Veiled Shadows

Chapter 7 Pt. 1

"Just concentrate harder."

"I'm trying!" He growls.

It's been three days and we've tried everything short of cutting the thing out of his chest. Actually, we tried that too but the Butcher was right, he healed too fast.

"Maybe if you just believe. You know, in movies they always just have to believe in themselves and everything works out. So just do that."

"You may be right, my lady," He says, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "It is possible the problem is that I have not been believing hard enough."

"Hey! At least I'm coming up with ideas! What are you doing?"

"I am recovering from having my chest ripped open."

Hearing raised voices, Snot decides she's done with this conversation and tears out of the room.

"Now look what you've done," I say angrily, "You've freaked out my cat."

"I will go soothe the small creature and then we can resume believing."

He stands up and heads after Snot. I flip him off to his back. He's been nothing but infuriating since we got back from the Butcher and I'm sick of it.

I ordered him some new clothes online that showed up the day after his surgery but he refuses to wear any of the shirts. He says it hurts when the fabric rubs against the new growth of his wings and I don't believe him for a second. I know he's just doing it to irritate me. Like everything else he does.

Oh, sure, he's keeping the vows he made in the blood pact. Obeying the rules of my house, telling me anything that could aid in his recovery. He'll pick up after himself. And put things back down in the wrong place. He'll tell me about a magic sword that cuts through fae skin like butter. But it's been lost for aeons with no record of where it might be.

And talking to me about anything other than the absolute bare minimum? Forget it. He didn't make a vow to be good company, after all.

So I don't believe for an instant that he can't wear a shirt. No, he's just doing it because he knows it bothers me. And he's right. It's distracting, infuriating, antagonising to have a gorgeous, overpowered, shirtless fae walking around my apartment when I'm running so low on magic reserves. I've been sucking the magic out of my gemstones just to get by. Not that I would tell him that.

While he's gone, I turn the TV to the news and settle into the couch in the hopes that it'll distract me from the ache in my belly.

"-have been returned to the Guard Tower but the most dangerous escapees remain at large."

Three images appear on the screen. A man, a woman, and what appears to be a green giant with tusks.

"Eko?" I call urgently, "Eko, get in here right now!"

He rushes back with Snot in his arms, grey sweatpants distracting me as always. "What?"

Shaking my head to clear the image, I point to his picture on the TV.

The newscaster continues. "Today the Guard released photos and description for the three individuals that escaped from the maximum security sub facility earlier this week. Amaelia Chambaut, Ekonimos Demetriou, and Kravimik. It is unknown at this time how the three were able to escape despite backup safety measures but the Guard suspects outside help."

The mugshot from my previous arrest appears on the screen next to Eko's.

"Oh, no no no."

"Suspect Alexis Smith was seen leaving with Demetriou although it is unclear at this time if she has ties to the other two escaped individuals. All four are considered Flooded and dangerous. Anyone with any information on these, or any other escaped individuals, is encouraged to call the Guard tip line."