Sympathy for the Devil

27

I stretched and felt a firm body next to my nightstand. "Well, good morning to you, too." Killian grabbed my hand, which jerked at the sudden movement. "Any lower and I think we would have gotten to second base," He spoke bemusedly.

I blushed as sleep left my eyes.

He handed me a fresh cup of piping hot coffee in a black mug—homemade coffee.

"No ironic t-shirt today? You're dressed normally." He was dressed in a white T-shirt and black sweatpants that hugged him in all the right places. I bit my lip slightly until it deepened in color from the pressure of the bite.

"You didn't see the back of my shirt," Killian smirked as he turned around. The back of his white t-shirt read in black lettering I'm Bring'n Sexy Back stretched taut across his back. Peaks of his black back tattoo shot up his neck as his shoulders moved in a shrugging wave.

I smiled despite myself. I may have even chuckled and died internally at the fact that I laughed.

"I came in to check that you were alive. It's past noon, and you were still asleep."

"You're worried about me now? That's very out of character for you."

"Is it?" Killian asked as I took the mug of coffee and sipped at its contents. Piping hot with cream and loads of sugar. It's more of a confectionery treat than a drink at this point, which is exactly how I took my coffee. He's been paying attention. "This is diabetes in a cup. If you were still alive, I would be concerned."

"I never said thank you when I got back last night. For the birthday gifts."

Killian shook his head. "Don't thank me." His voice deepened through a thickening yawn. "I'm the last person you should thank."

I pressed a light kiss on his cheek as he stiffened into the intimate connection. His lips crashed into mine greedily.  I was hungry to taste him as if I've been starved before now.

Morning breath be damned.

I set the coffee cup on the nightstand as the kisses deepened. Ravenous kisses. Hungry kisses. Cravable kisses. The moment was broken as Killian forced himself away from me.

It was another intimate moment cast in ruins. Purposefully.

"I have to go." He spoke abruptly as he vanished. He teleported away from me, and he didn't intend for me to follow him.

The connection took a toll on him. I doubt it did with anyone he has ever made a move on. Why was I different from the rest of the countless supernatural women he has been involved with?

Rather than dwelling on the lost and absent moment, I got dressed in a few of the clothes Bennett left for me—a cropped red and blue flannel, navy denim jeans, and combat boots. I combed out my hair and brushed my teeth to feel semi-decent. I tucked a silver strand of hair behind my ear as my red locks waved around my shoulders.

Unlike most apartment buildings, ours comes with a cafeteria. The cafeteria is a spacious room with white tiled floors, open windows, and a buffet area where we get to help ourselves. The cafeteria hours are posted on the wall for the three meal times we get, including a late-night bite schedule. Only demigods are granted access to this well-secured building unless invited in by a demigod like Bennett or to my bitter contempt, Ash. It follows vampire logic where the barrier doesn't allow access unless you get a demigod invite. The shield pushes the uninvited out with an invisible shield. But once invited, you can no longer be uninvited.

The food is free here and not as shitty as most cafeteria food seems to be.

I sat by myself in a corner as I dug into an everything bagel breakfast sandwich with hickory-smoked bacon, egg, and a gourmet version of Kraft cheese that tasted more flavorful. The Dagda provides the food. He is the good God, apparently. He ensures that we demigods are well-fed. He seems to be the only caring God in existence.

A few other demigods, some living and most dead, were scattered at other tables. They all knew each other. I was the shiny new toy. I know why Killian never comes here. I know the exact reason, since strangers, mostly undead teenagers, are coming to sit next to me.

I forced a smile. They can read my thoughts. I set my guards on fucking high alert.

A girl with a curly mess of blonde hair opened her mouth to speak. She was young. Ten or eleven. Close in age to Les and possibly just as blunt. The first words out of her mouth were, "How did you die?" Not hello or want to come sit with us? It was how did I die?

"You don't have to answer her. She already knows the answer. She's morbidly obsessed. That's Hanna. She's the daughter of Ecne. The Goddess of knowledge and wisdom. She's still living. This is daycare for her puny ass. We tend to ignore her as best as we can." A boy spoke. He was around my age with warm amber eyes and brown hair that fell into his face. "I'm Finn. Deceased. Not so recently deceased. Son of the Goddess Badb. The Goddess of war. She's a real fucking prick." Finn spoke as he covered Hanna's innocent ears.

"Why are there living demigods here?" I asked mid bite. I swallowed the food that was turning into rocks in my throat as I cleared it with some orange juice.

"Some kids are told by their parents about what they are early on. Having kids like Hanna here is a preventive measure to keep them safe from dying until they are at their prime dying age. Like sweet fucking sixteen."

Holy fuck.

I clenched my sandwich until the over-easy egg squirted its slimy, yolky guts onto my white plate.

"You're the first descendant I've met. Most demigods don't live to give birth." Holy shit.

"Lucky me," I murmured. "I should go." My appetite was suddenly shot and murdered.

"Way to go, doofus. You freaked her out. You don't have to read her mind to see that." Hanna hit Finn on his shoulder.

Finn frowned as a wrinkle formed on his forehead. "The cafeteria can be a bit overwhelming. I hope I didn't overstep. I tend to be blunt at times."

I was at a loss for words as I scooped up my belongings.

I wish Killian were here as my buffer.

"That's enough social engagement for one day." And like a genie, he appeared. Ironic T-shirt and all. "Shall we, Ellie?"

I nodded, forever grateful.

"Going to the cafeteria is a rookie mistake," Killian whispered in my ear as he dragged me out by the collar of my shirt, exposing my stomach further.

Finn and Hanna didn't follow. Thank goodness. Finn gives me the creeps and Hanna looks like a vacant doll. Admittedly, she also gives me the fucking creeps. She looks like one of the fucking twins from the movie The Shining. Hard pass on this fucking demigod Kool-Aid.

"Don't make friends here. No one has the best motives. Few can be trusted. First rule of demigod club." Killian spoke once we reached the hall. The cafeteria doors whooshed shut.

"Is don't talk about demigod club?" I chimed in.

"Cute," Killian muttered incredulously.

"Cute is in my genetic makeup. It's hereditary." I admitted with a fervent nod of my head.

Killian pinned me against the wall.

I breathed him in as my breath hitched in my throat. Ocean scent flooded inside of me. It intoxicated me.

"Ready for training, Jellie Belly?" He asked as the moment sealed off again. The door was narrowing on us. Killian made sure of it.

I nodded, exasperated.

I was ready for training. I wasn't ready for there to be no open opportunity to be an us. Friendship seemed too distant for what I truly craved. Killian did say my desires would be amplified, but can't he see that I've craved him since we were kids?

It wasn't until the thoughts flowed out of my mind and into the universe that I realized that he had a direct link to them. Open access.

A direct link to make a move.

It was left in the air as to whether he would take it or not.