Chapter 6
New Paths
Two little identical twin boys ran through a field of wheat.
Man: “Come back here now! I won’t hurt you… Have I ever? How are you handling the injections your grandfather giving you?”
The boys climbed up a large tree. They sat up there looking down with their ruby-red eyes.
Man: “It’s going to come eventually, little boys… There’s no way around it. You can’t stay up in that tree forever!”
The boys gasp in horror as they see a family of three black cats—a mother, father, and their kittens—with their throats slashed. One tears up and breaks down.
The boy’s father slaps the other twin.
Man: “This will make you grow big and strong…”
He crooned as they administered an injection to them.
One of the boys poured moonshine all over the floors in their farmhouse. They stepped outside. One of the boys struck a match and tossed it on the liquid marveling as he watched the place ignite.
~
Daniel woke up in a cold sweat. His eyes widened as he gazed up at the ceiling fan. That same dream again, he thought. He wiped the cold sweat off his forehead. What is this place? Who are those boys? He wondered. He did not recall staying in a farmhouse, those twin boys, or that place, so why did he continue to dream about it?
Daniel rose from his bed and went into the bathroom, completely naked. While he urinated, he tried to make out the puffiness of his face while looking in the mirror. He grimaced that his face was a little puffy. He tied an ice mask around his eyes and kept that on while he did his morning routine exercises. After he did his morning exercises, he removed his ice-pack mask and stepped into his shower.
While he showered, he used a shower gel, which he ordered from Argentville, Nouvelle Gaule, then a body scrub, and a moisturizing facial gel for his face. All of his personal hygiene products are imported from Nouvelle Gaule and he only uses the finest of shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers, etc. with natural herbs.
After he brushed his teeth and used mouthwash, he applied a deep-pore cleansing lotion, then a detoxifying clay mask, which he left on for ten minutes while he checked his fingernails, toenails, and teeth. He then washed it off with a honey scrub. After he shaved his face, he applied aftershave with no alcohol, then moisturizer, then anti-aging cream, followed by more moisturizer.
~
Icy anger swirled inside Daniel as he stepped into his office that morning. He was pissed off because Tristan arrived at work before he did. How he loved imagining killing him slowly and painfully while fucking him. The thought of Tristan dying and begging him to stop tightened his stomach and made his pants tighter. Maybe I’ll let off in the bathroom during break, he thought.
He heard a gentle knock on the door.
Daniel: “Come in, please.”
Carey poked his head in and smiled.
Carey: “Morning, Daniel.”
He sang merrily. He stepped inside holding up a teddy bear wearing a tie-dye t-shirt and sunglasses over its eyes. Daniel's demeanor instantly changed. His smile faded and he quickly formed a scowl.
Daniel: “What on Reona is that?”
He asked scathingly. Carey chuckled.
Carey: “Just a little present from Raijin to thank you for supporting him during the making of Woobly-Honks.”
Daniel’s eyes clouded and his face flamed red. He quickly rose from his desk, marched over to Carey, and snatched the bear from his hands. Carey jumped at his sudden actions. Daniel twisted the head and ripped it off. He then tore the limbs off the teddy bear and tossed the remnants on the floor. Carey clutched his notebook close to his chest and gasped slightly at Daniel’s outburst.
Daniel: “If that idiot thinks I would like this, I suggest he find another attorney. I hate this.”
He growled. He marched back to his desk where he sat. Carey swallowed the lump in his throat.
Daniel: “Clean that shit up. I’m a busy man. I have work to do, unlike that rich moron who needs his father to wipe his ass.”
He snarled and began doodling in his notebook. Carey sheepishly nodded and knelt down gingerly picking up the torn-up plush bear.
Carey raised his head to see Daniel fiercely scribbling in his notebook and staring intently at what he was doing. He gulped and rose to his feet, tossing the plush in the trash. He cautiously approached the desk and leaned over to see what he was doing. He let out a slight gasp when he saw crude doodles of a long-haired man with his severed head, limbs, and penis all nailed to the wall. He shifted his eyes and stood erect.
Carey: “D-Daniel, is there anything troubling you?”
Daniel: “No.”
He said tersely.
Daniel: “I have work to do, so unless you have business to conduct, you may leave.”
Carey forced a smile. He promptly left the office unable to shake that feeling of uneasiness.
~
Tristan sat in his office at his desk typing at his computer. The phone rang twice. Tristan picked it up.
Tristan: “Good morning, Samsun & Co. Law Firm. This is Tristan Trémaux speaking. How can I help you?”
He said robotically. Deimos cleared his throat.
Deimos: “Hello, Tristan!”
Tristan brightened when he heard Deimos’ voice on the other end.
Tristan: “Oh, hello, Deimos. Nice to hear from you! What can I do for you?”
He laughed softly.
Deimos: “Would you like to go to lunch?”
He asked tersely. Tristan’s eyebrow rose. He tapped the pencil on his desk.
Tristan: “Lunch, huh?”
He glanced at his pocket watch.
Tristan: “Of course, would you like to meet me at The Chicken Shack?”
He asked him.
Deimos: “Of course, I’m craving chicken burgers!”
Tristan: “Magnificent! Meet me at twelve. That’s when my lunch break begins.”
He drummed his fingers on his desk.
Deimos: “It’s my treat, Tristan.
Tristan: “Oh! Of course! Thank you. I appreciate it. Meet you soon.”
He said softly and cradled the receiver.
Someone knocked on his door. Tristan raised his head to see Daniel.
Daniel: “Ah, I see someone is using business hours to discuss lunch dates! That’s not very professional, Mr. Trémaux!”
He said loftily. Tristan looked back at the monitor.
Tristan: “Neither is doodling in your notepad during hours…”
He hissed. Daniel grimaced as his features harshened. Tristan froze.
Daniel: “How dare you? I am doing work! I don’t engage in doodling! I don’t goof off! Who said that?! Was it Raijin?! Well, says a lot about you if you believe that moron!”
He snapped, straightened his jacket, and stormed off. I have eyes, Daniel, Tristan thought.
~
During his lunch break, Tristan drove down to the boardwalk and saw Deimos. He waved at him. The Chicken Shack was a small take-out restaurant with picnic tables set up and tables with chairs around the outside. Tristan surveyed the menu. Deimos gazed at him and admired his good looks. He felt at ease with him.
Tristan: “Let’s see… They have jalapeño chicken burgers, habanero chicken burgers, and ghost pepper chicken burgers. I think I can only tolerate the jalapeño chicken burger. I’d like one with lots of pickles, no tomatoes, and fries. I’ll have a sweet tea to drink.”
He smiled at Deimos. Deimos reached out and tickled Tristan’s sides. Tristan burst out laughing.
Tristan: “HEHEHEHEHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”
He laughed and squirmed. Deimos smiled at him and pulled out a chair for Tristan. He thanked him and sat down.
Deimos approached the window to place their orders. He placed Tristan’s order and ordered four ghost pepper chicken burgers with extra pickles, no tomatoes, and a Professor Pepper. When the vendor gave him the total, he fished his wallet out of his back pocket and withdrew the cash.
Deimos carried the tray of food over to them and sat down. Tristan thanked him and bit into his burger in little bites. Deimos removed the pickles from his burger and ate them. Tristan gazed at him.
Tristan: “Going to give me some?”
He asked. Deimos blinked.
Deimos: “I got extra on yours!”
Tristan looked at him with his dewy green eyes. Deimos clicked his tongue and gave some of his pickles to Tristan. Tristan smiled tightly and looked down at his hand when Deimos’ pinky finger intertwined with his.
Deimos: “Did you ask your grandmother for the loan yet for your office?”
Tristan grimaced and shook his head.
Deimos: “What if I ask my father for a loan for you?”
Tristan waved his hands.
Tristan: “Oh no, I couldn’t do that!”
Deimos: “I don’t mind helping you, Tristan. I know you’re unhappy working for someone else… and working with Daniel.”
He said softly. Tristan bowed his head. He’s not wrong but this on me to muster up the courage to ask my grandmother for money knowing she will talk down to me, he thought.
Deimos gazed intently at Tristan and loved it when he smiled. His smile could light up a room. How he wished Tristan could read his thoughts.
Tristan: “I will get around to it.”
He nodded. Deimos gazed at Tristan and traced his fingertips over the palm of his hand. Tristan giggled.
Deimos: “If you don’t do it, I will do it.”
He said firmly. Tristan spread his smile to show his even white teeth and Deimos felt his jeans get tighter.
Tristan: “Is that an order?”
Deimos: “Yes!”
Tristan chuckled.
Tristan: “All right, I will do this.”
He smiled tenderly at Deimos. Deimos pursed his lips and smiled back.
Tristan: “I am not happy working at Samsun & Co. Law Firm.”
He blurted and bowed his head.
Tristan: “I wanted to be an attorney and will continue to do this but... I can’t handle Daniel…”
He said with a twinge of annoyance.
Tristan: “So rather than remain there and be miserable, I should do something about it. I am not a tree; I don’t have to remain in one place if I am unhappy… The same applies to you.”
Deimos raised his eyebrows and lowered his head. Does he mean me being in Ouro Novo… or being with Ivy? He wondered.
~
Daniel sat at his desk doodling Tristan and other men being sexually tortured and having their penises mutilated. Icy anger formed in Daniel that Tristan would dare to accuse him of not doing his work. This was the highlight of my day, he thought.
He flicked his gaze up to see Tristan walk past his office. Daniel had a bone to pick with him. He rose and marched down to him. Tristan sat at his desk.
Daniel: “Hello, Mr. Trémaux, have fun at lunch with your slacker metal boyfriend?”
He chuckled. Tristen shot him a hateful glare.
Tristan: “So, you’re stalking me as well as the other men whom you draw disturbing art of?!”
He spat. Daniel grimaced.
Daniel: “My artwork isn’t real life! How dare you assume I am drawing my fantasies?!”
He snapped. Tristan laughed bitterly.
Tristan: “Who said they were your fantasies? I never said that! But thanks for confirming my suspicions!”
Daniel glowered at him.
Daniel: “You’ll be happy to know that Samsun & Co. Law Firm is no more.”
He straightened his sports jacket.
Tristan: “...Is Jack Samsun retiring?”
He asked.
Daniel: “He is and now I am the owner. It’s Lancaster & Co. Law Firm. You will be answering to me!”
He said loftily. Tristan froze. It was bad enough Daniel was his annoying co-worker but now he will be his boss, he thought. He bobbed his head. Daniel clicked his tongue.
Daniel: “Is that it? Are you going to congratulate me?”
He scoffed.
Daniel: “But I digress… You will no longer be talking back to me or using the lines to call that slacker rockstar wannabe boyfriend.”
He sneered. Tristan’s tongue flicked over his lips.
Tristan: “Okay, I’ll put in my letter of resignation.”
He finally said. A sly smirk curled on Daniel’s lips.
Daniel: “Well, that’s too bad but… not really. You’re only doing yourself a favor. For you, I will put in a good word at The Pink Top City Zoo to maintain Randy the chimpanzee. He might be a good addition to your slacker metal boyfriend’s make-believe band.”
Tristan was going to speak up but he held his tongue. It wasn’t worth it, he thought.
Tristan: “Great, thank you.”
He smiled.
Daniel’s smug grin dipped into a grimace. Why is he taking this so well? He wondered.
Daniel: “...I want you out of here by the end of the day. If your stuff isn’t out by then, it’s going to the garbage!”
He snapped before he pivoted on his heel to storm out. Tristan quickly packed up his things and couldn’t leave that office fast enough.
~
Tristan: “Je suis chez moi!”
He called out as he strolled through the kitchen with the boxes in his hands. He placed the boxes on the island and looked through the archway past the living room. He took a deep breath and strolled out of the kitchen and through the living room.
The foyer had stone brick walls with a large black oriental rug in the center and a crystal chandelier hanging over it. The walls were several candle wall sconces. There were three doors—one led to a bathroom, one to his grandparents’ study, and one to his grandparents’ bedroom. He stood in front of the door to their office and took a deep breath.
His hand rose and knocked on the door. He heard his grandmother say, “Entre, je t’en prie.” Tristan inhaled sharply and opened the door. He entered a large office with built-in wall bookcases and a ladder. Hanging over the center was a large crystal chandelier. He saw his grandmother seated at the large oak desk several bookcases behind the desk. To the left was a window looking out at the side of the house. To the right was a brown leather sofa. Near the door was a large globe of Reona and a small desk for Tristan’s grandfather. Tristan gingerly stepped to his grandmother’s desk and sat down.
Tristan: “Bonsoir, grand-mère. J’ai quelque chose à te demander.”
Honorine kept her eyes on writing something in her journal.
Honoroine: “Que veux-tu?”
Tristan cleared his throat.
Tristan: “J’ai besoin d’emprunter de l’argent pour ouvrir mon propre cabinet d’avocats.”
He said firmly. Honorine slowly peeled her eyes away from her journal to lock her cold glare on her grandson.
Honorine: “D’accord. Au lieu de m’emprunter de l’argent, je le prendrai sur ton héritage.”
She folded her hands and kept her gaze fixed on Tristan. Tristan’s eyes lit up.
Tristan: “Vraiment?!”
He asked breathlessly. She nodded soberly.
Honorine: “Oui, ce serait mieux que de devoir me rembourser.”
She curtly nodded. Tristan beamed and rose from his seat.
Tristan: “Merci beaucoup, grand-mère!”
He said ecstatically and swiftly left the office.
~
Tristan had Chinese food delivered to his house. Deimos and Ivy were invited and Celeste invited herself to join them. Tristan ordered sweet and sour chicken, egg rolls, spring rolls, beef and broccoli, curry chicken, mushroom fried rice, spicy Cantonese chow mein, pineapple chicken, General Tso’s chicken, honey garlic spareribs, and butterfly shrimp.
Deimos: “Why are you here? Are the Donatis not feeding you?”
He asked sharply.
Celeste: “I don’t want to eat with Skeletor. Do you want to eat with Jaclyn?”
She countered. Deimos’ face crumbled.
Deimos: “Touché…”
Tristan: “So, my grandmother is taking the money from my inheritance to fund my own law firm!”
He beamed.
Deimos: “It’s a good thing I prompted you to do that. I did good with pushing you to do your own thing.”
He nodded. Tristan smiled back.
Tristan: “Thank you for that, Deimos. I needed that encouragement.”
He said softly.
Ivy bowed her head, feeling bitter that it was Deimos who inspired him and not her, but she was happy for Tristan regardless. Tristan flicked his gaze to Ivy and grimaced. He could feel that she was upset and he wanted to cheer her up.
Tristan: “Well, when I get everything straightened away, I will need you to design my website for me, Ivy.”
He stated. Ivy brightened a bit.
Tristan: “That way, people can see what my office is about, read about my staff and me, and it’s an easier way for them to pay their invoice should they choose.”
He added. Deimos grimaced and blocked his thoughts so Ivy couldn’t read them. Ivy: “Thank you, Tristan. I’d be delighted to do that for you!”She then caught Deimos’ grimacing face and frowned that he wasn’t happy for her.
Ivy: “Also, Tristan, the place where my mum worked closed down. She might want to work as a secretary for you.”
She added. Tristan sipped on his iced tea and raised his eyebrows.
Tristan: “Of course! When I purchase the building and get everything set up, she can drop her résumé off and I will set up an interview.”
He smiled. Deimos folded his arms over and pouted.
Celeste looked at Deimos and Tristan.
Celeste: “Okay, I suggest Deimos come in and tickle your feet for a job!”
She nodded. Deimos’ and Tristan’s faces reddened. Ivy’s expression soured.
Deimos: “I don’t need to do that for a job.”
He muttered.
Deimos: “When we had lunch, I gave Tristan my pickles!”
He said triumphantly. Tristan sighed. He knew what Deimos was doing.
Celeste: “Why?”
Deimos: “Because he asked me, duh!”
He snapped. Ivy swung her gaze over to Deimos.
Ivy: “You never gave me your pickles.”
She muttered bitterly. Tristan shifted in his seat uncomfortably.
Celeste: “I overheard you tell Tristan that you got a call from Basilia about a thrash metal band she is sponsoring to come here and you’re going to be their drummer.”
Deimos rolled his eyes.
Deimos: “I told him that to him in confidence. I didn’t need you repeating something I confided in him, too.”
He snapped.
Celeste: “Why, though? Why didn’t you tell Ivy about this?”
She asked him. Tristan bowed his head. She was asking good questions but he knew there was a time and a place for everything. He heaved another sigh and surveyed the atmosphere. Maybe there would never be a good time, he thought. Ivy pursed her lips and clenched her fists.
Ivy: “You never tell me anything!”
She blurted, shooting up from her seat.
Deimos: “You’re listening to something from a snack thief. I didn’t tell you because it’s not set in stone!”
He snapped.
Ivy: “You told him!”
She challenged him, gesturing to Tristan.
Tristan: “Why did you tell me, Deimos?”
He challenged.
Deimos: “Because you don’t get upset about everything, in case this fell through or didn’t happen!”
Tristan locked his gaze on Deimos and didn’t believe that response. Ivy didn’t buy it either.
Ivy: “Because you don’t tell me anything!”
She cried.
Tristan heaved a deep sigh.
Tristan: “We had this discussion, Deimos. Why aren’t you letting her in?”
He asked calmly. Deimos looked away.
Deimos: “Well, why didn’t you tell her about your father in a coma?!”
Tristan froze.
Tristan: “...She knows about Papa being in a coma.”
Deimos shook his head.
Deimos: “Yeah, but I’m going to heal him! After you saw me heal Anthony, you asked me if I would heal him, too! And you never told her!”
He nodded. Tristan gaped disbelievingly at Deimos. Is he going to use my father’s condition to one-up her?! He wondered.
Tristan: “Deimos, why are you in this competition? It isn’t anything like that. Ivy cannot heal him and I need you to do that for me! It isn’t about one-upping her, and I would hope you want to help me because you care for me and not to one-up her.”
He said as his voice rose. Ivy bowed her head, emotionally shutting down and going numb.
Deimos: “It’s HOW you want to get there!”
He fired back. Tristan drew back. He noticed he changed the subject abruptly.
Tristan: “You’re terrified of flying!”
He blurted. Ivy blinked mutely. Another thing he didn’t tell me. I’ll add it to the burning tire pile with the rest, she mused bitterly.
Deimos: “I told you that in confidence!”
He gasped. Tristan removed his glasses to rub his eyes.
Deimos: “It’s HOW you want to get there! Why are you going to… him?!”
He folded his arms over his chest and pouted.
Tristan: “Aside from flying on a plane or going on a cruise, how else will we get there? I don’t know anyone with flight abilities.”
He put his glasses back on.
Ivy: “...Who?! What are you talking about?! Would someone tell me what’s going on?!”
She threw her arms up with frustration.
Tristan: “Gladly! I witnessed Deimos heal Anthony from a near-death experience and asked him if he would heal my father so he could come out of his coma. Deimos is afraid of flying in planes but we both know Trevor Hinkley—your ex’s co-worker—can teleport. I wanted to ask him to take us to Argentville, Nouvelle Gaule.”
He explained. Deimos turned to Tristan in disbelief.
Deimos: “Why did you tell her?! Now she will want to come and it’s OUR trip!”
He snapped. Ivy felt a sharp sting in her heart. She felt like a third wheel and burden in her own relationship and was starting to resent Deimos. Was he really her partner? Did she really know him at all? She pondered.
Celeste: “Can I come, too?”
Deimos: “NO! It’s OUR trip! Fuck off, you little parasite! And keep your grubby hands off my General Tso’s chicken!”
He took the box away. Ivy glared at Deimos and spitefully handed Celeste his General Tso’s chicken.
Ivy: “Here you go, Celeste.”
Deimos: “What is YOUR problem?!”
He snapped at her.
Ivy: “What is YOUR problem?!”She fired back at him.
Tristan: “Deimos, you have to talk to her. I am not engaging in these childish games any further.”
He said firmly. Ivy folded her arms across her chest and looked at Deimos with hurt and growing resentment.
Deimos: “Is there anyone else who can take us besides Trevor?”
Tristan: “No. You have to talk to Ivy, Deimos. The sooner, the better.”
He reiterated firmly.
Deimos: “Can you be there with me?”
Tristan: “I think it’s best if you do this on your own.”
He sighed.
Celeste: “I can come with you.”
She offered.
Deimos: “Go away, please.”
He muttered.
~
Deimos and Ivy were up in the bedroom. Deimos sat on his bed with his arms folded across his chest. He looked around his room and at the pictures of Deimos and Ivy on his nightstand. They looked so happy together and then, as time went on, their feelings started fleeting.
Deimos: “Okay, now we’re here, what do you want to talk about?”
He asked.
Ivy: “The elephant in the room.”
She drew a long sigh. Deimos bowed his head. He knew what she meant.
Deimos: “You’re right.”
He finally said. He picked up a picture of them when Deimos took her to her prom. He was in his suit and she was in her purple gown. They were both smiling at each other and standing under the balloon arch that had, “Prom of ‘83” in gold sparkling cursive letters.
Deimos: “What happened to us?”
He asked and put the picture down. Ivy glanced down at the picture.
Ivy: “I don’t know… everything changed after Larry was gone and Tristan came back to Pink Top…”
She stated.
Deimos: “The one thing that drew us together is gone and what do we have in common?”
He asked. Ivy bowed her head and slowly nodded.
Ivy: “I don’t know, Deimos… do I really know you at all? You kept so much from me that I feel like I don’t know you… so I don’t know what we have in common.”
She sighed.
Deimos: “We were drawn to each other because you just got out of an abusive relationship with Larry and… I didn’t have Tristan.”
He said evenly. Ivy pursed her lips and nodded.
Deimos: “We both come from abusive, dysfunctional households, but that’s it. Is that enough to make a relationship work? Tristan asked me these and he wondered why I keep so much from you.”
He said as his voice trailed off.
Ivy: “Well, why do you?”
She pressed, genuinely curious.
Deimos: “Because I don’t think you were ever my person and I was never yours. I can’t read minds as you can but I know you keep stuff from me, too.”
He said flatly. Ivy nodded in agreement.
Ivy: “You’re right.”
She said.
Deimos swallowed hard and rose from his bed.
Deimos: “Why are we still doing this, Ivy? We’re not married. We have no children. So why?”
He asked her.
Ivy: “I don’t know… maybe because we’ve been there for each other through so much over the years and it was good… until it wasn’t. That was then… this is now.”
Deimos nodded.
Deimos: “I know what it’s like to have a dysfunctional family and a parent who can’t let go of a dead kid. I sleep next to her nursery every night. I didn’t want to kick you out and leave you homeless.”
He said and embraced. Ivy pursed her lips and nodded.
Ivy: “Our shared traumas aren’t enough for a connection… I still care about you, too, but… in a different way.”
She thought of the way she cared for Tristan. Deimos nodded. Yeah, same, he thought and raked his fingers through his hair.
Ivy: “...And what about Tristan?”
She asked. Deimos felt butterflies in his stomach when she mentioned Tristan’s name.
Deimos: “You don’t know how I feel about him?”
He chuckled.
Ivy: “I think I do.”
She said glumly. She didn’t know why this bothered her if she didn’t love Deimos anymore.
Deimos: “Where will you go? You can stay here with me. I’m sorry I don’t love you but I do care.”
He said to shift the topic from Tristan.
Ivy: “Thanks for the offer, Deimos, but I think it would be best for us to part ways and for me to move forward…”
She began.
Ivy: “I have a friend who owns a record store in Little Tokyo. I could live with him.”
He offered.
Deimos: “Do you want me to drive you? I want you to get there safe and taking a cab at night would be risky.”
He offered.
Ivy: “Oh, no, I’ll be fine, Deimos! Thanks though!”
She waved her hand and started gathering her belongings.
Deimos: “I insist.”
He said firmly.
Deimos: “I will drive you to your friend’s place.”
Ivy appreciated his care.
Ivy: “If it’s not too much trouble… Thanks, Deimos.”
She smiled a bit, slipping on her heeled boots and picking up the cat purse that he bought for her for her last birthday. Deimos helped her gather her things and went downstairs to carry them to his Ferrari Testarossa. He couldn’t put most of these in his car but he would deliver them as the days went on.
~
Deimos drove Ivy to Little Tokyo following the directions she gave him to her friend’s record store. He blocked his thoughts and how he felt from her but he felt bittersweet. He knew this relationship was on life support and it was time to pull the plug but a part of him still felt sad.
He focused on the road and exhaled smoke as he drove through the glitzy, lit-up streets of Little Tokyo, looking at the stores, clubs, and neon signs mostly in Japanese.
Ivy instructed Deimos to turn right and he did so. He went down a street with some homes and on the end of the street was a two-story building with “Måneravn” in Gothic black letters with a raven spreading its wings over a full moon. On the side of the building was a black and purple mural of several famous musicians from many genres. The lights were on in the store with a neon purple “open” sign on the door.
Deimos parked his car in front of the store and he and Ivy climbed out. Deimos opened the door for her and they entered the store. It was a large store—shelves of records covered the walls. There were aisles with shelves of records, CDs, and cassette tapes.
There were racks with band t-shirts and posters on display. Near the door was a glass counter with a cash register, computer, and gothic and metal memorabilia on display. Behind the counter was a large mural of a raven flying over an ocean and toward the two full moons. There was a purple neon sign with “Måneravn” on the mural.
Sitting at the counter was a tall white man. He had a pale complexion with light eye makeup around his steel blue eyes. He wore Norse braids in his long raven hair and black arm cuffs on his arms. He was dressed in a black shirt and jeans with a bone belt and a quartz crystal necklace around his neck.
Ivy: “Deimos, this is Andreas. Andreas, this is Deimos.”
She acquainted them with each other. Deimos put his hand out to Andreas.
Deimos: “Hello, Andreas. I’m Deimos Katsaros. Nice to meet you. You have an awesome store.”
He smiled tightly.
Andreas: “Oh, thank you.”
Deimos looked at Ivy and cleared his throat.
Deimos: “...Ivy wants to stay with you.”
Andreas: “Of course, what happened?”
Deimos: “I just learned today you were her friend. I guess we were both keeping a lot from each other.”
He sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. Ivy sighed and nodded. Andreas gave them both a look.Andreas: “Well, I just learned you were her partner… or ex-partner now I take it.”
He replied, observing the circumstances and the way he worded their relationship in the past tense. Deimos nodded.
~
Deimos carried Ivy’s stuff upstairs to Andreas’ living space. He opened the door to a living room with neon crystal lighting, lush indoor pot plants, velvet furniture, and a vintage rug. There was a neon pink gothic chandelier overhanging the coffee table with the glass top. Looking out the arch window was the view of the main street of Little Tokyo.
The kitchen had a witchy, rustic vibe with stone walls, black shelves, an old-fashioned black gas stove and oven, and pots and pans hanging on the walls. There was a stool, wooden spoons, and various teapots and teacups on the shelves. Deimos spotted various boxes of herbal tea and thought of Tristan and his love of tea. Ivy read his thoughts noting he let his guard down and she could read just how much she thought of him.
To the left of the kitchen was a small dining area with a black table, four chairs, and a candle chandelier overhanging the table. There was a window with two bookshelves on each side of it. There were several baskets with flowers and plants.
Andreas led Deimos and Ivy to a smaller bedroom with a queen-sized bed. It was a black bedroom with shelves of books on the right of the bed and the head. To the left, was a ladder to climb up to access the bookshelves. There were various small lanterns on the shelves and a window on the slanted ceiling.
The bathroom had red walls, black marble flooring with a dark clawfoot bathtub and a black shower stall. Neighboring the bathtub was shelves with scented oils, soaps, body washes, shampoos, and candles. There was a black toilet, sink, and a gothic mirror above the sink. By the sink was a black linen cabinet.
Andreas’ bedroom was a large black bedroom with gold paintings of the two moons, stars, and a raven above the black kingsize bed. There were black curtains with gold stars draped above the bed. Under the bed was a black oriental rug and a black Burmese cat curled up on the bed. On each side of the bed were black and gold ornate nightstands with a crystal ball and more plants.
Deimos: “This is a lovely place. The decorating is nice and you also love tea. So does Tristan.”
He smiled. Ivy gave Deimos a look.
Andreas: “Thank you. Oh, is Tristan your new partner?”
He asked. Deimos blushed.
Deimos: “Well…”
Not yet, he thought. He raked his fingers through his hair. Ivy read his thoughts and felt hurt for reasons she couldn’t pinpoint.
Deimos: “I should get going. Here is my number if you need anything.”
He handed it to Ivy.
Ivy: “Thank you, Deimos… farewell.”
She parted with him with a kiss on the cheek. Deimos hugged her.
Deimos: “Take care, Ivy. See you.”
He broke the hug and backed away. He then turned around, opened the door, and closed it behind him as he went downstairs. Ivy looked out the window and watched him get into his car. She then watched him drive away.
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