“Say yes,” the voice repeats, sounding closer though the glowing blob didn’t seem to move.
It doesn’t sound like my dad anymore. Not completely, anyway. I’m able to shift my gaze to the dead body on the floor, recalling Wilder’s words. The body is my dad. My dad is dead. The thing talking to me is something else.
Talon’s hands appear in front of my face, moving up and down my body while Wilder seems to be blocking the blob. He flinches in front of me, like he’s being hit with something.
I can’t speak, so I will my thoughts toward the demon.
Stop it. Stop hurting him.
The blob reacts, pulsing and changing to a darker shade. It started out pink, but it’s definitely closer to red now.
“Stop resisting, Keagan,” it says. “You’ve always been difficult. Can’t you do one thing right for once?”
The words sting, but I have to remember that it’s not actually my dad talking. It’s manipulating me.
Warmth starts to push back the chill, and the pressure holding me in place loosens. Talon is touching me now, her hands moving from the top of my head down my shoulders and back. Her lips are moving but I can’t hear anything. Just the voice.
Wilder’s lips are moving too, and though I can’t hear him either, I swear I can feel the safety and growing affection in his words.
Soulmate.
The word bounces around my head.
“Keagan.” The voice is jarring now, a desperate edge to it. “Make them stop. Just say yes and all this can stop.”
I try to shake my head, but it’s like a vise holding me in place, preventing movement. Closing my eyes, I try to block everything else and focus on Talon and Wilder. The demon is still demanding things from me, but I know not to engage now.
I remember what Talon said—I have to break the connection. Instead of directing my energy to the demon, I focus my thoughts on my dad’s body.
This is long overdue. I wish I could have told you sooner how your choices affected me. You left me without a father, then when Mom died, I had no parents. You never wanted me. Never cared.
The demon’s voice deepens as it continues taunting me, but I don’t break my focus.
I thought I needed to know if you were bad enough to murder people, but I realize now that it doesn’t matter. You did it. Whether you think it was a demon or not doesn’t change anything. Not to me and not to the justice system. You got what you deserved, Harold, and I’ve made peace with it. I know that I’ll never be like you. You’re not my dad. You never were. Like Mom used to say, I’m the only good thing you ever did.
I fall back suddenly as the sound in the room returns and the pressure holding me still releases me. Talon wraps her arms around me, holding me close as Wilder gets to his feet.
Wilder is chanting something, and with every word, the demon pulses and grows smaller. Then it releases an ear-piercing shriek as Wilder lunges for it, and both of them disappear right before my eyes.
“What the fuck?”
“Are you hurt?” Talon asks, looking me over.
“No. Where did Wilder go?”
She smiles. “He’s escorting the demon back where it belongs.”
Seconds later, the body on the floor twitches as black smoke rises from it. The smoke hovers over the body for a brief moment before seemingly turning in our direction, then disappearing through the floorboards.
“Was that what I think it was?”
“Your father’s soul. Wilder was successful.”
We get to our feet and I help Talon downstairs, where we sit on the couch in my front room.
“Do you need water?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “I’m feeling better already. Mercy will recover as well.”
