The Bird & The Beast

Chapter 18

The last thing Damien expected to see when he woke up was Sasha sitting on top of him.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he asked, his hands inadvertently going to her bare thighs.

"Well, I originally came here to surprise you," she said with a pout, "and partly to see why you have yet to invite me over."

He just grunted. Because I didn't want you over. But he didn't dare say the words out loud.

"But now, I think I can see why." Sasha flashed her teeth at him.

"Enlighten me."

"Does it have something to do with that little skeleton sitting in your living room?"

Raven. "No."

Sasha continued on like she hadn't heard him. "I thought she was going to attack me; I really did. Ugly little thing, isn't she? Revolting, actually. Why exactly is she here? Damien, you've got to have a talk with your little pet. If she attacks me, I'll have to do something about it. I really can't stand those who disrespect me. They have a tendency to disappear after that. Do you catch my drift, sweetie? Or, sometimes, the lucky ones merely get turned into toads. Well, not toads—I'm far too original for that. But you do get my drift, don't you?"

"I get it," he growled.

Sasha smiled, stroking his jaw with one hand. With that touch, the glamour she had cast over him disappeared and his true appearance was restored. "Good boy. Because she needs to learn I will stick around for as long as you and I work out. Well, unless I get bored of annoying my dear ex. That probably won't happen. So, she needs to come to respect me, you know? As in, no more evil glares. It makes me rather uncomfortable, and I would hate to do away with your little. . .um. . .skeleton-pet-thingy."

I like her more when she talks less. Damien just nodded. He started to get up, but Sasha pushed him back down.

"Now, now. I know you want to go play with Bag-of-Bones down there, but I didn't come here to waste my time." She reached into the front pocket of her mini denim jacket, pulling something small out of it. "Open your mouth," she commanded, slipping the white, circular object onto his tongue. "Suck on that for a while. I can't stand morning breath."

Damien rolled his eyes, but did as she instructed, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at her like a sulking child. All the while, he almost squirmed with impatience. He needed to get back to Raven.

Then Sasha leaned down and kissed him, her tongue darting into his mouth. "Give me thirty minutes," she breathed. "Thirty minutes and you're free to go play with that skeleton you're keeping."

********

Despite the servants' feeble protests, Raven got up and began to wander around the house.

They feared her. That she found odd, because they served a half-demon. Why should they fear her?

Raven walked the way she had seen the red-haired lady go. She had instantly hated her.

Maybe it was the way she said Damien's name when she demanded to be taken to his room.

Or maybe it was the simple fact she went to his room.

Or it could have been the disgusted look she gave Raven. Whatever the reason, Raven had instantly hated her and decided she wouldn't change her mind about that.

The woman had been tall and beautiful, with tanned, unblemished skin. Her eyes were a deep blue, and her hair looked like flames of fire. Regardless of that, she still looked beautiful.