Page 36 of Blaze of Our Lives

“We,” Brolrath continued, referring to all three of them, “don’t want to do this.”

“Do what?”

“Play this game,” he replied.

“And?” I asked.

“And,” Drogruzun said. “We’ve decided to aid you in your quest instead of competing against you. You’re the only competitor who seems truly invested in this deadly game.”

“Don’t believe that shit,” Pandora warned. “Isn’t that the voice of the asshole who called you a plebian?”

“It is,” I told her.

The Demons were confused. They looked around to see who I was talking with.

“I talk to myself,” I explained.

“Ahhh,” Ezzanod said. “You have a split personality? Or multiple personalities?”

“Something like that,” I told him. “It’s an actor thing. A way to get into character.”

Brolrath’s eyes lit up. “I knew I knew you.” He waved his hand like a nerd in math class. “Holy moly! What would Dracula do?” he exclaimed.

His cohorts looked at him like he was losing his mind. I groaned. My past had caught up with me once again.

Brolrath smacked Drogruzun on the back. “It’s the girl! You know, the one from Camp Bite.”

“The vampire show with the brother and sister?” he asked, suddenly staring at me as if starstruck.

Brolrath, who had the biggest Pee-wee Herman smile pasted on his face, nodded enthusiastically. “Say the line.”

“No,” I declined.

“Come on,” Ezzanod cajoled. “Say the line. Just once, okay?”

“Nope. Nada. Never. Not going to happen.” I cut them off with a sharp wave of my hand, my fingertips flaming candles. “Besides, it was already said.”

“It’s not the same,” Brolrath complained.

“Please, please, please,” Drogruzun begged. “We’ll never ask again.”

“For fucks sake, give them what they want so we can’t get on with this bullshit,” Pandora griped.

I rolled my eyes and groaned again. “Fine.” I gave the Demons a withering stare. “Holy moly,” I said with as much enthusiasm as I had for a root canal. “What would Dracula do?”

Brolrath’s mouth dropped open, and he rubbed his arms. “I’ve got chills.”

Ezzanod nodded. “Same.”

Drogruzund was speechless for the first time.

Oh boy. These fans had loose screws.

Heff Brobst yelled, “Players, five minutes until go time!”

Fans or no fans, the Demons suddenly deciding to throw the contest to me wasn’t sitting right. “Why the change of heart? About the competition, I mean? When I arrived, you three acted like you wanted me dead. What gives?”

Brolrath appeared sheepish. He cocked his head to the right, indicating that we should move ourselves out of the sightline of Phyllis and Heff Brobst. That was either a smart move or one that would get me killed. I went with my gut and meandered to the spot he’d suggested.

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