- Caleb -
Reed... What can I tell you about Reed, other than that he was the first human who drew my interest? I've walked among humans a lot. I love to have sex with them, plain and simple. But Reed is different. Maybe it's because he thinks demonology is inconceivable. If he only knew that his best friend Tanner is an angel trying to protect him from me.
Reed sometimes thinks Tanner and I are having an affair. But really, Tanner can hear my thoughts and would know if I summoned Reed to me. I may have 'accidentally' summoned him in the past, so Tanner keeps a close eye on me, or ear, I should say.
I like both of them, Reed and Tanner, aside from Tanner being an angel, and since I'm a demon, that means we're immortal enemies. Sometimes I wish Reed could see the Tanner that I see. Tanner is beautiful. He's light with wings, blinding light with arched wings tied behind his back. I can also see the human shape that Tanner has taken on, the image Reed sees, but it's like every pore of his body emits this white light.
On the other hand, I know what Tanner sees every time he looks at me: darkness and glowing green eyes. I can take any shape. My proper form is much bigger than a human male. I'm what most people fear when something goes bump in the night.
Still, I'm generally a demon of seduction. In ancient times, I would seduce both men and women into their beds. Got to claim a lot of souls this way for our master, especially during the days of the witch hunts. I guess books have me categorized as an Incubus. For the last few hundred years, I have preferred how a man feels over a woman.
That brings me back to Reed. What doesn't? I was sitting outside a coffee shop one day, trying to decide if I was done with the human world for a while or not. I had not bothered with taking any souls for many years. Basically, humans had started to bore me. Then Reed walked in, ordered, and came back out to sit at another table. He had two coffees, so I knew he was meeting someone, but there was already something about him that held my attention. That's when I put the suggestion of him joining me at my table into his mind. As I said, an 'accident.'
He immediately got up from his table, taking the two coffees and his things, and came to mine. He popped out of my trance a few minutes after sitting down. I put into his mind that I had said hello, which is why he sat down, to cover the fact he changed tables.
We talked a whopping five minutes before the big ball of fucking white light, Tanner, showed up. Tanner almost got me to show Reed my glowing green eyes.
Of course, Tanner knew what I was before walking up to us, so he knew I wasn't paying attention as he interrupted. When Reed noticed Tanner, he turned to say hello to him. When I looked up, Tanner smiled at me as I quickly put on my sunglasses. Even though Reed couldn't see Tanner's light, it would reflect off of my eyes, causing them to glow. We can wear coverings like contacts for our eyes, but usually, angels and demons don't cross paths as much as all the religions would have you believe.
But in our case, it's different. Tanner wasn't sent to protect Reed. He just became friends with him while doing his work. Now, it seems, he's made it his duty to protect him. This makes me want Reed even more.
Reed works in a small bookstore downtown. I was amazed I hadn't seen him before because I'd been in that bookstore many times. He even says he's been working there for years. So maybe we've just missed one another, I don't know.
When Tanner came that day to the coffee shop, I excused myself but told Reed I'd see him around. I know he didn't believe me, but I smiled as I walked away, not knowing at the time that Tanner could hear my thoughts.
The next afternoon, I took a chance that Reed was working on a weekday and went downtown to the bookstore. Luck was on my side. He was there, and the bookstore was empty.
He was looking at his computer when I walked in, not even looking my way. "Let me know if you need anything."
"Thanks, I will," I responded. I do like to read, so I proceeded to look around. I don't know why I never looked before, I'm here a lot. Maybe it's because I have been in lots of bookstores before and all I'm generally wanting is a book to read. But I was surprised to find they had an extensive section on angels, demons, and witchcraft.
I walked back over to the current fiction, picked up a random book, and walked over to the counter. Reed looked up, not recognizing me at first, and then smiled. "Are you ready to? Oh. Hi, how are you?"
I smiled. "I'm doing better, knowing you're here." I knew that was a bit forward, but Reed seemed to like the comment.
And no sooner than we got comfortable talking with one another, the big fucking ball of light shows up to remind him that they were going to the movies that evening. "Oh, that's right, I almost forgot." Reed looked at me to include me in their conversation. "Caleb, would you like to go with Tanner and me?"
If looks could kill, I would have been dead. I was tempted to say yes, since at the time I still didn't know that Tanner could hear my thoughts. Instead, I replied, "No, thanks, I'd love to, but I already have plans tonight. Maybe another night, and maybe just the two of us." I looked Reed in the eyes, and he smiled. And of all things, I believe I heard Tanner growl at me.
I gave Reed my number before leaving the store to return to my apartment. I figured I would go back to the store later in the week if I didn't hear from him soon. So I deposited the book on my coffee table, and I dropped onto my sofa to relax. I was immediately interrupted by a knock at my door. I groaned, then got up to answer, wondering who it could be. Then I snarled when I found the big ball of fucking light standing there.
He laughed. "Aren't you going to invite me in?"
"Do I have a choice?"
Tanner smiled. "Yes." I started to close the door in his face. "Caleb, please, I want to talk to you."
I laughed, "You're like a fucking vampire. Once I invite you in, you'll come in whenever you like." I turned around and took a few steps back towards the couch, leaving the door open for him.
"How often do angels come and visit you?" Tanner asked as he came in and shut the door.
"Honestly, you're the first one since I fell, more than a thousand years ago." I turned around and looked at him. "Not that I didn't run into them, but visiting me? That's another story."
"Leave Reed alone before he starts falling for you," Tanner said, and I only smiled, then he frowned. "Caleb, I'm asking nicely."
"I like him."
"Caleb, you'll kill him. You know that." Tanner said, and I stared at him intently. "What?" He asked.
"You're not a guardian. You're trying to act like one, but you're not." I took a pace forward and grabbed Tanner by the throat and he held onto my wrist. I'm stronger than he is. I looked him in the eyes. "You're young, a little more than a thousand years old. A high arch?" Tanner nodded. "You achieved that on your wits." I let go of him and turned away. "Call off the others. I won't hurt you."
"I didn't come here with anyone."
I laughed. "You would've been foolish to come here without a power. How many are there?"
"You were a power. You know they come in pairs," Tanner said. My phone started ringing, and I looked over. So did Tanner. "Don't answer it."
