by Alex Dafney
I nod at her as I step toward her, propping against the counter next to the stove so I can watch her cook. She turns her focus back to the pots on the stove, adding spices and stirring numerous ones. The song changes and I instantly recognize it as one of Beethoven’s.
A nostalgic smile curls my lips. “I didn’t pin you as a classical music kind of girl.” She glances at me from the corner of her eye, lifting a wine glass from beside the stove. “I love classical music.” She hums lowly after taking a sip from her glass, placing it back on the counter.
I begin to hum along with her, causing her to look over to me with a raised brow. “You like classical?” I nod as I reach for the bottle of red wine. “My Mom used to play it when I was a kid.” She steps away from the stove, pushing up on her tiptoes as she pulls open a cabinet. Turning to me she offers me a wine glass. “My Mom was a classical fan as well.”
She steps back in front of the stove as I pour a glass of wine for myself. “Can I ask you something?” She nods without looking at me. “Sure. Ask me anything.” I lift the wine glass, taking a sip of the dry, red wine. “What does your name mean?” She looks over at me, still stirring the wooden spoon in the pot. “Eridanus. It’s a constellation.”
Her eyes move back to the stove. “It’s the sixth largest recognized constellation, representing a river.” I watch as her brows draw together slightly. “Ori, Orion, is also named after a constellation. Along with our brother, Sagitta.”
She looks over to me with a shy smile. “We come from a long line of constellation names. My Father’s name is Circinus, and his father was Monocerus. It goes back for generations.” I lift my glass to my lips, taking a sip as I stare into her eyes. Lowering the glass, I place it on the counter next to me. “Are you as close with your other brother? Sagitta?”
She looks back to the stovetop, her mouth dropping at the sides in a frown. “Sagitta was killed by the Red Eyes many years ago.” I drop my eyes to the floor, instantly sorry for bringing the subject up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up any hard times.” I look up as her hand touches my bare shoulder.
My eyes meet hers, noticing the soft smile on her lips. “It’s okay. It was a long time ago.” Her hand slides from my shoulder, her eyes going back to the stove. “What about you? Any siblings?” I shake my head as I pick up my wine glass. “Just me.” She nods her head slightly. “It was just me until I was fifteen years old.”
I tilt my head to the side slightly, staring at her with a quizzical look on my face. She glances at me from the corner of her eye. “Orion, Sagitta, and I, are half siblings. We didn’t know about each other until we all showed up at the Academy the same year. Our birthdays are within a few months of each other’s.”
My eyes widen in surprise, thinking of how it must feel to find out you have siblings after so many years. She steps away from the stove, pushing up on her tiptoes again as she reaches up into a cabinet. “What’s the Academy?” She pulls down two plates, looking over at me with a hesitant gaze. “Uh, it’s where we go to train to be Stalkers.”
A smile pulls onto my lips. “So, it’s where you go to learn to be a badass?” She chuckles as she places spaghetti on both plates. “Something like that.” Lifting both plates she turns to me. “Would you mind grabbing my wine?” I grab her wine glass, following behind her to the dining room table that’s large enough for ten.
She sits the plates next to each other on the side of the table that faces the window overlooking the city. I pull her chair out for her, placing her wine glass next to her plate before sliding into the seat next to her. “This smells amazing.” She glances over at me with a bright smile as she picks up her fork.
Chapter Six
After dinner, we both end up on the couch watching TV. My arm is slung over the back of the couch. I glance over at Eri sitting in the middle of the couch under a blanket, her eyes slowly closing. She’s been trying to stay awake for the last hour, even at my insistence she get some sleep.
I watch as she starts to tip toward me, her eyes closed. “Eri.” Her eyes spring open as she sits up straight. “Huh?” She blinks rapidly, focusing on the TV in front of us. I chuckle lowly, reaching over and grabbing the remote control from the coffee table and turning the TV off. She turns her head toward me, her eyes sleepy. “You need some sleep.” She shakes her head slowly, her eyes closing as a yawn escapes her.
“Can’t. I have to stay awake as long as you’re in my protection.” I roll my eyes as I stand from the couch, looking down at her curled up, her eyes closed. I bend at the waist, placing one arm under her knees and the other behind her back and lifting her from the couch. I carry her down the hallway as her head rests against my chest.
Stopping in front of her bedroom door I notice a keypad. I glance down at her in my arms before spinning and carrying her into the guest bedroom. I gently place her on the bed, pulling the comforter and sheet down and placing it on top of her. She lets out a little sigh as she snuggles her head into the pillow.
I walk over to the door, closing it and flipping the light switch down before walking back to the bed. I push my pajama bottoms down, climbing in the bed next to her in my boxer briefs. “Good night, dream girl.” I whisper into the dark room as I roll to my side, my back to her.
I slowly open my eyes, my mouth opening wide with a yawn. Blinking the sleep from my eyes I glance down, finding Eri sprawled across me. Her white, blonde hair in a fan along my chest, her legs tangled with mine under the sheets, and her arm thrown around my waist.
A smile pulls onto my lips. I could wake up like this every day. I gently try to slide from under her body as to not wake her, hoping I can get a quick workout in before she wakes up. Before I know what’s happening, she’s on top of me, her legs on either side of mine as she straddles me, her hands clenched around my neck.
I grip her wrists with my hands as she blinks down at me. She jerks her hands back, covering her face as she shakes her head quickly. “Oh my gosh. I’m so sorry.” I close my eyes, counting backwards from a hundred. She’s straddling my waist, my morning wood between us. A low groan escapes me as she shifts forward, her core pressing against me as she places her hand on my bare chest. “Are you alright?”
I reach down, placing my hands on her hips and lifting her off me effortlessly before swinging my legs over the edge of the bed and walking straight for the bathroom. “I’m good. Taking a shower.” I close the door behind me as I step inside, bracing my hands on the counter and looking down at the bulge in my boxer briefs.
“Holy case of blue balls.” I mutter under my breath as I turn toward the shower, turning the water on and stepping in without waiting for the water to heat. I flinch as the cold spray hits my back, but damn if it’s not what I need right now.
I pull the bathroom door open after my long, cold shower to calm my problem, finding Eri sitting on the edge of the bed, her legs crossed underneath her. She jumps off the bed, walking toward me as I grasp the towel around my waist. “I’m so sorry, Ashley. Are you alright?” She stops in front of me, her face contorted with worry.
The corner of my lip twitches at a smile as I try to give her a solemn face. “You could’ve killed me. Again.” She opens her mouth like she’s about to say something as the smile I can’t hold back any longer creeps on my face. Snapping her mouth shut she gives me a scowl.
Turning away from me she walks toward the door, flinging it open and stepping out as I chuckle. I quickly throw on a worn pair of jeans and a T-shirt, walking out of the bedroom toward the kitchen where I here Eri talking lowly. “Sure. We’ll see you in a bit.” I step around the bar just as she pulls her phone away from her ear, sliding it onto the counter as she sighs.
“Everything alright?” Turning to me she gives me a forced smile. “Perfect. Ori has something he needs to tell us.” As if on cue, a voice echoes through the apartment. “Orion is approaching the front door.” I glance upwards, noticing the speakers in the ceiling that the artificial intelligence voice came throu
gh.
Dropping my head, my eyes follow Eri as she walks toward the main door, pulling it open. Orion steps inside as I step around the counter to the main entry way with he and Eri. I notice the look he gives me as he walks by, stalking into the living room. Eri places a hand on my arm as she walks by me, following her brother into the living room.
I follow suit, stepping into the room and sitting on the couch, opposite of Eri as Ori takes a chair across from us. He glances between us quickly, giving a sigh as he drops his gaze to the floor. Shaking his head, he drops his elbows to his knees. “I don’t come bearing good news.”
From the corner of my eye I see Eri sit up on the edge of the couch, taking the same stance as her brother. Ori lifts his gaze, looking at Eri. “The Division is coming to kill him.” My eyes widen, my mouth slowly falling open. I have to be the him he’s referring to. “That’s not possible.” I hear her say from my side.
I watch as he pushes himself to standing, placing his hands on his hips as his eyes meet mine. “He’s dangerous, Eridanus. The demon biting him has awakened the evil within him. It won’t be long until he changes.” I stare at him, my mind traveling back to yesterday when I collapsed in the hallway and my mark transforming. The middle circle taking on more black than white.
“He’s not transforming. There has to be something we can do.” I glance over to Eri as she stands from the couch, pulling her hair over her shoulder and twisting it nervously. Ori lets out a small sigh, shaking his head lightly. “I’ve talked to all of my contacts. His mark is that of a stalker and a demon. There’s never been one, but that’s what everyone seems to think of his mark.” His eyes find mine, his brows drawing together. “Per protocol, I should kill him now.”
My blood boils as I stand, clenching my fists at my side. Eri steps between us, placing her hand on my wrist and instantly calming me. Ori looks between our eyes and her hand planted on my wrist, his face contorting with anger. “This isn’t up for debate. He’s going to change, just like the rest before him. Our job is to take out the Red Eyes.”
I keep my eyes on his, watching as she drops her head, shaking her head slowly. “He’s different, Ori. I can feel it.” He scoffs loudly, rolling his eyes. I have the urge to wrap my hands around his neck, a completely new feeling for me as a surge of anger washes over me. My jaw clenches as the muscles in my arms flex.
Eri apparently notices, stepping in front of me fully and leaning back against my front. Sliding her hands down my arm that she already touches she laces her fingers though mine as she reaches for my other hand, doing the same. I grip her hands firmly, a sense of calm enveloping me. “There has to be a way to stop the transformation.”
I take in her words. She believes I’m turning into a monster as well. Jerking my hands from hers I spin away from them both, gripping my head in my hands as my mind spins out of control. I feel her hand on my back, somehow centering me. I lift my head, turning back to face them both, her hand sliding away and the anger I felt earlier consuming me.
I grit my teeth, closing my eyes as I try to push the emotion away. “How do I stop it?” I open my eyes when I’m met with silence. Eri’s lips dip down at the corners and Ori’s gaze remains that of my impending death. I drop down to the couch, covering my face with my hands as I let out a long sigh.
“There’s nothing you can do. You come from a Stalker and a Demon. The Demon biting you has sealed your fate and you’ll soon be one of them.” I lift my head, taking in Ori’s scowling face. Shaking his head slightly he turns his eyes to his sister. “Either you can kill him, or I will.”
“Visitors approaching front entrance.” I look up as the voice flows from the speakers on the ceiling. “Shit.” Eri curses under her breath as she walks toward the door. She stands on her tiptoes looking through the peep hole on the door as whoever knocks on the other side. Turning back to us, her eyes are slightly widened. “It’s the Division. We need a plan.”
Ori huffs, folding his arms across his broad chest. “The plan is to open the door and let the Division take care of this problem.” For the second time in a matter of moments I feel the urge to slam my fists into his face. He glances over his shoulder at me, a smug look on his face as I clench my hands at my side. “Don’t even think about it, kiddo. I could snap your neck without breaking a sweat.”
Whoever is on the other side of the door knocks again. “Knock it off, Ori.” Eri says calmly as she places her hand on the door, pulling it open and stepping back with her eyes trained on the floor as the two men in business suits step inside. I stand from my place on the couch, the tension in the room thick.
“Eridanus, Orion.” The taller of the two men says as he stalks into the room. “I see you’ve apprehended the target.” The two men look me over as I grind my teeth in anger. “Get him to the car.” Orion turns my way as I step back. “I’m not going anywhere.” He shakes his head slightly as he continues toward me. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”
Eri darts between us, her back pressed against my front as she holds both of her hands up. “Wait, Ori.” He pauses, giving her a look I can’t decipher. She turns her head toward the two men from the Division. “What are your plans for him?” The taller man with black hair gives her a stern look. “That is not your concern, Eridanus.”
She drops her hands down, reaching behind her with one and placing it against my thigh, pushing slightly. I take a small step back as she does the same, putting us closer to the hallway. “He’s not leaving my custody until you tell me your plans for him.” She pushes her back against my chest, causing me to take another step back as the man glares at the two of us. “Your task is complete. You will turn him over. Now.”
We continue our slow steps further toward the hallway. She shakes her head slowly. “This is against what the Division stands for! We don’t hurt innocent people.” The other man in the business suit who has not said a word begins moving toward us. “Wait.” The taller man says. We all stand still, waiting for what, I don’t know.
“We are taking him to the base hospital where he will be put down humanely seeing as he has not transformed. Yet.” My back stiffens as he talks about me like a common animal in the pound. Eri lets out a long sigh, dropping her gaze to the floor. “Just let me tell him goodbye.” She turns toward me, looking up at me with sad eyes as she pushes me further into the hallway. “You can tell him goodbye right here.”
She stops, her eyes closing for a few seconds before she turns away from me. “I’m asking for five minutes, to tell a friend goodbye. Surely you can grant me that much, Father.” I watch as the man’s face transforms with anger. “You are not to call me that, Eridanus. You are a Stalker within the Division. You will regard me in the same manor as the others.”
I see her head lower. “Forgive me, Master Circinus. I simply ask that you give me a few moments in private to say goodbye to my friend.” His brows draw together slightly as he places his hands on his waist. “He is not a friend.” The word friend falls from his lips with vengeance. She turns back to me, placing her hand on my arm and spinning me as she leads us down the hallway. “Eri.” Orion calls with warning.
We stop in front of the door that leads to the practice room and gym. She quickly punches the numbers in “Eridanus!” The door slides open and she pushes me inside. “I’m sorry, Ori.” She steps in, the door closing behind her. She pushes a button beside the door, locks sliding into place.
She grips my hand in hers, pulling me toward the door that I haven’t been in. “We have to hurry.” She pushes the door open, dragging me behind her. My eyes widen as I stand in the room, watching as she grabs a black bag, shoving every kind of weapon imaginable inside. “Help me, Ash. We don’t have long before they come after us.”
I step over beside her, grabbing anything within reach and dumping it in the bag. We stand at the same time, me lifting the bag and slinging it over my shoulder as she steps over to a closet, thrusting both doors open. She grabs another bag, shoving the black, leathe
r looking outfits inside that hang on hooks. Bending at the waist she jerks a drawer open quickly.
My mouth drops open as she begins shoving large stacks of cash inside the bag. “Activate emergency exit.” The empty wall at the end of the small room begins to swing open, a simple ladder coming into view. I glance over my shoulder as a loud noise comes from the room behind me. “Time to move.” I turn back to see Eri moving toward the ladder quickly, me falling in behind her.
The wall begins to close behind us, leaving us in total darkness. “It’s 30 steps up. Keep moving. They’ve made it into the practice room.” I nod as I reach my hand out in the darkness, feeling my way around. “That’s my ass, Ashley.” I snicker at her annoyed tone as I finally place my hand on the cool, metal of the ladder. Hoisting the bag onto my back I begin to climb behind her.
I hear something make a clicking noise, then I’m squinting as sun light streams down from above us. Eri scrambles over the top of the ladder, looking back at me as I do the same. “Initiate lockdown.” The small, circle exit slams closed, making a clicking sound. She stands as do I, taking in my surroundings. “Where are we?”
“The roof.” She says as she moves by me. I follow behind her because what choice do I have. “We need to move quick. I don’t know if they were still inside when the apartment was placed on lockdown.” She looks over the side of the roof, tossing her bag down to a fire escape landing. I glance over the side, my vision becoming blurry. “Uh, we’re going that way?”
She arches a brow at me before hopping over the edge of the roof down to the landing, gracefully landing on her feet. Taking a deep breath, I toss the bag down to her. You can do this, Ashley. Don’t be a wussy in front of this badass woman. I place my hands on the edge of the roof railing. “Get your ass moving!” She calls up to me.