pirate any day.” She handed Anya one of the glasses.
Ethan quickly covered his surprise at seeing her. “Yes, but you are a demon,” he said reasonably, as though he wasn’t openly insulting her.
Sonya grabbed her tail and looked at it with feigned surprise. “So I am.” She glared back at him. “And very soon, this demon is going to be your boss. Your ass is mine, pirate.” She considered the extra beverage in her hand. “I have no idea why I brought two of these,” she said and turned to leave.
As she went, she overheard Ethan mutter to Anya, “I have a real talent for pissing off demons, don't I?”
Sonya was in full agreement with that.
She tried her best to ignore them the rest of the evening. After a few hours, Anya left, but Ethan remained, studying the book. Sonya found herself watching him again. Every time she caught herself, she’d forced her attention on something else, but without fail, her gaze would slip back. Only because I mistrust him so thoroughly.
All the while, Ethan remained hard at work, switching his attention between the book, the computer, his papers, and then back again. He finally took a break and entered the pub, claiming a stool at the end of the bar.
Sonya considered pretending she didn’t notice him, but then he yawned and vigorously rubbed his eyes. She sighed in resignation and sauntered. “What’s your poison, pirate?”
Irritation flashed over his face at the moniker. “I need something that will wake me up.”
“How late do you plan on working?”
He shrugged. “I haven’t even gotten past the first few pages.” His brows furrowed and he murmured, almost to himself, “It’s like I’m missing a piece of the code.”
“Isn’t that the whole point of encoding something? To make it difficult to decode?”
“To make it difficult for others to decode, yes. But I should have the whole key, not a part of it.”
“Maybe you’re just not using the code right. I could take a look at it for you and see if I can’t figure it out. Demons are natural linguists, and a code is nothing more than another language.”
“Why don’t you just get my drink, demon?” he replied curtly.
“I’ll only offer once, pirate. Don’t beg for my help later.” She turned with a cheeky grin and began mixing an invigorating tea blend.
Glancing over her shoulder, she caught him staring and turned away. Oddly, that look made her feel exposed, though she couldn’t explain why.
“Here.” She set the cup in front of him. “This should get those brain cells kicking.”
He took a sip. “It’s bitter.” He set the glass down. She was about to point out his faulty taste buds, when he blurted, “Why is this place so empty?”
She glanced around, spotting only one couple in the corner and another on their way out the door. “It’s late.” She tried not to sound embarrassed by his observation.
Ethan shot her a knowing look.
“It’s always slow at this hour,” she lied.
“Maybe it’s your lack of music.” He flicked the edge of his cup with his finger, and the ting echoed in the quiet room.
“Most of the time, there is music playing,” she replied. “The speakers are broken, and the tech personnel have been busy with other things.”
“Oh. Do you need me to look at them?”
Sonya hissed, showing her fangs. “I can take care of it, thank you.”
“Very well,” Ethan said, grasping his cup in one hand and sliding off the stool. “But I’ll only offer once.”
Ethan chuckled to himself as he made his way back to his workspace. Sonya had been pleased enough to try and insult him, but she certainly didn’t like the turnabout. If he’d stayed any longer, he was sure to coax a snarl out of her.
After taking another sip of his tea, enjoying the rich flavor, he settled in amongst his mess of research. He’d lied when he called the concoction bitter. In truth, the taste was quite pleasing, and his mind was already perking up.
Before long, he was
Ethan quickly covered his surprise at seeing her. “Yes, but you are a demon,” he said reasonably, as though he wasn’t openly insulting her.
Sonya grabbed her tail and looked at it with feigned surprise. “So I am.” She glared back at him. “And very soon, this demon is going to be your boss. Your ass is mine, pirate.” She considered the extra beverage in her hand. “I have no idea why I brought two of these,” she said and turned to leave.
As she went, she overheard Ethan mutter to Anya, “I have a real talent for pissing off demons, don't I?”
Sonya was in full agreement with that.
She tried her best to ignore them the rest of the evening. After a few hours, Anya left, but Ethan remained, studying the book. Sonya found herself watching him again. Every time she caught herself, she’d forced her attention on something else, but without fail, her gaze would slip back. Only because I mistrust him so thoroughly.
All the while, Ethan remained hard at work, switching his attention between the book, the computer, his papers, and then back again. He finally took a break and entered the pub, claiming a stool at the end of the bar.
Sonya considered pretending she didn’t notice him, but then he yawned and vigorously rubbed his eyes. She sighed in resignation and sauntered. “What’s your poison, pirate?”
Irritation flashed over his face at the moniker. “I need something that will wake me up.”
“How late do you plan on working?”
He shrugged. “I haven’t even gotten past the first few pages.” His brows furrowed and he murmured, almost to himself, “It’s like I’m missing a piece of the code.”
“Isn’t that the whole point of encoding something? To make it difficult to decode?”
“To make it difficult for others to decode, yes. But I should have the whole key, not a part of it.”
“Maybe you’re just not using the code right. I could take a look at it for you and see if I can’t figure it out. Demons are natural linguists, and a code is nothing more than another language.”
“Why don’t you just get my drink, demon?” he replied curtly.
“I’ll only offer once, pirate. Don’t beg for my help later.” She turned with a cheeky grin and began mixing an invigorating tea blend.
Glancing over her shoulder, she caught him staring and turned away. Oddly, that look made her feel exposed, though she couldn’t explain why.
“Here.” She set the cup in front of him. “This should get those brain cells kicking.”
He took a sip. “It’s bitter.” He set the glass down. She was about to point out his faulty taste buds, when he blurted, “Why is this place so empty?”
She glanced around, spotting only one couple in the corner and another on their way out the door. “It’s late.” She tried not to sound embarrassed by his observation.
Ethan shot her a knowing look.
“It’s always slow at this hour,” she lied.
“Maybe it’s your lack of music.” He flicked the edge of his cup with his finger, and the ting echoed in the quiet room.
“Most of the time, there is music playing,” she replied. “The speakers are broken, and the tech personnel have been busy with other things.”
“Oh. Do you need me to look at them?”
Sonya hissed, showing her fangs. “I can take care of it, thank you.”
“Very well,” Ethan said, grasping his cup in one hand and sliding off the stool. “But I’ll only offer once.”
Ethan chuckled to himself as he made his way back to his workspace. Sonya had been pleased enough to try and insult him, but she certainly didn’t like the turnabout. If he’d stayed any longer, he was sure to coax a snarl out of her.
After taking another sip of his tea, enjoying the rich flavor, he settled in amongst his mess of research. He’d lied when he called the concoction bitter. In truth, the taste was quite pleasing, and his mind was already perking up.
Before long, he was
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