Chapter 3

Ayira completely confused 

I walked back home confused by everything that had happened with the reapers. I opened my front door and Mark rushed to my side.

"Wow Air, you look like the world is crashing down around you. I think you should join me for a drink this evening," he said gravelly. I eyed him curiously and shrugged in a noncommittal manner.

"I told you before I wasn't interested in dating," I mumbled softly and he pouted. 

"The funeral will be this coming Saturday at one," Javidan stated. 

"It's going to be a small service, just us and a couple of family friends," he added. I nodded and noticed Mark's arm around my waist once again. I glanced over at him and sighed. He was in his early thirties and an alright looking guy but he just didn't make my blood rush. I wasn't attracted to him in a boyfriend sort of way. You're attracted to the reaper, the unobtainable, I think to myself and furrowed my brow. Maybe I should date Mark and get my mind off Deagon. I look at the tan skinned, wispy brown hair and green eyed Mark. He was cute and had a boyish charm I suppose. 

"Take me to a light dinner and I'll take you up on the offer of a drink afterwards," I told him as I elbowed his side. He grinned brightly and said alright, alright like Matthew McConaughey.

"Sandwiches at the tiki hut and cocktails after," he tells me with a squeeze. I smiled slightly and looked down at the floor in disbelief of what I did. Normally I was true to myself and didn't run from my feelings. Just because Deagon's super sexy and Mizette said he was my soulmate, doesn't mean any of it is factual. The reaper is NOT your soulmate, so stop romanticizing this situation, I yelled at myself in my mind. I told the boys I was going to shower and change. Mark smiled at me and blew me a kiss. Creepy. I shook my head at him as I rushed upstairs. I hurried with my shower and dried my hair creating beach waves in it. I wore a white tank, cutoffs and my black Van's.

Deagon furious with Lestat 

I scowled at my associate and couldn't believe what he said to me. Ayira is a soul cultivator and if you're intimate with her you will turn human or she will become a reaper. I think he's full of shit and I'm planning to speak with our sector's eldest reaper Adaranth about it all. I pause and exhale. Was I truly even attracted to Ayira? Did I even want to become intimately involved with her? I furrowed my brow and rubbed my eyes in utter confusion. I didn't understand what was happening to me. My heart was pounding in my chest every time I thought about the lovely creature. All I did know is that Ayira had invaded my mind and heart. She was making me smile a whole lot more than I had before meeting her. I knocked on the large wooden door and waited for my mentor, the old reaper, Adaranth, to answer.

Ayira date

I'm waiting for Mark to come back over for our "date". He said he had to shower and change.

"I can't believe you actually agreed to go out with him sis, he's been trying for months," Javidan stated. I leaned back on the couch and sighed.

"Yeah, well he's a nice guy and he's helped us both out a lot with Margaret," I mumbled softly and he chuckled.

"Don't feel obligated to give him a piece of ass sis," he teases and I smack him in his arms. 

"I don't put out on the first date butthead," I mumbled with a laugh. The doorbell rang and we paused our attacks. Javidan stood and headed towards the door. He looked back at me and said have a good time. I smiled and nodded at him. Mark looked nice wearing a white button up short sleeved shirt and tan cargo shorts. He smiled brightly at me and tucked my hand in his elbow.

"I brought my motorcycle," he grins and I shrugged. 

"Call me if he drinks more than two drinks and I will pick you up so he doesn't drive," Javidan tells me softly and I winked at him. He handed me my cell phone and I slipped it in my back pocket. The next thing I know I'm sitting behind Mark with my arms wrapped around his waist as he flies towards the tiki hut several blocks away. My hair was going to be a mess. Helmet head, I groaned to myself as the wind whipped past us. We pulled into the parking lot. I unclasped the open beanie helmet and fluffed my hair with my fingers.

"You look lovely, Ayira," Mark said, taking the helmet and offering me his hand.

"Why don't you wear a helmet," I asked curiously and he chuckled, "I don't have a brother named Javidan." I rolled my eyes at him. We sat in a secluded section in the colorful establishment and Mark went to the bar for menus. We ordered our food and ate it rather quickly. I was wiping off my mouth and looked over at him watching me intently.

"What would you like to drink, beautiful," he asked. I scrunched my mouth in thought. I'd love Deagon's cognac but highly doubt that they would have it here. 

"A whiskey sour, please," I mumbled softly and he chuckled as he left again to the bar. I wondered if waitresses even came this way. Mark returned and sat my drink before me.

"You have unusual tastes for a girl," he teased me and I shrugged as I took a sip. Good ol Johnnie Walker. 

"So Ayira, I um, wanted to ask if you'd want to come over to my place and watch a movie on N*****x and hang," he said softly. I raised my brow and eyed him strangely. I grinned slightly and sighed.

"I'm not ready for that yet Mark, maybe if we started dating frequently, but not happening tonight," I tell him bluntly. His cheeks turned pink and I chuckled softly. I drained my drink and watched him nurse his.

"You want another, I'll get the second round," I mumbled and stood to go to the bar. He shrugged casually and I walked away. I ordered the same thing and brought them back. I noticed black in my peripherals and turned to see two different male reapers outside of the window. I chewed on my lip wondering what was going to happen since I hadn't had a vision. My eyes widened at the truck that was racing towards the parking lot. I watched it crash into Mark's motorcycle and slam into a telephone pole. One person was ejected from the passenger side while the driver was hanging through the shattered windshield. I said a small prayer and turned to see Mark looking devastated by his wrecked motorcycle. He grabbed his drink from my hand and drained it. I offered him mine as well and he drained it too, then he pulled me outside. I watched the reapers doing their jobs as people rushed around trying to save the two individuals. I wrapped my arm around Mark's side as he looked down at what remained of his motorcycle. I felt really bad for him and laid my head against his shoulder to cheer him up. The police said they were towing it for evidence. Why, if the subjects were dead, who knew. I offered to walk with Mark to his apartment. It wasn't too far and he perked up at my offer. He squeezed my hand as we headed down the sidewalk. I could feel his eyes on me and glanced up at him. 

"Are you going to stay a while with me, at my place, I mean," he asked curiously. I smiled at the persistent guy. 

"I'll stay long enough to wait for my brother to come and pick me up," I replied and poked his side. He chuckled and started tickling my sides. He lifted me up and my eyes widened when his lips pressed against mine. It was a quick peck. He looked down at my eyes and lowered his head to kiss me again. I kissed him back and it was sweet, mind you it was nothing mind blowing or suggestive on my part. I smiled when he pulled away and pulled on his hand to continue to his place. I furrowed my brow and looked up at him, worried that he'd get the wrong impression. He looked concerned and pulled me to stop.

"I'm sorry Ayira, I shouldn't have done that," he rushed out. 

"It's okay, it was very sweet, I um, I just don't know if I can feel romantic feelings for you, I mean, you've been like a sibling to me, so," I stopped talking because I wasn't sure what else to say. Mark scowled angrily at me and I stepped back.

"So you're just leading me on with all of this bullshit," he snapped and waved his hand around. I shook my head and told him no. 

"I think you owe me, cock tease," he muttered sourly and tried to grab my arm. 

"I don't think so buddy," I yelled out loudly and started to run the other direction. He started chasing after me and I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket to call Javidan. I felt a hand pull my arm and my cell fell to the ground. I yanked my arm away and looked at my surroundings. My eyes landed on the antique book store in the distance, I grinned and ran faster. I ran down the alleyway and saw the red door. I started pounding on it and yelling for Deagon. When the door opened I ran into his chest and wrapped my arms around him. He looked so damn yummy that I smashed my lips to his and kissed him frantically. Deagon looked at me in complete shock but relaxed and held me close as my lips moved expertly against his. He tasted like cognac and I grinned slightly against his mouth. 

"Why are you here, Ayira," he asked curiously. I gritted my teeth and frowned. 

"I was being chased and figured I'd be safe here," I mumble softly and look at him with puppy eyes. He cocked his brow and looked out his open door. 

"Whoever was chasing you is gone and or couldn't cross the veil," he states and continues to hold me close to his side. He turned to me just as I was about to speak and smiled as he looked at my mouth. He kissed me before I could mutter a word. Damn he was a great kisser. I closed my eyes and got lost in his soft lips. He lifted me up against himself and sighed deeply. He pulled back and looked down at me with a confused look. I licked my lips and looked up at him.

"That was um, very hot," I mumbled softly and pulled away when I saw the bottle of cognac. I hurried to the decanter and took a big swig to calm my frayed nerves. Deagon watched me curiously and his eyes widened at me drinking his stash. 

"That's made for reapers," he stated firmly and grabbed the decanter from my hand.

"I don't understand how you can see reapers, drink our liquor, and kiss me, it's all very confusing," he mumbled softly and sat the crystal decanter on the table. He glanced at me and grinned devilishly.

"Either way I like it, I like that you are different," he said sweetly and pulled me closer. I smiled and looked up at him. 

"I want you to meet with Adaranth so he can determine what you really are," he said softly and brushed my cheek before kissing me romantically. God the man could kiss the panties off a nun. I was panting when he came up for air. 

"You need to contact your brother, I'm certain he is concerned about you," he told me and reality smacked me in the face.

"What time is it," I asked in a panic. Deagon looked at his watch and clenched his teeth. 

"It's 12:30 a.m., way past your check in time I'm assuming," he joked. I exhaled deeply and rubbed my eyes. 

"I think I can go and get my cell phone, I dropped it a couple blocks away. I'm sure Mark went home," I mumbled sadly. Deagon looked down at me with a frown.

"Mark was chasing you, hmmm, I think we need to discuss what occurred this evening, but first I will escort you to your phone," he stated firmly and wrapped his arm around me possessively.