“Are we sure this is a demon, a proper one, we can use for talismans and potions?”James the witch asked.
“I was sure when I told you my version of the love potion spell would work just as well as Howard’s, didn’t I?I was sure when I told you using a dating app to find the desperate type would work.I’m sure about this.We’ll be so much more powerful.”
James nudged a dust mote.“Kai ran away though.What if he calls the cops on us?”
Nick snorted.“So what?He’ll tell them we did magic on him?Come on, let’s get started.”
James got a dreamy smile.“When we get more powerful, we’ll be able to really build a harem, right?And they’ll do all the work for us, yeah?I’d like that.I’d like that so damn much, a warm mouth to take care of me when I get home after a long day.”
Nick grinned.“But you won’t have to leave the house, so you can enjoy their warm mouths all day.And yeah, the spell won’t just become unstable anymore when they see you fuck someone else like what happened with Kai.”
Fian’s blood boiled, as the humans like to say.He wanted to see Nick devoured by piranhas, one limb at a time.For now, he bided his time, waiting for just the right moment.
James grinned, looking like an ulcer as he did.“I’d like that.”
Nick and James both looked at him.Nick scratched his head.“We should still find that runaway though, just to be safe.And to teach him a lesson.Who does he think he is, cheating on me with a fucking demon?He can watch while we carve this one up.”
“You wanna use some of the demon’s blood for a locating spell, don’t you?”James asked.
“Yeah.Bring the knife.”
I will pay them back for this,Fian thought.But as it was, he could do nothing.
19
“Well,thisisapretty town, isn’t it, if you like garden gnomes.Smells of magic.”
Mikano was strolling, one hand in the pocket of his dress pants, and looking around as if he were half-heartedly browsing a used car dealership.A cat approached him, but he glared at it and showed his teeth—teeth that were much sharper than they should be.
“What the fuck?”
Mikano turned to Kai, a tooth-free grin plastered over his face.“Oh, that?Cats like demons, but they shed.It’s the worst.My fiancé has a cat which at least had the decency to be black, but still, it’s just so annoying.And he loves the beast, can you imagine?”
Kai frowned.“A lot of people love cats.”
Mikano nodded.“That’s because they are lovable creatures.So cute.Did I give you the impression I feel differently, Kai?”
Kai stopped.“You are full of bullshit, anyone ever tell you that?Why was I supposed to go and getyouof all the demons?”
“O-hoho!You’re like a—what is that sea urchin type animal?With the spikes?”
“A porcupine?”
“Yes!”Mikano grinned with his shark teeth out and pointed at them.“Get it?We’re alike.”
“I don’t think so.”
“You’re getting extra wedding cake, how’s that?”
“What wedding cake?”
Mikano shrugged.“I’m getting married.To that fiancé with the cat.I wanted to see if Tickle had brought it up, but clearly he’s suckers over fins in love with you and hasn’t seen fit to mention it.I’ll make sure you get an invite.Oh, we’ll send you off to Tom’s bachelor party too, you’ll have the best of fun.”
“Fun?Fun?I want to fucking save Fian and maybe kick Nick in the teeth, okay?I’m not out here to havefun.I haven’t had fun in the last three years!”
Mikano’s face darkened, a light switch flipped off.“The human kept you under magic for three years?”
Those words hit.They took the wind right out of Kai’s sails.He stood there, the ocean noisy, the town quiet, and him just lost between the two, between a past that was gone and three years that had been taken from him.
