Page 11 of My Blind Date is a Demon

I hug my little girl and kiss her on the top of her head. “My hero.”

Beverly picks up the jar and turns it around. She then taps on it. “Hello? Anyone home?”

The jar shakes and growls again. I hold Bella close, but Beverly just laughs.

“Now, now,” Beverly says. “Is that any way to talk?”

“Let me out!” the thing in the jar growls.

“Why would I do that?” Beverly asks.

“Because I command it!”

Beverly snorts and laughs. “Looks like your words don’t have any power here.”

The creature growls, but the tension in the room lessens. It’s like a raging kitten, more adorable than scary.

“I think we need to have a chat,” Beverly says. “Will you play nice if I let you out?”

“Never!” the creature roars.

“Okay,” Beverly says. She puts the cookie jar on the counter and starts to walk away.

“Wait,” the creature says.

“Yes?” Beverly asks.

“Fine,” the creature says.

Beverly nods and picks up the jar, but I stop her before she removes the lid.

“Wait! Are you sure that’s safe?”

“It’s fine,” she says. “It’s bound to the jar. It can’t hurt us now.”

I’m not sure I totally believe her, but I do trust her. If the creature tries to attack me again, I know Beverly could stop it.

Beverly removes the lid and smoke billows out of it. But then, to my surprise, it starts to take on a solid shape. It forms a man. A tall man. A dark man. A…very, very handsome man. He has dark eyes and his hair is twisted in rows like chainmail. He also has twisted horns. He wears a black suit, a platinum watch, and a red handkerchief in his pocket. My jaw drops of its own accord. I have no idea what to say. His eyes land on me and he runs a hand over his mouth.

“You are no witch,” he says to me.

“Rude,” I manage to choke out. How can he tell just by looking at me?

He chuckles. “You are not the one who captured me. Who was it? You, woman?” he asks Beverly.

“It was me,” Bella says, stepping forward, her chin jutted forward defiantly.

“Impossible,” he says. “No mere girl could capture me.”

“And just who are you?” Beverly asks.

“No mortal can pronounce my name.”

“Try us,” Beverly says.

“My name is…” He lets out some growling, guttural sound.

Beverly squints. “What are you?”

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