9. Chess

Elise was both nervous and excited to see Levi. She did not like that he had stopped by her place of work. And she wondered how he had come to find out where she was employed. “Ah, mister Athan.”

“I have told you thrice now to call me Levi. How many times must I say it?”

Elise was happy she had annoyed him; it was her intention. In fact, she had plans to continue this little trick every now and again. “Oh, alright Levi. How did you know I worked here?”

“That is for me to know and you to not find out.” he said with a devilish smile.

“Who is this, Elise?” Margret asked.

“OH, Margret I am sorry this is no one he is just leaving.”

“Hi ma’am. I am Levi Athan.” Levi said and stuck out his hand.

Margret shook his hand. “Why don’t you join us dear boy.” She had no idea she was inviting The Prince of Chaos to sit down with them. Elise didn’t want to frighten her friend, so she motioned for the chair. Levi sat down with a triumphant look on his face.

He never had trouble swaying women. Even ones as old as Margret. “So, boy tell me about yourself. And how do you know Elise.”

“Well, I am 35.” Elise made a bellow and rolled her eyes at this remark. She knew he was the oldest of all the demons, so he had to be thousands of years old.

“Like I was saying Margret, I am 35 I was a teacher for a while. Now though I don’t do much except share my wealth and help those in need.”

“That is so generous of you."

Elise rolled her eyes. She could not help thinking. ‘Oh yeah that is so generous of you. What a liar. How is he helping those in need? Oh, wait he isn't. What a load of crap.’

“I met Elise at a party I was throwing. I saw her and thought she was the most beautiful creature I ever beheld.”

“Your candor is quite surprising. But yes, I agree with you. Elise is very beautiful. She is also kind.”

“Yes, she is.”

“You all can stop talking about me like I am not here.”

“Sorry Elise, But I should be going I think I need to go take a nap.”

“I can escort you back to your room Margret.”

“No need. Stay and talk to your friend. It was so nice meet you Levi. You take care of Elise here; she is my best friend. If you do anything to hurt her, you will have me to answer to.” Margret knew no one could hurt Elise since she’s an angel, but she thought the words needed to be said.

“Alright Marget I will do my best.”

“Good.” Margret smiled as she got up and headed to her room.

“So, do you want to tell me what you are doing here?”

“I am here to see you.”

“Cut the crap why are you really here.”

“I thought we had unfinished business.”

“We do, but I can't get into that with you here. I have work right now.”

“We both know you don’t need a job so why not just cut the day short. Come on play hooky.”

“Yes, you are right I don’t need this job, but I want it. I like working here and I get to stay close to Margret.”

“Fine if you must stay, I will sit and wait. Maybe I will find someone to play chess with. I saw a board in the other sitting room.”

Elise was shocked.

“Why are you so surprised, time is irrelevant to me. So, what is a couple of hours, plus I have not had a decent game of chest in 55 years. Maybe some of these young folks would be able to give me a run for my money?”

Elise thought about it ‘what is the harm in having him wait. He hasn’t done anything to make me think he has ill will towards any of these people.’

“If you don’t cause any ruckus you can stay.”

“Ruckus me?”

“Seriously.”

“Fine I will stay in check.”

“Okay then I will come get you when my shift is done.”

They day flew by. Elise ended up having to take George over to the hospital to get x-rays, He had slipped and fallen while getting out of bed. Finally, the clock struck 7, it was time to go get Levi and maybe get some answers.

Elise walked to the sitting room where Levi said he would be. She glanced around the room for him, and she was somewhat amused to find that he had picked up a golf magazine. What was more surprising was that he seemed genuinely interested in it.

“Ready to go?”

“Yeah.” Levi shut the magazine, rolled it up, and put it under his arm.

Normally Elise would never condone stealing even if it was just a magazine. But she made an exception for the Prince of Choas. Especially because his behavior was growing more amusing.

“You really like golf I take it?”

“Yeah, it is fine.” He said dismissively.

When they got in the elevator Elise couldn’t hold back anymore and let out a huge laugh. She couldn’t stop.

“What are you laughing at?”

She tried to speak but couldn’t get the words out. She was laughing so hard. This made Levi smile. He had never been around anyone who was in such a state of innocent joy. He began to smile more. As they were leaving the elevator he started to laugh.

This seemed to make Elise even more happy. Christina couldn’t help but look jealous as they passed by her at the front desk. She ran out from behind the desk to catch up to them.

“Hey Elise, I never caught your friend's name?”

“Oh, this is Levi Athan”

In her good mood she had not tried to be dismissive but had properly introduced him. This stirred something in Levi.

“Oh Levi, I am Christina. I forgot to give you my name before but if you are going to call or text me then you will need to know my name.” She said putting her hand on his muscular arm.

It was obvious to Levi what she was doing. She was trying to put Elise in a lower place by showing that she had staked a claim on him. Normally he would love two women fighting over him, but not now.

For some reason, this behavior irked Levi. He did not like the idea of anyone trying to show up Elise.

“Here Christina.” he reached into his pocket and pulled out her number. Then he gave it back to her.

“I don’t think I will need this.” He moved away from her and continued to walk out with Elise. To make more of a point he threw his arm around ELises frame as they strode out; leaving Christina to stew in her own jealousy.

As they got outside Elise spoke up. “Why is your arm around me?” she asked in a pleasant manner. She was still in a good mood. The idea that a Prince of Hell would sit around and read golf magazines was not an enigma lost on her.

Levi pulled his arm away from her. He would not have minded keeping it there but if it was going to put a damper on Elise’s mood then he would not risk it. He had a lot to discuss with her and wanted to show that he could be trustworthy.

“Alright, so how are you going to prove to me that I have a heavenly weapon?” Elise said.

“Well, I am not going to show you in the middle of a parking lot by your place of employment.”

“Right.”

“We can go back to my place, and I will show you there.”

“No, we will not!”

“And why not?”

“Because I don’t want to go to some place your comfortable with and I'm not. It gives you an upper hand.”

“I assure you I don’t have an upper hand. What I am going to show you is more of a risk to me than I am to you.”

Elise just stared at him with her arms crossed.

“Fine.” Levi conceded. “Do you have a place in mind?”

“Yes. I think we should go to the Bayou.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. If I do have a divine weapon that is similar to my fathers, I really think it would be best not to wield it around people.”

“And why is that?”

“First, I would like to find out if what you have told me is true. If it is, then I will tell you.”

“Fine. Shall we go then?”

He walked over to his bike.

“Of course, you would have a motorcycle.”

Levi smiled. “Do you want to drive, or do you want to ride?”

“It doesn’t matter to me.”

“Fine then I will drive. You are going to have to hold on.”

“Why? It isn’t like you, or I have balance issues.”

“You could fall off. The seat is for a single rider, not two.”

“Fine.”

She got on and had to press herself up against him. The two of them moved around till they were comfortable. The leather seat barley fit the both of them. Once they were situated Levi took off. It was about a thirty-five-minute drive to the part in the bayou that he was thinking of.