This Is Forever

by S. A. Price

  “Who the hell was that?”

  Winter set his phone on the coffee table. “Murphy.” He said and sat down.

  “Who is Murphy?”

  “The short answer is family. He’s in town for the show. Apparently a surprise for me. Wants to have brunch or something.”

  “Oh.” She said and blinked.

  “You wanna come?”

  “Sure? I mean I never heard about this…”

  His phone rang again, the beat from Daft Punk’s Around The World. He grinned. “It’s Stoli.” He said and answered it. “Hey Stoli,” he said and waited. “Yeah one second.” He handed the phone to Lola. “It’s for you.”

  She frowned and took the phone. Why would one of Winter’s collectors wanna talk to her. “Hello?”

  “Hey Lady Hotness! We made an appointment for three at the Bellagio Spa. You down?”

  Lola blinked again. Lady Hotness? Two girls she barely knew, aside from a cursory meeting backstage were asking her to hangout. “Umm…” she started and Stoli cut her off.

  “We know you just got in but it’s like super relaxing.”

  “I don’t know…” she said with reluctance. Stoli wasn’t having any of it.

  “Well how’s this. We are down in the lobby and will be waiting for the next fifteen minutes. Decide, come down. If not, no problem but…” She trailed off. “Cool?”

  “Cool.”

  “Fifteen minutes. See you in a few.” Stoli disconnected.

  She looked at Winter. “They want me to go to the spa with them.”

  He didn’t look surprised at all. “You should. The girls are pretty fun, and not anything like your thinking.”

  She frowned. After their talk about Winter being on the website, and his subsequent convincing her that none of them meant shit to him, she wasn’t sure she really wanted to see the other side of the coin, and how he had effected the fairer sex.

  “I know exactly what you’re thinking.”

  She gave him a small smile. “Oh yeah?”

  He nodded. “Your thinking it will be super weird to hang out with chicks that I have hooked up with. It won’t be, not really. Stoli and Gats are decent people, and I can guarantee you this won’t be a weird experience for you. They probably just wanna be friends.”

  “And you’re cool with that?”

  He nodded. “Why not? Go. Get pampered.” He winked. “It’s not like I’m sitting around here alone.”

  “Well I did wanna meet this mysterious Murphy.”

  “You will. Promise. Now get your ass downstairs and have some fun. Okay?”

  She kissed him on the cheek and went into the bathroom, grabbing her overnight bag as she went. Ten minutes later she was refreshed, teeth brushed, Chapstick on and was descending towards the lobby and an adventure she wasn’t sure she wanted to have.

  TWENTY

  Seeing Murphy was never like seeing other royalty. For one, the guy hated being reminded that he was king of the Strigo, or time demons. Throw in the fact that the Strigo were always treated like the bastard children of the demon world, due to other demons’ prejudice and lack of understanding of just how powerful their race from the mountains of the Afterverse really were and Murphy would rather not identify.

  But Winter knew. And Winter admired them. Of all the demon races, the Strigo were the most down to earth, the least predisposed to nefarious doings. They lived, they loved, they kept to themselves, and aside from the Conglacio ice demons, they had the youngest monarchy in all of the Afterverse. They were progressive, and very ahead of the times and curve.

  It was why he bargained with Murphy for his powers. He liked the guy, respected him. And the powers were a means to an end. Even if the reason didn’t matter now, he wasn’t regretful of his actions. His powers gave him an edge, and the sparse times he had used them more than made up for the price he paid for them.

  Murphy was singular in his way of thinking when it came to his bargains though, and he considered those he did business with family, and friends. Winter saw in him an older brother, albeit extremely older as the guy was well over four hundred years old, but it was never strained or uncomfortable when he was around. It was why he was looking forward to the visit.

  After Lola left for her spa day he had hopped in the shower and then gotten ready in record time. The knock at the door had sounded just as he was slipping his sneakers on.

  He opened it to see his Monarch and friend standing there with a smile on his face. A smile that wasn’t forced or sinister. Murphy was happy. Genuinely happy?

  Winter gave a slight bow and Murphy waived it away. “Please.” He said and stepped through to the room proper and then shook Winter’s hand.

  “How you doing kid?”

  “Decent. You look happy. You run over a vegan or something?”

  The monarch laughed. “Hardly. Things are good recently, I’m letting my smile out to play. I was told I needed to more often.”

  He walked past Winter and sat on the couch. Winter followed suit and sat in the chair across from him. “Ah yeah? Told by who? Surely it wasn’t Cash or the rest of them.”

  Murphy gave him a wistful smile. “The princess I am courting, Lady Fiona.”

  Winter raised an eyebrow. “No shit? Well congrats are in order then man. About fucking time.”

  Murphy nodded. “I could say the same about you. And where is the fetching Natasha Cavendish?”

  “Out with two of my friends for a spa day.”

  “I had hoped to meet her.” Murphy said and frowned.

  “Oh you will man, no worry on that. She’s curious about you.”

  “My dashing good looks? Powers over time? Or the villa in Borra…”

  Winter laughed. “None of that.”

  Murphy smirked. “Listen to us sitting here like two fucking girls gossiping. I don’t know about you but I’m fucking starving and I made a reservation at Strangeways for brunch.”

  Winter nodded. “Sounds good.”

  Thanks to Murphy’s teleporting ability, or blinking, they were at the restaurant in a matter of seconds and seated soon after in a semi private room filled with giant palm fronds and a courtyard style fountain that bubbled and gurgled softly. The waitress came, Murphy ordered a pitcher of mimosas. The girl, a young, comely thing, tried to flirt with Murphy while he ordered. The king was polite, and gave the illusion of flirting but the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. Winter knew that look well. It was exactly what he was doing with the fans and the feather hopefuls. They didn’t really know the difference because they didn’t wanna know. The girl walked away with an exaggerated sway to her just this side of too thin hips, and Murphy turned to Winter with a wry smile.

  “So I noticed your heart just wasn’t in it.” Winter said to the other man and sat back in his seat, trying to get comfortable.

  Murphy shrugged. “Takes one to know one I guess. Honestly no one compares to Fiona, and no I’m not a pussy for saying so. The woman is utter perfection, perfection I have waited several lifetimes for.” He smiled as the girl came back with the pitcher, poured two glasses and then told them she would be back for their order in a few.

  Murphy nodded and as she left again smirked. “I’m not fucking that up for a chick that’s lying about her age to keep her job at a casino.”

  “How the hell do you know that?”

  Murphy laughed. “King of the Strigo. I know everything about time.”

  True story.

  Winter nodded. “Yeah. Walked into that one. So what’s up? I mean don’t get me wrong, it’s good to see ya, it’s been a while. Why you in Vegas?”

  “Business crap, and see you guys play. Fi is coming with me.”

  Winter arched a brow. “So you’re going to bring a Succubus princess to my show tonight? Thank god Rhys is attached.”

  Murphy gave him a droll look. “Kid, Fi isn’t some junior trainer at the succubus courts. She isn’t going to leak energy anywhere, though she will be leeching it I can guarantee that. The shit
those girls throw off, hell even I feel it.”

  “Understood.”

  The waitress came back and they ordered, or rather Murphy did for the two of them. Full steak and eggs plates, Danish and croissants, and scones, though the latter were to be boxed and brought to the table with a box of chocolate strawberries.

  The girl left and Murphy took a sip of his mimosa. “So tell me about this girl.”

  Winter, for as much as he didn’t want to sound like a chick gushing over his crush, had no problem talking about her. He told Murphy how things came back from what he considered the relationship graveyard and where he hoped they were heading. Murphy gave him a wry smile.

  “And your powers? She know yet?”

  Winter shook his head. “No. She asked about my brand, but I pushed it off as a tattoo.”

  “Which it is. I don’t give full demon status to just anyone Tulane. I like ya, and I know you don’t and won’t abuse the power given to ya. It’s why I want you in my corner when you are ready. It’s also why she needs to know. If you’re planning on forever with this chick…”

  He shrugged. “I will tell her, plan to, you know? I mean it’s not like it’s something I can hide really. I just don’t know how she’s going to react and at this point, I don’t wanna fuck anything else up more than I have.”

  “Kid, you didn’t make this easy on yourself that’s for damn sure.” He offered as their food came.

  “Tell me about it. And then there’s something Toro said about her own little secret, so I don’t really feel bad about keeping this from her.”

  “Because if her secret is worse, and shit goes south, you wouldn’t have revealed something so personal. On the right track?”

  Winter nodded.

  “You will muddle through. Nothing worth having is ever easy. Look at me and Fi, or my sister and the Arcuo prince Alexander? Neither were easy or a straight road. But the juice was worth the squeeze. Just gotta decide on if that’s true of you and Natasha.”

  ***

  Winter mulled over what Murphy had said for the tenth time since leaving his monarch over an hour ago. Lola was still out with the girls, hopefully enjoying herself if the lack of texts or calls was any indication.

  Lola was worth everything to Winter. And he did feel like a shit ass for not telling her about his little bargain, or the long term effects of it, but really, Murphy had hit the nail on the head. He was playing it close to the vest incase she couldn’t accept it. Because if she couldn’t, he didn’t know how to go forward with her. His powers and his bargain were a non negotiable part of himself now and her knowing what it was, or worse, why he did it and not accept it? It was set him back down the destructive path he was going down before she came back into his life.

  He had to tell her. Fuck her own little secret, which he was sure she was keeping from him for the exact same reason. Thoughts of that secret had bothered him, hiding on the edges of his consciousness, and while he didn’t acknowledge it, it was there and the curiosity around it was building. The trick was to find out about it before it grew to a level where he would obsess about it. Maybe telling her first, showing her that he could open up and trust her with this, would reward him and soothe what was left of his soul at the same time.

  He would tell her tonight, he decided, after she met Murphy and Fiona, and they were back in the room. Nah, fuck telling her. He would show her. He smirked at the thought. Girl deserved the full experience. After all, he did it for her, she might as well enjoy what losing his soul could do for her.

  Pleased with himself, and lost in his own thoughts, he didn’t hear the door open so seeing Rhys standing there scared the shit out of him.

  “There you are. I was going to leave you a note.”

  Winter arched a brow. “In my locker?”

  “Ass. Murphy called Saffron. She put him and some chick on the AA list. I thought you might wanna know.”

  Winter nodded. “Just got back from eating with him.”

  Rhys hopped the back of the couch and settled in facing Winter. “I like him. Guys cool for a soul bargaining demon.”

  “True, but he’s a rarity in his own world.”

  “Anything good?”

  Winter shrugged. “Just shooting the shit. I think he enjoys hanging out with someone that knows what he is and doesn’t kiss his ass because of it.”

  Rhys nodded. “Pretty sure that’s why The Morrigan puts up with Dante’s shit too.”

  “So what’s good in your world?”

  Rhys yawned. “Saffron is at the venue already, and I’m bored as fuck. Where’s Lo?”

  Winter closed his eyes. “Spa day with Stoli and Gatsby.”

  Rhys coughed. “You think that’s a smart idea?”

  Winter nodded. “Neither of them are going to jeopardize their reputation by talking outta school.”

  “You sure? I mean dude, I haven’t had a problem having Saff meet the tail I have nailed, but I wouldn’t be cool with having them hangout.”

  “You never went for the collector’s man, they have a different code of honor. I’m expecting them to talk more about Stanton to Lo to give her ammunition on the bus than revealing all the crazy shit I have done to and with them.”

  “Less Lola get jealous. Hell, she still might. Reading between the lines was always one of her best qualities.”

  Winter frowned. “Lo, for all her bravado and shit, isn’t a deviant like they are. What I have gotten away with involving them would get me slapped by any other girl. With Lola? My balls in a vice. And it’s not like I did any of it was because I really wanted to. It was because I could.”

  Rhys nodded. “Guy logic works with me man, but Saff told me very few girls see it that way. Emotional messes, the lot of them.”

  Winter sighed. “I trust them enough to not fuck this up for me.”

  “All I’m saying man is it’s not really wise hinging trust of your burgeoning relationship on two insane girls.”

  “Okay, valid, but it can’t be helped now.” Winter sighed and threw his arms over his head.

  “Gonna tell her about your powers soon?”

  “Thinking about it. Toro said she’s got secrets of her own so maybe not.”

  “Leave her secrets outta this. Your powers are more important.”

  Winter frowned. “So you know what it is?” he opened his eyes and glared at Rhys.

  “Just like I know what yours is. When she’s ready she will say something.”

  “I can’t believe you know and won’t tell me.”

  “Not my place to tell you, or start that conversation before she’s ready to have it. Trust me when I tell you it will work in your favor if she doesn’t it in her own good time.”

  Winter rolled his eyes. It might be the right thing to do, but all this talk about it was getting him curious. Resolved to tell her about his powers for sure that evening, he stretched and regarded Rhys. “We should do something. I’m starting to feel like a slug after the meal with Murphy.”

  “Gym?”

  “Might as well. Work off some of this curiosity.”

  TWENTY ONE

  “Ms. Lola? Another detox?”

  Lola looked at the waitress who was offering her a glass of the heavenly fruit juice concoction she had been drinking and smiled. “Please, and thank you.”

  The girl placed the drink on the side table to Lola’s chair and walked past her towards a far door. Stoli and Gatsby were sitting next to her, and all three were in bathrobes, waiting on their main treatments to start, their feet in a swirling pool of mineral water. The warmth penetrated, relaxing her.

  Stoli sighed. “Dear god we needed this.” She wiggled her toes, freshly devoid of polish, in the water. “It’s been one fucker of a month.”

  Lola cocked her head. “What is it that you two do, if you don’t mind me asking. I remember at the show you said you would be in Vegas for work…”

  Gatsby answered. “Several things, Jill’s of most trades. But for the purpose of this visit we ar
e with our Burlesque troop here for a convention of well to do business men. They got a taste for the strange.”

  Lola frowned. “Please don’t tell me your escorts or something…”

  Stoli laughed. “Not even close. Our burlesque troop is called Morbid Museum. It’s a cross between a dark carnival act, a burlesque show and a side show.”

  That peaked Lola’s interest. “Just the two of you?”

  Stoli shook her head. “There’s between ten and fifteen of us at any given time. Most of the girls won’t be here till the night before our show, which is two days from now.”

  “That’s awesome. What do the two of you do?”

  Gatsby grinned. “I’m an aerialist, the silks. Stoli is a contortionist and she can swallow swords.”

  “No shit.” and no wonder Winter thought they were cool. She snickered. “I hope that’s not just a euphemism, because that’s bad ass.”

  Stoli turned to her and smirked. “Both iron and pork… when the mood strikes me.”

  Lola and Gatsby snickered. She relaxed a bit, liking that they were joking with her. Aside from Xxieda, Saffron and Nyx, Lola didn’t have female friends so while this was a bit different, it was kind of fun to just hangout with the girls.

  “So Lola, tell us, how’s it being back with Winter?”

  Well. It was fun.

  She sighed and then gave them a small smile.

  Gatsby raised her hands. “Hey if you don’t wanna talk about it, cool, I mean I’m sure I would be freaked out about my boyfriend’s once upon a time ass asking about my relationship, too. But we aren’t like that. Winter, well sure we have hooked up, but he’s a friend first and foremost, same with Stanton.”

  Lola raised a brow. “So this is what, you guys making sure I’m good enough for him?”

  Stoli laughed. “More like making sure he’s perfect for you. We love him, he’s a wonderful caring guy. I mean hell on my birthday he sent a huge box of pears to my loft with a wonderful card that said happy Birthday. Guys on the road don’t do that. He’s a good one, and your literal female perfection, we just wanna make sure that he’s grown up enough to give it the old college try so to speak.”