Page 41 of My Blind Date is a Demon

“I didn’t even ask where the order came from,” I say, rubbing my chin. “I had just assumed everything had been done properly. But that’s all that happened? Are you sure?”

“I’m positive. I saw the whole thing. I even asked him about it later, but he just waved me off. Who on earth would have the kind of power that would allow them to contact the Dark Lord himself so directly? And why would the Dark Lord listen? He is not bound to the will of humans. At least, he never was before. He rejects requests from them all the time. Humans are so ridiculously petty, you know.”

“Indeed, I do know. But if the request didn’t come from normal channels, why is he so hellbent on having the request completed? I’m doing the best I can here.”

“I think he is far more unnerved over the whole thing than he is letting on,” she says.

“So, what am I supposed to do?”

“Your job, Damon,” she says. “Your job. Possess the woman, torture her, and get out of here.” She shudders. “This whole town gives me the heebie-jeebies. So much supernatural energy in one place isn’t natural.”

“I can agree with you on that point. Something strange is at work here. Beverly is trying to find the source of the curse, but this might be beyond her.”

“Beverly Barnes? The human witch? Believe me, this is far beyond her keen.”

“How much time do I have?”

“Days, weeks at the most. You know how Beelzebub is. If he thinks he can curry the Dark Lord’s favor by doing this, he will be more than eager.”

“He always was a kiss ass.”

“You don’t want to be a stepping stone on Beelzebub’s path to the Dark Lord’s right hand.”

“Beelzebub will never unseat Lilith.”

“Never say never. Even Lilith cannot soothe the Dark Lord right now. You are lucky she allowed me to be the messenger. If she were here, you’d probably be on your way back to Hell right now. Your little cookie jar staycation would be over and Tamzin Jones would be terrorizing the town.”

I let out a sigh and rub the bridge of my nose. “Okay, just buy me some time, okay? Tell them that I am playing the long game here. That I’m just gaining Tamzin’s trust so that the torture will be even more painful.”

“Is that what’s happening?” she asks.

“What do you think?” I ask, and I instantly regret it. Who knows how long she has been watching me. It must be clear as day to her that I have absolutely no power over this situation.

“I think you have forgotten who you are,” she says. “I think you’ve become distracted by the idea of being mortal—for whatever reason—and creating this perfect little family for yourself. I don’t know. Maybe you are bored and this is new and shiny. Maybe you are actually falling for this woman. Maybe you are trying out a new technique of torture without possession. Whatever you are doing, it’s a dangerous game you are playing. You don’t want to get on the Dark Lord’s bad side, do you hear me?”

“Yes, of course,” I say. “I know the risks.”

“Do you?” she prods. “You’ve been gone a long time. I think you have been living the easy life here on earth for a while and have forgotten what it really means to be a demon.”

I let out a roar and show my true form, which is far more terrifying than I let on to Tamzin. I’m big and mean and fire and brimstone and horns and claws.

“I am a demon!” I yell to her as car alarms wail and dogs howl and lights come on. I shrink back to my human form before anyone can see me. I grab Eisheth by her shirt. “I am still a demon. And I know what it means to be one. Don’t forget, it was I who taught you everything you know about being a demon. Do not insult me.”

Eisheth scoffs and shoves me away. “I came here as a friend. Don’t make me regret it.” And with that, she turns back into a shadow and melts into the ground.

This is not good. None of this is good. I need to find out what is going on. I turn to go back into the house and see Tamzin standing at the upstairs window, looking down at me.

How much did she just see?

CHAPTER 15

Ihad forgotten to take my antidepressant, that is how happy I feel tonight. So, I go back to the bathroom, but I hear voices coming from outside. I pass Damon’s room and notice the door is open. He’s nowhere to be seen, so I assume he’s in his cookie jar. The thought that he’s like a genie in a bottle makes me chuckle to myself. But when I get to the window, I see that Damon is outside talking to someone. It appears to be a woman with long dark hair, and she too has horns. Is she also a demon? But they don’t seem to be “together.” In fact, they seem to be at odds with each other, with both of them standing with their arms crossed, not exactly facing one another. Their voices carry up to the window, and though I can’t make out the words, the tone seems angry.

Suddenly, Damon morphs into a giant monster of flame, smoke, and ash. He roars at the woman. I can feel the heat from him, it is so intense. I duck down and cover my head, afraid the window may burst from the heat. The fire lights up the room as brightly as the sun would. But in an instant, it is over. I hear car alarms blare, dogs bark, including Dash, and voices from the neighbors. I peek back out the window and see that Damon is back to normal. He and the woman exchange a couple more words, then she dissolves into shadow and melts into the ground. Yup, definitely a demon.

Damon turns around to face the house and we instantly lock eyes. I feel a twinge of guilt, as if I had been eavesdropping. But I hadn’t been. They weren’t exactly being secretive about their little meeting. In the distance, I hear a police siren. The disturbance was enough that someone called the cops. Damon hoofs it back to the house. I close the curtains and hope the police don’t come knocking.

I slip down to my bedroom and shut the door. I’m not sure I can face him. I had thought his natural form was a more impish creature. But what I just saw was a monster. Does that change anything? Does it matter what his real form is? Maybe it wasn’t even his real form. Maybe he was just trying to intimidate that other demon. It didn’t seem to work. She didn’t even blink. Well, I assume so. I couldn’t exactly see her eyes from where I was standing. But she didn’t move.

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