With a loud “thwack,” the dart bounced off the wall and stuck point-first into the carpet. Kyle grimaced.

Wow, stud, nice shot. Try opening your eyes next time.

“Ha ha, very funny.”

Or maybe you’d actually play better with them closed. I bet you’d be good drunk, too.

“Shut up and let me take my next shot.” Shaking his head, Kyle took aim and let the dart fly. This time, there was a satisfying “thunk” as it sank into the dart board. “Better?”

You should just give up now. This is pretty pathetic. I’ve seen a lot of miserable things, but never anything this bad.

“I take offense.”

Good, ‘cause I’m handing it out.

“You’re a fucking laugh riot, Ryka.”

At least that makes one of us.

No game of darts was complete without some trash talking, and Kyle realized he was failing at this, too. “Is it your turn yet? I’d like to get this over with.”

You’re a glutton for punishment.

“I would have killed myself long before this if I wasn’t.”

Ooh, I think you almost hurt my feelings.

“You have those?”

Ryka just laughed, and Kyle fell to all fours as he felt the demon taking control of his body. He shuddered feeling horns push out from the skin behind his temples. “Hurry up,” he mumbled, the words coming out at a pitch somewhere between his voice and Ryka’s.

Happily obliging, Ryka did just that and stood up, shaking out his wings before folding them behind his back. “Prepare to be thoroughly embarrassed,” he teased, gathering up the darts.

Too late.

But Ryka didn’t seem to hear him. Hardly glancing at his target, he threw the darts, one after another. The first hit the bull’s eye, and the rest surrounded it in a tight circle. “I think I’m winning.”

Gee, really? I must have missed that.

“Wouldn’t surprise me with your aim.” Before retrieving the darts once more, Ryka lit a cigarette. “Nothing to say to that?”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Nothing you’d understand.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ryka growled.

But Kyle didn’t have a chance to retort. The verbal abuse was cut short by the doorbell. You’re doing a great job protecting the house, by the way.

“You saying you want me to just kill whoever’s out there?”

Kyle sighed as loudly as he possibly could, and ordered Ryka to give him control of his body back. The demon grumbled just as loudly, but obeyed all the same. “Put this down next time,” Kyle said, taking a deep drag on the cigarette still dangling from his lips before starting for the door.

Always prepared for the worst, he hesitated a moment before reaching for the doorknob. And he felt like an idiot for worrying. Waiting on his doorstep were two Girl Scouts, neither older than ten. Their mothers stood at the end of the walkway, allowing their precious children only the few feet of freedom required for them to make a sale.

It must have been Ryka’s influence, but he swore he could sense their discomfort. He couldn’t blame them. If a half-naked man who looked like he hadn’t slept in about a week had been anywhere near his kid, he would have been itching to call the police, too.

“Um, excuse me for just a second, okay?” He backed into the house, leaving the door half open. Unable to find an ashtray, he flicked the cigarette toward the kitchen sink, and actually made his goal. “Of course.”

I’m amazed.

“Keep it up and I won’t get any cookies,” Kyle whispered as he searched for a clean shirt.

Huh?

“Those are Girl Scouts. They go door-to-door selling cookies. Really, really good cookies. So unless you want to miss out, drop the attitude for a few minutes.”

This was a serious threat. Ryka’s addiction to sweets nearly eclipsed his nicotine habit. Sounding completely subdued, he replied, Yes, Master.

“Thank you. Ah ha!” Kyle found an unwrinkled button-down and quickly put it on. “Sorry about that, girls,” he greeted, returning to his guests. Now the mothers seemed disappointed. Their discomfort, he realized, had more to do with their sudden adulterous thoughts than it had with his being shirtless.

“It’s okay,” one of the girls told him with a smile, before beginning her sales pitch. He knelt down to listen to them, and placed his order, making sure to get the same number of boxes from each of the girls.

“I think this is the first time anyone’s come around for this.”

“It’s their first year,” one of the mothers explained.

“Ah. Do you girls live in town?” They both nodded, smiling shyly. “I see. Then I’m sure I’ll see you when you get to the high school. I teach there.”

“Really?” one of them asked, looking awed.

“Yup. Anyhow, I’ll let you get on your way. Thanks very much, ladies.”

“Thank you!” they exclaimed together, both beaming. “We’ll come back as soon as they’re in.”

“I can’t wait. Bye.” The mothers both waved at him, blushing a little. Kyle managed a smile for them before heading back into the house. “Cute,” he remarked, sinking down into the recliner.

So, where the fuck are the cookies?

“They’ll bring them in a couple months.”

What?

“That’s how it works.”

But, you said ….

“Sorry.”

You might wanna drop those darts down the garbage disposal before I stab you with them.

“Behave yourself or I won’t let you have any cookies when they come in.”

You’re not holding the threat of no junk food over my head for who-knows-how-many months.

“Watch me,” Kyle said with a smirk, feeling Ryka’s growing frustration. But the demon didn’t have any snarky comebacks, and for a change, Kyle felt like he’d won.