Keepers of the Underworld

Chapter 8

Dee was smiling when he arrived at the nurses’ station. He glanced around the area for Sephi until he saw her and Roxy walking down the hallway toward him. He held his hand out to Sephi as she approached, taking it and kissing her cheek.

Dee thickened his accent and asked, “Roxy, may I steal my wife away for a moment? I need to speak to her about one of our children.”

“Sure, just don’t forget why you have her,” Roxy grinned.

“Never,” Dee chuckled as he turned and led Sephi to his office.

As soon as he closed the door, Sephi asked, “What did Zach do this time?”

“Why do you assume it is Zach?” Dee grinned, knowing their son enjoyed getting into trouble for numerous reasons.

“Because it is always Zach,” Sephi sighed. “I swear he does things just because he knows they annoy me.”

“He does, but this time it is not Zach.”

Sephi was instantly worried about her daughter and asked, “Melanie? What’s happened? Is she alright?”

Dee softly chuckled as he pulled Sephi into an embrace and kissed her head. He pulled back so he could look into her eyes. Seeing her concern, he smiled and kissed her lips lovingly.

“Melanie is fine,” Dee told her. “However, there is something that I discovered this morning I believe you should know. So, please take a breath and try to relax.”

Sephi made a show of taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly. This made Dee laugh. Sephi began to giggle. She could tell by Dee’s attitude that whatever it was that involved their daughter, it was not serious.

“Melanie had a gentleman friend spend the night after we left the diner last night,” Dee told her.

“What? Who? I didn’t know she was seeing anyone,” Sephi said. Her brow furrowed as she thought of who it could be.

“She wasn’t, and neither was he.” Dee paused and looked at her before he told her, “It was Darius.”

“Darius? Our Darius?” Sephi said as a broad smile formed on her lips.

“Yes, our Darius,” Dee laughed.

Sephi squealed and hugged Dee. “I knew it! They have loved each other for centuries! Melanie was too shy to approach him, and Darius would never make the first move toward her. He has always been far too worried about upsetting us.”

“You are not upset by it?”

“Why would I be? Darius has a kind heart. That is why we have been able to trust him the way we do. Yes, he did horrible things before he came to us, but they were not because of what he wanted to do them. He had no choice. Darius respected her and us enough to not pursue her even though it was obvious how much he has always loved her. I am happy for them.”

“You might not be so happy when I tell you what I have asked of Darius,” Dee told her.

“What? If you have interfered and come between them, I promise you that it will be at least a century before I let you lay even a finger on me,” Sephi seethed.

Dee roared with laughter, “I have always loved your passion! No! I have not come between them. I gave Darius my blessing in the matter. I have always seen how he cares and protects her. I was only blind to how much love there was in those actions, and it was not out of loyalty to us.”

“Then what?”

“I have asked Darius to talk to Melanie about Travis.”

“I’m not sure if I like this.”

Dee held up his hand and said, “Nothing will happen to Travis. I want her to help us dig into the dreams of his brother and cousin. I believe things are not as they seem. They will never volunteer information, so this might be the best option.”

“I only ask that you do one favor for me,” Sephi said as she became stoic. “Add Travis’ mother to the list. Even if she does not know anything, she deserves a little torment for the way she treats her son.”

“This, my queen, is why you will always rule beside me. When you are ruthless, I find you absolutely irresistible,” Dee told her, his voice lowering as it filled with lust.

“Good,” Sephi smirked as she grasped his beard and pulled his lips to hers. “You can show me tonight how irresistible I am.”

“Count on it,” Dee said as he kissed her. “Now go back to work before I can’t control myself.”

Sephi sighed as she turned to leave, “As you wish, my king.”

Dee playfully swatted her backside as she laughed. After she left his office, he went back to work. He had tasks to complete for both his job as the attorney for the center, and as the guardian of the underworld, and right now, his human life took priority.

-

When Darius arrived at the diner for lunch, Melanie was waiting for him. She greeted him with a smile and a wave as he walked through the door. June, the same waitress as the day before, grinned at him as he slid into the booth across from Melanie.

“What can I get you to drink, hun,” June asked Darius.

“Water and coffee, please,” Darius replied.

“Sure thing. I’ll be right back to take your order,” June said before heading to the kitchen.

Melanie smiled at Darius and asked, “Why do I feel like when you spoke to my father this morning, it was not strictly business that was discussed?”

“Because it wasn’t,” Darius sighed. “Your father began by discussing things about the resident. He then moved on to question how I felt about working with you to help get information for the young man’s family members through their dreams.”

“Alright, there is nothing that odd about that. What aren’t you telling me?”

“He asked me if I loved you, and when I admitted that I have for centuries, he asked me if I had been with you,” Darius told her. “I could never lie to him, and he knows that. I told him we were together for the first time last night.”

“And what did he say?” Melanie asked as she leaned back in his chair.

“He told me that you are not like your brother. You are particular about who you are with, and as long as I am good to you, he is happy for us.”

“I told you not to worry about him,” Melanie smiled as she reached across the table and took his hand. “Dad is a lot of things, but he is always fair.”

June returned with their drinks, placed them on the table, and asked, “Would the two of you like deluxe smash burgers and a family basket of fries?”

Melanie smiled and nodded at Darius, who replied, “Yes, please.”

“Alright, I’ll be right back,” June said before going to the kitchen.

Melanie grinned at Darius, “So, tell me, what does my father want me to do?”

“They have a resident who may not have done what he is accused of doing. We believe it was his brother or cousin who was driving the vehicle when it crashed and killed several. Your father would like you to use their dreams to ferret out the truth.”

Melanie grinned, “That could be fun. Count me in.”