5.

Separately Together

The mirror reflected a handsome individual with midnight features. His eyes, partly hidden behind stray strands of dark hair, peered into the blue orbs of another. The inked fingers gushed out into the endless ocean, suppressing the waves with darkness until all that remained was a shiny, black pool. And like a mirror, it reflected all so that the darkness could see below the surface, inhaling all of the ocean's secrets. Then, the darkness left and the suffocating ocean resumed its current, unaware that what it protected had been stolen.

Mundus paused, absorbing what he had just discovered. He had suspected such an entity of power was hidden inside Reyna. It was an essence closely related to hers. It's what was keeping him from digging further into Reyna's core. He had secretly exploited enough of her that Reyna didn't even know about herself.

A wisp of guilt tinged him.

"You know, it's so much better talking to you this way," Reyna said. She was holding a small circular hand mirror in front of her as she sat on her bed's fluffy comforter.

Mundus lifted an eyebrow at her words, pushing his thoughts of Reyna away.

She saw his action and smiled. "It makes me feel less crazy."

"I doubt your sanity's composure existed," Mundus answered from the mirror with a smirk meant to irritate her. To his surprise, Reyna laughed. He found himself enjoying the vibrations of her voice as she chuckled.

"It's also nice to see your facial expressions as they play along with your words and emotions."

Mundus remained silent at her curious words before a small smile broke on his lips. She was quite easy to read. Though access to her thoughts were freely available to him, Mundus hardly ventured into deeper aspects of her mind. He was more in tune with her emotions anyhow, and at the moment, he was consumed with her bubbling enthusiasm to ask him something.

"Even so," the demon said, "you carry no desire to simply 'talk.' Quickly ask of your true intention."

Reyna blushed, something that Mundus found himself enjoying as well. "Wha-What do you mean?"

"Do not avoid such truths. I am capable of deciphering you quite well. It is obvious you wish to inquire something of me."

"Um...well...I...Well, you're a guy, right?"

Again Mundus lifted an inquiring eyebrow. If anything, she was equally frustrating as she was entertaining. "If by 'guy' you convey 'of male gender' my response is yes."

"Come on, don't make fun of me! It's hard enough to ask you this. Not to mention embarrassing." Reyna's blush had overtaken her face.

A small smile played on his lips. He was well aware of what question floated in her mind; however, he sought to hear it escape from her nervous lips. Mundus was surprised at how much fun he was having making this mortal squirm.

Unaware of Mundus' taunting grin, Reyna set the mirror on her bed, using the wall the mattress rested next to as a support. Mundus was able to see Reyna standing in the middle of her room.

"Um." Reyna awkwardly placed her arms by her side. "Do I look okay in this dress?"

Mundus' small smile evolved into an all-out fang bearing laugh, satisfaction warmly flooding him.

"Hey!" Reyna reddened once more. "I told you not to make fun of me! Mundus!"

The black, spaghetti strap dress clung to her body quite well. The thick, dark fabric draped delicately around her, the hem gently stoking her legs well above her knees. Her black high heeled shoes only added to the luscious effect her longs legs offered.

Her face held a natural flush that at the moment was darkening her blush to dangerous levels. Her painted pink lips were mashing each other in wait for Mundus' response while her smoky made eyes refused to face him.

"You appearance is one of marvel," he quickly spoke before Reyna's negative self-images consumed him.

She looked at Mundus with disbelief. "Really? You're not just saying that?"

"My words hold sincere truth. Your appearance is...distint."

"Distinct? What do you mean by that?"

"It is not of importance. Simply adhere my compliment."

Reyna sheepishly grinned but it faltered when she realized something. "Hey. You didn't peek did you?"

" 'Peek'?" Mundus knew exactly what she meant, but an opportunity to jab at her had risen and he was not going to pass it.

"When I got dressed! Or any other times I have dressed. I know you can see me in that weird third person when you close your eyes and stuff. So how do I know you didn't get a free show?" Reyna yelled with her hands balled up into fists. Her eyes reflected crashing waves so fierce they could be heard.

Another fang bearing grin wove on Mundus' lips. "Perhaps I have. Perhaps I have not."

She gasped, ready to fire an ammunition of curses at him.

Ding-Dong!

The doorbell's ring acted like a soothing melody. Reyna relaxed and completely let go her rage. She turned to her room's open doorway, then back to the mirror.

"You better behave!" she told the reflected Mundus before fiercely planting the mirror face down on her mattress.

"I do not take orders from mortals," he growled.

You do now! Reyna mentally yelled as she rushed downstairs to the main entrance. Along the way, she doubled checked the rooms' surroundings to make sure they were free of mirrors. Once in front of the door, she straightened her dress and prepared herself for the cold breeze that was going to brush against her upon opening the door.

"Hey, Dante," she greeted as he walked into the hallway.

Anger flared within Mundus upon sensing the essence of the mortal. His presence held a taint Mundus was not fond of.

Don't start anything, okay? Just let me be for tonight, Reyna pleaded, feeling his rising wrath.

He restrained from lashing out at her and controlled his fury. Reyna still held slips of fear and distress towards him, and the acceptable thing to do was at least provide her with space and privacy. Mundus chose to ignore the mortal boy as best as he could.

Meanwhile, Dante had walked in with another guest. He was a few inches shorter than Dante with dark eyes and short, dirty blond hair. From his coat pocket he produced a tiny gift bag he handed to Reyna.

"Thanks, Kris." She smiled and accepted it.

"You sure look, um, nice and sexy," Kris said with a teasing smile.

Dante glared at his friend.

"What?" Kris shrugged. "You know it's true."

"Yeah, but keep it to yourself, okay?" Dante placed a possessive arm around Reyna.

The doorbell rang again, saved them from the awkward atmosphere that had arisen. Reyna answered the door, accepted more gift, and her party began.

The guests had indeed brought their own beer and liquor, but luckily nothing got too out of hand. Reyna's enormous house provided enough room to hold them all even when Reyna deemed the upstairs floor inaccessible by barricading the staircase opening closed with several wrapped streamers. Two quick and fun-filled hours into the party, the sun was already being drawn into the horizon. A pale and silver silhouette was materializing in its place.

Mundus had kept his promise of silence and had played the role of the observer, but once twilight fell, and his job of suppressing the transformation started, grim realization volleyed through him.

"Reyna," he quickly spoke. "The moon-"

Wait, Mundus. Reyna interrupted him. I can't even hear you. The music is so loud.

She turned to Julie and the group of friends surrounding her. "I'll be right back, okay?"

They nodded and smiled.

Reyna made her way through the ocean of bodies in the living room and wedged under her stairway obstacle. The upstairs hallway made a T-on-it's-side shape. The break was on the right hand side that led to the guest room at the end with a towel closet in the middle of it and Reyna's room. Two small windows decorated the wall, one at the mouth of the hallway, the other close to the guest room door.

Reyna stood at the end of the hallway by the closed guest door. The music drowned out and Mundus' voice was heard.

"Dire importance-"

She grunted with a slap of pain that sizzled her chest. "What?"

Outside, all traces of the sun had left and Mundus silenced, aware he was unable to do anything anymore. He simply waited.

The heat claimed Reyna's entire body. She stooped down in pain, hugging herself. Fierce, puncturing pinches, like little needles, jabbed her sides where her ribs were. The needles turned into hooks and impaled her flesh. They pulled.

Reyna had remained quiet despite the pain. Her eyes were on the white framed window that displayed the night. When the moon, pregnant with light, fully graced the depressed sky, Reyna was lifted by the hooks until they finally ruptured her body apart.

Moonbeams sliced through the thin window curtain and landed on the shaken Reyna that was slumped against the wall. Another figure stood close by, hidden in the shadows.

"A full moon graces the night," he spoke. "A powerful lure I cannot defeat."

Eyes wide with understanding, Reyna looked up at the silhouette. The figure was tall and bulky with tightly weaved muscles. The clothes that clung to him were silver and black in color.

"Mundus?" Reyna choked out.

He grinned, exposing fangs that matched the moon's rays.

The glow of freedom brimmed from his every pore. He had been granted a temporary body to call his own. Though limited in power, it was a great improvement from what he had last night. His improved awareness heightened all his senses, and what he was currently seeing in daylight clarity was a confused and startled Reyna sitting on the floor before him.

His fondness of teasing her increased tenfold. Mundus stepped forward and into the window's dim light. Reyna's lips parted into an "o" of disbelief, a stray stand of hair clinging to them in the process. He crouched to one knee and with a clawed finger brushed it away. Tracing the outline of her jaw with the same finger, Mundus clutched her chin a bit too tightly and titled it so she could see better into his gaze.

She gasped. It had been only a flash, but she saw it. His dark eyes had flooded with crimson hatred, a hue so red blood paled in comparison to it.

"Mundus?" Reyna whispered.

Some other unidentifiable essence flashed in his eyes before he gently released her.

"Reyna! Hey are you up here? When are you coming back to your party, weirdo?" Julie's voice floated around the hallway corner.

"Julie!" Reyna panted as she stood up from the floor.

"Reyna? You there?" Her voice sounded closer.

No! Don't come this way! Reyna mentally panicked.

She opened the guest room and shoved the unsuspecting Mundus inside. Quickly closing the door, Reyna turned around and came up to her friend that was now walking down the hall.

"Yes, Julie?" Reyna smiled, causing her to stare at her with a peculiar look.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Nothing! I was just looking for something in my room."

"But this is the guest room."

"Yeah, because I remembered it was actually over here."

Julie crossed her pale arms over her chest. "You can't fool me, weirdo. I've know you since freshman year."

"Okay, but I'll tell you when I go back downstairs, okay?" Reyna waved her friend away. "I'll be there in a bit, okay?"

Julie stared at her friend with suspicion. "You always say 'okay' a billion times when you're nervous about something."

"I know! And that's why I'll tell you about it later," Reyna huffed.

She sighed. "Fine."

Reluctantly, Julie turned and walked away. Hastily, Reyna opened the door behind her and met for the first time in the flesh Mundus.

"Ah!" she panted, closing the door behind her. "Mundus! What the hell are you doing!"

He crossed his arms over his chest, enjoying the pleasant feeling of not carrying her nagging voice inside his head. "Do not speak as if such is my blame. The moon's power entices my own. I cannot refuse it."

Her eyes narrowed with distrust. "Whatever. You're going to have to explain that to me later, but for now, you have to stay here."

"Quite bold of a mortal to order me."

"Yes! Bold and brave!" she exploded. Even with her heels, she failed to reach his eye level, but that didn't stop her from jabbing him in the chest with her finger. "You don't scare me anymore! So stay here!"

"Reyna?" Julie's voice echoed outside hallway again.

"Ugh. What now?" Reyna gave one last glare at Mundus before opening the door and exiting. She slammed it on Mundus' face.

He emitted a small snarl and was about to open the door when something coursed through him. It was a sensation he had not sensed since his sealing. There was a mortal downstairs dripping with awakened powers. Powers similar to the humans he had fought from his battles of the past.

This mortal, a male, was surrounded by a following of lower level demons. A curious occurrence. No doubt they were well hidden for no party guests had left the premises screaming. They were passive, obviously observing someone or something in the house, but Mundus could fix that. His eyes turned toward the guest room's open closet, an idea gracing him.

On the other side of the door, a concerned Julie was chastising Reyna. "You seemed really freaked out. That's why I came back. You better not be hiding anything from me! Are you sure you're okay?"

Reyna quickly answered, "Yeah, and I told you I'd be downstairs in a bit, so why don't you stop freaking out?"

An unusually long pause escaped.

"Julie?"

Her vision was aimed at something behind Reyna.

"Who is that?" Julie whispered. Her face was flushed.

Reyna turned around, her dress gracefully sweeping her thighs.

The door to the guest room was open and a figure was standing under the doorway.

No!