The Bird & The Beast

Chapter 4

"You don't love me anymore, do you?"

"Nope, not really. Can't say I ever loved you, actually, and I'm not sure what ever gave you that idea."

"You know, Sáyt'n, you could at least try to make this work," Polly snapped at him.

"Why? I never cared. Why should I put effort into something I don't care about?" he asked, frowning.

He was in a sour mood this morning, for no particularly good reason.

The woman in bed with him threw the blankets off of them and jumped up, going around the room and searching for her clothes. "We're done. I don't ever want to see you again."

"Is this the part where I'm supposed to care, or go back to sleep? Because I'm opting for the latter." He pulled the blankets up to his chin and closed his eyes. "You know where the door is, Polly. By the way, you were never really that great in bed. The other girl was better."

There hadn't been another girl, but she didn't have to know that.

He chuckled to himself when Polly let out an outraged screech. As the angered woman stalked out of the house, slamming various doors on the way out, Sáyt'n lay still in bed, his lips curved in a smile.

When all was quiet once more, he threw the covers back and got out of bed, stretching his arms and yawning.

He wandered downstairs in nothing but his boxers, running a hand through his messy hair. One of the only good things about his relationship to Polly had been that she usually cooked breakfast.

So much for that.

He opened the refrigerator door, staring at its contents with a disgruntled look on his face.

He finally decided on a banana for his small breakfast, not feeling too much of an appetite.

He peeled it from the sides, putting an extreme amount of focus into his menial task.

There was a knock at the door, and he growled beneath his breath. The sun had just risen-who wanted to see him at this ungodly hour?

Sáyt'n stalked over, flinging it open. "What in the name of the gods do you want?" he snapped, glaring at Damien.

"Bad night?" the demon-man asked with a thinly hidden smirk. "Can I come in?"

Without waiting for a response, Damien shouldered his way past him.

"The place is a mess," he said offhandedly.

"Well, then, it's a good thing I have you here to help me clean it up."

"Not happening."

Sáyt'n leaned against the wall, glowering at Damien as he silently took a bite from his banana.

Damien flicked a look towards him, narrowing his eyes slightly. He gestured at him as he asked, "Would you mind putting some clothes on?"

"Why? Am I distracting you?" Sáyt'n held eye contact with him, smiling devilishly.

Damien cleared his throat, folding his arms across his chest. "Fortunately for you, the only thing about you that tempts me is your heart."

"You flatter me. What makes you think I have one?"

"I can hear it beating."

The eerie look on Damien's face, and the intent way he spoke the words, sent a chill down Sáyt'n's spine, but he continued to smile.

"So, what brings you here? Oh, wait, never mind. I don't care. You can politely show yourself out the door now."

"You talk too much." Damien ran his tongue across the top of his teeth. "I just stopped by for a friendly visit."

"I know you. You don't do friendly visits. You do stop-by-and-rape-or-kill-you-in-your-sleep visits."

Damien laughed. "I do those, too. I need a favor."

"Not likely."

"You're talking to a man who could rip your heart out without blinking. You're not in a position to decline me."

Sáyt'n cocked a brow. "Is that so? In that case, you're talking to the son of a god and who is superior to you in every way. You can't beat me in a battle of power. You're nothing but a boy."

"A boy?" Damien barked a laugh at that. "Is that what you think I am?"

"Until you give me a reason to believe otherwise. I don't take kindly to you coming in my home and threatening me. Get out. Now."

Damien snarled at him, his form flickering for a moment as he fought to stop himself from morphing into his demon.

"You can come back when you feel like being civilized, demon-boy." Sáyt'n didn't take his eyes off him, and finally, Damien backed down, hatred burning in his eyes.

After he was gone, Sáyt'n tossed his banana peel into the trash, shaking his head and grumbling beneath his breath as he headed up the stairs to his room.

He got dressed quickly, putting on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. Where he was going, he didn't need to be dressed up.