And on top of that, she talked the entire way to Soul, about the trip to the past, about meeting Ra. I already respected her but hearing the story from her lips did something to me.
She’d risked her life for me.
When we were finally at Soul, I got out of the car and opened her side helping her out and pressing a hand to the small of her back as we made our way to the entrance.
I knew something was off the minute my security did a double take.
It was late, around one a.m., so I knew the place would be crawling with demons feeding on humans. What I didn’t expect was to garner so much attention myself.
Tarek was behind the bar pouring drinks, and Kyra was like a statue next to me as all of the demons stopped feeding and dancing and turned their attention to me.
The music stopped.
It was like a bad movie.
I had no idea what to do.
I was still the Demon King. I had always lorded the underworld and kept that title even when I lost my soul.
But this was different.
This was fear. I could smell it, taste it like ash burning on my tongue.
They were petrified of me.
“So…” Kyra said with fake enthusiasm. “I think we should just act normal and go sit at the bar.”
“I am acting normal.”
“You’re glowing,” she said through clenched teeth.
“Shit.” The humans were hopefully too drugged to notice. I snapped my fingers at the vamps holding court at the door. Security would need to make sure all the humans’ memories were wiped so they didn’t report me to CNN. “All right, let’s go sit.”
Tarek slid two glasses of amber liquid toward us the minute we got to the bar. “So, that’s a neat trick, glowing like a Christmas tree. I think a demon shit himself and then puked for good measure.”
I sighed. “I didn’t realize.”
“Timber, you control shadows, darkness, death itself. You could take every remaining soul in this room with the snap of your fingers, send them to Heaven or Hell, you were given that job. Before, you were just creepy as hell and semi-powerful in your own right. Now, well, now you look like you could incinerate everyone with laser eyes.”
“Thanks, Tarek,” Kyra said through clenched teeth. “Super helpful!”
Tarek looked at her then back at me. “Well, things just took a turn for the worse. What the hell have you guys been doing? Painting each other’s nails?”
“Excuse me?” My voice boomed, a few demon shrieks followed. This would take getting used to.
“You…” Tarek pointed at me, “…are fully restored. She…” He pointed at Kyra. “…is still confused and the only way to un-confuse her is to…” He made an odd motion with his hands.
“Are you clapping?” I wondered out loud while Kyra gaped at him.
“Yes. No.” Tarek took a deep breath. “You…” More pointing, “…and you…” Repeated pointing. “Are two halves to a whole. You can’t be whole unless you’re…” He said it slowly, probably for my benefit. “Who-o-ole.”
“You're talk in riddles.” I grabbed for the glass only to have him get there faster and replace it with something else. “Hey, I was going to drink that!”
“Nope, you both get this now. By the way, I’m not sorry.” He slid two new glasses in front of us. “Now, drink, and be… not too loud.”
“You’re being weird.” Kyra felt his forehead. “Are you sick? Drunk? Sad?”
He slapped her hand away. “No, I’m just frustrated. We risked everything for you two, and you’re at happy hour!”