the sweetly scented killer

forget-me-nots

seth

"You never answered my question, you know."

I look down at Flora as she wraps the thicker part of my tie around the thinner one.

I never wear ties, and I pleaded my case against one, but she vetoed my argument for this event. I told her she couldn't do that and she gave me that look she does with one eyebrow raised.

I stayed quiet after that.

"What question?"

"Why you started drinking alcohol."

"That was, like, three days ago," I say as I look at the charm on her gold bracelet. It's one of those little blue flowers that she loves. The ones with the white spikes surrounding the yellow center. I can't think of the name even though she says it all the time.

It chimes against the metal bracelet every time she makes a movement with her arm.

"So? You still didn't answer."

I smile at her persistence and roll my eyes at the same thing. I sigh as I look over her head. "I don't know."

"That was not very convincing."

Of course I know why I started drinking alcohol. That doesn't mean she needs to as well.

Flora tightens the knot and flips my collar down, straightening it out. She places both hands flat on my chest for a moment. Her eyes beam curiosity and a bit of concern as she gazes into mine. "Why'd you start drinking?"

"We can talk about this later, Flora. You're not even dressed." She rolls her eyes and crosses her arms through my black satin robe that pours over her beautiful skin of a warm sepia brown.

I step closer and uncross her arms to rest them on my shoulders. Flora runs her nails through the short hair on the back of my head.

Her wide eyes search my face as her lips twist into a smile. "What?" I ask, intertwining my fingers on the small of her back.

"You're just handsome."

"I am, aren't I?" I playfully lift my head triumphantly.

"You're also very vain," she raises her eyebrows. When I meet her eyes, she smiles mischievously. I lower myself to be at her hight and rest my forehead against hers.

"You are..." I pause to lift my head then plant a kiss on her forehead. "...not so bad yourself."

My lips peck her cheek, her her neck, then I slip the silken robe down her shoulder and start to give her a hickey.

"Seth," she whispers. I hum in response against her skin. "I have to wear a dress. It'll show."

"Good," I mumble back.

"Seth get off me," Flora chuckles. So I let her go and stand up straight with my hands in my pockets. I look at her with a light smirk on my face, my head cocked, waiting for it to happen.

Flora rolls her eyes at me. "It's not going it happen. I'm not giving in this time." I watch her ass bounce as she retreats into the closet.

Flora picked our color scheme for tonight since I already feel bad enough for dragging her to this. I'm wearing a deep burgundy suit with a black shirt and tie underneath.

Flora's dress is black and velvet, and that's all I know.

About ten minutes later, I'm sitting at my desk going over the file of the human that's supposed to arrive tomorrow. Royce Bonavich. Attempted murder, arson, animal cruelty, mental abuse of those close to him, and a couple more.

I was instructed to keep him away from anybody other than the torture captains, and to keep him in restraints at all times.

I take another look at his picture. He looks like the kind of person to commit each one of these crimes. Well, for the most part. Despite his crimes, it feels as if I shouldn't be as anxious as I am to escort him. I'm a demon, for fuck's sake. He's a puny human.

Flora's voice startles me out of my thoughts. "Are you ready to see?" I slowly rise out of the chair and lean against it.

"Hell yeah."

The dress on her is sexy as hell. It's...well fuck, it's sexy as hell. That's the only way to describe it. But if I'm trying my best, here we go.

A slit in the side travels way up to her upper thigh. Her chest is covered by what looks like the top of a heart, and the dress pinches her small waist and relaxes around her hips. Matching gloves that reach a few inches above her elbow compliment it and make it look extra expensive. Her shoes are the same color as my suit, in a suede looking material.

Flora's makeup was already done by Erica. I'm not even going to try to explain makeup.

"You're so..." I almost say hot. Almost. But it just wouldn't be the whole truth. "You're beautiful."

She walks over to me and sets her bracelet down on my desk. Flora snakes her arms around my torso and pulls me closer, resting her head against my chest. "Are you okay?" I whisper, planting a small kiss on the top of her head. I feel the motion of her nodding. I don't believe this one bit. So I stay quiet until she decides she wants to tell me what's wrong.

"I don't want to go, Seth," Flora murmurs.

Over the past few days, it seems to have been settling in that her sisters are gone and she's the reason for it. Especially after we got the committal summon.

She stared at it for hours. I had to pry the card out of her hands to sign it and affirm our presence. She hasn't cried yet, but I'm waiting for it to all come out at once. A breakdown that I likely won't know what the fuck to do with.

And going to a charity gala--knowing what the "charity" is for--is no doubt tearing her apart. I can feel it when it's especially heavy.

Like now, for instance. I feel the burn of regret in my chest, one that must feel like a wildfire in hers. It doesn't help that we're touching each other, making it stronger than it's been before.

I can't just force her to come with me because I don't want to be without her. That would be incredibly selfish. "Do you want to stay here?"

"No, I'm not going to leave you," she rubs my back. I rest the side of my head on top of hers, smiling lightly with my eyes closed.

Oh, Flora. My sweet wife Flora.

"Just stay here," I say almost under my breath. She doesn't respond, and my eyes drift to her dainty golden bracelet on the desk--the little blue flower charm that I can't remember the name of. It taunts me with its delicacy, cursing my name and chastising me for letting the title of one of my mate's favorite flowers slip my mind.

"I'll go," she says with quiet finality in her voice.

"Okay."

She lets me go to grab her handbag. I pick up the bracelet and place it on a tray in her jewelry box. It holds my gaze.

I think back to when Flora pulled a remaining little blue flower out of her hair and laughed that she couldn't believe she forgot a forget-me-not. Forget-me-nots, I think. I smile to myself and lay the charm down flat.

"Ready to go?" Flora calls.

"Yeah, here I come."