Chapter 24 - Eleanor - Purge With My Demons

Waking up at Owen’s was weird, but in a comfortable way. It was weird because it felt like it should be my normal routine, but it wasn’t. I knew I belonged here in this house. Luci whimpered by the door. Rolling over Owen’s side of the bed, I opened the door, and she bounded down the stairs.

My hands reached out for the hoodie hanging by the bedroom door, and I slipped the oversized sweater on over my head. When I rounded the corner downstairs, I saw Finn watching TV. “She’s outside with Tristan and Ash.”

“Thank you.” My voice was still groggy with sleep. Luci was indeed running in the backyard with Tristan and Ashton. I pulled my phone out and sent another text to Giordana.

Eleanor:

love you mean it

There was so much I wanted to say to her, but I needed to talk to her in person. I was having a little bit of information overload and didn’t know how to process it all. Of course, typically she’s the one I would call.

Cora walked out with two steaming cups of coffee and not a moment too soon. The fall morning air was crisp and chilly. A hot coffee was exactly what I needed.

“I made yours the same way we make Owen's. Hopefully, it’s alright for you too.” Taking a sip and luxuriating in the smooth warmth, I savored the taste, closing my eyes and giving Cora a very satisfied thumbs up. “Good, I’m glad.” She chuckled. “I’m not good with the talking and emotions and shit like Finn and Ash. If you need anything, though, just let me know.”

Tristan and Ashton joined us after getting themselves a coffee and convincing Finn to come outside. Owen had just finished a workout in their basement gym and was showering. Part of me wanted to go join him, while another part of me wanted to get to know his friends better.

“So why did y'all start the band?” I began unwrapping a blueberry muffin Finn brought out.

Ashton began explaining how they all learned to play instruments through their lives and decided it was something they had never done. They picked a genre they liked, and one of them could actually sing, and that’s how they came to be.

“Death’s Nevermind, where did the name come from?”

“I guess it started with me,” Finn answered. “Owen found me first. We’ve been friends since we were kids. I was dying and Owen saved me by turning me.”

“Did I though?” Owen stepped outside, and I moved over in the chair so he could sit with me.

“Of course, you did. I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for you.”

“Only the people here, Lilith, and Lucifer, know that I have the power to change a human to a demon.” Owen was saying this directly to me. “None of us know why I can do it or how I do it. Cora was the last one. I won’t do it anymore.”

“Owen, none of us are mad at you about it. Or blame you for us having to help you with Amon.” Ashton was insistent when they spoke.

“Your lives are tied to mine in a way I can’t explain. Each of you are tethered to me, and when you’re working for him, that tether weakens like he’s pulling you away from me. To use you, like he used Brad and the others.”

“Owen, you forget we are loyal to you, not him.” Finn’s face was serious.

I perked up, remembering the last time I saw Brad, he was in a not-so-great situation with Owen and Tristan. “What happened to Brad?”

Tristan looked at me and with a face of stone, he said, “We killed him.”

“Oh, okay. Of course.” I threw my hands up because, of course, they did.

“Don’t freak out. It’s taken care of.” Owen’s voice was calming, but I was calm. I really just wanted answers and to figure this shit out.

“I am calm. Should I be freaking out? Oh. I should be freaking out.”

My entire body shifted in the chair, and I looked at Owen. “Why aren’t I freaking out about all of this? All of this is honestly crazy. I’m supposed to be the Queen of Hell. Me?” I stood up to prove my point. I was just a fucked up girl from Louisiana. “And this” —I gestured to the being that was Owen in all of his perfection— “is my soulmate?” Owen’s face was priceless. He scratched the back of his head and chewed his bottom lip. “Yeah, okay, I’ll buy it.” I sat back down.

“You okay?”

Out loud and with a smile, I squeaked, “Peachy.”