Page 30 of SIN Bone Deep

“Did he now?” Mal replied with amusement. “What reason did he give for that?”

“Something about you playing a game…” I watched his face for a response.

He laughed. “I don’t play games, Nyx,” he told me, and his eyes flashed with an inner fire. “Unlike your friend. He loves a good game.”

“Does he?” I was surprised as he pulled out onto the road with reckless speed and a squeal of tires that left me clutching at the side of the car in an instinctive reaction.

“Oh yeah. He likes to play with people and watch what they do. Recently, I believe, he’s been fascinated by John B Watson and B F Skinner, but he’s always been that way inclined. He is cruel behind the kindness, you know?”

“I’ve seen no cruelty in him,” I protested. “He is always kind and gentle.”

“Sure,” he flicked me a look from the corner of his eye. “Whilst it suits him to be.”

“Why do you hate him?” I was fascinated by the conversation, and by all it revealed to me.

“I was the victim of one of his little experiments, and I paid the price of his little game.” There was a darkness to his voice as he spoke that sent a shiver up my spine. He ignored all the speed limits of the town as he navigated the roads and started up the hill. “I have been waiting my time to return the favor ever since.”

“What has that got to do with me?” I asked as he pulled to the stop before my house. My bike leaned against the front porch. He had used magic to get it there - I knew it. I was also beginning to be certain that I knew what he was.

“He’s been hanging around you, like a smitten bee around a flower. He’s never done that before. I was intrigued,” Mal twisted in the seat to look at me and put his arm along the back of the chair. “I had to meet you to see if I could understand why.”

“Why?” I asked him. It was something that I also wanted to know the answer to.

He grinned and leaned over, cupping my cheek with the palm of his hand, and lifting my mouth to his. He kissed me, and it was a different kiss from that we’d shared the night before, which had been filled with fire and passion. This one was more careful, tried harder, and waited to see how I would react. His lips explored mine, his tongue stroking and teasing, his fingers slipping into my hair as he drew me closer so that he could kiss me deeper.

When he eased back, we looked at each other for a long moment, and for the first time, there was a hint of uncertainty shadowing his eyes, although his lips curled into a smile. “Why do you think?” He asked me in reply.

“I think…” I swallowed. I could taste him still on my tongue, the spice of him. “I think that you have lied.”

His eyes widened in surprise and his laugh was startled from him. “Lied?” He replied. “For once, I have been completely honest. Believe me,” he added. “That’s somewhat unusual of me. What do you think I’ve lied about?”

I got out of the car, and closed the door, leaning against it. “I think that you’re also playing games, Mal. And I’m a piece, a pawn, that you’re positioning on the board. Thanks for the ride home.” I stepped back.

“I’ll pick you up tomorrow,” he said immediately. I raised my eyebrows in query. “To meet the teachers and tutors,” he prompted his smile widening. “Didn’t you pay attention yesterday?”

“Oh,” I vaguely recalled something about that on the forms from Pinegrove Academy. “Of course.”

“Nine, on the dot,” he said. “Don’t be late!”

When I opened the front door, both aunts were standing in the hall, Fennel in her black, her hair braided to the side, using the bulk of it to disguise the texture of her scar, and Callista in a peacock blue kimono robe glittering with sequins. They both were caught in expressions of surprise and concern.

“Hi,” I said slowly looking between them.

“That was not the boy from yesterday,” Callista observed, recovering herself. “What was his name again? The blonde one?”

“No,” I realized that they had been watching ever since Mal had pulled down the driveway and had realized what he was. “That was Mal. I met him at the funeral, you remember? He also goes to Pinegrove. He’s going to give me a lift to the thing tomorrow.”

“What thing is that dearest?” Fennel wondered frowning in concern.

“Meeting teachers and tutors,” I explained.

“Ah. Mal…” Fennel looked at Callista.

“Mal is - ” Callista started.

“What does it mean when a demon seeks you out?” I asked her.

Their expressions cleared of concern, and instead became thoughtful. They both turned towards the kitchen, seeking the center of their knowledge and power as they pondered the question. Fennel filled the kettle and placed it on the stove whilst Callista sat at the table and picked up a bag of rune stones.

---