Page 44 of April's Fool
Mori was different, though. He wasn’t just a brief lover I’d keep for a week or two at most. When I thought about my future now that my hitman days were over, Mori was there with me. I wasn’t sure how it would work with our life spans being so different. Still, I’d take another sixty years of Mori over none at all. He was the one I wanted by my side.
If he wanted me, then I was his.
We would have to talk about my reaction in the shower and what it meant. It didn’t come from some sexual trauma. I’d consented to what happened, I hadn’t been forced. It was the aftermath that’d caused my reaction. I’d messed around with a slightly older guy in my teens. Neither of us had been very experienced. A little too little prep, definitely too little lube, and a visit to the ER later, it was now a no go area. Who knows, maybe Mori could eventually buildup enough trust for me to try it again. Just now, while we were still learning how we fit, I wasn’t ready.
Breakfast done, I read over the texts from Cody and Mori. Toth was coming to get me, though it wouldn’t be until later on in the day when most of the work for the orchard was done. I hated waiting for a babysitter, but I understood the need for it. Demonkin weren’t the only things in the demon realm, though they made up the majority of the population. Some humans, shifters, and other species all lived here, drawn by the clean air and ambient magic of the place.
For the foreseeable future, I was stuck in the suite. I was grateful after about half an hour of twiddling my thumbs that demons had integrated human technology with their magic. I’d noticed during our flight they also used hydro, wind and solar power.
The suite had a flat screen TV with magical access to streaming services in the human realm. Quickly, I remembered why I didn’t watch TV and shut it off.
I huffed out a breath, scanned the room, then decided to do a yoga workout. A workout would occupy me for a while. I found a pair of loose cotton pants and a t-shirt and changed, then made sure my bag was ready to go again. If Toth arrived, I didn’t want the grumpy demon to have to wait for me while I sorted my things. He would be antsy to get back toCody. The longer I made him wait, the grumpier he would get.
Yoga was the ideal distraction. I worked up a light sweat as I went through the routine I knew by heart.
A knock came at the main door. Hurrying to it, I opened it to see Jorgoth, an elemental demon that worked for Toth in the orchard. He used his water powers to make sure the apples grew well.
“He-llo,” he stammered, nervously. “I—I’ve come to collect you.”
Alarms in my head began blaring. This guy was throwing off all sorts of vibes. He was distinctly uncomfortable, sweating, his eyes darting around the place.
“Cool, just let me get my stuff.” I turned my back on him and quickly texted Cody.
Damon: Jorgoth is here. Something is wrong. Did you send him?
Fussing with my already packed bag gave me some time to wait for a reply. After a few minutes, I was forced to think of a plan.
“Sir? We need to go. I’m expected back.”
Why did that twig my senses as a half-truth?
“Okay, I have everything.” With a final glance, I made sure I had everything, including the gems Mori had left to make sure I portalled to Toth’s castle.
Jorgoth was pensive as we descended in the elevator. The silence between us was stifling. Having spent a couple of weeks at Toth’s, I had built up a relationship with the demonkin who worked for Cody’s mate. Things had never been so awkward, making me even more suspicious.
We walked through the reception to the main door. Jorgoth didn’t acknowledge Barr, who I knew was his friend from things Mori had told me about the hellhound. I’d even sensed something romantic between them, making this weirder.
Another red flag.
Outside of the hotel, I worked to create a bit of distance between me and the elemental. I knew we couldn’t portal directly from the hotel. The staff had been very apologetic about it. Mori had said something about building works and renovations, meaning they didn’t want portals opening up and causing accidents.
“This way, please,” Jorgoth said, still sweating profusely.
Without speaking, I followed him. Part of me wanted to go through with whatever this was, some sort of half-baked kidnapping. Yet I knew I was vulnerable. My guns were back in my room in the castle. I had a knife on me, but against magic, I was severelyoutclassed. My best bet was getting some distance between us and running.
I was grateful for the walk I’d shared with Mori, as I’d been able to learn where things were. Ever thoughtful, Mori had shown me where the portal guild was. He said to go there and wait for him if we were ever separated or if there was an issue. I wore a gem on a necklace as a ‘just in case’.
Didn’t look like I would need it, though.
During our short walk, we had picked up a tail.
Barr, the sweet hellhound, was following us as Jorgoth took me further from the hotel, in the opposite direction of the guild.
What I needed was a way of delaying so Barr could get closer. We were out of the hotel exclusion zone, so Jorgoth could portal me at any point. The only place he could take me was the human realm.
Fuck.
Was Jorgoth in contract to a witch?
