False Reality | Book Three

Chapter XV

As soon as Zeuxis appears with Azrael holding his collar, I can smell the horrible smell of demons blood on him. I asked Grim about it, and he told me it was just like the drug heroin, but for immortals like him. Turns out it makes people bolder and wild, practically insane.

I guess the demon blood is to blame for Zeuxis kissing me.

But then I couldn't stop wondering. Beans has been friends with me for years, he knows me more than anyone. And Beans is Zeuxis. It's the cliche thing for a boy best friend to fall in love with his girl best friend, so what if that's what happened with Zeuxis and I. I saw the way he would watch me, even how he kissed my neck that one day. I remember watching his eyes flicker down to my lips and how sad he seemed when I went on that date with Turner. It turns out he was there. I should've realized that Warren the waiter who kicked Turner out was Zeuxis. His green eyes were so familiar to me.

Zeuxis leans against Azrael as they appear and I instantly gasp. Despite the putrid smell dripping off of Zeuxis, I rush forward and grab his face. He looks dead. Seriously. His face is drained of color and blood leaks out of his mouth.

"Zeuxis!" I cry. I almost slap him, but I stop at the sight of the shiner across his jaw. "Hey!" I call softly. His eyes flutter open and a rueful smile slides across his face.

"Hey Cass," he mumbles before grabbing my hips. Grim is there in a moment, folding Grim's elbow inward so that he cannot touch me. Zeuxis winces. I grab Grim's shoulder and send him a look, telling him to stop. Azrael tugs Grim back then and Grim shrugs him off.

"Zeuxis, snap out of it." My voice is hard and laced with anger. He seems to realize because his hand on my hip freezes and he is pulling away.

"Don't be angry," he says softly. "It was the demon's blood that made me do it...I mean, I've wanted to...but I didn't as well...Cassie?" He looks up at me with his bright green eyes. Scared tears well up in them. "Don't hate me!" He cries. "Don't hate me like my momma." I quickly look at Grim. He looks angry, but I can see the anger drain from him as Zeuxis mentions his mother.

"Zeuxis, I could never hate you," I say, grabbing his face in my hands. His eyes look like they are in a battle. Like he wants to be strong but wants to cry. I quickly wrap him in a hug, not caring about Grim. Zeuxis is my friend and I hate seeing him like this. "Come on," I say softly, running my fingers through his hair comfortingly. "Let us go to the bathroom," I say softly. He nods and pulls away. I watch him walk to the bathroom down the hall. I turn to Grim then. His eyes are hard.

"What are you doing?"

"Comforting him," I respond quickly. "Can't you see he's going through something."

"He kissed you about an hour ago," Grim seeths as his hand suddenly locked on my wrist.

"Okay, and he said he's sorry," I growl back. "Trust me, I'm just going to help him." His hand tightens on my wrist for a moment before his eyes turn back to their black and he nods his grip loosening. I quickly follow Zeuxis, holding onto my wrist as I follow him into the room. I glance down at my hand, seeing it all a dark red from Grims tight hold. Zeuxis notices sometime later and softly caresses my fingertips.

"I'm sorry, Cassie," he says. His hand on mine is extremely soft, and I can feel the power sinking out of him. My nose twists as I get a whiff of the gross demon blood.

"It's okay, Zeuxis. We'll talk about it when you are sober and stable," I point to the toilet. "Now throw up."

I'm unsure how to really get rid of demons blood, but I know how to get rid of the alcohol coursing through his veins. Zeuxis nods before leaning over the toilet. He suddenly vomits and I have to look away as some black looking ink flows out of him. "Ugh," I almost puke myself but manage to stay strong for him. Zeuxis looks back at me and I can see the familiar shine of himself coating his eyes