Page 13 of Unleashing Mayhem
Nightmare seemed to deliberate for a moment before answering, “Creature feature.”
Matty selected the movie, then held out his Skittles. “Would you like some?”
He was rewarded with a small twist of Nightmare’s lips. “No, sweet. Keep your candies.”
Matty burrowed back into the couch cushions as the movie began, wriggling around. He couldn’t seem to get comfortable, and it took him a moment to realize what the problem was.
He peeked at Nightmare from the corner of his eye and then shifted—slowly, subtly—until he was closer to the demon. Close enough to feel Nightmare’s heat against his arm.
ThenMatty was able to settle back into the cushions with a contented sigh.
There. That was better.
They wereon their second movie of the night, and Matty’s eyes were going kind of blurry.
Nightmare—literal as the name was, it was fitting enough that Matty couldn’t get it out of his head now that he knew—was watching with the same quiet interest he’d shown the first movie.
Or maybe it was quietnoninterest? What did Matty know, really?
Even though Nightmare had said he wouldn’t be bored, Matty was probably being a terrible host right now. He just couldn’t muster up the energy to do anything more. Nightmare had been truthful before: the contract had taken it out of Matty. Passing out didn’t seem to have helped at all, maybe because Matty hadn’t been unconscious for long.
Now his eyelids were getting heavy and he was out of sour Skittles. He needed something else to munch on. Sour was good; sour helped keep him alert. Did he have Sour Straws stashed anywhere? Had he finished those already?
Before Matty could search for them, Nightmare’s low rasp cut through the falsetto scream on the TV. “You need rest, little human.”
Matty blinked at him. Nightmare was still watching the movie, his sharp side profile on display. “Thisisrestful.”
“Allow me to clarify: You need sleep.”
“Oh no.” Matty let out a humorless laugh. “I don’t sleep.”
Nightmare slowly turned his head to face Matty. “That is a lie, little human. I have been in your dreams.”
Matty fidgeted with the edge of his blankets, folding them over one way and then back again. “Well, sometimes I drift offaccidentally. And then I have the—the nightmares. And then I wake up again.” He tried for a smile, falling a bit short. “It’s a whole cycle.”
“Lack of sleep can drive a human into psychosis. I know. I have done it.”
Oh. That was interesting. Nightmare didn’t just scare people in their dreams; he also drove them mad. Did he kill them too? Was he like some sort of dream assassin?
Matty decided immediately that the answer wouldn’t change how he felt about his demon. Kai had killed tons of people, and he waswonderful.
“You will sleep,” Nightmare ordered.
“No.” The word fell from Matty’s lips before he could stop himself.
“No?”
“No.” Oops. There it was again.
The air in the room went still, and suddenly it was a little hard for Matty to get oxygen into his lungs. He’d gotten used toNightmare’s silent presence beside him on the couch, but now he realized just how giant the demon next to him was, especially with those antlers.
Matty still wasn’t afraid of him, exactly. Nightmare was here to keep Matty safe, and Matty believed that deep down in his bones.
But he was definitely getting the impression that Nightmare wasn’t a demon many people said no to.
Maybe Mattyshouldbe afraid. Maybe Nightmare was going to lash out with those talons as a punishment for talking back, slice through Matty’s blankets and deep into his flesh.
Matty could suddenly hear his stepfather’s voice, clear as day.Take your punishment, Matteo. We need to make you stronger. That is, if Dominico doesn’t kill you first.
