A Demon Made Me Do It(21)

“Yeah, I know you love killing them,” Bones smirks.

“I don’t love killing them,” I protest. “It was just that one group three years ago. They were feeding on children…what was I supposed to do?”

Bones holds up his hand cutting me off. “I know, I know, just teasing. Jeez, you’ve been so testy lately. So high-strung.” He begins massaging my shoulders; the warmth of his touch radiates down to my bones. Just as I’m feeling some of my tension release under his magic touch, he totally ruins it. “Ever since the Amazèa came back. It’s like you’ve let yourself go completely crazy …”

His words pour fuel to my already inflamed nerves. Jerking away, I jump to my feet, knocking over my glass of whiskey in the process.

“Shut up. I don’t want to hear it from you. They are not here now and I have to live with that fact. But they will come back. And when they do, I will kill them in the same sick and evil way that they killed Kayla and Michael. And I will laugh, like they laughed. And nobody is going to stop me. Not even you. And I don’t want to hear another word about it, got it?” Angrily grabbing what is left of his drink, I quickly down it before storming away.

I know Bones is right behind me, and as soon as I reach the door I start running as fast as possible. But if there’s one creature who can keep pace with my two legs, it’s Bones when he has four. As I streak through the forest—the trees and shrubbery nothing more than a passing haze of green—I glare at the enormous black hound beside me. But I can’t feel angry with him. He isn’t trying to stop me. He isn’t trying to talk to me. He’s just being with me. And something about that makes me feel safe.

Together we sprint through miles of thick forest, though a Portal taking us back to Sapie land. Safe under the cover of darkness, we fly along abandoned back roads and trails, over streams, and up hills. We sail over fences and cut across farms, together, racing as a silent blur.

It’s not until we reach the furthest outskirts of town that I ease my pace, and transition into a walk. Bones slows down beside me, still in his canine form. Finally, unable to hold it in anymore, I collapse with my face in my hands and cry.

No matter how fast or far I run, I’m never able to escape the nightmare that continually haunts me. I can’t outrun the feelings of anger, hopelessness and regret that plague my mind. I can’t hide from the shameful disgust that eats me up inside

It’s all my fault…everything that happened to Michael, Kayla, me and Liora…it’s all because of me…because I was weak. Because I was afraid.

Bones rests his head on my lap lovingly as I sob into my hands. Then he pulls away. A moment later he sits beside me, his naked body now that of a man. When he wraps his muscular arms around me, I weep freely on his shoulder. His skin is as soft as butter and he holds me tight, caressing my hair and whispering soothing words into my ear.

I cry and cry until I can cry no more.

******





After what feels like hours, I slowly raise my tearstained face and look in Bones’ eyes. “If you ever tell anyone about this, I’ll find a loophole in the immortality law and kill you. Slowly. And I’ll invent new ways to make it hurt first.”

He gently wipes away a tear trickling down my cheek. “Your secret is safe with me. Besides, who’d ever believe me anyway? That bad-ass Lucky has such a soft spot for some Sapies,” he whispers.

“They weren’t just any Sapies.”

“I know.”

He reluctantly lets me pull from his embrace and I pace around, taking deep breaths, trying to regain my composure. My eyes burn, and I’m sure my make-up is ruined. But I don’t care. I spot an old tree with a massive trunk. Perfect. With all my might I push it until I hear a loud crack. I step back as the mighty tree tumbles to the ground.

“Feel any better?”

I don’t, but I nod anyway.

“I’m really glad you did that. That tree was giving me the heebie-jeebies.”

I swallow a smile.

“Where were you planning on going tonight?” he asks. “’Cause wherever it is, I’m going with you.” I turn to admire his beautiful nude form splayed against the rocks. Under the dull light of the moon he looks like a statue of a god.

“Dressed like that?” I ask with a hint of a smile.

He glances down and arches an eyebrow. “Right you are. Didn’t quite think this through. I do need to mate though. Badly. Suppose we could break into a house around here and ‘steal me something to wear…’” He adds air quotes, and I know he cares nothing about clothes.