The Demon King of Lust

Chapter 9

This is stupid.

I've been staring at the wall for at least 40 minutes and I can't get to sleep. Since that dream earlier, I can't fight the anxiety seeping into my brain. My body just doesn't want to go to sleep because I don't know if Vic will appear when I do.

Kieran said it wasn't real, but how am I supposed to tell the difference anymore? Some dreams look like reality, some dreams are reality... it's too much to wrap my head around.

Fuck.

In a violent motion, I flip over so that I'm laying on the other side and let out a frustrated sigh.

How long am I going to be staring at this wall now?

I close my eyes, doing my absolute best not to dwell on my inability to sleep.

Easier said than done.

I don't actually have a clock in here, but I swear I can hear a second hand ticking away in my mind.

"Fuuucckkk!" I groan, tossing again so that I'm now facing the ceiling.

"That's not the reaction I was really hoping for."

I flinch and sit up in my bed. Kieran is leaning against the wall beside the door with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face. He's wearing a bright red Hawaiian shirt tucked into tight jeans.

"Wait... I'm asleep?"

"It would appear so," he says, walking over and sitting at the foot of the bed. He gives me a soft smile that feels almost patronizing.

Oh god. After seeing me freak out over that nightmare earlier, he must think I'm pathetic.

I can't believe he saw me lose my cool like that.

Is it possible to blush in a dream?

"You okay?" he asks.

"I'm fine. Totally fine."

I don't think that was as convincing as I intended.

"You're one of those people, aren't you?"

"Those people."

"People who pretend they're fine all the time because they think everyone expects it of them."

"I... wh-... no."

"I used to be one of those too," he says with a half-smile. "I've always been afraid people wouldn't like me if I wasn't happy all the time."

"I'm not afraid people won't like me."

"Oh, but you are afraid of something?" He raises an eyebrow and tilts his head.

I don't know why, but I find myself wanting to tell him. He's one of those people that you just feel like you can say anything to.

"I'm afraid of showing weakness because I don't want people to use it against me."

It surprises me how naturally the words roll off my tongue.

"I get that. That's actually kind of the basis of how the supernatural world works, really. Immortals never want to tell you what exactly they are; it could be used against them."

"Hold up." I hold up a hand and narrow my eyes. "What do you mean when you say supernatural world? Immortals? Are you saying you're immortal?"

He throws his head back and laughs.

"Sorry, didn't mean to throw you into the deep end. I just mean, like, in non-human culture. And I am kind-of sort-of immortal in that I can't really die or age, but when I say Immortals, I really mean... how do I explain this?"