Lucifer's Keys

Socializing

Mason woke at 8 pm.  He had only intended to sleep for an hour but he had been more tired than he thought.  This uneasy feeling had not let up at all and the progressive worsening of it in his gut was weighing heavily on him.  Though he was happy and content with his life, this uneasy, heavy and haunting feeling refused to let up. It had begun to make him feel listless.  Exercise was more difficult and even his wolf Cyrus seemed to be both on anxious and lethargic all at once if that were even possible.  He forced himself to sit upright, the sounds of John and Kevin shuffling around in their rooms confirming the necessity of his rising.  Of course, he could always back out.  But no, he had said that he would go, and he always kept his word, even when he didn't want to.  He rubbed his eyes, got out of bed, and made his way to his bathroom for a shower.  

He showered and dressed, brushed his teeth, and ran a comb through his hair once or twice.  He looked in the mirror again and tilted his head.

"We aren't unattractive in this form." Cyrus offered.  Mason and Cyrus were as one most of the time.  They shared a common belief that keeping Cyrus locked away in Mason's mind in human form and vice versa, was not the best way to cohabitate in the same body and so, they each shared equally in all things in either form.  They didn't often discuss their arrangement but they did understand that it wasn't normally how the wolf-human relationship worked.  

"No, we aren't are we?" Mason responded.  They stared into the mirror for a moment more but then, something odd caught their attention.  Their eyes, their eyes which had always been brown, had a few gold specks in them.  Mason blinked several times and looked again, the gold remained.  He furrowed their collective brows.

"Strange..." he said, both to Cyrus and aloud.

"Very." Agreed Cyrus.

Perplexed, Mason pulled himself away from the mirror and got dressed.  Simple, decently priced Jean's, a charcoal grey polo, and a black jacket.  He was comfortable in darker colors.  He pulled on his sensible black shoes, grabbed his phone, wallet, and keys, and went into the living room to wait.

Kevin was the first done and was calling the Uber.  He looked like he belonged in the Greek village with his khaki slacks, boat shoes, salmon-colored polo, and backward Sea Crest University hat.  John, who always seemed cool calm and collected was usually the most fashionable.  He put effort into his outfits. He had name brand Jeans which fit loosely everywhere but his waist, and a matching button-up.  His colors this evening were purple and brown, he even had a fedora and J's to match.  

"Uber will be here in 10," Kevin said happily.

"Are we grabbing food first?" John asked, "I'm starving."  

He had made use of his time and gone for a run instead of napping as Mason did.  John saw every opportunity to socialize and party as an opportunity to meet his mate.  Mason had to hand it to him, that was a lot of effort for someone who was made to like him regardless.

"I could go for some real food too.  Shitty bar food, while it has its perks, isn't quite what I'm looking for just yet"

"Of course! Why do you think I suggested 9 instead of 10?" Kevin boasted "I've got it all planned out."

"I'm not sure I like the sound of that," John said, his eyes narrowing at Kevin suspiciously.

"Don't worry! What have I ever done that has gotten us in trouble huh? Trust me, we'll have a great time."

"What about the time you left us at the frat party YOU were invited to so that you could sneak off with the host's sister?!" Mason asked, annoyed.

"Or the time you had us sneak into the movies just so you could see how serious they were about their 'No Free Access' policy and THEN you pretended not to understand English when they caught us?!" John added.

Kevin shrugged, "Hey, the Russian minor came in handy though didn't it?" He said with a huge grin.  He looked at his phone.

"Our driver is here." He pulled the door open dramatically with a bow "Your chariot, gentlemen."

Mason and John couldn't help but laugh, but as they got in the Uber to go, Cyrus became agitated.

"Tonight..." He told Mason.

"Tonight? Tonight what?" Mason responded.

"I don't know yet, he is.....calling us."

"Who?"

"I don't want to even think it until I'm sure, but if I'm right, we won't like it." Cyrus growled low in Mason's mind.

"I already don't like it."

"One more thing..." Cyrus said.

"Dear Goddess what?" Thought Mason, annoyed and uneasy.

"I can feel her, we will find her, soon."

"But we agreed we didn't want to find her.  Things are fine as they are. I'm not even though college yet."

"Fate does not care," Cyrus said simply. "He does not care."

"What the hell Cyrus who is "He"?"

"I hope I'm wrong."  

Cyrus was silent for the rest of the ride to the restaurant and Mason felt heavier and heavier as they drew closer to the restaurant.  Who was "He"?  Would they meet their mate tonight? Could he avoid it at all?  Since when did he have no choice as to what happened to them?  What the hell was going on?