Page 24 of Legendary

“You really don’t have to do this, you know.” I fingered the clothes’, noticing underwear was tucked between two tops. I inwardly laughed as I placed them on the table in front of me.

“Any friend of Ellie’s is…” she trailed off, catching her misspoken words. Or maybe she heard my growl I let out.

Beetee leaned her body so she could see around me. I followed her eyes and caught the smoke coming from my dagger that was still impaled into the wall. I let my rage start to simmer, noticing the way the dark shadows startedto disperse and disappear altogether. When I caught our gracious host’s lilac eyes again, her lips were pressed tightly together.

I pointed at my dagger. “Sorry about that.”

She swung her hand back and forth in adon’t worry about itmotion. “It’s just a wall, Dani. Just please watch out for the paintings when you are aiming that thing, pretty please.” Her voice was slightly hesitant as if trying to ask me to do anything was like having a death wish.

I chuckled a genuine laugh. I heard a groan from the wall behind me and lifted up my hand, catching my dagger in midair. “As you wish.” I let the dagger turn into nothing but a translucent shadow.

She rocked back on her heels and ran her palms down the front of her dress. She was slightly less nervous in my presence, but anyone with eyes could see how she was constantly trying to choose her words carefully around me. I had no need to hurt her, nor did I have any desire to cause her distress. She just had the most interesting choice in friendships. If she got all of Elise’s honesty, then so be it.

That didn’t mean that it didn’t hurt the feelings I didn’t even know I had.

Her voice brought me back to the here and now. “I’ll let you get back to your rest. I need to make my way to Ellie’s room and your cute angelic companions.”

I nodded, shrugging out of my jacket and hanging it over the desk chair in front of me. My hair tickled my shoulders as it made contact with my skin.

Beetee put her hand over her mouth, stifling a small laugh. I cocked my head to the side, confused. She ran her index and middle along the shaved side of her head.

“Care to share what’s so funny?” I asked, dragging my tongue over my front teeth.

She gave me a small shrug, her pink hair swinging a bit. “I just didn’t see the infamous Soul Seether with an angel for a boyfriend.”

My insides practically shut down from her words. She’d known us for all of less than an hour and she already could sense that angel's complete obsession for me. And knowing Nicholas, he would say obsession was an exaggerated explanation, but anyone with fucking eyes could see. I wasn’t going to play stupid and pretend like I didn’t know he looked at me anytime I was around.

Did I thrive on this fact? Yes.

His cock was like a compass, and I was true north.

“He isn’t my boyfriend.”

She squinted and opened her mouth to speak, but then closed her mouth again. She was choosing her words carefully again. “Not your boyfriend?”

I shook my head. “He wishes.”

Beetee placed her thumb in her mouth, biting her nail. Her eyes looked off to the side as if she was contemplating. “And you don’t…,” she slowed her words, “wish for that?”

It was my turn to almost speak and then halt. I didn’t want to lie, but in reality, I didn’t actually knowhowto answer her question. I responded with the only answer I had.

“That’s a long story that I don’t want to get into right now.”

She nodded thoughtfully as if she understood what I was saying, but she didn’t press for answers. “I’m a good listener if you do want to explain it. I’ve been told it’s what makes me a good host.”

I really wanted to ask her more about this place. How she started all this. I got that she wanted a place for demons and Enchanters to be at peace and out from under Lilith’s thumb. No one could ever truly be out of the dark queen’s grasp, but Lilith didn’t really give much thought towards those that didn’t suit or benefit her. That very idea put me on edge, now this place didn’t have such a peaceful demeanor since I was standing here right now. I benefited Lilith. I suited her.

I didn’t want innocents to be caught in this crossfire that was coming.

“I’ll leave you to your thoughts. Don’t be a stranger downstairs, okay. There are a lot of people here that would love to tell you how much you inspire them.” Beetee gave me a small wave before she stepped out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Inspire? Inspiration and Soul Seether didn’t really go hand in hand, so that declaration shocked me to my core. People used to cower at the very thought of me and now it sounded like they couldn’t wait to get my autograph. There was a small part of me that couldn’t wait to meet all these supposed supporters of mine.

I hadn’t seen many, if any, people downstairs in that lounge area or even in the kitchen I had glanced at, but the day was just winding down here in Purgatory. People would likely hustle in to get ready to go out, or even probably come here to book rooms ahead of time for however the evening might end. Heaven’s Gate was a lively place when the sun was out, shining from above. The beaming sun came with judgements though. Purgatory was its polar opposite. The goodness of Purgatory was embodied in the temptation and the pleasure of the darkness. Most knew it was a life without expectations.

I had lived my entire existence with one expectation and that was to be the best at what I did, never forgetting who I was. Now I was something different than what I assumed.

People here expected me to save them, knowing full well they all but feared me months ago. I would do what I had to do here, but that didn’t make me a good person.

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