After he reached the top where I was perched, I scooted off the rail onto the platform to face him. I pulled my wings in with a touch of aura, then all that was left was the hum of a human soul. My hoodie was ripped to shreds on my back, so I unzipped it and folded it over my arm. I could feel the cool air of the night creep into the stairwell, it made me shiver.
I thought I was wrong on guessing his apartment door as he stood at apt 102, the other name with the first letter C. He knocked making me feel a small satisfaction I guessed right. The moment the door cracked open I could tell what Other lived there, it was a Pixie.
Peering around the Wolf I could see her blue icy eyes and pale skin littered with sun kissed freckles that were noticeable in the few inches it was open.
"Everything o-okay Cash?" The meek little voice had a child-like sound and the smell of flowers filled the air. Ah, meadow pixie. Eyeing me, she shrank back a bit and didn't try to reach her aura out so she was either scared or not interested in me.
"Yea, Robin, all's good." His response really wasn't of defeat but I could hear his pride feeling a little roughed up.
"There's a slice of cherry pie in there for Violet and Crist. I grabbed your coffee," he stopped and shot me a glance of disappointment, "but it unfortunately it didn't make it. I'm sorry about that, I can go back out and get you one if need be."
I suddenly heard the twinkling sound of a baby through the door.
"That's alright Cash, no worries, Violet is waiting for the pie you always bring. If everything is okay, we will talk to you later." She smiled, then looked at me for a moment before shutting the door. The sound of the lock clicking on the inside echoed around the stillness of the wolf and I now facing each other.
"You might as well come in, for the moment. Until I can get this situation corrected." Walking past me to his door, he looked over his shoulder at me.
"My place, my rules, got that?" Stating it as fact, I wasn't about to argue and nodded excitedly at the idea, if only because I can rest for a minute and get warm. Our little episode zapped my energy and it was way past dinner time. I needed food, and lots of it.
As he opened the door, the smell of tree bark and fabric softener entered my nose and I sneezed. I was a little sensitive to smells.
His apartment was quite cozy and there was a large and short blue sofa facing each other with an old wooden coffee table in the middle on top of a large tan oval rug. Matching wooden tables sat at an end of each sofa, holding a simple brass lamp. I could see 2 doors to my right, and a bookshelf sitting in the middle of them. The sitting room opened up to a simple kitchen. I noticed bare counter tops mostly other than a water picture sitting next a fridge and could smell meat faintly, but what did I expect at a wolfs dwelling? There was also a small round kitchen table, it had only 2 chairs so I guessed he didn't have company very often.
I bent over to untie my boots, heard my stomach grumble, but needed to get down to discussing how we are going to handle things until the hit is dealt with.
I stood up as he headed into what I could tell was a blue tiled bathroom. I went ahead and tiptoed to his fridge just to check out what goodies he was hiding. I opened it to see just raw meat, and lots of it. My stomach rolled. I liked a rare steak as much as the next guy, but I really didn't want to cook and now I just wanted something other than meat.
Moving on to the cupboards, he had nothing but a few ceramic plates and matching coffee mugs so I felt defeated. The problem could be solved with ordering take out, but we needed to be careful who came to the apartment now, at least until I can get him moved to a safer place. I could just walk next door before they closed I though quickly, so I turned around to go grab my phone from my hoodie laying over the sofa arm hoping it was still intact.
He was standing there watching me as he leaned against the bathroom door frame. I could really see the thickness of his arms since he removed his oversized hoodie and now was just sporting a semi tight navy colored tee. It looked great with his tanned skin.
"Seen enough?" He grinned at me because I was checking him out. I suddenly felt embarrassed and headed straight to my hoodie not looking at him any longer.
"I need to step next door to get something to eat before I pass out, do you want anything?" I asked grabbing my phone to inspect it, still avoiding his eyes. My phone got a cracked screen from the events earlier but was usable. I'd worry about replacing it later.
"There's food in the fridge." He snickered so must have heard my dramatic retching when I opened the fridge.
"Not normal food." I rolled my eyes and inspected my ripped back hoodie. The arms were still intact so I'd stay a bit warmer going out with it on.
"If you go out that door, I will not guarantee you can get back in." He said it so matter of fact that I hesitated. I didn't want to spend the night sleeping out on the cold concrete.
"I can order takeout then." I laid my hoodie back over the arm of the couch letting out a deep breath. I would just call Chittlers, the place next door. They don't deliver, but I knew a waiter there, kind of. He was a friend of Reggie's so I was sure he would help me out.
I was starting to get the hunger pains, and could feel a little mood shift coming on. If I didn't eat food soon, I'd end up passing out.
He shook his head, "Delivery is not wise, if this situation is so serious that they sent you here to annoy me. I will go next door and grab something that suits your palette. I need a beer anyway."
"How does that even make sense to you? I was sent here to protect you, not the other way around. I won't have you leaving this apartment until I can guarantee a better place, safer place. I will get you a beer when I get my chicken, wolf. You just sit tight." I grabbed my hoodie again and walked towards the door. He grabbed my arm tightly.
"Cash, the name you should be calling me is Cash. Not wolf. Not Hey You. Unless you want to get really personal, and call me Wolfy, then Cash or Mr. Cornell is how I should be addressed." His lips had a slight lift towards a smile and heat in those golden eyes.
"Okay, Cash, no problem, and unless you want to get really injured, you shouldn't touch me." I pulled a little aura and knocked his hand off my arm. He didn't react but only smiled.
"Deal." Responding in a flat tone, he turned towards the kitchen as I headed out the door.
I didn't trust him, but at least I knew we had a day or so before things could get deadly. Earlier, Michael contacted me as soon as word hit the air, and seeing that little blue wisp like string around the wolf's wrist, just confirmed it. He couldn't see it, but anyone associated with Heaven or Oblivion could and it wasn't always a good thing for either party.
I took the elevator back down into the foyer with the smell of fresh paint assaulting my nose. I wanted a beer too, but I had to stay alert. Bummer. Who knows when I would have a chance to sit and guzzle the foamy goodness again.
The air had a slight damp chill to it now and the lack of extra cover on my back didn't help matters. I took in a deep breath as I went down the handful of concreate steps when something made my nose twist. It was the smell of a shifter and crispy chicken, so I felt out with my aura a little and couldn't sense anything nearby. Because the smell remained, it hadn't been here too long ago. Shifters are scarier then most Others in the fact that unless you knew a person's eye color and dental make up, you wouldn't even be able to tell they were a shifter.. Going in and order food and a couple beers, I gave my thanks to them for staying open 10 mins longer then usual. I had just walked in when they were stacking chairs. Chittlers is a mom and pop chicken joint that had its regular late-night drinkers and munchers to keep it open. They aren't elaborate, and I'm not sure who the owners are. Either way, it was definitely one of my favorite places for fried chicken. Leaving, I noticed th
Cash's comment laid claim to my thoughts some more. It's my job, so why would he even attempt that pathetic dig at me. Not that I enjoyed dying, cause it hurt, very much. It didn't matter what way I died, I would just reanimate with a new soul, healed up with, a few changes to my appearance. I tried clearing my mind and getting rid of his words. I wasn't going to let some wolf shake me. It failed however after a few minutes when Cash finally came out of the bathroom. I could see water dripping from his wet hair and riding down his chest like a ski slope. I gathered enough with first glance to know his body was as dangerous as his words, but in a different way. Attempting casual and looking away from him, I pretended to admire the ceiling fan. Even though I was purposely avoiding his gaze, I could feel him staring at me. "I need to go out and get some supplies. There's a corner market a block down Main Street that should still be open at this hour. Do you need anything while I am o
His words cut me to the bone, pissed me off, so I snapped. I called on my aura and I was stronger then he must have realized because when I turned, I could see his eyes were wide with shock. He barely got a breath out before I was straddling him and holding his arms above his head. I could feel the intense heat seeping through the pajama bottoms where I wasn't protected by underwear. It felt so good I wanted to push harder. I didn't though and kept my resolve as I stared deep into his eyes. When he realized what was happening he started to struggle in my grip. "Keep struggling wolf, you're just making the ride more enjoyable." I could feel him growing between my legs and moisture started to appear. I shook my head trying to keep focused, getting my rocks off wasn't why I was here. "You want to play being the big bad wolf, that's fine, but I've had it to above 5 feet of your cockiness and little digs. How about I make you beg me to stop?" I grinded hard into him making him and he tri
I found his charger left in the bathroom. Something oddly normal for someone I noticed over the years. I plugged it in and stood looking at myself in the mirror while calling my best bud. I noticed I still don't look over the age of 26 though technically I would be about 46 by now. Hearing Reggie saying "What's up girl?", pulled me from my face inspection."Hey, any word on a safe spot?" She hadn't text me yet so I figured it was still a negative. "Nope. I left a message with Carlos, he's a 'placement agent' of sorts. Tricky little guy, but trustworthy. He will get back to me I am sure with in a day or 2. So what's up with you guarding a Were, since when did they become so special?" Reggie had been my backup on a few jobs, so her asking this was no surprise. I guarded mostly exotic, but the occasional average Other was a norm too. It was just odd, to even me, something so dangerous would need a body guard."Not sure, and not sure I am even really his body guard, it's more like a fanc
I text Michael really quick, before going next door to see the pixy family, asking him what Shifters he has had a run in with and if he knows any that have one green and one gold eye. This Shifter bugged me. I've only encountered one ran face to face before, and that was the time I first ever lost the Other I was protecting, an Other that I was in love with, a love that cost him his life. Hearing the sweet chimes of the baby Pixie through the door made me smile. It reminded me there's still innocence in this world. I knocked softly hoping not to startle her and the door creaked open at first and I came face to face with a flying little swarm of fury. I was so startled I backed up and almost fell into the elevator door. "Crist, stop it, its Cashes guest!! Show some restraint!" Hearing the sound of Robins voice, I realized this must be her husband that was attempting to assault me. I had to stifle a laugh. The little buzzing ball of spite was no bigger than my hand and armed with wha
Upon parting ways with Reggie, she said she'd try Carlos again and let me know. She also said Carlos is an Alux, or a descendant rather. He lost most his Fae abilities from his bloodline being watered down with the humane race. He is, however, good at finding safe houses and blending in the shadows. Walking down the main strip, I could see the old-fashioned street lights start to flicker. It was already 7 and the sun was kissing the tops of the sharp peaked mountains in the background. West City is beautiful through every season. Standing on the main strip you can see mountains to the left, soft rolling hills to the right and if you stand still, you can get a whiff of the massive open ocean behind you, though kind of far, the smell is always hitching a ride on the breeze in this direction. I continued walking for a few more minutes until I could see Cornell Plaza start to loom above the shops and eateries that lined main street. Looking silvery from the direction I was walking due t
"What. Are. You. Doing. Here. Ayda?" His firm words let me know the worry went right down the drain. I could now only see and feel anger coming from him."I am here because of you! Why did you go to work? You're aware there's a hit out for you, yet you don't seem to care!" I half yelled at him. I was more worried than angry.I watched him pinch the bridge of his nose and shake his head. I was starting to feel the heaviness of the helmet and decided to take it off before my neck started to protest too. Once it was off, I could feel like breathing came easier so I took a good look at him. He was dressed in a metal gray pair of slacks, button up collard dress shirt the shade of a fresh robin's egg. His tie was black with some light embossed design, while his shoes were what really caught my attention. I suddenly started to giggle. He was wearing house slippers. Looking at me lose myself, his anger increased however. "You find this funny? If I hadn't been looking at the security cameras
Reaching the building, I walked up the steps and reached the glass doors. Looking through, I noticed the hand written 'Out of Order' sign hanging on the elevator at end of the foyer. So going in I headed for the stairs with random ideas on how to get back at the big bad wolf for hurting my feelings. My mind being so focused on the stupidness of being petty, I didn't pay attention to what was about to happen.I opened the door to stairs, stepped in and froze, but it was too late. The pain introducing its self to the back of my head sent my sight and thoughts of pissing Cash off into darkness. I knew I didn't die because I could still feel the pain when I finally came to. There are very few moments in time I can be grateful for the lack of pain after a soul swap. This was one of them. I also felt pain in my jaw and wrists. I could tell my wrists were tied to something, and apparently was blindfolded as well, because I know my eyes were wide open. I calmed down for a second, being aliv