A Demon Made Me Do It

Chapter 7. Lucky


I struggle to regain consciousness, but I feel drugged. Everything is foggy…my mind’s a blur. I’m shivering from the biting cold, and somewhere in the darkness I hear mocking laughter.

Gradually, I force my eyes open. Everything is dark, hazy. I try to wrap my arms around myself to stop from shaking, but they won’t budge.

My body is paralyzed.

Slowly, objects come into focus. I’m standing in the middle of a grassy field, trapped inside a small cage made of steel bars.

“Where am I?” I croak.

The Altrumina who touched me steps up to my prison.

“Why don’t you tell us, pretty girl?” He’s joined by his partner, who smiles at me with perfect teeth.

“She’s yummy,” Perfect Teeth says in an eerie, high-pitched voice. “I want to eat her.”

The first one laughs and moves closer. He reaches his arm through the cage bars and lightly brushes the side of my face. White-hot razors melt my frozen flesh. My mind screams for me to move out of the way, but my body refuses to listen.

“She’s not entirely human, I doubt she would taste very good,” my captor says with disdain.

“Still, I wouldn’t mind a little sample,” Perfect Teeth says. “Let’s see what this little beauty is made of.”

She comes closer. With all the strength I can muster, I struggle to force my body to obey me.

Nothing.

I open my mouth to scream, but no sound comes out.

They both laugh, and Perfect Teeth moves closer. I feel her hot breath on my cheek as she whispers, “Don’t you know we swallow your screams, little girl? No one can hear you. Only us, and it makes us feel so good. The more you scream the more powerful we become.” Her purple eyes shine wickedly.

I can only watch helplessly as she dangles her fingers in front of my face.

“Interesting that she can’t move,” she murmurs to her partner.

“Guess she has some issues. I expected a fight, but she just froze up.”

“Interesting,” Perfect Teeth repeats.

I hear their words, but they make no sense. I shake my head.

“What do you want?” My voice is barely more than a whimper.

They both laugh again. Perfect Teeth slides her boney hand under the sleeve of my cloak, and down the entire length of my bare arm. Fiery razorblades of burning acid slice open my skin.

I know I’m screaming in agony, but I hear nothing except the sound of their laughter.

The pain is excruciating, unlike anything I’ve ever felt or imagined. It seeps slowly through my body, each beat of my heart moving the debilitating wretchedness deeper inside me. Suddenly, my body shifts from freezing cold to sweltering hot. I can’t catch my breath.

Sweat pours from my forehead and into my eyes. I try crying out again, but the pain is too much to bear, and I don’t have the strength. My eyes close, and my body collapses in a heap on the grass.

“Interesting,” Perfect Teeth mutters again.

Is that all she can say?

“This is going to be a good show,” the male says, sounding amused.

Tattie! Tattie! I need help!

The final wave of torture washes over my head, and I know this is it.

I’m going to die.

Alone in a field, mocked by tormenters, sacrificed for no reason other than to satisfy the needs of pure evil.

Just like…

Suddenly, my suffering stops.

Not only is the pain gone, but my body feels good. Young, strong, healthy, and whole.

Cautiously, I open one eye and welcome the warm glow of the soft twilight sun. My cage is gone, and I’m no longer in Baymore Park. I’m alone, sitting in a field of wildflowers and tall grass.

I know this place.

Euphoria washes over me, and I breathe several deep sighs of relief. There’s a familiar oak tree up ahead. Smiling, I stand up on wobbly legs and walk over to it.

Our tree.

I lightly trace my finger over the letters carved into its ancient wood.

Michael. Kayla. Liora.

The names form a triangle, and there’s a star symbol carved in the middle. I remember how Michael added that part later, for me. He’d told me once that it was me who’d made our little group so special. Until I met them, Michael and Kayla had been like any other brother and sister. But once I joined the mix, everything had changed.

We became a family.

“Liora, come here!” A young girl calls. My heart stops. I know this voice…

“Coming!” I hear another girl sing out.

I gasp. As if hypnotized, I find myself moving toward the sounds of happy children laughing by the pond.

I see them….us. Michael, Kayla, and me. Michael is by the water, barefoot, his pant legs rolled up to his knees. He’s holding a long stick, and his brown hair flops aimlessly in the breeze. Kayla stands beside him, beaming.

I watch as my younger self skips toward them; my yellow sundress floats around me like a ray of sunshine.

I’m only twelve years old here; I am still innocent.

“Liora, look what Michael found!” Kayla says breathlessly.

“What is it?”

My heart pounds wildly. I remember every second of this scene playing out before me.


Michael takes his hand out from behind his back. In it, he’s holding a beautiful, full-bloomed white and yellow water lily.

“Here, Liora, this is for you,” he says, shyly handing Younger Me the flower. “It was floating in the middle of the pond all by itself. I wanted you to have it.”

Giggling delightedly, Kayla skips over to the oak tree and grabs the tire swing. “Michael and Liora, sitting in a tree. K-i-s-s-i-n-g.”

Michael’s freckled cheeks tinge pink. “Shut up, Kayla,” he mutters, tossing a clump of grass at her.

“Michael, you better keep your promise!” Kayla yells out as she climbs up the rope and starts swinging.

“What promise?” I’m asking, holding his gift up to my face. I remember thinking it was the sweetest fragrance I’d ever smelled. I watch my younger self breathe deeply and smile.

Michael looks down at his feet, and then peeks shyly up through his long lashes. “I promised her that one day I’d ask you to marry me,” he says quietly. “That way you two can be real sisters forever.”

Hearing him say those words had lit up my soul in a way I never thought possible. At that exact moment, everything was perfect.

Perfect.

“You want to marry me?” I’m whispering, hiding my happy grin behind the oversized lily.

He nods. “Someday. When we’re older. But not too old. Maybe once we’re outta high school...”

I see myself laugh, but I know at that moment I was thinking if my heart felt any fuller it would explode from too much joy.

“You’ve thought this through,” I’m saying.

He nods again, braver now. “If you want to, that is. Of course, if you find someone better…someone you like more…”

“Michael, stop. How could I possibly find anyone I like more? That would be impossible! Let’s do it. We can get married and the three of us can all live together in a big house and everything will be perfect forever!” I’m dancing around in a happy circle.

He smiles, but it’s a nervous smile. His brown eyes turn serious, and he moves closer to me. I know this moment. My heart is racing so fast...

I see myself close my eyes, but remember the feeling of Michael’s lips briefly, gently touching mine…of my whole world exploding with fireworks.

He quickly pulls away and looks down at the ground, unaware those few seconds when he first kisses me by the pond will provide me with the happiest memory of my life.

A short yelp followed by a longer scream interrupts the intimate moment.

“Kayla!”

Michael and I both turn and sprint to where she has fallen. Of course, I reach her first, and when Michael arrives I’m already cradling Kayla in my arms.

“Ow, ow, my leg…it hurts…help,” Kayla sobs.

I watch myself take hold of Kayla’s broken leg. I’d never tried doing this before, but somehow, deep inside, I knew I could do what needed to be done. Wrapping my hands around her injury, I concentrate and allow my fire to heal her.

A moment later, Kayla’s sobs are replaced with laughter. Michael crouches beside me, staring in awe. Kayla looks at me adoringly and grasps my hand.

“Liora…how did you do that? That was like…magic.”

I’m shrugging. “I dunno…I just knew I could.” Tatiana had been teaching me about my ‘special’ heritage, and how I was different from other human boys and girls. She’d also warned me never to say anything, even to Michael and Kayla. But they knew I was different without me ever saying a word. And they loved me anyway.

Kayla struggles to her feet and brushes the dirt from her white dress. “You’re so lucky. Is there anything you can’t do? Man, I wish I had cool powers like you do. I’m so ordinary. Boring and…unmagical.”

“It’s not really magic, though…it’s something else.”

“Well, whatever it is, you’re lucky. Lucky Liora. Lucky, lucky, lucky,” she sings as she begins climbing back up the tree. Grabbing a thick branch she hoists herself back into the tire, bravely forgetting her earlier mishap. Michael and I are standing next to each other, watching her with smiles on our faces. He gently wraps his hand around mine.

“Lucky Liora,” Kayla repeats as her long, blonde hair flows behind her in the wind. “And lucky me for having a very best friend and someday sister who is so wonderfully magical. Lucky me. Lucky, lucky me.” The sound of her tinkling laughter carries through the fields.

“I think I’m the lucky one,” Michael whispers from beside me.

“I’m the luckiest of all,” I whisper back.

Michael leans closer and gently kisses me again. Kayla laughs.

“We should get going soon,” I say, even though I don’t want our perfect day to end. “It’s getting dark out, and I promised Tatiana I’d be home for dinner.”

“Just a little while longer,” Michael says. I smile and squeeze his hand.

“Hello, there…”

Michal and I turn to see two young girls emerge from a patch of tall, wild grass. Kayla, unaware of the girls’ arrival, continues to swing.

As I’m watching the scene replay before me, I feel two distinctly separate sets of emotions at once: one…the curious apprehension my younger self is feeling; the second…the sheer, unbridled terror of now.

I try screaming: Run away! Get Kayla and Michael and run for your lives!

I hear the desperate pleas in my mind, but no sound comes from my lips. I’m nothing more than a silent, invisible observer, powerless to stop the horrific scene from unfolding.

Just like then.

“Hello, where did you guys come from?” Michael’s friendly voice is laced with surprise.

We should’ve seen them earlier; I’d thought it odd that we hadn’t. But maybe we were all too wrapped up in our perfect little world to notice two people approaching.

“Can we play with you?” the girls ask in unison. They look to be about eight or nine years old. Identical twins, holding hands. Both wearing matching pink and white pinafores with their blonde hair in bouncy pig-tails.

I remember feeling uneasy about these newcomers, but didn’t know why at the time. They were the most adorable little girls I’d ever laid my eyes on. But something about them made the hairs on my arms stand up.

“Aren’t you pretty far from home?” Michael asks, as he leans down to talk to them. Wherever these two girls were from, it wasn’t nearby. The closest house was a few miles down the road, and we knew everyone in the surrounding area.

They shake their heads like little robots. “We like it,” they say, again in perfect unison. A strange answer that doesn’t seem to fit Michael’s question.

“Where are your parents? Where did you come from?” I ask, grasping Michael’s hand tighter. He’s smiling at the little dolls with an amused grin, but my stomach is uncomfortably clenched.

They stare at us with wide, innocent expressions.

Run! Get Michael and Kayla and run away NOW!!

My silent screams go unnoticed, and now I can’t move. My body is frozen, forcing me to watch the gruesome scene about to take place.

“We don’t want to play with you,” they say to me in eerie harmony. “We only want to play with them…”

No, no, make it stop! Somebody help! Make them stop! Run! Get away! Please…please…

Tears fall down my cheeks. Nothing I do matters now.

At this moment, the two little girls’ eyes glow an unnaturally bright blue before turning a menacing shade of black. I see my younger self freeze.


No. Please…no. Run…get away, I continue to cry out. Finally, I can’t watch anymore and I close my eyes tight, unable to bear witness to the horrors about to happen.

I let out one final, anguished scream. NOOOOOOO!!!

Suddenly, I’m spinning through darkness. My stomach jolts from the waves of nausea flooding my body. Then it stops. My eyes and jaw are tightly clenched, but I feel a palpable difference in the air.

I’m somewhere else.

I struggle to catch my breath and slow my racing heart. Sweat drips from my forehead, my body trembles uncontrollably. But I’m neither hot nor cold. I’m strangely comfortable.

“There you are, sweetheart.” The silky voice caressing the air is the most welcome sound I could ever hope to hear.

Bones!

My eyes fly open to the most amazing, unexpected sight. I’m lying on a bed, surrounded by bunches of red satin. Dozens of candles flicker aimlessly, giving the cozy room a sultry glow. Soft music plays soothingly from an invisible stereo, and the faintest hint of musk fills the air. But I’m only vaguely aware of all these things as I search for the beautiful face of my savior.

Bones, oh, Bones…I need you…

From the shadows, Bones steps forward. His perfectly chiseled torso gleams under the glow of dancing firelight. His eyes, deep with a carnal lust, gaze upon me.

I open my arms gratefully, welcoming my hero, my love, my friend. Now I’m safe. Now I’m protected. Now I’m loved. He leans down, closer…closer…I can almost feel his hot breath on me…

“My sweetest love…” he murmurs.

Oh, Bones, I love you so much…

“Please, please take me…” a soft voice moans. Stunned, I jerk my head and see a nude woman lying beside me, aching for her seduction.

No…

The look in Bones’ eyes…the sincere expression of love and desire that’s supposed to be only for me, is instead being used as his weapon of romance with the nubile beauty. He grins, delicately stroking her body with his fingers. The sounds of her pleasure drive a knife through my heart. He lies down on top of her and presses his hungry mouth against hers.

No! Stop it! Stop kissing her like that!

I want so badly to push him off her, but I can only lie here, paralyzed—forced to watch the scene of seduction as it plays out. I know they can’t see or hear me, but I am painfully aware of everything they’re doing.

I feel sicker and dirtier than I’ve ever felt.

I try to shut out the image, but even with my eyes closed I still see them clearly—the loving way Bones kisses and caresses her…the girl’s indescribable pleasure at his tender embrace and gently gyrating pelvis.

My heart shatters into a million pieces over and over again as I’m forced to watch him make love to girl, after girl, after girl… after girl.

I don’t know how many hours pass. I’ve cried so much my tears have all dried up. Every once in a while, Bones turns to look directly into my eyes and give a smug smile, before returning his mouth to the young beauty beneath him. The sights and sounds of pleasure beside me play over and over like a broken record of perpetual torture. Instead of growing numb, each passing minute hurts me more and more.

I want to die.

A sharp cracking noise whips through the air, and I’m bombarded with a brilliant, sickly yellow light. Nausea floods through me once more, and I squeeze my eyes shut.

When I open them again, I’m lying on a bed of scorching white sand. The air feels like it’s coming from a blast furnace, and my eyes are so dry the lids are like sandpaper.

Slowly, I sit upright. I squint to block out the painful brightness as I assess my new surroundings.

Nothing.

I’m all alone…not a soul is in sight. There are no signs of life anywhere. The air is dead and stale—as if no life has ever existed here.

This place feels like death.

Empty, lonely, vacant, death.

Hello? Hello?! Is anyone here? Can anyone hear me?

Silence. Sickening silence…unlike any I’ve ever experienced. Everywhere there is absolute stillness.

I am completely alone in this desolate wasteland.

Totally, utterly, shamefully alone.

I no longer exist. Have I ever existed?

Hello! Anybody! Please, is anybody out there?

…Nothing. Even my thoughts are barely a whisper.

Hello?! Somebody! Anybody! Is anyone out there? Can you hear me?

My heart races uncontrollably as I wipe the perspiration from my brow. Barely able to feel my legs, I force myself to stand. I need to get out of here. I need to go somewhere else. But where? Each step is exactly the same as the one before it. Every view and angle of this barren desert of death is exactly the same. Miles and miles and miles of flat nothingness, expanding for eternity.

With me in the center. Alone.

The realization of what this means hits me full force.

I’m doomed. Eternally doomed. Damned to walk this barren wasteland alone, tortured with everlasting isolation. I’d thought watching Michael and Kayla die was horrific; I’d thought seeing Bones’ true colors was heartbreaking.

This is so much worse than those. Infinitely worse.

I fall to my knees, my silent cries no longer audible even in my head. My eyes are too dry for tears. I can’t swallow, and the brilliant light curdles my blood.

Please, please, let me die.

Or am I already dead? Is this my eternity?

No, this is worse than death. This is…nothing.

Hours pass…days…I don’t even know. Time does not exist. I can’t think clearly anymore.

From somewhere, a soothing voice is calling to me. I’m hallucinating, hearing things…

Come back, wake up…you’re gonna be okay. Open your eyes…

But my eyes are open. There’s no one here. The disembodied voice speaks again, louder now.

“You’re safe, I gotcha, open your eyes, come back to me. You’re strong… fight it… remember who you are…where you come from…where you want to be…”

Suddenly, I’m spinning again. Rainbows of psychedelic colors blur and swish around me. I’m falling…floating….

…I’m lying on wet grass, freezing and shaking. Trying to gasp the fresh air, I choke on my own breath and cough. Where am I now?

“There you are…atta girl…I got you…you’re safe. Just breathe…”

There’s the voice again...coming from right behind my ear.

Only my legs are on the grass, the rest of my body is propped up on something strong and warm. Something with arms wrapping around me…

I struggle to break free, but can barely move.

“Let me go…” I croak.

“I can’t. You aren’t strong enough yet. Try to relax for a few minutes. You’ll feel better,” the masculine voice says in my ear.

Is some stupid Sapie really trying to save me?

I’m too weak to fight—I have no choice but to stay where I am. And where I am feels good. Warm. Safe. My head begins to clear, and I realize how much I need to be held right now.

“Who are you?” I whisper.

“A friend.”

Gradually, I feel myself return to my body. Objects around me slowly take shape. My senses re-engage; my breathing and heart rate stabilize.

“Where are we?”

He props me closer to his chest. He’s warm. Very warm. Definitely not a Sapie. I must admit, if I can’t move, this is a very comfortable resting place.

“We’re in Baymore Park. Do you remember what happened?” The tenderness in his voice reminds me of how someone would talk to a wounded child.


“I…I was walking…I...I saw an Altrumina…and then…and then—”

“He laid the whammy on you,” he finishes.

“No…that wasn’t it… I went places…I saw things…”

“Trust me, that’s what happened. I saw everything…well, almost. I got here right as he touched you.”

My head is clearer now and my body feels strong enough for me to sit up on my own. Reluctantly, I disentangle from his protective embrace, briefly meeting his concerned eyes before I glance around. He’s right; we’re sitting on a patch of grass in Baymore Park, not ten feet from where I encountered the Altrumina.

A flash of fear shoots through me. “Where are they?” I ask, panicked. I’m feeling stronger now, but definitely not battle-ready.

“Part of one is over there…” he says, pointing. “There are some pieces over there, there, and there, but to be honest I’m not sure exactly which parts belong to which.” His dark blue eyes twinkle mischievously. “Hope their mommas didn’t wanna give them a proper funeral.”

“You did this?” I ask. He nods.

“Sorry I didn’t stop him before he touched you. I was a few seconds late.”

“A few seconds…I don’t understand…I was gone for …days…”

He shakes his head. “Maybe in your mind you were, but trust me, I was here and saw the whole thing. It couldn’t have been more than thirty seconds, tops. After I killed the first one, the others attacked, which is why it took longer than it should’ve…”

I look around again. “That’s impossible…I wasn’t here. I was somewhere else…in a cage. I couldn’t move…”

Again, he shakes his head. “Nope, no cage. You were here the whole time. But I do believe you thought you were somewhere else, doing something. From the sounds of it, it wasn’t very pleasant, either.”

Talk about the understatement of the century.

Bewildered, I force myself to stand up. My legs are rubbery, but I’m feeling stronger by the minute. I hobble toward a wooden bench, my new friend right beside me. I still feel queasy, but once I sit down and take several deep breaths, I begin to feel better.

He sits close beside me.

“Y-you could you hear me?” I ask. Although I’m warmer now, my teeth chatter uncontrollably. He nods, brushing his onyx hair away from his face, then scooches closer and wraps his arm around me.

“I heard you screaming and moaning…calling out some names.” He looks away.

I close my eyes. The haunting visions are still there, but thankfully, are fading further away with each passing moment.

“It was horrible,” I whisper.

“I know.”

“If you hadn’t been here…if you hadn’t killed them and broken their spell—” I can’t even continue…the thought is too unbearable. According to him I was only under for a few seconds. Some Sapies get cursed for years.

“I’m livid with myself for not stopping it sooner. I saw him come up behind you, but was too far away…too late…” I hear the angry bitterness in his voice.

“Thank you. I- I’m not used to playing the damsel in distress role; I take care of myself. But thanks, you really saved my ass back there. I guess I owe you one.” I feel a small smile begin to form. Strange how just moments ago, I never thought I’d be able to smile again.

“Think nothing of it. We all need some help from time to time. Doesn’t make you weak.”

“How’d you do it? How’d you kill them? I don’t see any weapons…”

“I had to do it the old fashioned way. When in doubt, rip ‘em to shreds.” He grimaces as he glances at his hands; they’re covered with deep, red gashes.

“They touched you? But how…?”

He shrugs. “I’m immune to psychic demons. Always have been.”

I inspect my own arms; just the faintest threads of pink remain. Once I replenish, they’ll disappear entirely.

We sit in silence, staring across the now deserted park. My breathing has returned to normal, but for some reason my heart is still beating too fast. The first hints of dawn threaten to break the night sky. My countdown has begun.

I start to chuckle.

“What is it?” he asks.

I tilt my face to his. “I don’t even know your name. I know we’ve seen each other at Demon Bar and that time in the alley, but…” My voice fades away at the look in his eyes.

He stares at me silently for so long I wonder if I’ve somehow offended him. Maybe he wants to stay anonymous? Many demions do, especially ones from other tribes. I just assumed he’s—at least, according to him—a friend. Is it so unusual for friends to know each other’s names?

“Sorry, forget I said anything—” I look back up at the grey sky.

“No, please forgive my rudeness. In all the excitement it did slip my mind that we haven’t actually been properly introduced. My name is Kieron Ambrose. I—I’m from the Proelater tribe out West. Our families are allies.” His introduction feels oddly formal, forced.

“Nice to meet you, Kieron. I’m Lucky. Just plain ol’ Lucky. From here.”

“Lucky…” Drawing out the word, he cocks his head to the side and grins. “Cool name.”

“Thanks. So’s yours. It sounds like the name of my favorite Japanese beer.”

He laughs, wiping away any awkward tension. We sink back toward each other and stare at the sky, admiring the billions of diamonds twinkling high above us. His arm is still snugly wrapped around my shoulders, and even though I’m beginning to feel very hot, I hope he doesn’t move it.

“So, Lucky, tell me. What’s a bad girl like you doing in a nice place like this?”

Smiling, I lean in closer.

******





I hate watching the sky change from grey to lavender; I want my time to last forever. But I’m tired and still weaker than I should be.

It’s been so nice, sitting here in silence, beside my new friend. Despite the horrors of the evening, something good came out of it.

“What are you thinking?” Kieron asks, breaking the lull.

“That I could seriously use some drinks right now.”

He laughs. “Funny, you must be reading my mind. Let’s head back to Dryndara, shall we?”

I let out a long sigh. The nearest Portal to Thiberoux is several miles away. Normally this isn’t a problem, but right now even walking to the outskirts of the park seems daunting.

“I’m parked near the entrance,” Kieron says, as if he can read my mind.

“You have a car?”

He chuckles. “Well, no, not exactly. A car isn’t really doable for navigating the woods. It’s more of, well, it’s a motorcycle. Actually, it’s a Ducati.”

I don’t know what a Ducati is or why he feels compelled to mention it. All I care about is not hiking all the way to a Portal. “Oh, you don’t know how relieved I am to hear you say that. I can’t imagine walking right now, forget running…”

He has an apprehensive smile as he holds out his hands and helps me up. Together we make our way toward the south gates, passing by the corpse of a slain Altrumina. Like the others, it is rapidly decomposing and will be nothing more than a pile of dust within the hour. This doesn’t stop me from giving it a swift kick to the head.


My relief at being chauffeured to Thiberoux is cut short when Kieron stops next to a sporty racing bike. My jaw drops, and I scowl with disappointment. “How are we both supposed to fit on that?” I ask, incredulous. “Am I supposed to sit on the handlebars or something?” The seat is only big enough for one, and the bike’s sleek, aerodynamic design clearly isn’t intended for passengers.

“I think the only way for us to do this is for you to sit on my lap. I’m tall enough to see over you, and my arms will reach around. Unless you have a better idea…”

I don’t. And I have to admit, as long as I don’t fall off and break my face, his idea isn’t entirely unappealing. Until I remember what I’m wearing.

Great. Of all the nights to hop on a motorcycle, it has to be a night I’m wearing a gown? For riding Diablo it’s fine, as the generous material has plenty of room to flow freely over his back. But on this tiny thing? Why couldn’t I be wearing my leather pants?

Again, Kieron reads my mind. “Just sit here,” he says patting his lap. “Use one hand to hold up your dress and cloak so they don’t get caught in the wheels. Hold on to this bar here with your other hand. I’ll have one arm wrapped around your waist, so don’t worry about falling off.”

I do as he says, and soon his arm locks into place around me. Gathering up the folds of my dress, I rest my legs on his. From behind me he chuckles softly. “Okay, this is a new one for me, so I’m gonna take her slow.” The engine roars to life, and I feel a thrill shoot through me.

“Just to a Portal, I’ll summon Diablo from there.”

“You got it.”





Thank Sweet Satan we reach a Portal in less than ten minutes. Even with Kieron holding me tight, I felt as if we were on the verge of toppling over at any second. Definitely not my favorite form of transport.

I dismount from the bike, blow a sharp whistle, and wait for my proper ride. Kieron stares at me as I straighten out the crinkles of my gown, and I happen to catch the quizzical look in his eyes.

“What?” I ask, not unkindly.

He shakes his head. “Nothing, just glad you’re doin’ better is all.”

Diablo charges from behind the trees, stopping beside me. I softly stroke his neck as he nuzzles my face. “Hey, boy,” I whisper.

Seeming to sense my exhaustion, Diablo lowers his body to ease my mount…as if he knows I had some trouble earlier and feels bad he wasn’t there for me.

“Meet you at Demon Bar?” I ask as Diablo rises to his full height.

Kieron revs his engine. “Yup.”

We both take off racing down the trails, leaving nothing but dust and rubble in our wake.