Chapter Thirty
CHAPTER THIRTY
At ten p.m., Sky made her way to the Walmart parking lot like Cimil had instructed. She was ready to receive her new body, which hadn’t been quite ready yet last night.
“Needs another twelve hours, deary,” Cimil had said. “But you do your thing and meet me tomorrow night. I’ll bring my body RV.”
Sky didn’t really have a choice but to wait, so she’d spent the day looking after Amelia and Miguel, getting them settled into a new home nearby. They’d said they were all right, but Sky could tell the time in captivity had taken its toll. Mostly, on their waistlines due to the lack of exercise and the junk food supplied by the SBP staff.
“We’ll get in shape together!” Sky’d said to Amelia and then promised to be back soon in a new, fresh body. A body that came at the expense of Damien’s feelings, but what did he expect? She’d never asked for any of this and always told him the truth: her family was everything. Okay, fine. Her career and family were everything.
Love was great and all, so was the sex, but at the end of the day, Sky wasn’t going to sacrifice what she loved for a man no matter how incredibly good looking, sexy, or wealthy. Damien just didn’t get it.
I was born to be single! To live life to the fullest! To travel and pursue my dreams .
Sky waited in the back of the parking lot, unable to check the hour because ghosts didn’t wear watches. Still, she’d made sure to get here on time, and the goddess was nowhere to be found.
Twenty minutes went by, and Sky began to panic. If Cimil double-crosses me, I swear to God!
Suddenly, a large RV rumbled into the parking lot, coming her way.
“Finally,” Sky said as Cimil pulled up with the windows down. “You’re late.”
Cimil hopped out from behind the wheel. “Sorry about that, Sky baby! We had a little hiccup earlier, but I got here as soon as I could.”
“Yeah. Whatever. Is my body ready?”
“Right this way.” Cimil gestured for Sky to go inside. “Just lie down in the machine, and we’ll have you alive, kicking, smelling, eating, farting—”
“I get it.”
“Okay, buttercup. Just trying to highlight what you’ve won behind door number three.”
I’m so over her weird code-talk . Sky got into the machine at the back of the RV, and Cimil lowered the lid.
“Viva la revolution,” Cimil said right before locking her inside.
Huh? The machine began to whir and click. It felt warm and then warmer. After a few minutes, Sky had sensation in her fingertips. Her toes were toasty, too.
I can feel body parts! This was so exciting!
Not before long, fresh air whooshed through her nose, and Sky began breathing. “I’m alive!” Her voice echoed off the machine. Dumping Damien had totally been worth it.
The machine powered down, and Cimil opened the enclosure.
“All righty, hope you enjoyed the ride! Don’t forget your hat, sunglasses, and any personal belongings. It’s been a pleasure having you here at Snotsberry Farms on the Gargoyletron. Have a great day.”
Weirdo. Sky slid out and closed her eyes, giving them a moment to adjust to the light.
“Okay. Gotta do some shopping for juice boxes, blankies, and snacks inside,” said Cimil. “Tatatah.” Cimil exited the RV.
“Wait. You’re leaving? Can’t you give me a ride?” Sky didn’t want to walk home in a fresh body. It was cold outside. “I don’t have clothes or shoes or…”
Sky looked down, noticing the ground was closer than she remembered. Like, really, really close.
Sky pointed at the floor. “Is something wrong with my eyes?” That was when she saw a lumpy, stubby hand where her lovely hand should be.
Panicked, she went after Cimil, stumbling as she took that last step outside. “You fucking bitch. What is this?”
“Oh, yeah…” Twenty feet away, Cimil stopped. “Sorry about that. Seems a baby dragon burned up all my inventory. That is all I had left—some throwaway from when we were calibrating the machines. Found it in the walk-in freezer. But, hey, at least you’re alive.”
Sky rushed to one of the sideview mirrors, tilting it towards her. The four-foot monster looking back had lopsided eyes, a saggy lower lip, and huge warts all over its face.
“Ah!” Sky yelled. “You can’t do this. We had a deal.”
“Yes. We did,” said Cimil. “And now you have your new body, new life, and your family back. Oh, and you can keep the RV. The machine inside has an excellent tanning bed feature, and you’re going to need all the help you can get.”
Cimil skipped away as Sky crumbled. She couldn’t go back to her sister and nephew looking like this. She couldn’t even go inside this Walmart. And they weren’t judgy.
“I’m going to kill that goddess.”
Damien Graystone slid the perfectly tailored tux into a protective sleeve and patted himself on the back. He’d done a fantastic job in record time on this alteration.
“Enjoy your nuptials,” he said to the customer. “And do not forget that I can let the suit out after you gain the customary post-matrimonial fifty pounds.”
“Gee, thanks.” The man exited the shop, and Damien went into the back to sort a shipment of new fabrics he’d received. Deep reds and army greens were coming back in style. For the hundredth time. Funny how nothing stayed gone for long. Including a certain vampire.
He couldn’t deny that MF pulled her weight and was an excellent seamstress, but he’d been fine without her before, and he’d get along fine again. It was more important to have his privacy, which was why he’d prepared a list of vacant stores she could rent out. He would even let her keep the patterns for his Victorian pieces if she liked. Just as long as she moved on.
“Boss! Did you hear?” Bonbon came running up.
“Did a bus full of Mexicans pull up?” Bonbon loved Mexican food. Damien’s floors did not. The demons always overate.
“No. Even better. The gods reopened the portals.”
Damien stopped emptying the box. “Demon portals? Open?”
“Yeah… Can you believe it?”
This was not good. The gods had banished demons for a reason. Also, there was the small matter of the demon king, who still wished to murder him. A long story.
“How long have the portals been open?” Damien wondered if he had time to go home and grab his big weapons. The smaller ones here in the shop were meant for human thugs, the occasional angry customer, and Big Foot. He got out of hand sometimes when his stuff wasn’t ready on time.
“Not long, boss, but Gorgonzolina and I are leaving immediately.”
“Really. How sad,” he said flatly.
“Don’t worry. We won’t stay long.” Gorgonzolina trotted up, dragging a little red wagon carrying their doggy beds. “We know you need us here.”
Nope. “It would be difficult to manage, but I am sure I can cope,” Damien said.
“Bonbon, are you ready? We’re double-parked outside,” said a soft, feminine voice.
Damien looked up to find a tall, beautiful woman in her thirties with creamy brown skin, long black hair, and wide hips like a sexy schooner. Her lips were red like berries, and her dark eyes were two orbs of chocolate sensuality.
She’s beautiful. He stopped breathing.
“You guys got your things?” the woman said, locking eyes with Damien, but clearly speaking to the demons.
“Yeah, Mom. Just give us a sec.” Bonbon looked at Damien. “Dude, put your tongue back in your mouth. That’s my mother, Queen Caviar de Catelina.”
“No, no,” she said to Damien. “Don’t be silly. You looked after my precious Bonbon all these years. You’re like family now, Mr. Greystone. Call me Cavi. Or Love Mistress.”
This was his mother? She was the queen of the love-sucking demons?
All sense of desire drained from Damien’s body. There was nothing more repulsive than their kind, except for rage demons. And Pet.
“Queen Caviar de Catelina.” Damien bowed his head respectfully. “So very nice to make your acquaintance. I owed Bonbon a debt after he saved my life, so consider us even. Now, if you don’t mind, I have orders to finish.”
“Uh, sure. Nice to meet you, Mr. Greystone.”
Cavi stood with shaking knees, doing everything in her power not to lose her composure. The moment she walked through the doors of Greystone and Sons, elated to be reunited with Bonbon—her nine-thousandth but favorite son—she truly believed this day couldn’t get any better.
She’d been hard at work back home, rebuilding their kingdom, ensuring there would be a place for all love-sucking demons to thrive. It hadn’t been easy in a land overrun by your average, violent, hate-filled demons, but she’d made significant progress ever since the gods shut them out of the human realm.
She’d signed valuable trade agreements with neighboring kingdoms, the pain and humiliation demons, to hold monthly events for spankings. In exchange, her people were caressed, snuggled, and stroked in a show of symbiosis.
The journey had not been easy, but there’d been no choice if her people were to be fed. Yet the triumphs had failed to bring her joy. She’d missed her Bonbon.
Now that was over. He was even married! And aren’t I lucky? Look at you, Mr. Greystone. The cherry on the love cake of my day .
“Mother, why’s your stomach grumbling?” Bonbon said. “When’s the last time you ate?”
An hour ago. But the moment she gazed upon this tailor, her energy began draining, making space for something tasty she hadn’t had in years. The affection of a hot man.
Why wouldn’t he look at her?
Well, you can run, but you can’t hide, tailor. I will have you pet me.