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When the two men left, I sensed Creed had moved beside me. Neither brother was certain how to talk with me, which I found fascinating. Styx had once told me because they hadn’t wanted to infect my goodness. I’d almost told them then who and what I was, but it was my private world, my secret to keep.
“You’re quieter than usual,” he finally said.
“End of the semester and still a lot to do.”
“Are you still planning on writing the book?” Styx asked as he flanked the other side.
“Yes, excited about it actually.” And I was. “I even hired an assistant to help with the grunt work.”
“Who is he?” Styx asked, his eyes lighting up. I’d wondered more than once how he’d been so easily able to return to saving lives instead of taking them.
After all, murder was in our blood.
“Not a he. A girl, a student of mine. Or I should say former student.”
Creed coughed, choking on his drink. “What? What exactly does that mean?”
He wiped his jacket where he’d spit out his champagne and I chuckled. “She’ll be working and living with me for three months. We’ll see what happens after that. That will allow me to continue working on the corporation’s accounting.”
“Well, well,” Styx mused. “The prodigal son finally has an interest in a member of the opposite sex.”
“It’s not like that.” No. It was even better.
“Right,” Creed huffed. “I’ll warn you that once they enter your house, you will never allow them to leave.”
“She’s fifteen years younger than me.” Which was true.
Styx leaned in. “And that matters why? It would be good to see you with someone.”
“As I said, it’s not like that.” We were all possessive men, so much so I continued to be surprised the two women they were married to had tolerated them and their sadistic needs.
“Take my word for it, brother. Once you’re hooked, you will never be willing to let her go.” Styx was shaking his head as if remembering how he’d been with his lovely bride.
I sensed, as had occurred so many times over the years, the two of them were glancing at each other. They’d only recently been able to be in the same room with each other without there being bloodshed. Now they acted as if they were best friends, another source of amusement.
“Not happening. She’s going to be nothing but an employee.” Having someone in my life wouldn’t just bring up bad memories, it was also a weakness I refused to allow into my life under any circumstances. Fucking her, forcing her surrender was something else altogether.
“You have me curious as to the subject matter of this book.” Styx’s statement was also a reason to find the situation funny. They hadn’t cared up to this point, barely asking any questions when I’d been frank about my plans for two years.
“Murder. What else? Hunting for blood in the dark of the night. Tormenting the victims endlessly because they were considered responsible, reputable people yet enjoyed preying on those beneath them.”
“Fascinating. You won’t have any female victims?”
Creed was doing his usual, making fun of me. I couldn’t care less although I turned toward him, cocking my head. “It could do you some good to read a book or two, brother, and no, women are to be revered. I thought you of all people would know that by now.”
A sore subject but my statement was true. The murder of our mother had certainly been a turning point, even though her death had been disguised as her leaving us. The lie had festered, something the three boys had believed yet found implausible. Somewhere in the back of our minds we’d known our father had killed her. It had taken Creed admitting it before her soul had been finally laid to rest.
“Yes, I do understand. What I find curious, brother, is that what you’ve described for your work sounds eerily like the deaths attributed to the Angel of Death.” Creed was grinning, as if he’d discovered my secret.
“Suspiciously so,” Styx added. “I can certainly believe that’s what you’d write given you were the lover of all vulnerable creatures growing up. You protected girls in your class from bullies. Do you remember the time I had to come to school in place of our father just to keep the asshole you beat to a bloody pulp from pressing charges?”
“I remember every incident with joy in my heart.” And I did.
“Styx and I were wondering whether you had anything to do with the young man’s death we heard about on television.” I wasn’t used to Creed beating around the bush. He was as direct as anyone I’d met in my life. Perhaps too much so for modern society.
“Who the hell are you talking about?”
“A guy killed in a pretty bad part of town, and if I remember, close to a bar you think no one recognizes you as frequenting,” Styx added.
