Page 81 of All Your Bloody Lies

Sydni (Butterfly) [7:25]

Rhysie-poo, wait. I’m sending you a long message, keep settled please.

“Authorities arrived on the scene where the once employed driver of the Bastilla family turned the weapon on himself before authorities could subdue him. Janet—” the male reporter turns to his co-host, “—what are your thoughts on this? Maybe a disgruntled employee finally at his breaking point?”

The blonde reporter nods, “It sure does seem that way, but again, this story is just breaking. We can’t say much until further details come to light.”

Their voices drown out as I get another text.

Sydni (Butterfly) [7:28]

I was monitoring the dispatch calls, and have been redirected everything. She is currently in the Sidence Morgue, this happened about three hours ago. I didn’t tell you because I feared you would go and try to collect her body. I’ve mixed up her file with another tenant in the morgue, and her “body” will accidentally be burned. Not actually burned, obvi, but she had to appear dead for nothing to be placed on her. Succubae cannot die, Rhysie-poo. Even if her heart did stop, it will repair itself, and she’ll come back. This isn’t the first time she’s had to do something like this.

You’re asking yourself: “Why did she make me watch the news?” Aren’t you? Huh? Hehe. It’s because I’m unsure of where she’ll go afterwards, and would rather get to you before you see it and freak out. I like you, and I want to keep you informed. Just do as she asks, don’t go after her. If I know my Phiny she’ll probably go home, shower, and go to bed casually as if she didn’t just murder people. Such a—what do you call her—little demon thing to do.

Hehehehe??

I quickly turn the news off and set my phone down. I probably should respond to her, but I can’t. Shutting my eyes, I lean forward and place my forehead onto my arm which is laying on the counter.

She’s had to do this before? Fucking Vayl above…

Before I’m able to get lost in my thoughts a sudden soft knock filters to my ear, indicating someone is at my front door.

I reach it before another tap sounds and open it without hesitation.

“Delivery.” Her voice is like music to my ears. She wears a stupid smile, as if she isn’t covered in blood, likely all hers from the smell. Awhite lab coat and a hat far too big for her head are her only attempts to conceal the mess she’s in.

Xeraphine takes a single step toward me, and I’m physically fighting my instinct to grab hold of her. “Okay, bad joke.” Her hand reaches out, and I take it. “I know I look a mess.” I try to disregard the healing bullet wound in the middle of her forehead. “Are you mute? Where are the witty comebacks?”

“You stink…” I whisper. Truthfully, I could care less how dirty she is, and she actually doesn’t stink, I’m just unsure of what exactly to say.

She shrugs her shoulders. “Fair enough.”

Maybe I’m in shock. That’s the only explanation for my inability to talk properly. It’s not only due to her being alive, or Sydni’s impeccable timing, or even her battered appearance contrasted with her utterly normal demeanor.

No, it’s because she came here. To me…

“If I stink so much, why the fuck aren’t you moving out of my way?” She slowly moves around me, and I follow her with my gaze. “I need to shower, and I’ll need a shirt.”

Just before she takes the first step to go upstairs, she meets my impenetrable stare. Her eyebrows pull slightly downward, “I don’t want to talk about it, not right now.” She takes a deep breath, and I can see that she’s fighting herself, but I’m unsure what it is she’s battling against. “Will you shower with me?” Her silvern eyes gloss over with an emotion I’ve never seen from her.

I nod, and she continues upstairs. Her bloody footprints lead me straight to the master bedroom, where the lab coat lies on the floor, and the sound of the shower filters through the bathroom door.

Not bothering to take my clothes off, I follow her into the room filling with steam. It is nearly a mirror to the kitchen in style. Dark tiled walls, black hardware, and soft mood lighting maintain the theme of the entire apartment.

I see the canine marks on her shoulder, and I’d be furious if I knew they weren’t already dead. They’re healing, but I know she’ll heal faster if she feeds.

As I step through the glass door into the shower, she puts her hand against my chest. “Why do you still have your clothes on? Don’t tell me you’re becoming shy… Ew…” When she turns, I glance at the healing bullet holes in her chest. “Stop being like this.”

I shake my head and begin taking my shirt off.

“Kai—” As I get it up and over my head, I look down at her. “I’m not fragile.”

“I know you aren’t,” I affirm, because it’s the truth. My little demon could bring this world down to its knees, and that’s undeniable. “I’ll never treat you like glass, Xera. That isn’t what’s going on right now.”

She stands under the water, letting it wash over her. The blood is caked on her and will need scrubbing, which she isn’t doing herself.

“Then tell me,” she demands.

---