CHAPTER 7: REUNION

The demon that Damien called as Linus is smiling arrogantly.

Linus is still busy feeding from Joaqin who’s obviously flustered. Everyone could see how his face is flushing, from embarrassment or anger, Chris can’t really tell. Joaqin pushed Linus away after regaining his composure.

The demon laughed merrily, “You’re blushing!”

“Shut up demon.” Chris knows that it is wrong to judge people from their first meeting, but Linus is getting on his nerves.

He’s more arrogant than Damien!

Linus didn’t mind Joaqin’s burst out, “Miss me?” Linus said with a playful smile.

Damien snorted, “As if. It’s been a while though. I really thought you were killed somewhere.” Linus pursed his lips like a child sulking to his parents.

“What’s with the cold treatment? Here I am so excited to meet you again after…5 years? Or was it 7?” Both Chris and Joaqin totally felt out of place, both are asking why they in their current situation.

Joaqin cleared his throat to get acknowledged but the demons ignored him relentlessly.

“You’re the one who suddenly disappeared,” Damien pointed out, “Where have you been?”

“Just everywhere,” Linus took a gaze at Joaqin, “But things became interesting for me.”

“Okay. I didn’t expect that demons socialize too…or even flirt--” Damien snickered, “hey, your host thinks that we are flirting! Sorry, are you jealous? Did you contract this guy to be your boyfriend? I apologize if you feel threatened.” Joaqin wanted to punch the demon but he knows that it’s useless. He then sighed and tried to calm himself. Chris on the other hand is just speechless with what is happening. He already can’t take Damien, but two demons inside one room is going to take his sanity.

“Your sin is probably lust… it’s Linus’ specialty. You don’t have to worry. I won’t take him away from you.” Damien continued taunting Joaqin while Linus is busy laughing at his host’s reaction.

“It’s not!” Joaqin exclaimed.

“Rumors are loud about you,” Linus turned to Damien after he moved on with Linus’ flustered face.

Damien tilted his head and grinned, “About what? I’m trying to keep a low profile.” The demon is obviously feigning ignorance.

“Please, I know you love attention. It’s about you killing numerous demons. Is it because of that child?” Linus pointed Chris.

“Maybe…Most of them just got into my nerves though.” Damien casually said. Chris doesn’t have an idea about their conversation but he’s done with the pesky demons.

“Get out.”  Chris finally spoke. It’s still his parents’ wake, and he wouldn’t let the demons disrespect it.

“Oh, the kid is angry.” Linus side comment made Chris’ patience snap but he still held in.

This is just the effect of Damien feeding on me. He kept chanting on his mind to compose himself.

“I said all of you get out, please. Let’s talk outside.”

“Fine.” Damien said and then went out. Linus followed right after.

“Sorry.” Chris turned to Joaqin. The officer shook his head, “I understand.” Linus’ attitude has been a pain for Joaqin too.

They went out of the place and saw the demons standing casually.

“Should we leave them?” Chris suddenly asked.

Joaqin shook his head, “We’ll waste energy. They will surely find us.”

Chris sighed as soon as he saw the demons approaching them, “you’re right. We can’t escape them.” Joaqin didn’t expect to meet another person that is contracted to a demon. He wanted to ask if his parents’ death was the reason but he Joaqin restrained himself. He has to be professional.

“Like I said I’m from the police and I’m here to ask you questions about your parents.” Chris looked at Damien, like asking if he should disclose what he knew.

Damien shrugged, “do what you want kiddo.”

“C’mon, this guy is a good officer, help us with this.” Linus suddenly whined.

“So you're an ally of justice now?” Damien answered.

Linus raised his hand and pointed Joaqin, "Until I devour him whole, yes." Joaqin rolled his eyes in response to Linus's remark. Chris felt dizzy again, he‘s been through a lot and he still can’t handle the fact that another annoying demon appeared.

Joaqin ignored the demons or they would never finish, “I’ll go straight to the point, do you know if your parents have enemies of any sort?” Joaqin took out a small notebook and pen.

“I don’t know.” Chris answered straightforwardly.

“I'm sure it wasn't long since you got corrupted but you're already good at lying. Damien is such a good teacher isn't he?" In that moment, Chris just wanted to kick the demon out of his sight. Now he's suddenly thankful that it's Damien he entered the contract with. Damien loves taunting him but he knew when to be serious too, this demon Linus is pure annoyance.

“I’m not lying. I don't know anything, yet.”

“The people who hijacked your parents’ vehicle used high grade guns. We are considering the possibility that they are hired killers and stealing the car is merely a diversion to their real intention. They also made sure that their targets will die. Your father was shot in the head but they still shot him 3 more times to make sure he’s dead. Your mother was shot 5 times, she made it into the hospital but she couldn’t survive because she was shot in her vital organs.” Chris felt his hand trembling, his parents’ causes of death were mentioned to him in the past but he’s not in the right mind to comprehend. It simply hurts now that he’s listening with a clear mind.

“I really want to help you but we need your cooperation in this.”

“Chris?” Fidel appeared before Chris could answer, he wasn’t going to admit it anyway. It will be a huge deal if they discovered about Fantasia’s real business. Henry would surely be angry at him and it would hinder him from taking information from the company.

Chris discreetly looked around and the demons are nowhere in sight.

“And who might you be, sir?” Joaqin asked politely.

“Fidel Elrod. I'm a family friend," Fidel answered, his tone is orthodox. “His parents are my co-workers too.”

“I see. If you may, can I ask for your statement?” Chris could feel that Joaqin is suspecting Fidel.

“Sure, but can we do it inside? I’d like to give my respect to my colleagues first.” Fidel turned to Chris and gave him a takeout plastic bag, “Go eat this. I bet you haven’t eaten your lunch yet.”

“Thank you.” Chris accepted the plastic bag, he felt his stomach grumble. Kurt would surely scold him if Fidel didn’t come, because he forgot to eat.

“Of course we can do it after you pay your respects. I am scheduled to go in your company tomorrow but it would be a waste not to get your statement since you’re already here.” Chris followed the adults back inside the funeral parlor.

He started eating at one side while Joaqin is already questioning Fidel. The latter calmly answered all the questions, even the lies sounded like the complete truth with Fidel’s perfectly formulated story.

Joaqin approached Chris to ask for his contact number, “I'll come back after going to the company. I'll make sure to keep you posted Chris." Joaqin stated before he took his leave. Fidel on the other hand also left after saying that he needs to fix some things to his new assignment.

Chris simply nodded. He's tired of people assuring him things. He wants to know the truth, right now.

--

“Why are you sulking again?” Damien appeared again. He just wants some peace for a while, is that too much to ask?

“Please stop pestering me. I’m tired. 10 minutes, just give me 10 minutes. Chris mumbled and buried his head on his hands. Both his mind and body are already tired.

“Okay, I was supposed to give you something very useful but since you're tired I won't bother you anymore. I'm not that bad you know.”

Chris lifted his head and stared at the demon, trying to figure out what's on his head yet he failed. He will never know what's behind the playful smiles of the demon except that he's sure that Damien is up to nothing good.

“What is it?”

“This.” Damien pulled out a silver colored flash drive from his pocket. The human's eyebrows knitted, utterly confused.

“And?”

The demon shook his head in disbelief. “How would you even survive,” Damien started playing the flash drive in his hand by slightly tossing it in the air and catching it back.

“Just please get to the point? You can’t expect me to know what’s inside that flash drive.”

“Tsk, what a weak kid. This flash drive came from fantasia boss' office, I stole it.” Chris' eyes widened.

“And you didn't tell me? It's been two days since we went to that place! When did you get it?” The human took a deep sigh to calm his self. No point on directing his anger to the demon.

“Well you're busy whining, asking me to scram. I decided to go back to that place and explore.” The demon casually answered.

“I hate you." Chris cursed.

“I know.” Chris snatched the flash drive on Damien's hand and the demon simply let him.

“Better leave it until the wake is over,” Damien suggested while looking at Chris already tired face.

“Stop the fake 'I care about you', I'm not falling for your tricks.”

“Who says I'm worried about you. We're not sure what's inside that flash drive. You're one careless idiot, you would only mess up if you knew what's inside.” Damien casually pointed out.

“Fine.” Chris gave up. Damien quickly snatched the flash drive back, Chris tried to take it back but Damien suddenly disappeared.

--

Just like what Kurt promised, he went back as soon as he can. He even brought food because he assumed that Chris didn’t eat.

“Thank you for the food, my parents’ co-worker brought me food earlier though,” Chris explained as he checked the food, “let’s eat this later.”

Kurt is relieved, “good then, of course we can share it later.”

“But are you going to stay here the rest of the day?” Chris asked.

“I told you, I'm going to stay with you. Besides, we don’t have much school works since they are preparing for the school festival. I’ll lend you my notes too.” Kurt gave a small smile.

“Since when did you take down notes?” Chris teased.

“Stop teasing me. I’m doing it for you.”

“Awe, that's so sweet.” The demon casually joined the conversation, Kurt's brows knitted. He never saw the man before.

“Who are you, sir?" Kurt asked. He doesn't know why but he's not fond of the man who randomly popped in the scene.

“I'm his cousin, Cole.” The demon smoothly lied again.

“Cousin?” Kurt knows about Chris’ family, so he didn’t expect a relative to come.

“He's a distant relative of my mother. Cole, this is Kurt my best friend.” Chris doesn't have any choice but to ride with the demon's lie.

The demon gave a sly smile, Kurt awkwardly returned the smile just to be respectful.

“Ah, I smell jealousy.” Damien mumbled but Chris’s not paying much attention to hear it.

More staffs from his parents company offered their respects, most of them are ‘normal’ employees based on their introductions. Chris remained the fake smile on his face, Kurt being around helped a lot. He felt comfort with him merely being around, the demon suddenly out of the scene really helped too.

“Your cousin…” Kurt started but doesn’t know how to finish it.

“Is a weird guy?” Chris supplied.

The place is empty again, “I don’t know why but he seemed dangerous-no that’s very rude to say, sorry but he really seems off,” Kurt quickly withdrew his words, he’s afraid that Chris might get offended.

Chris is startled. He didn’t know Kurt is that fast in seeing things. He cleared his throat, “Cole is just weird but he’s okay.”

Kurt nodded his head, “Is he going to stay at your place?” Another question that caught Chris off guard, would his friend freak out if he discovers that Damien has been around for five years already?

“N-no, he’s just visiting.” Chris hesitantly lied.

“Then are you okay to be… alone?” Kurt’s tone softens, he wanted to help Chris but he felt Chris’s avoidance to him. Maybe it’s because he’s still grieving, maybe Chris is just sad. His parents died, of course he is grieving.

Kurt kept making countless excuses on his mind, but he’s not convinced. He knew something is not right and that something relates to Cole.

--

“Damien, give us some hints on this case.” Linus kept bothering Damien as they stroll but the latter has his mouth shut.

“What is your host’s sin?” Damien asked.

“Greed. He has a huge greed for justice. It's ridiculous isn't?" Linus laughed. The world has no real justice in Linus’ eyes. The world is naturally unfair, and people have to live with it, or they will die.

“Then let him satisfy his ridiculous greed, let’s not spoil the fun,” Damien responded. Linus’ pursed his lips again. He really thought that he will get something from Damien.

“Fine. He’s still investigating, I’ll go help him.” The younger demon immediately disappeared. Damien couldn’t help but laugh, it’s obvious that he’s fond of the beautiful human.

Knowing Linus, his interests quickly fades so it would be fun to watch how long the human can keep Linus’ interest on him.