Page 24 of Monsters of Midlife

“What exactly is after you?” I asked Ryder as he stopped in the living room.

“Demons,” he grunted. “And they aren’t after me. They’re after you.”

“Demons,” I murmured the word not sure if I should laugh, cry, or collapse. Instead, I glared at him angrily. “You couldn’t have told me about this like a few years earlier?”

“They weren’t after you before.” He looked at his watch and then turned to Ratchet. “Where is she?”

“Right here!” cried a woman’s voice as the front door flew open and a dark-haired woman in a velvet flowing dress came swirling into the room. Silver jewelry hung off every part of her. Her fingers were covered in rings and her wrists were covered in bangles. She had a stack of about five thick necklaces around her neck. Her long black curls fell in waves across her shoulders, slightly gray around the temples and fine lines hinted at laughter around her bright blue eyes. “Sorry, I’m late Ryder. I got held up at the temple.” She whirled on me with a huge grin that crinkled her face and made her radiate joy. “You must be Caroline!”

“I am.” I stared at her not wanting to like her but finding myself drawn to her all the same. “Are you a monster, too?”

Her laughter filled the living room. “The Goddess, no! I’m a witch.” She placed her palms together and gave me a slight nod of her head.

“Sophie’s going to look after you,” Ryder said.

I looked at her sideways, my gaze dubious. “You’re going to protect me from demons?” Clearly, she had some hidden talents that weren’t apparent from her diminutive frame.

“Not really,” Sophie said. “You know each witch has a special magic and mine kinda sucks.”

“You can do magic.” My mind reeled at the words that were surrounding me.

“I can do spells and things, but my special talent is making clouds.”

“Clouds?” I repeated.

“Enough.” Ryder interrupted, stepping forward. “Sophie is going to be your companion in the house, so you aren’t alone.”

“Where are you going?” I asked, suddenly a bit nervous. I didn’t want to need him but based on the fact that he was a dreadful monster and there were demons after me, I didn’t exactly want to be left alone with a witch who could just make some clouds.

“To destroy some demons,” Ryder growled moving towards the front door.

“Don’t worry,” Sophie winked at me. “We’ll have fun.”

Ryder paused, his hand on the front doorknob. “You’re not to leave the house.”

“Why not?” Sophie put her hands on her hips, challenging Ryder.

I liked her already, though I was feeling completely overwhelmed by the fact that not only did Ryder have a life completely different than the one he’d explained to me for the years that we were married, but…it was supernatural. There was a whole lot more to not only him, but the world in general, that was making my mind reel.

“Sophie, show her to her room and then get her a refreshment on the terrace. I’ll be back later,” Ryder said to her.

“You know the entire island is warded, Ryder,” Sophie said. “No demons can get in or out.”

“Keep her here. I’ll be back later.”

Sophie rolled her eyes at me as she turned and led me up the stairs and down the hallway to a large room that was apparently going to be my bedroom. It was a large room full of antiques. By modern standards it was overdecorated. Maybe if it was the 1700s it would be considered pretty tame. I went idly to the large dresser.

“A bunch of your clothes are in there,” Sophie smiled.

“Who are you?” I asked, suddenly having a sinking feeling she might be involved with Ryder. “How do you know Ryder?”

She held up her hands against my aggressive tone. Clearly, I was still territorial over Ryder. “We are just friends,” she said. “Sometimes when he gets hurt, he comes here to get some healing. That’s it.”

“When he gets hurt?” I looked at her quizzically.

She shrugged her shoulders, lowering the corners of her mouth. “It is the nature of his job.”

“What exactly is his job?” I hated having to ask. I thought I at least knew Ryder a little bit. In the last twelve hours I realized I didn’t know him in the slightest.

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