9 - Past, Present, Future

“You’re not mad at me, are you?”

I looked up at Levi’s question later that night. I was planted on one end of the couch in a robe, a towel around my head, while Levi sat at the other end, regarding me carefully.

“No,” I said, staring at the TV screen instead of meeting his eye.

Levi tapped his fingers on the back of the couch as he gazed at me. “Really? Not even a little? I’m disappointed, Olivia.”

“This might surprise you but my world does not revolve around you.”

“Not your world, perhaps, but what sad excuse of a love life you have.”

“I could have a love life if I wanted,” I retorted.

“Oh, really?”

I focused on the TV, switching channels until I landed on some late-night news.

“...the eight-month-old remains missing, despite search efforts…”

I turned to stare at Levi. “Levi...did you have something to do with that?”

“I’m not that kind of demon.”

“But there are others like you? Others who would do that kind of thing?”

“Oh, sure. Just like there are witches who would probably do the same or worse.”

“Well, I’ve never met any.”

“That doesn’t mean they don’t exist,” he said, reaching over and taking hold of my ankle. He started rubbing the muscles of my foot, which I had to admit felt good.

"Someone's baby is missing and you want sex right now."

"Is it my baby? No. Is it your baby? No." He began roving his hand upwards, under my robe.

"I'm just saying..."

Levi grabbed the remote from me with his other hand, turning the TV off. "There. Problem solved." He moved to get on top of me then, but I refused to let him.

“Oh no, you don’t.” I slipped out from under him, leaping to my feet. I stared down at him as he flashed a cocky smile.

“Fine. I simply thought you might want to continue from where we left off earlier. You know, before that boss of yours interrupted.”

“I don’t want you showing up at my workplace any more.”

“I don’t care what you want.”

I clenched my fists at my sides. “You know, sometimes, I wonder if there really even is a spell at work or if you’re just pulling my leg. Maybe you’re just sticking around to torment me.”

“Or maybe *you’re* the one tormenting *me*,” he shot back, jumping up and standing tall in front of me. He started to say something else, but began to sway like he’d stood up too fast.

“Levi!” I exclaimed as he tipped forward, collapsing against me. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Nothing,” he muttered, but I could tell from his tone it wasn’t nothing.

I pushed him back down on the couch, but he pulled me down with him so that I ended up in his lap. “W-whoa!”

“I’m sorry,” Levi mumbled, pulling me close.

“What?” Levi was saying sorry? To me?

“I need this.”

“What are you…?” He cut me off with a firm, forceful kiss, circling his arms around my waist and adjusting my body so that I straddled him directly.

In a quick motion, Levi tore open my robe, licking a taut, pink nipple before sucking with abandon. I gasped, beginning to rock against him.

I knew that I wouldn’t be able to resist him anymore. Everything that had happened lately - all my encounters with him and with Noah - had left me wanting this so badly.

Levi kissed me again, our tongues meeting in a delicious dance. I heard Levi pull down his pants slightly, teasing me with the tip of his erection. “You’re wet enough, right?” he whispered.

“I-I think so.”

He started easing himself in, and I gritted my teeth against the pain. I held onto tightly to Levi’s neck, the two of us joining together slowly.

“OK,” he said at last. “I’m in. All the way.” His two-colored eyes gleamed up at me. “You’re a virgin no longer.”

I thought of Noah and got a weird feeling, trying to ignore it. Levi clutched me by the hips, guiding me up and down. In that position, every thrust was a little burst of pain and pleasure that made me moan out loud.

“You finally gave in to me,” Levi whispered, his gaze intent.

“It’s not like that.”

“What’s it like, then?”

“It’s just sex, right? We humans feed off it just as much as you demons do.”

“Maybe.” He got up, still holding on to me.

“What are you doing??”

He carried me over to the wall, pounding his hips into mine again. All of a sudden, he seemed to have gotten a burst of energy. “I want my money’s worth.”

“You’re a pig, Levi.”

“And you’re rutting with me, loving every minute of it.”

I reddened, unable to think of a good comeback. Not to mention, I was finding it pretty hard to concentrate with the things he was making me feel. His erection was hard and hot inside me. It felt like my whole body was on fire and I didn’t mind one bit.

I just wanted to know...what it would feel like with Noah inside me instead?

After I wasn’t sure how long, I heard a change in Levi’s breathing. He set me down but didn’t stop thrusting. “Here we go,” he said, and then I felt it - a rush of something warm inside me. I held still, letting him fill me up. Whatever it was, it made my body tingle down to the very edges of me.

I slumped against Levi, and he wrapped both arms around me, fingers dancing over my back.

“There,” he said in my ear, his breath making my hair ripple. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

“Oh God…”

“Come on.” He took my hand, leading me across the living room.

“Where??”

“We’re going to go take a shower.”

“T-together??”

“Is that a problem?”

I said nothing, telling myself that it wasn’t like he was going to fuck me again, was he? Not after he’d just come?

I didn’t answer, allowing Levi to lead me into my bathroom. He took off his pants, then pulled the robe off my shoulders.

He opened the door to the shower stall, cocking his head at me. “Come on. Get a move on.”

I went in, turning on the hot water. I let it run over my hair, my face, my shoulders. A moment later, Levi bumped up at my back, sharing the spray of water with me. He let out a heavy sigh, seeming to relax.

Or so I thought.

Levi picked up the bar of soap, using it to wash my body with surprising care. “What are you doing?” I said to him.

Instead of answering, he kissed me, long and deep.

*What is with him? He’s acting almost like...a boyfriend?*

I pulled away, hunching over slightly. “You’re acting really weirdly, Levi.”

“I’m just having fun. If you don’t like it, you can always do something about it.”

“I don’t know what to do.”

“So you keep saying.”

“I think I’m done with my shower now.” I climbed out, grabbing a towel. Levi didn’t say anything else, but then again, I didn’t really give him a chance to.

That night, I kept having dreams of a place that looked familiar. It looked to be a clearing near some houses, right here in our city. I didn’t see anyone in the dream. Just trees and birds. It was the weirdest thing.

When I woke up in the morning, the picture was still clear as day in my head. I’d never had a dream like that before.

“Levi?” I called, moving through the apartment but he was nowhere to be found.

*Is he just out for a while or is he really gone gone?*

I checked the time on my phone, doing a shake of my head. I sent a text to Noah: ‘*Sorry, Boss. Not feeling well today. Won’t be coming in*.’

A few minutes later, I was out hopping from bus to bus as I explored lesser-known pockets of the city. I wasn’t sure what I was doing exactly. It was like I was being driven by some bizarre urge.

The sky rumbled overhead, causing my self-doubt to deepen. *What am I doing? Skipping work to chase something I saw in a dream? I must be nuts.*

I sighed, reaching over to press the bell. That’s when I saw it. A pair of gates and a sign that read ‘Cloverdale Cemetery’.

At just the right angle, I saw it - the spot from my dreams. *It’s real. Holy shit!*

I got off at the next stop, hurrying over to look. The cemetery was old and poorly cared for, like a resting place for people long forgotten. It frightened me how I had seen it like for like in my mind, even though I’d never been here before.

I made my way in, following the path and running my gaze over rain-washed tombstones placed haphazardly here and there. Thunder sounded above the trees and the wind kicked up, but I kept going.

I didn’t stop until I came to a spot near the back, where a small stone jutted, the text partially worn away. I saw the name ‘Jane’ and the year ‘1983’, above the words ‘Beloved Daughter’.

Something churned in my stomach. *Who is she? Why did I end up here?*

My wrist itched. I tugged at my bracelet, then stared down at the pieces of twine for a long moment.

I’d had this thing for as long as I could remember. It had been a gift...but from who? I couldn’t recall.

It wasn’t the sort of thing Mom or any of my friends would pick out for me. I strained to think, but it was no use. Why couldn’t I remember where I’d gotten it? What was wrong with me?

I jumped at a clap of thunder. The first drops of rain pelted the leaves, seeping down to meet my cheek. It looked like it was time to go.

I hustled out of the cemetery, but it was raining full-force by the time I got out of the gate. And unfortunately, I didn’t have an umbrella or a raincoat on me. Standing at the bus stop was no good since it was the kind of rain that slanted.

So, I just started walking, heading for home. Once I surrendered to the sensation of the rain on my skin, it really wasn’t so bad. It felt almost liberating.

Who cared about work, or being adopted, or Levi or any of that? I was *alive*.

I wasn’t sure how long it took me to make it to my apartment building. By then, I was soaked and cold to the bone.

I made my way up to the entrance, only to stop at the sight of a familiar frame standing there in a trench coat, shaking out his damp umbrella. “Noah?”