Adverse effect—memory loss. I learned right away that Sasha didn’t remember me at all, or herself. Not even her name. The girl was a blank slate, which carved a peach pit inside my chest. After everything, she didn’t remember…

Maybe this was a good thing. Sasha couldn’t recall me blasting her face over and over again to tame Persallus, or the murder escapade she dragged her in, or even that time where her hands killed her little brother and mother. There was no point in reminding her that she was some greedy demon’s puppet this week. A fresh start for her was actually what she needed.

The next morning, Ruby and Trista helped set her up someplace safe. The girl was quite fond of my girlfriends, especially Ruby, who was being super nice to her. Ruby insisted she stick around with Sasha for a bit so she could get acclimated, and to also observe the gravity of the spell. I was just hoping that it wasn’t anything temporary. Even though her not remembering me hurt, I was more grateful that she couldn’t remember killing me back at her old place.

‘Persallus managed to pin the death of her family on another demon,’ Ruby broadcasted to me telepathically. ‘She can keep the same name, but I suggest she moves to the next town over. That way, if you want to visit, you can.’

‘I think it’s best I stay out of her life for now. I might trigger memories.’

‘You saved the girl’s life.’

‘Doesn’t mean I’m entitled to ruin it.’

‘What about the nine months she mentioned? What do you think that means?’

‘I… have no idea. I really hope it doesn’t mean what I think it means. I never had sex with Sasha.’

‘Demons can be crafty, especially demons of fate…’

‘Ugh, don’t say that. You’re putting crazy thoughts in my head.’

‘Don’t be a stranger, sexy. Think about it.’

Yeah… think about it…

Sasha deserves peace. I couldn’t imagine being a tool for a fucking demon. If I could help her stay away from all that, then all the better.

“Morning, sunshine!” Lumi said cheerfully as she woke up in my arms on my bed. She saw me staring at my phone, ignoring a direct call from St. Thomas Hospital. It was Dr. Charmine, buzzing me for the sixth time. I swiped my thumb to reject the call again, Lumi noticing.

“Dr. Charmine is your mother’s doctor, right?”

“Yeah…”

“Then why aren’t you picking up?”

“I… don’t know.”

“Are you afraid?”

“Why should I be? If he’s calling me, it’s for one of two things. She got better, or she passed away.”

Lumi smiled. “Well, you already know it’s not the latter. Or… are you skeptical that killing those heinous demons saved your mother?”

“I guess I’ve been stuck in this nightmare of her being sick for ages, that the idea of her being well seems too good to be true.”

“Well, it is! Now quit worrying and go out to see your mom! I know she’ll be waiting for you.”

I said up on the bed and looked over to her concerned. “You know, I can’t stop kicking myself for letting you die like that…”

“Hmm?”

“The way you fell in my arms…”

“Master, that wasn’t your fault. I was the one who disobeyed and put myself in the line of danger. I should have listened to you.”

“I made you a promise, Lumi.”

“You can’t protect me from everything, Isaac. Accidents will happen. It’s unavoidable.”

“So you’re saying losing you is unavoidable?”

She looked at me heartbroken.

“You have five lives. The rest of my girls have only one. I am the only one in my domain who doesn’t have anything to worry about. Which means that it’s on me to make sure my harem is safe. You can say it’s nothing we expected, but in saying that, that’s the problem. It’s why I didn’t want you girls out there in the first place. We didn’t have time to properly strategize. We couldn’t run into the risk of losing Ash mapping out a prime approach. I’m beginning to understand why the old me didn’t want you going out there on the battlefield. Part of it might be pride, but the other part… I wanted you to be protected. So shit like this doesn’t happen.”

“Are you benching me, Isaac? Because I’m the weakest in your harem?”

“No. I’m not saying that. What I’m saying is, when I need you girls to stay on the sidelines, know that I’m saying that for a reason. It’s not my ego talking. Things could have ended far worse. I know you girls have faith in me, but I’m still starting out. I’m still learning about my powers. Until then, let’s play it safe. Deal?”

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She nodded happily. “Deal.” Lumi kissed me fondly, and then asked, “Do you want me to come with you? To see your mom?”

“I’d rather you rest up. You told me that using one of your nine lives leaves you exhausted for the next few hours.”

She yawned. “It does. I wouldn’t mind sleeping for the rest of the day, actually.”

“Thanks for the feed last night. I could have gotten it from Ruby or Trista before they left.”

“I like it when you take it from me,” she cooed. “Just to be on the safe side for a few days, portal within the hospital. You took out two heavy hitters. Their followers could be looking for you.”

“Fair point.” I kissed her forehead. “Now, get some sleep. I’ll be back in a few.”

I washed up and got dressed, expecting to leave Ava knocked out as well. But her head was on the kitchen counter, resting over her crossed arms, sleeping with the Enochian spell book across from her.

From the way she’d been talking earlier, I gauged that she was dead tired. Why I found her in the kitchen, I had no clue. It looked like she’d just pulled an all-nighter and crashed. Maybe she couldn’t sleep until she collapsed, thoughts of being hunted down last night keeping her awake. In all of her talking last night, I noticed she didn’t mention her brother, Kevin. I suspected he’d be the one searching for her, especially after she’d tried to break me free from his prison.

I took the throw blanket from my mother’s chaise and covered Ava with it. My hand over her shoulders accidentally stirred her awake, Ava looking at me exhausted. “Isaac?”

I smiled. “Morning! Looks like you had a rough night.”

“I didn’t get much sleep…” she said, scratching the tiredness from her eyes. “Are you going somewhere?”

“Yeah, to the hospital.”

“May I join you? If not, that’s okay, too, I don’t want to impose!”

“Nah. It’s fine.” I could tell that she was still tired, but she didn’t want to stay here unguarded.

After she got ready, I portaled us in the empty basement and then made our way up to the floor my mother was in. I felt every step up the stairs being harder to take, my nervousness making my feet heavy. Ava turned to me with a soft smile and a hot cup of coffee in her hands, reading my demeanor.

“You like to stuff your hands in your pockets when you’re anxious,”

I chuckled. “You studying me, now?”

“Remember? I’m a good reader of people.”

“Maybe a little.”

“There you go lying again.” She giggled. “Relax. Mama Baldwin is okay!”

She was right. I heard her from across the hall as we walked in from the stairwell. My mom was screaming something in Spanish, her tone a bit angry. She wasn’t alone, I could hear two nurses trying to convince her to stay put.

“My son didn’t answer the doctor’s call! He could be in trouble!” she barked. “I am fine! Can’t you tell?! Full recovery! God answered my prayers, and now, I am healed! It’s a miracle! Now let me see my son!”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Baldwin, but Dr. Charmine insists that you stay for tests,” Laura said.

“We want to make sure you’re 100% before we discharge you from our care,” Kathy followed.

“You want more proof? Do I have to start doing somersaults to convince you two!?” she hissed. “Where is Dr. Charmine? Drag his ass back in here!”

“Well, the last time he paid you a visit, you challenged him to spar with you,” Laura muttered timidly.

I laughed, a boisterous type of laugh that captivated the entire room where I leaned by the open door. I needed a good laugh, and seeing my mother off of those machines and acting like her usual feisty self did the trick. My eyes started to get glassy, but it wasn’t fighting back tears of sadness—they were tears of absolute joy. “You’re stubborn, mom. Fighting doctors, now?”

“Mijo!” She leaped out of bed, her bare feet slapping the cold tiled floor as she rushed over to me with a tight embrace.

I held onto her and didn’t let go. She cried over my chest, telling me she loved me in Spanish over and over again.

“I love you too, Mom.” The nurses quietly walked out of the room to give us some privacy, both of them passing Ava who was standing just outside it.

My mother peeled back from me an inch, and I looked down at her lovingly. “How are you feeling?”

She giggled, happy tears running down her cheeks. “Amazing!”

“It’s over, Mom. You don’t have to worry anymore.”

She tossed me a confused look before her face went rock solid.. She stared at me like she knew, but she refused to believe it.

“I know about Ash,” I whispered, “I know about the deal. It makes sense now, why you jumped when you saw me with that coin.”

“Isaac, what did you do?!”

“Nothing bad. I promise. I wish you’d told me sooner. About everything. Demons, deals, going to hell on my birthday…”

She sobbed. “Mijo, I’m so sorry!”

“You don’t have to apologize to me. I took care of it. Ash won’t be collecting. He’s dead.”

“W-what? How?”

“Let’s not get bogged down with the details. For now, I want to enjoy my time with my mother. Besides, we have a lot to make up for. Lots of vacations to plan, lots of meals to cook together, etc, etc.” I wrapped my arm around her and led her to the armchair so she could sit down. I took the edge of her bed, my mother still looking at me baffled.

“I know you, mijo. You did something dangerous.”

I wanted to tell her that I was something dangerous, but it was too soon. She’d just gotten back. The last thing I wanted to do was freak her out by telling her that I was the prince of darkness.

“If you know about Ash, then you must have made a deal yourself. What did you do? Trade up your life for Ash’s? Is that even allowed?”

“Doesn’t sound like something that is.”

“Then what did you do, mijo? Please, tell me.”

“I’ll let you know when the time is right. For now, get some rest. I’ll swing around that nice little Cuban spot that you like and fetch you some ropa vieja.”

“No, Isaac! I am tired of resting,” she retorted, getting up on her feet along with me. “I’ve rested enough in that stupid bed when that demon put a curse on me! The devil’s got a hold on you! I just know it! You don’t want to tell me because you don’t want me to worry! And I understand. I am the last person who should be preaching about being honest. I’ve kept this secret from you for over two decades! But I’m your mother. I deserve to know… how you saved me!”

That sorrow on her face was chewing me up inside. She held onto the sleeve of my hoodie so I couldn’t go, not before giving her an answer. I wasn’t the best liar before my mom. She had an innate talent of sniffing out my bullshit.

With the way she was looking at me, I knew this was going to bother her unless I told her the truth. There was no way to prep her for it, so I opened my mouth, prepared to tell her who I really was, until I heard something just outside of her door.

“Ava?” I said, my mom letting me go so I could walk up to the door.

“You came here with someone?” she asked me.

“Yeah, Ava. She insisted she gave us some time before I introduced you to her.”

She’d been waiting outside, but what I saw instead made my chest tight. Her cup of coffee splashed on the floor.

“Mijo, what’s wrong?”

Ava was in trouble…