“Here. Its all I got that doesn’t smell too bad.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Not one to thank. If I’d done my job, this wouldn’t be happening. Your friends would still be here. Shit, I'm sorry for not taking you seriously.”

  Inhaling sharply at Milo’s words, Khalia took the clothing from his outstretched hand.

  “It didn’t sound like something to take seriously. I wouldn’t have. You aren’t the first. I appreciate your apology, Ranger.”

  Slipping the black shirt over her head, the scent of cigarette smoke and charred wood encased her. The shorts, faded Khakis, had worn and broken belt loops, giving hint to their frequent use. Putting them on, she secured them with a few safety pins she found in her bedroom.

  Milo stared at the wall, thrumming his fingers against the barrel of the shotgun. A part of him was dismayed that it wasn’t Theo who walked through the door earlier. It would have made the four hours wait worthwhile.

  When she locked eyes with him over the barrel, his heart stuttered. Like a ghost, he thought her dead. Figuring that demon already gotten her with the state of her home. Relief then shown on their faces at the recognition of each other. For now, they knew they were in safe company.

  “You look horrible. It’s giving ran through junkie on a binger. Ecstasy or LSD? Need a drink?”

  Stepping out of the kitchen, Khalia sipped something from a chipped coffee mug. ‘STFU, Its Early’ displayed boldly in white on the side, was splattered with bits of dried blood.

  “Tch, I deserve that.”

  A faint smile spread, and Milo plopped down on the cushionless couch, wincing at the uncomfortable springs. Attempting to locate them earlier, the fibers scattered around gave him clue that his search was useless. Placing the shotgun across his lap he rubbed his swollen eyes.

  The vision in his right eye blurred substantially after his puke fest pit stop. The bags under them, seemingly tattooed to his skin, exposed his recent nightmares. Anytime rest would come, his mind was flooded with unbearable screams. Even worse, they sounded identical to Elaina.

  “Where are you?”

  *~*~*

  He mumbled quietly to himself that even Khalia couldn’t hear.

  She watched him intently from afar. Earlier she recounted to him what happened after she left the airport. He took the news surprisingly well this time round. In the midst, Parasita pointed out his unusual scent.

  “He smells like us but it’s odd. Almost like cologne.”

  As much as they wanted to ask him about it, a shower was more tempting. Unfortunately, she had to clean a path to the bathroom, but it was worth it nonetheless.

  “Gotta plan?”

  Milo’s voice, gravelly in cadence, rattled Khalia out her thoughts. Heading back to the kitchen she filled the mug once more with whiskey. Jack wasn’t her favorite, but he was the only survivor in the melee. Handing it to the raggedy man, she sat down next to him, huffing. Home insurance wasn’t going to be happy with her claim.

  “Yea, you save the others while I sit here and get high.” At that she lit half a joint, taking a long drag before passing it to Milo.

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  “Are you serious right now?” He frowned, waving her hand away.

  Standing, Milo walked to the back door where he exited. Khalia followed behind, sitting next to him on the 3 x 3 concrete slab. She observed him light a cig and take a drink before looking up at the sky. Minimal light pollution made the view picturesque.

  “Listen, so far, everyone who comes near me gets fucked 10 ways from Sunday. I don’t even have the dagger anymore. What’s a human and a Kirma gonna do against a fucking monster?”

  In the mountains, Khalia watched Parasita howl, shred trees, climb peaks to quiet the anguish in her soul. All while wailing herself. She wished she died with her friends and Jay.

  In the corner of her eye, she watched Milo shuffle before feeling a warming hand on her shoulder. Smoke whipped in front of his face, but she could make out the tired yet determined gaze.

  “Listen, me and you, were not exactly the best for the job,” He glanced at cup in his hand and the joint in hers, “but were the only one’s here for the job. I hope you weren’t expecting something profound.”

  She scoffed but a small smile graced her lips regardless.

  “I was.”

  “Well, that motherfucker broke into my house. I’ll be damned if he runs free while I look over my shoulder. I don’t know what you’re going to do, but I know what I’m willing to do. I’m willing to bury that son of a bitch, even if it cost me.”

  Though whiskey permeated his breath, the conviction was evident.

  “Elaina, she-she came down here to save you. I should have come with her.”

  His lips pressed together in a hard line with desolation taking over his features. A long drag seemed to steady his trembling hands. Khalia furrowed her brows in confusion as a bittersweet aroma rose around them. It reminded her of dark chocolate.

  Is this regret?

  “I think I know where she is.”

  Khalia eyes glossed at the thought of both Caleesi and Eliana being in Theo’s clutches. His hunger for dominance and power extended no disconcertments towards age. Hell, she doubted even sex. Theo took what he wanted, when he wanted. He won’t stop. Not while that hunger festers within him.

  “We can’t keep running. He’ll always find us...feel us. He doesn’t deserve to feel us. He must die.”

  Parasita whispered, the statement sending a chill down Khalia’s spine. They were right. Taking another drag she finished off her joint, putting it out on the cement. Rising, she stretched and cast a glance to the sky once more.

  “...Theo has a massive ego. He can’t help but flex his power when anyone’s near, especially when tortures involved. If I fight him, you can save the others. Then come back, you shoot. I stab. He dies. The end. We might have to fight others but-”

  This time Milo jumped up as well.

  “Holes. Lot of them. Where is Theo? What’s the layout of the place? How many, uh, lap dogs does he have? We need something more than just strolling on up and hoping for the best.”

  Holding up his now empty glass, he shook it. She jerked her head towards the kitchen and folded her arms across her chest.

  “They’re Lycans, and isn’t that what you were doing in my house?”

  “Touché.”

  “Well, what do you have?” Biting her lips she rolled her eyes.

  “From what I’ve seen, he has a hard on for making you miserable. You’re going to walk up like you captured me. He’ll throw me in a cell, we save the girls, bing bam, dead.”

  “Bing? Bam? How is that not the same thing I said? Throw you in a cell? That’s optimistic. What if he decides to kill you on the spot?”

  “He won’t.”

  “How do you know?”

  “As you said, massive ego. He’ll have us both where he wants. It’s perfect for him. Once we, or you, kill Theo it’s over. Life goes back to normal. Anyway, I need a refill.” Stepping by, he disappeared into the house.

  Khalia sneered at his resolution. What’s normal for her? There’s the funeral she’d have to plan. Along with the four she’d be attending. Then the trashed house and totaled SUV, normal seems like a fallacy.

  Tendons popped as she stretched her limbs and scratched her scalp. The act made her yawn, and only then did she realize how exhausted she was.

  “We should get some sleep, execute our plan when we wake.”Parasita spoke.

  Every so often a flash of what transpired in the in the dingy alleyway surfaced. The memory made Khalia’s lip twitch, and she ran her tongue along healing cut. Blowing her nose after the shower had her groaning as bloody mucus came out. The fucker smacked her like a PowerSlap champion.

  “Yea, lets-”

  The sound of breaking glass pierced her ear drums. Cursing, she busted through the back door, sprinting to the living room, only to bump into Milo. The push barely moved him as he stood rigid. The shotgun was up and aimed at the front door. At his feet she saw the remnants of the mug. The carpet drinking up the dark liquor.

  “This a cold reception. Call me egotistical but I thought you’d be happy to see me.”

  Milo’s face contorted with confusion as he stared at the younger man, who lazily held both his hands in the air. His gaze darted around until he spotted her. Her breath stilled, and immediate tears welled in her eyes.

  “Diem?”