How do you explain Witches to someone with little to no experience of supernatural entities?

Or why you're coming out of a terrifying bar completely unscathed?

Daniel is a frantic sight to see, pacing back and forth while mumbling to himself. Catching one sentence, I hear the quiet self scolding about not coming after me.

Everything ceases when he meets my eyes.

"Are you okay?" He bombards me.

I smirk a little, looking back over my shoulder before nodding. "Yeah, I'm okay."

"You were in shock and then you just wandered into a bar, I don't know why... God, why didn't I go with you?"

Without pausing, I walk past him, skirting by the busy shopping district and finding a way back to the apartment. Daniel continues rambling. He's truly unsettled, talking about finding ways he'll prevent these actions in the future and doting like a discouraged younger brother.

One who wanted to protect me and couldn't.

Instead, I'd just smacked down all of the beehives in our precious safe haven and told a bunch of witches about it.

My mouth is dry for all the right reasons, unlike Daniel.

"What if something had happened-"

I raise my hand to stop him.

"Dan, I know it might seem increasingly easy, but I'm not really killable. Detaining me might not be out of the question, perhaps even torturing me to the brink of insanity given my current mental state, but there is absolutely and irrevocably only one way to kill me. So should I be in enough trouble or danger, you would hear me and you would come to my aid."

He runs a hand through dark sandy hair and thinks. "You're right, I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize, the concern is refreshing and compassionate. I appreciate it. But having a panic attack over my life is a tad silly."

Daniel doesn't agree. I can see it on his face and in his stance, but the boy rejects that reality harder than any I've seen in our time together.

Eventually he shakes his head. "Iridian, you never completed the contract with Meika. It's been something I think about a lot because I know the toll its taking on the both of you. I know you love Lindon, but shouldn't you prioritize life?"

A frown pulls at my lips. Lindon is really the only person who's ever felt comfortable calling me out on my own behavior. With Daniel being correct, their were the obvious choices of raging or acknowledging my own decisions.

Yet, I can't help but stay silent and wait. A small part of me so curious to see if he'd say more.

"I don't know a lot, but I know Lindon wouldn't want you to suffer like this. I know you're giving the people who care about you a hard time, even with the intention of picking fights with your own siblings. There are serious concerns..."

We reach the outside of our residence and I stand below the stairs, speechless. Too many things bunch up on my tongue and the blue eyes pierce straight through me.

My lips part, but footsteps disturb the gravel behind us and I turn. Without thinking my jaw locks shut again and a fake smile plasters itself over my face when the bodies in the moonlight reveal themselves.

Ally and Calvin are waiting there, both with dumb, sweet looks on their face. Though seemingly more pale than normal, neither seem uncomfortable approaching us.

"Good evening, you two," Alice beams at us, closing the remaining gap. She peers up at the door to our small apartment and gives the property a quick once over. "You're looking well, I hope we're not intruding."

I lower my eyes, attempting to submit myself to the demeanor they know me to have even with the hardened stress looming over me. "So do you, thank you."

"Do you both have a moment?"

My spine tightens but I attempt to keep the pinpointed movement a secret.

"Of course, is everything okay?" I ask, a hint of worry leaking into my voice.

Calvin shakes his head, relaxed. "Absolutely, we just have an invitation of sorts for you, Iridian."

I blink. An invitation so soon after the little encounter.

Perhaps Karma didn't want me to have time to plan something or maybe this was just a city council event. Nothing is that easy, nothing.

There would be no meet and greet for the new neighbors who've traveled such a long way. The citizens of this city had grown to know our faces over the past week.

A shopkeeper adored me.

Often times handing me small offerings of fruit and explaining which stores were to be bought from. She was aging well, sweet as a button, but with rough edges and a hawk eyed stare for the uneducated.

Several bartenders would smile at my passing.

No, the simple people of this town were more than acquainted enough.

"I'm sorry, I don't think I understand... We haven't really met anyone."

Alice nods. "We know, but this is a very special honor. Our Lord has requested to meet you."

My mouth goes dry. I've almost forgotten Daniel's existence. The young Demi-god slips up to my side and catches my hand. "When exactly?"

"We've been instructed to escort Iridian there now, as a matter of fact."

"This late?" He snaps again, trying to pull back his protective voice.

Ally frowns a bit and looks up at the moon. "It is a bit late, I don't quite understand the urgency, but Our Lord said it was important he greet you."

The acid in my stomach rolls and pushes up through my esophagus. The nasty, bitter taste would've been sobering in many situations, but fear courses through every cell inside of me.

Karma is making his play early.

Earlier than expected.

I feel the heat of eyes watching me from our window. Cold, calculating eyes with a warm rush of safety.

Meika is just about to slit their throats and get us out of the city limits. I can almost hear her nails grinding into her palms and the funny click her teeth make when she's ready to attack.

I take a deep breath and meet our bright eyed hosts. "Do you mind if I run up and get changed real fast? I at least don't intend to meet him sweaty and disheveled."

Daniel tenses in my hand.

"Both you and Daniel are welcome," Calvin says with a softer smile. "Our Lord has made him an exception."

"You can have a few minutes to prepare," Alice agrees.

I nod at them and damn near yank Daniel up the steps after me, leashing him quick enough to make sure he doesn't panic and ruin everything.

He stumbles a bit, saying things to himself I don't have time to understand.

The door is barely closed for a moment before Meika is standing a hair's breadth away from my face. "What are you doing? Where do you think you're going?"

Remi - half asleep and undressed on the couch - peeks open an eye and tips her head to see what's going on. Loose curly hair droops down in front of her vision almost immediately and the poor girl has to sit up.

My jaw grinds and I don't answer, pushing past the angry witch and finding things in the bedroom to appear different.

With haste, I shove my body into a deep red turtleneck and pull on a pin striped trench coat, adjusting into a nicer outfit felt weird. Dressing up for my brother almost gives the wrong impression, not that anyone truly knows or understands the working dynamic.

"Iridian, need I remind you that you've never fulfilled the contract? You're walking into a Death Trap!"

I storm past her again, grabbing up a few minor weapons and sliding them up my sleeves and down a pant leg. They mold into my body to avoid causing discomfort.

"Daniel, are you staying or coming with me?"

Meika's gaze turns to burn into him, but something unexpected happens. She shakes her head and eyeballs Remi. "You don't want to take a human in there do you? That has to be a joke."

The boy freezes in his tracks.

So many thoughts streaming through his head.

To see a God was one thing.

Walking in to whatever mess Daniel left behind was another.

The invitation was open to both of us. Any chance he had at hiding who he is or the painstaking reaction growing with every passing moment slips far away.

Remi peers up with furrowed brows. "Why do they want Daniel there? Is it because he was with you when the two of you went to talk to Alice?"

"I'm not sure," I mutter.

Meika's face is still, teeth grinding in pent up frustration.

A ghost of a man looks back at me now. Fragile and pale, but something snaps in though blue eyes. "I'm going with you."

"Daniel, you can't protect her!" Remi exclaims, jumping to her feet and clutching her head in a rush. "Why the hell do you think that's a good idea?"

"Remi sit down, it's okay."

"I'm not losing you too!"

"You're not going to lose me, you're just going to have to trust me," Dan says, fingers flexing and clenching slightly.

I can feel the tension in his chest pulling. The shift is teasing and tugging at his Mana, though his control is phenomenal.

Fluffy curls drag over Remi's eyes and flushed cheeks, tears pooling up in her eyes. "You're not going."

Without another word he walks over to the door. "You don't have a say in that."

"Daniel!"

"Enough," sharp, bright blue lights flash over his shoulder. Mana slipping for just long enough to seal his fate.

This is the moment I see the life drain from her eyes.

"You..."

It's more of a strangled sound than anything, but with one finally choke she runs away and locks her in her room.

Whether or not he just burned the last bridge he cared for, none of us knew. But everyone in the room could feel this hell. He knows what he did. 

He knows the consequences, yet none of it seems to matter.

Daniel's heart locks up tight as he turns away and opens the door.

The most broken voice follows.

"Let's go."

Hello my Lovely Destroyers!

Happy birthday to me and for all of you, a present!

This Dedication goes to tasya_wayer, not for reading just this book but for being an overall amazing follower before I'd really taken off. I am forever grateful to them for the smiles. 

I'm sorry its been so long since I've updated. But considering I'm done moving now things should be easier other than ONC coming up. I'm very excited for it and I hope you are too. 2020 is going to be an awesome year and I'm so delighted to share it with each and every one of you.

How has your year been so far? Any wonderful plans?

Have a great day guys! Love you!