Page 10 of Body and Soul

But Shepherd didn't seem fazed. If anything, his smile widened a fraction. “Indeed it is.”

I stepped into thedimly lit cafe, breathing in the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Scanning the room, my eyes darted from one shadowy corner to the next, seeking platinum blond hair and tattooed skin.

Eli wasn’t the type to come early, apparently. Or perhaps he wouldn't show at all. I had extended this invitation with ulterior motives. But obtaining his trust, his cooperation, was paramount. If he didn’t show, I’d have to track him down by some other means.

The barista glanced up questioningly as I lingered near the entrance. I flashed her a disarming smile and made my way to a table in the back. Easier to observe. Harder to be overheard.

I settled into the hard wooden chair, drumming my fingers against the scratched tabletop. Unbidden, memories of my short time in the cult surfaced. Packed dirt under my feet. The wet penny scent of blood in the air. Stomach growling, so hungry, always hungry...

No. I clenched my fists, focusing on the bite of nails into flesh, anchoring myself to the present. I was no longer that frightened, powerless child. I would dismantle the Children of the Light piece by piece, using every tool at my disposal—even if that meant exploiting others.

The bell above the cafe door jingled. I glanced up, affecting a casual air even as my pulse quickened. Eli stepped inside, hunched into his oversized hoodie like a turtle retreating into its shell. His gaze darted about the room before settling on me. I raised a hand in greeting, an easy smile on my lips.

He approached, movements tight and wary. “Hi, Shepherd,” he said, a slight nervous edge to his voice as he slid into the seat across from me.

“Eli. It’s good to see you.” I kept my voice warm, soothing. The kind of tone that invited confidences. “Did you have any trouble finding the place?”

A shrug. “Not really.”

I signaled the barista for two coffees before turning my full attention back to Eli. Up close, the shadows under his eyes stood out in stark relief against his pale skin. Exhaustion clung to him like a shroud.

How long since he'd had a decent night's sleep? Since he'd felt a moment of true safety or peace? The protective instinct that rose up caught me off guard in its intensity. I tamped it down. This wasn't about coddling the kid. This was about gathering intel. Means to an end.

Eli fidgeted with the frayed cuff of his hoodie sleeve, his eyes flicking up to meet mine before darting away again.

“So, are you a native to Columbus?” I asked, keeping my tone light even as I studied Eli intently. “Or is home somewhere else?”

His shoulders stiffened slightly before he shrugged. “I’m not native to anywhere. I’ve been all over.”

“How did you wind up in Columbus?”

He shrugged again and popped a bright blue candy into his mouth, pursing his lips afterward. “Random chance, I guess. There are more jobs in the city.”

The barista approached with our coffees, and I thanked her politely. Eli's hands immediately wrapped around his mug as if desperate for the warmth. I took a slow sip of my own, considering my next words carefully. “So, what do you do for a living?”

Eli shifted in his seat, fingers tightening around the mug. “I work part time at McHappy's. And I'm an apprentice at a tattoo shop uptown.”

I nodded, unsurprised. My research into Eli's background had been thorough. “Tattooing sounds like interesting work.”

A hint of genuine enthusiasm lit Eli's eyes. “Yeah, I guess so. I mean, it’s not as cool as running your own club, but I like the idea of creating something meaningful and permanent. Tattoos can be powerful, you know?”

I leaned forward slightly, letting my knee brush against his under the table. Eli twitched but didn't pull away. “There's something compelling about marking the body. Claiming it as a canvas.”

Color rose in Eli's pale cheeks and he dropped his gaze. I suppressed a smile. He was so responsive, so eager to submit, even if he didn't yet realize it.

I let my hand drift across the table, fingertips grazing the back of his wrist. “The ones on your chest I saw last night…are those your designs?”

Eli swallowed hard, his pulse jumping beneath my fingers. “Some of them, yeah. The alien one and the toaster king.” His voice came out slightly hoarse. “I like weird stuff.”

I traced idle patterns on his wrist, savoring the way his breath quickened. “I'd like to see them again sometime. All of them.”

The pink in Eli's cheeks darkened to red. He pulled his hand back, wrapping it once more around his mug like a shield. “I... I don't...” He trailed off, clearly flustered.

I gentled my smile, reeling myself back in. Too much, too soon. Eli was a skittish creature; I needed to coax him out with care and patience.

“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” I took a measured sip of my coffee, forcing myself to adopt a casual demeanor, though my heart raced beneath the surface.

Eli's shoulders relaxed a fraction. “It's okay,” he mumbled. “I don't usually do this.” He made a vague, awkward gesture. “Dates, I mean. I’ve never actually been on one.”

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