~~Young~~

Chapter Seven

   “I’ve found her,” Gage announced cheerfully as he burst through Jerry’s bedroom door, startling the man from his slumber as he flicked on the light.

   “Her? Her who?” he asked groggily.

   “My mark.”

   That wiped all traces of sleep from the demon’s borrowed features, “oh really?”

   “Yup,” Gage rubbed his hands together, “it’s that girl from the office I was telling you about, Sera Turner.”

   “And d’u know dis how…” the demon trailed off as he slid up in bed. He was careful to keep himself covered though, keeping the sheet held to his chest. Not for Gage’s sake, but it was always awkward for him to see himself in another man’s body for the first few days. Eventually he’d get over it, usually about the same time he found his first lay, “yesterday d’u wanted tu get ‘er in bed, and now du’re ready tu kill ‘er? What changed?”

   “Nothing…everything,” he began excitedly, his body so full of energy he couldn’t help but pace in front of their loft’s windows. They were covered of course, but you could still see the lights of the streetlamps bellow glowing through the sheer fabric signifying night still had a strong hold on this part of the earth, “Michael was there, when I was leaving, I glanced over my shoulder and there he was crouched on the eaves.”

   With an exasperated sigh Jerry shook his head, “where? I t’ought d’u was taking dat little blonde up on ‘er offer for,” his lip curled up, “for a drink.”

   “I was, but then I remembered what Duncan had offered me. The frat boy,” Gage explained quickly when Jerry shot him a ‘who?’ look, “he invited me over too, to say thanks. And wouldn’t you know it, when I got there they had a houseful. Figured it was my perfect chance to do a little digging while they were distracted.”

   Gage didn’t have the option of disappearing from mortal’s sight like the angels did, at least not while his wings were all tucked in. But his wings could cause more trouble than being invisible to human sight was worth. Their size just didn’t work well for stealth.

   Of course he didn’t have the chance for any recon anyway, which he recounted for Jerry, not before Duncan found him. And even if the boy hadn’t come across him he wouldn’t have made it up the stairs as a man, they were apparently prepared for just such a thing with guards posted on both levels.

   Reason one why Gage knew he had the right house. They obviously had something to hide.

   And whipping out his wings wouldn’t have worked. There were far too many bodies in that house, the chances of him bumping into another would have surely given him away even if he had managed to get away from the boy.

   Gage could give him credit, by all appearances Duncan’s nearness seemed completely casual. Not anything malicious at all. But every time Gage moved towards another room, made as if he had enough of Duncan’s company, he was there. Offering a drink, asking his opinion on this trivial matter or another as if he valued his opinion, he found a way to stay near him. It was only when a fight broke out his own instincts kicked in and he went to leave Gage unchaperoned.

   And given this opportunity Gage should have gone about what he had set to do, but he couldn’t deny his own curiosity and followed the boy into the backyard where a few- far more immature- boys were brawling over a bettor’s debt. Duncan had broken it up quickly in a show of authority any man would be in awe of. After that Gage could no longer see him as a boy, but a man. A man who had the respect of his peers which Gage had questioned. Turned out he headed the fraternity side of his chapter, and who else but that Sera Turner led the sorority side.