Chapter 2

Deagon inquiring mind 

After leaving Ayira I went home. Reapers live alongside humans just across the veil. Gifted humans can see our home doorways and entrances but avoid them from the foreboding feelings they give off. 

My house is located next to an antique bookstore. I simply walk down the alley and I arrive at my brick doorstep. I see parchment taped to my cherry red door and pull it off to read.

Hey Dee, 

Stopped by, you must be working, come over as soon as you can,

Lestat 

I rolled my eyes and walked to the next door house and knocked. Lestat swung his door open and smiled at me.

"Tell me about humans that can see us and we can touch without killing," I stated bluntly and he chuckled.

"Already jesting, so early in the morning," he replied simply and waved me inside.

"Such a thing doesn't exist, at least not in a human," he added. I furrowed my brow and glared at him.

"The female I just left was a human and we both held each other within our arms with no negative effects. She also knew the exact moment her sister's soul was to be taken and witnessed you taking her parents' souls," I tell him frankly. Lestat paused and eyed me strangely. 

"That's very intriguing Dee, perhaps she's a cultivator," he mumbled disheartened causing me to frown.

"She's not of Asian descent Les and I highly doubt if she's studied Qi," I chuckled softly and he rolled his eyes.

"She could still possess the energy and if she can see us without dying she could be a soul cultivator, this is more intriguing, you should invite her over," he smiled at me. I cocked my brow and shook my head slightly.

"Bring a human over the veil, no Les, I don't think so, I've already broken enough reaper protocols today," I mumbled angrily. 

"The worst Grim would have you do is take her soul, whoopee," Lestat stated and I looked at him in mortification. His mouth dropped open and he started laughing.

"You've taken an interest in the human, oh my Dee, you know it can't work, you're infinite and she's got an expiration date," he said sincerely and patted my cheek. I furrowed my brow and jerked away from him.

"I just want to get to know her, okay asshole," I growled angrily and he raised both his hands in surrender.

"Calm yourself, I was only teasing you," he mumbled softly and continued assessing me curiously. Mizette waltzed into the room and greeted me kindly.

"Dee has a crush on a human cultivator," Lestat chuckled softly and his mates eyes widened at me. 

"Is she your mate, do you think? Oh we can double date honey," She squealed excitedly at Lestat. I rolled my eyes at both of them.

"I'm going home to see when my next collection time is," I told them both as I started to leave. 

"Invite the female Dee," they both yelled out at me as their front door closed behind me. I raised both my eyes into the sky and cursed vehemently. I reentered my home and headed toward my reaper box. I sort through the calligraphy written upon the index cards with names, dates and times. I sorted them into numerical order and exhaled softly. My next collection isn't until five. I pour myself a glass of cognac and relax into my lazy boy chair. My thoughts returned to the young woman. I felt stirrings in my deadened heart and shook my head. I refuse to become attracted to a female.. 

"I'm a reaper, I don't feel for anyone or anything, I'm neutral in all things," I growl low and drain the glass, repeating the reaper oath in my mind. I slammed the glass down on the table and headed to my bedroom to shower and change. I glanced at the clock in my room as I towel dried my hair. It was still early, only eight in the morning. I wonder if I could see Ayira. I'm sure the coroner was already there retrieving her sister's body. Probably not a good time to visit, I thought and decided to only observe the residence. I dressed like I always do, black suit, black leather shoes. I straightened my tie, grabbed my black fedora and headed back outside. Walking down sidewalks humans would shudder unknowingly as I passed them. None of them could see me, hell I could traipse around butt naked and only Ayira and other reapers would know. I chuckled at my thoughts as I turned the corner of Ayira's street. I saw the coroner was still there along with a couple police cars. I appeared near the front door and saw Ayira and her brother Javidan speaking with an officer on the steps. Another gentleman had his arm around Ayira's waist. I furrowed my brow, yelled her name loudly and glared at Ayira. Her golden eyes looked up and she smiled slightly seeing me standing near the rose bushes in the driveway. I watched her excuse herself from the man's arm and point upwards. I glanced up at the second floor and nodded my head as I appeared in her bedroom. I sat on the bed and waited for her. The door opened and I watched Ayira enter with a smile on her lovely face.

"I didn't expect you to come back so quickly," she told me softly and locked her door. She walked towards the bed and sat cross legged near the headboard.

"So it's Deagon, right? Are we going to be um, friends and if so can I ask you questions about reapers," she asked me curiously. I grinned slightly and exhaled.

"Would you like to visit my home and meet the reaper that took your parents," I surprisingly offered. Her eyes widened in shock and she nodded happily. I watched her stand and grab my hand. She pulled me up and said we should go there now. I ran my fingers in between hers and marvelled at the feeling. Ayira fell against my chest and apologized for her clumsiness. 

"I need to tell my brother that I'm leaving, meet me at the end of the driveway," she said with a grin and left in a hurry. I smiled and appeared near the garbage cans at the edge of the public sidewalk. The coroner was gone and so were the police. I crossed my arms and hoped that I wasn't making a big mistake by taking her. All my worries subsided when I watched Ayira coming towards me with a beautiful smile on her face. I swallowed uncomfortably and blinked my eyes as she came right up to my side.

"Don't talk to me when there are other humans around or they'll think I'm crazy," she said sweetly and I nodded and told her to follow me. I walked down the sidewalk towards the bookstore and watched Ayira glancing around the area. She eyed me strangely and I shrugged. We headed down the alleyway and I grabbed her hand as I approached my home. Her eyes looked up at me and then at my house.

"A Tudor style home in an alleyway, nothing like being inconspicuous," she chuckled softly and winked at me.

"Are you feeling ill at all," I quizzed her and she laughed and shook her head as I opened my door. Curiouser and curiouser. Ayira's eyes widened as she stood looking around the contents of my nicely decorated home.

"This is very lovely and nothing I would have expected," she chirped, holding her hands in front of herself and rocking on her feet. I walked past her and removed my hat, tossing it to the table. 

"Would you like a beverage," I asked politely. She shook her head and followed after me into the living room. I poured myself another cognac and told her to make herself comfortable.

"I need to go next door to get Lestat and perhaps Mizette," I mumble softly. I took a big drink and excused myself as I hurried next door. 

Ayira meeting reapers

I was truly impressed with Deagon's home. I walked around and noticed a black silk looking box. I furrowed my brow and lifted a card from the inside and read it. 

Janet Crumbie

June 17th, 20**

7:26 p.m.

I gritted my teeth and frowned. I was going to attempt to return it but instead laid it on the table and figured I'd let Deagon know I snooped. I lifted the glass he was drinking and took a sniff. I took a small sip and grinned slightly, it wasn't cheap brandy and went down smoothly. I took another larger drink and set it down. His door opened and I watched as Deagon along with an attractive blonde haired man and beautiful auburn haired woman came inside. I raised my hand to the pair of reapers. 

"Oh Dee, she's adorable," Mizette told Deagon as they approached me. I shook the woman's hand and then her husband's. Lestat was looking at me like I had another head and I jumped and yelled BOO really loud at him and chuckled heartily at his frightened reaction. I rolled my eyes and pulled on Deagon's arm to tell him about the card. He sniffed around my mouth and smiled.

"You had a drink," he grins and I blushed. I watched him lift the card, look at it and place it inside of the box between several others. I was looking down ashamed at myself when I felt his fingers caress under 

my chin. I looked up and inhaled deeply looking up into his blue eyes glowing brightly down at me. My heartbeat increased and I froze as his fingers continued to brush against my cheeks and neck. Deagon looked like he was lost in a trance and I reached up and grabbed his hand, pulling it down to my side. He blinked rapidly and scrunched his mouth while turning away from me. 

"Don't mind his odd behavior dear, I think he just realized that he indeed has a heart inside of his chest," Lestat stated and Mizette laughed softly with her mate. I looked at the couple and rolled my eyes. 

"He's a reaper and has no feelings. Reapers are neutral, even being a plain ol human I know that much," I mumbled simply at the open mouthed pair. Mizette wrapped her arm around my neck and pulled me closer.

"Honey, I believe that Deagon is your soulmate and it's freaking out both boys because you're a human and able to see us and not die like a normal person would," she whispered softly to me and I looked over at the black haired reaper in a deep conversation with his male friend.

"We can't be together, I will eventually grow old and die," I mumbled sadly. Mizette shook her head.

"I think there is something different about you Ayira, but we need an ancient reaper to figure it out," she stated, tapping the side of her head in thought.

"It's time for Ayira to return to the other side of the veil," Lestat stated abruptly. I looked at him and Deagon in confusion wondering what the rush was. Lestat grabbed my arm and smiled at me.

"We have reaper work to take care of dear, that is all," he said softly as he walked me to the door. I looked back at Deagon and saw the frown on his face. He wouldn't look at me and my heart sank.

"Well it was wonderful meeting you all, oh don't worry I can find my way home easily," I mumbled sadly and exited his house. I closed the door firmly behind myself and headed down the alleyway. I glanced back a few times until the house disappeared completely from my eyes. I didn't even get to ask my questions, I think regrettably.

Chapter three