《Demonic Keeper》


 Chapter 1

    Eva


    It had been a rather slow day at the Oswald¡¯s Mystic Antiquities shop and Evanora had already begun to count the hours until she could get back to her new apartment and climb into bed with the new fantasy novel. The last two bodies that had walked through the door were busying themselves with looking around while she intently flipped through her hardback, eager to get the conclusion she craved from the previous books cliffhanger.


    When the door opened again, causing chimes to ring throughout the tiny building, she didn¡¯t look up as she suspected the new person to casually look around just as the other two.


    She didn¡¯t hear as he walked towards her, possibly too engrossed in her character''s love triangle, but soon his tall form loomed over the counter, emitting a husky men¡¯s cologne.


    ¡°May I help you?¡± Her tone was indifferent, though she didn¡¯t seem to care since the man was indeed interrupting her reading time.


    It was an hour before closing, what could this man possibly want from a tiny hole in the wall antique shop in Downtown San Francisco? On a Saturday?


    He didn¡¯t speak, and the only sound in the room was the even breathing from everyone and her turning the page to read the end of her paragraph.


    She felt him staring down at her, studying the face that resembled her father but with the eyes of her mother.


    ¡°I¡¯m here to speak with your parents.¡± His voice was low, almost commanding, and nearly as husky as his scent with just a hint of an accent she couldn''t place. ¡°I have an appointment.¡±


    ¡°And may I ask your name?¡±


    He was silent again; only this time he didn¡¯t speak until Eva finished raking her eyes over her text and gazed up at him to nearly ask again, but she knew he had definitely heard her when she saw the slight smile in his steel eyes, not upon his lips.


    He''d wanted her full attention ¨Crightfully so¨Cshe knew she was being rude, but she''d skipped lunch to wait in the longest damn line for her book and she was hangry.


    Her brothers had also skipped out on their late shifts, again, so here she was ¨Cagain¨C staying late to cover for them. They didn''t even have the courtesy to bribe her with dinner like they normally would. And the granola bar she''d found in the desk was long gone in her stomach.


    And here this man was showing up at their shop, a quarter to ten, demanding to speak to her parents. Who even set appointments this late?


    Okay, she was very hangry.


    Once she had graced him with her attention, he answered.


    ¡°Dante,¡± he said simply.


    She waited for him to continue and when he didn¡¯t, she pressed for a last name. ¡°Dante¡­?¡±


    ¡°Just, Dante.¡±


    Now she smiled, leaning back in her seat, amused at the man¡¯s mystery. ¡°Alright, Just Dante. Have a seat, I will¡­find them.¡±


    He nodded, though didn¡¯t take a seat as she suggested. Instead, he continued to stand at the tall counter and watched as she set her book on the top of the glass, pages down.


    When she saw his eyes drop down to the cover where a tiny human girl was being nearly ravaged by a buff and purple humanoid alien, she could have sworn there was a small smirk at the corner of his mouth.


    She began to walk away, ignoring the possible judgment with thoughts of how smut was literature, too.


    However, when she turned her back on him, a slight chill ran down her spine; she glanced over her shoulder once more to see if he was still standing across the desk. He was where she''d left him, not standing dangerously close as her body had warned.


    Just Dante had watched as she''d left. His eyes never scanned her over like she would sometimes feel men do, but for a split second, she felt as if she¡¯d seen his face before. It honestly wasn¡¯t uncommon for her to mistake people given her profession. She did see a lot of faces coming in and out of the shop, but she knew she wouldn¡¯t have forgotten this man¡¯s face or his appearance.


    His short white hair fell gently, framing his face. It ended just at his dark brows, but there was a little length at the nape of his neck. The color was a softness contrasting with the ageless wisdom that seemed to emit from his eyes even though he didn''t appear any older than her brothers. Even his features, while young, just seemed to command her attention.


    Despite his snowy hair, his thick brows and relatively full lashes were dark black, just like the stubble around his chin and mouth. His mouth¡­naturally narrow with a slightly heavier low lip¡­


    He was quite tall; she''d noticed when she stood. He was possibly a head taller than her five foot eleven, with an almost square jawline that was kind of soft but somehow still strong at the same time? Maybe it was the dimple that added a softness.


    He¡¯d chosen to dress as if he hailed from the early eighteenth century, wearing a black double breasted suit, congress gaiters, and a stylish black tie under the collar of a crisp white button down.


    His attire seemed chosen to maintain an old-fashioned sense of dignity; yet, for some bizarre reason, Evanora felt it suited him. On anyone else, it would have seemed strange or out of place, but for Just Dante it seemed to add an old, sophisticated feel.


    ¡°Evanora.¡± Her name came from his perfect mouth in tender amusement, snapping her out of her trance. ¡°Your parents?¡±


    She blanched, feeling her cheeks warm. Both in shock that he''d known her name and embarrassment at the fact she''d definitely been caught checking him out.


    As if she''d never seen a handsome white boy before. Boy? Man? She wasn''t good with ages, never had been, but that wasn''t particularly her fault. She didn''t get out much.


    And the way her name rolled off his tongue¡­it wasn''t the Spanish R but close. Italian maybe?


    She tried not to knit her brows as she thought about it.


    What did it matter? He didn''t matter.


    Shaking off the coldness that caused her to turn in the first place, she nodded and trekked forward to retrieve her parents, Richard and Aliyah Oswald, who were in the back room taking inventory for the upcoming auction.


    It was a family owned shop and her parents didn¡¯t feel the need to hire extra hands to look after the small building or host events, even though she wished they would have. Their three children, Simon and Lowell, fraternal twins, and Evanora, the youngest by six years, were more than capable of handling things, but that didn¡¯t mean Eva wanted to be there on a Saturday night working another fourteen hour shift.


    She didn¡¯t mean to sound disrespectful. She loved her parents and her job, but lately it seemed they were becoming overbearingly overprotective ¨Cher parents¨C not the shop, which always bored her to tears.


    They had never been so concerned with what she was doing in her spare time than they had been for the past year or so. It hadn¡¯t gotten this bad when she reached puberty and began¡­filling out. She basically had to tell them to chill.


    Just because she was able, didn¡¯t mean she¡¯d go out and sleep with the first guy she met. Which seemed to be their main concern and she didn''t understand why. It wasn''t as if they let her out of the house.


    Her main locations were home and the shop.


    Even to the point of babysitting her when she''d need to shop for new clothes as she aged. She was never alone and it made her privacy starved.


    Their concerns seemed excessive. It was hard enough making friends being homeschooled and getting the attention of guys was near impossible once they saw the hypopigmented scar that covered nearly twenty five percent of her body.


    She didn¡¯t remember much from the night the fire took her family¡¯s Victorian home, and nearly her life, but the splotched scar that stained the left side of her body was a constant reminder.


    It started just below her ear in noticable tawny patches and ran the length of her shoulder to the crook of her arm. From her shoulder it traveled her back and ribs breaking apart a bit but continued down about mid-thigh.


    It was a constant reminder that it hadn''t been a dream. That she hadn¡¯t dreamt of fierce sapphire blue eyes, with an equally strong grip, lifting her into his arms and rescuing her.


    That night seemed to be the tipping point for her parents, making them overprotective of her of her every move.


    They''d pulled her from kindergarten, probably due to shitty childrens teasing, and deciding it was best to homeschool her alone while her brothers were able to come and go as they pleased.


    However, lately things had become so bad she''d resorted to lying to her family. It had taken nearly two months of finessing, telling her parents she was with the other brother when one wouldn''t show for a shift. Or, for her brothers, that she was with their parents when they''d need to run errands.


    She''d never snuck around before, so they didn''t suspect she''d been lying, and it honestly felt invigorating to see the city on her own rather than the window of a back seat.


    She''d been saving her money for a few years, which hadn''t been difficult since she didn''t go anywhere and she lived with her parents who provided for her. After weeks of careful determination, she''d finally gotten an apartment downtown. It was nearly fifteen minutes from the shop and a full thirty minutes from her parents home.


    The boys had been able to move out when they''d turned twenty and she''d just reached two years overdue. Her parents weren¡¯t pleased with the announcement two weeks ago, well, that was an understatement. They were actually very, very, very pissed with her for playing them all and sneaking around.


    But she was a young woman; she needed to venture out on her own. She couldn¡¯t very well live with them for the rest of her life. That¡¯s not what they wanted, was it?


    What about college, making friends, or seeing the world? Hell, she''d settle for just going to the Bay Bridge. She''d been in this city for as long as she could remember and she''d never been anywhere but Twin Peaks and SOMA.


    As she made her way down the hallway she stopped her internal monologue, or spiral really, and decided that they were just looking out for her. They hadn''t meant to make her a recluse. Right?


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    She knocked on their office door, and when their joint voices told her to enter, she turned the knob and stood in the doorway.


    ¡°Yes, baby girl?¡± Affection was both in her father¡¯s tone and soft expression. He was sitting at his desk, and before she entered, he¡¯d probably been typing away on his computer.


    His dark umber hair, which was normally styled in short finger coils, twisted by his wife. But now it was more of a short, messy fro atop his head as if he¡¯d been running his slightly wrinkled hands through it all morning.


    ¡°There¡¯s a guy asking for you two up front.¡± She nodded down the hall.


    Her father¡¯s relaxed posture changed drastically as his broad shoulders tensed and his thick lips narrowed into a thin hard line. The fingers that were once relaxed, tensed into claws she didn¡¯t know he possessed.


    ¡°Is he asking for us both? What¡¯s he look like, baby?¡± Her father¡¯s deep voice nearly shook and she stared at her parents, trying to hide her curiosity but failing.


    She shrugged. ¡°Freakishly tall, albino hair, dressed like he just stepped out of a time machine¡­he says his name is Dante. Just Dante.¡±


    She smiled, remembering his frankness, until she saw her mother¡¯s bronzy face also pale unnaturally. She had been writing in a small black booklet, but suddenly gripped the pen tightly. Her bright amber eyes seemed to darken as she looked at her husband and mimicked his nervous expression and rigid posture.


    Eva knew something was up and didn¡¯t hesitate asking what it was. It wasn''t as if they kept things from each other. They lived in the same house so Eva had heard her fair share of secrets.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± her father confirmed tensely before he and his wife rose from their seats.


    They both ran their hands over their clothes to smooth wrinkles Eva didn''t see. Him over his black vest and rose red button-down shirt, and her over her beige dress that Eva vaguely remembered owning at one point. Though it did look better on her mother''s thin frame.


    ¡°Tell him to come on back,¡± her mother instructed with a short nod, hand stroking her buzzed hair absentmindedly.


    She hesitated before she complied and went to fetch Just Dante who waited impatiently. He was strumming his long fingers against the glass counter but stopped when she reentered.


    Eva motioned her head for him to follow and had escorted him halfway down the hall before the phone rang at the desk upfront.


    Pointing to the only open door down the hall, she directed him, then went to answer the ringing with the shop''s signature line. When no one replied, she repeated the line politely, waiting, and listening. But again when no one replied, she hung up.


    She debated for only a moment, looking between the two customers still browsing, before she left her station and snuck back to the hallway to see why her parents were acting so strangely.


    The door was pulled up, but not shut completely, making it easier to hear their conversation. She hadn¡¯t caught the beginning introductions and the silence in the room confused her. Then, Just Dante spoke.


    She had only heard him speak a moment ago but was able to differentiate which was her father¡¯s and which belonged to the strange white man with an unidentifiable accent in her parent¡¯s office.


    ¡°It was very clever hiding the pendant on the neck of a virgin,¡± he remarked. ¡°One who doesn¡¯t even know her history.¡±


    The room was silent for a moment more. She couldn¡¯t even hear their breathing. Then, again, Just Dante spoke to end the uncomfortably annoying poison that pitted in Eva''s stomach with their silence.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t ask me to come here to listen to even breathing,¡± he chuckled. ¡°You mind explaining why you¡¯ve summoned me after all this time?¡±


    ¡°We need you to watch over both Evanora and the pendant.¡± Her father sighed. ¡°She¡¯s getting older and we know she¡¯s going to have¡­temptation. But once she acts on them, her life¡­it will be in danger. They will come for the necklace. So, we''re requesting your assistance to watch over it.¡±


    ¡°It?¡± Just Dante questioned.


    ¡°Them,¡± her mother amended. ¡°Just until we can find someone nearly as capable to help us. A fellow Keeper.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not a child, she doesn¡¯t need a babysitter.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not her we¡¯re concerned about.¡± Realizing his own meaning, her father backtracked. ¡°We love our daughter. She is the world to us. All of our children are. But you said it yourself. Her virgin blood won¡¯t mask the scent of the pendant for much longer.


    ¡°You''re right. She¡¯s not a child anymore, so it¡¯s in everyone¡¯s best interest if we find someone who can watch over both of them. Just until we can find a way to explain things.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s smart.¡± Just Dante again.


    ¡°We know,¡± her parents replied in unison.


    ¡°How long do you think you can hide this from her?¡± It didn''t sound accusatory but more amused.


    The phone began to ring again and Eva jumped at its sudden distraction. She waited for them to continue the conversation, but when the phone prevented that from happening, she resisted the urge to grumble. Leaving, she slipped back down the hall to answer the incessant ringing.


    After speaking with a man about his late package for a couple of minutes, she hung up just in time to see Dante coming from the back room.


    Their eyes locked and he gave her a sexy smile while he walked past her. Her already rapid heartbeat thumped louder within her ears.


    She was certain she¡¯d stopped breathing, and when he exited the building, it was a moment before she exhaled in a huff.


    She was confused, very confused.


    What did they mean she was in trouble? She¡¯d never stirred the pot, never caused any problems, and now¡­what? What was coming after her?


    No, not her. The necklace her mother had told her to watch over.


    Placing her hand to the sapphire crystal hanging from her neck, she thought about how strange her parents had been acting lately.


    When her mother came into the room and touched Eva¡¯s arm, she jumped, causing the older woman to snort at her daughter¡¯s reaction.


    ¡°Eva, baby, is everything alright?¡± Her mothers tone wasn¡¯t condescending, but truly inquisitive as her hands hovered over Eva''s arms.


    However, Eva knew her own tone was.


    ¡°Is it?¡± she asked, looking at her mother questioningly. ¡°Is everything alright?¡±


    There was a slight hesitation that her mother didn¡¯t think she caught. The fake smile on her mothers lips was not in her amber eyes. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be?¡±


    ¡°Who was the man?¡± She posed a question with another question, knowing it was one of her mothers pet peeves. She found it disrespectful, like back talk, but Eva didn''t back down like she normally would.


    There was another hesitation, and Eva knew her mother was about to lie to her again. She could see it in the slight twitch of her amber eyes, in the worried wrinkles that formed in her forehead, and the way she placed her hands over her flat stomach. All tells that she was stressing over something. But Eva wasn¡¯t sure why.


    ¡°No one important.¡± Her mother shrugged not meeting her gaze but letting it wander across the room to the merchandise. ¡°Just a possible prospective client. Will you be coming over for a late dinner?¡±


    She stared at her mother¡¯s docile expression and nodded feebly, noting how quickly she''d changed the conversation. ¡°Will Si and Lo be there?¡±


    Her mother thought for a moment. ¡°Probably. We still have leftovers.¡±


    Good, if her brothers would be there then maybe she could get a truthful answer from them.


    However, when the shop closed and her parents lifted her to their home of twelve years, her brothers were not there. Still, that didn¡¯t stop Eva from asking once more.


    This time while her mother was showering, Eva asked her father who was in the kitchen. But he dismissed her question just as easily, if not easier, than her mother had.


    While his excuse for the man¡¯s meeting had been different from her mothers, it was still vague. She wanted answers. Or did she?


    Was she just being crazy? Paranoid?


    Yes, that was it. She''d been reading too much fantasy. She was just being paranoid about the whole thing. She¡¯d misunderstood their context and now she was just¡­what? Looking for trouble?


    No, not seeking trouble exactly¡­


    She thought about this during the walk home. When her parents had offered her a ride, she declined adamantly. She needed the time to herself to think.


    They''d pushed the matter but she''d pushed right back with a question of it being no more dangerous tonight than any other night, right? There was a hesitation in both her parents'' reluctance but they agreed in the end, letting her have her way for once.


    Besides, she was a big girl, who could take care of herself.


    In the last few weeks, Eva had ridden the Muni and walked home to her small apartment easily with little fear. But tonight was the first time she felt as if she wasn¡¯t safe.


    Every person who passed seemed to be watching her, and she knew that was just silly but it was what it felt like.


    Her life, because of the pendant she was given, was in danger?


    No.


    With a shake of her head, she laughed at herself as she unlocked the door to her apartment. She mumbles how silly she was being while she turned on the hall light and went to her kitchen to grab a bite to eat. She¡¯d left her parents before they could convince her to stay the night and had forgotten the leftovers.


    While she waited for a two day old slice of pizza to heat the microwave, she began to undress, loving the fact it was her apartment and she could do so without anyone barging into her space.


    As she made her way out the kitchen, she''d removed her jacket and nearly had pulled her sweater dress above her bust when a low chuckle caused her to tense against the beige wall.


    ¡°Please, don¡¯t stop on my account,¡± Just Dante mocked seductively. Or at least she would have found it seductive if this strange man hadn¡¯t broken into her apartment to watch her undress.


    She quickly yanked her dress down, with a scream caught in her throat, and her heart beating fiercely in her chest.


    ¡°Are you really this surprised to see me?¡± he asked once her pulse had slowed only a bit.


    ¡°How¡¯d you get in here?¡± she demanded, thinking back to her locked door and to the fact her apartment was on the fifth floor.


    He glanced over his shoulder towards the large open window. The wind gently fluttered the sheer blue curtains a neighbor had given her.


    ¡°You should really keep your windows locked. Anyone can just waltz right in and go through your unmentionables.¡±


    She swallowed to ease her suddenly dry throat. ¡°I don¡¯t have¡­unmentionables.¡±


    ¡°You should,¡± he said, standing with a nonchalant shrug though didn''t look at her.


    She watched as he glanced around her apartment, unsure what he was looking for or if he was looking for anything at all. Maybe to make sure they were alone before he murdered her?


    Her heart pounded in her chest again and all the possible exits around her jumbled in her brain.


    When he''d finished his sweep of the living-room he spoke but kept his tone light.


    ¡°We both know you were listening to the discussion, which is why I¡¯m surprised to see your reaction.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she snapped with an annoyed tilt to her head. ¡°A strange man breaking into my home freaked me the fuck out? Was that the wrong reaction?¡±


    ¡°No, not at all.¡± His mouth twitched with an amusement that confused her. What about this situation was funny?


    They were silent for a moment and she contemplated either screaming for help or making a break for her cell to call the police. Both were slow reactions, she realized.


    Dante smirked, as if reading her mind. ¡°I think we both know I could stop you before you tried anything.¡± The way he sized her up made her knees weak. ¡°But I¡¯d like to see you try.¡±


    She smoothed her hands on her dress but clenched them with a yelp as the microwave beeped loudly in the silence.


    ¡°You should get that.¡± He nodded towards her kitchen.


    She couldn¡¯t. For some strange reason, her feet were bolted to the carpet.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to be afraid.¡± He confirmed, giving her his back and sitting on the couch again. ¡°I¡¯m not going to hurt you.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s reassuring.¡± Her tone was sarcastic and she knew he could tell.


    Without his gaze keeping her frozen, she found the strength to leave, never taking her eyes from him, and went back to the kitchen.


    With the small wall obscuring their vision of each other, she was finally able to snap her basic survival instincts into gear.


    She had long legs, but with his height he''d definitely be faster than her. There wouldn''t be enough time for her to sneak out the kitchen and make it to the only entrance. She could scream, but he''d surely just murder her before help arrived.


    Finally, the thought of her cell phone in her jacket pocket crossed her mind again. She turned and reached for the jacket that she''d carelessly thrown to the kitchen floor.


    ¡°You could do that,¡± Dante said suddenly behind her. She straightened with a whirl and saw he was insanely close. Too close. She could feel his minty breath on her face when he spoke. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t stop you but wouldn¡¯t you rather hear the truth about the pendant around your pretty little neck?¡±


    His hand lifted to try to touch a strand of her hair and she jumped away from him, clutching not only where the pendant rested under her turtleneck but where her heart was still racing.


    ¡°I know the truth.¡± She forced her voice to be strong, defiant.


    Her confidence seemed to amuse him, so she explained, again not seeing the amusement in the situation.


    ¡°It''s a family heirloom my mom handed down to me.¡± She started to back up slowly, not liking how close he was, until her bottom hit the counter where her cutlery was. ¡°Belonged to a Gram with too many greats to remember.¡±


    He shook his head after her statement. ¡°She told you to never take it off, correct?¡±


    Evanora nodded, remembering her mother constantly repeating that it must never be removed to the point where eventually she didn¡¯t need the repetition. It was understood that she was to never lose it, she even showered with it.


    ¡°And why do you think that is?¡± Obviously, he was trying to bait her into an answer that she didn¡¯t know and it frustrated the hell out of her.


    ¡°That it was an heirloom,¡± she said through grit teeth. She placed her hands behind her back and felt for the drawer behind her using her body to shield her actions as best she could.


    ¡°So, what other lies have your parents told you?¡±


    She stiffened and stopped her fondling. ¡°My parents don¡¯t lie to me.¡±


    He stared at her incredulously. ¡°Everyone lies, especially humans. Specifically your parents.¡±


    Eva watched his facial features harden with the beginning of his statement. But once he got to the point about her parents, his gaze did a slight sweep over her body that sent an aroused heat coursing through her.


    She knew it was wrong; she didn''t even know him.


    He had broken into her apartment, invaded her privacy, and insulted her parents.


    But she did have to admit she admired a good looking man.


    And Dante with no last name, was definitely good looking.


    That is, until he started spouting off crazy statements such as:


    ¡°Your parents are a demonic cleanup crew.¡±

 Chapter 2

    Dante


    Her thick brows knit and he knew he''d definitely caught her off guard with his last statement. There was no doubt this was a difficult situation to explain and he appreciated she was an understanding, coherent adult rather than the lanky child lingering in his vast memory.


    He''d only ever seen her in passing, always chasing behind her brothers, and only a handful of times.


    She''d grown tall, but was still shorter than him as most humans were. When he''d snuck up behind her and she straightened, she''d come just above his shoulders.


    The fabric of the dark green sweater dress she wore was bulky but still hugged her curves. She''d probably meant for it to hide her body but as Dante followed her tonight, he''d noticed the attention she''d gathered from a few men she''d passed on the way home. Not that it appeared she''d noticed. She seemed too in her head, recklessly oblivious to her surroundings.


    It came just above her knees, cupping her thick thighs and ass nicely but the black tights unfortunately prevented anything of importance from actually showing. The sleeves were long and down to her knuckles, probably to keep her warm in the chilled January winter, as well as the cowl neckline brushing her chin.


    Despite the fact she was well covered he found himself liking what he saw. The green complemented the warmth of her skin that was a rich russet like the natural clay he''d once worked between his fingers as an adolescent in Civita. Her cheeks were round like her face which was hiding behind her wild onyx coils.


    No, onyx wasn''t right, he''d noticed the loose waves collecting highlights under the city''s lamp posts earlier. Maybe a deceptively dark ¨Cdeep dark¨C umber.


    Her chest still rose and fell in rapid motions, moving her breast in noticable ways that she didn''t inherit from her mothers flatness.


    He noticed the lips of her round, full mouth twitch and he was certain it was from his quick assessment of her being. But, despite what most thought about him, he was only a man.


    A man who liked many different body types, but, in his opinion, the full figured ones most definitely tasted the best.


    However, that wasn¡¯t the task at hand. And even if it was, it wasn''t as if he would take her.


    While this girl held defiance in her high shoulders, he could see the fear in her eyes, almond in shape and bright cognac in color. The fear that was within all humans when he was near, some more than others.


    And it was in this, and other reasons, he chose to keep his distance from humans. They were dangerous when they were scared.


    ¡°Okay, you¡¯re clearly insane.¡± Her tone brought his mind away from her features and back to the job he¡¯d been paid to do.


    ¡°No, what¡¯s foolish is your inability to accept the truth in the answers you wanted.¡±


    She began to shake her head, causing a disturbance in the stale air to her rather small apartment. He had done an initial sweep of the home when he¡¯d first arrived to make sure it was secure for her arrival and he noted just how insignificant the place was.


    Granted he wasn¡¯t judging it based on the office he slept in at the bar. But to have downsized from the home he knew her parents owned, to living in a borderline scum apartment was¡­something just didn¡¯t add up. He would have to ask her a few questions on how she¡¯d come across it and if it was initially her idea to move out.


    He hadn¡¯t scouted any demonic disturbances within the building. While it was strange, it wasn''t uncommon. Harmless lower level demons or Caster''s chose to live in groups such as apartments to shield their scent but Dante¡¯s skills were well equipped for such things.


    ¡°No.¡± She smiled. ¡°Come on, that¡¯s¡­no, because¡­bruh, actually¡­?¡± She thought to herself for a moment, eyes darting around the floor before looking at him again. She then became unpredictable. ¡°Lowkey, that could make so much sense.¡±


    Dante nodded, though her suddenly easy acceptance confused him. ¡°Your family is a part of an organization whose job is to clean up the mess demons make.¡±


    ¡°And what are you?¡± She asked, truly curious. She''d brought her hands back to her sides and stopped looking for what he had presumed was a weapon. However, the most dangerous thing in that drawer was a rusty potato peeler. She didn''t have much of anything and again Dante internally questioned her motivations for moving with little furnishings.


    Dante had expected her interest in him, just not so soon. He''d assumed they would go through a round of denial about her parents and their life''s work. Shock that they''d lied to her for years about the world beneath theirs, fear of said world and then finally, after hours of debate, reluctant acceptance but she was surprisingly jumping to the final step.


    He had no problem being honest with her. She needed to know what her parents had hired to look after her.


    ¡°I¡¯m a halfbreed. Able to spend my existence resembling a human though I am not.¡± He searched her face for any signs of a meltdown but found none, only knit brows.


    She leaned back against her counter with crossed arms, and for a moment he thought he could read her mind. She was thinking how impossible this all sounded, as most humans did when they saw something they shouldn''t.


    As he began to relay his thoughts, she cut him off mid-sentence, face scrunching, and waving her hand as if waving off his inaccurate predictions.


    ¡°Actually, I was thinking something completely different. Do my brothers know? Are they involved, too?¡±


    Dante nodded and she let out an exasperated chuckle, her fingers pulling at the tips of her sleeves absentmindedly.


    She didn''t look at him but the space just in front of him as her brain processed. Her brows were still knit but more so in hurt rather than the confusion from earlier and her almond eyes narrowed.


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t they tell me? Did they think I couldn¡¯t handle it?¡± Dante had been right about the disappointment in her eyes.


    He gave a shrug, unsure how to answer her question. He honestly wasn''t sure she was even asking him or just thinking aloud.


    He left her alone with her thoughts to go sit on the uncomfortable and hideously patterned couch.


    She was handling this a lot easier than he¡¯d expected. She was more disappointed in her family lying to her rather than showing the normal signs of existential horror.


    Existential horror he could handle, but familial disappointment¡­


    When she slowly followed him into the room and stood on the other side of him, he knew she was going to be an easy assignment.


    She was choosing to stick close because she needed answers, but not because she was afraid. Maybe it was possible that Keeper''s were naturally fearless?


    No, that wasn¡¯t true. He¡¯d come across many who were scared shitless of him and any demon they came across. He could smell it on them but curiously not on this girl.


    ¡°It¡¯s human nature to fear the unusual.¡± He searched her expression for any sign of distress. ¡°Why don¡¯t you?¡±


    Her shoulders lifted then fell slightly, ruffling her hair.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Her tone was almost infant-like but also giddy as a small smile played at her lips. ¡°I guess I¡¯m waiting for the punchline?¡±


    ¡°There is none.¡± He became firm, knowing it was the only way she was going to understand.


    He noticed her expression quickly shift from whimsical to annoyed. Her eyes hardened and her mouth turned down in vexation.¡°Well, you¡¯re blunt, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Dante smirked. ¡°I strive to be, sweatheart.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me that.¡±


    He just shrugged, laid his back against the couch, and shut his eyes, feigning resting.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked in a disbelieving tone.


    ¡°What does it look like? It¡¯s late.¡± He opened one eye before closing it again. ¡°I¡¯m settling in.¡±


    ¡°But I have questions.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯m not a library.¡± He retorted with a snort. ¡°It¡¯s late. Ask your folks tomorrow.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t actually going to sleep tonight, he hardly slept on a job; he just needed her to sleep so she wouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    He could feel her standing there, ambition emitting from her person. He still didn''t lift his lids until he heard her gruff huff and the soft swoosh of her boots on the carpet as she made her way from the living-room to her bedroom.


    She was in there for a while before she exited, still dressed in her daywear but smelling of a mixture of weed and vanilla.


    He¡¯d noticed the lighter on her nightstand but no cigarettes and now wondered if that had been her reason for keeping the windows not only unlocked but wide open. To unsuccessful air the place out but in the process letting the stale air of the city in.


    She went to the kitchen for a minute then came to stand behind him on the couch where he¡¯d put his feet on the coffee table.


    ¡°Are you¡­hungry? Do half demons eat pizza? Do you eat at all?¡±


    He resisted the urge to chuckle at her attempts. ¡°Yes, we eat. But I¡¯d much rather have a light.¡±


    Her body went rigid. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t smoke.¡±


    Dante tilted his head back to look at her skeptically. ¡°If you lie that horribly with your parents it¡¯s no wonder they don¡¯t trust you on your own.¡±


    ¡°Are you hungry or not?¡± She nearly snapped.


    ¡°No. I told you what I wanted.¡± He brought a pack of cigarettes from the inside breast pocket of his jacket. ¡°Do you have a light?¡±


    He could feel her staring at the back of his head, though couldn¡¯t see her expression. She left then came back almost immediately to toss the lighter he''d seen earlier into his lap.


    ¡°Don¡¯t smoke in the house,¡± she snapped as he began to light up on the couch. But her tone eased with her next request. ¡°And¡­don¡¯t tell my parents.¡±


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    While he¡¯d learned how awkward humans were, her statement confused him. If she didn¡¯t want her parents to know she was a smoker, why do it? She knew what it could do to her body, her lungs.


    ¡°I don¡¯t do it often.¡± She babbled. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­a nervous habit I guess I picked up.¡±


    ¡°Biting your nails is a nervous habit.¡± He told her as he stood and went to sit in the sill of one of the large open windows. ¡°Smoking destroys your body, even weed.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t see you quitting,¡± she mumbled under her breath, looking at her couch, disgruntled.


    She looked up from staring at the misshapen vegetables. Her gorgeous eyes locked on him with a tender bite of her bottom lip and face full of fascination.


    He swore mentally when his dick hardened at her tempting gaze and he looked away from her, taking a long drag from his cigarette.


    He enjoyed the sweet ones the most. Most likely they weren''t as innocent as they appeared and he wondered if that was the case with this lost little fox.


    For a moment, he''d wanted to screw her parents'' strong requests of not sleeping with her. He''d already broken one request by introducing himself, though he still wasn''t exactly sure why he''d done that.


    Their reservations were valid. They knew his history more than they knew most others, and he definitely lived up to his reputation. He¡¯d been a womanizer in his early years, sleeping with humans for fun and being indifferent if he harmed them or not.


    He¡¯d seen this woman in her early years as a child. Vaguely remembered her noisy, awkward, adolescent self. But what he remembered most was her limp body in his arms and just how she¡¯d gotten the second degree burns on the left side of her body that he¡¯d seen a moment ago when she thought she was alone.


    He remembered the pain in her eyes, and for this reason, he chose not to corrupt her innocence, and let her go to bed alone.


    She didn¡¯t like his abrupt dismissal, yet took her plate and did as she was told, locking her door behind her.


    It was an unnecessary and useless act, but he''d let her have her faux sense of privacy for the night.


    Tomorrow would be a new day for her. She¡¯d have to confront her parents about the information she¡¯d learned, and he knew it wasn¡¯t going to be easy for them.


    He looked from the quiet street to the dark sky on the horizon.


    The smell of rain was in the air, normally a foreshadowing sign for trouble or misfortune. However, there hadn¡¯t been rain the night she earned her burns. There had been no warning as the fire engulfed their home.


    Despite The Society''s strict rules for their factions, the Oswald''s had been radicals of the time. They''d offered their home as refuge to beings of the Nether as long as they did no harm.


    Not many trusted this, but they seemed to be heretics to their cause. They knew what most everyone in the Nether knew. That humans could be just as dangerous as the beings The Society worked so hard to control.


    Their organization saw all those who came from the Nether as corrupt. Which was true. But the same could be said about their realm.


    The Oswald''s had broken the rules, fraternized with demons, and paid the price.


    He''d ventured to their home on previous occasions for weapons, potions, or even information. While they were always watchful of those who showed, the Oswald''s never caused any harm unless harm was intended.


    It was a small dinner party on the first level of their two story home. Demons, Caster''s, and most other Malevolents were invited. It was a variety that would normally never be associated with those in The Society, but the Oswald''s had grown a quiet reputation. They were good people.


    The night had been going well, until it wasn''t.


    One wouldn''t expect a modern home to burn as quickly as it had...but it did. The flames spread quickly and everyone evacuated.


    Aliyah didn''t want to leave, but her husband dragged her out with reassurance that he''d seen the boys playing outside and they both knew their daughter wouldn''t be far behind. Only, she wasn''t.


    Dante remembered the anguish on their faces after they''d finally located the boys and questioned where their third child was only to be met with tiny confused glances.


    He''d heard many human screams, but the agony of a mother realizing her kid was about to die a horrific death? That still haunted Dante.


    He remembered not thinking, just reacting. The girl was only seven, a child who hadn''t caused harm to anyone. And the Oswald''s were actively trying to make changes in the system. So, no he didn''t think when he ran back into the inferno. He was near indestructible anyway thanks to his fathers blood.


    He''d sprinted through the front doors and dashed up the stairs to where he knew the girls room was located. The door had been jammed so he used his shoulder to break it down, ignoring the loud cracking around him.


    The room resembled the lower floor with many beams and pieces of the ceiling falling to the burning furniture.


    The thick smoke obscured his vision, but he still managed to search her room.


    When he''d pulled back the blankets to her bed, she wasn''t there. She hadn''t been anywhere in the room, and for a split second, he''d thought it had all been an elaborate plot to kill him.


    He''d prepared to leave, exiting the room, but heard the faint cough come from down the hall where the flames were most rampant.


    He made his way to the boys room, careful to avoid the new holes in the floor, and found the girl pinned underneath a wooden beam.


    Fire licked at her flesh, searing through her pajamas in places but she didn''t scream. Her body was far too still and he wasn''t sure if he''d made it in time.


    Quickly, he pulled at the beam that had trapped her and wrapped her delicate body within his duster. As he''d turned to leave, the door to the room broke down with a loud cracking that shook the house and he knew it wasn''t long before the structure collapsed completely.


    The bay window was the only means of escape, and he''d jumped just as there was a loud explosion from somewhere on the first floor.


    His body impacted with the ground roughly, the unexpected explosion causing him to miscalculate and tumble with the poor girl.


    He thought she was still unconscious, but he could see her weak eyes where his jacket had opened slightly in the fall.


    She opened her mouth, but only a strained cough came before she was out again.


    He didn¡¯t have to open the jacket to see the burnt flesh. He could smell it and it caused a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach that he¡¯d never felt before.


    Why was it that this girl, who¡¯d never hurt anyone, was now damaged? While the only proof he¡¯d been inside the burning home were his burnt clothes revealing patches of his slightly reddened flesh.


    When he went to return the girl, the mother was on her knees bawling next to her husband who was doing his best to console her.


    He held Evanora in his arms, and before he could place her down, she was being taken by her distraught parents and rushed to the hospital.


    That night he felt something for someone else that he hadn''t felt in nearly two hundred years. Pity.


    He felt sorry for this little human girl, and it had been a long time since he''d felt anything other than resentment towards humans. At least with demons, he knew what side they lied on. With humans, it was difficult to tell until it was too late.


    However, something else happened that night that confused him.


    As he''d unwrapped the girl from his jacket to hand her off, the crystal around her neck touched the side of his hand and burnt him when the flames hadn¡¯t. When he drew back in both pain and confusion, the girl¡¯s father noticed, yet avoided eye contact as they rushed her to emergency care.


    It took him a lot of quiet digging to find out what was so special about this one pendant. That it was able to cause him harm easily when nearly nothing else could. And once he¡¯d found the information he sought, he knew he couldn¡¯t reveal it without causing a serious uproar in the the Nether.


    If anyone knew this girl had the pendant containing a demonic presence that could bring about the destruction of the human world and rule the Nether, they would all have a serious problem on their hands.


    If released, there was no doubt in his mind Lilith would seek vengeance for being contained for centuries. So, he¡¯d kept that information to himself.


    And keeping the pendant, and Evanora, safe shouldn¡¯t be too difficult. Especially if he could keep from sleeping with her.


    No, if her parents could find another Keeper to sleep with her. Then that moron could be their lackey and protect the girl.


    He could hear the soft snoring of his charge in the next room and her gentle lull nearly made him want to do the same. But he didn''t.


    While the pendant had been safe around this one girl''s neck for the past twenty two years, he didn¡¯t want to take any chances.


    He spent the night lurking around her home, making sure each entrance was covered, and before long, morning came. He¡¯d been staring out her bedroom window when her alarm clock sounded next to her bed. When she woke, realizing he was in her bedroom, she gave a tiny shriek.


    ¡°For fucks sake, I forgot you were here,¡± she mumbled clutching her neck. ¡°Why are you in here?¡±


    ¡°Scouting,¡± he replied simply. He''d turned to leave the room but stopped just before the door and tossed a smirk over his shoulder. ¡°You talk in your sleep.¡±


    The slight rosiness that warmed her cheeks was amusing. There was no need for embarrassment. It was common for women to dream about him, especially when he was with them.


    ¡°Do you always get up this early on a Sunday?¡± he asked from the living-room.


    She groaned loudly and pushed herself roughly out of bed.


    ¡°No,¡± she nearly snapped. ¡°I promised my freaking parents I¡¯d go to church with them this morning before work.¡±


    He knew that.


    He just wanted to make sure she remembered.


    Apparently, she hadn¡¯t and she rushed to get herself ready before her parents arrived to pick her up.


    It was strange to him that she didn¡¯t own a car at her age, but he knew her parents didn¡¯t let her leave home often. He doubted that would change even now that she was on her own.


    She showered and dressed quickly but wasn¡¯t ready in time for someone to knock on the door.


    He answered it, expecting her parents, not their son who owed him a large sum of money.


    Simon stood in the hallway, his vision obscured by the black shades and IPhone his attention was focused on. When he realized the door was open, and his baby sister did not greet him as usual, he finally glanced up and set his mouth into a hard line.


    ¡°Simon,¡± Dante greeted, watching his face drop.


    ¡°What the fuck are you doing in my sister¡¯s apartment?¡± His angered and astonished reaction was expected, though he didn¡¯t dare push past the halfbreed.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± He crossed his arms hoping to torture the boy with his assumptions.


    Now he did push past Dante, shouting Eva¡¯s name, and questioning if she was alright.


    Evanora rushed from her bedroom, placing the mate to her earring in the other hole. Again, she wore a dress that covered her body well, though she wore lacy sandals and stockings instead of boots and leggings. Her dark locks were wavy around her almond face but didn¡¯t shield her neck as she probably wanted.


    It wasn¡¯t hideous but the pale tawny was a noticeable difference than her original warm brown skin. It almost reminded him of someone with vitiligo. Where the melanin in her skin just wasn''t present.


    As if sensing Dante¡¯s eyes on her, she averted hers and fluffed her hair to cover her exposed flesh more.


    ¡°Why are you trippin¡¯?¡± Her curious gaze was set solely on her brother who starred between Eva and Dante accusingly.


    When his sister acted as if she didn¡¯t understand his anger, he sobered, and posed the same question as when he¡¯d first entered.


    ¡°Are you¡­cool? He didn¡¯t¡­¡±


    It took incredibly long for her to realize his meaning, and when she did, she laughed nervously.


    ¡°Bruh, no. I don¡¯t even know the¡­man?¡±


    Her tone had turned upward towards the end when she questioned Dante¡¯s species, and he nodded.


    No, he wasn''t a full blooded human, but he was still a man. Or at least, he liked to think of himself as such.


    Simon stood there, dressed for church in a designer suit and red tie that seemed to bite into his neck. The expensive sunglasses that once sat on the bridge of a button nose that closely resembled his sisters, now sat on top of his terracotta braids. Dante thought maybe they were called cornrows.


    From the chin up he resembled the reckless man in Dante¡¯s memories and he thought it strange humans dressed so formally to appease a false god.


    Simon straightened a bit more, slender shoulders squared and chest puffed to feign power, when he noticed Dante sizing him up.


    Dante not only had nearly a foot of height on this child, but centuries. He should watch how he reacted or Dante would have to reconsider revoking his not killing idiotic humans rule.


    Simon was a perfect example of what was wrong with humans. He thought he was the baddest thing out there, but he was wrong. His gambling habit had gotten him into more trouble than he could handle, and the fact that his parents had to pay out of pocket for his debt against Dante was not only ridiculous, but childish.


    His maturity was long overdue.


    However, faux dominance didn¡¯t bother Dante. He knew this boy didn¡¯t have the required potions or weaponry to go up against him.


    Evanora looked between the two men, and Dante could tell she was confused with her brother''s reaction. Honestly, Dante was still waiting on her reaction, good or bad, about this whole situation.


    It was a moment before anyone spoke, and before they could, another voice sounded from the hallway.


    Lowell, who was the near splitting image of Simon, save a shorter faded black haircut, stood in the entrance of the hall.


    He''d seemed just as surprised to see Dante, but not angry. After taking a moment to assess, he spoke, voice a little deeper in tone than his twin.


    ¡°Mom and pop said they¡¯re already there.¡± He stared between them, brown eyes surveying the scene.


    ¡°Did you know about this?¡± Simon nearly snapped. Dante could tell was trying to keep his cool around his sister in case she didn¡¯t know what was going on.


    Before Lowell could answer, Eva had crossed her arms quickly.


    ¡°No, I think the better question is, when the hell anyone was going to tell me?¡± She tapped her foot impatiently, a hint of anger in her question. ¡°I mean, foreal? I think I deserve an explanation.¡±


    The two men were quiet, probably not wanting to say anything to upset or confuse her. But she was an adult. She could handle it, or at least it¡¯s what she put off.


    She pulled the necklace from the inside of her dress and clutched it.


    Lowell sighed and tried to calm her. ¡°You should talk to mom and pop.¡±


    ¡°Why, what aren¡¯t you all telling me?¡±


    She wanted to know so Dante told her. ¡°The pendant harbors Lilith: Devourer of Souls, Destroyer of worlds. A Primordial.¡±


    The surprised expression then glare he received from Simon was unneeded and angered him. He still owed Dante a shit ton of money his parents hadn¡¯t been able to cover.


    ¡°I think,¡± Lowell said pointedly, albeit still very calm compared to his twin. ¡°This would be better explained with the help of our parents.¡±


    Dante shrugged his shoulders. ¡°That¡¯s fine. I have business I need to handle, anyway. I¡¯ll be back tonight.¡±


    Before Evanora refused, he cut her off. ¡°Take an umbrella. You¡¯re going to need it.¡±