Kat walked quickly down the street with her arms wrapped around herself, telling herself not to cry. Nex was right behind her and she wanted nothing more than to turn around and punch him. She didn't get the part and the last thing she wanted was him pestering her.

"Kitten," Nex said, walking alongside her and catching her arm to make her stop. "That audition was bullshit. Just let me kill Ashley," he said, gesturing back to the general direction of the theater. "She's a cock-sucking bitch, anyway. No one will miss her. Except the director and whoever else's cock she sucks to get what she wants."

"Ew! Oh my God!" Kat said, covering her ears. "What is wrong with you??" She hissed, yanking out of his grip and continuing down the street.

"You know that's all it is, don't you?" Nex said, catching up easily. "She was practically flashing her tits at him and I could smell him on her. She didn't fuck that preppy boy you have eyes for, she fucked the director."

"Do you have to talk like that?" Kat whined, wrinkling her nose. "Geeze."

"Don't tell me you're offended by the word 'tits'. You have some, how can that be offensive?" He said, gesturing to her breasts.

"Seriously," Kat stopped and turned to him, poking his chest angrily. "Shut up. I can't take it. You're so annoying and abrasive. Just go away and let me have a few minutes to be sad, is that really too much to ask?"

"You want to be left alone, I want to go home, the very simple solution to this is to let me kill Ashley," Nex shrugged.

"I hate you," Kat hissed, turning and walking away.

"I don't care that you hate me, kitten. I care that you give me a fucking name already," he groaned.

Kat ignored him and walked into a grocery store. She was surprised to not hear him speak again but as she glanced around, she found he wasn't following her anymore. Sighing in relief, she grabbed a basket and started loading it up.

It was moments like these she wished she could buy alcohol but she had two more years. So, instead, she stared at the wine her mom used to get longingly before moving on and grabbing a frozen pizza. Normally she wouldn't buy that but she was too sad to not have some carbs. But even carbs made her feel guilty so she got a frozen pizza with cauliflower crust.

The truth was, even if Ashley had slept with the director to get the part, Kat had messed up. She froze up and stuttered on her words. Every practice she'd done beforehand went smoothly but having Ashley sitting on the side with a taunting smile messed with her more than she wanted to admit. So even if it was being judged fairly, she still wouldn't have made it.

Kat actually made it home without seeing Nex again. She was starting to grow suspicious so when she got home she carefully peered inside. It was silent. She moved through the house and looked around but he wasn't anywhere to be found.

Setting down the bag of groceries, she ran into her bedroom to find pajamas and change before he appeared again. She slipped on leggings and another sweater, breathing a sigh of relief when she didn't see Nex once she was done.

Kat went to the kitchen and turned on the oven before putting the groceries away. She slid the pizza into the oven and then reached for the cabinet, grabbing her mug. Except a hand locked around her wrist, keeping her from pulling the mug out.

"Based on how incredibly uptight you are with everything else, I doubt you'll want to use a mug to drink your wine," Nex said.

It wasn't until then she felt him pressed against her back, his arm coming over hers as it stayed locked around her wrist. She stopped breathing momentarily and focused on restarting her heart.

"Can't you just leave me alone for one night?" She scowled. "And I don't have any wine."

"I know," he sighed, squeezing her wrist until she let the mug go. "But your pathetic longing stare at the wine showed me what kind you wished to have," he said, bringing his other arm around her other side, holding a bottle of wine in front of her and trapping her between his arms. "What's wrong, kitten? Are you so young you can't buy alcohol and too good a girl to find a way around the law to buy it anyway?"

"You weren't even in the store," she whined, pulling her hand away and turning to push him back so he wasn't so close. Except he didn't budge.

"I was in the store," he said, narrowing his eyes. "I was just giving you your moment of peace."

"Which ended too soon," Kat huffed, pushing against him again. "Back off, Nex."

"Why? Do I make you nervous, kitten?" He teased, leaning in close.

Kat swallowed hard and it was then she noticed his eyes weren't blood red anymore. They were more like an amber. She frowned and looked down, seeing he was dressed like a normal person in jeans and a shirt instead of the fancy clothes.

"Um... What happened to you?" She asked.

"I took a physical form since this seems to be taking longer than I hoped," Nex said, rolling his eyes and reaching past her for a wine glass. His arms came around her as he reached behind her to open the wine bottle and pour the wine.

"You don't need to be this close to me," Kat said, trying to push him back again.

"No," he agreed. "However, it annoys you and I think I've earned a bit of annoying you since you refuse to send me home even though it's your fault I'm here in the first place," he said, narrowing his eyes and stepping back, holding up the glass of wine.

"Can't you just find another way home?" She sighed, snatching the glass and moving over to the couch. She plopped down and pulled her feet up, grabbing a blanket off the back of the couch and pulling it over herself.

"I tried," Nex said, crossing his arms and glaring down at her. "All the sources I have say it has to be you since it's bonded with your blood."

"Well what do you need me for? Just go kill some rando and leave me out of it," she grumbled, sipping on her wine.

"I can't, kitten," he sighed. "It won't count unless you order it."

"Stop calling me kitten," Kat snapped.

"Start cooperating so I can go home," Nex countered.

"So what, I control you?" Kat asked.

"I wouldn't put it that way," he said, narrowing his eyes.

Kat stifled a laugh. "I do, don't I? You can't hurt anyone unless I tell you to, can you?"

Nex clenched and unclenched his fists, his nostrils flaring. "It isn't funny, Katherine. I'd proceed with caution if I were you."

"Why? You can't hurt me. That would mess you up," Kat shrugged, taking another sip of wine.

Nex moved so impossibly fast Kat couldn't comprehend how the glass of wine was no longer in her hands or the blanket over her. Those were less concerning than the fact she was now laying on the couch and Nex was laying on top of her.

"Don't piss me off, kitten. There are other ways to hurt you and I am very creative," he said, his eyes darkening as his hands slid down and gripped her hips as he settled between her legs.

"You wouldn't," Kat breathed, her voice shaky. "You can't. That has to count as hurting me."

"Not if you want it," Nex smirked. "And believe me, kitten, as a demon I know all the ways to seduce someone. Even someone as uptight as you. Even a virgin. You think I haven't noticed how you respond to me? I could have you begging me for it in only a few minutes and I do wonder how you would feel afterwards, after giving your virginity to a demon," he said, skimming his nose along her neck. "So watch it," he growled.

As fast as he was on her, he was off, standing next to the TV with crossed arms, looking pissed off again.

"You're such a jerk," Kat breathed, sitting up and grabbing the blanket again.

"Call me what you want. I just want to go home," he said, tapping his fingers against his arm. "Come on, I'll make it easy, we'll find out where they still do capital punishment and you can pick someone that's going to die anyway. Easy. No blood on your hands," he shrugged.

"But it would be blood on my hands," Kat argued. "Me telling you to kill anyone would put blood on my hands."

"They're going to die anyway," Nex snapped.

"I don't believe in capital punishment," Kat shrugged, reaching for the remote.

"You don't..." Nex started then growled and paced back and forth. "Of all the fucking humans I get this little angel," he said in disgust. "You know most the population of this despicable realm would have more than one name to give and you can't even come up with one?"

"I don't like using violence as a way of solving things," Kat said, turning on the TV.

"Get used to it," Nex growled, balling his fists. "Using violence as power is part of this world. Plenty of people use violence as power."

"And I'd be just as bad as the rest of them if I did this," Kat said, frowning. "Change has to happen with yourself first, then the world."

"You're fucking unbelievable," he seethed. "Humans are violent by nature! Where is your violence??"

"I don't have any," Kat shrugged. "Look, I work at a book store and we have a lot of older books. Tomorrow afternoon on my shift, I'll find some books and see if I can find a way to undo this and get you home to your puppies."

"They're not puppie-" Nex started then growled, shaking his head. "I've already been looking for ways, this is the only way. You have to let me kill someone."

"No," Kat said, sipping her wine. "I refuse to go to that extreme. There's always a loophole. We just have to find it."

Nex's eyes bugged as he stood there fuming. He unplugged the TV before storming out the door, slamming it shut behind him.

Kat only jumped slightly as the door slammed. He scared her but the fact he couldn't actually hurt her or anyone else put her mind to ease enough she could relax with her wine.