The Monarch Effect

Chapter 15: Malevolence

Chapter 15

"Last one for the day, last one for the day..." Cruz says as she lays her head down on a desk.

"Holy crap, you have a breaking point?" I say as she reaches for an 8-hour energy bottle. "Aren't I supposed to be the stressed one?"

"Well, aren't you the sensitive type? Insinuating a federal agent can't get stressed." Cruz says as she furrows her eyebrows. "Honestly, you're almost as infuriating as he is, rich boy,"

"W-who? He-"

"Your next and final interrogee, genius." She cuts me off as she finishes downing the bottle.

"...If this guy managed to put you in this state before I've even met him, what the heck do you expect me to do?!" I say as I throw my arms.

"Suffer like I did," Cruz says with a sadistic smile on her face. "Everything I want you to ask him is on the tablet. Have fun."

I roll my eyes and turn to face the music, but Cruz chimes in.

"Oh, and Monarch~," Cruz says, getting my attention. "I know it runs in your family, but...try not to make any deals with this one." She says with a smirk on her face.

...

...

...

Contrast to everyone else I've met, the guy in front of me sits in his chair with his eyes closed and a giant smirk on his face. His hands relax behind his head as his black, shaggy hair gives them a cushion. He leans back in the chair as he lifts his legs up and rests them on the top of a nearby chair.

I, on the other hand, feel dead inside.

Just as I'm trying to figure out what to say, he opens and reveals his crimson eyes and sharp pupils to me. He keeps the smirk as he moves from the resting position to face me directly. The red-tattered cloths attached to his black armor flow as he moves. His gaze shifts to my face as his smirk creeps into a toothy smile.

"Heh. Someone easy-looking for once." The man says as he scans me up and down before speaking again.

"Name's Leylo: Nerakan wonderer and curious soul." He says as he gives a smooth wink. Just as quickly as he introduces himself, he shoves his hand toward me. "Put 'er there!"

This guy's attitude is WAY better than the last two. My shoulders relax at the radiating charisma before me. I reach forward to give a formal handsha-

Waaaaaaaait a minute. I freeze in place just before making contact.

I'm... getting a weird vibe here. My eyes narrow as I witness a strange aura. Literally, there's a faint but noticeable crimson glow around his hand. That, combined with the fact that a gentle breeze seems to emanate from him...

Yeah, no. I'm not earning my Darwin award today. I pull my hand back and lean in my seat.

"Oh, what? Scared of physical contact?" Leylo says as he chuckles and rolls his eyes. "Or maybe you're just the hateful type?"

"Not hateful..." I begin. "My brain tells me that shaking the red glowing hand of someone with crimson predator eyes might just be a bad idea."

"Oh, so just because I'm a demon suddenly shaking my hand's a bad idea?" He says as he scoffs at me.

"Well, now that I know you're a demon, absolutely!" I say, throwing my hands up.

"Tch." The demon boy clicks his tongue and flips his hair. "Whatever. Don't wanna dirty my hands by touching someone who reeks."