Page 47 of My Demon Neighbor
I followed him across the street to his place, then stepped inside. Hella immediately ran off toward the living room, probably to nap on the couch.
"You know, I thought this the first time I came over, but did you use an interior design magazine for reference or something?" I asked, waving toward his living room. While it was well-furnished and pretty good looking, there was this... fakeness to it that reminded me of those extravagant homes on TV shows and in magazines.
"Is it that obvious?" he asked with a grimace, making me laugh.
"Not really. It just doesn't feel like you," I explained, and he gave me a curious look, stopping just outside the living room doorway.
"Whatwouldfeel like me?"
I pursed my lips, giving it some thought since he seemed honestly curious.
"A bigger couch, one of those L-shaped ones maybe? With deep, soft cushions so you'd fit in both forms and could comfortably nap there if you felt like it. Maybe some art on the walls, since you seemed to admire the ones on mine. Thicker curtains for sure. You never said it, but I know your senses are far better. No way you would've heard my music otherwise."
Pythor looked... stunned by my assessment, and I wondered if he didn't like it, or if he was surprised because I'd gotten it right.
"That sounds really good, actually," he said at last, and I smiled, glad it was the latter. "I did put up the painting you gave me in my bedroom. I really like it there."
Before I could say anything, he snapped his fingers, and Hella barked as the couch she was sleeping on suddenly changed, then grumbled as she fell back asleep on the new couch, which was exactly like the one I'd described. Thick curtains had also replaced the flimsy ones on the wall.
"No paintings?"
"I was hoping I might commission or buy some from you," he said, and for some reason, it made me blush.
"You wantmypaintings on your walls?"
"Of course. I was admiring the ones at yours because they wereyours," he said, completely at ease admitting something like that. Was that a demon thing, or a Pythor thing?
"Come on," he said before I could figure out how to reply to that, and I was grateful. "I have plans for us. How are you with heights?"
Confused by the question, I shrugged. "I'm not scared of them or anything."
More curious now, I took the hand he offered me, and when he pulled me close, I realized he was going to use his magic to take us. Were we going outside?
I trusted him enough to know he wouldn't do anything I wasn't ready for, so I stuck close as the world around us flickered, and then I was standing on... nothing.
What the hell?
I took a step back, still clutching Pythor's hand as I glanced down at the roof of his house... which was around ten feet below us. I was standing on air. I was in the fucking sky.
Glancing up, I spotted something I hadn't before. A table was set a few feet behind Pythor, an intimate setting with two chairs, a bright, cheerful candle, a vase of colorful flowers, and were those fireflies flying around?
"Pythor..."
"Since we decided we're dating, I thought it was time to have an actual date, don't you think? Do you like it?"
I nodded mutely, letting him lead me toward one of the chairs. He pulled it back for me like a gentleman, and I sat down, waiting until he'd slid it back and walked over to take the other chair before shaking my head in wonder.
"This is... wow. You're wonderful, Pythor."
Pythor smiled widely, his dark skin glowing golden in the light from the fireflies that I realized on closer inspection weren't actually fireflies but small blobs of light. Magic was awesome.
