On a bright August morning, Daimon requested bacon. I agreed to cook so I got ready quickly. Colby was sleeping on our waterbed with a light snore. Yes it's true, angels and demons don't actually sleep or need to. However, since we had nothing but time in the Domain, we learned how to force ourselves to sleep if we wanted to.
I put on a pair of jean shorts with a yellow shirt. I snagged one of Megan's blue and poofy hair ties she let me 'borrow' off my dresser and pulled my hair up into a bun. Next I decided to try on some eyeliner Megan helped me pick out. In a poor attempt to change different things about myself to sever ties to Tei, trying out makeup for the first time wasn't a crime right?
I think I swabbed too much on under my eyes; it looks like I have two black eyes. I groaned and set the eyeliner stick down, quietly leaving the room as not to wake Colby. When I returned downstairs I immediately looked for Mel. She was in the living room closer to the front door side, sat down cross legged with a bowl of ingredients in front of her. Her eyes were closed and she brushed some of her greying brown hair behind her ears.
"She's been doing witchy stuff over there all morning," Drew told me from the couch, watching television with Megan. I always liked when Drew came over. He didn't actually stay here full time like the rest of us, even though he had his own room. When my little family was together, I felt better and safer.
"I'm about to make some bacon Mel, want any?" I asked as I walked into the kitchen, checking if I needed to wipe down the breakfast bar.
"My silly little babies are slowly poisoning themselves." Mel feigned a sob fest.
"You consider us your babies?" I asked in a giggly manner, deeming the counter clean so I walked around to get behind it and prepare the stove. "Daimon, can you get the bacon out for me?" I asked him since he'd been sitting at the bar.
Daimon only nodded because Mel spoke first. "Yes my Lady. I've been Daimon's mother figure since the first time he touched Earth's ground. You come from the same set of parents and I also served you as your mother figure in Hell, even though you don't remember that. Therefore, you're my little babies."
I could tell she was sincere. "Thanks Mel. I'm glad I met you. I mean it."
"Why thank you, my Lady," I managed to hear her say over the television, but then I realized she didn't actually say it. I heard it in my head. Did Mel speak to me through telepathy with her witchcraft? I looked at Drew and Megan, thinking they'd laugh at me for seemingly talking to myself, but they were too into their show, The Office.
I rolled my eyes at their obliviousness as Daimon returned, handing me the bacon and winking as if he knew. I smiled at him and started frying some bacon. I made enough for four plates, calling the couch potatoes over when it was ready.
"What's the juice obsession this week?" Megan asked as she sat at the bar, leaving only one spot between her and Daimon. Drew decided to sit on Megan's other side.
"Cranberry," Daimon replied, swirling around his cup.
"That one was what, two weeks ago? I think you're obsessed." Megan teased.
"I am not."
"You are too."
"No."
I couldn't help but giggle at them. Daimon glared at me and Megan rubbed the back of her neck before she began chowing. It was so, so nice to see them starting to get along. I won't let anything ruin this.
"So I was thinking," Megan started up in between chewing. "For lunch I think it would be neat if we went to that coffee place a few blocks away."
"I like their bagels," Drew admitted.
"That sounds good," I said. "Daimon, do you want to come?"
"I do not like hot coffee," was his reply.
"They have more than hot coffee, plus food," I clarified.
"I would like to try it," he quickly agreed.
"Then it's a done deal," I said to Megan. "Oh hey, guess what? I get to bring Bug home tomorrow."
"Really?" Megan gasped. "I'm so excited! Do you think maybe I could adopt an animal from your friend if I decided on it?"
"Oh yeah, she keeps telling me to tell you all to come adopt all the time." I admitted.
"Thank you!" Megan said happily. Maybe the presence of my pet in the house will influence them into obeying Alice's wishes.
Out of nowhere, a sensation I always kept to myself but thought I'd never feel again struck my entire body, and I should have panicked. Why? It was what I always felt around Tei no matter what kind of mood I was in. So instead, I merely looked around as if he was going to show up in the kitchen. I felt fine.
It should make me sick as it usually did, but this time I felt more fine than I'd like to admit. I silently gulped as I took the final open seat at the bar to eat my share of bacon. Daimon gently placed his left hand over my right wrist. "What is it?" He asked me.
"I'm not sure," I admitted in just above a whisper. "Just act normal for now." I forced myself to start eating. Daimon narrowed his eyes in concern but he still pulled his hand away and took another sip of cranberry juice. The sensation eventually washed away and I felt normal again. I sighed deeply, continuing to eat. The other two didn't seem to notice me - talking about their TV show was the main topic right now.
After breakfast I returned to my bedroom to see Colby had woken up and he was just grinning at me from our waterbed. "I know what that look means," I teased. "Where are you thinking this time?"
"Is everyone downstairs?" He assumed. I nodded so he grinned again. "I was thinking the shower then."
"Sounds good." I nearly giggled, already eager to get to the bathroom.
When it was due for lunch time, we all got ready pretty quickly. "We should walk, it's good exercise," Megan suggested, opening the front door to kick away the salt line so all the demons in the house could walk out without a problem. That's everyone except Megan and Drew.
"We should all wear aviators like Dai," Colby encouraged, watching my brother slip on his shades before following us outside.
"No way." Megan denied. "They don't look good on everyone, you know."
Colby rolled his eyes before asking me, "Can you get me a pair?"
"Color preference?" I wondered.
"Silver to match Dai."
"He's an idiot but at least he's loyal." Mel scoffed. I smiled endearingly before snapping my fingers to make a pair of aviators appear. Colby accepted them and placed them on, nodding at Daimon.
Finally we started our trek. Colby held my hand tightly while still trying to look cool. I laughed at how adorable he looked in those giant aviators. Megan led the way like a natural leader, guiding us out of the multitude of trees with bare branches on them.
"It's summertime, yes?" I asked dumbly out loud.
"Yes my Lady, it's mid-August." Mel confirmed.
"Then why are all these trees dead?" I asked next.
"Very creepy," Colby acknowledged. "Let's blame it on Mel, using her witchcraft in the forest-"
You would think he learned by now, but I guess not. Two seconds later Colby launched into the ground, harshly stubbing his chin as he usually did. "I would never destroy nature." Mel scolded him.
"I actually don't know why," Megan finally spoke. "It was always like this even when we first started living here."
Daimon suddenly stopped, looking to the left. "What is it?" Mel asked hurriedly.
"I can hear the water from before, when I could not see." He recognized.
"There's a little stream down that way," Megan admitted, pointing where Daimon was looking. "Sometimes it's the only noise out here in the dead forest."
"You're creeping me out, Meg," Drew sighed. She winked at him and continued on. After a few more minutes we exit the dead forest - great, look what Megan started. She took us down a sidewalk that eventually turned into a small neighborhood the further we walked down. We cut through a couple of side streets before we were presented the coffee shop.
"That wasn't a long walk at all," Mel noticed. "What a cute little plaza here. Look at the brick all laid out." She gawked, admiring all the detail surrounding the coffee shop. A few other small businesses were on either side of the store, all sharing the same giant building. There were even little bistro tables with cute fold out chairs all around them.
"I love it," I gawked with Mel. The six of us trailed into the coffee shop and it smelled so good. "I see onion rings on their menu. I'm set." I decided after quickly looking over the menus across the shop.
"Onion rings and coffee?" Megan laughed, being the first in line to order. "All six of us will be on the same order." She told the cashier. Then she ordered a bagel and an iced coffee with extra espresso. Drew also ordered a bagel but with a soda. I stuck with my onion rings and also went with an iced coffee with sugar. Colby wanted to try a bagel so he ordered one with iced water. Mel declined anything, so I ordered her some green tea.
Daimon panicked when he knew it was his turn. Mel and I went to the rescue, but to our shock Megan stepped in. "Do you know what you want?" She asked him.
"Yes."
"Alright, then go ahead and say it." She encouraged,
"I want to try a bagel," he admitted. "And something that is not hot coffee."
The cashier suggested an iced coffee so he agreed. "Put extra sugar in his." Megan teased.
"Us gentlemen will wait for everything if the ladies want to go find somewhere to sit outside." Colby suggested. Megan and Mel rolled their eyes but agreed.
"Sure," Drew agreed as well, shifting his cane around. "I've still got one hand at least."
"Do you need to rest, Drew?" Daimon asked out of genuine concern.
"I'm fine, thank you," Drew replied, raising just one blue eye. That may have been the first time Daimon has spoken to him. Mel narrowed her eyes at them before following Megan and I outside. I stepped over first across the brick plaza to secure a bistro table. Megan pulled over another table so we could all sit closer together.
Mel looked around the area cautiously. "See something?" Megan asked, unsure if she herself should also be on the lookout.
"I'm always trying to see something," Mel nodded. "When you've lived as long as I have, enemies can't help but form."
"Interesting," Megan muttered, reaching into her left shorts pocket to pull out an electronic that appeared to be from the stone age.
"What is that?" I couldn't help but ask.
"Just a pager," Megan answered harmlessly, checking it over before stuffing it back into her pocket. What's with the pager?
I took my turn to glance around but not on alert. Traffic on the street just outside the plaza was quiet, but there were a few people here and there going to and from the coffee shop or one of the other shops. After a few minutes of watching, the other half of our group came out with trays of drinks and food.
Daimon closed his eyes shut since he'd forgotten to put the aviators back on, but he had to hold onto his tray and couldn't get them. "You're good Dai, just walk straight." Colby encouraged. "Lynn?" He called out.
"Coming," I scooted my little fold-up chair back to stand up, walking over to assist. "Daimon I'm going to take the tray from you, okay? Then you can get your sunglasses on."
"Understood," he groaned, loosening his grip on the tray as he felt me snag it from him. I turned to walk with Drew and Colby over to our tables.
"Thanks," Megan said, helping pass out everyone's orders. Daimon joined us last and we all got settled, and started to try out our new food and drinks. My onion rings were delicious, and I'll admit I liked the coffee since Colby had already taken me here before when we got coffee for Ciar.
When Mel thought Daimon wasn't listening due to Colby engaging in a story from the Domain, she leaned over to tap Drew's shoulder. "What's up?" He asked her.
"He really likes you, you know," Mel admitted. "He absolutely cares about your well being."
"Who?" Drew asked quickly but blinked. "Daimon?" He realized quietly.
"Yes dear. He's the most comfortable around Nephilim." Mel continued. "He's comfortable around demons as well of course, thanks to his mother and myself and his pai. However, Nephilim were his favorite, even over humans."
The only reason I haven't told Daimon about the existence of Danny and Mindy is because of how he responded whenever Gabriel was mentioned. I haven't gotten any "Gabriel was cool" vibes from him once. I don't think he liked Gabriel due to the Nephilim War.
If he didn't like Gabriel, would he like to know that he had his own Nephilim children? I certainly wouldn't.
Drew was quiet, merely watching Daimon as he and Megan listened to Colby's story. When it was over everyone finished their meals quietly, enjoying the hot weather and peaceful afternoon.
"You're going to be hyper for the rest of the day." Drew decided. "All that espresso you put in your drink."
Megan shrugged with a grin. "Gotta get back at Colby sometimes, right?"
"Not funny," he remarked.
"What is espresso?" Daimon asked.
"It gives you a little pep in your step," Megan teased. "Want to try mine?"
"Yes," he replied very eagerly. It weirded Megan out for just a moment but she slid over her cup. I stacked most of our trays on top of each other and gathered up a wad of garbage, mostly the paper wraps our food came in. I got up and crossed the brick plaza to reach the garbage by the shop's entrance. Littering is very bad, throw your garbage away properly.
I heard Daimon slurp the rest of Megan's drink, causing her and Mel to laugh. "I think I can feel the pep." Daimon said confusingly, which just made them laugh harder. I slipped a faint smile as I deposit the trash into the push-open bin, when next I felt the very same sensation as this morning when I was at the breakfast bar.
The cozy, safe and warm feeling I felt around Tei, though after many years I learned to push it aside when necessary. I don't think now is one of those times. Why is this happening again, and why twice in the same day? I should have told Daimon the truth this morning.
I can't move for some reason. I wanted to go sit back down with the others or continue cleaning up, but somehow I was forced to keep standing in front of the trash bin and unhappily enjoy how good I felt right now.
Everything around me started slowing down, literally to the point I felt like the entire planet, no the universe was stopped cold. The only thing I could hear was one set of footsteps growing louder because they were heading right towards me.
And I knew just who it was.
On my right side just under the hip line, something started throbbing and burning. Something told me it was my Imprint. Fear slowly filled me.
The universe suddenly resumes. Melgreth screams my name from the right, all the way across the plaza because we just had to choose seats on the opposite end of where I was standing. I took notice since I have never heard Mel sound as terrified as just now.
I can move again, but I felt him place his hand down on my left shoulder from behind. My heart dropped down into my stomach. How was this possible right now?
Wasn't he supposed to be sleeping?
Finally I can move. I turned left to look up at my number one enemy. My first best friend. My first love. My worst heartache.
Tei moved his hand as I turned so it would caress now the right side of my face. "Good afternoon my love." He greeted me with one of the warmest smiles I've ever seen him pull off.
I couldn't deny it anymore. The video I watched in Aunt Amy's basement came back to me as I shuddered. I was his love in the end. That doesn't mean he has to be my love.
I watched his face slowly fall and his smile turned into a frown. I knew why. I haven't Blocked everything. I guess I got used to not having to worry about this problem anymore. This time though, I could sense almost exactly what he was picking up from my thoughts and memories - why was that?
I think I knew why; it must be the imprint. I had a bad feeling Tei knew now too. The real question was how did he find out? Tei ignored these thoughts because I could tell instantly when he started picking up on Colby. I haven't Blocked anything, not even all the times we've-
Tei removed his hold on me while expressing a hurtful look across his tan face. "I forgive you," he said to me quietly. "You are weak minded and you also wanted to hurt me for what I have done. I will not let any demon lead you astray or touch you ever again."
Did he just call me weak minded? My first words to him were, "Take that back."
As if no time had passed or nothing changed, he seemingly ignored me and turned to the right, narrowing his bright orange eyes. I was able to follow his gaze only to be alarmed. Colby and Megan were running right towards us and I knew Tei was about to kill them both in a matter of seconds.
I have to do something, even if it means dying for them.