"Can I get some more tea?" Martha calls from the living room.

The sound of her voice bounces around my skull like a jackhammer.

"Coming right up." I answer.

She's been here all afternoon helping us track down Kravimik. She's not just a whizz with fake ids, she's also a master sleuth. With just a first name and hair colour she's been able to track down more men than I care to admit to sleeping with. I wonder if that's a satyr skill or just Martha.

Depositing the fresh tea on the coffee table I quickly scamper off muttering vaguely about using the bathroom. I've already washed and folded all the laundry, put away the groceries she brought, and cleaned my kitchen top to bottom. I'm running out of excuses to avoid her. It's not that I don't want her here. In fact, I'm blessed to have such a wonderful, smart, useful person in my life who's willing to help her fugitive friend. But the taste of her magic is driving me insane. Every time I try to take just a little bit I feel my control slipping. I won't risk hurting her so instead I'm biding my time until she leaves and I can eat the last bits from my crystals. After that I'll have to figure out a longer term solution.

This is the longest I've gone without feeding in... well, forever, I think.

I splash some water on my face and stare at myself in the mirror. My eyes are bloodshot and my cheeks look hollow. Standing up straight I feel lightheaded and the edges of my vision go dark for a second before I regain my composure and push open the door.

Eko is sitting on the couch next to Martha, staring at her screen in awe. "I believe she has found him."

His head is turned towards me and Martha takes the opportunity to waggle her eyebrows suggestively at me while simultaneously pointing at him and mouthing the word 'hot'.

I give her a look that says, 'there's no way in hell.'

Is Eko still shirtless and gorgeous? Yes. Does being next to him do things to my body that I can't explain? Absolutely. Is he also the single most annoying and aggravating person I've ever met in my entire existence on this earth? One hundred percent.

I plop down next to Eko and peer across his lap at her screen. She has an article up about two kids that went missing earlier this week. The site of each abduction was covered in blood and the Guard believes the children are dead.

"And what does this have to do with Kravimik?"

"Ogres feed on the young," Eko says as casually as if he were talking about picking daisies or going for walks.

"You think he's eating children?" I gasp.

Martha's also upset by the thought and I have to shift in my seat to put some distance between us as her magic flares in response. I clench my fists and try to keep my breathing even.

Just a little longer.

"Three others have gone missing in this area recently," she says, unaware of what her proximity is doing to me. "I did a search and found two abandoned buildings where he could be hiding. Both are within a few blocks of each of the disappearances and both back onto unmonitored alleys with sewer access. That's how we think he's getting around unseen."

"If he's travelling by sewer why wouldn't he widen his net a bit? Why take kids so close to where he's staying?"

"Ogres are not very intelligent." Eko shrugs. "He is hungry so he finds food. He likely does not understand the consequences of his actions."

"And what are these articles about?"

I point to her screen where a dozen tabs are open with articles about everything from petty theft to murdered dogs.

"We think those might be Amaelia." Martha says with a wince.

We didn't tell Martha everything, leaving out some of the juicier bits like the immortality and seal, but we gave her the highlights so she knows at least some of the threat that Amaelia poses.

I stare at one of the articles. It has a picture of a pentagram ringed in candles set up in front of city hall. Around the pentagram is writing in some language that I don't recognize. It looks like it's all been done in blood. I shudder and my head seems to pound harder in response.

Martha writes the two addresses for the warehouses down on a piece of paper for us. Before I can take it, Eko reaches out and snatches it out of her hand, stuffing it into the pocket of his jeans.

"Give me that," I demand. "You don't even know how to get there."

"Then give me a map," he says, scooting out of the way as I reach for his pocket. "It is my magic, I will lead the expedition."

"Expedition?" I sputter, "What is this, the fourteen hundreds? Are you Columbus?"

"I do not know who that is."

"Exactly! You don't know anything." I turn to Martha, "Just email it to me."

She shrugs and, with a few taps of her keyboard, the addresses arrive in my inbox.

Hunger is making me more childish than usual and I wave my phone in his face in triumph.

"Now I have it too," I taunt.

His face goes blank.

Martha laughs, closing her laptop and leaning in closer to Eko. "Based on what Eko's told me about the habits of Ogres and what I've been reading online, your best bet is to sneak up on him during the day when he's asleep. Since it's already getting dark now you'll have to wait until tomorrow morning. So how about we grab some takeout, watch a movie, and plan our next move? I've got a few sickening horror movies downloaded on this thing."

Panic squeezes my chest at the thought of watching a horror movie with Martha right now. The explosion of magic that fear causes is more than I can manage and I'm afraid I might drain her dry on the spot. It's already hard enough just sitting near her when she's at baseline. In fact, I'm already at the end of my rope and I need her out.

Just a little longer.

Luckily, Eko is a huge buzzkill and, in true Eko fashion, shuts her down. "I am afraid it would be best for you to depart, my lady. You have already aided us more than we could have hoped. Lexi and I will continue alone from here."

Hearing him call her 'my lady' makes me scowl. He hasn't called me lady in days and, for some reason, that annoys me more than anything. Like I said, childish.

"Please?" Martha asks, looking at him with her best puppy dog eyes, "I can come with you to find Kravimik. He's a really dangerous dude and I'm the only one here with any magic. I can help."

I doubt Martha's magic would be any real help. Satyr magic is music based and, at most, she might be able to put Kravimik to sleep with a lullaby. 'Might' being the operative word.

Eko shakes his head, "Not today, my lady. Lexi and I will manage it alone. But I would be delighted if you would return soon. You were a light on an otherwise dark day."

Just a little longer.

A blush creeps up from the base of her neck and doesn't stop until her whole face is red.

Just a little longer.

Disappointed but grinning like an idiot she packs up her things and kisses me on the cheek before heading out. When the door closes behind her and the wards are secure I hurry to my office. I move as quickly as I can with my heading spinning and deftly punch in the code to my safe. I pull the charms out one by one, looking for one with even a drop of magic left. They can't all be empty. I thought I had at least a few left.

Just a little longer.

Just a little longer.

Just a little longer.

Desperate, I dig through the drawers of my desk. I just need a little, just a small taste to take the edge off. I throw papers and supplies to the floor in my search.

"Lexi?"

I spin at the sound of his voice and the motion makes me dizzy. I sway on my feet, feeling like the world is closing in around me. Strong arms catch me as I fall.

"Just a little light headed," I mutter, "Nothing to worry about."

"You need to feed, succubus."

That word sharpens me and my eyes focus on him.

"Don't call me that," I hiss. "I'm not a fucking sex demon."

"Succubi are not- It matters not. Whatever you call yourself, you must feed."

I drag myself from his arms and crawl to the wall. In one last desperate attempt I touch the spot next to an outlet. The trickle of magic I find there is almost non-existent. It's like being in the desert and trying to suck the water out of a single leaf to quench your thirst. I pound my fist against the wall in frustration.

There's one crystal I know for certain has magic left but I would rather die than touch it. The tiny blood red spinel hangs around Snot's neck and without it... well, I have too few friends as it is.

"Feed from me, Lexi." Eko urges. "You can feed from me."

"I can't," I cry, tears streaming down my cheeks, "I've tried."

My words sound far away, like I'm hearing them through a tunnel. The world comes in and out of focus, fuzzy and dark.

"Lexi," His voice calls me from far away.

"Eko," His name is a whisper on my lips. "Eko."

Then, he kisses me.