Apostolos I Summon You to Human Form

Chapter 03

The moment between his knock and whenAccalia opened the door seemed to last ages. She greeted him with asmile and a "Hey, Acheron," which somehow eased the knots in hisstomach. He watched her step back into her apartment. "Come on in.Make yourself at home."

He inclined his head to her andstepped into her apartment. He took note of the hooks she'd used forher purse and jackets, and began shrugging his jacket off to hang upas well, though he turned his back towards the wall to keep her infront of him. He left his jacket on a hook and after seeing her shoesby the door, kicked off his boots. He watched her head into theliving room and followed after her. He chose the same chair as thenight before, while she hesitated by the couch.

"Would you like something? Anotherbeer?" she offered.

"Uh, sure. Thank you."

She smiled to him and brieflydisappeared into the kitchen, returning with the beer for him. Againhe was careful that their fingers didn't touch. He took a swig whileshe resumed her seat in front of her sushi. "So, what brings youback here?" she asked, finally taking a bite of her food.

"I have to know I can trust you,"he said slowly, leaning forward and tilting his head down so hepeered at her over the top of his sunglasses.

When she glanced at him and saw thosegorgeous, swirling eyes of his, she nearly swallowed her sushi downthe wrong pipe. She had to turn away and cough for a couple secondsto regain herself. She cleared her throat and straightened up, andtook a couple sips of her water. Acheron saw a light blush on hercheeks and it made the corner of his mouth perk up in the tiniest ofsmiles.

"Uh, sorry." She glanced back tohim and he rose his eyebrows, his eyes still on her. He watched herexpression carefully. The surprise quickly softened into adoration."Gods, Acheron," she breathed. "Your eyes are so much moregorgeous than I could ever have imagined them."

He sat back, lifting his head so thathis eyes were hidden once again. So, she was definitely immune to hiscurse. He wouldn't have to worry about sexual advances or irrationalfury in her presence; none related to his curse, anyway. "Not manywould agree with you."

"I'm not quite sure we saw the sameeyes, then." She ate another bite of sushi, making sure she avoidedlooking at him so she could actually swallow it correctly this time.He contemplated her response. Since it was a rarity to find someoneimmune to the curse, he rarely heard genuine responses. Most of thosehad been surprise, assumptions he was blind, or simply stares. Hecouldn't remember the last time he'd actually been complimentedspecifically on his eyes.

"Perhaps not," he said softly. Heturned in the chair to face the television, but used his opaquesunglasses to hide that he watched her. She carefully ate her piecesof sushi, adding a touch of the neon green wasabi paste and dippingit briefly in a small amount of soy sauce. He'd never eaten sushihimself, but he wasn't unfamiliar with the food. After all, therewere Dark-Hunters all over the world, and he'd spent nights where hecrashed at their homes. They still needed food for nourishment, andsince food consumption was a very social activity, Acheron had beenexposed to an immense variety of foods. He caught himself curioussometimes about taste and textures, but his anxiety surfaced like awave crashing and enveloping him.

Accalia sure seemed to like her mealof fish and rice, and she savored each piece. Soon she'd finished allpieces, and gathered up the plastic remnants of the packaging, plusher empty water bottle. She walked to the kitchen, and Acheron couldhear the kitchen sink running, followed by noises of plastic hittingplastic. She recycled, he figured.

"Do you want another beer?" sheasked from the kitchen.

"Uh, sure!" he called back.

"Okay, just a heads up it's my lastone."
"Nevermind, you can save it." She didn't say anythingin response. He heard some clinks of ceramic, some rustling, and morewater from the sink. The microwave ran for a minute and shortlyafter, Accalia came out with a steamy mug and a beer for Acheron. Sheoffered it to him, capless.