Mephitic (Anathema #2) - Yolanda Olson Page 0,1

and I want answers.

“Why wouldn’t you tell me?” I ask him in a softer tone. Not that soft or gentle are things that Lakyn understands, but anything is worth a shot right now.

“Because that’s a boring subject,” he replies with a shrug.

I shake my head as I throw myself back against the couch cushions and blow out a breath. He’s not going to tell me a goddamn thing about where Beatrix is and I’m going to have to grovel to go with them, but I’ll be good and goddammned if he thinks I’m staying behind now.

“Um, excuse me?”

I angle my head so that I can see the little blonde who’s been watching our exchange curiously. All eyes in the room are on her now and she looks as nervous as Lakyn looks bored.

“Something to say?” he asks her, feigning curiosity.

“I was just wondering,” she begins slowly as she pushes her hair behind her ears. “Does he live here too?

She nods in my direction and I can see Lakyn stiffen slightly.

Ah, the one chord he hates having struck has been plucked in a room full of strangers and I know this isn’t going to end well.

“Not that it’s any of your fucking business, but yeah. Why?" he snarls at her, his eyes narrowing.

In my head, I can already hear the music playing. Lakyn likes to crank his favorite tunes while he tortures, kills, fucks, whatever he’s in the mood to do to get him off, and her asking a question so innocent has flipped his switch on.

“We’re roommates,” I offer, hoping to save her from the hell she’s just swan-dived into.

She arches an eyebrow curiously at me before she turns her attention slowly toward Aftyn, who stiffens next to me. I smile despite myself. Just like his father.

“Weird. The way you two just went back and forth, I was so sure that maybe you were his stepdaddy,” she says with a smirk and a nod at Aftyn.

My eyes immediately cut to Lakyn who’s grinding his teeth. I can see the movement through his jaw, and I know there’s no saving anyone in this room now.

It just depends on whose blood he wants to have rush over his hands.

Two

The Second Coming

Lakyn

I've never been one to give a shit about what other people do in their homes, or wherever the hell they do it, which includes the gay ones. This world is a mess most days, and whatever it takes to snag a piece of happiness for yourself—I say go for it. Personally, I've always been a fan of blasting the best songs of the eighties, seeing how creative I can be while I make a chick scream, and whether I give her the privilege of feeling my dick before she dies, or if I use Ichabod after the fun is over, it doesn't really matter.

It's my little slice of sunshine and happiness, and I got Ichabod fair and square. But the little blonde bitch on the couch thinks she's got me all figured out, like she has a fucking clue why Ichabod is in this house.

Not that I plan on explaining myself to her.

I hold onto the smile and stare at her until she starts to squirm, the smirk on her face wobbling for a second before it collapses completely. Then she clears her throat and looks over at the kid. "Aftyn, you've had your little family reunion. We should go."

"Be quiet," Aftyn hisses at her, and I chuckle and shift my gaze to Ichabod—who's still testing out his recently descended balls. He's pissed at me, but it's just because he's always had a hard-on for Trixie. I don't know why he won't just let the little satanic psycho go. She handed him over to me so she could be Satan's number one bitch, and it's not like I've changed my fucking address. If she really wanted to be Ichabod's savior or whatever, she's had plenty of time to show up.

Not that I would have let her take him, but I probably could have convinced her to bend over for me before I kicked her the fuck out.

Ichabod sighs and looks to the side, watching the blonde and the boy whispering at each other. It's annoying, and since I'm obviously not getting a strip tease out of the kid, then it's time to move to my back-up entertainment for the evening. Grabbing my cigarettes, I take another one out and light it, blowing a cloud of smoke toward the ceiling before I