Page 9 of Castian

The idea of revenge entailed knowing where your prey was.

CASTIAN

Castian had little to no fucking idea where Asher was. He’d been hanging around on Wickham Row, a block that was a known hangout for warlocks; for what felt like days, it had only been two; but the idea of pretending to care about the flavor of someone’s drink was starting to get to him. He was mentally struck, working at a café off his list of dream jobs.

He’d hoped when he’d given the information to Raijin, the fearsome ogre of their group. He’d be slogging through blood, trying to get to Asher. Instead, Raijin who’d managed to mate with a Witch; had turned somewhat soft.

And had sent Castian to do a stake out, like some human cop or those annoying bird brains.

Releasing a frustrated groan, he controlled the mop from where he sat on a stool. Keeping his eyes on the passing traffic, most Beings came to this side of town for its quaint shops and magical goods. A few adolescent warlocks hung out carrying their flyer boards to the skate park located a few blocks away. Some of them eyed well dressed women who walked in the direction of the fancy fashion boutiques on the other side of the street.

He turned his eyes away, as one woman lost her wallet without her knowing. It wasn’t his job to control the adolescents on Wickham row. Hell, if it hadn’t been for his family he could’ve been one of those kids. His thoughts turned to the past, and felt his mood turn blacker.

“Yes, do become more bitter and angry, my delicious soul.”

Castian didn’t react to the disembodied voice, he gave a slight jump off the stool. A long claw tapped his shoulder,

“Is this any way to treat your savior?”

Castian scoffed, “A savior? You’re no savior of mine. We’re just two unlucky bastards stuck together for eternity. Two Beings too stupid to know when to quit.”

“Hmm,”the growly voice rumbled, as two large arms wrapped around his shoulders,“Awe, don’t be so mean.”Fingers reached up and played with his curls.“I only want to help you.”

Castian was preparing to throw the annoying demon off him when he caught the eye of the girl standing behind the counter. His fellow co-worker sent him a weird look before she quickly rushed to the back.

“Ah, shit.” He snapped his fingers and the mop he’d been moving around with his magic disintegrated. “Seems like I’ve been talking aloud to myself again.”

His clothes changed from the café uniform to his usual garb of layered shirts and long leather trench coat. His necklaces clicked as the shadow at his feet moved, like a sea before something began to rise from it.

“I just can’t get used to this soft handed way of doing things,” he said aloud as a large metallic creature took its place by his side. He brushed his fingers along the brim of his hat, his grin turning nefarious. “Let’s do this the easy way, shall we.” The creature sped past him into the back room, where screams and yells of shock rang out.

Whistling, he walked to the door and flipped the sign over to ‘closed’, and flicked the switch so the lights were off. Turning he made his way leisurely to the back room. Pushing the back door open he spotted the blood on the counter. Turning his gaze, he was met with the gruesome sight of human bodies that were hung up and being drained of their blood.

“Really, now. Is this what a coffee shop should be doing.” He turned away from the bodies and headed to the back. The few workers who’d attempted to fight had been torn to shreds, pieces of them crunching under his heavy boots. He whistled a ditty, his easy gait taking him past the shelves of cleaned utensils and sterilized counters, reaching the back where there were tall Fridges he spotted his golem wagging its spiked tail before a cabinet that was large enough to hold a human.

“Come away from there, love.” His golem quickly removed itself, shrinking to a smaller size as it landed on his shoulder. “Now, let’s see who we have here.”

Approaching the cabinet, he grabbed the handle and pulled. The sharp smell of piss hit his nose, then the sound of whimpering followed as he stared at the succubus, whose tail was curled around her waist. She had splatters of her co-workers’ blood on her face.

“Now, now, you don’t have to be so afraid," he said, squatting down to meet her gaze. She trembled, her eyes shaking as she stared at him. “I was planning on assisting your establishment a bit longer, but” he shrugged, reaching out and pulling a bit of flesh from her hair. Ignoring her flinch from his touch, he flicked it onto the floor still maintaining his smile.

“You saw me.” Castian could feel Ashiya’s influence spreading to his soul. “So, here is what you’ll do to not die. You’ll tell me who was the last man who made a large order from the Broker, and paid for an “Ease pass.”

She didn’t answer, as she continued to shake.

He sighed. “If you don’t answer that means you’re an accomplice and I really don’t like killing women," he said standing.

She didn’t move, just whimpered again in fear. Irritated Castian reached in and grabbed her by her hair and yanked her up. Forcing her to meet his gaze, his brown eyes were swallowed by his black irises.

“I can smell the human on your breath,” he hissed. “And it smells young. Don’t. Push. Me.” He warned, his nails digging into her scalp. “I hate your kind the most. Flesh eaters with no remorse, you’re nothing more than a cockroach bottom feeder who feeds on innocent lives.”

He lifted his other hand. The blade sheathed at his waist, flew out and landed in his free hand. “Maybe it’s better to rid the world of you right here and now. After all there isn’t anyone who’d miss you.” He drew the blade back. “Yep, I think that’s the best choice. Goodbye.”

A hand grabbed his arm, he stilled, knowing who it was immediately. His terrifying expression changed, as an easy smile came to his lips. “Alek, what brings you here?”

“You can’t kill her, she’s a witness.” Alek said with no emotion, holding Castian’s arm still despite the other man pulling on it. His silver eyes stared down into Castian’s that were empty of any human emotion. “Raijin, wants to question her.”

“Hmm, can’t we just have his mate get one of her friends to bring back her soul?”

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