Chapter Seventeen Evelyn #2
The host chimed in. “And so how are the people of the greater DC metropolitan area supposed to feel safe? Supposedly something never happened along the lines of the Ghost Equinox, and yet there it was…”
Fonsi nodded. “You’re right. We don’t have the answers.
We can’t make any guarantees. But I just, uh…
We just wanted to contribute to the dialogue.
To provide perspective and hopefully help alleviate fears.
We’re trying our best to determine what’s happening and have offered our services to local authorities. ”
Evelyn rubbed her legs and arms, now covered in goose bumps. She wanted to believe Fonsi’s words, to find even a smidgeon of reassurance in what he had to say. There was nothing.
Trevor brought over a plate of cheese and prosciutto. “We don’t have to keep this on.”
“No… no, it’s okay. I want to be informed. I mean, if it’s okay with you to keep this on. I took the Metro here instead of an Uber, because I can’t stay in my house a jacked-up mess.”
“Shit, Evie, what was I thinking? I should’ve picked you up. Or we could’ve just chilled at your place.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “I was scared out of my mind during COVID… It was hard. And we knew pretty quickly what we were dealing with, what the dangers were. This is something different. I can’t hide again like that. I won’t hide again. It almost broke me.”
“This guy, Fonsi… seems okay,” Trevor said.
“They’ve been looping this convo on the regular, but I don’t know if it’s helping any.
At the station, we’ve been discussing how to be of service.
Another special-projects person is gonna do a report on mass hysteria in America, how we have a long history of jumping to conclusions, acting crazy when we don’t understand something.
I’m going to do a follow-up on how marginalized communities are affected.
Have you heard? There’re already some far-right mofos saying that this demon shit is coming from Black folks, that it’s evidence how Ebenezer is a corrupted, evil place.
Even some politicians have been echoing their nonsense. ”
“I didn’t know,” Evelyn said. “Can’t say I’m surprised. Not one other person at Ebenezer has been affected by what took down their pastor, yet all the parishioners are automatically seen as dangerous. ’Cuz they’re Black. Never fails…”
“I didn’t want to talk about this,” Trevor said. “I wanted our time… how we’re connecting… not to be tainted by what’s going on.”
“It’s already tainted.” Evelyn regretted the words soon as they left her mouth.
Hurt sprang up on Trevor’s face. “Oh, not how I feel about you, sweetie. Not what we do. I just mean… we can’t act like this isn’t going on.
It’s affecting your job, it’s going to affect what I ultimately choose to do.
It’s going to change the city forever.” She gestured at Trevor’s wooden cross.
“It’s changing you. Your cross… that amulet you carry around.
You’re not that religious or superstitious, right? ”
“I’m not, but maybe that needs to change until we get real answers.
And, um, there’s also something else I wanted to tell you…
” Trevor rubbed the back of his head. “It’s my parents.
They’ve decided that they want to leave Maryland.
They think it’s time to head back to Louisiana and want me to help them get settled. ”
“Huh… okay.” Evelyn placed her hands on her thighs and sat up straighter. “When… when are they leaving?”
“In two days, believe it or not, but I told them that’s way too fast for me. I need at least a few more days, get myself squared away with work, figure out how to do stuff remotely when I’m there with them.”
“And why do you need to go? Can’t one of your sisters help them move?”
“One of my sisters is going with them, actually, since she’s currently not working. But I’m… I’m their only son, and they feel like they need me to be there, especially with my pops up there in age. You know, the whole there-needs-to-be-a-man-of-the-house-making-decisions sort of thing, and…”
“And they’re probably going to try and convince you to stay in Louisiana so you can continue to be the man of their house. Wow. So what happened to all of your talk about being brave, about facing our fears when it comes to mystical shit?”
“I’m not going to live there permanently, Evie. I’m just helping my folks settle. Listen, I let them know where I stand, that I’m not leaving DC. I made a promise. You and I, we’ll handle this together.”
“I mean… do they… do they even know about me?” she asked, her words laced with resentment, bitterness. Was she being unfair? They were his parents. They had every right to want their son to be there for them.
“They know… I’ve been talking to someone,” he said.
“I mean, I’ve definitely talked to my sisters about you, and they want to meet you.
Soon. My folks, well, I like to take my time with them when it comes to introducing romantic interests.
They’re… shall we say… rough around the edges with the women in my life. ”
“Huh… okay.” She folded her arms, unsuccessful in her attempt to be calm and understanding and open-minded. The situation was becoming a tad clearer in Evelyn’s mind, that maybe there was no woman who’d be considered good enough for their beloved Trevor.
She wasn’t going to be silent. She’d been silent for so long. No more. That wasn’t who she was.
“Trevor, you’re a grown man… You’re going to do what you’re going to do. But I wish you’d stay. I want you to stay. I want you to be here with me. For us to be together. Because…” Because I adore you. Because I’ve never experienced anything like what we’ve been experiencing. Because you’re lovely.
Evelyn stopped herself. She knew her truth, along with her worth. She refused to beg.
He took her hands. “They’re my parents…”
Right, of course.
The two fell into a silence that evening. They opted to have dinner on the couch and shut off the TV, especially after the report that two more demon eyes had been discovered. Instead, they let Trevor’s soul sounds carry them away to a simpler place.
He soon took her to his bedroom, a more minimalist affair than the living room, where they started to kiss. Trevor once again placed his head on her bosom, let his lips and tongue worship her nipples languorously. Her sense of time dissolved with his attentions. As did her resentment.
He pulled a condom from the drawer next to his bed, put it on, and entered Evelyn in a slow, gentle motion.
Rolling like the waves. The feeling wasn’t as pleasurable as when he tasted her below, but the connection was there, him inside her, his eyes diving into hers, their bodies moving with each other, in sync.
A welcome escape from district troubles.
Afterward, Trevor curled into a ball. The first time he’d folded into himself after their lovemaking.
“You okay?” Evelyn whispered. Was he still mad after their spat?
Trevor gave a tiny nod in response. He took Evelyn’s hand and placed it under his chin.
He curled up even more, his bottom cocooned by her stomach.
Another sensation to cherish before he left.
She wrapped her arms around him and kissed the back of his head.
That night, Evelyn woke up in the dark, startled, barely able to see, save for a sliver of light from an outside streetlamp.
The spot beside her was empty, sheets tousled.
She wondered where Trevor had gone. A few heart-wrenching seconds passed.
Maybe he’d left her. Or maybe something had happened, an emergency. With his family, or…
Evelyn got up and opened the bedroom door. She heard rustling from the bathroom. She crept over to the door, which was cracked open. Light streamed through, adding a faint glow to the hallway’s shadows.
She heard a choked, strangled sound. Trevor was crying.
Evelyn gently knocked. “Sweetie, what’s the matter? Can I come in?” Was he that upset about his parents?
She knocked again. No answer.
Evelyn pushed the door open slowly. Trevor stood over the sink, naked. The mirror on the medicine cabinet, shattered, flecked with scarlet. Blood fell from his right fist, which was embedded with shards of glass. Blood streamed down his leg, dripped onto his grape toes. A puddle had formed.
His left hand was steaming. Blisters had formed on his skin.
“Trevor, my God…”
He turned to her, eyes so volcanic, so bright, for a moment Evelyn was blinded. Then she squealed and screamed and scrambled from the bathroom, fell on her rump as he lurched forward. The hallway turned blazing red from the hell in Trevor’s gaze.
“Tell me my name,” he growled as he stalked forward. “Please… TELL ME MY FUCKIN’ NAME!”