Page 26 of Immortal Sun

Enki just grins and holds out a roll, his eyes practically glowing. “You sure you don’t want a taste?”

Cyrus moves in front of him.

I peek around him as Enki waves at me with his free hand, rolls his eyes, and puts the roll back on the plate then licks his fingers. “Fine, I’ll stop, but I really do need that ride, I took the boat, and Ken’s still pissed.”

“When is he not pissed?”

I raise my hand. “Who’s Ken?”

“A lovely pet you’ll hopefully never meet,” Enki says as he makes eye contact with me again. “It bites. Then again, so do I?—”

Cyrus grabs him by the neck. What is with him and pets?

“Cleo,” His voice is too calm, I think I prefer the raised one. “Go change, we need to go.”

I don’t think I’ve ever changed so fast in my entire life. I don’t even realize I’m wearing a black turtleneck with jeans and Converse until I look down while I’m in the car.

I just grabbed the first few things from my suitcase, snatched my black leather backpack and bolted out of my room and outside to a waiting and still bickering Cyrus and Enki.

I think I prefer the bickering to the sudden tense silence in the BMW as Cyrus drives it down the busy downtown street. As promised, Enki brought the cinnamon rolls and has them in the back seat next to him.

Does he poison people? Drug them? Is heondrugs? And are they really brothers?

I don’t ask.

“Do you guys mind if we play some music?” I have no clue how I find the strength to even open my mouth.

When I look over at Cyrus he’s actually smiling like it’s a funny joke, and in the rearview mirror Enki is doing the same.

Maybe I’m funnier here in here than home.

“What do you listen to?” Cyrus asks as his massive hands move across the screen. “Country? Classic? Folk? Pop?”

“Um…” I hadn’t really thought past the silence in the car. “I’m good with anything. How about something local? An indie band or a…I don’t know…folk.”

“Daggon used to be in a band,” Enki pipes up. “I think he was the lead singer. Memory’s kind of fuzzy. It’s been a while.”

“He can sing?”

Cyrus snorts. “He used to be able to sing.”

I frown as the town comes into view. “Did he damage his vocal cords?”

“Accident.” Cyrus clears his throat. “It was a while ago. I wouldn’t mention it.”

Enki snorts. “If you say so.”

Cyrus instantly turns on some sort of classical music. He takes the streets further towards the Pier and things begin to get a bit darker around us, dingier, or maybe just worn.

People walking down the street see the SUV and slowly look over and stare in what feels like anticipation as we drive by. I can honestly say I’ve been a lot of places but this area of town feels different. A heaviness washes over my body nearly paralyzing me.

Their stares aren’t normal.

Cyrus grips the steering wheel hard and pulls into a parking spot in front of a small bar and grill. Small torches line the front of the building across the black metal walls. They burn extremely bright and add to a cool ambiance.

“Sin.” I turn to Cyrus. “Like a place to eat for sinners and saints?”

“Naturally. Sin’s very welcome to everyone these days, hmm, Cyrus,” Enki says from behind him. “He did after all name it after his own seven deadly ones, right Cyrus? What was the worst of it? Lust?”

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