*A week later*
"So, you two are-"
Romulus shook his head proudly at Thanatos, "Yep…we're Soul Tied."
Looking from his brother to Derrick, he watched as the two fawned over one another, "Yet you both thought it was a good idea to lead me to believe he was there for Evie?"
Romulus almost choked on his food from laughter, "Well…nobody ACTUALLY said that he was. I said that he was keeping her great company. You were the one who stormed the party like a literal bat from hell."
Thanatos glared at Derrick and he threw his hands up in submission. "In my defense, I was just told that Evie was having a hard time with her Soul Tie and perhaps I could give him a little push."
Thanatos didn't have to be there to know that he was telling the truth. Romulus always had a way of manipulating a situation to get the results he wanted. If anything, he should have known better.
"Now when are you gonna go apologize to her?"
"Huh?" The statement completely caught him off guard.
Romulus rolled his eyes at him. "You've been over here every day since Evie moved in, just go apologize and make up."
"I have nothing to apologize for…besides, I'm here to spend time with you, I could care less that she's here."
Placing his hand on his brother’s own, Romulus said in a low voice, "Brother, you never come to just spend time with me, come up with a better lie."
Thanatos knew he meant it as a joke, but the truth in it still stung. He was right. The older they’d gotten, the harder Thanatos worked to distance himself. There was so much he didn't know, so much he didn't understand about the motives behind his actions. "Romulus, listen the reason I-"
He waved his hand dismissively, "Big brother, we don't need to do that okay? I'm a lot smarter than I look, and I know being around me is often an irritant for you. I truly understand." His eyes avoided Thanatos, and he snuggled closer to Derrick, allowing his normal jovial mask to temporarily slip. Regaining it just as quickly, he smiled a huge smile, "So anyway! When are you gonna apologize?"
Thanatos felt the heat from his anger cause his skin to prickle. "I'M NOT APOLOGIZING."
His statement landed flatly, as the sound of Evie's infectious laughter filled the courtyard. Turning in its direction, he saw her perched on the balcony locked in a conversation with someone. Unable to make out the person, Thanatos cut his eyes for a closer look.
"What's that bitch doing here?" Romulus muttered under his breath, and it was then Thanatos could tell who it was…Minthe.
Thanatos stood, and Romulus quickly grabbed his wrist. Tilting his head, he pointed to the two women again. "Thanatos, I'd be careful. She might be laughing, but trust me, Evie's pissed."
A deep hearty laugh left her body again, a clear response to something Minthe was saying. Her arms flailing about, her face reddened, closer observation told him this was anything but a friendly chat. He couldn't hear what was being said, but whatever it was, his eyes never left Evie. While Minthe's jerky movements and glares made it clear she was angry, Evie's calm demeanor made his breath stick. Her arms folded to her chest, she took every word, every glare, only laughing in response.
"I need to get up there."
Romulus shook his head releasing him, and he quickly moved across the courtyard and through the house.
*What the hell is she doing here? *
The more he pondered the question, the more irritated he felt himself becoming. Taking the steps two by two, he finally managed to get to Evie's room. The sound of Minthe yelling now vibrating through the mansion as he walked into to her poking Evie's chest with her long nail.
"WE WERE JUST FINE BEFORE YOU CAME ALONG!"
Evie laughed but it never reached her eyes, the darkness in them making Thanatos uneasy.
"Have you lost your damn mind Minthe?" He barked, and she turned to face him shocked.
"Whe-when did you get up here?"
Thanatos cut his eyes at her, "Why are you here?"
"WHY ARE YOU HERE?!" She screamed back at him before turning her attention to Evie.
"It's like she has some type of hold over you and you can't even see it!"
"Minthe, you raised your voice to me once. I'll snatch your vocal cords the second." Evie turned to Thanatos, a smirk playing on her lips as she watched him draw in closer to them, "Why do I keep getting sucked into your bullshit?" Turning to a gaped mouth Minthe, she folded her arms once more, "As rousing as this has been, I'm bored and your relationship squabbles are of little interest to me."
She knew that would get under his skin. The gleam in her darkened eyes confirmed it, and thought he knew she was trying to provoke him, it still pissed him off.
"Where are you going?"
She winked at him. "To find a virile man worth my time." The steam from his nose made her smile widen and she bumped into him, "Oh and Reaper…*suffer*."
Minthe rolled her eyes. "Once a slut always a slut."
In an instant, the back of Evie’s hand collided with Minthe's face. Stunned, Minthe couldn't maintain her bearings as Evie gripped her shirt and dragged her back towards the edge of the balcony.
"LET GO OF ME!" Minthe screamed, the top half of her body hanging over it.
"Are you sure about that?" Evie said in a dark voice, allowing Minthe a second to realize she'd fall to her death if she did.
"That's enough Evie."
"I told you Reaper, you don't tell me what to do." Eyes locked onto Minthe, her back towards him, she hardly flinched when he quickly approached her side.
"Evie-"
The look on Minthe's face stopped him in his tracks. The fear, compounded with exhaustion, made her face seem to age right before his eyes.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!"
"He…help," she cried out weakly, and suddenly Evie pulled her upwards and released her. Minthe fell to the floor, coughing profusely.
"Next time, I will drop you," Evie said, walking away from her.
Thanatos bent down and lifted her head, his breath finally letting go when he saw her face was normal. Minthe swatted his hand, before quickly scrambling to her feet.
"THIS ISN'T OVER BITCH!" She screamed at Evie.
"Looking forward to it." She responded winking at her.
Minthe glared at Thanatos long and hard before making her exit. Taking a step towards Thanatos, Evie smiled as he took one back. "Oh what? Is the big bad Reaper afraid of little ole me?"
"What the hell did you just do to her?"
She smiled at him, "Lighten up, I wasn't going to drop her."
"You know that's not what I'm talking about."
She tilted her head at him in confusion, "No…I really don't."
Had he imagined what he saw? A Necromancer can't drain the life from anyone supernatural or human. But what had he seen then?
"I really am bored with this Reaper," Evie said pretending to yawn. She walked past him, and he ran his hand through his hair.
*It's now or never*
"I'm sorry…for Minthe…for me." The words come out lower than he’d meant them to, but he knew she heard them.
"Forget about it," she said dismissively but Thanatos didn’t want to.
He didn’t want to forget about the argument, about her moving out. About how delicious her lips taste, about how he longed for his home to smell like vanilla again.
"Will you accompany me somewhere tomorrow?"
She studied him quietly, "I don't know Thanatos."
"Please."
Immediately her eyes softened. Walking back over to him, she wrapped her hands around his neck and stood on the balls of her feet, "I like the rare moments when I see this side of you." Something about that statement made him feel almost euphoric. She smiled and this time it reached her eyes, "Alright Reaper, it's a date."