by Alli Reshi
"Hello Demitri." Devin smiled wickedly. A shiver rolled down my spine. I could sense something inherently wrong with the man before me.
"Devin what are you doing here? You should still be in bed. Where did you find those clothes anyways, I could have sworn we threw them away?" I asked taking a step towards Devin. Yet he seemed as far away as ever.
"Oh, you thought you had saved me, did you? Poor little boy." Devin cackled. The red of his shirt growing, spreading until no amount of white was left.
"Yes, I know we did. I know you lived. I just talked with you," I said, walking towards him. Growing frustrated that the gap never lessened though he didn't seem to move away.
"You poor naive boy. No, no that was a figment of your broken heart. Funny things happen when the mind comes across something it can't handle." Devin sneered before he started coughing. A line of bright blood began falling from his lips.
"That's a lie. I know what happened. I don't believe you." I yelled, breaking into a run. I knew if I could feel his heart under my hands it would prove what I knew. Despite that I couldn't stand to watch the way his body started trembling. Shaking so bad he dropped to a knee.
"Yes, you know what happened. You won't admit it, even to yourself. I died in your arms Demitri, and you know it. You felt it," Devin said, gasping. Blood now bubbling up from his mouth, spilling down his chin.
"No, no I saved you. I had to. I love you. I could never let you die." I wheezed with exhaustion. Why couldn't I reach him? Why was I forced to watch helplessly as he fell the rest of the way to the floor laying near motionless.
"There lies the problem. You loved me so much it broke you to be without me, but I hated you. I always had. I could never stand you, with your too good intentions. I hated you so much that I would rather die than be trapped with you. So, I did. Good bye Demitri, I won't miss you." Devin gave a wet hacking laugh before falling silent. Blank eyes staring at nothing. I finally reached his side falling to my knees. My hand instantly went to his cheek startled when I felt how cold he was. Cold and unresponsive. I curled over him unable to comprehend.
"Devin!" I wailed into the blank nothing.
I bolted awake. Scattering papers everywhere and nearly flinging myself off the couch. Whipping around to take in my surroundings, I took a steadying breath as I remembered I was in the bullpen of the compound. Brushing dark strands of hair out of my eyes before putting my face in my hands, I began reorienting myself with deep breaths. I startled again when I felt a small hand on my shoulder.
"Hey, you all right there? Was it a bad dream?" Sally asked, cautious as she came around to my field of vision. I glanced around, glad that it was only the two of us in the room, not sure when Sally had replaced Gabriella, the latter's desk now empty. For as much as I liked Gabriella I was appreciative that it was Sally who saw me wake up, she always seemed much better about handling delicate situations.
"I'm fine, it was nothing." I waved off her worry. It was mostly true. After my six-hour nap, despite the rude awakening, I did feel more refreshed than I had in the last few weeks. I saw a blanket at my feet that someone gave me at some point, most likely Sally.
"Sure. I'm curious about things I've only heard bits and pieces of and thought it best to come to the source. If you don't mind," Sally said, broaching the topic. Always one who preferred to distract than to push.
"For you, dear, always." I smiled softly, shifting on the couch to give her room to sit. Sally loved to listen to me explain something, whether it is a function on my spaceship or a far-off planet. We could spend hours talking about the small technicalities of life.
"Well, I went to visit our guest when I heard he was awake. Wanted to greet him properly and all. I was lucky enough to catch him between naps. While he was grouchy and not very friendly or talkative, he was nothing like the man I met weeks ago. Is that normal?" Sally pondered, pushing aside the blanket as she sat on the couch next to me.
"You mean which one is the usual behavior: him now, or him then," I clarified. The matter of Devin's behavior could be quite complex, and I wanted to know where to start.
"Yes, something like that. I guess on one hand I am curious, on the other I would like to know what to expect. That is if he's going to stay like you want." She paused. An uncomfortable silence as she seemed to try and think of how she wanted to phrase what she said next.
"Him now is not pleasant but tolerable. I don't want to sound harsh, but I want to know if him then is more common, so that I can have an understanding of how to act around him. I know how that can sound so that's why I wanted to first talk to someone who knows and will be honest. Before I put too much thought into it." Sally said, expanding on her thoughts.
"It's a bit of both, really. Though I'd like to say that normally he's like what you just met, sharp tongued and short tempered but, a good man and dear friend. Though sadly there might be times where he is more similar to when you first encountered him, threatening and worrisome. But I promise you, it's mostly an act, he is very unlikely to hurt any of us while he's here, if that's what you're asking. See, he's a Listener and when it gets bad he gets into these, well, episodes. So, while it is him it's not who he is normally. Do you follow?" I rambled. Wanting to be honest, but also paint him in the best light. These people were important to me, and I wanted them to like another very important person to me.
"Maybe if you explain better what a Listener is." Sally prompted. Her hand brought up to tap her fingers on her chin as she thought.
"Listener of Lost Souls is the proper term. Sometimes people hear the voices of those that have passed on in unpleasant ways, shall we say. It's more likely to be men that are afflicted from what I've been able to gather. I don't know if it's biology, or women hide it better. Sometimes the voices are worse than other times. It can lead the Listener to madness and horrible things," I said in way of explanation.
The open expression of Sally's was why it was so easy to talk to her. She didn't judge information as she learned it, only forming an opinion afterwards, if at all. It was so easy for her to stay unbiased and see from a myriad of points. It was what made her an excellent profiler.
"So, a mental illness of sorts. Then are the voices real or perceived? We do know there are proven cases of clairvoyance in multiple races," Sally simplified, moving right to her next curiosity.
"No one knows for certain. There hasn't been enough research into the matter to give a definite answer. The general consensus is that yes, they are real. There are too many coincidences for them not to be. I don't much care either way, as long as I can help him deal with them," I answered as best I could, mindful of Sally as I stretched out tense muscles.
"Then you get to be a pioneer in a new field of research, isn't that exciting," Sally said happily, quite confident in my hopes—possibly more than I was, if her bright smile was an indicator.
"That's one way of putting it. Did you figure out anything new with our killer yet?" I shifted my focus back to the case. If I thought about Devin too much longer I would run back to his room, and then nothing would get done.
"No, without a race of origin or even home planet basis to work with, I can't compile much. What might be unusual for a Deamion could be a social norm for Clarvasc. It's pointless for me to try because I could give you lists of potentials and still be wrong. I still go with my gut feeling that this isn't the actions of a rational reasonable person. Hopefully Isaac's autopsy can lead to something," Sally said, sighing with frustration.
We had all hit a dead end on the case. It grates on the nerves when you can't help people, but feel like the answers should be in front of your face. I put a comforting hand on her shoulder; we would solve this like we had the others, but I understood her distress.
"Can't sit here all night now can we? I'm going to check out the crime scene, see if I can stumble over anything new," I decided, standing. I gathered the papers from the floor while Sally folded the blanket, returning it to her desk. I placed Gabriella's papers on her own.
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br /> "Would you like me to come with? I haven't been yet either too busy digging through paperwork. You know what they say, two are better than one." Sally offered walking by my side as we headed for the door.
"No, I think I could use the moment alone. Besides, shouldn't you be getting home to Amy? I don't want her yelling at me again for keeping you too late," I said honestly.
"I can handle my wife, big boy. Be sure to take care of yourself. Are you sure you wouldn't like a ride at least? It's not that far, hardly out of the way at all." Sally commented she couldn't resist a chance to help.
"I can manage my own, but thanks. I was going to check in on Devin before I left. I wouldn't want to hold you up." I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck. After being with him near constantly for weeks being away for so long was starting to make me jittery. Along with the dream I couldn't get out of my head.
"You only want a moment alone with your boyfriend, I know how it is. Fine, don't let me keep you, just be careful. I'll see you in the morning." Sally sashayed down the hall without giving me a chance to reply. I could feel the nervousness creeping into me as I turned towards Devin's room. Even though I knew it had been a dream. I knew with all reason that Devin was fine.
Worry and fear followed my every step as I made my way back to the infirmary. Even with the reminder from Sally that he was fine. There was so much that could be truthful from the dream. Did Devin really hate me? Would he truly rather die than spend our lives together. The thought of it made my heart ache.
We hadn't been close for so many years now. Not since we were school boys still innocent of the world. Even though I had never stopped loving him there had been so much fighting so much pain between us. Maybe he had stopped or, never started feeling like I had in the first place. What would I do if all my recent efforts were for nothing?
I brushed the thoughts off as I entered Devin's room quietly. Benn's chin rested against his chest as he slept. Devin looked the same as when I had left him. Too small and vulnerable in the dressing gown and big bed, but very much alive.
I silently walked over to the bed, taking his right hand in a soft grip mindful of the wires running from it. I needed to feel his heartbeat steady and vibrant under my fingertips. Devin gave a small pained whine a crease forming on his brow. Hushing him I rubbed the tension from his brow. He relaxed with a sigh under my touch.
As much as I wanted to pull the other chair to the bedside and not leave, Benn had a fair point. Now that he was awake Devin was on the sure track to recovery, unless something odd happened. This killer on the other hand was making themselves a more pressing threat the longer they were left to roam.
Clearly, I was not going to get anywhere with the reports. So venturing out to see if I could find anything useful was the most logical thing. Leaning down over Devin I placed a chaste kiss on his temple.
"Be well, beloved." I whispered in his mind. Though I knew he wouldn't hear it while he slept, the words were for my own comfort. I left the room as quietly as I had entered. The latest crime scene was close. Surprisingly the three victims had been in the same area, a short walk from the compound.
When I left the building, the sky was already turning dark with the sun falling below the horizon. I knew the city well enough that the walk would be quick and somewhat relaxing. It allowed my mind to wander back to earlier years. To when Faaralith was still home and while not perfect, life was better. Well, objectively, at least. I could travel freely to and from home searching for an answer that would help Devin. I had left when he had been at his worst, the voices grew so loud they drove him to huddling in corners.
I was determined that I wouldn't come back until I had found an answer for him. Maybe it had been the wrong choice, too selfish in my inability to see him so hurt so broken. Maybe I should have stayed with him to help through the dark spell. I should have known what they cause from previous times. The destruction it drove him to.
Naively, I thought it would be different at home, supposedly safe with his mother and my own family to watch him. By the time I came home triumphant and overjoyed with my solution, it was too late to see my mistake. Far too late to help anymore.
An unusual smell brought my attention back to the current time. Death stank in the air, clotting and unsettling, though the bodies had been cleared away a day ago. The smell of human death lingered for much longer to my superior senses. I ducked under the police tape blocking off the section of alley way.
Nothing seemed out of place, the walls lined with empty boxes and litter. I looked to the chalk outlines on the ground. Three victims in the same place, how unusual. Before, all the victims had been singular. What had been different this time?
I crouched next to the one I assumed was the woman from the slender outline. It looked as if the person had been simply laid down and had not been in any distress. I moved to the other two, these less calm, with sketched out limbs flailing and at odd angles. Much more the frightened struggling poses you would think of a person being attacked.
There was still an odd scent under that of death. It was distinctly human, a strong hormone. Was that oxytocin or was it adrenaline? It was too muddled with other smells of the alleyway to be sure. I startled when my phone rang. Taking a moment to dig it out of my pocket glancing at the name.
"Hello Isaac." I greeted, standing to observe the area again. Hoping to see something out of place, something that had been missed.
"Hey, I heard that you looked over the police reports. Thought you might like to know I finished the autopsies on all three. Congrats on your boyfriend waking up by the way." Isaac started right in. I kicked a rock to the other end of the alley. Would these people never let the subject be?
"He's not my boyfriend. He's just a friend. One that I might remind you is the only of my kind that I can talk to anymore, and is severely wounded. So, can we please stick to business," I said with a groan, knowing without being there the disbelieving look he would have.
"Oh, yeah, just a friend. Kinda like Benn's just my roommate. You know by happenstance, but, you don't wanna talk, fine whatever. Are you going to come get these reports or not?" Isaac sassed. There was a clatter in the background as he shuffled things on his desk.
"Yes, I'll come by in a little bit. Did you by chance put their blood work in there too?" I asked, turning to leave the alleyway back on to the main road.
"There's a basic one sure but, if there's something specific you're looking for I can go over it again while I wait." Isaac offered key taps already clicking through the line.
"Yeah, look for elevated levels of oxytocin and adrenaline. Thanks Isaac I should be there in a few minutes." I supplied ending the call after hearing his agreement. Maybe we could finally make progress on this case.
CHAPTER FOUR
I walked into Isaac's lab with a grimace. The smells were always too powerful in here. Near overwhelming between the bodies and the chemicals used. It was a disconcerting mix of sterilizers, preservatives and ever present death. Oh, how I envied Isaac's human nose. At least I could manage to enter the room without gagging now.
"There you are. I was about to go find Benn and leave these on the desk for you. He missed dinner, you know how cranky he gets when he misses meals." Isaac greeted with a smile holding the stack of papers in his hand.
"That's probably my fault, sorry. He was watching Devin for me. Last I saw he was sleeping in the chair. What did you come up with?" I took the papers out of his hand as he led the way towards the infirmary. I was thankful to be leaving the lab.
"Looks like you were right to ask about the raised levels. I mean I had expected it with the men, trying to fight off their attacker as it were. Though under closer look it was strangely high even given that, and their oxytocin was raised a bit, too. The woman has a strange amount as well. I brushed it off at first given she was a new mother, but still that doesn't explain how high they were." Isaac informed, turning pages for me to point out what he was talking about. "I don't envy Benn for his job. Vic
tim id's are never easy, but having to tell a husband while he holds a week old baby that we think we found your wife, is up there on the bad scale." Isaac grimaced. I had to agree with him. Going from celebrating the birth of your first child to morning your wife in the span of a week, was a sad truth about our job.
"It's never an easy thing to inform families of their lost. But hopefully closer can make that pain easier to handle, so it looks like we might have the beginnings of a lead. Though I'm still not sure what it means. Is there any connection between them?" I nodded, reading the numbers not expecting to get much of an answer from my question.
"Actually, yes the two men were brothers. As best I could gather the woman died first and the two men afterwards. If you want my guess while Mr. Murderer was at work with the woman the two brothers happened upon them. Then, seeing a lady in trouble, the pair tried to help. Not that it got them far." Isaac pondered opening the door for me as we entered Devin's room.
Benn hadn't moved at all still in the hard chair. Isaac went to his side running tender fingers through his hair. Isaac's own bronze tone only a touch lighter than Benn's. Even after all this time on earth I still found myself fascinated with their range of skin tones.
From the fair, pale shade of Amy and Sally, to the gradient of rich browns between Gabriella, Isaac and Benn. I was amazed by how much color, one species could have. There were other planets that had some difference, but humans were special it seemed. My own people were pale, not much variation from that either. Though we didn't have the biological relationship with our sun, that humans did with theirs.
Thinking of my own kind, I turned to Devin. His restlessness in his sleep apparent with his sheets mussed and white blond hair spread over his forehead. Walking to his side, I brushed the strands back into place. Hushing him when he gave a low whine.
"Why do you care about him so much, when you know what he's done? He almost killed your own king. Doesn't it bother you?" Isaac questioned without the scorn I had expected, merely concern. I glanced over at him, Isaac was now sitting on a sleepy-eyed Benn's lap. Both watched me as they waited for an answer.