Page 74 of My Monster's Keeper
“WHAT IS THIS?”
Puppy throws himself out of the bed and across the room, stalking the source of the outraged voice.
I sit up and scrub at my eyes, peering into the dark. “Puppy?”
“Diablos, go away,” Frost moans. “I’m tired.”
“Get up! Explain yourself,” the demon demands.
I roll over and curl into Wilder’s arms. He strokes my back and pulls the blankets up over my shoulders.
“Get out of the bed!”
“You told us to share one room. There’s only one bed,” I snap waspishly. “Let me sleep!”
Diablos pauses in his stomping.
“Puppy, no biting, the hotel will kick us out, and I’m nice and warm.”
The Grim rattles in displeasure but returns to the bed. I watch with one eye as he perches on the end of it, glowering at the big demon.
“Well, clearly, they are meant to sleep on the floor.”
“Don’t be cruel, Diablos. The bed’s big enough for everyone to sleep in. Don’t tell me you’re worried about what cocks I might put in me again.” I sit up. “I thought that conversation was done?”
“It is.” Diablos protests far too quickly. “All right, let’s do the pop quiz.” He clears his throat. “Capital of Australia.”
“I’m going to eat you,” Puppy says darkly.
“No one? All right, geography is a fail.”
“What is pi?”
I start paying attention to his questions, and my irritation grows.
“You’re getting on my nerves, demon,” Puppy hisses, and I concur.
“What kind of soil do you need to grow legumes?”
“Who cares?” Frost snaps.
“Another F,” Diablos says gleefully.
“What big cat animal can’t roar?”
“Diablos!” Stix snaps.
“Buzz, wrong!”
Fuck this shit. I am far too tired for this nonsense.
“Canberra. 3.14159. Well drained soil, and Cheetahs and Snow Leopards can’t roar. However, I’m not teaching them useless things. I’m teaching them helpful things.”
I get out of bed and go to the freezer.
“Like what?”
“Using bank cards, different humans and our shapes and colours. How to behave in public so not to draw attention. And how to torture someone who is annoying you in the middle of the night.”
