Page 26 of Viktor

“How could you possibly know that? We just met.” As she reached the door, she spun to confront him. Not realizing how close behind her he was, her palms brushed his chest. His energy danced on her fingertips. “I just don’t think—”

Viktor smiled at her. “Perhaps we’ve known each other before. Or perhaps it’s destiny.”

“No, that can’t be.” Waverly’s heart pounded as he leaned in towards her. Her gaze fell to his lips, her body on fire anticipating his kiss. But as she closed her eyes, she felt the warmth of his breath upon her ear.

“I can hear your heart race, pet. You know the truth.” He reached his arm around her waist. “We will be more than friends. Rules or no rules. I’m quite certain you’re thinking what I’m thinking.”

The air rushed from her lungs as she heard the doorknob click open. The warmth of his body brushed hers and she fluttered her eyes open to see him swing open the door and walk into her condo.

“Sweet baby Jesus,” she whispered under her breath, willing her body under control.

“Please allow me to go first. Wouldn’t want to run into anything woo-woo, now, would we?” Viktor walked through the entrance and looked to a set of glass sliding doors. “Nice view.”

As she stepped into her condo, she wrinkled her nose as the stench hit her. “Oh my gosh. I’m sorry. I must have forgotten the trash.” She made a beeline into the kitchen and flipped open the lid of the bin. “There’s nothing in here. What’s that smell?”

“That, my darling, is the stench of a demon,” Viktor explained as he slid open the door.

“A demon? In my home? Oh, hell no. This isn’t happening.” Waverly frantically tapped at her watch. “It must be the pipes or something. I’ll text my landlord.”

“I don’t sense anything here right now. Whatever or whoever was here is gone.”

“Are you sure it’s gone?”

“Demon.” Viktor shrugged.

“Stop saying that word. No, it’s not that. My neighbor, Janet, is always cooking fish. That must be what it is. She needs to stop leaving it unwrapped.”

“It’s a demon,” he insisted.

“Oh my God. Please stop saying that word.” She looked to the small plastic statue of Mary she kept over her door and made the sign of the cross.

“You can say the word. It’s conjuring them that’s the problem. Well, I suppose some humans think that is how it works but I can assure you it isn’t.”

“How could you possibly know? I mean really. You’re a vampire.” Waverly frantically tapped the watch face again. “She’s not answering my text.”

“I know quite a bit about Hell, I’m afraid.” He shrugged with a nonchalant air.

“I’m sure you have carnal thoughts. But it’s not like you’ve been there or anything.”

A corner of his mouth tugged upward, and he raised an eyebrow. “I travel for business. Not every destination is for pleasure.”

“Hell? A destination?” The air rushed from Waverly’s lungs, her pulse racing. No, no, no.

“Work is work. Actually, the last time I was there it was for a friend but…”

“That’s crazy. Demons? Hell? Just no. I can’t even.” She flung open the refrigerator door and reached for her favorite strawberry mango kombucha. She hesitated and contemplated a shot of tequila but decided on the healthier option.

“Something was in your friend’s apartment in Miami. And now that something or maybe even a different something has been here. But as I look around, your place seems undisturbed. Or at least on first glance. You tell me. Is anything amiss?” Viktor reached for a scented candle and sniffed it. He smiled. “Nice. Peppermint.”

Waverly hurriedly unscrewed the bottle top and took a large gulp. The bubbles rushed down her throat and she coughed. “I can sage. I know I have it around here somewhere.” She opened a drawer and began rummaging through it. “Where the heck did I put it?”

“Sage?”

“This is SoCal. Everyone sages. I sage pretty much every week. Do a little yoga. I figured it couldn’t hurt. Although it didn’t keep a demon out of my house, did it? Ugh. I can’t find it.”

“You’re not safe here. You shouldn’t stay here,” he suggested.

“I can’t leave my house. The new exhibit is supposed to open to the public next week.” Waverly took another drink and released a long audible breath. Her limbs felt like lead as the reality set in that she was no longer safe, that a demon had been in her home.