Page 79 of I Accidentally Summoned a Demon Boyfriend

“What?” I panicked. For all I knew, some dinosaur looking creature could be having my pet for a snack. “Where did you take him? What did you do to him?”

“That’s for you to figure out. He’s safe, don’t worry. Focus on that energy signature. Once you’ve encountered a new signature, you store it in an internal library you can tap into any time you want. Search your library and find Piko.”

“I-” My mind raced. “How?”

“I can’t tell you that. It’s different for everyone. For me, I visualize a library, but for others, it may not work the same.”

“We couldn’t have practiced that before you took my pet away?” I slapped him on the arm. “Why would you do that?”

“Now, what would motivate you in that scenario?” He rubbed his chin. “You got this. Just focus. Piko is waiting for you.”

I closed my eyes and tried to visualize a library like Metice said, but all I got was a bookstore full of smut. How was I supposed to do this?

“It’s not working,” I huffed. “My library is broken.”

“It has to be something unique to you.” Metice rubbed my shoulders. “I picture a library because I’ve always been a collector of knowledge. Each book on my mental shelf holds not only an energy signature, but all the knowledge I’ve collected about a place, thing, or person. Find something that connects to you on that level.”

“Right, okay.” I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and focused. The first thing that came to mind was my paintings. Each stroke captured the essence of my subject. I mentally painted a picture of Piko in my mind, and soon, I saw the thread between us. I didn’t know where it ended, but I was sure it would take me to him.

When I opened my eyes, I stood on a small hill overlooking a pink pond. Piko sat chewing on a piece of meat Metice left him with, so concerned with the meal, he hardly noticed me.

“See, you did it.” Metice appeared beside me.

“Not that he seems to care.” I pointed at Piko, who tore into the meat happily.

“Now, don’t take it personally. I’m sure he’s happy to see you, but that meat is fantastic,” Metice bragged. “I used a new rub on it, and I think I’ve perfected my blend.”

“Right.” I clapped. “Now what?”

“Now, you do it again.” Metice held his hands up. “This time, you find me.”

I spent the rest of the day chasing Metice’s signature around this new world, each time coming across a place that was more unreal than the last. It was something out of a children’s book, and I loved every moment—so much so that I started making up rhymes for the places we saw.

“Are you going to write them down?” Metice worked on our meal for the night. I was quickly getting used to having a man who cooked, because I, for one, hated doing it!

“What?” I sipped my water. “What do you mean?”

“The little rhymes you’ve been creating. What will you do with them?” He held his finger up. “Rivers run blue, and puffballs scurry. I capture this moment before it’s time to hurry.”

I couldn’t believe he remembered the rhyme but assumed it was just another fact in his mental library. “I hadn’t thought about it. Maybe.”

“Better than the smut you were writing before,” he joked.

“Hilarious.” I rolled my eyes. “I always wanted to be a writer, but painting and other forms of art came more naturally to me. To me, it’s so much easier to tell a story with the stroke of a paintbrush than by stringing a series of words together.”

“Interesting perspective.” Metice watched me. “I’d love to see you paint someday. Peacefully, without worry of danger.”

“Yeah?”

“Of course. That’s why we’re here. Once you can handle your own, you will return to your normal life. No one will mess with you.”

“That’s sounds like wishful thinking,” I laughed. “You and I both know that the life I had before meeting you is long gone. I doubt I could even reclaim my clients now. How long have I been away from Earth?”

“A few weeks.” He nodded. “Might be difficult to explain another extended disappearance.”

“Maybe I will turn my adventures into books. I could do children’s books. At least this way, when I’m home, I can still afford to live.”

“Or,” he started, but kept the thought to himself. “Never mind.”

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