Sparkle
I wake up because sunlight warms my face. For several seconds, I don’t move. I’m stretched diagonally across my bed, one leg outside the blankets and my tail sprawled over the pillow beside me. A fat stripe of morning sun pours through the window and covers half my body.
It’s warm. Perfect.
I stretch until my toes curl, then roll directly into the patch of sunlight like the cat I am. Usually, by now, I’d already be up. Ferris would need to get to school. Someone would need breakfast. Mama would have something for me to do before I went to work.
Nobody needs me this morning. The thought doesn’t hurt like it used to. I curl onto my side, tuck my hands beneath my cheek, and let the sun bake me. I have absolutely nothing I need to do today. So I go back to sleep.
The next time I wake up, it’s almost eleven, and I’ve somehow moved halfway across the mattress to stay in the sun. I have no memory of doing this. Cat instincts are a hell of a thing.
“Oh, my gods.” I sit up so quickly my head spins, and for one horrible second, panic crashes through me.
Ferris has been at school for hours. Mama must be wondering where I am.
I reach for my phone before my brain catches up with the rest of me.
Ferris isn’t my responsibility anymore. He hasn’t been for weeks.
I stare at my phone, anyway. There are twenty-three messages in the group chat, two pictures from Mama, and a message from Lucien sent sometime around four this morning.
Lucien: Home. Nobody died. Successful evening. I deserve praise.
Another message came two minutes later.
Lucien: Also, I miss you.
I grin so hard my cheeks hurt as I type back.
Sparkle: I’m proud of you for not letting anyone die. Very impressive.
The little delivered appears beneath it, but there’s no immediate response.
Hopefully, he’s still asleep. He worked late, and I’ve been trying to convince him that owning The Rot doesn’t mean he has to personally keep the building standing through force of will.
The hypocritical demon spent weeks telling me I needed to let people help me, then acted offended when I pointed out he does the exact same shit.
I throw the blankets off and stretch until my back pops.
My tail flicks happily behind me as I wander into the kitchen wearing nothing but an oversized shirt and underwear.
I pour cereal into a mixing bowl because all the normal bowls are dirty, then stand at the counter eating while I stare at the sink.
There are dishes in there. I should wash them. I even take one step toward the sink before stopping and looking down at my cereal.
The dishes will still exist after breakfast.
I carry my giant bowl into the living room, turn on the television, and curl into the corner of my couch.
One of my twelve completely necessary decorative pillows goes behind my back while another gets shoved under my arm.
I spend twenty minutes trying to find something to watch before settling on a ridiculous human show about people renovating houses.
I don’t accomplish anything, and it’s wonderful.
By the time I finally shower and get dressed, afternoon sunlight pours across the living room and catches the glitter on the wall. Tiny flecks of light dance across the room. Maybe I’ll paint the second bedroom.
I wander into it and stare at the mostly empty space.
There are still a few boxes shoved against one wall, along with random things I didn’t know where else to put when I moved in.
I originally thought I needed to decide what the room was for before I did anything with it.
Office. Guest room. Hobby room. Something useful.
Maybe it doesn’t need to be useful.
I could fill it with books. Or plants. Or a giant cat tree, even though I don’t particularly need one. Actually, a giant cat tree sounds fucking amazing. I could climb it in cat form and sleep in the sun. My phone is in my hand before I can reconsider.
Sparkle: Do you think it would be weird if I put a giant cat tree in my spare bedroom?
Lucien answers almost immediately.
Lucien: No! Do it immediately!
I snort and lean against the doorframe.
Sparkle: I thought you were sleeping.
Lucien: I was. My kitty summoned me.
Sparkle: Go back to sleep.
Lucien: Bossy. I like it.
I smile at the screen before putting my phone away.
Maybe I will buy the cat tree. Maybe I’ll turn the entire room into a place where nothing matches and nothing serves any purpose except making me happy.
I could get a shelf for all the souvenirs Lucien and I keep collecting whenever we go somewhere.
I could do anything, and the thought doesn’t scare me anymore.
I don’t know what I’m doing with my life, and I’m okay with that.
I like working at Flutter and Fangs. I like dancing.
I like bartending. Maybe I’ll do that forever.
Maybe I won’t. I might take a class in something completely useless, learn to paint, travel more, or decide I hate all of those things and try something else.
Nobody is waiting for me to choose the right thing.
I get to choose whatever the fuck I want.
My chest feels strangely full as I wander back into the living room.
There are still dishes in my sink. I have laundry piled beside my bedroom door, and one of my moving boxes has been sitting unopened for so long I don’t remember what’s inside it.
My life isn’t particularly impressive, but I love it.
I grab my phone again and stare at Lucien’s name. I want to see him. There’s no reason other than I want to, and that feels perfect.
I send him a message asking if he’s at The Rot.
When he confirms he is, I grab my jacket and head for the door.
I stop with my hand on the knob when I realize Lucien could teleport me there in seconds, but I don’t need him to come get me every time I want to go somewhere. The Rot isn’t that far away.
The Rot always looks completely different during the day. Right now, most of the lights are on, the music is low, and a woman I don’t recognize is standing behind the bar with a clipboard.
Lars notices me first. He’s carrying a box across the room when his gaze lands on me, and his eyebrows rise. He snorts before nodding toward the stairs. “He’s upstairs. Needs a distraction if you ask me.”
“Distraction I can do.” I start toward the stairs, but the woman behind the bar looks over when I pass. I offer her a little wave, and she smiles back before returning to whatever she’s writing. I make it halfway to the stairs before stopping.
“Wait.” I turn back toward Lars and nod toward the woman. “Who’s that?”
Lars’s smile becomes suspiciously smug. “Ask Lucien.”
Interesting. I take the stairs two at a time.
Lucien’s office door is cracked open, and I hear his voice before I reach it.
He sounds serious, which is always a little strange after getting to know him.
People who only meet ridiculous Lucien probably don’t realize how easily he can switch into the demon who has kept this place running for decades.
I knock against the doorframe, and Lucien looks up from whatever he’s working on. His entire expression changes. The serious concentration disappears, replaced by a huge smile that makes warmth spread through my chest.
“Kitty cat.”
He pushes his chair back, but I point at him before he can stand. “Stay.”
Lucien freezes halfway out of his chair, one hand still braced against the desk. He slowly lowers himself back into his chair, watching me with exaggerated obedience.
I walk around the desk, and Lucien finally stands anyway. His arms go around my waist the moment I’m close enough, and I curl mine around his neck. “Hi.”
“Hi.” His voice softens as he leans down and kisses me. It’s familiar now, and I sink into him for a few seconds before pulling away. Lucien brushes his nose against mine. “Not that I’m complaining, but what are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see you.”
Lucien goes still, and the way his eyes brighten immediately makes me narrow mine.
His tail curls around my leg as he kisses my forehead.
“My pretty kitty came all this way because he missed me.” Lucien tightens his arms around me before I can pretend to escape, laughing when I push uselessly at his chest.
I give up and lean against him. “Who’s the woman downstairs?”
Lucien immediately perks up. “Oh! She’s my new manager! Come meet her.”
Lucien practically drags me downstairs. The woman looks up from her clipboard when we approach. She has dark brown skin, a cloud of black curls pulled into a high ponytail, and tiny silver horns curling backward from her temples. She looks between Lucien and me before smiling.
“Sparkle, this is Lessa. Lessa, this is Sparkle.” Lucien gestures proudly between us before resting his hand against my lower back. “My boyfriend.”
Something about hearing Lucien say it makes my tail wag happily behind me.
Lessa offers me her hand. “Nice to meet you finally. I’ve heard a lot.”
“Oh, gods.” I shake her hand before looking suspiciously at Lucien. “What have you been telling people?”
“That you’re beautiful, intelligent, funny, an excellent kisser, remarkably talented at managing chaos, and—”
Lessa’s smile widens as she lowers her clipboard. “Mostly the beautiful part.”
My ears get hot, and Lucien looks delighted with himself. I turn back to Lessa before he can make the blush worse.
Lucien plants his hands on his hips and looks so fucking proud of himself that I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing. “I went through so many applications before I found the perfect person.”
Lessa glances at me. “I don’t know that I’m perfect, but I’m dedicated and loyal.”
Lucien waves her off before looking at me again. “She’s amazing, and she’s only been here half a day.”
Lessa chuckles. “I just know what I’m doing.” She turns to me. “I managed a few demon businesses in my lifetime. Managing one in the human realm is a piece of cake.”