I went outside and walked around back. “Hi, guys,” I said, looking at the little red goblins. The smell of sulfur swirled around me.
“Milayna,” they squealed. “Swing with us.”
Sighing, I sat on the swing next to the more sociable of the two goblins. “Why are you here?”
“We want to play.”
I sighed and dropped my head in my hands. “I’m not playing tonight. Tell me what you want so I can go inside and go to bed. I’m tired.”
“No. First, you have to play.” It jumped off the swing and ran in front of me.
“I’m not playing.” I stood up and turned to leave.
“I wouldn’t do that,” they growled, and I knew the mischievous, happy little goblins had just turned into their demonic counterparts.
I stopped with my back to them. “Then tell me why you’re here. Otherwise, I’m leaving.”
“We’re supposed to tell you that she’s changed sides.”
My body started trembling and blood rushed behind my ears. First, I had one thought. If she’d already changed, it wasn’t me. Dodged a bullet there. But that still left Muriel. “Who?” I asked the goblins.
“That’s no fun. You have to guess,” one said in a singsong voice.
“I already know Lily changed sides.”
“You know nothing,” Scarface growled.
“Whatever.” I walked toward the gate when Scarface ran between my legs, tripping me. I fell with a grunt. Turning over, I sat cross-legged on the grass. He walked up to me, sticking his face near mine.
“He’s coming for you.”
“He’s coming for you. He’s coming, he’s coming,” the other goblin sang, jumping up and down.
“Tell him to come on, then. I’m getting tired of waiting.” I leaned closer to its face and lowered my voice. “He doesn’t scare me.”
“He should.”
“He’s a coward.” I waved my hand in the air. “I’m not afraid of cowards, no matter what their name is.”
“Azazel won’t like this.”
“Tell him to get over it.” I got up and brushed the dirt from my jeans. “Go back to Hell where you belong.”
With one final glare, there were two small pops and they were gone, leaving just the slightest smell of rot and burning flesh.
I opened the gate and rolled my eyes. “I should have known you wouldn’t stay in the house.”
“I came out when it tripped you,” Chay said.
“I’m surprised you didn’t come bursting through the gate like a lunatic.” I smiled up at him.
“I would have, but you sounded like you had it under control. You know, I don’t think antagonizing him is the best way to handle this.” He reached out and wrapped a piece of my hair around his finger.
“You and I both know this isn’t going to end without a confrontation. I’d like to have it sooner rather than later.”
And I want to see how I fare… what side I end up fighting for.
“What are you thinking?” Chay studied my face.
“Hmm?”
“Your brows are furrowed, and the corners of your mouth are turned down.” He rubbed his thumb across my bottom lip. The motion sent a tingling sensation through my body, and my lips parted.
Lifting my chin, he gazed into my eyes. He dipped his head and tentatively touched his lips to mine. When I fisted my hand in his T-shirt and pulled him closer, his mouth moved over mine with more intensity. His tongue slid across the seam of my lips, and I opened for him. The tips of our tongues touched, and I sighed in pure bliss at the feel of him. He dropped one hand to my hip and cupped the other around my neck.
“Look at the lovebirds,” Shayla said, walking up the driveway.
“Damn it,” Chay said, pulling away. He ran his hand through his hair. “Will I ever get to kiss you without someone interrupting?”
I smiled, but it died cold when I looked at Shayla. Wearing a black hoodie and standing next to Lily, she wore an arrogant smile. I looked at her hands—painted nails. I immediately felt guilty for suspecting Muriel.
“Ladies,” Chay said.
“Chay.” Lily walked to him and tried to wedge herself between us.
“Shayla, I thought you were stronger than this. Although, I should have known. You might be stronger than Lily, but you definitely aren’t smarter.” Chay wrapped his arm around my waist, cutting off Lily’s attempts to separate us. I gave her a smug smile.
“I’m smart enough to know when to cut my losses.” Shayla glanced at me before appraising Chay. “You should listen to his side of things.”
“Shayla? What are you thinking?” I looked at her, dumbfounded.
Someone barreled through the gate from my backyard, knocking into my shoulder. I turned, expecting to see a grotesque gray face.
“Jake. How’d you get back there?” I rubbed the welt forming on my arm.
“Jumped the fence. Steven and Jeff are on their way,” he said, looking at Shayla and Lily.
“How’d you—?”
“I called him,” Muriel interrupted. She and Drew walked up behind Shayla and Lily.
I looked toward Muriel and saw Steven walk toward Shayla and Lily through my front yard. Jeff came from the opposite side, creating a circle around them.
“Just go. You two make me sick.” I waved Shayla and Lily away with a flick of my hand, turning from them.
“We have a message for you,” Shayla called.