The Demon King of Lust

Chapter 17

I'm sure most people wake up after a full night's rest and feel refreshed. They don't feel just as tired as they did when they went to bed. The morning light doesn't feel like an egregious assault on their eyes and the ring of an alarm doesn't make them homicidal.

I will never be one of those people.

But today is about as good as it gets for me; I feel slightly rested and I even opened my eyes before my alarm went off.

I stretch and sit up in my bed. Pumpkin is lying peacefully in his bed like a giant, fuzzy, red potato. His slow breaths turn into light snorts as he inhales.

After a shower and the rest of my usual routine, I check some emails on my laptop on the couch. Pumpkin cuddles up beside me.

My phone buzzes and I see a new message appear.

Kieran: Your roommate is Zara, right?

I squint at it for a moment. What a weird question to ask out of the blue.

Me: Zahra - yeah. Y?

It buzzes in my palm and I realize he's calling me. I roll my eyes and fight a smile as I answer.

"Are you one of those people who calls back in response to a text?" I ask.

"How'd you guess?" he asks on the other end of the phone. I can hear the smile behind his voice.

"You seem like the type who likes to piss everyone off."

"Got me there, Red." He laughs.

"Why are you asking about Zahra, anyway?"

"Yeah um... that's actually why I'm calling. I got some mildly concerning intel from my dude TJ. Sounds like Victor is looking for someone named Zahra..." My heartbeat starts to drum against my ribcage and my chest feels tighter.  I don't want to let Vic affect me this way, but there's no other way I can react to the news that there's a demon out there looking for my roommate—looking for me.

"For Zahra?"

"I figure there's no way it's a coincidence, but it sounds like he's still looking in the Bay Area, so there's no reason to panic."

"Yeah, I accidentally mentioned her in a dream. Before I met you."

"Okay, cool. I just wanted to let you know the latest. Keep me updated if you hear anything from him or see anything suspicious, alright? And you probably want to let your roomie know that he's asking around about her."

"Good idea."

"Red?" he asks with something in his tone that I can't quite decipher. "Are you okay? You know you don't need to worry about this fucker, right?"

"Yeah. No. I know."

"Alright, I'll see you later Doll."

"Bye." I end the call and sigh.

Well, I've been awake for roughly one hour.

I need a nap.

*****

I open my eyes to a city rooftop at night. There's a chill in the air and not a soul around. I step toward the edge and lean my elbows on the concrete barrier, looking out at the city.

"Whatcha doin', Red?" a familiar voice asks from behind me.

In my peripheral vision, I see Kieran stand beside me and rest his elbows on the concrete too.