Even from the other room, Kyle could hear his alarm clock screeching. Stiff from having spent the night asleep on the living room floor, he shuffled into his room and slapped the “Off” button. “How hard is it to go to bed if you’re tired?” he asked bitterly, trying to massage the ache out of his shoulders.

I can’t help it.

“I didn’t go into all that debt having the doorways fixed up so you could pass out on the floor.” Four months earlier, Kyle had invested a considerable sum in home improvements, making some of the doorways bigger, and knocking down the wall between the kitchen and the living room. All so that Ryka could maneuver a little easier in the tiny ranch-style house. He had hoped it would put an end to Ryka’s being forced to sleep on the couch or the floor - something which ensured Kyle woke up in agony.

But nothing had changed. Wherever Ryka was when he finally tired himself out, he just curled up and fell asleep. “You’re worse than a little kid, you know.”

Hurry up and have your coffee so I don’t have to listen to you bitch anymore. Man, you suck in the morning.

“I wouldn’t be so cranky if -”

Blah blah blah. So whiny. His words were cruel, but his tone certainly wasn’t. Ryka had a difficult time with the phrase “I’m sorry,” but even when he couldn’t say it, he usually managed to convey it, in his own particular way. In this case, actions spoke louder than words, and Kyle sighed as the tension in his upper back eased.

Pain diminishing by the second, Kyle started a pot of coffee. “Just try to make it to the bed, okay? It’s so much more comfortable and supportive than the floor. It’ll save you trouble, too.”

Yes, Master.

***

By the time he arrived at school that morning, his aches were long forgotten. Which meant he could properly focus on his other frustrations. He’d once more been saddled with a freshman class, in addition to all his sophomore classes, and his youngest students were far from upstanding. He had cringed with every grade he entered into his gradebook the night before. Not one of them seemed to be putting in any effort.

Even with the class that had first met Ryka now off to college, rumors still circulated about Mr. Saunders and his surprisingly bad temper. And the risks of inciting him to call in his substitute. So his students didn’t misbehave, they just didn’t seem to be too inclined to do much in the way of work. And there was no easy fix for that kind of behavior. He could give motivational speeches until he was blue in the face, but that likely wouldn’t change a thing.

You worry about these brats way too much, Ryka reminded him, not for the first time. They’ll either try, or they won’t. You should just be glad they don’t want you dead, right?

The bell for first period was ringing, so Kyle decided it best not to answer. Ryka’s ego was inflated enough without Kyle telling the demon that, as usual, he was right.

***

Closing his eyes, Kyle leaned back on the couch in the teacher’s lounge. It was very quickly turning into a long day. His first period freshman class had made the unwitting mistake of asking him about Halloween. One girl had wanted to know if they were allowed to wear costumes to school on the holiday. Somehow, he had kept a straight face when he told her that it was against school rules.

Personally, he thought half his class dressed like every day was Halloween. They wore skull and stud-emblazoned black garb on a regular basis, and their dark clothing only enhanced their pallor. He was quite sure most of them hadn’t been outside for more than a minute at a time in years. And the girl that had asked certainly fit this description. It had taken all his willpower not to laugh.

The girl had sounded disappointed, but had quickly given up. However, her question had triggered Kyle’s annual battle with Ryka. After his first time experiencing the holiday, Ryka had spent every year since begging to be allowed to trick-or-treat. And Kyle couldn’t be sure if it was his desire to terrify mortals or his lust for sweets that drove him to plead relentlessly for a night’s freedom.

Come on. It’s just one night. It’s not like I’m planning on hurting anyone. Which sounded too much like he’d gladly take the opportunity should one present itself.

“No, Ryka. Besides, no one will give candy to an adult. They’d probably end up calling the cops, actually.”

Then let me answer the door at home. It’ll be fun.

“I can’t let you needlessly scare children. Sorry.”

Master, please. I’ll do anything.

“I’m sure you will, but my answer is still ‘no.’”

“That time of year, huh?”

Kyle nearly dropped his coffee. Once he was sure the contents of his mug weren’t going to spill everywhere, he looked up to find Adam Brissette settled at one of the tables in the room. Kyle hadn’t even noticed him there, but he had heard most of Kyle’s side of the conversation. “He’s worse than a kid.”

Adam knew better than to comment. Some things were safe to joke about. Halloween was not one of them. “Would grabbing a few beers on Friday night be out of the question, then?”

“No Kate?” Kyle asked. The librarian that had once asked him out had now been living with Adam for half a year.

“She’s going with her sister to take the kids trick-or-treating. And we don’t get many at the house, so I figured I’d ask. Or was that just a really bad idea?”

Fuck a bunch of candy. Let’s get wasted, stud.

“I don’t see how a few beers could hurt.” No sooner were those words out of his mouth, than he realized how very likely it was that he’d find out how very bad an idea it was. Hosting a demon had started quite a streak of bad luck. But at the moment, anything he could think of that could go wrong was still preferable to a night of listening to Ryka whine about not being allowed out.

***

Friday morning did nothing to calm his worries about his plans for that evening. At least once a year, the police brought their dogs for a quick search of the school. The students never knew when the drug searches would be, but the teachers were warned so they could keep anyone from going in the halls while they were being conducted. But the dogs always seemed to give up working when they got near his room.

He had never been much of a dog lover, but now he was actually frightened of them. They knew what he was hiding, and although in some cases they ran off with their tails between their legs, most times they went to the other extreme. Confused and apologetic owners were forced to try to rein in their suddenly blood-thirsty beasts whenever he passed by. He knew that even without Ryka’s help he could fend off a dog, but it was something about the crazed looks in their eyes before they tried to attack that sent chills down his spine.

“Are you scared of dogs?” one of the girls in his class asked. He had just closed the door and explained about the search, and was sitting at his desk, fidgeting.

“I guess you could say that.”

The girls made sympathetic noises, and the boys seemed to be trying not to laugh. But Kyle couldn’t care less what any of them thought. He could hear the clicking of nails on linoleum and at any moment, expected one of their supposedly well-trained animals to be trying to break down the door. In years past, the officers had been forced to stop their searches early. He wondered why they still even bothered.

But this time, it wasn’t a dog’s growling that was sending him into a panic. Only when he’d felt everyone in the class staring at him did he realize that the low rumbling he heard didn’t belong to anything of Earthly origins. And it was only a few moments more before something was answering Ryka in kind from the other side of the door.

“Ryka, what’s going on?”

I’m sorry, really, but I’m coming out.

Kyle didn’t even have time to get his shirt off before Ryka started the transformation. His students shrieked and raced to the back of the classroom as their usually quiet and unassuming teacher turned into a monster. Eyes narrowed, Ryka turned to them. “This has nothing to do with you,” he sneered, starting for the door. “So get back in your seats and just shut up.”

The door flew open while Ryka was still a few feet away. A policeman waited on the other side, staring blankly ahead and looking very much like he’d been hypnotized. The German Shepherd whose leash had slipped out of his hand stepped into the room and looked up at Ryka, its head cocked to one side. “Well, that would explain it,” the dog said.

If Kyle had been able to, he would have screamed. Not only did the dog talk, but as soon as it spoke, it seemed to explode into a completely different creature. What he saw standing in the Shepherd’s place was a black, vaguely dog-like creature that stood nearly four feet high at the shoulder. Glistening canines jutted out of long jaws, and two bushy tails waved back and forth, an unnerving imitation of a canine’s friendly body language. Two glowing yellow eyes were set on either side of its head, and it used them to simultaneously watch Ryka and the kids.

Unfazed, Ryka dropped to one knee, and the dog approached. “I don’t mean you or your host any harm,” the dog told him. “I didn’t know there were any other demons around here.”

“That makes two of us, right? I’m Ryka.”

“Sha. Pleased to meet you.”

“So, uh ….”

“Forgive me for intruding in your territory. My host is the best in the state. They brought her here because they’ve had problems the past few years. Now I see why.”

“How long have you been here?” Having left Hell only a few years earlier, and already been followed by Val, Ryka wasn’t all that fazed by running into another of his kind. Sha, on the other hand, seemed a little more wary, hair bristling on the back of her neck.

But she answered calmly all the same. “Seven hundred years.”

“That’s a long fucking shift. With the same host?” Ryka asked. Kyle had to assume that possession had the same benefits for all hosts, regardless of species. Longevity bordering on immortality.

“No, different hosts. Hundreds of them. Many times, when my host is bred, I’ll move to one of her offspring. It works very well. And I’ve found that using a police dog makes it much easier to hunt the damned.”

“Whatever works,” Ryka remarked. Kyle could tell from his tone he wasn’t sold on the multiple hosts idea. Apparently, things were very different for nonhumans. Kyle vowed to attempt asking later. Maybe Ryka would even answer. Assuming he knew, because he seemed nearly as surprised as Kyle did.

“It keeps us in close proximity to mortals, without the need to try and blend in with them. These creatures are obedient by nature and easy enough to control. Yours is … well, less so, I imagine.” As unimpressed with Sha’s method as Ryka was, it was clear Sha felt the same way about human possession.

“Mine is a partner, not a puppet.” That threatening growl was back behind his words, and Sha’s ears flattened. Through Ryka, Kyle could feel a familiar rumbling in the floor. Ryka’s anger measured on the Richter scale, and Kyle often wondered how long it would be before a crack team of geologists descended on their town to find the source. Something he fervently prayed wouldn’t happen. Almost as much as he hoped that Ryka didn’t decide to start brawling with this interloper. Their conversation had begun politely enough, but things were quickly deteriorating.

Your partner doesn’t want you to start a fight in his classroom, please.

On this, they were all in agreement. “Of course,” Sha conceded, dipping her snout. “After all, what really matters is collecting the damned. The method is irrelevant.”

“As long as they suffer, right?” At this, Ryka darted a glance to Kyle’s students. As one, they shrank back against the far wall. He snorted, shaking his head before rising to take a step backward. Sha backed away as well. “I think your cop is about to wake up.” The officer was blinking rapidly and starting to bobble his head in the direction of the demons.

“And I think your host’s students are sufficiently terrified.” They certainly were. “I’ll not take your prey. So I’ll be on my way.”

They aren’t prey, Kyle asserted, just in case there was any confusion on Ryka’s part. But Ryka waved off Sha’s remark, turning away as the other demon reversed the transformation.

The door closed as soon as Sha was back in the hall, and it sounded like the Shepherd and its handler were heading back toward the front of the building. So … what was that thing?

“A Hell Hound.”

That’s a real thing?

“Did you not just see it? Also, I still can’t fucking lie, so ….”

Sorry. That was just really surprising.

Kyle got a great view of the ceiling as Ryka rolled his eyes. “If I’d known, I would have warned you. But we’re built to hunt down sinners, not each other. There’s not many of us here, so I don’t really expect to run into anyone else. I couldn’t tell she was here until she was here, so I’m just as surprised as you.”

Okay, fair enough. But that guy has no idea that there’s one of those things in his dog?

“Yup. Just like how, a few minutes ago, none of these fuckers knew that I was sharing your body. Crazy, huh?”

Suddenly, Kyle remembered that he had been in the middle of class before another demon had shown up. I -

“Yeah, I know. I’m going back to sleep.” But before Ryka returned Kyle’s body to him, he turned his attention back to the class. They had all - finally - returned to their seats, and were now looking in Ryka’s general direction. “My Master puts effort into teaching this class. How about you little shits put some effort into learning?” Once he was sure they were all nodding because they were honestly going to try harder, and not just to appease him, he retreated.

Kyle slumped to the floor, landing on hands and knees. All this time, and he still wasn’t used to it. At least he didn’t lose consciousness as often, he thought, reaching up for the edge of his desk. His legs were still shaking as he pulled himself to his feet. “Is everyone okay?” he asked, sounding every bit as exhausted as he felt.

When no one answered, he mustered the energy to turn and look at his class. Most of his students were crying, or on the verge of doing so. Smiling, he dug a spare shirt out of a drawer, exchanged it for the rags he was now wearing, then perched himself on the edge of his desk. “Alright, just relax. I’ll explain as much as I can.”

***

Cigarette smoke wafted up into the late autumn air, and Kyle watched as it disappeared against the quickly darkening sky. Sometimes, he wished he could disappear, too. Cheer the fuck up. The kids are fine. You should be happy that Hell Hound wasn’t very territorial. They can be nasty if they think you’re cutting in on their work.

“Are you saying she thought the school was yours?”

The whole town. And probably at least a few around it.

“Wonderful.” The thought that Ryka could now consider half the county his personal hunting grounds did little to lift Kyle’s mood.

Quit being such a downer. You’re going drinking, for fuck’s sake.

“I know, I know. Sorry. I just have a bad feeling about tonight.”

I’m sure it’s not for nothing.

“Great, thanks. I feel so much better now.” Their discussion was interrupted by Adam’s arrival. Kyle stamped out his cigarette and dropped into the passenger seat. “You really don’t mind driving?”

“Nope. I’m only going to have a couple beers.”

“That’s what I’m planning on. But after this morning ….”

It bothered Kyle a little that even Adam, who usually remained pretty upbeat, looked nervous. Kyle had explained to him about their visit from the Hell Hound, and ever since, Adam had looked like he had been expecting more demons to just show up out of nowhere.

The two had agreed to go into Boston to do some bar-hopping, and on the ride, they didn’t say much. But as soon as the car was parked and their first destination was in sight, Kyle started to relax. After a couple beers, he gave up completely on fretting about things he couldn’t control. Getting out of town and being able to talk with someone about anything other than school was just the kind of break he’d needed. It wasn’t long before the events of that morning seemed like they’d happened ages ago, and maybe even to someone else.

Kyle set down his empty glass and stood. “I’m going out for a smoke.”

“Let me finish my beer, and then we can move on. Maybe someplace where we aren’t the only ones not wearing costumes.” Although they had both expected such a situation, they still felt a little strange being the only two people who weren’t showing proper holiday spirit.

“Sounds good.” Without another look back, Kyle headed outside. The bar opened into an alley, and he leaned against the wall opposite the door, so Adam couldn’t possibly miss him. He was so fixated on the exit that he jumped when a man tapped him on the shoulder. He’d never even seen him approach.

“Can I bum a smoke?” the man, who was dressed like a doctor - fake stethoscope and all - asked.

“Sure.” Kyle was reaching back into his jacket pocket when the man grabbed him, digging fingers into his arm. “Uh ….”

“Where’s your boyfriend from the bar?”

“My what?” Against his will, Kyle was being pulled farther down the alley, where light from the street didn’t seem to reach. And he could hear at least two other people following behind them. He didn’t remember having seen the man with the vice-like grip before, but assumed he must have been in the bar at some point. And given the wrong impression about him and Adam.

“You heard me.”

Unable to see in the dark, Kyle tripped over trash, coming down hard on his knees. He only just managed to get his arms up to stop himself from face-planting in a brick wall. The doctor pinned him there, chest against the building and wrists crossed overhead, and he felt another set of hands rummaging around in his pockets. For his wallet, he hoped. Maybe they’d just take it and leave ….

His hopes were very quickly dashed. “Nasty fag, already on your knees. That desperate, huh? Does your boyfriend not fuck you enough? Well, don’t worry, we’ll help you out.”

He was desperate, but certainly not for what they thought. Adrenaline pumping, he managed to yank his arms free of the doctor’s grip and turn around. Now he could look at his attackers, and he didn’t like what he saw. Three men - two at least his equal in size - and all more than a little inebriated. The smell of liquor on his attacker’s breath had turned Kyle’s stomach to lead. Drunks couldn’t be reasoned with.

There was no doubt he needed to get away, and fast. Especially since there was absolutely no reaction from Ryka. Why? Especially now that he needed his help so badly. Internally, he was screaming the demon’s name, but there was no response. If panic hadn’t been starting to take hold, logic would have dictated that Ryka was waiting for the right time. But all Kyle could think was that he’d been left to fend for himself.

Hoping that if he broke free, he’d be able to outrun them, he jumped up and attempted to shoulder past the group. But the moment he was up, two of the men grabbed his arms and shoved him back against the damp brick.

They laughed as they held him there, and the third put an end to his fight with a punch to the gut that forced Kyle to double over. Clutching his stomach and wheezing, he sank to the ground. It took all his strength just to prop his back up against the wall. One of the group moved to stand in front of him, and even without light, Kyle could make out the man’s twisted smile.

“Please,” Kyle begged, his voice shaking. It was hard not to cry. Where was Ryka? Did he need to be summoned? Suddenly, Kyle couldn’t even remember the words. A thought that made his heart race even harder. Now there was no hope.

“He’s begging for it,” the man cackled, sounding almost giddy as he struggled to unbuckle his belt.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Through his Master’s eyes, Ryka too stared up at the sinner. All three of them were closing in on Kyle, insulting him all the while. Using words that Ryka understood meant that they thought there was something wrong with the way he and his Master felt about each other. For that, they would have to pay.

But timing was everything. It pained him to let Kyle think he wouldn’t come to his aid, but he needed his host’s terror. Even worse was letting him suffer through even another second in the company of this mortal scum, but Ryka intended on making the most of their hate. Hate that would turn into fear, enough to keep him satisfied for some time to come.

While Kyle continued to grovel, the doctor’s two friends made sure Kyle wasn’t going to try another escape – one took over holding his arms while the other grabbed a handful of Kyle’s hair and yanked his head back. Unable to stop himself, Kyle yelped. “Oh, shut the fuck up,” the one still struggling with his pants snapped. He ensured his order was followed by kneeing Kyle in the face, breaking his nose. And that was Ryka’s cue.

The blood hadn’t even started flowing before Ryka was on his feet. His wings opened with enough force to shatter bricks in the walls. The two that had been restraining Kyle both barely avoided being hit and staggered backward, but the doctor remained frozen in place, in the middle of unzipping his fly. He stammered wordlessly as two pairs of red eyes glared at him, one from the beast now standing before him, the other from the wall directly behind it.

“Try putting that thing in my mouth and I’ll bite it right off,” Ryka assured him, flashing his teeth.

The man whimpered and let his shaking hands fall to his sides.

“Did you think your sins would go unpunished?” Ryka snarled. “And you two, move closer so you can watch. I’d hate for you to miss this.” There was no way to deny the demon’s commands. Feet that seemed to move on their volition brought the two men easily within Ryka’s reach.

“There’s a very high price to pay for hurting my Master. Do you know what that is?” As he spoke, Ryka leaned in close to the man in the doctor costume. “Well?” The man only whined. “For now, your lives. But when I get back to Hell, we’re really going to have some fun.”

Wings spread to block the view from the street, Ryka reached for the doctor’s throat. “I’ve heard it’s unbearably painful to have your soul ripped from your living body. Shall we do a little experiment?”

Ry …. Kyle managed. Even his mental voice was trembling.

“Sh, Master. Don’t listen.” And with that, Kyle’s world became unnervingly silent. To spare Kyle from having to hear their cries, Ryka blocked him. This was the first time that he’d been insulted along with his Master, and Ryka wasn’t in the mood to show mercy. “And you, you worthless piece of shit, I want to hear you scream for me.” Ryka relaxed his stranglehold on the doctor long enough to let him take a deep breath, then used his free hand to pry open the man’s mouth. Behind him, his shadow laughed, and the fires of Hell cast their light in a Boston alleyway.

After only a little searching, Ryka managed to get a grip on the man’s soul. Grinning broadly, he pulled his hand away. The squeal that followed made Ryka’s knees weak. “Louder,” he panted, continuing to draw out the damned soul. The other two men both had their hands over their ears, but it did little to block out their friend’s tortured wailing.

The screaming reached a crescendo right before the soul was completely extracted. As soon as it was free of its mortal shell, Ryka opened his hand and it drifted through the shadow’s gaping maw. Now without its soul, the man’s inanimate body dropped to the pavement. Glassy eyes stared without focus at Ryka’s feet. “That was wonderful,” Ryka said, kneeling down. He slit the doctor’s throat with one claw, and blood steamed as it pooled on the ground beneath him.

His companions watched wide-eyed, tears streaming down their cheeks. One had wet himself, and he was Ryka’s next target. “You guys must think you’re hot shit, ganging up on someone like that. I hope you enjoy getting gang-raped in Hell, because that’s how you’ll be spending eternity. But for now, let me at least accustom you to the heat.”

Somehow, the next victim found the strength of will to try and maneuver past the demon. But he didn’t make it more than a step. Livid, Ryka shoved him back against the wall, and with one quick swipe, slashed his stomach open. Kyle was glad he couldn’t hear what was happening, because seeing the tangled mass of innards that fell to the pavement was bad enough. And he wished he could look away when Ryka shoved a hand into the now mostly-vacant abdominal cavity. The other he used to grip the collar of his victim’s shirt.

Flames started licking the fingers of the hand Kyle could see, singing fabric and flesh, the small blaze even creeping up to the man’s scalp. Smoked curled up from his burning hair. Kyle imagined that the same thing was happening with Ryka’s other hand, meaning his attacker was now being cooked alive, charred inside and out. There was no yelling this time; trauma and blood loss left the man staring frozen at the pile of guts at his feet. It didn’t take long for him to slide down the wall and join his comrade. He still smoldered even as his life was snuffed out.

Ryka wordlessly removed his soul, and tossed it over his shoulder to his shadow. “And what about you?” he asked, rounding on the third assailant. “I know what you wanted to do to my Master.” Hissing, he backed his final victim up against the wall then spun him to face the brick, pinning him there just as Kyle had been. “You wanted to violate him; take away his choice. Maybe I should do the same to you. Would you scream for me if I fucked you?” Ryka leaned in close, growling in his prey’s ear. He could hear the man’s heart pounding, even over his sobbing. He was terrified already, but Ryka knew he could do better.

He’d never go so far as to dirty himself on this scum, but his victim didn’t know that. Dropping his growl to a purr, he grabbed the waistband of the man’s pants and pulled them down to his knees. Squealing, the man tried to squirm away, but he was no match for the demon. Ryka forced him back into place, kicking his legs apart and grinding his hips against his very unwilling captive.

“No, no, no,” the man pleaded. The color finished draining from his face when he felt Ryka’s excitement - hot and hard - pressing against his backside.

“No? But you seemed to think it would be fun getting fucked - dry, no less – in an alley, just a few minutes ago.” The only answer was more pathetic wailing. “But I’m so close. Let me use you, hmm?”

Now Kyle’s panic and revulsion were starting to overpower his attacker’s emotions. It was time to finish this. Taking a step back, Ryka sank his claws into the man’s shoulder and spun him back around. Slowly and methodically, Ryka began breaking his final victim’s bones, starting with his fingers. Very quickly, the man screamed himself hoarse. And when he had no voice left, Ryka snapped his neck, and fed the last damned soul to his shadow, which then retreated, looking very pleased with itself.

“Forgive me, Master. I can’t help myself, not after that.” Already on the verge of climax, Ryka licked the blood off his hands then shoved them down the front of Kyle’s already-filthy jeans.

***

When Adam emerged from the bar, Ryka was waiting, smoking a cigarette in just the same place Kyle had been before he’d been dragged down the alley. “What happened?” Adam risked, not sure he really wanted to know. He inadvertently glanced in the direction of the three bodies Ryka had left in the dark.

“How much did you see?”

“I didn’t see anything.” It was what he had heard that was making Adam’s stomach churn.

“Then I wouldn’t worry about it, big boy.” Ryka flicked his cigarette butt toward the street. “I hope you don’t mind if I keep you company for a while. Master needs to rest.”

“Is he okay?” The question was out of his mouth before he could stop it, and he skirted away from Ryka as soon as he spoke. But Ryka didn’t seem at all angered.

Though the haughty grin he had been wearing disappeared. “They scared him. And so did I. But those bastards were going to ….” Ryka cut off with a snarl – he couldn’t even say it. His wings shook just thinking about it.

Adam blanched. He knew the men must have done something terrible, or tried to, but he hadn’t suspected that. Maybe they would never have wound up here if not for Ryka, but if they had, and without Ryka’s protection, Kyle would have been the victim of a truly devastating crime.

“He’ll be okay. And he’ll forgive you,” Adam assured him. It was almost tempting to reach out and put a hand on Ryka’s shoulder to comfort him, but the moment his hand twitched in that direction, he schooled himself. Too dangerous.

“It’ll really suck if he doesn’t.” Right after he had disposed of Kyle’s assailants, he had restored the link between them. But Kyle had yet to reply to any of Ryka’s queries about his current state; he was still too stunned.

Adam couldn’t even imagine. It was difficult enough if he and Kate had a disagreement. They, at least, could go fume in different parts of the house. Kyle and Ryka were stuck in the same body. A body that Ryka now had full control of, and a host currently unable or unwilling to change that. Meaning Adam was exclusively in charge of entertaining the demon. There was only one thing he could think of to suggest that might appease his new companion. “Well, how about a beer, then?”

“Lead on,” came the immediate reply. So Adam did.

Ryka was very glad that the first bar they found had high ceilings. He wasn’t patient to begin with, and given how thoroughly he’d already been pissed off, he was not inclined to do any sort of waiting. Nor was he willing to cram himself into a tiny pub; if it came down to it, he was more than willing to make the bar more accessible. Even if it meant renovating with a flaming whip. There would be no saving anyone or anything that came between him and alcohol.

As well as being large enough to accommodate the demon, the bar was also full of people drunk enough not to realize that his wings, horns and tail were anything but a costume. Even still, Adam could feel most of the other patrons staring at them as they sat down at the only free table. A waitress in a Catwoman get-up immediately came to take their order. She seemed to find it strange that Ryka ordered a pitcher of beer just for himself, but didn’t say anything. He didn’t look like the type to be argued with. So although her manager asked her to remind him that patrons needed to wear shirts in the bar, she decided not to mention that, either.

While they waited for their drinks, Ryka watched the other people in the room, but kept glancing back at Adam. “What are you doing?” Adam cautiously inquired.

“Checking for assholes. I think we’re safe.”

“Oh, good.” The waitress returned with their order, and Ryka finished his pitcher in only a few seconds. He eyed Adam’s beer, and after being subject to the demon’s scrutiny for a full minute, Adam finally gave in and offered up his drink.

“Nah, I don’t really want it.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yup.”

“Okay.” For a few moments, neither of them spoke. Adam sipped his beer and tried to think about anything other than what had likely happened back in that alley.

Finally, Ryka broke the silence. “You know, for a human, you’re not that bad. Not that I jerk off thinking about you or anything.” Just to watch Adam squirm, he added, “Well, usually.”

Adam’s discomfort was immediate – and intense. How many times had Kyle told him the demon couldn’t lie? Now all Adam could do was sputter and blush as Ryka watched him, delighted by his reaction.

But Adam was saved from further embarrassment by the arrival of two beautiful young ladies in very revealing costumes. One was decked out as an angel, the other as a demon. Given the earlier incident, Adam was more than a little concerned how Ryka would react. Especially when the half-naked angel tried to reach for his hand.

“I don’t even know your name yet.” Ryka easily dodged her touch.

“So sweet,” she cooed, leaning on their table in such a way so as to make looking at her cleavage completely unavoidable. “I’m Trisha, and my friend is Bethany. What about you guys? Wanna have some drinks with us?”

Bethany, in her tight-fitting demon costume, was trying to settle herself on Adam’s lap. Giggling, she took off her horns and put them on his head. “I feel inadequate,” Adam remarked, eyeing the set that curled back from just behind Ryka’s temples.

“Those are pretty small,” Ryka said with a grin.

Once again, Trisha reached forward to rest a hand on Ryka’s arm, and this time he stopped her. Eyes narrowed, he grabbed her wrist. “No,” he ordered, sounding like he was scolding a pet.

“Honey, you’re burning up.” She was too drunk to understand that her offer was being turned down. “I’ll make you feel better. Let’s have a few beers, hmm?”

“I couldn’t be any less interested, and neither could he. Now go.”

The girls’ eyes glazed over, and they both moved on to the table across from Ryka and Adam’s. As soon as one of the men there struck up a conversation with the pair, they seemed to come out of the trance they had been under. “Can I finish my beer before we go?” Adam asked. It was quite obvious that Ryka had very quickly gone from amused to annoyed, and he didn’t want to stick around long enough for his mood to get any worse.

“Sure. You know, that angel was wearing far too little, and that demon way too much.” Adam briefly thought being a sinner might result in a more satisfying afterlife, but his visions of being punished by barely-clad female demons were interrupted by the demon currently keeping him company. “Well, let’s just see what we’re missing.” While the girls were clinging to their new targets, Ryka used his tail to inconspicuously lift their skirts. They wore matching white lace thongs. Adam barely stopped himself from choking on his drink. “Not a bad view.”

“You’re just trying to get Kyle to say something, right?”

His tail now wrapped around the legs of his stool, Ryka dropped his head to stare at the rings of condensation their drinks had left behind. He let his hair fall down over his face, but Adam could still see his quickly fading smile. “You’re also quite perceptive.”

“Sorry.” It seemed best to apologize, just in case. Adam finished his last mouthful of beer, paid for them both, then motioned for Ryka to follow him. People in the streets gave them a wide berth as they made their way toward the next pub Adam wanted to try.

“Those really are pathetic little horns.”

“I forgot I had them on,” Adam replied, throwing them into the next trash can they passed. “Thanks for getting rid of those girls. Kate would have had my head.”

Ryka thought that telling Adam he did it for his own selfish reasons might have displeased Kyle, so he managed to keep his mouth shut. If it made things better between him and his Master, he was willing to fight his own nature. At least to some degree.

While they walked, Adam glanced nervously at Ryka. The demon did not seem very pleased, and Adam was absolutely sure that that was a bad thing. And after hearing about what had happened to the hotel room in New York, he felt that getting Ryka drunk might not be the best course of action. A few drinks were fine, but complete intoxication? Sure, Ryka might wind up happier, but at what cost? But Adam didn’t know what other options he had.

They almost strolled by another bar when an idea struck him. “Do you know how to play pool?” he asked, only thinking it might have been a stupid question after he’d already spoken.

“I’ve seen it on TV.”

There had been a different spot Adam had wanted to try, but the draw of billiards was too good to pass up. It seemed like a safe enough way to distract Ryka. “I can show you, if you want.”

All conversation in the room stopped as Adam and Ryka walked in. When it looked like the bartender was about to remind them about the dress code, regardless of the holiday, Ryka shot him a withering glare. “Two pitchers of Bud,” he growled.

“O-of course.” He filled two plastic pitchers until they were spilling over with foam, then slid them across the counter.

Once they had their drinks, Adam motioned for Ryka to follow him over to one of the pool tables. He explained the rules while they watched two burly men play a game. They looked annoyed, but not enough to shoo the newcomers away. Not when the one whose costume was far too realistic looked like he had actual blood splattered all over his jeans, and not the fake stuff everyone else used on Halloween.

They quickly finished their game, leaving Ryka and Adam to play. Since Ryka had never even picked up a pool cue prior to that day, Adam thought he stood somewhat of a chance against the demon. He was wrong. It took less than five minutes for Ryka to finish clearing the table. Slack-jawed, Adam watched the cue ball stop on the edge of the pocket closest to where he stood. “That was -”

“Bullshit!” one of the men who had been watching from the bar interjected. That was not what Adam had wanted to say at all, and he tried to complete his thought, only to be pushed aside. His heart was in his throat; this idiot had no idea what he was provoking. “There’s no way. You must be cheating!” This brazen assertion was made with his face only inches from Ryka’s.

“You think so?” Ryka sounded calm. Adam assumed this was a trap. He briefly wondered if he should run before the bloodshed started.

“I know so. Maybe you could fool him, but not me.”

“You think you can beat me, then?” Ryka asked. The sly smile he wore made Adam’s blood run cold.

Face red, the other man racked up the balls, then stepped away to let Ryka take the first shot. One shot was all he needed. His opponent watched in astonishment as one ball after another fell into the pockets, leaving the cue ball spinning alone in the center of the felt.

While their unwanted observer gawked helplessly at the pool table, Ryka glanced over toward the bar. “Hey, two more pitchers over here!” Since he was treating his like oversized mugs, they weren’t lasting him very long.

“I’ll put it on your tab,” the bartender called back.

“I think they’re on the house.”

It astonished Adam how quickly the nearly-deafening barroom din died at those words. Every last guest was looking back and forth between Ryka and the bartender. “Oh, do you now?” His earlier misgivings all but forgotten, the bartender was determined not to be pushed around.

“I sure do.” Grinning, Ryka bent down over the table, took aim, and flicked the cue ball. It whizzed by the bartender’s right ear and lodged itself in the wall behind him, leaving a spiderweb crack and a hole in the mirror there before disappearing almost completely into the concrete. “You better hope your head’s as thick as that wall, or the next one’s going to make a mess.”

“Two pitchers, on the house,” the bartender stammered, sweat beading on his forehead.

This time, no one seemed interested in challenging Ryka. Adam was glad for that.

***

Once more, they stayed just long enough to finish their drinks. Then it was back out into the streets. Adam zipped up his jacket, envious that Ryka was oblivious to the cold. He thought it was a good thing that Kyle wasn’t affected by the temperature, either, since his jacket and shirt seemed to have disappeared. To get rid of any incriminating evidence, Ryka had burned them to ash in the alley, scattering them among the remains of his three victims. The bodies he had left. As a warning.

“Um, that was a really good game. You really didn’t cheat, right?”

“You were just a good teacher,” Ryka answered with a smirk.

“I see. Well, um, thanks for the beer. Although I could have paid.”

But Ryka had stopped listening. All his attention was focused on the police officer walking toward them. Towing him in their direction was a very familiar German Shepherd. “Stand back,” Ryka warned. Adam didn’t need to be told twice; he ducked into the nearest convenience store. He only wished the storefront wasn’t one big window. Aside from it providing little protection, he was also sure he didn’t want to bear witness to whatever was about to happen.

“Amazing. I hadn’t seen another demon in more than three hundred years, and I run into you twice in one day, Ryka.” The police officer dropped his dog’s leash and stood frozen in the middle of the road, slack-jawed with a vacant gaze. Sha summoned herself completely and stalked toward Ryka, head lowered and teeth bared. “And now you show up in my territory and take my prey. Unforgivable.”

In response, Ryka opened his wings out and up, stretching them as far as he could. His nails grew into claws, and flame raced from his palms up to his shoulders. “I didn’t come here to start shit with you, Sha. Now get out of my fucking way!” A deep rumbling that was felt more than heard follow his words, but Sha had no intention of backing down. The fur on the back of her neck bristled, and saliva that melted the pavement dripped from her canines. She took a few more steps toward Ryka, her own claws extended and leaving deep gouges in the street.

“Don’t fuck with me,” Ryka snarled. The fire that had been confined to his arms now consumed his wings as well, casting a red glow on the surrounding buildings. With its eyes ablaze, his shadow sprang up on the apartment building next to Ryka. Lights flickered wherever it touched, windows darkening behind it as it loomed five stories tall over the scene. As Ryka advanced on the Hell Hound, it slid off the building and onto the street, slithering ahead of its host.

Sha stood her ground. “Why were you hunting in my territory? Those souls were mine.”

“I don’t give a shit. When someone threatens my Master, I protect him.”

“Master? Our Master almost never leaves Hell. Do you mean your host?”

“My host is my Master.”

“What kind of demon takes orders from a mortal and dares call it Master in place of Lucifer?”

Ryka was too enraged to even respond. Still holding his wings open, he continued slowly approaching the Hell Hound. Sha crouched, preparing to spring forward if Ryka got too close. Both were posturing, hoping to intimidate the other into submitting. Because really, Ryka didn’t want to fight. Dispatching mortals was one thing. Taking on another demon - especially one who was much older and much more powerful - was something else entirely. He wasn’t going to win this one.

Sensing how badly its own host wanted the confrontation over with, the shadow made a decision. Deep laughter echoed as it stretched out clawed hands, grabbing Sha and trying to exorcize her from her host’s body. Sha let out a long, low whine, which escalated to a strangled howl as the shadow continued to try and separate parasite from host. Sha, desperately trying to escape the shadow’s grasp, froze as the portal opened.

“What’s the matter? Don’t think it would be a good idea to show up back home before you’re called?” Ryka jeered, not bothering to try and stop his shadow. At least not yet.

“You win,” Sha told him, still struggling to free herself from the inky-dark claws that were dragging her slowly but surely toward Hell.

Wearing a smile that showed much more confidence than he currently felt, Ryka ordered his shadow to release the Hell Hound. Head bowed and tails between her legs, Sha backed away toward her host’s owner, who had stared unseeing at the spectacle before him. “My host has taken good care of me. That’s why he deserves to be called my Master. Well, that … and I love him.”

Prideful though he was, Ryka wasn’t above doing or saying any embarrassing thing necessary to demonstrate to his host how serious he was. And hopefully get him to speak again.

“I see.”

“Do you? It’s ridiculous, really. An emotion that makes you do things you wouldn’t otherwise normally even consider doing. Like challenging a Hell Hound over the souls of three complete losers.”

“I think I understand. This devotion you feel for your host is beyond even what you should feel for Lucifer?”

“I’d take on all of Hell for him.” Ryka flapped his wings once then folded them, extinguishing the flames.

“I can respect your loyalty,” Sha told him, still backing away. “But I do hope we never meet again. Not on Earth, anyhow.”

“The feeling’s mutual.”

With that, Sha, now safely back in her host, retreated into the night. Thanks to her, no one besides Adam had witnessed their confrontation. But as soon as she was gone, people resumed staring at Ryka, who couldn’t help but stand out, even on Halloween.

You know, I was really scared that you weren’t going to save me back there.

“And you should know better by now.” That hadn’t come out quite right, Ryka thought. “I’m sorry. Sorry I let them break your nose. And that you had to see that. I know you don’t like that. But I can’t control myself when it comes to you, stud.”

It’s … it’ll be fine. I don’t know why I thought you wouldn’t help. That was stupid.

“You were scared.” It was hard to keep his tone flat, not let on how excited Kyle’s fear had made him.

So, you’re really not supposed to call me ‘Master?’ But when I used to summon you …

“About that … I may have fudged it a bit. It still worked, though.” Kyle was stunned. Had he been so desperate and lonely that he was willing to stoop to calling a human his Master? Reading Kyle’s thoughts, Ryka answered, “Only you, stud. You’re my Master. The only one I want ordering me around.”

Ry, I’m sorry I wasn’t talking. I was just in shock. You know I love you, right?

“Yes, Master.”

Suddenly, Kyle found himself lying in the street. His face still hurt, and he gingerly reached a hand up, only to find it wet. Horrified, he pulled his hand away, expecting to see blood. Instead, tears glistened on his fingertips. “Was I crying?” he wondered, still in a daze from the transformation.

Shut up. I’m done.

There’d be plenty of time to tease the demon about that later, though Kyle couldn’t help but think it was sweet. For the moment, though, his only thought was for Adam, who was heading in his direction, sodas in hand. “You okay?” Adam asked, offering Kyle one of the bottles.

Kyle had thought he was, but suddenly several pitchers of beer and the memory of all that gore made themselves known, and he frantically waved at Adam to move away. He did, and just in time, as Kyle leaned over to vomit on the pavement.

“Lightweight,” a passerby teased, spurring his frat-boy-looking friends to hysterics.

Lightweight, Ryka mocked, in a vain attempt to make his voice both high-pitched and nasally. Kyle smothered his own laugh at his effort, but was unable to hold back when, a second later, the man tripped over nothing and went sprawling in the street. His friends were equally amused, as was Adam, who helped haul Kyle back to his feet.

“That wasn’t an accident, was it?” he asked, trying again to offer Kyle a soda.

This time, Kyle took the proffered drink. After draining half the bottle to wash the bad taste from his mouth, he shook his head. “Nope.”

“Excellent. But are you feeling better now? Or is there more? Because I’m guessing you’d like to go home and shower and all that.”

Never mind the sight of all that blood, he was covered in it. And other fluids. Now that it was mentioned, it was all he could feel, crusted on his skin. Hellfire had burned most of it away, but not all. “I’m fine. And I think that was it. Sorry.”

“Don’t be. I hadn’t been planning on being out much later than this anyhow. And don’t apologize about puking. College made me immune.”

Kyle forced a smile. Adam - for all his attempts at humor - looked nearly as traumatized as he felt, but he didn’t think talking about it would help. Besides, he really wasn’t ready to talk about it. So, he trailed a bit behind his friend as they made their way back to the car, and Adam only glanced back occasionally as Kyle checked in with Ryka. “Are you awake?”

Sort of. Why?

“I … don’t know.” Maybe just to know he was. And before Ryka could hear that, he finished, “To thank you.”

You’re welcome. Sorry about your clothes. Again. Kyle thought this might be a record for the number of times Ryka had ever apologized to him. It was almost disconcerting.

“I should just buy them in bulk. But you can sleep. We’ll be home soon.”

If you’re sure. Kyle only nodded, and his head felt quiet. At least for a moment. You know what’s weird?

“What?”

Maybe it’s because you have it all the time, but I usually dream about that night, too.

“That makes me feel a little better,” Kyle said. “Hey, you know, all the candy goes on clearance tomorrow. I’ll buy us a whole bunch, okay?”

You’re too good, stud.

“Flattery won’t -”

Oh, it will get me there.

“But not until we get home.”

Of course. Master.