Alex looked at me with big blue eyes. “Who is?” he asked. But he knew it was true too.

“Everyone.” I said. “Abby and Will tried to hide their relationship from me at first. Like I might get in the middle of something bigger. And then when I confessed I knew they were together, they only grudgingly told me the truth. And now I’m seeing a lot of things on the streets that I don’t really have an explanation for. Abby has a strange family connection with people she doesn’t know. Everyone’s always talking like they are part of something bigger that I know nothing about. I’m not stupid, I can put things together. And just now, you said family but that isn’t what you wanted to say.”

“Are you reading minds now?” He joked. His voice said it was a joke, but his expression was not funny. He was trying to hide things again.

“No,” I said, “But I think you can read my mind.” I smiled at him, “Just now the waitress moved to come over here and take our order, but then she just turned around while we were talking and took her notebook and slip and stuck it in the window with what I’m presuming are our orders.”

“You saw that?” Alex looked over at the waitress bewildered, that was the only word I had for his expression. 

“I can see a lot of things people don’t think I can.” I said.

“I…”

“You’re a telepath.” I said flatly. “What are Abby and Will?”

Alex shook his head, “They aren’t anything you need to worry about.”

“But they are something.” I growled. “I should get up and leave. I hate liars.”

Alex sighed, “No one is lying.”

“But not telling me is just like lying.” I said softly.

“You can go.” Alex said, “I’m not going to say more about it. You really don’t need to ge involved.”

I nodded, “So you never intended to give me any contact information for Abby and Will’s families who are fighting. I’m getting the whole star crossed lovers vibe and I’d really like to keep my friends because they are the only ones I have from the same fate as Romeo and Juliet.”

I didn’t give Alex time to answer my question. I stood up, pulled my wallet out and dropped fifty dollars in cash on the table. “See you round.” I said then walked away. My entire body was coiled into a tight knot. I started walking out of Little Italy. It was a two plus hour walk home – maybe that would be enough to cool down.

But I didn’t get far before Alex was grabbing my elbow. I knew it was him, I could smell his cologne – a soft citrus scent that made me close my eyes. So I wasn’t looking at him when he spun me around. He said nothing only waited for me to open my eyes.

And when I did I saw he was holding up three cards. “Giovanni is Will’s family. The other two are Abby’s. It’s complicated and I won’t get into it. But I’m not going to save your ass if they come after you.”

“I can take care of myself.” I said taking the cards from him. 

“Like you took care of yourself this morning?” Alex growled. “They could have ripped you apart and you’d be dead.”

I took a deep breath, “I’d like to see them, or anyone try.” I growled and turned back around to head back home.

Alex sighed and caught up to me, “Are you going to walk all the way home?”

“I can take care of myself.” I said.

Alex growled and grabbed my shoulder and pushed me roughly against the wall and my breath caught again. My gaze dropped instinctively to the ground with my shoulders pinned to the wall like they where. “I asked you if you planned on walking all the way home?”

“Yes.” I said in simple reply.

“Why?” Alex shook his head, “Come inside, eat dinner, I’ll have a taxi take you home. I’ll take my food to go.”

“I’m not hungry anymore.” But my stomach rumbled and Alex chuckled.

“Your stomach doesn’t seem to know that.”

“I’m not going to eat your pity meal. I’m not going to let you walk me home. And I’m not going to let you pay for food.” I said.

“All because you think I’m lying to you?” Alex asked.

“Yes.” I said.

“Fine.” Alex growled. “Abby is a fucking werewolf, Will is a vampire. They shouldn’t be talking to each other, they shouldn’t have even been in the same territory to meet. Now there is a fucking war brewing and you keep getting in the middle of it. You are going to get your human ass torn apart by these guys. So stay the fuck out of it.”

I looked up at him, “Was that so hard?”

Alex blinked at me, “Wait you believe me?” He took a step back and let me go.

I shrugged, “Makes just as much sense as you reading my mind, a man in my dreams who I know is a real life person, and waking up almost three months ago without knowing who the fuck I am.” I said and I walked away. I may not believe him fully, but I believed he believed his words. Which made me question my whole fucking life.

We sat in our own little worlds content to be together like it was old hat. Like something we’ve done a million times before and it was only the first time. I wrapped my fingers in his and that made him look down at our now clasped hands. I saw a smile creep over his lips as he relaxed. Maybe it had been a little more awkward than I thought it had been. But this felt right – even more right than the guy in my dreams.

The thought seemed to pass and make Alex tense again but when I squeezed his hand and whispered “You’re here.” He relaxed a little. He had this uncanny way of knowing what I was thinking and I wasn’t sure if I liked it or not. Not that I was hiding anything but I just wanted him to be happy and comfortable. Like I was.

The train finally stopped forty-five minutes later. We’d only talked for half of that trip. Alex sighed when we got to the top. “God I missing driving.” 

I grinned, “You have a car?”

Alex nodded, “Her name is Serenity. She’s a 2016 Black Chevrolet Corvette StingRay.” He said it all with reverence. Like it … she was the love of his life. But I had no clue what she looked like other than she was a corvette and they went fast. Sports cars weren’t my thing. Cars weren’t my thing. 

But I wanted to know things Alex liked, “I’d like to visit her sometime. Maybe you can take me somewhere where you can drive her around a bit.”

Alex laughed, “Presumptuous much?” He shoulder checked me as we walked shoulder to shoulder still holding hands. Alex was being chivalrous, having switched so he was on the outside of the sidewalk by the cars rushing past us. 

He opened the door for me, his hand touching the small of my back and my body ignited with lust and desire and need. My body knew his touch – at least that’s how it felt. My breath caught in my throat and I waited for Alex to talk to the hostess. I’d been to Fiore a few times. The place looked familiar, I hadn’t been in the past eleven weeks. I couldn’t afford it, but I knew I’d been here. It felt like home. Like I’d spent a lot of time here. But I couldn’t remember a thing.

“Right this way, Mr. Kennedy.” The hostess said leading us into the Italian villa that was the decor of Fiore. It was fancy without being over the top. Like you were actually in an Italian villa. The murals on the wall were grand landscapes of the owners home land. I didn’t know how I knew that but I knew there was a house on the hill that had once been his home.

Alex pulled the chair out for me and I sat down. There were no illusions about who wore the pants in this relationship so to speak. I would let Alex call whatever shots he needed to to feel like he was in control. He was that sort of man. I didn’t know how I knew but I knew. He had not objected to anything thus far.

The waitress came and Alex ordered a bottle of wine, “I know it’s not your favorite thing, but I’ll make sure you have plenty of lemon water too.” He smiled after the waitress had left. “Everything here is great. The chef is remarkable.”

“I’ve been here before – in another life though. I don’t recall ever coming here, but I remember it well. I’ll have whatever you are having.”

Alex smiled, “Good choice.” He took the menu from me and set it on the side. “So you don’t drive.”

“I can drive. I don’t own a car though.” I pulled out my drivers license and flashed it at Alex. “And I’m old enough to drink.” I grinned.

“I know that.” He smiled. “I hired you remember.”

“You named your car?” I asked Alex.

“Doesn’t everyone?” he smiled.

I shrugged, “I guess, I wouldn’t know I’ve never owned a car. I’ve lived in New York all my life.”

Alex nodded, “I’ve lived everywhere.”

“Like where?” I asked before he could say anything more. Some how I felt like I needed to prompt him to continue or he might stop talking about himself. And I got the distinct notion he didn’t like talking about himself. I added, “But it’s okay if you don’t want me to know.” I smiled half playing at what I said. “I get you are a man of mystery.”

“I don’t like talking about myself.” He admitted. “I’d much rather hear about you.”

I shrugged, “There is nothing more to me than what you see. I live in Harlem. I work at a coffee shop. I like to draw, recently I did take up the hobby of painting on a wise man’s words, Though I’ve not actually started yet.”

“What do you do when you aren’t working?”

I looked down shyly, “Mostly I’m doing yoga and running. I don’t have time for much else. Abby likes to keep me company and we watch a lot of TV which I don’t really sitting still so I’m making up for it by keeping moving when Abby’s not around.”

“She treats you like family.” Alex said. Though I don’t think he meant to say family. It was as if there was another word on the tip of his tongue.

“Everyone is keeping things from me.” I said bluntly.

I sat on my bed waiting. Just waiting. It felt like forever as I sat there. I picked at the pail polish on my fingers, chewed my bottom lip before I got up and paced for what felt like another forever.And when the knock came I was surprised he didn’t just walk in afterwards but I took a deep breath and walked the few feet to the door around the still unopened boxes.

I took another deep breath before I opened the door. I was so nervous. And I didn’t even care if he couldn’t get me those meetings. I was excited and anxious just to be going out with this guy I’d been crushing on since I’d first seen him.

I smiled at him and he rolled his eyes. “You just saw me.”

I averted my gaze, looking at the ground as I opened the door wider. “Yeah, but this is different.”

He laughed, “Are you ready?”

I nodded, “Let me just get my keys.” 

They were on the table by the door, also where my phone was but I didn’t grab it. 

Alex noticed, “Take your phone too.”

I looked at him confused, “Why?”

He smirked, “So you can fake an important text if things don’t go well.”

I shook my head and left my phone there, “I’ll tell you if it’s not going well.”

Alex laughed, “Why am I not surprised?” He held out his elbow and I placed my hand on it and closed the door behind me pushing it back to make sure it latched properly. Alex added, “Where we are going is on the other side of town, I know you like to walk but’s a 2 hour and change walk. The D train will get us there in 40 mins.”

“I take it our reservation is at 8 then?”

Alex grinned, “Yeah. I can change it, I know the owner but I’d prefer not to.”

“D Train it is then.” I turned us towards the train and Alex smirked.

“Bossy much?”

“Not really.” I said shyly.

“I like it. But I know you like to stick to your schedule so we’ll stick to mine.” Alex smiled. “What did you think of the stuff I sent?”

“The clothes fit, at least the t-shirts did, I didn’t try on the jeans. Thanks. I haven’t opened the boxes yet, no crow bar.”

“Fuck!” Alex growled, “I didn’t think about that.” He pulled his phone out and hit a button and held it to his ear. It rang once, “Hey Ry.” Alex started, “Can you get one of the guys to get the boxes open at Nox’s, they’re nailed shut and he couldn’t find a crow bar, I didn’t think about it when I sent them over.”

The man on the other side said a few things, and then Alex hung up with a “I will.” He put his phone back in his pocket, “They’ll be open by the time you get home.”

“Thanks, but I could have managed.”

Alex shrugged, “One less thing to worry about. It’s nothing much really. I was buying decor for the club, or my new place or something, and these were there, no one really is a plant person, and I’d probably kill them. I don’t really know why I bought them.”

“You have plants in a box?”

Alex laughed, “They were only in the box for shipping purposes, I didn’t want to get dirt everywhere.”

“What kind of plants? And why would you think I’d like them?” I frowned.

“I don’t know really. But Abby says she recognized one of them, and they are an anxiety reducer, air purifiers and stuff.”

“She told you about that?”

We descended down into the subway system and the air down there was stank and harsh and I wished we could walk, but my anxiety about being late pushed me down into the depths with Alex. The train was just pulling in and there was no way to hear so we held our conversation until we were on the train sharing a seat with me by the window. Not a place I was happy to be so I turned to face Alex a little, my knee pushing up against his.

The train jerked forward and Alex leaned over so we could talk without others eavesdropping as much, “Rider too. But don’t worry, I got a kid who is getting worse by the day. Something’s off and he hasn’t been able to tell me what.”

“It must be in the air.” I grinned at him. “The whole city feels off.” I said. But I didn’t know why I said it. I don’t remember what it felt like before almost three months ago. In those eleven weeks nothing felt exactly right. But sitting here with Alex things felt better anyway.

“How many kids do you have?” I asked.

Alex laughed, “Too many.”

“There is no such thing. You love ‘em all don’t you?”

“Of course I do.” He looked at me like I’d said he hurt them. “It’s just I never thought I’d be the kinda guy who settled down with a family, and with kids who aren’t even mine. Yes I love them. But I don’t know what changed.”

“You found someone to love and live a life with.” I frowned, “What happened?” I touched the hand that once had a blue stone ring on it. 

Alex jerked his hand away and stuffed it in his pocket. “Ryan says I should forget about that.”

“Did he die?”

“You assume it’s a guy?” Alex laughed.

“So you asking me out was a fluke?” I turned away from him and stared out the window.

Alex sighed. “No. But more an urging from everyone around me.”

“We don’t have to do this.” I said. “I have an interest in another guy.”

Alex growled, “Really? So why say yes?”

“Because you were going to get me contacts for Abby and Will’s family and going on this date was the only option.”

“That’s all this is?” Alex growled again.

“I didn’t think so. I’ve been crushing on you since I first saw you in Brew. Before I found out who you were.”

“And who am I?”

“Rider’s sorta brother, owner of the building and the cafe itself. I understand if you have someone else. This is just a business deal then.”

Alex was staring down the aisle, “Is that what you want it to be?” His voice had dropped into a whisper.

“No.” I said simply and he turned to look at me, I smiled, “The guy I’m interested in is just a dream. He’s not real. At least not in the sense that I know who he is, or where he is. He’s a real person. He’s said things I could never know. I’ve dreamt about him every night for almost three months. He’s never himself, he doesn’t want to know my name. Sometimes I think he’s just playing me, but I can’t help but be in love with him.” I looked at Alex, “But he’s not real, you are. And if you want to try to move on from the memories attached to that ring, then I’d like to.” A tear fell down my cheek, “But if you don’t, or can’t then I understand, it’s not the right time. I can happily pine away for you from a distance.”

Alex laughed, “How do you know it’s the same guy every time if he’s never himself?”

I smiled, “His voice and eyes never change. And he always comes as some famous actor.”

“In your dreams…” Alex looked out the window, “Have you and he…” his voice trailed off like he couldn’t ask the question.

“Have we had sex?” I asked.

Alex nodded.

I grinned, “Just tons of it, it’s dream after all, lots of kinky fantasies.” His eyes went wide and I laughed, “No, we’ve not. We kissed once, and he left me afterwards. No explanation, and we never really talked about it again.”

“Maybe he was cheating on you?” Alex asked his voice relaxed – he had really thought I’d had sex in my dream with some guy I didn’t know who was. Not that it mattered either way, but it had worried him for some reason.

“Then goes to my whole theory that he doesn’t want me and it’s just a game to him.”

We both sat there in silence. It wasn’t awkward, but we were off in our little worlds. The conversation had gotten heavy before the date really even started.

I took a long shower, and dressed in what Alex thought I should wear. There was something freeing about not having to stress out over it. I did my make up – the eyeliner, a little bit of strawberry lip balm just in case there was a kiss, there was a slight color to it so my lips were a little brighter and fuller looking – more kissable.

But I had an hour to wait before seven. I went in search of that crow bar. Armande had to have one. The entrance to my apartment was below street level and not in the main building proper like Abby’s was. I liked it that way. I didn’t trip over kids on my routine. Not that I minded kids, just that they seemed to say things I didn’t quite understand but only made me worry I was going out of my mind.

Carlos was in the hall when I was going into the storage room. He grinned up at me on his push along car he always rode. “Hey Nox. You look good.” He sniffed at the air and then smiled toothily at me, “Smell good too.”

You’d think I’d be used to the comment by now. Everyone in the building told me I smelled good. Even when I wore nothing but the soap scent from a shower. Abby had laughed when I told her about it. But she agreed with them, but she didn’t elaborate.

I wore no cologne, it gave me a headache more often than not. Most sharp smells did. Someone somewhere in the building was baking and apple pie and I almost drifted in that direction. Though I found that I didn’t actually like the taste of it, just the smell. It felt right.

The storage room was where Armande kept a bunch of cleaning supplies and other things. There were a few locked coolers that I’d never bothered to ask what was in there, but I didn’t need food so I didn’t much care either way. Every once and a while I’d run out of cleaning supplies and would take a bottle that he had squirreled away. There were mops and brooms and large buckets to use. But I didn’t see a crow bar anywhere.

Carlos sat in the doorway where the lights were since I hadn’t flipped on the light. The little boy sniffed at the air, “Smells like something’s gone bad in there.”

I sniffed at the air and shrugged. But I checked the cooler. One was running, but the other was not. I checked to see if it was unlocked and found it was. But the cord was un plugged. “Hey Carlos, go see if your mom has any paper and a pen?”

He looked at me with a smile. “Okay. That’s a good idea. Armande will want to know.”

I nodded and off he scooted on his little car down the hall to his apartment. He lived with his mom, who was a taxidermist. Her house was full of stuffed animals. And not the cute cuddly type, the real world animals stuffed and stored in her apartment. It reeked down the hall when she got busy doing things, but no one here seemed to mind the smell. I did though on particularly large jobs – like bears. But she’d only been doing small animals as of late. I wondered what kind of people were bringing dead animals home to stuff all the time. It was such a speciality trade, but then again I never really saw any customers.

I shrugged. I waited for Carlos to return with a pen and paper and I jotted a quick note. 

I was unplugged. What’s in side me smells bad according to Carlos. Please don’t eat me. ~ Your’s Truly, The Cooler

I showed the note to Carlos and he giggled. I hoped at the silliness of the note. “You have pretty hand writing. I wish I could write like that.”

I shrugged, “It just takes practice.”

Carlos giggled, “You draw so pretty too. Mommy hung the picture of her on the wall in a frame. It never even went on the fridge where mine goes.”

He seemed proud of that fact, “But the fridge is where all the best pieces go.” I said.

Carlos beamed. 

“I’ll see you around, I didn’t find what I was looking for.” I waved at the boy, shutting the door behind me. The door out opened and a pair of blue eyes wearing a very similar outfit except his was all black, the only color – other than his skin was the color of his eyes. They popped, or maybe that was all I ever noticed about Rider’s sorta brother.

Carlos waved, “Hey Mr. Alex. Did you bring Drake to come play?”

He shook his head, “No, sorry kiddo. I came to check on Abby and Will before I picked up my date.”

“You have a date?” Carlos asked, “Mommy will be so proud. She’ll stop trying to find you the right girl.”

I laughed, “Maybe she should have been trying to find the right guy?” I looked back at Carlos who was grinning widely at Alex.

“A boy, why would Alex want a boy, he needs to make babies for Cassy and Hunter and Drake to play with.”

I rolled my eyes, “He can adopt them ya know. That’s what I’d do.”

Alex smiled, “Drake is adopted, technically so are Hunter and Cass they aren’t mine either. I only have one kid actually.”

I looked at Alex and smiled, “That’s something I didn’t know.”

He smiled back, “I’m going to go check on Abby and Will before I come get you, alright?”

“I could walk with you?”

He laughed, “You could, but maybe I wanted to ask some advice about our date before I went on it.”

I rolled my eyes, “Fine, you know where to find me.”

I walked past Alex with a grin and he turned around to watch me. I got to the door and pushed it open looking back, “I’m a little surprised you let me walk back to my place alone.” I slipped out the door as he laughed, and I wondered why I’d said that. Maybe it was the vibes I was getting from him – he seemed like the traditionalist which seemed odd since he liked men. But I guess a man could be chivalrous towards another man just as easy. But only if the other man let him. And I’d let him. Not having to think about things made me feel better. I knew Alex would be by soon to get me. All I had to do was sit and wait.

I wasn’t feeling much better by the time I got back to my place but I was doing a little better, my breathing was at least normal. At least until I opened my door and found several large crates sitting just inside the door. On top of one of the large wooden boxes as a paper bag stuffed full of clothes, and a note tented next to it.

The note read:

I let myself in. Abby says you don’t own much, and we were getting rid of the clothes, and I figured you might like these things on loan. I hung some clothes in the bathroom, figured you might like to wear something more than jeans and a t-shirt on our date tonight. See you soon! ~Alex

How was I going to open the crates? Why would a guy I hardly know give me a loan on anything specially whatever was large enough to put in these crates. I sighed as I pulled the paper bag and dumped it on the bed.

A bunch of t-shirts with sarcastic sayings. Some looked like they had been worn alot, and others looked nearly new. I tugged my hoodie off and looked at the plain shirt I’d bought, and grinned down at the shirt with it’s silly saying. “Me, Normal?”

It seemed to fit Rider and his family. No one there seemed to care they acted a little bit strange. But then who was I to judge, I didn’t even remember who the fuck I was.

I pulled my t-shirt off and tried the shirt on. I wasn’t surprised it fit. But I was more curious what was in the boxes and what was hanging in my bathroom. I checked the bathroom first – that wouldn’t require me to go hunting a crow bar.

My bathroom was spotless, everything neatly in it’s place, except for the dark blue button down shirt and a pair of black slacks to go with it. There was a lighter blue t-shirt hanging beneath the button down – I was pretty sure it matched the color my hair had been died eleven weeks ago. I liked the color – it was the color of my dream guys eyes. And Alex’s too now that I thought about it. I had a thing I guess.

My tips had grown a little but the salon had found the matching color with a little trial and error and I was back to wearing the full tipped out color I liked. And I knew I liked it because I felt strange when it had grown to look scraggly and very little color after the trim I’d gotten.

There were things I continued to do after waking up. I wore thick swaths of eye liner in black. Sometimes I played with it and chose a different color but I always wore it. My nails were always painted. Abby enjoyed painting them for me so they weren’t always black like I preferred, but Abby made sure I never chipped a nail. If I did she was taking it all off and applying yet another coat liberally. It was relaxing, but she never wanted the favor returned so it was just me getting my nails done. Will laughed at the fact I let her pamper me that way. 

I had a few things, I thought to myself that made me feel comfortable in my own skin. And sleeves had been one of them. I don’t think anyone short of a few accidental walk ins by Abby had seen the tattoos that marked my body. I had no idea what they meant. And in the t-shirt two of them stood out clearly. Their colors seemed to fade, and I swore they moved, but I could stare at them for hours and see nothing but yet the next time I’d look without thinking they were slightly turned, or the color had shifted. 

I ran my fingers over the one on my left forearm. It was special. I knew that much. I felt a connection to it that I didn’t exactly understand. The other one higher up on my outer arm on my bicep I couldn’t see all of it but it was always strong, it felt close and then sometimes far away. I couldn’t tell you what it was all.

There were two close to my heart that made me smile every time I saw them. They seemed to dance with each other. I know they moved but again not something I could ever see with my eyes.

There were more, a few on my back, and a couple on my thighs. All of them a series of dots with galaxy like patterns behind them. They reminded me of the stars in my dream landscaped sky. I should look for them when I’m there tonight.

Tonight…. what was I going to do. What if things went well with Alex? I didn’t expect to end up in his bed. But I also hoped that I’d at least get a goodnight kiss. The thought sent shivers through my body. But I was totally in love with the guy in my dreams – but he was a dream. Eleven fucking weeks of wanting to kiss him ending in a flurry of strange encounters. Maybe I should focus on what was in front of me – the real person. He was nice – my boss but still nice.

It was early yet, but I moved the clothes that hung on my shower door to the the hook behind the door and decided I should take a shower and get ready. I was a nervous mess, maybe that would all help. I could look in the boxes later – or maybe Alex can tell me what’s inside when he picks me up. Either way it was a later task, I had to do something about the anxiety and tension growing in my body. A shower and play sounded like a good thing – relax before seeing Alex and letting all the tension built up make me antsy.

Abby left to go get ready for work. And the two sorta brothers to my boss stayed. Ryan took it upon himself to throw me out of my own kitchen to do the dishes. “I got this. You cooked.”

“It’s my house.” I protested.

“I got this.” He pushed me physically away from the kitchen. “Go keep Alex company.”

I’d rather not. I said to myself, but I went to sit down with him. He didn’t look up as he sipped his fresh cup of coffee I had made him before Abby left. “You have a few landscapes – mostly buildings and statues that are cool.” He pushed a picture towards me, “I’ve never seen this one.”

I turned it to face me and nodded, “That’s one I dream about.” I said. It didn’t look nearly as awe inspiring as it did in my dream. Just a tree in a clearing. The sunset wasn’t really there twilight either. “It’s not so ordinary. I should paint color it in.”

“Make it bigger first, or paint it. I bet it would come out great.”

“You think?”

He grinned at me, “Yeah I think.”

We sat in silence for several moments before I cleared my throat and looked away from him, “I could use with those introductions. Those guys are going to keep bugging my friends and I need to make sure they don’t do anything stupid around here, there are kids.”

Ryan laughed as dried his hands on a paper towel carrying it to the table, “I think we can arrange that. But you shouldn’t go alone.”

“I can take care of myself.” I said vehemently.

Alex nodded, “I’m sure you can.” He stood up. “Thanks for the pancakes Nox.” He started walking towards the stairs, “We should get going, they won’t be coming back today.”

“How…” do you know I started to ask but Ryan was grinning at shook his head and I stopped mid-sentence. The blond caught up to his friend and shoved him in the shoulder and whispered something in his ear.

Alex turned and looked back at me and sighed, “You want to get dinner with me tonight, I know this great place, and I’ll have the contacts you want – even though I think you should stay out of it.”

“Do I get the contacts otherwise?” I asked.

Alex smirked, “No.”

“Pick me up at seven?”

He nodded, “Yeah I should be able to get reservations for then.” Alex smiled and then nodded his head satisfied, and left with Ryan whispering in his ear. They were talking about me that much I knew. I let them go – they could see themselves out.

I looked down at the clearing and thought about what Alex had said. It would make a good painting. But I had never painted before.

I hadn’t been to an art store in the past eleven weeks, but I apparently knew where one was. I hadn’t really thought about where I was going when I left the apartment. It felt strange not going into work, but there was a text on my phone from Rider when I checked it as I left. 

Don’t you dare come in.

So I made sure that I listened. I didn’t go to work. I would attempt to paint. The art supply store was like any other store in New York. Small and quaint and the guy at the counter looked at me without questioning why I was there. I picked up a hand held basket and I browsed the whole store once before I went back for the supplies I had come for. 

I was killing time I didn’t have anywhere to be until seven. Which meant I needed to start getting ready at 5 and before I left it was only 11 am. I had plenty of time to kill. Too much time for an idle mind.

I thought about the guy in my dreams and how he’d looked hurt when I said he didn’t want me. Like I had said I didn’t want him, when that wasn’t true at all. But I don’t think I’d ever told him about my bosses boss and my wandering eye. At least I knew his name, what he looked like even if I didn’t know him very well. But he was still my bosses boss and that really quashed my feelings for him.

My dream guy was perfect. He just didn’t want me to know who he was. I hated it.I felt like I was being split in two.

I grabbed a bunch of acrylics for painting – a variety of paint colors, canvas’ in different sizes. I picked up an easle and paint brushes of different sizes as well. I spent quite a bit of money on it but what else did I have to spend it on. Food and shelter were taken care of and I still had money left over, I’d purchased clothes so I wasn’t wearing one outfit every day. 

It was nice being able to do nothing. I wasn’t sure I had ever done nothing before. It felt strangely satisfying and scarey too. I didn’t like being busy. I walked home slowly focusing on breathing trying to push the panic away. In eleven weeks I’d only had two panic attacks. The first had been a few weeks in when I had changed up my schedule so that I could see Rider’s sorta brother. I knew he’d be in later, I always caught him walking to the shop when I was walking home. And the second was a few weeks later when I found out I’d changed my schedule and so did he.

Now I saw him everyday. Three days out of the week he came in early afternoon for his and Ryan’s morning coffee. Apparently they slept in late, or went to bed late either way it was still a strange time to say a morning coffee it was almost after noon. The remainder of the days he came in right before my shift ended to bring coffee for the crew at one of the clubs he owned. I never had found out which club he owned everyone including Rider was closed lip about it. No one at Brew told me, and Abby and Will kept with that as well.

Some order or something, I don’t know. I guess it didn’t matter. That made me feel a little bit how the guy in my dreams made me feel. Like he didn’t want me to get too close. But I was having dinner with him later so there was something anyway. I think that was contributing to my panic as I walked. I didn’t do change well. I’d set into a rhythm and I was doing well. Now, things were changing and I wasn’t handling it well.

Something felt right but so very wrong about the racing heart and the sweaty palms.

I crawled out of bed and took the cold cup of coffee with me when Ryan was done. “I’m hungry.”

Alex gave me a weak smile and handed me a cup of coffee, “Black right?”

I smiled back, “You are Coffee two sugars and cream.” I took the coffee, “Thanks. You are all welcome to stay.”

I didn’t wait for their ascent as I went upstairs to my living space. Such a strange layout, but it worked for me. I was a neat freak anyway, so my room was never a mess.

Abby followed after me, “Whatever he makes is going to be great. And Rider promised you’d stick around after I go to work.”

“I don’t need a babysitter.” I said at the top of the stairs.

Ryan chuckled, “Don’t think of it as a babysitter, more like an on call nurse.”

“My bosses boss doesn’t need to keep an eye on a lackey.” I grinned. 

My kitchen was fully stocked. And they didn’t look like fritata type guys so I pulled out the flour and eggs and bacon of course and set out to make pancakes. I don’t know when I learned to make them, I don’t eat them. I’d have eggs too. Eggs and bacon always made for a good breakfast. Even though I wasn’t sure it was actually breakfast time, it was habit more than anything.

Ryan was looking at the walls, “You don’t plan on staying long?”

I shrugged, “As long as Armande will let me stay. Why?”

“There is nothing on the walls. I know Armande doesn’t have a no hole policy.”

“What should I hang? I have no family, what few people I know aren’t that close. I haven’t had time to go out and buy decor.”

Abby laughed, “That’s a lie. You’ve had eleven weeks to buy things. Rider pays you enough, and Armande won’t care.”

I shrugged, “I don’t need it.”

Alex chuckled, “Who needs a painting of a tree on fire? It’s cool looking.”

“I’m sure it is.”

Abby smiled at me, “Maybe you could hang some of your drawings? I know this really good framer.”

“You draw?” Alex asked interested in that question more than he had been flipping through the magazines on the coffee table.

His eyes reminded me of the guy in my dream and I looked away with the pretense of mixing the pancake batter. “I sketch things.”

Abby laughed. “He has pictures of you.” She said to Alex. “You too.” I was glaring at her and she gave me a satisfied smile, “But to be fair, he has pictures of me and Will too.” Abby didn’t hesitate at all as she went for the draw with all the torn out sketches in it. “He keeps them locked up, like I don’t know where they are.”

She grabbed the stack and put them on the dinner table. “He’s really good. I don’t think there is anything he does that he’s not great at.”

“I’m not great at talking.” I stuck my tongue out.

Alex laughed but he didn’t look up from the drawings, “If that were true Rider wouldn’t be making more money in the past three months than he did without you. The line out the door is twice as long too. And you know everyone’s order.”

I shrugged. I wasn’t doing anything other than my job. “How many wrong orders have you gotten?”

I grinned, “Had one last week because the guy changed up his order on me.” I looked at Alex and he was looking back at me. “I think he wanted to see what would happen if he threw me a curve ball.”

“And?” He asked.

“It came out of my pay that day and I made him another one.”

“So one mistake in eleven weeks and your boss took it out of your pay check?” He was smirking. Rider had told him.

“I insisted.” I looked away again to check on the pancakes I was working on the griddle. “It was a lesson in thinking I know someone and realizing I don’t.”

“You know I was messing with you right?” Alex asked.

I nodded, “I know. But it was a lesson none-the-less.”

“We could use more guys like you. The regulars love you. The strays love you. What these guys harassing Abby got against you I don’t know.”

I laughed, “Kicking their asses when they were harassing Will probably has something to do with it.” I sighed, “The guy who pushed me was a lot stronger than I anticipated, he shoved me and I flew backwards hitting my head. There wasn’t much I could do about it.”

“I was so scared. They ran off right after you crumbled to the ground. I’ll tell Adrian, and he’ll get with Dom but I don’t know if they’ll stop.” She looked to Ryan and Alex helplessly.

“I can handle it myself. But introductions could be nice.”

Alex shook his head, “I don’t think that’s a good idea. You don’t know what you are getting in the middle of.”

I smiled at him, “I’m not afraid of much, and I’d prefer to handle my own problems.”

I set a plate of pancakes in front of Alex and Ryan and the bottle of syrup from the cupboard. I kept it around as a sweetener, not for pancakes really. Though I figured that would work. I had honey too, but I kept it in the cupboard. Just a feeling.

I plated myself some bacon and eggs, Abby was already helping herself and carrying the rest over to the tale for the boys to eat. We all ate – mostly in silence. Alex and Ryan were practically drooling over the pancakes. “Rider hasn’t made pancakes in forever.”

Abby giggled, “Nox never made me pancakes. You guys must be special.”

I feel asleep on my bed with my clothes on to the thoughts of my blue eyed boy and his hot lips. I wanted him so bad and I was waiting in my strange landscape for him to show up but a noise outside jerked me awake. I growled at myself for having fallen asleep so early and without a shower. Rough day, and the fight only made me feel like I had expended way more energy than I had at the moment.

I crawled off my bed and to the door in the dark. I didn’t flip the porch light on, I didn’t need it to see, the street lamps outside reflected on every shiny surface anyway. And what I found was not unexpected, but the same four guys from before were blocking Abby from the steps up to her apartment.

“Don’t you learn anything?” I said from the stairs. “Leave them alone.”

One of the guys growled at me, I swear his eyes flashed the amber color of a feral wolf as he pushed me hard. I fell backwards down the stairs. “Nox.” Abby called out and that was the last thing I heard before the darkness took me whole.

I didn’t wake in my landscape. I stayed in the darkness. My heart pounded. Fog rolled in to the dim red light of a past nightmare. I felt like I was drowning. I tried to swim, flailed my arms and tried to stay a float but the more I struggled the more I felt like water was engulfing me. 

A hand grabbed mine and pulled me ashore. “What the hell?”

The voice made me quiver as I clung to him, my body soaked, my mind wrapped in darkness. He pressed his face to my neck, “Shhh. It’s okay. I got you.”

And he did have me. I pulled away from him and walked away, the landscape had changed, it wasn’t the darkness, and it wasn’t my clearing. It was an empty white room, with a white bed, and a window that looked out upon the clearing I so looked forward to. The window was open and there was a light breeze making the white curtains flutter in the wind. The only color were bins full of toy blocks. The kind you stacked as a kid and your friends knocked over with laughter.

“I’m sorry.” I said. I paced. My heart was racing. I hadn’t felt like this in ages. The fear, the terror of things I didn’t remember. 

“You okay?”

I shook my head, “No. But I can’t wake up either.” I tried, but when I did the darkness took me again, and I felt like I was drowning.

He watched me as I stepped back into the light, he’d kept me tethered to him with just a glance. I had to look away. “What’s wrong Pretty boy?”

I closed my eyes, I loved when he called me that, those two little words meant almost as much as my name from his lips might sound. “Nothing.”

He laughed, “I know you, you can’t ever stop looking at me. If you aren’t looking into my eyes you are staring at my lips. I’d almost say you wanted to kiss me since we met.”

“I did but you don’t so…” I stepped back towards the shadows, maybe drowning was better than the rejection I felt at the moment.

“I’m sorry about that. My life is complicated. There are two guys.”

I shook my head, “You don’t have to explain. I get it, I’m just a dream.”

“You are more than a dream. You know that. This is more than just a dream.” he said. His blue eyes were staring back at me in the body of that same actor. He moved without really moving and was in front of me. The dream was like that sometimes.

“Yeah but you are never you. You don’t want to know my name. So I’m just a dream.” I looked up into his blue eyes and I saw pain in them. “Let’s just forget today. Forget the kiss, just go back to the flirting and the fun. I need this.”

He laughed, “I can’t forget that kiss. Fuck, Pretty Boy, I’ve thought of nothing since.”

I turned away from him so he didn’t see the tears falling. “I need you to leave because I can’t.” I stepped into the shadows and kept walking. I walked into the darkness and I kept walking. Past the fog and the red dim lights. I walked farther then I’d ever thought possible in nothing but complete darkness. He didn’t follow. He hadn’t even said anything as I walked away from him. 

I felt worse, but no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t wake up. I couldn’t help but want to cry. The darkness faded into light and I could smell coffee and bacon in the world around me. There was a soft hand rubbing my temple, “Nox, you okay sweetie?”

I grunted. “How long?”

“I haven’t been able to wake you since you fell last night. I called Rider, told him what happened, he’s gonna send someone over to make sure you are alright. And to keep the dicks away from here. They shouldn’t have been here, they could have gotten in a lot of trouble with Adrian.”

The name sounded familiar in my daze, but then it should Adrian was like Abby’s second father. He was a nice man. He looked after Abby, protected her like any good father, so why wasn’t he taking care of these guys?

“Is that coffee for me?” I pointed to the one on the table.

Abby laughed, “Yeah, but it’s cold now.”

There was a knock on the door and Abby rushed over to get it leaving me to sit up and reach for the cold cup of Joe, even though it was cold I took a sip and then immediately set it down. Rider’s sorta brothers walked into my apartment. Of course he’d send his boss and his bosses friend. 

Ryan looked at me and frowned, “Rider said you fell down and bumped your head.”

“I was pushed and I’m alright now.”

I started to get out of bed but he rushed over to me and pushed me back down. “Let me be the gauge of that.”

“What you a doctor now too?”

Ryan laughed. “Maybe.”

“You are like sixteen.”

Alex laughed, “He’s older than he looks. Just sit still and let him do his thing, he won’t leave you alone until you do.”

Ryan laughed, “He’d know. Always getting knocked around in the ring.”

I sat still and let Ryan do his thing. I’d knew how people could be obsessive.

My apartment was a split level in a really weird way. I walked into my bedroom from the entry way, and upstairs was the living space and the kitchen. I could have probably set up differently, but then I would have had to take all the furnishings and move them around, and I didn’t really feel like asking someone for help when it was perfectly fine just the way it was.

I didn’t own much more than when I had started eleven weeks back. I had a few pairs of jeans, a few plain boring t-shirts, a single black button down shirt, and a gray hoodie. And of course the other essentials like boxers and socks. I owned the pair of Converse Chucks I’d been wearing when I woke up and I’d bought a better pair of Nike that I only wore when I went out.

None of the furniture was mine. I had to buy a cell phone, which I currently didn’t have enough money to pay for. It really was a wonder anyone ever had one. But I didn’t really need one, I could just borrow Abby’s if I needed to call into work for some reason – which hadn’t happened yet.

I crashed on the bed, the sheets and comforter and pillows were mine. I needed warmth and fluffiness around me. I’d started with flat blankets and none-existent pillows and I hated it. Now I slept better, I bought one of those fancy weighted blankets which made a big difference in my sleeping habits. Instead of staying awake in constant pain, I fell asleep wrapped in a hug.

The pain was never ending – except when Matt’s fingers trailed along the edge of mine when he got his coffee. It was such a strange feeling.

And sleep meant dreams and I dreamed of the same guy every night. Every night I woke to a strange landscape of twilight and sunrise with stars that almost said something but their whispers were lost on the night breeze. The near dead tree in the middle of the grassy clearing flickered and wanted to say more but its voice too was lost on the winds.

But he always came to me. And always in a different face. Well not his own. He liked to wear the face of a cute actor who Abby and I gushed over while watching the show. His character could do magic, he was eccentric and bisexual and he spoke to me in so many ways. 

My mystery guy had gorgeous blue eyes, and a smirk that never left his lips. A few weeks ago I braved kissing the smirk from his lips and I was rewarded with him pushing me against a wall his teeth digging into my lip as he nipped at it. He’d threatened doing it every time I bit my bottom lip – he finally got the chance before he disappeared in a huff. I didn’t know what I had done wrong, but when he came back the next night I pretended it didn’t happen and so did he.

Our flirting was strained the first few nights, but we found our rhythm again. I hadn’t dared approach him again with anymore fondness, though if I ever met him in real life I probably would tell him exactly how I felt about him. Despite the fact that he was just a dream, I knew he was real some how. Somewhere in the world, this man existed and I only wished I could find him and tell him I loved him.

Eleven weeks straight of seeing this man in my dreams and I knew if I ever saw him I’d be head over heels in fucking love. We hadn’t even had dream sex yet. Hell the one kiss ended in disaster, but he felt like home. His voice soothed me. His eyes enchanted me. I didn’t care what he looked like. He could be a fat slob and short of the panic attacks at the messes I’d be okay with that. 

But I didn’t know his name, and every time I tried to tell him mine he’d put his finger to my lips and shush me, only making me want him more. 

But my dream guy wasn’t the only guy on my radar. Sadly I had the hots for my bosses boss – Alex, Rider’s sorta brother. He had the same haunting blue eyes, but I barely spoke to him, he mostly smiled at me. I remember the first time he saw me and our eyes met. He blinked at me for several long seconds before he turned away from me. From the look on Ryan’s face he was having some sort of angry fit or something. Ryan was a character. I liked him, he was easy to talk to. He often sat with me on my breaks and asked me stupid questions like how I was doing? And I’d ramble on for fifteen minutes forgetting to drink my coffee before I had to get back to work.

He only laughed as I got back to things. He had invited me to the Halloween party coming up. He said everyone in the cafe was invited, it wasn’t just me. So I’d know people. But I didn’t know. I probably wouldn’t go. Halloween wasn’t something I really got behind. Monsters and scary things didn’t really put me in a partying mood. I didn’t know why. But there was a reason in my head somewhere why this Halloween sucked worse than others – but I couldn’t find it. I wanted to just stay in my apartment and sleep. See my dream guy and maybe we’d have sex. Or maybe not – he and I seemed to be on different wave lengths.

That was all eleven long weeks ago. I eventually found out that Rider’s sorta brother who owns the building Brew is in was the Alex I had given the coffee to that first day. But Alex wasn’t the guy I gave it to – that was Ryan – another sorta brother to Alex and Rider, but none of them were related. It really was all very confusing. Rider had a twin brother, Laker who was pretty much married to Matt. Who was a very odd person. 

Not in the personality department but when I looked at him my entire body seemed to relax. The few times he’d touched my hand when he too his coffee it felt like the world washed away – all color, all sounds, there was nothing. It was odd.

They had a really big family. And they had invited me over for the last barbque of the year on Labor Day, but I was busy. Abby had already invited me to her not-famly barbque and I couldn’t say no to her.

We hadn’t been roommates for well on 2 months now, but we still saw each other everyday. I made her breakfast and she brought me pumpkin pie after her shift at the dinner. And every month she disappeared for three days and I had no idea where she went. Will said she was fine. Armande agreed with him. Everyone including my boss told me not to worry about Abby. But I worried.

I would always worry about my friends – specially those who I felt overly inclined to protect. Abby and Will always seemed to bring trouble to their door steps. I had lost track of the number of times that I’d stepped between someone shouting down at either of them.

Today was no different. I’d been walking back from my shift at Brew with a cup of coffee in my hand. I walked most days – it was good exercise and I always seemed to have an abundance of energy even after a long shift. Several block before I crossed into Harlem proper I heard shouting down an alley way. “You need to get out of here,” a voice growled deep in their throat. It was almost like they didn’t have human vocal cords.

I was about to walk past the mouth of the alley when I heard a familiar voice, “Dude, I live here, back the fuck off.” Will had found yet another reason for someone to try and bitch slap him back across some imaginary line drawn in the sand. It was fucking stupid.

I sighed and stepped into the alley way, “Why do you always have to pick on the little guys.” Will wasn’t little, he was an inch taller than I was, but he was toothpick thin. But still he was a lot stronger than he looked.

“Nox, just go. I got this.” He said. But the guy pinning him to the wall thumped him hard against the wall and there was a crack of bone. Will looked stunned.

“Just let him go. He’s just going home.” I said again.

This time the guys in the shadows took a few steps towards me. I rolled my eyes, “Really?”

It wasn’t a moment later before they both rushed me. There were three of them. And it wasn’t the first time I nailed the first one in the throat, ducked his punch, swept the legs out from the second guy and in my swinging momentum round house kicked the third in the head. I didn’t know where I learned to do it, and I didn’t question it at any time. I just reacted – it was muscle memory even if I didn’t remember it myself.

The guy pinning Will to the wall looked at me, “Who the fuck are you?”

Will chuckled, “He’s no one. Just get out of here before he hurts you.”

The man looked at Will then at me, then back at Will. He tossed the other man into a garbage pile like Will was a rag doll. He and his friends all ran off down the alley leaving me to help will out of the pile of black garbage bags.

“Thanks. But I had it. Now they’ll just come at me again.”

I shrugged, “Whatever line you are crossing is it worth it?” 

Will nodded, “Yeah it is. Those guys are just ass hats. The shouldn’t even be this far across their own lines. They wouldn’t dare catch me in Harlem.”

“No, just the guys in Harlem harass Abby.”

Will sighed. “She won’t leave. Rider offered her a place to stay when the heat started picking up on us. But she won’t leave.” He growled, “Mostly because of you, honestly.”

“Me?” I asked as we rounded the corner of the alley we’d jsut left. 

“Yeah, you. She doesn’t want to leave you there alone.”

“I’m pretty sure I can take care of myself.”

Will laughed, “I’m sure you can, man, but you know how women are. She thinks she’s being all motherly for you and you are the one who’s taken care of her.” He clapped me on the back, “Which I’m utterly grateful for by the way. The food is epic. You should find a place to cook at for real.”

I shrugged, “I just do it for me. I wouldn’t want that pressure.”

“Yeah all that pressure. I’ve never seen someone do what you do in the coffee line. There ain’t a regular who doesn’t know your name, and I don’t know how many people have come in just because you are making the coffee.”

I shrugged, “A talent I guess.”

“You got everything under control there. I’m surprised Alex hasn’t made you shift manager yet. Probably afraid Rider will take some of the business with him if he were to leave.”

He’d never fire his brother. I knew that much and I should have said as much but we were at the brownstone and I climbed down the stairs to my studio apartment, “Tell Abby I said hi.”

He grinned at me, “Sure thing.”

Brew was busy as I walked into the cafe. There were three people behind the counter, a young man who nodded his head when I arrived. He couldn’t be more than sixteen. An older man, and a young woman who was taking cash at the register from a patron. She slipped a few dollars into her palm and slid it into her pocket before putting the remainder in the till. She wasn’t very good at skimming if I managed to catch her. I wondered if anyone else had seen it.

The young man with deep brown eyes and a messy mop of hair came over to me, “You must be Nox.” He held out his hand, “I’m Rider.”

“A pleasure.” I shook his hand and I felt a shock of electricity run through my body. I jerked my hand away, “Sorry, must have picked up a charge somewhere.”

The boy, no Rider, he looked at me with wide eyes but he smiled, “No problem. Happens all time.” He waved his hand in front of him, “Let’s go in the back.”

I followed him, he was an inch or two taller than I was but we had the same build. He felt familiar as I followed him. And there was this innate desire to please him – to make him happy yet I knew nothing of him or why I would want to do that.

He sat down behind a desk, and I sat in front of it. “I’m sorry but you can’t be more than sixteen.”

He laughed, “You noticed. My sorta brother kinda owns the place, and he left me in charge when I’m not in class.”

“You must have quite the business sense on you then.” I grinned.

“Not really. I have other talents that help, and we have Will who does all the managerial stuff at night so I can do the things I need to do during the day. It’s really a team effort.”

I nodded, “Then you noticed the girl at the register skimming the till as she waited on that cash customer.”

Rider stood up and looked over at the girl and held out his finger. “You sure about that.”

I nodded, “Couldn’t miss it.”

Rider sat back down and tapped away at the computer and he turned the screen so that I could see it, “Where?”

I watched it backwards and waited until the camera caught it. It wasn’t obvious from that angle, “There.” I pointed. And Rider slowed the images down and then he saw it. “Thanks we’ve been trying to figure out who was doing that. I’ll be right back.”

Rider got up and I heard him pull the girl aside and fire her. No warning, no reason, just fired. And when he came back he was grinning, “Well, it looks like we have an opening. How about an on the job interview? Let’s see how well you can handle it.”

I shrugged, “I’ve never done this before – at least I don’t think so.”

He smiled at me, “I don’t think you’ll have much of a problem.” He went into a back room and pulled out an apron and a paper hat with Brew logo on it, “Our uniform, wear it proudly.” 

I slide the apron on and tucked my head into the paper hat and stepped out to the cafe area. “Sam, this is Nox. He’s here on a trial basis. I’ll ring up the orders, you teach him the ropes.”

Sam nodded, “Alright.” 

The line was out the door we were in for a busy few hours. The first order came in and Sam showed me how the screens worked and then he set to showing me the machines. The first three or four orders I watched while he did the serving. The machines were easy to use and there was some niggling of a memory of those machines like I knew more than I actually did. 

“Can I read the order list and ingredients?”

Sam frowned, “Yeah. I guess.” He rummaged through a folder on the counter and pulled out the list, “This is how you make everything.”

I looked over at Rider and raised my voice when he was between customers, “You mind if I read these real quick? And then let me have a go?”

Rider’s eyebrow rose but he nodded, “Sure. Take as long as you need, just step in the office.” He looked at Sam and the other man shrugged. I did as I was instructed and read through the three pages of instructions twice. It was all relatively simple, and most of the had a similar pattern.

I stepped out and put the papers back in the folder, “Let me have a go?”

Sam nodded and stepped aside. Rider rang up the next drink I looked at the screen and saw all the modifications. Sam snickered but it wasn’t difficult, the carmel latte with skim milk instead of whole, with chocolate and non-fat whipped cream wasn’t all that unusual and I whipped it up and doodle their name on the cup like I was supposed and called out their name, “Drea.” 

Drea walked up and I gave her a sweet smile, “Have a great day.” I said as she picked up her drink. I turned back to the machine and started the next two drinks. Nothing special about them, a coffee with two sugars and cream, and the other was just straight up black.

The name was Alex and I drew it with fondness. The letters feeling more like habit than anything else I’d written. I called out the name, “Alex.” And set the two cups of coffee on the counter. A man came up laughing at something the other guy with him had said. His blonde hair and green eyes jabbed at a memory but it slipped away as soon as he turned away to join the man with jet black hair. “Have a great day.” I called after him.

He turned around and winked, “You too man. Doing a great job.” He gave me a thumbs up and headed out the door.

My first day on the job netted me not only a job, but a fifty bucks I didn’t have. So I bought a cup of coffee for Abby I got her order from Will, I picked up a steak and some veggies and a bottle of red wine that would pair well with everything and Abby and I would celebrate – a new life.

And just like every night since waking up I dreamt of the same haunting blue eyes with an infamous smirk and a voice that makes my insides quiver.

The strangeness of the dream was comforting yet foreign all at the same time. I figured it was something I had done before but didn’t remember. The land was strange, it blinked and shimmered and I felt like many things were missing. There was nothing to do here, yet I felt it was an important place.

That second dream there was a soft noise behind me and I turned to find another stranger. Though he wasn’t a stranger I recognized him from the TV show I had just been watching. Q was just another face, however, because I recognized those bright blue eyes and smiled widely at him. “Hey.” I said.

“Hey yourself, why did you bring me here?”

“I didn’t.” I said.

“You called me, so I came.”

“I didn’t call you.” I frowned, “I was thinking about how you wore the face of a man in a TV show I was watching. I fell asleep.”

“You know you are sleeping and yet you say you didn’t call me.”

“Come on tell me this looks like you in reality?”

He smirked and on that face it looked strange, but I liked that smirk, “It is a strange place, what it is?”

I shrugged, “I don’t know. I feel like I should but I don’t.” I smiled at him wishing he’d come closer and all of a sudden he was standing inches from me instead of yards away. “Why did you wear this face?” I asked

“You were thinking about the other face, and the TV show so I’d play to that.”

“You don’t want me to know who you really are?” I frowned.

“I don’t want anyone to know who I am.”

“So you visit other dreams?” I asked

“I haven’t in a while, this is the second time in the same number of days that I have. I haven’t had the need, or desire until now.”

“So you are saying I’m breaking your bubble of abstinence.” I grinned.

“Something like that Pretty Boy.”

Electricity ran through my body at those words. Something about the way he said them. I didn’t know why he made me feel this way. But he felt like home, much like Abby had earlier in the day.

“Who’s Abby?”

“My new roommate. While I stay at a friends place until I can get on my feet.”

“Like family?”

“I feel like family?”

“Are you reading my mind?” I asked with a frown.

“Sorta,” he said, “You leak information, I’m not doing it on purpose.”

“I’m sorry.” I said and I woke myself up from the dream. The couch was uncomfortable and my back was sore. The time on my watch read 2am. I might as well get up. Something told me I’d be up in a few hours anyway.

I don’t know how I remembered, but I did a completely body weight workout mixed with yoga and never even missed a beat out in the park just down the road. It wasn’t Central Park, but it had grass and the likes and it was working for me. But even yoga and sweating didn’t keep the memory of that voice and those blue eyes from my mind. It was the only thing I could think about.

I made it back to Abby’s apartment in time for a shower and to make her breakfast before she woke up. The bacon and the coffee roused her early. “You making me breakfast?” she asked looking at the table settings for two.

“I figure it’s the least I can do if I’m going to eat your food.”

She laughed. “I could get used to this, even Will never cooked for me.”

“I’m sure he made you a killer cup of coffee though.”

Abby sat down with a fresh cup of coffee and sipped at it with a moan, “Nope – never like this.”

I shrugged, “Then why is he a night shift manager?”

She grinned, “Because he’s a good business man. He ran stocks some time ago, but he didn’t like it. But he knows how to pull in the crowds.”

“Interesting.” I smiled as I plated the bacon and eggs and set a plate for Abby then dished up my own. “I’ll just keep cooking for you, I don’t think I’ll ever bring home the bacon.” I grinned at my play on words which made Abby laugh.

It might not be the best place on the planet, but I felt at home here. Abby wasn’t my blood but it was easy to get along with her, she felt like family and I’d only known her a few hours.

She helped me prep for the interview at Brew later that morning. I didn’t really need much prep work – not really. You make coffee to order. So Abby tried to stump me as I started mixing whatever she asked for. Needless to say she drank a lot of coffee that morning.

New York City, the Big Apple, the city that never sleeps – a moniker that was true no matter how hard you tried to hide the fact. Lights were always on, sirens always blared. I had memories of mountains, but I couldn’t recall when or how I had ever seen them. But I had once in my life and it didn’t matter now, I wasn’t sure I would even know what to do when out of a city.

Even with no memory of who I was before I woke up on that park bench by the officer, I knew how to survive here. They weren’t memories, more like instinct, but they were there. And a few hours after wandering the city at night I found myself standing in front of an old brown stone building in Harlem. The buildings were all owned by someone I had once known – I think. I didn’t remember but I still walked in, in the middle of the night. The front door was unlocked and there was an old blind man sitting on the stairs watching me even as I walked in. 

He’d heard me open the door despite the lack of the classic bell jingling. It was an apartment complex after all, but still. The man muttered, “Damn, smells good around here.” He clears his throat, I assume he hadn’t meant to say that out loud for me to hear then he asked, “Can I help you?”

I gave him a slight nod and smiled brightly at him, “I need a place to stay. I don’t have any money on me.” I patted down my pockets and only had my wallet with no ID, or money or anything. I didn’t think I had been robbed, but I wondered how I could have lived without one. “I woke up in Central Park and I don’t remember anything.”

The old man gave me a toothy grin and sniffed at the air strangely. “Lies have their own smell and I believe you,” he said. “Until you get on your feet you can stay with a friend of mine. And then there will be a place for you here as well.”

I smiled. “Thank you.”

He stood up and guided me to an upstairs apartment. For being blind he got around rather well. His hand never touched the wall, his feet never dragged. He dodged the child rolling across the floor on his bike. “Don’t you belong in bed Carlos?”

“Mama has a man friend over, Mr. Armande,” the child replied looking up at the old blind man.

He didn’t knock on the door just turned the knob and pushed it open. “Abby, I have a roommate for you.”

A small woman walked out of the bathroom drying her hands on a towel. There was a strange sense of deja vu as I looked at her big amber colored eyes. Her smile brightened the room, “Armande, why do you keep bring in strays who won’t pay?”

The old man laughed, “He will pay when he remembers who he is.” Armande looked at me with a tooth grin, “I have a feeling about him. It will be good.” He pointed to the couch, “It pulls out into a bed, Abby is used to guests.”

Abby laughed, “I live here free of charge since I was run out of my old home by my ex-boyfriend. I can’t afford a place on my own. Armande allows me to stay here as long as I put up with his entering and exiting, and his incessant need to house strays with me.”

I grinned at her, “I appreciate the offer but I don’t want to be a burden.”

She shook her head and marched over to me and put her finger in my face, “You will not leave this apartment until you have a job and a place to stay.” She backed off with a shy smile, “Except of course to go look for said job. There are plenty of places you can pay to stay here once you have that. Armande will keep one warm for you.”

Armande chuckled, “Of course Abby. Tell Will when you see him again, he might find your new roommate useful in filling that position.” And with a quick turn of his heel he was out the door, I went to follow to thank him but when I reached the hall he was gone. What?

Abby was snickering as I walked back inside the room frowning. “He does that sometimes. You’ll get used to it.”

Later that night I met Will. Abby took me out for a cup of coffee – on her she said. I had no money. Hell I didn’t have anything but the clothes on my back.

We went all the way across town to a brand new coffee shop that had opened. Abby raved about it, “A good friend of a friend opened the place so he wouldn’t have to walk far for a great cup of coffee.” She chuckled, “He lives upstairs.”

“That’s cool. And the bar by the same name?” I asked.

She laughed, “I don’t remember exactly why he opened a beer bar when he doesn’t drink beer. There was a reason but I’ve forgotten it. He’s not very open about it I might not have ever known.”

“The beer any good?” I asked.

“Oh it’s excellent. Best IPs and home made brews I’ve ever had. Probably from all those years learning about that sort of thing.” Abby said.

“I thought you said he didn’t like beer.”

“Oh, he doesn’t, but the friend I was talking about he helps with the brews. Ryan is sort of a chemist I think. Silly sweet boy who is way older than he looks.”

We sat down at a table in the corner of the coffee shop and Will I presumed came over and took my order, “What will you have?”

“Just a black coffee.”

“You can order anything, it’s alright.” Abby said.

“I only want a black coffee, as big as you can but just black please. I don’t do all the other stuff in it.”

Will left and Abby was laughing at me as she turned back from watching the man walk away gracefully. “You remember you don’t like sugary sweet milky things, but not who you are.”

I laughed. “I remember things as they come to me. Like my name. I know it’s Nox. I don’t know my last name. I don’t know where I was born, though I think it was out west somewhere, small childhood memories of the mountains and all that. I don’t know where I went to school, or what I’m good at. I don’t know if anyone will miss me, or if there was anyone at all to begin with.”

Abby frowned, “Well now you got me and Will.”

Will came over and set my black coffee in a very large mug on the table, “The biggest we got. Abby tells me you need a job. What hours can you work?”

“Whenever you want, but I don’t know if I can make coffee.” I grinned, “I could be a clutz or something.”

Abby chuckled, “Armande has a good feeling about him.”

“A good feeling, eh?” Will nodded, “Come in tomorrow morning, I’ll set up an interview with my boss. Abby will throw in a good word with Rider.” He was looking at Abby with a bright grin begging for an yes, “And I’ll let him decide if Armande’s feeling is right.”

“Does Armande have these feelings often?”

Will chuckled, “Every so often. They don’t always pan out, but we haven’t had a complaint yet.” Abby and Will were both grinning madly.

“He set you up didn’t he?”

Will laughed, “I was one of his strays a few months back, he set me up as Abby’s roommate. He had a good feeling about me.”

I laughed, “I see.”

And that was how I pretty much got a job and an apartment all in one night of not knowing who I was. And now it’s eleven weeks later, and I have my own studio apartment in what the residents collectively call Safe Harbor. Armande still has a good feeling about me even though I don’t really know what that means.

The darkness was cold and harsh, but soon it gave way to something warm and bright and I looked around seeing things that were beyond extraordinary. The darkness before was full of pain, like my whole body had fallen asleep and the pins and needles enveloped my whole being. But here in this strange landscape there was nothing but peace as I stared at the barren tree in the middle of a dying field. The green grass was dying, I could almost imagine the lush field it had been once. The trees on the horizon were browning and nothing like the landscapes I’d seen during the fall. The sun was setting and the stars were shining brightly down upon me. They felt like I should know their story. 

Behind me a voice echoed, “Strange place.”

I turned to look at the voice and smiled, though I’d never actually met the man before, a TV actor from some show I didn’t recall ever having watched stood before me. Though his eyes were an ice blue that struck a cord deep down inside – just like the voice had cooled my soul. Brought me to a place that I should know but was just out of grasp.

“Yeah. Do you know where we are?”

The man looked at me and shook his head, “I’ve never been here before.”

“Me either.” I said calmly yet I felt as though it were a lie – it tasted like ash. I had been here before – “Maybe I’ve been here before.”

“Me too.” He said.

I went to offer the stranger my hand and offer my name, but it escaped me. Who was I? “Do you know who I am?” I asked.

The man smirked, “No. Never seen you before either.”

“Then why are you here?” I asked.

He shrugged, “I was called here, I figured someone needed my help or something.” He said the or something like he knew more than he was letting on, but I was already confused I didn’t need more of that right now.

“I know you aren’t him.” I gestured to the man standing before me, “He’s an actor with brown eyes and he plays some magician character.”

“I chose him because he was lingering in your head. You have a crush on him.” He smirked.

“You can read my mind?”

“Can’t everyone?” He joked.

“What am I thinking?” I asked and tried to cover the thought that the actor was someone who I could let have his way with me. The character he played certainly wouldn’t have objected to it. Maybe he would.

The smirk on his face turned into a smile, “You just want me to fuck you with this body.”

I laughed, “I wouldn’t be opposed to that.”

He shook his head, “No, I don’t think so.” He said and then was gone – disappeared like he’d never been there at all.

I turned a full circle twice and he was gone. I was alone again in this strange place. I took a step towards the tree. It was bare and the bark crumbled as I ran my fingers down the trunk. Something was wrong – it was dying. I didn’t know how I knew that, but it had always been barren but now it was crumbling beneath my fingers.

I pulled away from it, and stepped back taking in the whole of the scene. Something was wrong, and the darkness crept back in obscuring the tree, the pain returned and I wanted to scream but no sound escaped when I tried. It echoed in my head – the pain, the cold.

I was so alone.

After the Mayor meeting with Geb was easy. He knew what was going on. I started spelling some metal and once we got the hang of it and the spells took when someone else drew the runes I left. it was all well and good but it was time to make lunch. Griffin followed me to Alex’s place but he stayed down in the lobby. No one was allowed inside unless things changed for the worse and Alex needed help. That typically didn’t happen but it could.

Lunch was usually the same thing, sometimes I’d make Alex pancakes since he loved them so much but usually it was just some kind of home made sandwich. Today I was doing chicken salad on rye. Alex’s house keeper still kept the fridge well stocked, though less stocked than usual since we only used it for lunch. But it always had what I needed and she seemed to get me better than most people – though we had never actually met.

Halfway through grilling the chicken my phone beeped with a new voice mail. Which was odd, since it hadn’t even rang. It was from Alex and my heart sank the moment I heard it. “Hey Pretty Boy, I can’t make lunch. Benji and I have a meeting I can’t get around. See you tonight.”

That was the problem with meeting up before Alex got here. Now I had more than enough food for the two of us and no one to eat with. I sighed as I finished the meal, ate and then I crawled into Alex’s bed.

Or on top of it rather and pulled his pillow into my chest. The problem was it didn’t smell like Alex. There was a lingering of his cologne in the air, and the soft scent of citrus but Alex hadn’t actually stayed her in years. The smells were covered by layers of dust and pollution. The scent of his house keeper was more present than he was.

There was no point staying in, so I went home. The walk was easy and the stairs made me breathe heavy. But no one was home. All our things were moving out – all except our bedroom. I guessed they were waiting on me. I didn’t know, but I needed Alex and I missed him.

Our room was near empty – even the bed was gone. My things had been moved and I sighed. Even home wasn’t home.

I collapsed on the floor and sat with my arms around my knees in the middle of the room. Griffin stood in the doorway. “You alright?”

I shrugged. “Not really.”

“Want me to find Ryan?”

I shook my head, “No, I’m going to go for a run.”

He nodded, “Are you going to lose me?”

I smirked, “Yes.”

He walked over to me and offered me a hand up and as I stood up he reached into my back pocket and took my phone. He tapped a few things and then slid it back, “Okay. That tracking rune you have is great, but I like tech too.”

I smiled, “You aren’t going to get angry with me?”

He sighed, “There is no point, Nox. I can only protect you so far, and I really don’t want to go for a run. But I know you need to do something. I see the strain on you and I’m not an idiot.”

“I never said you were.”

He grinned and nodded, “Run, relax, and we’ll meet you at the new house. Don’t come back here without an escort. We still aren’t sure of the security now.”

I nodded. I could do that. Though there was nothing here anyway. No Alex, no room, no home. It was just empty and it felt like I’d lost something but didn’t know what it was.

I didn’t have to change I ran in my jeans on a good day so this was just like any other. I had no destination so I just started running. My mind wandered, my power I pulled in around me. It wasn’t something I intentionally did, but I was feeling small and broken, and Alex had ditched me for Benji. My family had moved everything without my help. I was feeling useless. If I didn’t have all this power would anyone even miss me?

That was the question I had and kept pushing my legs forward as I ran through the streets of my home. No one would even notice. I was this all powerful ruler and no one would notice I was gone. 

All that power was locked up inside me, what little good it did. I found myself running through Central Park and stopped to look out over the small lake. There was bench near by and I sat down staring out onto the water. No one would even notice if I was gone, kept running through my mind.

I don’t know how long I sat there. It didn’t really matter, Griffin knew where I was. And if anyone cared they’d find me. 

Hours went by and the only things that cared I sat there were the ducks begging for a few scraps of bread which I didn’t have. Even they left me as I wasn’t worth their time. The sun was setting and night was falling in the park and no one came looking for me. I glanced at my phone and there was no missed calls. No messages from Alex. I should have sent a text but I didn’t. He could find me better than anyone else.

The sun finally dipped below the horizon and a woman sat down next to me. She felt like nothing, I saw nothing around her. That alone should have said something, but I recognized her as the woman who had helped Alex. A pretty blonde who I’d met once. She smiled at me and put her hand on my knee. “You should sleep now.”

It was more than a suggestion as I closed my eyes and I drifted into nothingness.

Our mornings were all pretty much the same. Except this morning everyone was busy packing while I made breakfast and ate alone. Rider and Ryan were taking care of most of the things around the house. Which wasn’t bad in and of itself but it left very little for me to do in most cases. I was bored and alone. Alex had gone out for an early meeting and I had to meet the Mayor in a little while so we had separated with a long tender kiss and both rolled out of bed and went our separate ways.

I seemed to go from one meeting to the next and on and on for the whole day. Only taking a moment to spend time with Alex at lunch. It was our time. His apartment becoming a second or third home depending on how you looked at it. It wasn’t big enough for more than the two of us, but it was our little slice of heaven. I needed that. And I had a feeling I would need that today after this meeting.

The walk to city hall wasn’t far. It was probably farther than anyone else would have liked but Griffon didn’t complain. Jae and Seraph would have. Griffon was the only one really who could keep up. Which was surprising since the other two were supernaturals with supernatural strength and speed. But it had been Griffon who won the race to the top. Vin had opted out of participating – mostly because as he said. Vampire. He could out run me if he wanted to. And Jae and Seraph could have as well – but their training hadn’t enacted endurance. It did now. Griffin and Ant ensured it.

Ant was head of my security, but it was Griffin who enacted it. He had become our go to guy. He’d proven himself. And while I still felt jealous when he and Alex shared a moment but I was getting better. Griffin chuckled as he followed me. “Your body language just screams I hate you.”

“Sorry.” I sighed.

He just laughed, “The fact you care that much that I bother you means a lot.”

“Yeah if only Alex believed it.”

“He does.”

I shrugged, “It’s the same fight we have all the time so I don’t know. And now it’s just getting worse.”

He shook his head. “He isn’t used to all this.” Griffin gestured to me in a vague sort of fashion.

“You mean me being openly into men, or the fact that I’m Venatori, or maybe it’s the whole family thing?”

Griffin laughed, “Yes – to all of it.”

We walked up into the front doors of City Hall and were greeted by a woman in a blue dress, a pair of spectacles hung against her chest, and her hair was done up in a very 70s era do. “Mr. Sétanta, we’ve been expecting you.”

“I’m early.”

She smiled. “Yes, sir, of course you are, your contact at Apex Unlimited informed us of your schedule and we prepared accordingly.”

“So I’m on time.”

She laughed softly, “Not at all sir, you are early, the Mayor isn’t ready to see you. But I am prepared to take you to a more comfortable venue.”

Griffin smiled and winked at me as we followed her through the lobby of City Hall and into an open hall and deeper into the City building. The room she took us to was large but not a conference room exactly, more like a sitting room. The lounge room had a small bar to the side and looked more like a library. “Mr. Sétanta, can I get you something to drink?”

“No thank you. And it’s Nox.” I said.

She smiled, “Nox, I can get you a soda or a whiskey. Phillip won’t mind.”

“A water with lemon if you don’t mind?”

The woman nodded, “Absolutely. And your body guard?”

I looked at Griffin and he shook his head, “He is on duty and is stubbornly proper.”

Griffin smirked as he found his spot behind me when I sank down into the crushed velvet couch. “This is too soft.”

I got up and found a harder leather chair and hoped that was alright. Griffin just laughed, “Alex would have found a use for that.”

“He’s not here.” I grinned at Griffin.

The woman came back in with my lemon water and handed me a portfolio. “The agenda the Mayor wants to talk with you about.” 

I sighed. There was always an ulterior motive to everything I did. It really was becoming tiresome. I flipped open the folder and read through what the Mayor wanted to talk about. There was the Venatori support of the Police Department and the Stock Exchange. There was Venatori support for the schools and hospitals. I blinked at everything, “I should have brought Alex with me.”

Griffin raised his eyebrow and took the folio from my hands. He shrugged. “He’d be good at that and many other things. That’s not why we are here though is it?”

I shook my head. “He thinks so.”

“He thinks what?” A man wearing a stuffy suit and a patent leather shoes walked in with a few other men following him. 

I stood up. “You have quite the list of things you want to discuss.” I said offering my hand. “Nox Sétanta.”

“Mayor Phillip Rogers. A pleasure. This is deputy mayor Ron Goff and my assistant Alan Bernard” He too my hand and shook firmly, almost too firmly like he was trying to push his limits with me. “You seem awful young to be taking over Apex Unlimited.”

I shook my head, “I’m not running the business sir, once we get things figured out since Mr. Green’s passing someone else can deal with the money situation.”

“I was informed you were Imperodo. Mark Green never came down here himself, he always send some lackey. I wanted to see what I could get away with.” Phillip Rogers grinned at me. “The agenda is just to see what you would do.”

I smiled. “I’d be happy to have my people take a look at whatever budgets or what not you need, but I’m not that guy. I’m just a hunter.”

“He’s more than just a hunter, Mayor.” Griffin said, “Don’t let his modesty cheapen his importance.”

I turned to look at Griffin. He smirked, “I was given my orders.”

“That included making me look like an idiot?”

Griffin laughed, “Yes. That was it. Let him speak ill of himself so that people underestimate himself.”

I sighed and turned back to the Mayor. “I am still learning what my role in the new regime is. But I came here looking for increasing the protections here in New York.”

“The protections?” He asked.

“A private conversation between you and me.”

“These are my trusted officials.” 

I shook my head, “Sir, what I have to tell you would under normal circumstances get us both killed without impunity from the very people who sent me.”

He smirked, “A new ruler in town?”

“Something like that. You can share the knowledge as you see fit after I share it with you, but it’s not something you really want out. It can break the fabric of our world, your’s and mine both.”

“A secret? You can tell my men.”

I shook my head, “I cannot. I shouldn’t be telling you.” I stood up, “I am letting you know now paperwork has been filed for new construction. And I really would like to have a heart to heart discussion with you. But it has to be with just you.” I extended my hand and the Mayor took it. “It’s been a pleasure.”

“Sit down Nox.” The deputy mayor said, “Mayor Phillips is unaware of the things you wish to speak but I am not. The tattoo that should sit at your temple is gone, how?”

“Attuned to the occult?” I asked Ron Goff.

“My mother is wiccan. I thought to escape that life but it seems New York is full of it.”

I grinned and sat down waving my hand for him to join us. “And Mr. Bernard?”

“A carrier sir.”

“What pack?” I asked.

“My parents follow our Pack Leader without fail. They are friends with Abby’s family, the girl…”

I interrupted, “I know who Abby is, I check on her regularly.”

Ron Goff sat down and turned towards his boss, “Sir, there are many things in this world that you can’t begin to understand. Nox Sétanta is not too young to be Imperodo, for in our world it is power which reigns, and Nox has taken over the Venatori, the Lone Wolf Pack, has two blood lines of vampires following his lead, and the rest of us all follow suit because in New York City, this young boy has brought peace between the races.”

The Mayor looked stunned at us. “I’m just a hunter. Power maybe, but I’m not here to scare you. I’m here to help. Your crime rate has been increasing, and the solved cases has been decreasing because it’s mostly our people, and we police them ourselves. I need you and yours to get with me and mine and we need to formulate how to work this out – human and supernatural. Unprecedented, and it needs to remain secret. Humans cannot know we exist. Fear will run wild.”

“They would never believe me.”

I smiled at the Mayor and brought four balls of the elements into existence and juggled them, and let each ball drop to the ground with a distinct pop as they disbursed into nothing.”

His stare was disbelief but he’d seen what he saw. I looked to the deputy mayor. “Schedule a time with my people when we can have a formal introduction.”

Bernard was the one to answer, “It will be my pleasure.”

I stood up and gave the three men a nod. Griffin held the door for me and we left the Mayor staring after us. “That went well.” Griffin said.

“Could have gone better,” I said.

Two days after the attack on the Night Life building against my family by an unknown assailant sent by Poet we planned to move into a new building — a building where we controlled all the security. A building that was ours. Alex had purchased it when he was looking for places for his new club. A good investment he called it. He had wanted it to be a surprise – his way of taking care of the family.

Ant secured the place while Alex paid for renovations. The fifth floor was to be our home – a true penthouse. Ant and Ryan and all the body guards would have their own apartments on the fourth floor. The third would be common spaces like a media room, library and gym. 

The second floor Alex said was office space – a place for the kids to do their schooling in undistracted areas, conference rooms for meetings when I didn’t feel like going someplace else, and one sorta ‘ball’ room type place. Alex called it the dance studio. A place large enough for social gatherings.

But the first floor – that was different. It was open to the public. It had a coffee shop and a bar – both of which Alex owned and operated. They were both called Brew. One brewed coffee and the other brewed beer. And both had been open for a few weeks now. Alex had the money to pull it all together using supernatural construction agents. So it went quickly.

Alex told me in the basement they would install several safe rooms – a place we can put a rogue werewolf or vampire temporarily until we got things situated everywhere else. I hadn’t been down yet to put the runes on which made me wonder if someone else had done the job. 

It didn’t really matter, I had been super busy the last two days too. Alex was busy moving the family to the new house, making me think less and less of what I had to do about it all. Alex kept saying it was nothing – he could manage – go be hero,the fucking King of New York.

I’d much rather be in Alex’s arms than with whoever else was pulling my attention. And it took everything I had to get even the hour of alone time I had pulled out of the ether. Later today I’d be meeting the Mayor for the first time. I had a meeting with the architect but I still planned on meeting with Alex for lunch. I was looking forward to cooking for him, and maybe a lot more personal time with him.

Everyone was safe and sound but I felt something was wrong. I had a nagging feeling and Hunter was the source of that. All of the kids, like there was a lingering sense of danger leftover after the attack. My body was coiled tight waiting for the next blow. But it never came. And the feeling never stopped. I made Vin promise to look after Hunter. Ryan had suggested looking after Cass himself I hadn’t even needed to make the request. Darwynn took the distinct position of looking after Drake. His volunteering to watch the little dragon made me smile. Darwynn didn’t look like the type of guy who liked kids, but he like everyone else fell in love with Drake. His orange eyes blinking at you with a bright smile. He was unique and Darwynn loved him. Matt and Laker were always looking after Fae, I didn’t worry about the omega wolf often. Rider was there for all of them. But that feeling of dread never really left no matter how many protections I put in place. Something was coming.

 It was just two days after I told myself. But Alex had yet to reach out to Poet. He either couldn’t find the man, or he was gone – like a puff of smoke.

I didn’t like the idea that the Second Ascendant was out to kill me – but more importantly I would kill him for trying to kill my family.

For now I spent the time alone – with no body guards at a jewelry bazaar in China town. I was looking for some specific things. Small pendants that would remind me of the kids and my family. In our move Hunter had found my old medical bracelet – the one Mia had put charms on to make it less like a medical bracelet and more like jewelry. 

Michaela had made me stop wearing it because it jingled. Now I had a small stone attached to it that kept it silent, and held other magical properties I didn’t quite understand yet. It glowed when I touched it, but not when anyone else did. It was a rune I’d remembered seeing back when I had the book. 

I don’t know why I put it on bracelet but it was helpful in being able to wear it while I worked. But now I wanted to find something to add about with my life now. It had a lot of little charms that reminded me of my childhood – a ballerina, an ice cream cone, a computer, there really were too many memories to count, there was a tiny dragon in the center opposite of the medical part, it was red enamelled and that was Alex – even if I hasn’t known it then.

The clasp was broken so the bracelet itself sat on top of the dresser waiting for Alex’s jeweller to come fix it. But my thoughts kept straying to things that were going on. I’d found pendents for everyone, I wasn’t 100 percent happy with the choices but they were all packaged up and sent to our apartment. Thoughts on the previous night kept filtering into my moments.

Last night I had a meeting with Armande – it wasn’t our normal Friday night meeting and he gave me that look that said he was surprised to hear from me. He was blind but his eyes still said so much when he looked dead at me. “You are off schedule,” he said.

I shrugged and Griffin took up his stance behind me arms crossed over his chest.

“Does the human think he can stop me?” Armande said even as he rushed towards Griffon with vampire speed. But my bodyguard never flinched, never even moved when Armande was flung backwards away from Griffon with just a thought.

Armande laughed. “I should have known, Our Prince has no ordinary humans watching his back.” He nodded toward Griffon, “I approve.”

“I’m glad you approve Armande, I need a favor.”

His eyes turned to me with an expression that could only be characterized by big question marks like a cartoon character. “A favor? Not a command or an order?”

“When have I ever told you what to do?” I asked.

Armande smirked. “Never, but never before have you held the whole of New York City in the palm of your hand. You could crush us all with one squeeze.”

“I’m not here to rule you, Armande. I just need a favor.”

The smirk on Armands face twisted into a smile, “A favor for my liege.”

I growled at the supplication but went on anyway. “I need to know if any of your people have found Poet Rhemues. He’s…”

“I am aware of who he is. I will put some of my best trackers out there. But wouldn’t The Wicked Truth find him faster? Or even send the Hound after him.”

“I don’t tell Cari what to do and I’m pretty sure Wicked is busy dealing with his own problems – he doesn’t need mine.”

Armande chuckled, “And a man who calls the Hound by the familiar says he does not tell her what to do. I would say it was fear that kept you from her presence, but I think it’s something else.”

I rolled my eyes. “She is Ant’s mother, I know her name – nothing more. And I do fear her, but I fear if I sent her after anyone I would never get a chance to talk to them.”

Armande laughed, “Il Cane’s temper can get the best of her, but she will obey whatever command her master gives.”

“I am not her master.”

“Semantics, my boy, semantics.” He smiled and turned towards the dark window. “I will do what I can. My favor?”

I nodded, “What is it?” I asked. I wasn’t sure I really wanted to hear what Armande wanted to ask of me so soon.

“Arrange a meeting with the New York Vampire hunter. Vlad and I would like to make a deal with your father.”

“You want to make a deal with Kai?”

Armande nodded, “He follows your path, and now that the Venatori are yours we wish to bargain for lives present and future. We promise no harm shall come to him. He is under your personal protection. And has been for some time.”

“You are telling me, you and Bernstein haven’t killed my father because of me?”

He smirked, “Why else would the bastard who hunts us still live. And he needs to bring his friend, his softer side so to speak. With him by his side, we have a better chance of all surviving.”

I nodded, “I will do what I can.”

I had similar meetings with Bernstein, Adrian and Dom. And each of them asked for their favor in return immediately – brokerage of a deal with the Venatori. They were taking advantage of the upheaval. I knew that the Venatori were in chaos.

Dorian kept me apprised of the situation. With Mark Green gone there was a void in the leadership. The council of families was bickering about who should lead. The hunters were all but lost as my no kill order went out through New York. I couldn’t control much outside of the City itself. The order had of course gone out to the other branches around the world. But it wouldn’t likely be followed. I mean I didn’t even want to rule anything, but here I was leading everything in New York City. I was King of New York. Just the humans didn’t know it.

When did my life become so hectic. I longed for the afternoon rest with Alex. I needed him, needed to just be me for a little while. I wasn’t sure when I was ever going to live a normal life. Bt then I wasn’t sure if I even wanted that – as long as I had Alex I was going to be happy.