When Ryka had, with great urgency, urged Kyle to get himself to the nearest men’s room, Kyle had been expecting another painful, bloody growth spurt. And Ryka hadn’t said anything when Kyle started undressing himself en route to their destination. The few people in the halls didn’t even glance in his direction. They knew.

It seemed, however, that completely different urges had driven Ryka to interrupt his host in the middle of class. Kyle only realized this when he burst, half-naked, into the men’s room to find two students in the middle of what appeared to be an illegal transaction. And if Ryka’s growing excitement hadn’t provided enough of an explanation, the looks of shock and horror on the boys’ faces certainly did.

“Mr. Saunders,” one of them gasped, trying desperately to stuff something into his jacket pocket.

Kyle was about to reprimand him and demand to know what they were doing, but his other half decided to take matters into his own hands. After all, he was much better at getting results. And he was ravenous.

Unable to get a word out before Ryka started taking over his body, Kyle could only sigh mentally. The same set of bathroom stalls that Ryka had nearly destroyed a few years earlier once again buckled as his wings flared open. One of the doors fell off its hinges, clattering to the tile loud enough to drown out the screams of the two boys now trapped between a wall and a very hungry demon.

Ryka took one step forward, and both boys immediately emptied their pockets. “You really think that’s enough to satisfy me?” he inquired, looking down at the scattered pile of his new belongings. Cash, enough for a twelve pack of beer, at least; a used tissue; two hall passes; and a dozen sandwich bags, all nearly empty, save a small amount of something Ryka rather liked the smell of.

Weed, Kyle told him, to save Ryka from having to ask. Though he felt the itch in his head that meant Ryka was using him as his own personal encyclopedia. And no, please don’t take the opportunity to again remind me about all the things I did in college that I don’t let you do.

In response to Ryka’s question, the boys shook their heads. “Maybe you are smarter than you look. But I doubt it.” Before either of them could even flinch, Ryka reached out and grabbed them by the fronts of their shirts. Whether or not he meant to, Kyle couldn’t be sure, but Ryka cleanly sliced right through their clothes, leaving bright red scratches on their throats. Seeing this only increased his need. His own pulse picking up, Ryka wrapped a hand around each of their necks and squeezed.

He controlled himself enough not to completely strangle the two unfortunate young men, but they struggled for breath, eyes bulging. Even still, they were too afraid to risk trying to loosen the demon’s grip, and instead stood helplessly while he choked them. Please don’t kill them, Kyle pleaded. They’re not really that bad, right?

Ryka grumbled under his breath and moved his hands back to his side, making sure to draw just a little blood as he let them go. One of the boys moved to massage his aching throat, but quickly pulled his hand away when he felt something wet. When he saw the blood staining his palm, he had to fight back a scream.

“Go on, let it out. I want to hear.” Mantling over his prey didn’t help; they only clammed up more, both barely whimpering. As though their silence would save them. “I said scream.”

When it looked like the boy wasn’t going to comply, Ryka grabbed him by the wrist and licked the blood off. That did the trick. Simultaneously shrieking and crying, the young man struggled free, falling to all fours in the process. Sniffling prayers, he crawled toward the exit, not daring to look back when he finally made it to the door and slipped through. His friend watched him go, eager to make his own escape.

“You’ve got more, haven’t you?” Ryka asked, glancing first at the pile on the floor, then at his remaining victim.

“Uh, um, y-yes.”

“It’s in your car, right? Go get it.”

“N-now?”

Ryka said nothing, but raked his claws across the mirror. The sound of shattering glass quickly followed the shrill grating noise, and glittering shards rained into the sink and onto the floor.

The boy darted back into the hall.

He’ll really come back?

“Yup.”

And he did, tossing his backpack at Ryka’s feet. “You get to live. That’s payment enough. Now get the fuck out my sight.”

Ryka had barely finished speaking before the bathroom door was closing, and he was left to gloat over his prize. How about a cigarette now, and that later, okay? Kyle suggested, worried about the class he had left unsupervised.

The suggestion wasn’t at all appealing, but Ryka knew that if wanted to have any fun, he had to obey. “Yes, Master. And don’t be so upset. Imagine if a drug-sniffing dog had caught them instead ….”

It had been quite a while since Kyle had allowed himself to think of their encounter with the Hell Hound, Sha. And he had a feeling that Ryka’s ghost of a conscience was still more than Sha possessed. True.

“You’re the closest thing I have to a conscience, stud.”

Then I think we’ve both made some serious mistakes with our lives.

Ryka laughed. “I’ll behave now.” He relinquished control of their body, leaving Kyle to handle the rest. Which meant popping in the office to report the broken stalls and ignoring the way the receptionist paled when he casually described the damage.

Back in his classroom, his students looked more than a little concerned when their teacher calmly strolled back in, still buttoning his shirt and carrying a newly acquired backpack. But he decided to try a new tactic – ignore their discomfort, and pretend nothing had happened. “Okay, so we were talking about the Gettysburg Address. Who wants to start reading?”

***

By the time the bell rang, things were back to normal. His students had decided not to question him about his sudden, and obviously demon-related, disappearance. So Kyle was a little nervous when one of the girls, Becky, stayed behind, lingering next to his desk.

“Um, is it still okay for my Dad to come today?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Your Dad? Oh, right.” Only after making an ass of himself did he remember that her father had set up an appointment to meet all her teachers. She had transferred to their school two weeks earlier - already almost halfway through the school year - and he was worried about how she was adjusting. Although Kyle really didn’t see any cause for concern, he had agreed to the meeting. “He was coming by right after school, right?”

“I think so.” Kyle had expected that to end their conversation, but Becky lingered by his desk, hands clasped in front of her so tight her knuckles were turning white.

Shit, he thought. He did need to worry after all. Being new, she had no idea why everyone had looked so horrified when he’d dashed out of the room. Or returned feigning nonchalance. Anticipating her question, he told her, “It’s a long story, Becky. And you’re better off not knowing. Now hurry, you don’t want to be late for your next class.”

As badly as she wanted to pry, Becky didn’t. Her teacher’s voice had been gentle, but there was something cruel in his eyes that gave her chills. “Right. Bye.”

***

I want to go home.

The admission was enough to make Kyle choke on his coffee. “What?” he coughed.

To the house, you idiot. This sucks.

“Don’t do that to me.”

It’s fun, though. I need to do something to amuse myself.

Kyle couldn’t really argue. He wasn’t having much fun himself. School had been dismissed before two o’clock, but he had to stick around and wait for Becky’s father. Apparently, he was last on the list - it was nearly three-thirty. To pass time, he’d been grading tests, but it actually seemed to be making the hands on the clock move even more slowly.

With a sigh, Kyle put down his pen and leaned back in his chair.

You’re asking for it.

“Asking for what?”

This.

His fly had already been unzipped before Kyle had a chance to ask what exactly “this” was. And he was a little ashamed to discover that, once he did know, he felt no desire to make Ryka stop.

But he changed his mind about that when someone knocked on the door. “Ryka, enough,” he breathed. To his relief, Ryka did as he was told, even zipping up Kyle’s pants for him. Kyle was still blushing when he called for whoever was at the door to come in.

Adam poked his head into the room, and when he saw Kyle, he stepped in, closing the door behind him. “You okay?”

“Fine,” Kyle lied. “What’s up?”

“Well, since he’s using the facilities, I figured I’d give you a head’s up while there’s a chance; I just spoke with Becky’s father.”

“Why do I suddenly have a bad feeling about this?”

Your instincts are getting better.

Kyle would have loved to ask what Ryka meant, but Adam continued, unaware that the demon already knew what he had come to say. “Well, he’s a nice guy. But, uh, it turns out he’s a priest. I got his whole life story, actually. Was Episcopal, converted to Catholicism, so got to keep the wife and kid.” Adam paused for a moment, waiting for a reaction, but found he couldn’t stop himself from asking, “So, what exactly were you just doing?”

Even though it had happened before, Adam was still shocked when Ryka’s gravelly voice rumbled out of Kyle’s throat. “I think you know. Are you jealous? Because if you ever want me to finish what I started with you-”

“No, thanks. And I just remembered that I’m scared shitless of you, so I’ll be heading back now.”

“If you ever change your mind …” Ryka replied.

“You’ll be the first to know. I really do have work to do, though. But, uh, good luck with this, Kyle.”

Adam had already disappeared out the door before Kyle found he had his voice back. Just in time for the man in question to show up. “You must be Rebecca’s father, right? Come on in,” Kyle offered, trying his best to sound cheerful.

Something in his brain screamed at him to avoid this man at all costs, and he knew it wasn’t just Ryka. Though the demon warned, Don’t let him touch you.

So when the girl’s father, who introduced himself as Robert, reached out for a handshake, Kyle could only offer an awkward smile in return. Fumbling for an excuse, he started, “I was-”

Jerking off under my desk, Ryka supplied.

Kyle nearly repeated him before finally saying, “Just getting over a cold. I’d hate to give it to you.” Hoping to get this meeting over with as soon as possible, Kyle suggested Robert take a seat.

It seemed that Robert wasn’t nearly as eager to be on his way. He spent nearly twenty minutes relating his impressions of the school to Kyle, who nodded and smiled as politely as he could manage. Finally, when Kyle was sure he was on the verge of a boredom-induced coma, Robert asked about his daughter.

“Well, we haven’t had any tests or papers since she’s been here, but Becky always participates in class, and she always seems well-prepared. Her homework has been perfect. The kids just started a group project, and she’s doing great with that, too. It looks like she’s already made a few friends; when they broke off into threes for the group assignment, other students approached her about working together. I don’t think you have anything to worry about – she’s a good kid.”

Robert seemed relieved to hear this. “It’s hard not to worry. Moving in the middle of the year isn’t easy, especially not when it means leaving behind people you’ve known your whole life.”

“I understand,” Kyle said. At least, he understood about the leaving people behind part. “But it already feels like she’s been here all along.”

“That’s wonderful to hear. I-”

“I hate to rush you, but is there anything else you were worried about?” Ryka’s impatience - and not a little of his own - was making him sound like a jerk, but he couldn’t stop himself. “Lots of lesson planning and grading.”

“Oh, no. That was all. Thank you so much for taking the time to see me.”

“No problem. If there’s anything else, please let me know.” Kyle scribbled his extension for the school line on a Post-It and stuck it on his desk in front of Robert, who thanked him and stowed the paper in his pocket.

Kyle stood to walk Robert to the door. After his lie about getting over a cold, he had hoped Robert would keep his distance, but on his way out of the room, the priest clapped a hand on Kyle’s shoulder while again thanking him.

Kyle never heard the “thank you.” He could see Robert’s lips moving, but the only thing he heard was his own body slumping to the floor. Ryka managed to slow his fall, but it was still from his hands and knees that he helplessly stared up at the other man. Before Robert could offer assistance - and make things worse - Ryka got Kyle back to his feet. Kyle knew how unnatural that looked, his half-rigid, half-limp limbs jerking him back upright. But it got him off the floor and spared him the priest’s touch.

“Are you okay?” Robert asked, looking near to panicking at Kyle’s sudden fall.

“Fine. Sorry. Must be low blood pressure or something. Really, I’m okay.” Kyle thought he was smiling when he spoke, but the look on Robert’s face when Kyle met his eyes made him think he might have been mistaken. Sweat breaking on his brow, Robert had nearly sprinted down the hall. Kyle was still wondering what had happened when he sat back down at his desk. Sighing, he asked Ryka, “What was that all about?”

It might just be a hunch, but check out your reflection.

Of course he kept a mirror in his desk. Whether from his students or Ryka, there would be no living it down if he ever gave a lecture with food in his teeth. Kyle dug it out of a drawer, checked his reflection and promptly dropped it. Hellfire burned behind his brown eyes. The glow was evident even with the lights still on. “Shit.”

I need to come out. I could barely stop it when that asshole touched you.

Without answering, Kyle took off his shirt for the second time that day. He had hoped Ryka only needed a brief stretch or a cigarette, but the moment he was able, Ryka headed into the deserted hallways.

Tail lashing angrily behind him, Ryka burst into Adam Brisette’s classroom, which overlooked the parking lot. “Holy fuck!” Adam shouted, jumping up from his desk and scattering all the papers he had been trying to organize.

“It would be unholy if we did it,” Ryka teased before stopping at the window. With a hungry grin turning up the corners of his lips, he watched Robert climb into his car. The priest glanced nervously toward the building, then seemed to shake the feeling. “You know what I am now. And you should be nervous, priest.”

“What’s going on? Did something happen?” Adam inquired, not quite sure he even wanted to know.

“I’m looking forward to chasing prey that can fight back.”

“Prey? What? Becky’s dad?”

Ryka didn’t answer him right away, but instead grabbed Adam by the wrist and pulled him uncomfortably close. “Don’t worry your pretty little head about it. Just mind your own business, and you’ll be fine.”

Sure he was about to faint, Adam nodded, the room swimming. “Worry about what?” he said, voice cracking as he struggled to maintain his composure.

“Good job. Well, see you later, big boy.”

With that, Ryka left, stalking back toward his host’s classroom.

You’re not going to go after him, are you? Kyle asked.

“I don’t think I’m going to have to.”

***

Watching Kyle standing in front of the fridge, Adam wondered if it wasn’t always coincidence that he caught his friend in awkward situations. This time, it was choosing something to eat for dinner. He knew Kyle had probably intended to have the meal long since over with when Adam arrived, but he had gotten sidetracked doing work.

And now, picking a frozen dinner was turning into a battle of wills. “Ryka, just tell me what one you’re going to want.”

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

From the couch, Adam could clearly see that Kyle was running out of patience.

“I’m trying to be nice. Now pick one so that I don’t eat it.” There was a pause while Ryka replied then, with a frustrated sigh, Kyle grabbed a dinner and closed the freezer door. He hadn’t even taken it out of the box yet when he snapped, “And I told you I don’t have enough money to order Chinese tonight.”

“You know, this is really making me look forward to getting married,” Adam interjected.

Kyle hardly reacted, except to scoff. “Sorry. But there’s no way Kate is this stubborn.” With another sigh, he tossed his meal in the microwave, but the moment he reached for the start button, the power went out.

“Ryka!” To Kyle, this was far from funny, but Adam had to stop himself from laughing. “You’re acting like a bratty little kid. Knock it off. Why? Well, how about this: I don’t fool around with kids.”

No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the power came back on. “This hardly seems worth it,” Kyle groaned, setting his cooked meal down on the TV tray next to his chair a few minutes later. “Uh, sorry about that. And please forget everything I said.”

“Between the two of you, I’m sort of just hoping for amnesia.”

“Sorry. Anyhow … are you going to help me smoke some of it? I’m sure it’s practically garbage, but I don’t know what else to do. Throwing it away would be a waste. Right?” Earlier, Kyle had explained to Adam about catching the two boys in the act of dealing drugs in the school bathroom. Although it was by all rights Ryka’s stash, he had decided to be kind and share.

“If it’s free, it’s for me. So, why not?”

***

Moderation was a concept Ryka just didn’t understand. Not when he could only get drunk on volumes of liquor that would kill a mortal, or had an insatiable sexual appetite. And especially not when it came to smoking anything. Hell didn’t exactly have clean air, and now neither did Kyle’s house. In the latter case, Ryka was more equipped than he would have liked to deal with the fact.

On the couch, Adam was starting to nod off, but Ryka thought he may as well have been smoking cigarettes. “You had fun doing this in college?”

Yes. But then again, we didn’t really do it for the excitement. The opposite, actually.

“Hmm. I’m bored, does that count?”

Not really. But I was wondering … what did you mean when you said you didn’t think you’d have to go after Robert?

Ryka didn’t immediately answer. Instead, he got up and headed for the bathroom. Only once the tub was filled and he was sinking into steaming hot water – sometimes he swore he could almost feel it - did he finally reply. “He thinks he can save you. And I don’t think there’s anything you can do or say that’s gonna stop him from trying.”

That’s not what I wanted to hear.

“I’d lie if I could.”

For a long time, the only sound to be heard was the slow drip of the faucet. Kyle was too busy dreading ever seeing Robert again to make conversation, and Ryka was perfectly content just soaking in silence. And Kyle suspected the demon was lost in his own thoughts when the ringing doorbell actually startled him.

Not caring that he was dripping wet and naked, Ryka went to answer the door. No, come on. Don’t, Kyle begged.

“It’s just what’s-her-face.” His charming nickname for Kate.

As much of an exhibitionist as he was, Ryka made sure to stand where no one could see him from the street. Which meant that when the door was closed behind her, Kate was startled into spinning around to face the demon. Gasping, she dropped her purse. Her gaze started to trail after it, but stopped well above the floor. “Oh, um ….”

“My eyes are up here,” Ryka told her with a smirk. “But I wouldn’t really suggest looking there, either.”

She hadn’t meant to stare, and having been caught could only try to move on. “I just came to pick Adam up.”

“Good luck with that.” As he spoke, Adam leaned over on the couch, snoring before his head even made contact with the pillow he had been aiming for. “Come back tomorrow or stay. Your choice.” Ryka disappeared back into the bathroom before she could reply, slamming the door closed behind him on the last word.

What a lovely invitation.

“I’m not supposed to be nice, you know.”

Then you are one defective demon. At that, Ryka laughed, much harder than the comment really merited. Hey, maybe it’s finally starting to kick in.

“I fucking hope so.”

***

Somehow, Kate had expected things to be much more chaotic in Kyle’s house than they actually were. She had followed Adam - who had managed to rouse himself enough to keep her company - into the guest bedroom shortly after midnight. And that was already at least an hour after Ryka had closed himself in the other bedroom. Aside from the muffled audiobook playing in the room next door, the house was quiet, and she dozed off, not even realizing she was tired.

Footsteps in the hall woke her shortly after two, though. Her entire body rigid with fear, she shook Adam awake. “Is that-?” Kate breathed, not even able to say the demon’s name.

Adam listened for a moment, then replied. “Kyle. You wouldn’t hear Ryka.” That answer failed to comfort her.

In the living room, the only thing audible to Kyle was the scuffing of his slippers across carpet, then tile as he entered the kitchen. Ryka, however, may as well have been sitting in bed with their guests. He’s good. He can tell us apart just by how we walk. I’m impressed.

“Quit eavesdropping and go back to sleep.”

Grumbling to himself about Ryka’s bad manners, Kyle opened the fridge. Dazzled by the light, he groped blindly for a bottle of water. You suck. More to the left. Up. No, dipshit, that’s mustard. You know, we’ll dehydrate before you get this right.

“Please go back to sleep,” Kyle said, finally feeling a water bottle in his hand. Mission accomplished, he shuffled back to bed, never knowing how badly he had terrified one of his guests.

***

By the end of the weekend, they had smoked all of it. Ryka, of course, had done the most damage to their stash, as he asserted was his right. After all, if he hadn’t known about the two boys trying to sell it, they wouldn’t have any.

Kyle couldn’t argue with that, and didn’t want to. The effects had been slow to set in, but they had yet to completely wear off. With some amusement, Kyle realized it would be the first time in a long time that he was showing up to school stoned. Now, though, he was the one standing in front of the class, and that presented a whole new challenge. Or so he had anticipated.

Thanks to Ryka’s influence, he hardly seemed any more exhausted than usual. The only difference now was that his eyes were nearly as red as the demon’s. His other half was unusually quiet, considering he was still awake. Mellow as he was, he still flawlessly performed his duties.

Back row. They’re passing notes, he said flatly, trying not to completely distract his host, who was writing on the chalkboard.

Sighing, Kyle paused mid-word. “Unless you want to read those aloud to everyone, I suggest you refrain from passing notes in class.” He glanced briefly over his shoulder to see two girls in the back of the room staring at him, wide-eyed. “Thanks,” he whispered, returning to work without waiting for a reply.

After that one incident, the morning passed as usual and at lunchtime, Kyle headed to the office to check his mail box. He had only just walked into the room when the receptionist flagged him down. “Good timing,” she said, “you have a phone call.”

“Thanks. I’ll take it in the mail room.” He smiled at her, but quickly realized she didn’t notice the friendly gesture. Years had passed since she’d overheard Ryka’s encounter with the principal and Mackenzie’s father, but she still couldn’t look Kyle in the face. There was no doubt someone had told her what was wrong with Kyle, since she had also missed that awful pep rally, but that didn’t seem to bother Ryka. Kyle was sure it was more satisfying for the demon to have even more fear to feed on.

Smile quickly fading, Kyle headed into the mail room. The call followed him, and he picked it up after half a ring. “This is Kyle Saunders. Can I help you?” he inquired, trying his best to sound professional and cheerful. And not completely stoned.

“Mr. Saunders, it’s Robert. Uh, Rebecca Simmons’s father.”

“How are you?” Already, Kyle was experiencing the familiar sensation of impending disaster. Something bad was going to happen, he just knew it.

“Fine, thanks. And your cold’s better, I hope.”

“Uh-”

His reply was cut short by Robert’s next statement. “I was hoping we could meet again. I still have some concerns I’d like to discuss.”

He’s trying so hard not to lie to you.

Ignoring Ryka - and his uncanny ability to know when someone was lying to them, even over the phone - Kyle told him, “Sure. When would be a good time for you to come by?”

“Here’s the thing – my car is at the mechanic, and my wife needs hers. So I’m homebound for at least another week. Would it be possible for you to come here? If not ….” No other suggestion followed, and Kyle realized he wasn’t being given a choice.

“How about this afternoon?” Kyle offered. If this confrontation was unavoidable, he wanted to get it over with as soon as possible. No point fretting over it for any longer than he had to.

“Perfect. Whenever you can make it.”

Already feeling sick, Kyle bid the other man farewell, grabbed his mail, then plodded back to his classroom. He was more eager than usual for the day to be over. And Ryka was, too, but for wholly different reasons.

***

The priest’s house was, as Kyle had expected, right next to the church. Even at the boundaries of the property, the pressure in his chest was immense. Like his heart was in a vise, and every inch he moved toward the building felt like someone tightening the screw. “Why?” he groaned. He drove by churches all the time - it made his skin crawl, but nothing like this ever happened.

He’s praying for you.

When he finally rolled to a stop in the driveway, it felt like he was in full-on cardiac arrest. And his parasite couldn’t keep up with the onslaught of agony. “No one will help us this time, Ry,” he muttered, starting toward the front door. The image of a cross pendant burning into their palm was still clearly engraved in his mind.

We won’t need it. Trust me.

An equally frightening thought. Kyle said nothing, but reached out to ring the doorbell. If his proximity to consecrated ground wasn’t enough to stop his heart, the door flying open in his face nearly finished the job. A woman he presumed to be Robert’s wife charged out of the house, Becky in tow. “Oh, you must be Mr. Saunders! Sorry about that. I wish I could stay, but she’s about to be late for her piano lessons.”

“Oh, uh, no problem,” Kyle returned, still in shock. Looking apologetic, Rebecca gave him a small wave before trailing after her mother. He was the one who was sorry, though. For whatever was about to happen to her father.

“There you are. Come on in.”

Startled once more, Kyle turned to see Robert coming down the hall toward the front door. And he looked nearly as nervous as Kyle felt. But Ryka didn’t give him a choice – Kyle’s feet obeyed the demon’s will better than his own, and he found himself standing in the living room.

Kyle dropped into the chair Robert motioned toward, but couldn’t relax. His apprehension only grew when he heard a dog galloping toward the room. The golden retriever stopped in the doorway, and immediately its demeanor went from friendly pet to vicious beast. All its hair stood on end, and it growled as it advanced on Kyle.

Looking horrified, Robert scolded the dog. “Sunny, no. Go back upstairs.” Of course, the dog was too intent on protecting its home from the hidden threat this new guest carried. “Sunny!” Robert reached for her collar, only to be snapped at. He pulled his hand away, bewildered by her behavior. “I’m so sorry. I don’t understand ….”

“Bullshit,” Kyle said, the word out of his mouth before he could stop it. Also beyond his control was the ferocious snarl that followed. It may have given the priest the evidence he had been looking for, but it also solved the more immediate problem of stopping a previously sweet animal from trying to tear out Kyle’s throat.

As soon as the dog had scampered away, tail between its legs, Kyle returned his attention to Robert. “I know this isn’t about Becky.” He also knew this sudden confidence wasn’t his, but he didn’t think he should waste it. “Whatever you think about me is probably right. I know you think it’s your job to try and help me, but there’s nothing you can do. So, I’m going to leave. It’s safer that way.”

Kyle had only just stood up when Robert worked up the nerve to reply. “But I can help; I must. God loves and protects his children; He won’t abandon you.”

“I’ve already damned myself, and I’m really okay with that.”

For a wonderful, brief moment, Kyle thought Robert was too stunned by his profane admission to argue. Relieved that no one would have to get hurt, Kyle turned away from the priest. He froze mid-step, though, when Robert spoke again. “For the sake of your soul, please let me try. It’s never too late.”

“It was too late the moment I said ‘yes.’” Suffocated by the other man’s strong faith, Kyle barely made it to the doorway. His airways felt like they were closing off, and he only barely wheezed, “Now, please. Before-”

But Ryka was tired of waiting, tired of feeling Kyle suffer through this interaction. And a little worried that Kyle would succeed in sparing the nosy priest. He effortlessly took over his host’s body, and grinned over his shoulder at the man while brushing away shreds of Kyle’s shirt. “Oops. Too late.” Next to him, his shadow leered at the priest, smiling hungrily.

“God help me,” Robert whispered.

“You’re wasting your breath, Father.” The word sounded vulgar when Ryka said it, and Robert cringed. “He’s not as nice as you all seem to think he is.”

As if standing face-to-face with a demon wasn’t bad enough, now Robert was having his faith questioned. Still, he wouldn’t lose sight of his goal – saving Kyle’s soul. “Y-you. Leave that poor man alone.” With a shaking hand, Robert pulled a crucifix from his sweater pocket and held it before him. A barrier between himself and the evil glaring at him with narrowed, burning eyes. “Pater noster, qui es in caelis-”

Ryka cut him off with a wicked cackle. “You think waving a cross around and spouting off some Latin bullshit is going to help? Et Latine sciunt etiam. You can wish me away in any language you’d like – it’s not going to work. Everything your Church told you about demonic possession is wrong, and it’s arrogant to think you can control immortals at all, never mind with a dead language. The only one who can separate us is the one who sent me here in the first place.” The cross clattered to the floor as Robert turned and tried to flee from the room. His eyes had met the demon’s for only the briefest moment, but it was more than long enough to get a glimpse of Hell. “Stop,” Ryka ordered. And Robert did, much to his own dismay. How, he wondered, was he so susceptible to the voice of evil?

“All mortals are,” the demon told him.

“Please.”

“‘Please’ what? You’re not in any position to ask favors from me, are you?”

“But … he can still be saved.”

“Nope. And he doesn’t want to be. Not when he’s the most satisfied he’s ever been,” Ryka informed him with a twisted grin, reaching down the front of Kyle’s increasingly uncomfortable pants. “Man, stud, there’s no room in these.”

Then get your hand out of there! And what the Hell are you doing?

“Isn’t it obvious?” Although he did it reluctantly, Ryka complied.

Enough. And you made your point. Let’s go.

“No.”

All the while Ryka had been speaking with Kyle, Robert had tried once more to sneak away, but again he was stopped. The moment the demon’s gaze was back on him, his muscle control vanished and he froze to the spot, subject to Ryka’s whims. “Leave,” he pleaded.

“So rude; you’re the one who invited us. Even suspecting what you did.” There was no arguing with the truth, so Robert could only close his eyes and pray. “You need to learn not to meddle. Although at least you’ve managed to liven up my week a little. That’s about all you mortals are good for. And so many of you have made my time here in Purgatory that much more enjoyable.”

The recitation in his head came to an abrupt end upon hearing that word. “Purgatory?”

It had been many years since Ryka had told Kyle the entire truth, and he was by now used to the idea that Earth was only a stopping point on the way to eternity; the trying ground between salvation or damnation. And that he and his fellow humans weren’t always the ones who decided whether or not their afterlives were spent in the company of angels or demons.

“Did I say too much? Well, this is it. That shithole between Heaven and Hell that so many of you fear – you’re already living there. And it gets better. This is all just a test, and you don’t even always get to finish it on your own. The Creators - both of them, your supposed boss and mine - love nothing more than to help you find your way. It’s all just a game to them. To see who can collect more souls.

“I know you like to think Lucifer was kicked out of Heaven, but he left willingly. Someone had to mind the damned, and he volunteered. Though, really, his brother can be just as malicious. Who else would put so many clean, easily corruptible souls in easy reach of a hungry demon?” Ryka circled him, tail lashing.

Robert’s eyes went wide, then started to roll back in his head. “No,” he muttered. “I don’t understand.”

“Yes, you do. You’re not as special as you’d like to think. Just convenient amusement for immortals. At least you didn’t evolve in vain, right?” Before Robert could collapse, Ryka caught him and pushed him back against the wall. The shadow was all but drooling at the prospect of devouring a holy man’s soul. It crept closer, heat shimmering out of its jaws, its eyes leaving charred spots on the wallpaper.

Robert tracked its movement, and started muttering prayers. Ryka clapped a hand over his mouth. “Enough with those. They won’t help. If you’re waiting for divine intervention, it’s not coming. Though I’m getting closer.” Ryka pulled his hand away to make another adjustment, and Kyle truly wished human suffering wasn’t his parasite’s biggest turn-on.

“No, it’s still you, Master. Though this one does taste good. That fear that you’ve wasted your life and faith is quite the delicacy. That’s how you’re feeling, too. Right, Father?”

When it looked like Robert might faint, hearing the demon use that title again, Ryka slapped him hard across the cheek, leaving an enormous red welt. “Come on, keep playing with me. I haven’t eaten this good in a while.” Leaning in close, Ryka continued, “But you shouldn’t really repeat anything I just told you. It’s sort of a secret. You promise you won’t say anything, right?”

Nodding, Robert promised. “I swear it, I swear it.”

“I don’t believe you. Maybe I should make sure you can’t tell.” His whole body now pushed against the priest’s, he grabbed hold of the man’s face and turned it up to his own. Pressing his lips to Robert’s, he put pressure on his victim’s jaw, forcing him to open his mouth.

If Kyle hadn’t been so disgusted, he might have felt a twinge of jealousy. What are you doing? he asked, mental voice wavering. And then he realized Ryka’s intentions. Oh no. Don’t you dare. But it was too late – he could taste iron. Repulsed though he was, Kyle’s need to retch was overwhelmed by Ryka’s desire to drink down mouthfuls of bitterly sweet blood.

Finally, Ryka backed away, spitting onto the carpet. “Don’t worry, stud. I didn’t bite off his tongue. Well, not all of it.” When Ryka looked down, Kyle noticed that it wasn’t just blood on the floor. A small wedge of pink tissue - the tip of Robert’s tongue - was there, too.

But the demon’s gloating was interrupted by the priest trying to press a crucifix into his attacker’s chest. Ryka easily dodged the cross, but Robert’s sudden bravery only further enraged him.

Roaring, he grabbed Robert’s wrist, forcing him to drop the weapon he had been hiding in his pocket. Now he was through playing. He kicked the crucifix aside and wrapped both hands tightly around the priest’s neck. Crimson spilled down his chin when he tried to protest. “Nice try. But I told you, there’s no winning against me. And there’s no one willing to save you.”

He shoved the man hard against, then into, the wall, pushing him halfway through the drywall. And after straightening out the man’s arms in a twisted parody of the crucifix, he finally retreated.

Although Robert begged him for help, gurgling for mercy, Kyle did nothing. Instead, he staggered out of the house, stopping only once to heave blood and bile on the lawn before getting back into his car. “Ryka.”

Don’t get pissed at me. You tried to tell him to fuck off, and he was too full of himself to listen. He deserved worse than that. Saying he wanted to take you away from me. We belong to each other, Master. No one can do that.

“You’re incredible.”

I know. But why this time?

“Because you can so easily justify all the horrible things you do with sweet words like that. You have no idea how dangerous you are.”

There was a pause while Ryka tried to think of an appropriate response, but after hearing what was going on back in the priest’s house, just said, Get out of here. Fast.

Not until he was already driving away did Kyle ask why.

He called an ambulance.

They didn’t speak again until they got home, and even then, Kyle’s first stop was the bathroom. Hair hanging in his face, he leaned over the toilet. The taste of vomit in his mouth was preferable to the metallic taste of the priest’s blood, though every time he thought of that, he got sick again.

Lay down on the floor and think about something else for a minute before you pass out, you big fucking pussy. It was hard for Kyle to take the insult seriously when Ryka sounded so concerned. So he nodded and curled up on the bathroom floor, arms over his stomach.

After taking a few deep breaths, and cooling his face on the tile, Kyle felt well enough to sit up. “Don’t do that kind of stuff anymore.” Confident that he wasn’t going to lose consciousness, Kyle struggled to his feet and made his way toward the kitchen.

I don’t have a choice. It’s just what I do when someone fucks with you. When are you going to figure that out?

“Fine. But can you at least not say embarrassing things about me?”

Obviously, that was too much to ask, because Ryka ignored his request. I want a beer.

“That’s nice. Me first.” Kyle drained his with enough speed to make Ryka proud. Tossing the can in the general direction of the sink, he trudged into the living room and flopped face down on the couch. “Is there any way to put a positive spin on this one? He was innocent.”

Well, you’ll have a little bit less correcting to do. His kid’s not going to be allowed back in your class. Your time zone, actually.

“Somehow, that didn’t help at all.”

Why do you sound so pissy? I’m the one who’s disappointed.

“Because I threw up again?”

Ryka laughed. I think I’d be more disappointed if you didn’t. No, I was just hoping he’d be a little bit more of a challenge than that.

“Sorry. I’m sure there’ll be other opportunities,” Kyle told him, realizing too late how morbid the reassurance actually sounded.

I think you’re finally starting to get the hang of this.

“Shit.”