Page 5 of Twisted Solstice

“You’re an asshole.”

He chuckled. “I can neither confirm or deny your assessment.” He held out his hand to me. “Come on, I want to show you something real quick.”

I debated going with him. Even though none of the usual alarm bells were going off, it didn’t mean Kael didn’t have bad intentions. I peered over at my friends and gaped at their state. Felix had his pants open and Paul knelt in front of him. Anger burned bright within me. They were here to help me with my thesis not give each other blow jobs. Irritation settled between my shoulder blades.

I should have known better.

“Come on, let me show you something.” Kael took my hand and guided me away from the scene. “You shouldn’t have ever done this on your own, but you also shouldn’t have brought them.”

Boy, he didn’t say anything I wasn’t already thinking. “Yeah, I’m slowly figuring this out.”

Kael laced his fingers with mine. I don't know what I expected when he did so. My brain wavered between hot and cold. Hot because he appeared so normal. Cold because, in every sense of the word, he was dead. However, my expectation paled in comparison. He was neither. There was a soft buzz of current passed between us where we touched. A hum of electricity is the only way to explain it. Maybe the snap of a Tesla coil. It didn’t hurt. It tingled. It made me feel energized.

Exposed even.

“Where are you taking me?”

“To the site.” He pointed to the little ridge not more than fifty feet in front of us. “I have someone I want you to meet.”

Uh, what? I stopped. “I’m sorry, did you say there is a person waiting for us up there?”

Kael rolled his eyes. “You want the full experience, right?”

I did. But, at what cost? “I’m not saying I don’t...”

“You’re afraid,” he whispered, crowding me. “I won’t let anything hurt you tonight. I promise.”

Kael wrapped his arm around my shoulders and tugged me into his side. “You say it like you’re human and can protect me.”

He squeezed me, and I swore my whole body was on fire. Not in warning. It’d been different. I liked it. It wasn’t quite arousing or contentment, but a thrill of things to come. I had to remind myself he was dead. Just because he could make himself be seen and interact with everyone, didn’t mean anything.

“Because I can,” he said.

We started up the small footpath to the crest of the ridge. The dry brush cracked under our feet with each step we took. Below us, the city bustled with activity. Such a contrast to the quite here in the hills. “What do you want out of this life, Simone?”

His question startled me. “I-I don’t know.” I glanced up at him and frowned. The shadows surrounding us were growing longer as the sun went down. At most, we had forty-five minutes before we’d be thrown into complete darkness. “I want my degree. I want to be able to help people, I guess.”

"What if I told you, I could show you everything if you promise to give me the chance to do so?"

Corny much? “Yeah, see, that’s not a creepy statement at all.”

He laughed. "I'm serious. I think you're onto something here. I think you could make a living out of this. In fact, if you'll let me stay with you, like I am, not as just your guardian, I promise it."

We stopped just before the clearing overlooking Azusa. “What do you think I can do?”

“I promise you, when your footage is shown along with your paper, people will be knocking down your door to have you work for them. Shit happens up here, Simone. Together we can prove it.”

“You’re dead.”

“Thanks for pointing out the obvious sweetheart,” Kael chided. “Doesn’t mean I can’t help you. I mean, I’m already your guide.”

“You are, along with two others.” I turned to walk back down the path. This was stupid. Illogical. I couldn’t believe I fell for his line.

Yes, I could.

I could blame the fact I hadn’t gotten laid in months while I worked on this project. I could blame him for being so dang hot. I mean, Ididlet him turn me inside out and hope for something I can’t have.

He’s dead for fucks sakes.

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