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"Some kind of hidden finances, coming from the company, going to one man, spanning decades, and I tried to dive into who the man was, and couldn't find him. I can't make heads or tails of it."

"There was a transaction last month."

"Yeah."

"Maybe you need to ask Lucien?"

I laugh. "No one asks Lucien anything."

"Maybe... give this to Kyrin?"

"Yeah, maybe."

She hands back the folder as a thump sounds upstairs. It's nearly eight p.m., and it's apparent the house doesn't care to behave for outsiders.

Now, I sound like one of them.

"So," she swallows, "Tell me what's going on with you and him."

"Which one?" I ask, and her eyebrows knit together. "I just mean I've had some... moments with Elias and Kyrin."

"Elias is back?" Aria asks.

"He is. You know him?"

"Yeah, he's their best friend, and he also works as an overseas liaison. He's always traveling. It's rare to see him stay in Crimson Falls for more than a week."

By my count, he's been here four or five. I wonder if he’ll leave soon?

I wonder if I could go with him…?

"So, you know about Elias's... extracurricular activities, right?"

"No. Well, kind of. He mentioned having a sub, so I assumed, but he didn't expressly tell me anything."

"Cheryl. She works for the company. In HR, funnily enough." Aria smirks. "I've heard her telling people about how dark his needs run; you might want to be careful with that one."

"It doesn't bother you that I've said I like both of them?"

Aria scoffs and rolls her eyes. "You're young and unattached; live your life to the fullest, and give me details along the way.”

I laugh, feeling much less tangled up about what people would think of me if I kept carrying on with both Kyrin and Elias, not to mention the dark pull I have toward Lucien, but I know that's just a fascination with how he's like me... broken beyond repair.

For the next hour, Aria and I complete a lot of financial filings and transfers in the system. I'm happy she came over for girl talk, because even with the house's moaning and constant noises, Aria's friendship has become a welcome distraction.

When she bids me goodnight at ten, I head into the kitchen to wash the dishes we used while filing.

Sophie's gone for the night, not surprisingly, and there's a small night light beside the sink, so I don't turn on the overhead lights.

The empty space at my back feels like a black hole, waiting to swallow me the longer I ignore it, but I keep going, ignoring the burning ache to turn around.

By the time I’ve washed the last dish, I'm shaking with fear.

I can’t let this house win, though, so I turn off the water, ring out the sponge, and set it on the counter to dry.

When I'm pressed into the counter from behind, a startled cry escapes me.

A hand, large and scarred, comes from my left and unplugs the night light, bathing us in darkness as I breathe in the spiced scent of the Demon of Valdrich, Lucien.