3

I don’t think I heard it right.

“Has he taken you?” he asked, unblinking, his expression getting darker. My heart leaped out of my chest under the intensity of his gaze. “Has he taken you to his bed? Made love to you?”

I looked at him with my mouth agape. I can’t believe this. How can he ask this, like this? He sounded awfully polite and rude at the same time.

“What makes you think you can ask me that?” I felt the heat travel up to my neck, affronted. I clenched my teeth. What happened? Did he forget manners as he forgot his name? I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them, meeting his eyes.

“So he hasn’t…” he said as his eyes fell from mine to my face, tracing the length of my body, and an unexpected shot of thrill passed through me. I felt like he was touching me with his eyes alone. I felt my blood boil, half in anger and half in something I would rather not name.

A thought in the back of my mind said, ‘David never looked at you like that.’

“You are my mother’s husband,” I shot, making my voice sound as cold and detached as I wanted to feel. “My stepfather,” I said, as if he didn’t already understand that.

“Consider me a concerned stepfather, then,” he said, a little curve of his lips telling me he was somehow enjoying this. My stomach flipped. I shoved my phone back in my purse.

“There are things called boundaries. It is personal, and you should try to remember that first,” I suppressed a flinch as I said ‘remember’ but quickly consoled myself. If he had any sensitivity towards his situation, it couldn’t violate my sanity.

The air became too thin for me to breathe in the room. I suppressed a frustrated huff as even his expression didn’t change, like he was waiting for an answer that I refused to give. I got up and went for the door. It was better that I left. Mom would be here soon—

“Ah!” I yelped, snatching my hand back. A current shot through me the moment I touched the knob. I looked down at it. What was it? It was not simple static. My hand was still buzzing and felt heavy. I rubbed my arm to drive the awful sensation away.

“You might have at least kissed him?” he said from behind me, sounding condescending.

I whipped my head at him, grinding my teeth to keep my annoyance at bay. “Can you stop? You have no right—”

“You are not answering the question.” He opened the book he was reading with a nonchalant air, and it only made me want to throw something at him.

“I will not answer any of your questions,” I all but hissed.

“Have I crossed a line?” he looked up at me with a careless tilt to his head. I bit my lip to hold on to whatever insult came to mind. He went through a trauma. He was confused. I told myself. This was the only thing I could make sense of.

“Several lines,” I said, breathing through my anger, appalled at how someone could change so much. Where were the twinkling light green eyes and the person who used to joke but was always respectful towards me? Edward always treated me like a fellow adult. I couldn’t believe this man was the same.

What if he talked like this to Mom? She would be so heartbroken. “You must be careful what you say in front of—”

My words were cut off as the doorknob clicked from the other side, and I got out of the way, breathing in relief at breaking eye contact with him.

The door opened, and Mom stepped in. How much time had passed?

“Mom.”

“Hey.” Mom smiled at me, and then she turned to Edward with softened eyes. I looked at him in warning, when he only returned a blank stare. Damn it, say something, I urged him silently. Then he met my eyes. A curious focus entered his gaze, and I felt the air pressing my lungs down, unable to look away from him before I got his confirmation and then looked at Mom. He gave a nod of acknowledgment to her. Another wave of relief passed through me when I looked at Mom, who seemed a little less tense and gave a smile in return. Mom looked at me, then down to my purse, and frowned.

“Are you leaving?”

“No, no, not yet,” I said immediately. “I was planning to get some coffee. You want some?”

“I got some when I got here,” Mom said.

“Okay, then.” I squeezed Mom’s shoulder and looked back at Edward, who was once again engrossed in the book. “I will be right back.”

I quickly made myself scarce. After getting my coffee, I went to the hospital rooftop, trying to gather my thoughts. First David, who could not understand why I had to stay with Mom? And after Edward’s strange behavior, how could I leave Mom alone? What if he said some other outrageous thing?

I had to consult with the doctors. Was this normal?

I decided to take over the night visits. It would be much more comfortable if he was sleeping. I convinced Mom to rest at home at night; that way she could stay all day with Edward. This seemed to work for her. She would like to be there when they ran more tests tomorrow.

—-------------------

The Demon

This mortal was an interesting creature, I thought. I looked down at her, carelessly sleeping with her arms folded over her chest. The warm glow of the lamp gave a soft light to her snowy skin. Beautiful as she was, all fragile and innocent, but there was fire in her eyes when she spoke. I liked it. The fire without unnecessary attitude. I caressed her cheek, feeling the silk texture of her skin, warm like a winter sun. I turned the lamp off; the dark made her more alluring. Nymphs would be jealous of this mortal. I trailed down to her neck. She shivered and clutched the blanket that barely covered her. So responsive, never touched by lust, not truly.

I turned on the lamp. These light sources were different from what I knew but so convenient. I once again traced the light as it kissed her skin, the soft curve of her jaw, the length of her neck. I turned it off and then on.

She stirred, her breathing changed, and her heart skipped a beat. I felt my lips stretch. I got up from her side and looked at her once again. Mira.

Her eyes fluttered, and then she jolted awake. Her heartbeat was faster, as her instinct told her of the danger looming over her, and her eyes traveled from my feet up to my eyes. Her eyes were wide.

“What are you doing?” Her voice quivered. Does she know I want to devour her?