Demands Breathing Down His Neck

"He read the messages, but didn't respond! Am I being ghosted right now? After everything we've been through?" Adriel threw his hands up dramatically, pacing around the kitchen. "Was I being that annoying?"

"Objectively speaking, yes," the shadow by the dining table murmured.

With a sigh, Adriel set his phone on the table and glared at evil spirit cocooning in his darkness like some worm trying to turn into a butterfly.

"How long are you going to stay here?"

"How many times must I repeat myself?" Hale sighed, then leaned out of the shadow sourly. "Until you help me restore Lazarus Blessing to its glory!"

"I told you, I'm not doing that." Adriel ran his hands through his hair. "You took your members' money and drugged them. Why would I help you?"

"Drugged them? I did no such thing!" Hale snapped.

"Then what about the thing you slipped into their drinks?"