Chapter 55 Dio’s Journal - Entry 340
I guess boxing twice in one day can hurt. I’m in a lot of pain, actually.
I busted up my knuckles, have yet another black eye, and I’m fairly sure at least one of my ribs is broken.
Fem needed to pull me out of the ring. That smug asshole I fought at the end just wouldn’t quit, and the pain was helping me concentrate on something other than Chaosta.
Without Fem, I’d be in much worse shape.
Fem gave me a lecture on the walk, or in my case limp, back about taking better care of myself but I wasn’t really listening.
Not like I haven’t heard it all before. I just need something to care about again, and this will all get better.
The cause and our weather magic worked for a while, but it feels brittle right now, especially with Malam deserting us.
I slept restlessly that night because of the pain and unease about what we’re up against. I had an appetite for breakfast, though, so at least the physical exertion did help a bit.
Chaosta didn’t come to breakfast, but she hasn't since she got back, so I wasn’t overly concerned.
I know Reem has asked the staff to bring food to her room, so she’s not going hungry.
I can’t complain about the lack of awkwardness and tension.
After breakfast, we had a “band meeting” that Reem pulled together.
He’s hired us an assistant who’s going to be working double time to help pull together everything we need to get this record released on time.
He pleaded with us to help out where we can.
I’ve been trying to remember the high from the last concert and get my mind back in the game for our music.
I just can’t concentrate on anything right now.
Well, that’s not quite right. There is someone I can’t stop thinking about.
Fuck.
The meeting finished quickly enough that we had some time before lunch, so we actually managed to find some time to rehearse.
Gods, we need to do that more. Our next concert is looming, and if we play like we did today, I wouldn’t blame our entire fan base if they all deserted us.
I thought Reem was going to lose it. The band is just so important to him.
He was white faced after we finished. He left while we were still getting cleaned up.
When we went to lunch after, licking our wounds, I think we were all surprised when Chaosta joined us.
Fem opened his mouth, and I could tell he was going to scold her for slamming the door on us the day before.
I may have “accidentally” tripped him. By the time we cleaned the food up and got reorganized, he must have forgotten. Clumsy me, I guess. Ha!
When everything settled and we were eating lunch, Chaosta shared that she had “enlisted the help of a different demon” and said, “he’ll be here tonight.” She said he’s less patient than Malam, and we need to be ready right at ten each night. No summoning this one, I guess.
I don’t think any of us quite knew what to think. It’s odd to think of working with a different demon. I’m sure for the others in particular, since they’ve known Malam for far longer than I have.
Despite those misgivings, I could have thrown her a parade. Especially when she announced she’s going to get back to researching weather magic and wanted Fem and Lent to join her when they can. Fuck, we might actually have a chance to get this figured out in time thanks to her.