ℤ𝕒𝕟𝕖

Well, today was a bloody waste of time.

Of course my informant was a no-show. Either he got spooked over the idea of Asmodeus finding out he was talking to me, or worse—Asmodeus already found out and made an example of him.

It's more likely that the bloke panicked and skipped town. It isn't Asmodeus's style to just make someone disappear. He loves to make a big show of his kills.

I swear, going after Asmodeus is just one dead end after the other.

Signs and lampposts flicker by as I drive back home. My Challenger is the only car on the road and the windows are fogging in the frigid night air.

In my rear-view mirror, I see a cloud of vapor rising from the back of my car.

Bollocks, is it really that cold?

The engine starts to make a strange whirring sound and I can feel it running roughly. It churrs and sputters as I pull over to the side of the road. A sign ahead says it's 40 more miles back to Port Charlotte.

Fuck me. Today is really not my day.

I fall back into my seat and let out a heavy sigh. The heater starts to wheeze before slowing to a stop.

Perfect.

I ponder a moment before giving Ava a ring.

"Hey!" she answers.

"Hey, love," I say with a sigh.

"What's wrong?" she asks, immediately sensing the defeat in my voice.

"Oh, it's fine. My lead didn't pan out and I'm having car troubles a ways outside the city. I think I'm going to have to call for a tow, so I'll be later than expected. Are you fine to stay at Pike's for a while? Are you safe?"

"Sure," she says. "There are lots of people here and it's totally safe. Just take care of yourself, it's freezing out."

"I'm fine, baby. You think a little cold would affect me?"

"Okay, Mister Macho. I love you!"

"I love you too," I say. "Talk soon."

I end the call and look at the many engine warning lights currently flashing on my dashboard and shiver.

Fuck. It's bloody freezing.

𝔸𝕧𝕒

A few drinks in and the pain in my muscles has eased substantially. Sure, I'm going to regret this tomorrow, but when you're friends with the bartender, why not enjoy the perks?

"You guys are getting along a lot better," I say to Kami, my speech only slightly affected by the alcohol.

"Who?" Kami asks.

"You and Kieran," I say, pointing to him as he pours drinks for two women down the bar.

"Yeah, well..." she says, taking a heavy swig of her drink. "I guess I feel a little bad for judging him all these years. I was so ready to jump on him the moment something seemed up, but he came through for Zane. He always does. Zane deserves that."

"Yeah." I nod and watch as Kieran flirts with the girls he's serving.

The door jingles as it swings open, letting in a burst of cold air. We both turn to see a heavily bundled Zane making his way over to us.

"Well, look who it is!" Kami says. "How's the car?"

Zane sighs and scoops me into a hug from behind.

"Missed you, baby," he says, before turning to Kami. "The car should be fine. I had it towed to the shop and I'll have someone check it out in the morning. It was running pretty rough, I think the cold took its toll."

"You didn't take very long, cute face," I say, giving him a quick kiss.

"Yeah well, after the tow truck came, I decided to say fuck it and called a rental car," he says with a shiver. "How many drinks have you had, love?"

I hold up three fingers.

Wait, was it three or four?

"I'm shocked," Kami says with a laugh. "I feel like you never let that car out of your sight."

"Yeah well, I figured I'd rather be with my baby," he replies, giving me a kiss on the cheek and squeezing me into another hug.

"By your baby, do you mean Ava or the Challenger?" Kieran asks, reappearing from behind the bar.

"You'll never get your hands on either, mate," Zane says with an eye roll.

"Hey, why so salty Z-Man? We can't share?" he asks jokingly as he pours Zane a beer.

"I wi-" Zane starts to say.

"I know, I know," Kieran says, cutting him off. "You'll kill me. Something about tying my intestines into balloon animals or roasting me on a barbecue, yada yada. Gotcha."

Zane ignores Kieran's comment and takes a drink of his beer.

"Thanks for looking out for Ava today," he says to Kami.

Translation: thanks for babysitting the poor pathetic human.

"Yeah, thanks for indulging Mister Paranoid over here," I say, sticking out my tongue at Zane.

"On that note, I'm fucking knackered," he says with a sigh. "Ready to head home, love?"

I nod and gather up my things. We say our goodbyes and head on home.

*****

Zane scoops me up and carries me out of the elevator.

"You're like, really really pretty—you know that, right?" I say with a giggle. "You've got... like... a really good face."

"Thanks love," he says with a smile as we approach the door. "Ahh bollocks."

"What?" I ask.

"The bloody tow place has my keys. Do you have yours?" he asks.

"Yep," I say. "They're in my purse. Where's my purse? Did I leave it at Pike's?"

"Love, you asked me to carry your purse, remember?"

He laughs as he sets me down, my legs slightly wobbly. My usual dizziness is only enhanced by the effects of the alcohol and I stagger a bit as I rummage for my keys.

"Aha!" I say, pulling out my jumble of keys and unlocking the door.

Zane picks me back up and brings me inside.

"I can walk on my own," I say with a giggle.

"You're pissed, love," he says.

"No, I'm in a super good mood." I pause for a moment. "Oh you mean drunk, yes I am that."

I giggle as he drops me onto the couch and kisses my forehead.

"Yes, you are quite that," he says, smiling.

He sheds a couple of layers of jackets and picks me up onto his lap. He pretends to be so tough, but with his extra coats, shivering, and chilly hands, I know better. I pull a blanket over the both of us and cuddle up to him.

"You're amazing," he says with a sigh. "You know that love?"

"Yep," I reply. He wraps his arms tighter around me and laughs.

"Could we take a picture?" he asks.

"Of what?"

"You and me."

"Why?"

"I don't know, I just don't have many and I missed you today," he says, giving me big pleading puppy-dog eyes.

"Alright," I say.

He scoots me up further onto his lap and pulls out his phone. Before I can properly pose, he pulls me in for a kiss. His lips are still cold but they move with desperation, his tongue dipping in and out between my lips.

I look over to his phone. It doesn't look like the picture has been taken and there's a little red circle on the screen.

"You're not taking a picture, you're filming!" I say, slapping his chest. "You butthead!"

"What?" he says with a smirk. "Oh, oops! Did I push the wrong button?"

"If I look like a dork on that, you're required as my soulmate to delete it, you know that, right?"

"Aww, but what if I want to show all my friends what a fox my soulmate is?" he asks, his lips pinched into a pout.

"Oooh you're smooooth," I say, sticking out my tongue.

"But isn't that why you love me?" he asks.

"No, I love you because of the whole free immortality schtick," I tease.

Zane narrows his eyes then suddenly his hands begin to tickle my sides.

"Is that so, my love?" he asks. I laugh as I attempt to wriggle loose from his grasp.

I break free and jump up from the couch.

"Come at me, wing boy!"

ℤ𝕒𝕟𝕖

This whole day was such a bloody disaster.

I wish I had just spent the entire day with Ava. Instead, I spent most of it frustrated, cold, and alone.

I open the door and am instantly hit with the heated indoor air.

Thank fuck.

I look around but don't immediately see Kami or Ava.

"Hey," Kieran calls. "What are you doing here?"

"What the bloody hell are you on about, mate?" I ask. "I'm really not in the mood for your cheekiness. I'm here to pick up my girl."

Kieran narrows his eyes before they widen suddenly.

"Did you forget something?" Kami's voice says from behind me. She seems to have been making out with a buff bald guy in the booth behind her. "Where's Ava?"

"The bloody hell do you mean, 'Where's Ava?' Are you taking the piss?" I ask. "You're supposed to be watching her."

Is this their idea of some kind of twisted prank?

I turn to look back and forth between them, their expressions both frantic.

"I... it... oh my god," Kami stutters. "That wasn't you."