Chapter 5

Ayira meeting Adaranth 

I slept like crap but still smiled knowing that I was going to see Deagon. I really liked the reaper. I checked the time and grabbed my purse as I headed outside. I didn't own a car and walked everywhere or took an uber or lyft. The sun wasn't even up yet but the night sky was lighter towards the east. I walked down the alley and up to Deagon's house. I opened the door and peeked inside. I knew Deagon wasn't home but I could smell his delicious cologne lingering in the air. I sat my purse on the dining room table and headed toward the living room. I yawned again and sat on his fluffy couch. I bent my head and could smell him everywhere. I pulled my shoes off, fluffed the pillow and laid down on the couch. My eyes drifted close as I smiled at the scent of the reaper filling my nostrils.

Deagon coming home

I opened my door and held my grocery bag in my arms. I hadn't cooked myself food for ages and hoped I didn't screw it up too badly. I brought the sack to my kitchen, put the food away and started a pot of coffee. I turned and noticed a woman's purse on my dining table. Was Ayira here, I questioned myself as I headed towards my living room. I halted seeing the pretty lady sleeping soundly on my couch. I approached her quietly and frowned at the uncomfortable way she was laying. I grinned slightly and lifted her into my arms. I carried her through my home and upstairs to my unused bedroom. She didn't wake up at all. I laid her down on my bed and covered her with a blanket. She snuggled against the pillow and stretched making her ample chest rise. Her eyes opened slightly and she looked up at me.

"Join me Deagon," she says sultry. I opened my mouth and shook my head.

"Reapers don't sleep," I mumbled with a grin. Her eyes widened and she laughed softly.

"I um, oh, nevermind Deagon," she rushed out, her cheeks turning pink as she sat up. Oh, oh shit, had she meant, I swallowed uncomfortably over my thoughts. I glanced over at her and watched as she stood up and straightened her clothes.

"Sorry about that, I utter strange things when I'm tired," she smirks and lowered her eyes from mine. Why did her eyes have to look so sexy? I went to her and captured her lips in mine and kissed her hungrily. She moaned softly and kissed me deeply back. I pushed her back, causing her to fall down upon the bed. I was laying on top of her as my lips explored hers. I wanted to bury myself into her heat desperately but paused. I pulled back even as she pulled me closer.

"Stop Ayira, we can't do this," I stated firmly. Her eyes were heated with lust and confusion.

"Oh I want to and can very easily," she replied back. I pressed my forehead to hers and exhaled.

"I could as well dearest but the possible consequences would not be advisable, we need to see the ancient reaper Adaranth first," I tell her sincerely, looking into her lovely eyes. 

"Let's get up and I'll get breakfast going," I grinned slightly and climbed up off the bed. Ayira rubbed her eyes and sighed.

"Forgive me for my slutty behavior Deagon, you're very attractive but I really shouldn't be throwing myself at you," she mumbled in mortification. I chuckled softly and told her no worries and that I was very flattered. I frowned slightly at the obvious hard on in my pants. I pressed against it thinking about my job and it slowly deflated. We headed down to my kitchen together. I poured her a cup of coffee and started making omelets for us.

"Your sister's funeral is tomorrow," I say softly to converse. She nodded her head as she took a sip. I glanced at her and smiled. She grinned slightly back at me.

"I'm impressed that you can cook, so reaper's do eat," she asked curiously and I nodded.

"Yes, we eat like humans, I hope you like omelets because that's what you're getting," I replied playfully. 

"Sounds delicious," she smiled back.

"Maybe we could go out for dinner together sometime, there's a few decent restaurants here," she suggested and I chuckled. I brought both plates to the table and sat down across from her.

"The reapers normally dine in the reaper city's. They're alongside the human world across the veil. I'm surprised that you haven't seen one," I mumbled softly and watched her reaction. Ayira furrowed her brow and huffed.

"I only wished to ask you out for dinner, Deagon, you know like on a date," she sighed in frustration, her gold eyes watching me intently. I smiled and nodded.

"I accept, but first we must visit with Adaranth, he lives in a reaper city like I was speaking about, I'm hoping that you will be able to enter it, I don't think a human being has ever stepped inside," I mumble softly and she grinned slightly.

"There's a first time for everything," she said sweetly and I nodded my head in agreement.

"Adaranth is a very ancient reaper, almost as old as Grim himself and has very sharp facial features, he is also far from weak," I explained calmly. 

"He was my mentor and I respect him greatly," I added. Ayira was all smiles and nodding. 

"We should stop at the bakery and bring him some cookies, I have a feeling that he'd like some," she tells me confidently. I eyed her suspiciously but agreed. We finished our breakfast and I put the dirty dishes in the sink to wash. I started the water and heard Ayira say she was going to head to the bakery quickly. I told her to go ahead and I'd clean up while she was gone. I finished washing the dishes. I headed to my room to change into comfortable clothes, jeans and black shirt. I heard a knock at my front door. I hurry to open it to see Ayira holding a large pink box with a sugar shack logo on the sides.

"I got a couple dozen of a variety," she smirks and I shrugged. I called Lestat and asked him to cover my collections for the day. I explained what I was going to do, he chuckled and wished us both luck. I rolled my eyes and ended the call.

"Are you ready to go visit the old reaper dear," I smiled when she nodded and escorted her further down the alleyway. I offered to carry the cookies and she told me no way.

"I want him to understand that they're from me, I don't need you taking credit," she teased.

"I doubt that he will even take notice of them, Ayira," I mumbled softly and she rolled her eyes and sighed, "you'll see." I held her hand while her other wrapped possessively around her box of cookies as we began to enter the city of reapers. Ayira's eyes widened and traveled around the entire area as she soaked in all the unusual sights. 

"This looks similar to a human city, Deagon," she  mumbled softly and added, "The Grim reaper is the ruler of all you reapers?" I nodded my head and laughed at her seriousness.

"Hey sexy baby, you searching for a reaper special," a scantily clad woman purred. I gritted my teeth at the whore and glared at her. Ayira was eyeing me curiously.

"Aren't you going to answer your girly friend, baby," she mocks. I exhaled deeply and told the lady of the night I wasn't interested and to piss off. Ayira was laughing softly at me as I pulled her down the street where Adaranth's home was located. I lead her up to the gray and black Victorian style house's stairs and knock on the door.

"Remember what I said about his appearance, don't be surprised," I reminded Ayira and she looked at me like I was an idiot. When Adaranth opened his door his gray eyes landed on Ayira and he chuckled happily. I cocked my brow and eyed Ayira and saw her smiling brightly at the old reaper. 

"I brought you some treats from the Sugar Shack, sir," she said sweetly and Adaranth actually blushed. 

"Is it a rule that all reapers must be gorgeous," she mumbled softly to me as we waited to enter. I eyed her strangely and chuckled. Looking at the eon old Adaranth, I could see his appeal. He was what one might call a silver fox. Adaranth opened his door wider and waved us inside.

"We have much to discuss, child," he says sincerely to Ayira and places his hand on her shoulder without concern. His eyes continued to follow her every movement.  How odd, he has to know what she is, I think and watched him curiously as we enter his living room.

"You're adopted, but you have already had the vision and know," Adaranth stated simply and Ayira nodded, biting her lower lip. I watched her as she handed him the box of cookies and Adaranth acting like a little child trying to decide which to eat. Adaranth bit into a chocolate chip cookie and sighed deeply. 

"You're very kind, Ayira, someone else has never thought to bring me anything so wonderful," he mumbled softly and glanced at me. 

"I'm certain your real father never expected you to gain any special abilities and figured being out of your life was for the best. So did your visions come when you reached puberty, " he stated and asked simultaneously. 

"No sir, I've had the sight my entire life," Ayira mumbled sadly. I rolled my eyes and waved for him to continue, my curiosity piqued. "Do you want to know who your real father is," he asked between chews. Ayira inhaled deeply and nodded.

"Your father is my son Viktor, I'm your grandfather and you are half reaper. Your real mother was human and passed away during your birth but she also had the same gifts as you," Adaranth said softly. My eyes widened and my mouth dropped as I really looked at Ayira, I could see Viktor in her eyes.

"That explains so much Adaranth," I mumbled and he eyed me with a cocky smirk.

"Deagon, her eyes should have been a dead giveaway, I knew immediately, they're a very rare color for a human and are exactly like Viktor's and he's the only individual in existence that has that color. Plus I've personally met the child's birth mother and they look a lot alike," he sighed in irritation at having to explain it to me. Adaranth stood and offered his hand to Ayira.

"Come child and I'll show you your father's portrait, I will contact him if you like, he's currently assigned in what the humans call Europe," he said softly while grabbing several more cookies. I rushed to his side and elbowed him slightly.

"Is she my mate," I whispered harshly and Adaranth scowled down at me.

"You and I will discuss that issue later, Mr. Skinner," he snapped back quietly, making me frown. I raised both my hands with a shrug questioning him and he nodded his head and shook his finger at me. Yes or no, I mouthed at him and he exhaled harshly.

"She very well could be, you pain in the arse, but she's Viktor's daughter and we both know how he feels about you," he said bitterly and squeezed my shoulder painfully. I gritted my teeth and frowned at him glaring at me. 

"Come Granddaughter, it's in the next room," he stated firmly, ignoring me and heading towards the closed french doors to open them.

Ayira my father is a reaper

I hurried after my attractive grandfather. I'd seen much of this in a blurred, confusing vision I had had a few nights ago so I was pretty chill with the information, now that it made sense. Adaranth directs me into a room and is lingering with Deagon further back. I raised my brow wondering what they were discussing. Deagon looked pissed and I grinned slightly at the sexy man. My grandfather hurried past me telling me to follow and opened a set of french doors. I walked into the huge room and saw lots of paintings covering the walls. I wandered past each portrait, all of them gorgeous creatures. My eyes widened at the golden eyed Adonis. I swallowed uncomfortably and side eyed my grandfather who had come to my side. He chuckled and lifted his hand up to the painting.

"Your father Viktor Fallon, my dear," he tells me softly. My father is a huge reaper and if he wasn't my dad I'd be panting over him. I gritted my teeth and frowned at my morbid thoughts. Deagon came up to my other side and shuddered uncomfortably at the portrait.

"The artist really captured him perfectly," he mumbled breathlessly and I grinned slightly.

"Are you jealous of my father," I asked curiously and he looked horrified at me.

"Hell no, we just don't get along well, a long time feud over a misunderstanding," he said gravely and crossed his arms.

"Do you want me to contact him for a visit in person," Adaranth asks me. I shrugged my shoulders and said I didn't care either way. 

"We should both head back. I have Margaret's funeral to attend tomorrow," I said sadly and Deagon came closer and squeezed my hand. I told my grandfather that I would return in a few days. Adaranth glanced at the two of our clasped hands and frowned slightly. 

"I will inform Mr. Skinner of Viktor's schedule and time of arrival," he told me. I thanked him and left with Deagon.