Chapter 4

Ayira escorted by a reaper

We headed down the alley and I was walking strangely from the way Deagon was holding me. It looked fine to me but to anyone else wowzers. I heard my ring tone in the distance and hurried to the direction of Demons by Imagine Dragons. I looked at the screen and saw my brother calling. I answered to hear him screaming into my ear. I explained all that had happened with good ol Mark and told him I was near the antique bookstore downtown. He asked if I was safe.

"I'm with a good friend, his name is Deagon," I mumble softly and Deagon eyed me strangely. Javidan told me he was on his way and to stay with my friend until he arrived. I hung up and smiled at my sweet reaper. 

"You shouldn't have said that," he scolded me and I rolled my eyes. 

"I wasn't going to lie to my brother and besides, you did rescue me in a way, so thanks," I told him firmly and hugged him tightly. He squeezed me back and kissed my forehead. I laid my head on his chest and smiled. I liked him and judging by his heartbeat thumping frantically in his muscled chest, he liked me too. We stood together under the streetlights and barren sidewalk. I saw a homeless person wandering across the street but they gave Deagon and I a wide berth. Probably thought I was a crazy person. I saw headlights heading down the road and figured it was Javidan. I foolishly stepped closer to the road. Deagon pulled me back suddenly as the truck drove up on the curb and headed towards me. Deagon's arms wrapped around me tightly and he jumped up into the sky. I looked back at him and yelped.

"Are you crazy, there's a person across the street," I snapped and grasped him tighter. He smiled and kissed my cheek.

"You're going to be fine, Ayira, calm down." He landed on the top of the building and stood on the edge holding me to himself. "Was that the Mark fellow that was chasing you earlier, I think he's going to be getting a visit soon," he said softly. I watched Mark driving erratically down the road and shook my head. 

"He's obviously drunk," I mumbled softly. I looked below and could see Javidan's car turning the corner.

"My brother is right there," I mumble, pointing down at the car. I watched Deagon put on a pair of soft black thin leather gloves. I cocked my brow at him.

"So your brother can see me," he mumbled softly and told me to hold on as he jumped. He lifted me, so he could take the absorbing shock of landing on his feet. Javidan's headlights shone on the pair of us as his car turned towards us. I watched as he parked and exited quickly. He rushed out to my side.

"What the fuck happened sis," he ordered firmly. I watched his eyes glance at Deagon and the slight nod he gave him. I explained in great detail, minus the reapers, everything that happened with Mark. Javidan was shaking his head and was pissed.

"I will see that Mark fellow gets a speaking with, his last name is Swanson, correct?" Javidan eyes Deagon and nods his head.

"Yeah, that's the asshole's name," he confirmed and added, "you must be Deagon, thanks for helping my sister, I'm her brother Javidan." Javidan raised his hand for a shake and my eyes widened. Deagon clasped his hand and shook it. He tilted his head to me and whispered gloves. Apparently they allowed him to be touched and seen by humans, interesting. 

"Let's go sis, it's late," Javidan stated and pulled my arm. I smiled at my reaper.

"Hold on Ayira, give me your cell, I want to give you my number," he grinned slightly as I handed it to him. I watched him type in his number and he pulled his ringing cell from his back pocket. He smiled and handed me my cell back.

"Keep in touch," I told him and blew a kiss. Deagon grinned and waved to us both. I watched him as my brother drove off. My heart was fluttering in my chest. 

"So, are you truly alright, that dick didn't hurt you," he asked with concern. 

"No, I ran, he called me a cock tease, what a douche, I thought he was a decent guy," I mumbled angrily. 

"Well you and that Deagon guy looked awfully close and you both looked cute together," he said with a big grin. My cheeks turned pink and I looked out the window.

"Are you dating, is it serious, oh my, I didn't even know you had a boyfriend sis," he continued. I glared at him.

"I don't brother, we just recently met because of Margaret, so no long budding romance, sorry to burst your bubble," I mumbled rudely and exhaled in exhaustion. I yawned as he pulled into our driveway. I heard a ding from my phone and looked down at the text notification from my new contact Deagon. I opened the text and gasped. It was a picture of Mark's truck smashed into a concrete barrier with the words he's at the hospital. I showed my bro and he grabbed my cell and texted back asking which hospital. The phone dinged with the words St. Mary's, he will be there for a while, he's messed up pretty badly. Javidan sighed and texted back thanks for the info. 

"I like your guy friend," he tells me, handing my phone back. I rolled my eyes and heard the ding again. Looked at the message and smiled. Goodnight Ayira 🥰

Javidan glanced down and chuckled loudly. He pointed at me and yelled you got a boyfriend. I chuckled and replied with a gif of a cartoon reaper with a scythe with tiny hearts floating around it. My cheeks were pink over my brother's accusation. If only he knew Deagon was actually a reaper I'm certain he wouldn't be so cheerful. 

"I'm going to bed, thanks for the ride home bro," I told him as I ran upstairs to my room.

"Night sis and you're very welcome," he replied back.

Deagon's thoughts 

I looked down at the sleeping man who had hurt my possible mate and clenched my hands. He wasn't as badly injured as I'd first thought and would probably be released soon. I wanted to end his life for hurting Ayira but I held back knowing I'd be punished for taking his worthless life from Grim without permission.

My visit with Adaranth didn't give me a direct answer on whether Ayira was my actual mate. He said he wouldn't know for certain unless I brought her to him. No human has ever come to the ancient reaper. It concerned me a little that Ayira was already well aware of the reaper's ways and mere steps away from total immersion. I appeared back at my home and grinned remembering her telling me about my collection card she touched. I should have asked if she could read it, I think to myself. I checked my watch, only 4:30 a.m., thirty more minutes till it's time to collect old man Elders. I sat in my chair and rubbed my eyes. Reapers never slept since our collections can occur at any time, we must always be awake. Of course reapers made due with their down time by enjoying themselves. I grinned slightly thinking about Jacob and Rodgers, both male mated reapers. They were at a double collection at the tiki bar Ayira had been at. I asked them if they saw any scuffle between a couple and they said no. My mind wandered to when Ayira ran to my arms and kissed me. My fingers touch my lips as I grin. Her kisses were extraordinary. They had caused my heart to race and other long dead areas to stir. I refused to get my hopes up though. If what Lestat had said was true, Ayira and I would never be. I could not live as a human and I didn't want her to become a reaper. I exhaled deeply and headed toward my cognac to drown my thoughts. It wouldn't take them away completely but would muffle them to a tolerable level. A notification on my cell dings and I pull it out of my pocket. I smiled at the text, I slept like shit had bad dreams about stuff 😑

I thought about it for a moment and wrote back, sorry to hear that Ayira, want to come over for breakfast and we can visit the ancient reaper after? I hit send and was surprised by the instant reply. She said she could head over now. I told her I would be gone working and would leave my door open for her. I will be over in a bit 😘 I chuckled softly and grabbed my hat, it was four forty five and time to head for mister Elders and grocery store afterwards.