Chapter 30
Twerking on a Tree Demon
“Where is he? Did you get the job done?” Olian asked. She leaned on the orange guy, who supported her weight easily.
“Yes, but—” Raymond paused. “Fuck. We don't actually have any evidence to prove we got him.”
“What do you mean, don't have evidence?” Cufio sat on the back of Piko, who happily let him rest atop his massive body. “We can't just go back there and promise him we did it. He's gonna want proof.”
“I—” I was going to say something, but then I jerked when that pressure formed at my chest again. I looked down to see Kaa’s head emerge. She didn’t leave me entirely. Instead, she unhinged her jaw and regurgitated Talkeen’s lifeless body.
“Oh, hell no! What was that?” Rayna jumped back, avoiding a wet splash.
“Well, at least we have proof now.” Metice smirked.
I slapped my hand over my mouth as Kaa returned to her new home. “I'm going to be sick.”
Olian slapped the orange guy’s arm. “No! Get me out of here now. Damn Earth chicks can never keep their stomach contents to themselves.”
“What?” I swallowed back the urge to vomit and frowned at her.
“Nothing!” she snapped, and everyone around me laughed at what was clearly an inside joke.
We returned to Klougus’s home, and I slept the entire way. This time, we rode in Metice’s fire horse carriage—not that I got to enjoy it.
When we made it, Klougus’s right-hand man, Punal, met us at the door, and he was not happy we had been successful. He led us back to the room, where we waited for Klougus to address us.
“Well, I must say, I’ve heard the report of your escapades. Great job! Thank you for bringing that vermin back to me. His head will look great in my collection.”
“Right,” Raymond sighed. “The girl, please.”
“Oh, right, Natalie!” he laughed. “That’s what this was all about. Sorry, there is a lot going on these days.”
“Where is she? Is she okay?” I asked.
“Oh yes, she is great. I had her moved to more comfortable accommodations.” He sighed lovingly. “She really has grown on me in such a short time. Like a daughter.”
“Ugh! Seriously?” Olian fussed by my side. “I’m going to the healer.”
She marched out of the room, talking about how she didn’t have to stand there and be disrespected.
“Excuse my daughter. Honestly, it’s not her fault. I mess with her intentionally. After all, she tried to kill me!”
“You knew about that?” I shouldn’t have said it, but I was tired, and my filter was shut off. “Talkeen told us.”
“Right.” He sighed. “Yes, I know about it. Everything done in the dark eventually comes to light. Isn’t that right, Mnuktilous?”
Raymond nodded silently, and then Klougus clapped his hands again. The man really was expressive for someone who looked so intimidating.
“Punal will take you to the girl.” He stopped, looking at the two of us. “Interesting. First, Metice finds his mate on Earth, and now you? I must pay my old friend a visit. I sense she has some hand in this.”
After the cryptic message that kicked off that buzzing intuition inside me, he left us.
Punal then led us from that room to another deeper inside the compound. Only Raymond and I went. The others returned to the rides outside. After they handed Talkeen’s body off to Klougus’s team, we agreed we wouldn’t need them anymore.
As we walked, bodies tired and sore, my initial nerves slowly faded.
But they were replaced with a newfound sense of concern, because as we neared the room assigned to Natalie, I heard music blaring.
This wasn't the kind of music I thought I would hear in a strange new world—rapid beats, flutes and strings, maybe a melody sung in a foreign tongue.
No, this was rap music, as in rap music from Earth.
By the time we reached the door, I could feel the bass from the music and hear sounds of celebration on the other side. I threw a shocked glance at Raymond. “I know damn well she isn’t having a party right now.”
And right as I said it, Punal opened the door to the room, revealing my friend having a grand old time.
There were at least ten other demons in the room, all varying shades of what-the-fuck-is-that, and in the center of the bodies, Natalie.
She threw one hand over her head while twerking on the tree demon who kept her alive.
It wasn’t the same one as before. This one had pink and purple flowers that fell from his head like braids.
“You have got to be kidding me!” I yelled, and like a needle scratching a record, the party stopped.
Whoever controlled the music lowered the volume, but it still played in the background as Natalie realized who had just crashed her party.
“Jericha! Oh my God, you're here.” Natalie ran over to me, the tree demon keeping very close to her. “They told me you were here and that you would come to get me.”
“Are you serious right now, Natalie?” I looked over her shoulder at the other beings, who were still vibing to the music.
“What?” She looked genuinely confused.
“Do you know what I just went through to save you?” I shook my head in disbelief. “I had to fight demons, literally cross realms, and when I get back here, you are twerking on the tree.”
“He isn’t a tree. His name is Keanu.” Natalie frowned at me. “Well, actually, I can't really pronounce his real name, so we're going by Keanu now.”
“You named him Keanu, as in the actor?” I choked back a laugh because I was trying to keep a serious stance.
“It fits him, don’t you think?” She twirled her fingers in her hair and looked at the tree like she wanted to climb him.
“It's nice to meet you,” the one now going by Keanu greeted me in a voice that sounded like he spoke through a mouthful of water. “Natalie has told me what a great friend you are to her.”
“Uh, yeah, nice to meet you too.” I pointed at Natalie. “Time to go.”
“Do we have to leave so soon?” She glanced back at Keanu. “Can I have some time to say goodbye to everyone?”
“We’re not even in the right world anymore.” I threw my hands up. “It’s not safe for you here. You do understand that, right?”
“Of course I do. That's why Keanu has to stay close to me, so I can breathe. If he goes too far, I start to choke and pass out.” She waved her hand out. “But he’s right here. I’m okay.”
“Okay, pause.” I took a deep breath. “Natalie. How are you so okay with this right now? I expected you to be panicked, upset, angry at me.”
“Jericha, why would I ever be angry at you? You didn’t do this to me.” She shook her head. “And you know what my life is like on Earth. I've been craving something like this, something magical, something fun, and Keanu gave that to me.”
“Keanu and his goons snatched you from Earth, thinking you were me,” I corrected her.
“Actually, I wasn’t there,” he interjected in that dopey voice.
“Yeah, and once they realized their mistake, they were actually pretty nice about it.” Natalie smiled. “They made sure I had Keanu so I would be okay.”
“Fine. Take a moment to say goodbye, and then we can leave.” I looked at Raymond, who stood silently by my side.
“I mean, do you think we could just spend one more day here?” Natalie asked.
“Is she serious right now?” I asked Raymond.
He nodded, looking at Keanu and not at us. “I think she is.”
“Look, I know we have to go back. I'm not asking to stay here forever, but—” She looked over her shoulder at the tree guy, who pretended like he wasn't listening to us.
“Can I just have one more night here with him? He told me once this was all over, he would take me to explore this world a little.”
“Natalie, that's not safe.” I looked around the room, afraid I was the only one with sense. “We don’t know anything about the Bane. What if something attacks you?”
“I'm sorry, but unless I have misunderstood everything, you're literally standing next to a guy who is also some form of a demon. I know you want to protect me, but I'm a grown woman, and yes, you sign my paychecks, but you are not my mother.” She sighed. “Look, I’m not trying to lose my job here. I need that. But can you, for a second, just be my friend and not my boss? Give me just one more night to have a little fun.”
I grabbed her arm and pulled her just a little away from Keanu, who stiffened like he wanted to follow us but knew we needed space to talk.
“Are you telling me you…you like him? Seriously?”
“Why not?” She chewed the inside of her cheek.
“He’s sweet, and he’s been so caring. I’m not saying this is my dream man.
Never thought the guy for me would have leaves growing out of him, but I want to enjoy it for what it is.
You know my track record with men. He is better than most of the scum I’ve encountered on Earth!
Besides, how often do you get to explore another world? ”
“A night here is a week on Earth. Did they explain that to you?” I asked. “Jackie is back home taking care of everything for us, and there are people depending on me.”
“Jericha, please. Your world is full of magic. I only have this one night.”
“Jericha, it can't hurt to ask.” Raymond stepped over to me.
“Excuse me?” I looked at him. “You’re on her side now?”
“I’m on whatever side allows me to rest soon.” He rubbed the back of his neck, adjusting the weight of his locs. “Reach out to Jackie and see if she's cool with it. If she says no, we go home now.”
“I can’t believe this.” After a deep sigh, I gave in. “Fine, I’ll ask her.”
I grabbed the stone that somehow was still around my neck, despite everything we’d been through. I held it, closed my eyes, and waited. Eventually, that static connection formed, and Jackie appeared in front of me.
“It's about time. Damn, are y’all okay?” A bonnet flopped over her head; I could tell I had just interrupted her sleep.
“Yes, we’re good. Sorry, it feels like I just talked to you.” I smiled because it felt good to hear her voice, even if she was on the verge of cursing me out. “We did what we had to do and got Natalie back. She's with us now.”
“Hell yeah.” She yawned, closing her eyes as if half listening to a phone call. “I knew my girl would kick demon ass!”
“Thanks for the confidence, but I'm actually here to ask you a huge favor. Not for me, but for Natalie.”
“Natalie?” Her eyes popped open. “What does she need? Is she hurt? I can get medical staff here within the hour!”
“No, it’s nothing like that.” I reassured her. “She’s good. Actually…she found a tree demon who she named Keanu, and she is asking if we can stay one more night so she can spend time with him. But of course, one more night here is seven there.”
“Natalie’s getting freaky with a tree demon.” She laughed. “Ain't that some shit? Wait, Keanu? Like the actor?”
“Yes! Now, I can’t confirm if they got freaky, but girl, when I got here, she was throwing it back on him while listening to Meg Thee Stallion!” At that, we both laughed. “She wants to stay. I'm against it and Raymond is playing neutral, so honestly, it's up to you.”
“You know what?” Jackie nodded thoughtfully. “Let her have some fun. Everything's cool here.”
“You know you can say no, right?” I tried to influence her decision. “I mean, you have a business to run yourself. And the other hunters, I know they're looking for you.”
“True, but I have some vacation time built up, and honestly, I'm having fun here in your home. It's so much cozier than mine. Besides, I can run my business from anywhere. No one's missing me. Something's telling me Natalie isn't the only one who needs an extra night in the hellscape.”
“Excuse me?”
“You and Raymond.” Her head tilted, and she narrowed her gaze. “I know how these things go. This whole adventure solidified your relationship with him, hasn't it?”
I chuckled. “Maybe.”
“Maybe means yes, and it also means you need to keep your butt there with that man. Because maybe he isn't ready to rush back to Earth either.” She sucked her teeth. “Did you think about that? I mean, why else wouldn’t he immediately be on your side when you insisted on running back home?”
“Damn, you're right. I didn’t think about that.”
“Of course I am. It’s like you’re new around here.” She sighed. “So, take your time, spend another day there. I'll be here, keeping everything cool.”
“I really appreciate this.”
“I know, and I’m building my sushi order by the day, especially since you have so many pests here. If I wasn’t so fly, I would be traumatized.”
“What pest?” I freaked out. “Did you have to call an exterminator?”
“Not that kind. The kind with two legs and one itty bitty part in between. Men.” She laughed.
“First, it was a guy named Deonta. He came by asking for you, started ranting about how you having a new boyfriend wouldn’t be enough to keep him away.
So, I had Miguel drop him off with the pixies. Bet his ass won’t be back now.”
“Jackie!” I gasped.
“And then there was that Mitch bitch who came back here, asking if you were hiring. I slammed the door in his face so damn fast!” She rolled her eyes.
“You’re a trip.”
“Always and forever. Oh, also, I never found Kaa. I'm so sorry, girl. I think she ran away.”
“Actually, she found me.”
“She’s in the Bane? How?”
“It's a long story, one I will explain when I get back.”
“All right, girl. Talk soon.”
I let go of the connection, and when I opened my eyes, Natalie, Raymond, and Keanu stood around me, looking at me with hopeful expressions, each for very different reasons.
I shook my head. “She said yes.”
Natalie squealed and jumped into Keanu’s arms. Raymond tried to look like he wasn't affected, but I could see the relief in his expression.
“I'll bring her to you in one day,” Keanu spoke to Raymond.
“Not a second later, or I’ll find you.”
“Of course. You have my word.” He held his hand out to Raymond, who accepted it.
Then, leaving Natalie to finish her party, Raymond took my hand and walked me back outside of Klougus’s compound. He didn't say another word. When we were out in the clear, free from eyes and ears, he pulled me to him, opened the shadows, and took me back to his happy place.