The punishments were never what he expected. Honestly, he wasn’t sure if they were intentional or not, but they hurt regardless. Or maybe the pain was just the result of human emotions he’d foolishly thought himself beyond. Which didn’t make them sting any less.

And this one had him nearly in shambles.

When Ryka found him, he was curled up in bed, as cocooned in his wings as he could get without risking damage. So it was very carefully that Ryka climbed in with him, gingerly lifting a wing and settling himself under it, his forehead pressed against Kyle’s. “What’s wrong?”

It was going to sound too weak to admit his feelings, so he only whimpered.

“I can’t read your mind anymore. Use your words,” Ryka gently prodded. When Kyle’s silence continued, he offered, “Jinx said something about-” Kyle slid a hand between their faces and put it over Ryka’s mouth. It was quickly removed. “Was it what he said? Or …?”

A low whine was the only response Kyle could make. Because his imp was growing up. And doing it far faster than many of his peers.

The pang Kyle had felt upon seeing his once-tiny imp looking closer in age to the students he had once taught had nearly broken him. And it wasn’t just his appearance. Jinx was stronger now, and knew how to use his newfound power. Ryka’s tutelage had turned Jinx into as good a scrapper as his instructor, and he now won far more fights than he lost. Nevermind that he had precise control over his fire and was learning to manipulate free will. He certainly had nothing left to fear from any mortal. But they had plenty to fear from him.

Because he had responsibilities of his own, things he was expected to accomplish. He was still always with at least one of them, but Jinx was working nearly as much as his guardians. Tagging along with them on nearly every trip to Purgatory; honing his hunting skills and striving to satiate his incredible appetite.

Which Kyle was sure could only mean one thing: Jinx was going to leave them. Somewhere in his wallowing, he wondered if this is how parents felt watching their kids grow up. If his mother had ever felt this way.

For having only moments ago asserted he could no longer hear Kyle’s thoughts, Ryka was still quite adept at knowing his partner’s mind. “He’s not going anywhere.”

“You don’t know that.”

“He told you first, you know.” Kyle was grateful Ryka didn’t repeat the news. Hearing from Jinx that he was soon to be sent off on his first job - alone - had been painful enough. Every repetition of the news would just cut deeper. “I only found out when I asked him what had upset you so much.” Ryka didn’t sound remotely bitter about it. He was used to playing second fiddle to Kyle.

“I didn’t mean to just disappear on him like that. It’s not his fault.”

“He’s fine. But unfortunately, the one that is to blame won’t change his mind.” Another hard truth. If Lord Satan had decided Jinx was ready to go out on his own, there would be no convincing him otherwise. “And he’ll do fine. We’ve trained him well.”

Kyle of course had confidence Jinx would do well. His fear lay in Jinx finding this out for himself. And not wanting to come back. What if this taste of freedom made him decide he didn’t need Kyle and Ryka anymore?

“I promise you he’s going to continue to be a clingy pain in the ass.”

Determined to be miserable, Kyle returned, “You don’t know that.”

“I had to shut several doors in his face to get to be alone here with you.”

“Ry!” Trying to shove Ryka away was futile, but Kyle still went through the motions. As did Ryka, rolling away enough to let Kyle sit up. “Why didn’t you say that sooner? Is he in the hall?”

“You know damn well he is.” Then, to the imp listening closely on the other side of the door, he instructed, “Get your ass in here, brat.”

The door flew open, banging against the wall and nearly swinging back into Jinx, who charged into the room and launched himself at his guardians, diving between them and cleaving himself to Kyle. For looking every inch a snotty thirteen-year-old, he acted very much as he always had. At least with Kyle. “I’m sorry!”

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Kyle said into his hair, still the same mass of dark, loose curls.

“I’m staying here forever, I promise. I’ll sleep here and-”

“The fuck you will,” Ryka interjected, managing to pry Jinx away from Kyle far enough that he could look the imp in the face. “You have your own damn room. Use it.”

Jinx looked to Kyle for confirmation, and Kyle nodded. “I’ll be happy as long as you’re under the same roof.” The imp’s shoulders only slumped a little. “I’m proud of you, though, Jinx, for getting this assignment.” Kyle meant it. At least having Jinx’s word that he wouldn’t immediately abandon them put him at ease.

And Ryka sensed his change in mood. Jinx’s wings still in hand, he dragged the imp back toward the door. “I was trying to get laid. So if you don’t mind.”

“But-” Jinx whined.

“Maybe you could do the same, hmm? Go find Vera.”

Once his enemy, Vera had turned into one of Jinx’s closest friends. And then some. Another truth Kyle had a hard time accepting. Though he knew too well that no matter how sweet and innocent they might look, young demons were anything but.

Cursing under his breath, Jinx flipped off the older demon. Ryka returned the gesture, all smiles.

Jinx looked torn, but it was clear he also wanted to brag to his friends about what, for lack of a better word, could be considered a promotion. “I’ll be back,” Jinx said to Kyle, no trace of that anger from moments before remaining.

“Have fun.”

Jinx’s exit was otherwise much less dramatic than his entrance had been. And with his spot on the bed once again unoccupied, Ryka reclaimed his previous position. “Feel better now?” Kyle shrugged. “He’s still going to need us. He’ll do the job alone, but we’ll be going there with him. He’ll still need training. This is a test to see how well we’ve all done.”

“That’s not at all reassuring.”

Ryka snorted. “Then how’s this: we’re all going to pass.” Said with such confidence that Kyle couldn’t doubt him. Which made Kyle remember Ryka’s other goal for this conversation. “What did you say you were trying to do here?”

“Make you feel better. By any means necessary.”

“Any?”

“Any.”

Needing the distraction, Kyle played along. “Prove it.”

***

He looked like an easy target. Just barely a teenager, a gangly thing not yet filled out, though he was already trending toward greater-than-average height. He was lost, wandering up and down the same city street, feinting approaches at passers-by, apparently too shy to approach.

What sold it though, was his expression. One of near-panic, lower lip trembling and wide eyes filled with tears.

Ryka had thought that last bit might be pushing it too far, but Jinx had a pervert to catch. Someone with a taste for adolescent boys. Someone who had been patrolling this same street. Jinx had an appetite, too - his for sinners’ fears and flesh.

If things somehow went bad, Kyle and Ryka weren’t far. But Jinx was confident his lost-kid act would quickly lure in his target. And sure enough, it didn’t take long. An hour, maybe. A blink of the eye to an immortal.

He looked normal. An unassuming mortal. It took a demon’s senses to see the truth. The shadow of the man’s sins announced him at a distance, and the reek of his profane desires wafted off him like a rancid cologne.

He’d smell better soon, Jinx thought, trying to stop his mouth from watering. Hard to do with his meal walking right up to him, fake concern knitting his brows. “You okay?” A casual inquiry.

Time to act, and do it well. With a sniffle, Jinx shook his head. “I was supposed to meet my friend, but he didn’t show, and now I don’t know how to get back home. I’ve never been here before.”

“Maybe I can help. Where’s home?” Jinx spouted off an address - memorizing that had been the hardest part of preparing for this venture - and the man nodded sagely. “You just got turned around; that’s only a few blocks from here. Want me to walk you there?”

Jinx’s eager nod was no fib. This was too easy. “Yes, please. Thank you.”

To anyone watching the scene, it must have seemed wholesome - an upright citizen helping a lost youth. But Jinx could see the man’s intentions, could see his scheme for enticing his new charge back to his apartment. His vile plan for convincing Jinx that he was owed for his assistance, and Jinx’s body would be acceptable compensation. Funny, then, that Jinx would be the only one claiming a body as payment at the end of their acquaintance.

The man chatted as they walked, and Jinx could understand how his other victims had been reeled in. The man acted kind. His goal wasn’t to forcefully drag boys back to his home, it was to have them follow him willingly. He may have guilted them a little later, but this man used charm, not brawn, to get what he wanted. Jinx would be using both.

As they neared the address Jinx had provided, the man moved away from idle chit chat and began an act of his own. “That’s too bad about your friend not following through with your plans.”

“Yeah. It sucks.”

“What were you guys gonna do?”

He was fishing for a timeline, Jinx knew. How long would it be before this boy was missed at home?

“Play games, watch movies. I dunno. I was gonna stay the night.”

Well-practiced, the man’s expression gave nothing away. It was Jinx who slipped up first, providing the perfect bait. They passed a pastry shop, closed for the day, and Jinx couldn’t help but longingly ogle the cakes and pies on display in the window.

“One of my favorite spots,” the man told him. “I just picked up some cake slices this morning.” Jinx was impressed how quickly he’d been caught, and equally amazed the man was telling the truth. Easier to come across as trustworthy when there was no need to lie, he supposed. Line cast, the man set the hook. “Would you like to join me for a piece? My apartment’s close by.”

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

Just the opportunity they’d both been waiting for. Jinx nodded. He was even going to get free dessert.

***

The apartment - like the man - was ordinary enough. Not that Jinx had seen many residences for comparison. But based on what little he had experienced, and Kyle and Ryka’s stories, it seemed pretty typical. Nothing to call it out as the home of a predator.

Jinx’s senses were better even than some of his peers. A few subtle, deep inhales and he caught whiffs of guilt, unease and a little fear; traces left behind by those who had been in this place before him. They’d been talked into doing things that left them uncomfortable, and persuaded - or in some cases threatened - not to tell what had happened to them.

Jinx would never be in that position himself, and would make sure no one would ever be tricked into coming here again. But he had to be patient. Something much easier to manage with the promise of sweets.

He was offered a seat at the small kitchen table, and once comfortable, was given a plate with a staggeringly tall slice of chocolate cake. In the time it took the man to turn around and serve himself, Jinx had devoured half his piece. The man blinked at him in surprise, but smiled. “You have a good appetite, hmm?”

It took a considerable amount of effort for Jinx not to show his teeth when he grinned back at his soon-to-be-victim. He’d gotten better at hiding his demonic traits, but when he was tired or over-excited, it was easy to lose focus. And with his meal in easy reach, he was more than a little excited.

They chatted over the remainder of their cake, Jinx brushing aside questions about his favorite games and movies. He hadn’t researched that far, and most of the ones he knew were more than a century out of date. Names he’d learned by listening to Kyle reminisce about his childhood as a mortal. Nothing that would help him now.

But the man didn’t seem put off. Quite the opposite, as Jinx could hear his pulse begin to race. He didn’t rush things, though, instead slowly steering their conversation in the direction he desired. He shared memories of get-togethers with his childhood friends, and talked about the things they had done at sleepovers.

Which led to an admission about watching pornography with his friend, and what they had done afterwards to relieve each other. It was a true story, but an overused one. Jinx had spent enough time around a certain population of the damned to have learned their patter. In Hell, they went through their routines - many like this man’s - working to convince seemingly-gullible imps to do indecent things with them. Only to have the tables turned by their intended victims.

Jinx had no desire to violate this man. But he sure was hungry. So the moment the man asked, “Want me to show you what we did?” Jinx nodded and stood, moving to the man’s side. “What a good boy you are.”

There was no hiding the excited rumble he made in response, something between a growl and a purr. The man turned to him, startled, and Jinx bared his teeth. “There’s something I want to show you, too. Sinner.” Then he opened his wings and fell on the man’s throat.

***

His third beer sufficiently drained, Kyle set his empty glass down next to Ryka’s. Given that it was the middle of the day, they weren’t nearly as alone in the bar as Kyle had anticipated. Though it reminded him of the greasy dive bar where they’d first met Hara.

“Another?” Ryka asked from the stool next to him. His elbows were resting on the bar, and his tail was entwined with Kyle’s. Except when they wanted the bartender’s attention, they were mostly invisible, the glances of the other patrons sliding off them.

He was about to accept the offer when his shadow woke, stretching away from Kyle and wending its way between mortals’ feet in an attempt to reach the exit. “Guess not.” Barely avoiding getting dragged across the sticky floor, Kyle sprinted to keep us as the shadow led him out the door and around the corner. Ryka caught up just as the shadow stretched onto the nearest wall and opened its mouth.

For a moment, Kyle was worried they were being summoned home. But then a soul - black and twisted - whistled past his ear and into its miserable final destination. Which could only mean thing: Jinx had finished his job.

***

It took Ryka no time at all to track down their imp. Given that half his job was bothering all the poor demons just trying to do their jobs in Purgatory, finding one he actually gave a shit about was a piece of cake.

And that’s what Jix was eating when they found him. Kyle smothered a laugh when they walked into the dead pedphile’s kitchen. If not for all the blood, it could have been a Norman Rockwell painting. A teenage boy with a mop of wavy dark hair, shoveling bites of a picture-perfect cake into his mouth with an enormous grin plastered on his face.

But then there were the sharp teeth. The horns, with drops of blood still quivering on the tips. The gray-lined wings, splattered in gore. And the barbed tail, tip swishing through a crimson puddle on the tiled floor.

Nevermind what remained of Jinx’s victim: scattered bits of bone too timely to consume but sucked dry of their marrow, and miscellaneous viscera. He’d eat them - he’d eat anything, Kyle was convinced - but intestines weren’t his favorite. The skull was picked clean, however, minus the scalp, which had been tossed aside. And he’d still had room for dessert.

Which he abandoned as soon as his guardians arrived. “I did it!” he exclaimed, jumping off his seat. As much as Kyle wanted Jinx to cling to him, he wasn’t in the mood to look like he’d just left a slaughterhouse.

He settled for putting his hands on Jinx’s shoulders. “You did. And it went well, I take it?” What Kyle wanted to ask was if the slimy bastard had tried to touch Jinx. But given what little was left of the man, Kyle felt he could safely assume that whatever body part the man came at Jinx with first was the first part he’d devoured.

“I made too big of a mess, though, didn’t I?”

Kyle couldn’t bring himself to agree, and Ryka just shrugged. “Could be worse,” he remarked, opening the fridge to see if there was anything that had survived Jinx’s appetite. It looked like there hadn’t been much to begin with, but there were a few beers left. One apiece, if Ryka let Jinx have one.

Technically, he was more than old enough to drink, but because he looked like a thirteen-year-old, they couldn’t let him do it in public. When it was just the three of them, though, they let him do as he pleased. Though Jinx preferred sweets over all else.

After succeeding in his first mission, he still deserved to be asked. Though for this unholy mess, he also deserved a little teasing .

So Ryka cracked one open for Kyle, who accepted with a smile that would get him anything he wanted later, and opened a second for himself. Jinx shuffled closer, looking hopeful.

“Please?” Jinx asked, doing his best to look pathetic. A challenge, given he was covered in his victim’s blood.

“I don't know. We still have to clean this up. And I'm not supposed to keep burning shit down.”

“But …”

Once more - and now with tears brimming in his eyes - Jinx pleaded, “Half?”

Rolling his eyes, Ryka handed him the last beer. The cute act didn't work on him, especially not now that Jinx looked like Kyle's students had, the obnoxious fuckers. Still, he ruffled the imp’s hair, his hand coming away crimson.

"You need to clean up before we leave here, brat."

"Aren't we going home?" That had been Jinx's understanding - do the job and get out of Purgatory. And he had been looking forward to going home covered in evidence of his success. His friends would be jealous, and eager to hear about his kill.

But Ryka shook his head. "Something came up."

Jinx started grumbling, but that came to an abrupt end when Kyle cut in with an explanation. "We have to meet up with Adam and Muribelle."

Before the name was fully out Kyle’s mouth, Jinx had chugged his beer and sprinted for the bathroom. The sound of the shower followed moments later.

Ryka simply burned the blood off his hand. He was about to have to burn it out of this apartment, too.

Knowing Jinx would be too focused on scrubbing himself to eavesdrop, Kyle turned to Ryka and asked "Do you think she's why he's trying to grow up so fast?"

"Probably. Not that it will do him any good. Angels don't play with us."

Poor Jinx, Kyle thought. His affection for the angel grew with every meeting, but his feelings were doomed to be unrequited. Even when he did achieve his full growth, he suspected Muribelle would still fondly remember him as the imp she used to cradle on her arms. And what Ryka said was true, besides - angels and demons didn't intermingle like that. It was weird enough they were friends with Adam and Muribelle. Anything beyond that would be blasphemy.

"He'll be fine. He has plenty of options back home.”

“Please not that conversation again.”

But Ryka just chuckled. “You used to work with teenagers.”

“But that was their parents’ problem.” He and his colleagues had dealt with rampaging hormones as little as they could, which still turned out to be far more than they wanted to. He didn't miss this nonsense. Though at least Jinx and his group mates weren't prone to drama like his students had been. The imps squabbled then made up, more like a pack of wild animals.

“Well, it’s our problem now.” It always cheered Kyle to be reminded of Ryka’s commitment. But then Ryka would keep talking. “Having been a horny little monster myself, I-”

“‘Having been?’” Kyle interjected, glad he’d finished his drink before he could choke on it. “What’s changed?”

Waggling his eyebrows and armed with a charming grin, he replied, “Nothing little left here.”

“Especially not your ego.”

Before their flirting could result in an even bigger mess than the one currently surrounding them, they were interrupted by Jinx’s return. In true teen fashion, he pulled a perfectly over-dramatic expression of annoyance, coupled with an impressive sigh. He’d been with them long enough to recognize the way they were looking at each other. “Don’t we have somewhere to be?”

“We were waiting on you,” Ryka reminded him. “Come here, brat.” Obedient when it mattered, Jinx moved next to Ryka, where he was inspected for any remaining gore. They had been wise to bring along a spare set of clothes; they were sorely needed. Found to be free of evidence, Jinx was handed the bag and he quickly dressed himself. “Outside. Go.”

Jinx, feeling much more mature and responsible after his successful mission, took the initiative of grabbing Kyle by the hand and leading him out of the apartment. Ryka watched them go, then watched as fire sprang to life in his palms. Shaking his head, he trailed after the others, skimming his hands over every flammable surface en route to the exit.

***

One thing Jinx hadn’t considered was that at his current size, Muribelle wouldn’t be able to easily pick him up. But she still smiled at him the same as always. Which was wonderful, especially given that most angels would have fretted to learn another demon was roaming the streets of Purgatory.

She and Adam even congratulated him for a job well done, and though he found it strange, he preened at the compliment. His questions could wait until it was just the three of them again. Given how they’d been able to drastically streamline the process, it wasn’t long before they were Hell-bound.

Of course, it had been right to Lucifer’s palace to report how things had gone - as if His Unholiness didn’t already know. But Jinx’s work had been met with approval, so there had been no need for them to linger. A “well done” had finished off the meeting, and then it was back home.

“If I did good, what happens now?” Jinx had chosen to completely disregard their earlier conversation, and was seated cross-legged on the end of Kyle and Ryka’s bed. For now, his presence was being tolerated.

“Unfortunately,” Ryka told him, “there’s only one reward for doing a good job.”

Suspecting he already knew, Jinx found he still had to ask. “What is it?”

“More work.”

An unfair fact of life whether you were mortal or immortal. But there was something else he’d been wondering about. “They don’t mind when we hunt? Angels, I mean.” Jinx asked.

“Some souls are beyond redemption. They’d rather see those ones where they belong than tormenting any potential saved.” Kyle had needed this explained to him once, too. Sometimes, Ryka was a surprisingly patient teacher.

“Oh.”

“Mm hm. It’s when we corrupt souls that could still be theirs that they get pissy.”

“Is that what you did to Kyle?” Even Jinx realized the mistake he’d made. Already rolling his eyes, he hopped off the bed and made for the exit, just in time for Ryka to deliver the exact type of line Jinx - and surely Kyle - had come to expect from him.

“I’m still working on it.”

***

The last thing Jinx heard before making his escape was the rustling of wings and bedsheets. He was well out of hearing range when, chuckling, Ryka curled himself around Kyle and murmured, “That worked better than I thought it would.”

Kyle found it hard not to laugh along with him. “You’re awful.”

“Hence the corruption.”

With Ryka’s lips tickling his nape, he was tempted to submit himself to whatever methods were suggested for further damning him. But Ryka had quite obviously convinced Jinx to leave for a reason. Presumably to see how he was handling the imp’s newfound maturity.

“I’m fine.” He meant it, too. And he knew he should have felt that way from the start.

“Good. I know it’s not easy, with them all starting to move on.” Half of his first class had fledged, setting off on their own. They still popped by, but their training with him and the other babysitters was over.

But more sinners poured in by the day, and the demonic workforce was always growing. The new imps would need guidance. “There’ll be more coming soon, right?”

“Probably sooner than you really want.” Kyle was prepared to argue, but Ryka had more to say. “But whenever he dumps another batch of brats on us, I’m sure Jinx will be happy to help.”

“And you?” Kyle craned his head around to find Ryka grinning, a mischievous glint in his eye.

“It’ll be just like old times, stud; I’ll help you whip those little fuckers into shape.”