Bound in Blood

Chapter 4

Orion opened his eyes, squinting at the sunlight peeking through the curtains. Athan was no longer beside him in the bed. He sat up to observe the room. It looked a lot different than how he remembered it drunk and in the dark. He rubbed his eyes and ran his hands through his hair. He looked out the window and was reminded that he was now officially bound to Mon.

"Ugghhh," he groaned.

At any point now Mon could call for him and he would have to answer. He never really knew what would happen to a demon who disobeyed a binding and he didn't want to find out, especially not from Mon.

Orion stretched and began to find all of his clothes and belongings scattered throughout the room. The pleasant smell of coffee floated through the air. After getting dressed he headed to the kitchen. There on the counter next to the coffee pot was a note and a bottle of "whiskey."

"I told you I'd get the next one. Sorry I had to rush out this morning, help yourself."

"Cute," Orion whispered to himself. He took a mug hanging on a hook in the wall and poured himself a cup of coffee. This might have been a one-night stand but he wasn't about to turn down coffee with the hangover that was looming over him. Leaning against the counter, he swiped through his phone at all the calls and messages he had missed.

He would have to face Knox today whether he wanted to or not. What happened with Mon was done and there was nothing he could do about it now. The important thing was that Malden was going to get back safely. Orion was more than willing to deal with this discomfort on his own to make sure Knox and the others would be shielded against Mon. Even if he could tell Knox the truth about the binding, he decided he probably wouldn't - it was just easier that way.

He sipped the coffee and scrolled through news on his phone.

Seraphim was a city previously inhabited only by demons. But since the collision of heaven and hell here on Earth, it was a mix of angels, humans, and demons, all trying to make their place. Before the collision, Mon and most of his siblings lived here, each one maintaining a certain section of the city. Since everything became mixed up about fifty years ago, angels have been desperately trying to take the city from the demons. Most of the headlines Orion saw on his phone had something to do with these violent disruptions. This was pretty normal and nothing popped out to him as alarming.

He continued sipping his coffee and thoughts of the night before kept coming up in his mind. He smiled at the thoughts but knew he needed to forget about Athan. He was almost glad no phone numbers or heavy feelings were exchanged. Nothing good would come out of another person getting involved in Orion's mess. It was also easier to enjoy himself without needing to get too vulnerable. The last time he let himself be vulnerable was when he signed his contract with Mon. Last night was a fun drunken hookup and he felt relieved knowing it was nothing more than that.

Orion finished his cup of coffee and set the mug in the sink. He popped off the top of the bottle of "whiskey" and took a sip before heading out the door. Making his way back out into the cold, he pulled a pair of fingerless gloves from his pockets. The cut on his hand was still very noticeable. Most people probably wouldn't guess it was from a binding but he wasn't about to take that chance, especially around Knox.

Finally standing in front of the rundown apartment building, Orion took a deep breath and headed inside. He waited for the elevator and when it dinged at its arrival, he was wishing he had taken more sips of the liquor.

This was Orion's apartment complex, but also where all of Knox's demons stayed. She had turned the top floor into an office that they referred to as "the penthouse." But in a four-story building that was falling apart, it was hardly the picture of luxury. The elevator door opened to the top floor, buzzing with activity. He kept his head down, hoping to find Knox and get out of there as soon as possible.