Go for the Company: Carnival of Mysteries by Ander C. Lark

Author:Ander C. Lark [C. Lark, Ander]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cranky Tiger Press
Published: 2023-08-08T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

That night, we were no closer to finding out who’d broken into my apartment or where my ex was. Pluto refused to say anything beyond reminding anyone who asked that Hades was the one who’d been responsible for securing Caracalla.

“So we’re screwed,” I said as I stirred the spaghetti sauce bubbling away on the stove.

“No, I don’t think so,” Stan disagreed from his seat at the kitchen’s island. “I think it’s just a matter of time before we get a break of some sort. It’s hard to keep things completely hidden in Hell.”

“And in the meantime, you’re still stuck with me.”

Stan laughed. “I wouldn’t call it ‘stuck.’ I mean, that sauce you’re making smells amazing, so I’d say I’m the one benefiting from this, if anything. Still, I’d rather you not have to worry about what anyone may be plotting. I don’t like the thought of you being in danger.”

“Yeah, I’m not too big on it either.” I stared into the pot, lost in thought, before speaking again. “Do you want garlic bread?”

“Random, but yes.”

“I’m making the thing that garlic bread was practically invented for, and you think it’s random?”

“Okay, fair point,” Stan conceded with a laugh. “Do you want me to make it?”

“If you don’t mind.”

We worked silently for a while, the scent of garlic becoming heavier as Stan got to work. Finally, after several minutes, he spoke again. “Can I ask you a question?”

I grinned at him. “I’m pretty sure you just did, but yeah.”

“Smartass,” he grumbled, though he didn’t actually sound upset about it. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but... Why did you date your ex?”

“Are you asking what I saw in him?” Stan nodded, and I grimaced. “It’s going to sound stupid, but I dated him because he insisted he was fine with the fact I’d never want to have sex with him.”

Stan cocked his head, giving me a perplexed look. “You’re not gay? Or bi, I suppose?”

“I’ve only ever viewed men romantically. I just don’t want to sleep with them. I’m asexual.”

“Ah, I see. That makes sense, then.” And then he kept chopping garlic as if utterly unphased by my declaration.

“That’s it?”

“What’s it?”

“Just ‘I see’? You’re not going to tell me how I probably have a chemical imbalance or how I should see a doctor for...that...” My words trailed off as my circumstances dawned on me, and my eyes widened.

He grinned at me. “You just remembered that you’re in Hell, and any illnesses you had would have vanished with your death, didn’t you? I assure you, you’re perfectly normal, no matter what you’ve been told.”

I put down the spoon with which I’d been stirring the sauce and leaned against the counter.

“You okay?” Stan asked, immediately moving to stand before me as Tempest leaned against my side in comfort. “You went pale.”

“I just... I’m normal.”

Stan’s mouth twitched, and I was pretty sure he was holding back a grin. “You are.”

“I don’t have a chemical imbalance.”

“You don’t.”

“Everyone who ever used that

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