Chapter 25 Chase
Chase
“Chase.”
Faust’s voice echoed in my mind. The way he called my name felt different than usual. I was still riding the high of my tender moment with Sagitta, so I didn’t think too much of it.
“Yeah?” I asked.
“Could I have a word with you privately?”
That was weird. Everything he said to me was already private, given the whole talking-inside-my-mind thing. But his serious tone and lack of overblown pet names tipped me off that something was different.
“Sure. Give us a minute?” I asked Sagitta while pointing at my head.
He nodded. It was a stark contrast to when he’d yell at me for even entertaining the idea of talking to Faust. Now he’d accepted him, the same as I had. It was wild how quickly life could change.
I walked off and stood beneath a nearby maple tree. I was alone, and it was quiet except for the leaves rustling gently in the evening breeze.
“What’s up?” I asked when Faust didn’t speak. He loved doing that.
Faust released a long, dramatic sigh. “The day has finally come.”
“Oh, yeah. It’s the last day of Sagitta’s grace period, huh? He’s going to report back to the temple tomorrow.”
Faust chuckled warmly. “That too. But that’s not what I meant.”
I gasped as a sudden shiver rippled down my body, as if I’d been hit by a cold gust of air. My hand shot out against the tree’s thick trunk to brace myself. In the next few seconds, I felt lighter, and a bit dizzy. Shutting my eyes, I rubbed my forehead and shook off the sensation.
When I opened my eyes again, Faust was floating in front of me.
“Whoa,” I said, startled. I glanced around frantically. “Dude, someone’s gonna see you!”
Faust chuckled, his tail looping back and forth in amusement. “Chase, dear, you are too kind. Don’t worry. As my former host, you’re the only person who can see me.”
That was a relief. I didn’t want him to get in trouble, or worse, give a random passerby a heart attack from seeing a flying purple demon.
Then his words sunk in.
“Did you say former host?” I asked quietly.
Faust lounged horizontally in midair, bracing his sharp elbow against nothing. Watching him float in front of me was jarring and surreal.
“I sure did,” he replied. “And you’ve been a wonderful host to boot. Except for all the donuts you wouldn’t let me eat...”
Confusion and a weird flash of disappointment hit me.
“Wait, what are you saying?” I asked. “I’m not... You’re not possessing me anymore?”
“That is precisely what I’m saying,” Faust confirmed.
“Why?”
Faust tossed his horned head back and laughed. “Humans are adorable. You get attached so easily.”
I frowned. Had I really grown attached to the demon lord possessing my body? The one who caused scenes, got me fired, and constantly made annoying comments?
“I guess we do,” I admitted, surprised at my own realization.
“Cheer up, darling. It’s not the end of the world.” Faust grinned. His fangs gleamed supernaturally bright, almost glowing. “You have Sagitta now, remember?”
My heart skipped a beat just hearing his name. I was stupidly, deeply in love.
“Yeah,” I murmured. “But what about you? Is that seriously all you wanted? To see me fall in love with the guy who was supposed to exorcise you?”
“Yes. And it’s been fun. You two put on quite a show,” Faust said, still grinning his catlike grin.
My mind boggled. Faust was playing games outside the scope of human knowledge. I was so fucking confused. And honestly, a little bit sad.
“Okay... Well, I’m glad our relationship entertained you. But if you’re not possessing me, what are you gonna do? Finally go wreak havoc and raze buildings and shit?”
Faust shot me a deadpan look.
“I’m joking. Mostly,” I added.
“Hmm. The more you joke, the more it appeals to me...”
I pointed a finger at him. “Don’t raze anything. Don’t even think about it.”
He chuckled, and as I joked around with him like a buddy, I remembered that he was a powerful fucking demon lord.
During our time together, I’d barely seen a fraction of his true power.
He could’ve smote me on the spot. He probably could’ve obliterated the city with a snap of his fingers.
At least, that’s what the phrase ‘demon lord’ brought to mind.
It was a good thing he was on our side. And had a sense of humour.
“No, dear, I have greater plans,” Faust said, waving his hand. “It’s fun, this matchmaking thing.”
I squinted at the term. He’d never mentioned it outright before, but he did say he wanted Sagitta and I to fall in love.
It made as much sense currently as it did back then.
But now, I was more inclined to take Faust at his word instead of doubting him.
He was pretty instrumental in me falling in love with my boyfriend.
“Why, though?” I asked curiously. “If you’re a totally powerful demon lord, and you can have anything you want, why do this matchmaking stuff at all?”
Faust floated closer with a mischievous smirk. “We’re buddies, Chase, so I’ll let you in on a little secret.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “I’m a hopeless romantic.”
“Okay, that is not the reason.”
He cackled as I rolled my eyes.
“I was kicked out of Hell. Banned, even. You know this, yes?” Faust asked.
As he said it, I had a vague recollection of Cygnet saying something similar.
“Yeah, sort of, but I don’t know why.” I shrugged. “I joked with Cygnet that you were too nice of a guy, so they got rid of you down there.”
Faust’s eyes glinted. On the surface, his face was mischievous as ever, but something else lurked beneath it now. Something I couldn’t put my finger on.
“You’re sweet, Chase. But no. I was a very, very naughty boy.”
“How can a demon be so naughty that he gets banned from Hell? Isn’t that, like, the whole point of being a demon?”
“You are mostly correct. However, demons are supposed to plague humankind. Not other demons.” His grin widened. “I did the latter.”
The way he said it made a cold shiver crawl down my back. Whatever he did, it sounded bad—and I got the feeling he wasn’t sorry about it at all.
Hesitantly, and only because I was sure he wouldn’t reduce me to ashes after all we’d been through together, I asked, “What did you do?”
Faust let out a wistful sigh, as if recalling a fond memory. “I killed the mayor of Hell.”
My mouth dropped open. I seriously didn’t know how to react to that information. For one thing, I didn’t even know Hell had any form of government, let alone a mayor. Although I suppose it didn’t have one anymore.
“Uh,” I said. “Any particular reason why?”
Faust’s long nose scrunched in disgust. “Because he was a loathsome, meddling prick. And he put a curse on my favourite soap opera actress! She got into an accident and never acted again. She was the heart of the show, which was promptly cancelled. I was livid.”
I blinked, stupefied. This conversation was raising more questions than answers. They had access to human TV down there? Didn’t the demons of Hell have anything better to do than watch our crappy shows?
“Once I found out he’d gotten my show cancelled, I flew into a rage. I offed him in the middle of the night. People got mad. I was chased out by all my neighbours. Isn’t that heartbreaking?” Faust sighed, clutching his chest. “Anyway, it’s ancient history now.”
“You killed the mayor because he got your favourite soap opera cancelled,” I repeated.
Faust chuckled modestly. “I was a bit dramatic back then. But you must understand, it was an excellent show.”
“What was the name of the show?” I asked, wondering if I’d heard of it.
Faust’s lip quivered. He looked like he was about to cry.
“The Secret Passions of Paradise Avenue.”
By the skin of my teeth, I bit back an outburst of laughter. I recognized that outrageous title. My mom always watched that show when I was younger, so I’d caught an episode. Or thirty. It was not what I would personally describe as quality TV.
But Faust loved it. And I wasn’t about to tell him to his face that it sucked, especially after he’d just admitted to killing the dude who’d gotten it cancelled.
“I see. Sorry,” I said.
Murder was the first actually demonic thing I’d known Faust to do. If I didn’t trust him, I’d be terrified. Suddenly I was intensely glad I could trust him.
But that was in the past, right? Maybe he was different now.
I coughed and joked, “We’ve all been there.”
Faust’s eyes crinkled, and for a moment, he looked oddly fond of me. “You don’t have to pretend for my sake, Chase. You’re a good lad. You should stay that way.” He patted the top of my head. “Now, hurry along and get back to your boyfriend. You two have a beautiful life ahead of you.”
Everything had happened so fast. The past week flew by in a blur. I’d wanted Faust out of my head and body, but now that my wish had come true, it felt bizarre that my thoughts would be mine alone again.
“What about you? Are you going to just leave? Where will you go?” I asked.
Faust winked. “I’ll be around.” He blew a kiss. “See you, Chase McLeod.”
Before I could say anything else, he dissolved into a Faust-shaped cloud of purple mist. Its shape melted as it flowed through the air like smoke, spiralling around me. It seeped over my shoulders and into my pockets, like one last embrace. Then it was gone.
I stood there for a few minutes. Except for my own thoughts, my mind was truly empty. Faust had moved on. He was gone.
“See you, Faust,” I murmured.
I walked back to Sagitta. He was waiting exactly where I’d left him. His face lit up with a smile when he saw me, which brought out a smile of my own. The pace of both my legs and heart sped up. I crashed into him, gripping my boyfriend in a big hug.
“You were gone for a while. What was that all about?” Sagitta asked.
“Faust was saying goodbye. He left my body.”
Sagitta’s eyes widened. “He’s gone?”
I spread my arms out wide. “I am officially no longer possessed.”
“Why?” Sagitta blurted. “After all that effort, he just up and left? What is his problem?”
I chuckled. Even his outrage was cute.
“Faust wanted us to fall in love. Which we did. He wasn’t lying about that. Once he was satisfied, he moved on,” I explained.
Sagitta exhaled a heavy sigh and rested his head on my shoulder. “None of this makes any sense.”
“Yup,” I agreed.
“But I’m glad you’re not possessed anymore.”
“It’s gonna feel weird for a while, but I’m glad, too.” A realization hit me. “Hey. This means you fulfilled your task. You technically exorcised the demon.”
Sagitta raised his head, wearing a thoughtful expression. Then he snorted. “Faust gave me the win after all, huh?”
“He’s a pretty nice guy. Except for murdering the mayor of Hell.”
Sagitta slowly raised a brow. “Excuse me?”
It was a long story. I recounted it as we walked home, hand in hand.