Page 27 of Raising Hell: MMF Edition

Ruby

The sound of shattering glass rings through the house, followed by raised voices, and I sprint into the kitchen, taking in the scene.

Or, at least, trying.

Dishes are splintered on the floor, swept off the counter into danger confetti. Cas dangles in the air, his feet swinging freely as Amon’s hand squeezes tightly around his throat. The strain causes Cas’s skin to redden, veins distended on his neck and forehead. Amon looksfurious, his eyes glowing and his teeth bared, nose to nose as he growls like a feral animal.

“What have you done to me, Casimir?” he bellows, shaking Cas so hard that he thuds against the wall. To my surprise, the tears that roll down Cas’s face are gleeful as he wheezes a laugh from his restricted airway. A loud rumble boils up Amon’s throat, and his cheeks puff out as his eyes widenfurther. “What is this witchcraft?” Cas is slammed into the sheetrock again as he chokes a cackle.

“Amon!” I shout, taking a step forward, and he whips his furious glare to me.

“Is this your doing?” He shakes Cas one more time just for the hell of it. “Are you the concoctor of this…poison?”

A crushed can on the floor catches my eye as Amon continues to snarl back and forth between the two of us, and realization hits me. My breath whizzes out like a popped tire as I drag my hand down my face. “Cas… did you give him a Doctor Pepper?”

“THAT IS NO DOCTOR!” Amon roars, which only causes Cas to laugh harder. It makes me question whether demons need oxygen to breathe, because his mouth is turning blue. My lips tug between my teeth as I attempt to hold in my laughter, knowing how Amon will react to it, but when he releases another quiet burp, I can’t help it.

I giggle.

And then when I try to stop, I snort.

Cas meets my eyes, absolutely thrilled even as he’s strangled. Realizing I need to put an end to this before a homicide—demoncide?—happens in my kitchen, I turn to Amon and force inflection into my voice. “Amon, release him.” His nostrils flare and his long, flowing hair whips back and forth as he attempts to fight my command, but eventually he gives in, growling as he places Cas on his feet.

The sound of Cas refilling his lungs is a jarring, five-second-long gasping inhale that breaks the silence, obnoxious and endlessly dramatic.

“Was thatreallynecessary?” I ask, and Cas shrugs as Amon crosses his arms, jaw ticking. I turn to him and place a gentle hand on his arm.

Patient. I can be patient. “It was a soda, Amon. Harmless.”

“Harmless my ass! I shall seek revenge—”

Aaaand there goes that patience.

“Oh, forfuck’s sake!Just slow down!” I shout over him, stopping him mid-rant while mentally sending an apology to Granny for the F-bomb. A deep breath calms me. “It’s a sugary drink filled with bubbles, and if you shake it, it will explode. Drink it too fast, and it’ll do the same to you. You’ll burp. A lot.”

Amon frowns, his suspicious eyes darting to the annihilated can. “Why must they falsely name this potion after a healer? It is misleading!”

“Jesus Wolverine Christ,” I mutter. “You know, I was considering asking if you two were interested in actually leaving this house, but if you’re going to behave like children…”

Amon’s back straightens, as if his good posture will erase the fact that he was strangling someone less than ninety seconds ago. Cas grins in a way that borders crazed, crowding me and wrapping his arms around my neck.

“We won’t cause trouble,” he promises, and I believe him for exactly zero seconds. My skepticism must be glaringly obvious, because he tightens his grip on my shoulders and forces me to face him, almost vibrating with excitement. “Ruby, we will be so good for you. Don’t you know that? We can be such…” He leans in and kisses my lips in a flurry before nipping at my ear, “…suchgood boys.”

“I won’t be.” Amon’s voice is dry and disapproving of the groveling.

“Fine,” I say, a sly smirk forming as I meet his gaze. “Cas can go, and you’ll be left behind, locked away in the attic. We’ll call you Rapunzel.”

Amon’s nostrils flare as his frown tightens, narrowing his eyes at me. “Who is this Rapunzel and why would I take hisname?” Images of Amon in a long braided wig flash through my mind, and I bite at my lip, fighting a giggle. He glares before continuing. “It matters not. Why is Cas allowed to go if I am forbidden? It is a foolish decision, Ruby. I am the more powerful demon.”

Arms crossed, his chest puffs out as he says it, like a proud turkey with ram horns. My smirk tugs into my cheeks as Cas bounces excitedly on his feet. “Go ahead, Cas. Tell him why.”

“Because I’m a good boy.” He is pleased as pie as an irritated Amon bites the inside of his cheek, dimpling the skin with a small indent.

“Can you be a good boy, Amon?” I try and fail to hide my grin.

The silence stretches out so long I doubt he’s going to answer, but he finally mumbles so low I barely hear him. “Yes.”

“Yes… what?”

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