บท 8: Chapter 8 : When the walk take a disatrous turn.

Once a ready-to-assemble furniture paradise, the Swedish department store had become a breeding ground for Day's paranoia that was gaining ground on his mental health. The young man couldn't concentrate on keeping an eye on the excited gods who had scattered throughout the store. Especially Nyx which must have followed his brother. Still, a quick nod from the Lightning God from the kitchen utensil shelf eased his anxiety slightly.

"You don't have a crepe pan, Day!" exclaimed Foud, showing him the black object in question. "Can I buy one? It's in sales! Nyx said yours is old. Hehe, that's cute he made some for you."

"Um, let's not talk about that here. Do you know what it's for at least?" the blond doubted strongly, raising an eyebrow.

"To make crepes."

"Okay, maybe we could…"

"Then I don't know what crepes are. Nyx said it was delicious, especially when you share them with the one you love. He was talking about you, hehe."

The young man pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling all the air in his lungs as his cheeks took on a crimson hue before regaining composure.

"I'm not going to last the day." He declared harshly as his nerves twisted as his embarrassment grew.

"Haha, sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you… Can we take it then?"

"Yeah, go ahead get a box."

"Oh, you're adorable! Nicely, all of that... Anyway, don't tell the overprotective guy that I said that."

"Don't worry, I won't say anything if you only take one box. We don't need a load of crepes pan. "

"Why not? You don't know Moain's talent when it comes to…"

"Day, Day!" Nyx suddenly pops up before grabbing his arm. "Come see what I found: this is very important!"

The rhetorical question increased the nervousness of the youngest that followed him without really having a choice, the latter being dragged by his roommate through the store. Foud followed them happily, holding the box preciously. Happiness illuminating his face covered with smalls freckles, making him recall his hair colour. All three stopped in the home automation radius that the other gods monopolized. Everyone pointing to the connected LED bulbs.

"They change colour! "Leit cried, almost jumping for joy." I don't even have to do anything with my powers, unbelievable!"

" There are even connected blinds. "Minndt added in pointing at them.

"It's called home automation and connected objects. That function with smartphones or small square remote controls. "explained the blond in a simplified way, changing the colour of the light. "You see?"

"Oh, that's why it worked when you pressed it. But tell me, what's a smartphone?"

"It's… Wait, don't you have one?"

"If you're talking about the rectangle object you always have in your pocket, no."

"Yes, that's a smartphone. I'm going to have to buy you one that will keep us in touch. You can learn a lot too."

"Like what?"

"Things and listen to music."

"Your music station is enough."

"Yes, but no. There, you can listen to it with headphones, so there will be no more problems knowing what to listen to. Besides, we gonna buy a new music station as you say. One that is connected, so you can transfer music from your phone to it and listen in the whole house."

A collective" wow "escaped the gods and made Day smile, looking intently at the Wi-Fi speakers, her gaze resting on a lamp shape. This would be very handy since he learned from Nyx that he and the other deities liked to listen to music at night. He hadn't wanted to know the details, not wanting to worry about them when he worked. Who knows what they could do while he was gone. The young blond took two boxes under the curious eye of these specials roommates. Then he made a slight sign to indicate the way to follow. They still had the floors to visit, but the restaurant was less crowded. They made their choice: they could stop to eat before resuming their exploration of the gigantic store.

Nyx's brother had made a quick passage to his car to drop off their finds before joining his friends. The whole singular team, seated at one large table under the dumbfounded gaze of the other customers.

"I'm so hungry I could order everything!" Moain exclaimed, licking his lips.

"Um, no, avoid anyway."

"Why Day?"

"We get people's attention quite enough. They look at us thinking they are discreet when it is not."

"Don't worry about them we control," Nyx reassured him, leaning slightly towards him. "What are you going to take?"

"A fish and chips with a bowl of salad then, why not a cheesecake."

"Cheesecake? It's weird."

"It's made with cottage cheese in Scotland, a white cream of cheese."

"Cheese is basic white, right?" Toxin wondered as he carefully read the menu.

"No, not all. Cottage cheese is a dessert."

"This is frankly weird."

"If that was all weird ... I have the feeling I have been spied on for a while, I even thought I was being followed at one point, but the man ended up going upstairs."

Far from being convinced by the words of their protege, the deities threw themselves a heavy look of meaning before discreetly looking around them. Seated three tables away from them, four men seemed to be watching them more insistently than the rest of the other customers. Against all odds, Foud volunteered to go and order the table and fetch the platters with Moain, eager to fill his stomach. However, a new group of these strange black-clad individuals compromised his meal, with the god of earth and gravity tapping his dagger hidden in his boot more and more frequently.

"Ah, the little box has vibrated. It's our turn," Foud said in a low voice as he stood up, "Are you coming, Moain?"

"Yes, do you have one?"

"Always."

"Perfect. We'll let you know if there are more further down."

"Be very careful. These guys expect this from us!" Minndt worried, patting the table, "I don't like it. I smell it bad."

Silence reigned at the table, the cheerful mood having been annihilated by Day's nervousness and the suspicious and cold stares of the other deities.

"As soon as I say emerald, you go under the table." Nyx summoned, looking at the blond who was busy with his towel.

"Emerald?"

"Like your eyes."

Day was about to respond when Moain gave the signal, quietly nodding to the back of the restaurant. Minndt got up immediately and made as if to go help his comrades, getting into the heads of people on his way to force them without them realizing it to come out. Thus, the restaurant gradually emptied in front of the stunned and worried cooks.

"As we lower the blinds?" Minndt asked them, leaning over the counter, looking intently at the cashier.

"The box with the key in the kitchen," he stammered, losing himself in her mesmerizing gaze.

"Alright, get out now."

"Are you the undercover police?"

"Don't worry. Go out into the kitchen and lower the blinds. We have to stop those men."

"The managers of the store are going to be worried."

"Do you want to die? Hurry up. I know what you are thinking ..."

"Yes, master."

Foud and Moain winked at each other and waited to see the blinds lower before they pulled out their daggers.

"Emerald!" Nyx shouted before pulling out his gun.

Before Day even had time to get under the table, the gunshot went off. Immediately the bullet lodged in the skull of the man in black who had stood up. Chaos followed. Gunshots and screams flooded the restaurant. Nyx was the first to pounce on these men who were, in fact, vampires. Without the slightest hesitation, without even frowning, he grabbed one then stuck the blade of his dagger into the skull of one of those vampires. Like he was holding his legs tight to his chest, Day couldn't help but watch his comrades kill these men. It wasn't long before Foud shocked two or three of them while Nyx stepped over the counter. He hastily opened the ovens before releasing a big puff of fire that set the counter ablaze. The flames quickly spread to the nearest decorative curtains and tables before spreading.

"Day, get out of here!"

The blonde obeyed without even thinking and started to climb out from under the table when a cold hand grabbed his handle and pulled him a yardstick before forcing him to stand.

"Look who came out of hiding!" the vampire shouted before throwing the young man against a table.

Day felt the edge of the table hit his vertebrae before falling to the floor, fear preventing him from thinking correctly. This voice was that of his stalker.

"It's him, Nyx. It's him!" he shouted, pointing at it.

"My dear comrades, we have found the vermin which annoys our protege," declaimed the god of night and death before setting his hands on fire. "It's time for the disinfection of this restaurant!"

The gods stopped immediately before moving towards the stalker and being halted by a new squad of vampires.

"Oh, I would have thought you were a more combative little coward!" the vampire laughed, grabbing him again.

"Let me go!"

"Accept your role, you pathetic little shit."

"Shut up! Ask my father! I won't join you!"

"Things would be so much easier if you took on your role… Darling, you're offensive."

"I don't care! Leave us alone!"

"These gods won't protect you! They just have you to protect themselves!"

"Shut up!"

The vampire stalker's fist immediately met Day's face before receiving another blow, then another, the kicks quickly following over and over and over again. Nyx's nerves, already strained, suddenly gave out all his rage who take precedence over his common sense. He grabbed the vampires that were blocking him from advancing and smashed their skulls against a wall before grabbing the back of the vampire stalker's neck. The man flew across the room, hitting hard against the back wall before collapsing to the floor, limp. Day shook with his whole being when Nyx's eyes, deep red like the colour of blood, rested on him.

"It's… It's me." the blond stammered as tears rolled down on cheeks.

"We have to go guys, the police will be arriving soon!" called them Moain.

"Guys! Move your butt. We have to get out of the way! You'll kiss another day!"

"Shut up what you need for your mouth!" Nyx yelled, stroking his protege's cheek off the ground.

"Hurry, come on!"

"Two seconds!"

"We don't have two seconds; we have to get out! Hurry!"

Nyx put his arm under Day's legs before placing the other under his back. Lifting him off the floor, holding him firmly against him as he hurried to access the restaurant's kitchens. His blood dripped on the white tiled floor. Because of that, many footsteps created a jumble of tracks. The young blond's wide eyes were unable to tear away from the bodies on the lifeless floor. Moain opened the emergency door for them. Nyx hurried into the open air, hearing the screams of the human crowd rushing out of the Swedish store. He ran to the cars, where everyone was already behind the wheel except Toxin that held his door open. Day who dreamed of sitting in the seats of one of these cars, lost that desire. His aching body not even feeling the comfort of the backseat.

"Get him home quickly, don't stop!" Nyx shouted, grabbing the crash helmet held out by Toxin.

"Lock yourself in his room with him if you're the first to arrive home!"

"Got it, Day calm down, please. Everything will be fine! Shall I treat him?"

"Of course, silly!"

"Don't delay getting to your destination!"

Toxin got into his car and drove off, his tires squeaking on the ground, creating larges black marks on the asphalt in the parking lot. The speed limits were all crossed. When he got to the freeway, Day thought his heart has going to give up when he saw the shapeless silhouettes of the trees pass by. Slowly he turned on his side and spat the excess blood in his mouth on the floor of the vintage car, his tears strewing the leather of the backseat. The pain was so sharp he couldn't restrain his moans, holding his stomach as a fierce heat swept over him.