Leif (Existence Trilogy #2.5)(2)

“Ghede!” I called out into the darkness knowing my father would come at the sound of my voice. I didn’t come to him often for help. I preferred to keep my distance from his life in Vilokan. The Voodoo afterlife would be my final dwelling once Pagan was mine. But right now, I wanted to be close to her. Vilokan felt so dark and lonely without her with me.

“Whut do I need da fix now, huh?” Father asked as he stepped out of the darkness. The two small orange tips of his cigarettes were the only light around us.

“Dankmar is stalking Pagan. Again.” I explained forcing myself not to begin pacing. Father hated it when I paced.

“Is dat so? Whut dat gurl done to send de Death afta her again?” Father pulled the cigarettes from his mouth with two of his long slender fingers and blew rings of smoke into the air before looking back at me. “Dis jus mean you got to take her now, huh. Dat all it means.”

“I can’t take her yet. She hates me. I don’t know why but she does. I need to make her love me before I take her to Vilokan. If she doesn’t love me, she will never accept her fate.”

Father shook his head and waved the hand holding the cigarettes toward Pagan’s house. “You wan de Death to take her? Jus take de gurl and be done wit it. De fun is de sex, not de love.”

I wanted to roar in frustration. This was not the helpful words I’d been hoping for. But then my father believed that sex, parties, and rum were the most important things in life. “I need her love. I’ve worked too damn hard to win her trust over the years. I’ve protected her. Met her needs. I’ve MOLDED her. I need her love. Can’t you understand that?”

Father sighed and placed the cigarettes back in his mouth then shook his head. “You don make no sense son. I wilt do whut I can. But if’n it’s de love you need. Den get it, soon.”

“I’m trying. I approached her today. I’m going to do my best. I just need more time.” Tomorrow I needed a new plan. I had to make her see there was more to me than a popular football player. Stupidly, I’d thought making myself wanted among her peers would win her heart. I should’ve known better. Pagan wasn’t shallow.

Father was gone, leaving me standing in the darkness alone once more. He was no help. Needing her love wasn’t something he would ever understand. My parent’s relationship had absolutely nothing to do with love. Why was I so different from them?

Lifting my eyes back to the direction of Pagan’s house I waited for him to leave. I would not let Death leave with her soul. I had to do something to protect her without alerting him. But what?

She was waiting on me outside the door to the only class we shared, Chemistry. I could feel her anxiety as she stood there. This was a good sign. At least she was coming to me because I was still unsure how to approach her again.

Stepping out into the hallway, my joy at having her waiting to speak with me was diminished by the fact Death stood somewhere nearby. I couldn’t see him but I could feel his icy cold presence.

“Um, Leif, could I talk to you a minute?” she asked. As much as I wanted to make this easy on her I knew I couldn’t. Death knew I wasn’t human. I didn’t want to alert him to my true intentions. I leaned against the wall and crossed my arms. She nibbled her bottom lip nervously. Death moved closer to us and I fought back the cringe that crawled over me at his nearness.

“About yesterday, I’m sorry I was so rude about helping you. I did sign up to tutor for extra credit and I shouldn’t have treated you the way I did,” she paused and stared up at me with an anxious expression. I wanted to ease her mind but I couldn’t. Not here. Not with him watching and listening. “If you still want me to tutor you, I’d be happy to.” She finished and I wasn’t sure what the correct response was to this.

I would do whatever she allowed just to be close to her. But Dankmar was near. I kept the bored expression on my face and pretended to be thinking her offer over. When it looked like she might bolt, I replied, “Are you offering because of Mr. Yorkley? Did he make you do this?”

The frown on her face was so damn cute. One day soon I’d be able to reach out and smooth it away with my fingertips… or lips. “I acted the way I did because I just don’t like you very much. I was wrong and, honestly, I don’t even know you well enough to form an opinion of you. I’m offering to help because you need it. That’s what I signed up for and that’s why I’m here now.”

She admitted she didn’t like me. Even though that should worry me, it didn’t. The simple admission made me smile. “You don’t like me, huh?”

She straightened up attempting to stand taller and gave me a small shake of her head. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, we might have to work on changing your mind. I’ll see you later.” I replied then turned and walked away. Leaving her alone with Dankmar so close by bothered me. But he didn’t need to know I sensed him just like he didn’t need to know, I intended to take Pagan’s soul before he could. After all, her soul was mine.

2. Death was talking to her

“Dat’s good son. Da gurl is right dare witin yor reach. Don worry bout de Death. De gurl’s soul don mean notin to him.” Father stepped out in front of me as I started up Pagan’s sidewalk. His top hat was cocked back on his head, which meant he’d been drinking heavily and was in a very good mood.