Asmodeus(50)

"I don't really give a damn," he called out, just before he disappeared.





Wednesday night at Tony's was karaoke night. Brianna wasn't in the mood for karaoke, but it added a nice distraction from the terrible thoughts running through her mind. Asmodeus had taken her back to her house so she could get dressed in her own clothes. She hadn't packed anything for a night on the town.



She decided on a little black dress, because she wasn't quite sure what she and Asmodeus were going on. A date or an interrogation. She figured the little black dress could help in both.



Asmodeus wore black slacks with his white collared shirt. His hair was pulled back. He looked like an Armani model. Apparently half the women in Tony's thought so too, as she'd caught more than one staring in his direction.



The hostess, another one with wandering eyes, sat them in a booth with a view of the lovely street. The street lamp shone in their window, casting a glare. Cars honked and people passed by, staring in at them. The hostess placed the menus on the table, which was covered with a white and red checkered tablecloth. Brianna settled down and pushed the menu to the edge of the table.



"You know what you would like to order?" he asked.



The waitress walked up to ask them what they wanted to drink.



"I've been here before. You only come to Tony's for the deep-dish pizza. At least the locals do."



He smiled, placing his menu on top of hers. "I am ordering that as well."



The waitress pulled a small notepad out of her black apron. "Two deep-dish pizzas. And what would you like to drink?"



"I'll have a Coke," Brianna said.



"I'll have the same."



The waitress nodded and took the menus, and with one last appreciative glance at Asmodeus she left.



"When have you been here?" she asked, trying to act nonchalant and attempting to keep the conversation light.

"The night you came back."



"Oh." Not the night of the attack. Not the night he'd caught her lying. The night she'd come back. Why those words affected her so much she had no idea. It wasn't as though this was going to turn into a long-term relationship. Well, in the Abyss maybe, though she highly doubted lustful thoughts would come into play there.



Still trying to keep the conversation light-hearted, she raised an eyebrow and nodded toward the stage. "So, are you going to get up and sing tonight?"



Asmodeus glanced at the microphone sitting on the small stage. "Is that what they are setting up to do? A band played the last time I was here."



"Well, anyone can go up there and sing, so if you feel the need." She watched as he gave the stage another look.



"No thanks. You?"



She picked up her fork. "I'd rather stick this fork in my eye."



"I'd be forced to heal you, then I would be hauled away to a laboratory. Perfect night."



"Which reminds me. Why do your eyes look normal right now?" He wasn't sporting the freaky horizontal pupils. His eyes looked as normal as hers, only the light green of his eyes were rare. She'd never quite seen that color on another person.



"I can change them if I wish."



She leaned back in the booth, feeling at ease with his company. She hadn't thought this date would be so relaxing. "What's it like to have all of those powers?"



He shrugged. "I can't answer that. It would be the same as my asking you what it's like to walk."



Point taken. The thought of having such power was overwhelming.



Looking outside, she watched a couple walk by, hand in hand. The scene made her realize she had taken her freedoms for granted. She'd worked so much at her bookstore she hadn't found enjoyment in a simple afternoon walk. A sunset.



"You are concerned about the repercussions of your summoning me."



Ha. There was no need to worry about it. The consequences had already been laid out. She was screwed. Slowly coming to terms with the fact that she was going to burn in hell wasn't pleasant. "Not really."



A waiter stepped up to the microphone and tapped it a few times. Hearing the resounding thunks throughout the dining area, he smiled. "Okay, folks, this is karaoke night at Tony's. We'll have someone at the DJ booth, so go on up and tell him what song you want to sing, and if we have it we'll set it up for you. Just fill out the slip of paper with your song choice if it gets busy and we'll call you up."



An older man immediately went up to the booth and soon he was singing "Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis. He wasn't bad, actually.



The waitress delivered their drinks.



Brianna took the paper off the top of the straw and watched Asmodeus. He was turned in his seat, seeming to enjoy the old man singing, the same as he had enjoyed viewing The Golden Girls. Whether it was TV or karaoke, he became mesmerized by the distraction, taking pleasure where he could.