Fiery rage boils up inside me as I stare him down. If Bones had been even the slightest bit human, he’d be dead by now under my vicious glare. But as much as I hate what he’s saying, I know he’s right.
I don’t care.
“You’re my friend. My best friend. You’re supposed to support me no matter what—”
An urgent howling in the distance diverts Bones’ attention from my futile argument. The same one we’ve been having for over five years. “That sounds important. Sorry, I gotta go…you gonna be okay?” He looks at me with concern. He is so sweet when he wants to be. Damn him.
I nod. “I’ll be fine. Boring night, collecting taxes. Not gonna start any demon wars, I promise.” I give him a shaky smile and a quick a peck on his cheek before stepping away.
His body convulses violently for a few seconds until he falls forward on his two large paws. He gently nudges my leg with his long nose, and then takes off running.
I cross the river of fire to join my family.
******
The entrance to Demon Bar looks like an ordinary boulder to anyone who doesn’t know better. Located deep inside the inner forests of Dryndara, directly above the nexus of the Source of Energy, it’s the one place where all demions and demons in the territory come to replenish.
The rock protects those who enter it, and as I press down on the hidden lever I take several deep breaths to calm myself down. Violent demons looking for a fight aren’t allowed inside the enclave, and even though my anger isn’t directed at anyone there, the guard won’t care. Only passive demons are allowed in. And I need to drink, badly.
A small door opens, and I pass on through. I descend a flight of steps to another door, this one guarded by a young demion named Ivy.
Ivy looks sweet enough; her petite build and pale blonde hair give the impression of a helpless ingénue turned cheerleader. But she has the power to stun her victims into submission with one painful glare of her baby-blues. And if she’s in a less-than-generous mood, she’ll leave them in a permanent vegetative state.
“Hey, Lucky. Damn girl, you look hot,” Ivy says with an approving grin. “I’m surprised Bones even let you past him.”
“Hey, sweetie…thanks.” I lean against the doorway and casually glance inside the smoky room. “Bones had to bail on me…”
Ivy flips her golden mane over one shoulder and leans closer. “Well, if you are looking for some fun, our mystery guy from the other night is inside playing cards with the Deveni brothers. Go check him out and give me the scoop.”
I raise an eyebrow. “What about Cody?” Ivy and Cody have been an item for as long as I can remember. With the exception of their occasional nuclear battles, they’re perfect for each other. She shrugs to hide the wry smile spreading across her lips. “Someone’s being naughty.”
“No harm in living vicariously through my single friends, is there? Besides, I’m curious about him. He shows up from out of nowhere, and no one really knows anything about him. But he always seems like he’s looking for something or someone. He tries to act all nonchalant but I can tell he’s doing it.”
I have to laugh at her suspicious tone. Despite the fact that the Bar is swarming with demons, it’s probably one of the safest places in the realm. But I figure she must get so bored standing out here just watching all of us all night. Nothing like a good mystery to fuel the fires.
“Hmm. Better not let Cody know you’re spying on a sexy stranger, and with him standing just twenty feet away.”
Ivy shrugs. “Can I help it if these eyes see everything?” she asks innocently, as they turn a startling shade of sapphire.
I quickly avert my gaze from her cherubic face. Sure we’re friends, but with demions you can never be too careful.
“Maybe he’s a vamp?” I make a face. Vampires are the lowest of the low in our culture. Many centuries ago, some rogue demons had tried to create an army by reproducing with corpses of Sapies. The result was a living-dead creature that could only survive off the energy of living beings, as they couldn’t produce any of their own. They’re weak, stupid, and contribute nothing other than stinking up the joint for all eternity.
“No, he’s definitely a demion. He’s just playing cards with them, for whatever reason. There’s no accounting for taste.”
“Cool, I’ll have to go check him out,” I say, even though the absolute last thing on my mind at the moment is scamming on some new demion. I don’t want to be rude.
Jefferson Airplane’s White Rabbit blares from the jukebox. “What’s your poison, Lucky lady?” Cody smiles as I take a seat in front of him. He’s probably the friendliest demion in here, and one of the few in the room who isn’t openly gawking at me. He wouldn’t dare. Not with the pair of deadly eyes trained on him from the other side of the door.