AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My question confirmed whatever idea he had in his head. I could see it in the nod and drop of his perfect cleft chin.
Two girls flitted by, engrossed in a conversation. One nudged the other when they caught sight of him, ogling shamelessly. They giggled. Couldn’t blame them, but it pissed me off for some reason. He gave them no actual notice, turning back to me.
“I think we should go somewhere private to talk.”
Said the creepy man to the little girl with a lollipop and a white van waiting around the corner.
“Um, I don’t think so.” I crossed my arms. “I don’t know you. And no matter what you did for me last night, at this point, I don’t trust you.”
He shifted weight to his other leg. “As you wish. We’ll talk here.”
“Not that I’m ungrateful, but why were you following me last night? Into the alley?”
“I wasn’t following you. I was following the demon.”
Wishing that he hadn’t just confirmed that last night wasn’t a figment of my imagination, I sighed.
“Fair enough. How did you know it was my birthday?”
“Last night, I wondered but thought it impossible. I had not thought to meet another like you in all my time as a…” He paused, glancing around and lowering his voice. “As aDominus Daemonum.”
I shook my head. “Okay, hold up. Met onewhatbefore? And what the hell is a dominus da-whatever-you-said?”
Dark, enchanting eyes kept me still, even with my saucy attitude. A face chiseled in stone regarded me with care.
I would never admit it, but I was afraid to move. Something in those almost-black depths warned me that what he spoke of now would change my life forever. What’s more, I knew those words. They were Latin. But the translation in my head didn’t make sense.
“Thewhatis a Vessel,” he finally said. “And a Dominus Daemonum is a Master of Demons.”
“Do you mean like a…a demon hunter?”
He nodded. No smile.
“That is what I am,” he said.
“And what’s a Vessel?”
“That is what you are.”
“Okay,” I said, drawing the word out in that you’re-either-insane-or-stupid tone of voice. “Tell me what it is precisely that youthinkI am. What is thisVessel?”
He stepped closer. His presence suddenly became enormous and heavy. My heart picked up in pace. Those dark eyes stared down, bewitching me again. His words were more terrifying than any demon at that very moment.
“A Vessel,” he said, his voice brushing against me like velvet, “is a unique being that demons may seek for centuries but never find.”
I scoffed, forcing a laugh from my completely constricted throat. “This is crazy. Absolutely insane. I can hardly register what you’re saying to me because it’s just so…so fucking insane!”
I threw my hands in the air, exasperated. A guy walking by sped up, probably thinking he witnessed a lover’s quarrel. I wish.
He stepped closer and peered down at me with something like sympathy in his eyes. I swallowed hard.
“Whether you can register what I’m saying or not is irrelevant. Whether you believe me or not is irrelevant. Truth is truth.”
“Verum est verum,” I whispered automatically.
His eyes narrowed. “You speak Latin?”
“Some.”
