Infernal Incarnation: Asmodeus to Ari

Chapter 7

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    Kate looked around her dorm room, checking to see if she had left anything out that she may need over the summer. Everything seems to be in order... I'm pretty sure I have everything I need, and besides, whatever I don't take and end up needing, someone would be more than willing to get for me, I'm sure. Satisfied that she had everything she thought she would immediately need, Kate zipped up her luggage with a satisfied grin. Kate decided to go ahead and take her luggage to the car before moving her 'staying here' boxes to the basement storage lockers.

    I can't believe it's been a year already, Kate thought to herself as she started hauling boxes down to the basement. Coming upon the stairs, she rolled her eyes and thought, Thank goodness for dollies. No f*****g way would I trek up and down stairs for each and every single box. Letting out an already exhausted sigh, Kate angled the dolly with her first three boxes so that they could bump down the stairs behind her without falling off the dolly. She lived on the 5th floor of the university dorm halls, and she usually loved it, but on the students move in days and move out days, living on the 5th floor was hell. They had an elevator in their building, but since everyone was trying to move their things all at the same time, waiting on the elevator to be free would take three times as long to get everything done.

    After getting all of her 'staying here' boxes put away in the storage locker designated for her, she put a padlock on the chainlink storage space with a smirk, I know I don't have anything of interest to anyone anyway, but a b***h is gonna have to work hard to get what I do have. Satisfied that she got all of her physical belongings sorted, Kate went around the building looking for her friends so that they could all say their goodbyes. Kate was definitely a social butterfly, even in highschool she was friends with everyone and everyone seemed to love her for her genuine kindness and how she cared for others. Where is everyone? I hope they're not all gone, Kate thought as she chewed her lip.  Although, if Kate were being honest with herself, there really was only one friend she desperately hoped to see before going back home for the summer. 

    Suddenly a pair of soft hands covered Kate's eyes as a familiar voice came from behind her, "Guess who".  Kate was filled with giddiness and could tell that her friend was also brimming with happiness.  

        "Uhm, hmmm...  I don't know...  You don't seem all that familiar to me",  Kate responded with a sly smirk on her face. 

        "Heeyyyy!! That really hurts!" Jessica replied, bringing her hand to her chest and making an exaggerated hurt face.  "That really stings that my best friend doesn't find me familiar" she said with a pout as she crossed her arms over her chest.  

        "Awww, come now, poor baby! You know I know who you are! How could you honestly think that I could ever forget you?", Kate answered just as dramatically and stuck out her lip in an exaggerated pout.

        "Ahaha, yeah, yeah, bring it in KK", Jessica said laughingly as she pulled her best friend into a bear hug. I'm going to miss you so much, Kate. More than you know.  Jessica and Kate held each other in a tight hug for a few moments and both of them wondered if either would be brave enough to admit that they had started developing feelings for one another before leaving for summer. Both girls decided against it, knowing that it would be harder to for them to go their separate ways in either case of how the other took the news.  Smiling sadly,  each of them said their final goodbyes and went in opposite directions to their cars.  

    As she made it to her car, Kate paused a moment looking back over her shoulder, to see Jessica on the opposite side of the parking lot.  Kate couldn't help but hope that Jessica would do the same, and she felt the biggest swirl of butterflies and heart flutters as soon as Jessica did exactly that. Giving each other a final wave good bye, the girls got in their respective cars so that they could get started out on their long drives back to their homes. Before backing out of her parking spot, Kate pulled out her phone to text her family's group chat to let them all know she would be on her way home. At her mother's request, she also shared her ETA with the group chat so they would be able to see her progress as she drove. Rolling her eyes with a smile at her mother's insistence that she share her location, Kate plugged her phone up to the car charger and started up her Highway Hits playlist. Alright, family, here I come.

    Ari was sitting in their office, already bored with the meeting they had to sit in on about the company's expansion ideas, when they got a text from the family chat.  Looking at the message, they smiled and already had a plan as to what they would do to celebrate their sister's coming home and completion of her first year at college. Austin was only 3 hours away, so she should be home with plenty of time to get her things settled and wind down before dinner.  Ari locked their phone and tapped it in their hand absent mindedly as the chatter of the meeting droned on.  

    After a few moments, the voice in their head chimed in,  "You still haven't texted the doc.. are you sure you really want to get help with your anxiety?" Ugh, yes, that's right... let me do that right now before I forget again.  

        "Are you going to tell the doc about me, and how helpful I am to you?" 

        For a voice in my head that is probably a figment of my imagination, or my own subconscious talking to me and simply addressing me as 'you' even though you and I are one in the same, you sure do have a smug or cocky kind of energy about you. 

        "It's not smug or cocky if what I'm saying is true... Who knows, maybe the doc would be more than willing to help you with figuring out what the voice in your head is... Maybe you're right, maybe I'm just a figment of your imagination." After pausing for a moment, "Ooorrrrr, I'm actually your spirit guide here to help you through your spiritual and human journey like I've told you before." 

    Ari got the impression that if this voice in their head was in fact some entity or being other than themself, they would be giving them a hella sarcastic look, hands on their hips and all. Alright, whatever, I'll consider telling the doctor about you later on, when I'm sure the doc won't think I'm some raging lunatic that needs to be heavily medicated. Deal?

        "Deal" said the voice simply, and once again Ari swore they could see an image of the voice in their mind's eye with a smug grin plastered on their face, if they had one.  Rolling their eyes at the exchange, Ari unlocked their phone and sent off a quick message to Liz before they forgot again. 

        "Good afternoon, Doc. Hope everything is well with you. I was wondering if you had a free spot at some point today.  I had a bit of a panic attack last night, and would just like to talk through some things, if that's alright".  Letting out a short sigh, unsure of what the doc's response would be, Ari tapped the paper airplane icon and set the phone down just as the soft whoosh sound confirmed that the message had been sent.  Ari rolled their shoulders back and forth, working to release the built up tension that was held there. It was almost mid-day and already Ari was feeling their muscles knot up from sitting in their chair for so long.  Reaching to stretch their arms overhead, Ari was overtaken by a massive yawn that sent chills down their spine.  

    Mmm, that's the good stuff,  Ari thought to themself as the meeting was coming to a close.  Finally!  Time to get some lunch. What to eat... where to go...  Then suddenly another thought came to the forefront of Ari's mind.  I wonder what Sera is up to... She still hasn't called or texted, Ari thought with a frown.  Oh well, whatever the reason for her disappearance, I just hope she's alright.  Ari sat for a moment considering their relationship with Serafina.  Ari never was one to linger with a single person for too long. Much preferring the short and sweet to the long, drawn out and complicated. However, in this case it was Serafina who was always so insistent on seeing each other again, and Ari had to admit: it was nice to feel so wanted.  

    Liz was in the middle of a session with a regular patient as she felt her phone vibrate.  Glancing up at the clock, Liz noted she only had a few more minutes with this patient. I'll check my phone in a little bit once session is up.  Surely whomever it is can wait five minutes.  As her patient finishes their final thoughts in session, Liz gave them a reassuring smile and advised them on the next steps, as well as homework for them to work on and have ready for their session next week. "Thank you, see you again next week", she calls out after them as they leave the room.  Okay, now, let's see who needs what,  Liz thinks to herself as she plops into the chair behind her desk. 

    Liz reads through the text message with raised eyebrows and a look of surprise on her face. I never thought Ari would be the one to request extra sessions... I wonder if this has something to do with whatever had them so preoccupied last time. Well, let's see... "Hi, Ari. Of course, is this something that is urgent? If you are in crisis, I can get someone from the crisis center to reach out to you."  Liz's eyebrows furrowed and her lips pressed together in a thin line while she awaited Ari's response.  I hope they're alright...

        "Oh, no... Sorry, Doc, I didn't mean to scare you. There have just been a few things that have come up and really triggered my anxiety and I just wanted to talk through it to try to get your opinion on whether or not I'm losing it."  Ari sent back with a sharp inhale through their teeth. Oops... I didn't know I would worry the doc like that just by asking for an impromptu appointment, my bad. 

    Letting out a big sigh of relief, Liz replied,  "I have some time tomorrow around 12-1, so if you're free tomorrow for your lunch hour we can make plans for you to come in for an extra session." 

        "Yes, that works perfectly for me. I don't ever really have anything going on over the weekends anyway."  Ari responded, lying through their teeth.   "I'll see you tomorrow at noon. Thank you, Doc."

    Ari smiled wryly to themself, Turns out it's a good thing I haven't heard back from Serafina yet. Otherwise, I would be more than busy tomorrow. Speaking of.... "Hey Sera, is everything alright?  Just want to make sure that you're okay.  It's not like you to not answer my call-". No... no, that sounds too possessive,   Ari thinks to themself as they erase the last portion of the text before sending it off.  Don't want to come on too possessive or jealous... that never ever ends well, and I would hate it if someone were that way toward me.  Our business is all pleasure, afterall,  thought Ari as they pursed their lips and furrowed their brows together.  Even if all they had was pleasure up until now, Ari couldn't help but feel slightly wounded at Serafina's newfound silence toward them.  

    Serafina had just arrived at Elias's house to pick up her check as her phone chimed. 

        "Hey Sera, is everything alright?  Just want to make sure that you're okay."  

    Reading the text from Ari, Serafina couldn't help but feel bad about ignoring Ari's phone call from earlier.  Serafina knew that Ari must be confused at minimum.  It must have taken a lot for them to send that text as a follow up to the phone call she missed earlier in the day.  Especially considering how difficult it was to even get close enough to them for her to get their personal cell phone number in the first place.  Serafina bit her lip as she replied.

        "Hey love, I'm alright. I had a family emergency this morning and had left in such a hurry that I forgot my phone at my apartment",  she lied feeling like trash.  Even if I do have feelings for them, there's no way in hell I deserve them. 

    Just then, Elias opened his front door, pulling Serafina from her thoughts. "Hey Elias.  You got my money?", Serafina asked with a sniff. 

    Noticing the redness in her eyes and the little bit of pooling Elias scoffed at her and asked incredulously,  "Are you seriously about to cry right now?"

        "Not that it's any of your business, but no, I just happen to suffer from allergies.", Serafina replied with venom in her voice as she glared up at him.  "Now, do you have it or not?  I didn't just come over to hang out and chill with you, Eli."

    Eli looked at her with a condescending sneer, lifting his hand to caress her cheek,  "Aww, why not Sera?  Don't you like me anymore?"  

        "Actually, now that you ask, no.  I don't.",  she snapped at him as she jerked away from his outstretched hand.  "Come on, Eli, I don't have all day.  I'm still tired and I would like to go on about my life."

    Laughing menacingly, he reached into his back pocket and pulled out the check written to Serafina. "Only if you give me a kiss.",  he replied with a smug smile on his face.

        "I said no.  Don't make me cause a scene",  Serafina threatened as she raised an eyebrow.

        "Mmmm, that's why I love you, Sera.  Always so fiery and fiesty.  I can't imagine what you must do for my son's loins",  Elias taunted, licking his lips. 

        "Ugh, first of all, don't be disgusting.  I would never sleep with you.  Secondly, if Ari -does- turn out to be yours, they're non-binary, not male. So they would be your 'child', not your 'son'."  

    Before giving Elias time to retort, Serafina snatched the check from his hand, then turned to walk back to her car.  Just as she was about to climb into the driver's seat, Serafina paused and shouted to Elias over her shoulder,  "Oh yeah, I almost forgot... I quit, Eli."  Seeing rage engulf Elias's features, Serafina smiled sweetly at him and blew him a kiss before hopping in her car fully and taking off. 

    That b***h!  I cannot believe she just did that, Eli thought with a clenched jaw, angrily narrowed eyes and both his hands balled into fists.  This will NOT be our last encounter, Sera. You can bet your sweet ass on that.  I WILL see you again. Slamming his front door closed,  Elias screamed out of anger and frustration.  

    What is it about that woman that I can't get enough of?  She's absolutely infuriating, but I always want more.  Sure, we have always had harsh interactions with one another and we both act as if we can't stand one another, but I know deep down she feels the same toward me.  One day, she will realize she and I belong together... one day, she -will- be mine.

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