Page 29 of Monsters' Touch

“And to place well, you kill people and harvest their souls.” My god, what did they make me do?

We do no such thing and I’m offended you’d even suggest it. Demons don’t kill for souls. We wait to collect them naturally, when a person is finished with them.

Oh. “Like reapers? Angels of death?”

I suppose you could liken us to that. It’s not quite right, but you’ve got the broad strokes.

“Well, if you have the power to take souls, do you also have the power to put them back. To give someone back their life?”

Aside from that initial wash of embarrassment, I’ve only been picking up honesty and forthrightness from this demon. But now, confusion and a small measure of anxiety filters through my body.

I press onward. “Look, if you want my help—the help of a very strong host, according to you—then you’d better meet my demands.”

Sad boi goes silent for a moment and I suddenly can’t pick up any of his emotions as if he’s shielding them from me. Or… “Were you intentionally projecting your emotions to me?” I ask.

I was. I thought it best that you know for certain I am being honest.

“You could have just as easily projected lies,” I counter.

Not so. I cannot manufacture a false emotion to send to another, only truths. It’s why I’m hiding them now.

“Because you don’t want me to know you can do what I asked? You can return souls.” Hope sprouts within me anew, and I temper the desire to sigh. To fully think the thought, feel the feeling.

If he could put souls back, then my mom…

I must speak to the others. If this is your only demand, I’ll leave at once.

Oh shit.Isthis my only demand? I should have thought about this harder. “No more pushing me to the backseat. I want to be present in my body at all times.”

Of course. Anything else?

“It should go without saying, but in case it doesn’t, no more bringing me to sexual release.”

Unless you’ve asked for it, certainly.

That sentence, those few words, throw me off, making me pause and contemplate the weird zing currently occurring in my nether bits. After a beat, I move on, choosing to ignore it. “And I reserve the right to come up with any new rules as I see fit.”

Right. If that’s all then, I’ll take your requests to my horde and return with their response as soon as possible.

“OK,” I say aloud, just as I had been, but this time, I’m certain no one is in my head to hear it. The pressure in my invisible horns is gone and I feel strangely empty.

Alone.

And I hated it.

Chapter12

Rhygel

“Absolutely not. You know the risk is too great.”

Is this the same Barbas before me, asking to save Lily’s mother after defying my order to wait until the others return? He stands straighter, gaze locked on mine, not darting about or looking for threats.

“This host has lent you some of her backbone, I see. To even suggest such a thing—”

“Her name is Lily,” Barbas corrects and I incline my head toward him.

“I’m aware of her name, Barbas. I choose not to use it as it feels too familiar. Too personal.”

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