Raven of Water

Chapter 10: Apocalypse Bringer

I ignored the pain in my still-bandaged hand as I grabbed a handful of dirt and shoved it into the clay pot that I was going to put my English ivy into.

"You're going to get dirt into your wound."

"There's already dirt in my wound." I frowned, refusing to turn around and look at the demon who had somehow snuck up on me.

"You're upset." It wasn't a question, and I fought the urge to look over my shoulder so that I could glare at the man.

"Gee. How'd you guess?"

"Don't be an ass, Lex." I could hear the smirk in his voice as he said it, and the knowledge that he was enjoying this made me bristle.

"Says the demon who just told me I was the anti-Christ." I huffed, slamming the pot down harder than intended on the workbench and wincing when it sounded like I'd cracked it. A quick check of the bottom of the pot revealed that, although chipped, the thing was still fine, and my cheeks flushed as Kirroz replied.

"You're not the anti-Christ. You're the key. And I didn't just tell you. That was three hours ago."

"Technicality, Kirroz. I don't care if it was a million hours ago. Of course, I've a right to still be upset." My words were rushed as I grabbed the vines I was re-potting, pulled them from their current pot, and rinsed the roots off in the sink. Through it all, the demon standing a bit behind me was quiet, but I could sense his eyes on me as I worked. He had the gaze of a predator stalking a victim, and I rolled my shoulders to keep from cowing under the weight of that look of his I felt.

Eventually, after several agonizing minutes, he spoke.

"41667 days."

"What?" I patted the fresh dirt around the vine's roots before turning and regarding the man who was now sitting on a bench by a fountain, watching me with an unreadable expression. The sight of his eyes had my heart fluttering dangerously.

"That's how many days a million hours is." His smile was beguiling.

"Ass." I snorted and rolled my eyes, disregarding the amusement that flashed over the demon's features.

"You cursed."

"You'd curse too!" My shout had the man flinching before his look of amusement morphed into one of apology.

"You have a right to your anger."

"You're sure as shit I do." I exclaimed, wiping my filthy hands on my pants before lifting my finger so that I could point it at the guy. "And, for your information, I won't do it."

"Do what?"

"Be the anti-Christ."

"But it's what you are..."

His infuriating look of genuine confusion only enraged me further. "What does that fucking mean, demon?!"

When he didn't answer, I glared at him until my bravado faltered, and I sniffed before lifting my hand to my face to wipe my eyes, forgetting that my fingers were coated in dirt. The gesture ground fine pieces of grit into my eyes, making my vision blur. I whispered a curse before wiping my hands on my pants again and blinking away tears that I told myself were there only because I'd gotten dirt into my eyes. Eventually, there was a sigh and the creak of the bench as the demon stood and strode over to me.

"Lex, I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this."

"I refuse. I'm not going to do it." I shook my head, wiping my eyes on my forearm to try and get the dirt out of them as I shivered in spite of the warmth in the greenhouse.