leave my side, do as I say, no matter if you like it or disagree, do I make myself clear?”

My eyes widened at the seriousness of his words.

“I guess but?—”

“No, if you do not listen to me, we both will surely not survive. We are leaving this space that I am quite sure Abaddon knows exists…maybe not where but for sure that we are in hiding. Once we are exposed, he will take advantage of the opportunity. Therefore, you must listen.”

“Okay, Senon, I promise.”

Senon walked beside me into the police station dressed like an average person. Okay, scratch that. He wore jeans, a black t-shirt, and Converse like a normal person but he was insanely hot. Even the female cop working the front counter was gawking.

“Hey.” I waved in front of her face successfully snapping her out of her lustful “I want to lick the immortal” trance.

“Sorry, how may I assist you?” She smiled, her attention flicking to Senon every few seconds.

He was oblivious to her affections and a part of me warmed to know he said he loved me, and she wasn’t even a speck on his radar.

“My name is Ezra Acker, I was told the detective in charge of the Gia Grant murder wished to speak with me.”

Crime wasn’t uncommon in this town but judging by her expression, it certainly was known through this district.

“Please have a seat over there and Detective Hurst will be with you shortly.”

Senon and I sat in the very municipal looking waiting room. Me, I was riffling through a year-old magazine. Senon was like a watch dog scrutinizing every person around us, entering the building, or talking too loudly.

“Mr. Acker?”

My attention snapped to the sound of my name being called. The detective looked maybe thirty with sandy blond hair and brown eyes. He was in good shape and thankfully smiling.

“That’s me.” I stood and Senon followed.

“Are you his lawyer?” The detective addressed Senon.

“No, a friend.”

Hurst nodded curtly. “Well, friend, I’ll need to speak with Mr. Acker alone, so I’m going to have to ask you to wait here.”

I knew this was going to happen, I even warned Senon on the ride to the station that there was no way they’d let him in with me. He scoffed…and here we were.

“I do not think?—”

I squeezed Senon’s bicep. “It’s fine, I’m with a detective, safe as could be.”

Not against Abaddon, I was sure that was what Senon wanted to say, but there was no choice.

He growled but sat back down, shooting daggers at the detective.

Detective Hurst chuckled and motioned for me to follow him. After shooting Senon a quick smile I joined the detective.

The interrogation room was how one would expect it to be. Cinderblock walls, gray floors, one-way glass, a table, and a couple of chairs.

“I apologize for doing this in an interrogation room, Mr. Acker, but it’s easier to concentrate than on the floor.”

I waved him off. “No big deal. I want to help.” Even though there’d be no way anything I said today would assist the police in Gia’s murder…since they were looking for actual demons.

“I appreciate you saying that. Now, I spoke with the hospital staff, and many if not all stated you and Gia Grant were very close and left together after the attack at the hospital?”

“Yes, she was scared and admittedly I was too. Neither of us wanted to be alone so I went back to her place with her.”

He nodded. “That’s when everything gets fuzzy, Mr. Acker. Gia wasn’t harmed at the hospital but shortly after she was found with her neck brutally snapped and you were in the wind. Care to fill in the blanks?”

Yeah, the interrogation room wasn’t a coincidence. I suspected this would happen, though they weren’t wrong to think I did this.

“I was in Gia’s house when three guys broke in. One held Gia and another was asking where someone was, but neither Gia nor I knew who he meant, and I said so but he wouldn’t believe me. He got angry and told his friend to kill her. He…” I swallowed, closed my eyes, and tried desperately not to hear the sound of Gia’s body breaking. “He killed her.”

“So there were three men?”

“Yes.”

“What happened after that.”

“The one who seemed to be the leader, grabbed me and they took me with them.”

“You were kidnapped?”

I nodded. “They kept accusing me of lying, that I knew where some guy was, but he never told me who they were looking for and I thought maybe it had to do with what happened at the hospital, but I was terrified. My best friend was dead, and I thought I was going to die.”

Detective Hurst was scrutinizing me. “You’re an orderly at Legend Hill Hospital and work part time at Crane Comics and somehow attracted lethal killers who killed a nurse and kidnapped you in order to find some mystery man you don’t even know the name of?”

When he said it like that it sounded crazy. “Yes.”

“Mr. Acker?—”

“I get it, it sounds insane. I don’t understand it myself. But I got away from them and hid. I called my boss to take time off and he told me I needed to go to the station.”

“Why didn’t you come here to begin with?”

Frustration and weariness began settling in my bones and I wiped a hand over my face. “I was scared. I hid. Not the best choice but I came here to do the right thing.”

“Did you get a name of any of the men?”

“They kept calling the leader guy D.” I’m a terrible person who lies.

“D? That’s it? A description?”

Fuck my life. “The leader guy was large like over six-one, bald, kind of looked like Thanos from The Avengers movies, you know?”

“Right…and the others?”

“I can’t remember, I’m sorry.”

Detective Hurst sighed. “Mr. Acker, I’m finding a lot of this hard to swallow. Was it possible this had nothing to do with you and everything to do with Ms. Grant?”

Oh wow this was taking a turn. “I don’t understand?”

“The hospital was attacked and then Ms. Grant’s home. She’s the common denominator here. Has anyone been threatening her? Perhaps the someone this D was looking for was someone Gia was working with or something?”

How in the hell did he maneuver over to that theory? “Uhh…I suppose, but if that’s the case Gia never said anything to me. Trust me, I’d have ratted on the guy if it would have saved Gia’s life.”

The detective was silent for a moment then slipped a business card across the table. “Please call me if you think of anything else and in case I have further questions, I’ll need a number to call you.”

I shot off the number and Detective Hurst walked me out to where a very nervous looking Senon was pacing.

“Ready?” Senon glared at the detective and pulled me closer to him.

“Yeah.”

Senon didn’t relax until we were back at his mountain sanctuary. Once the doors shut, he exhaled loudly.

“I did not like you disappearing with that human.”

“Senon, he’s a detective, what did you think he was going to do?”

He stormed over to the kitchen and began clanging dishes, pots, and pans around.

“Senon, relax, I’m fine.”

He shook his head but started taking food out.

“Senon?”

He was chopping onions so forcefully they were turning into mush.

“Senon!” I yelled. “Stop!”

He slammed the knife down, rounded on me, and barricaded me against the refrigerator.

“I cannot deal with something happening to you, Ezra. It would destroy me.”

His breath fanned across my face, his eyes glowing with vulnerability, fear, and possession.

“Senon,” I whispered and tenderly ran my fingers over his cheek.

“Ezra, I?—”