Page 47 of I Accidentally Summoned A Demon
“You don’t know that.”
“Relax. You know, people having addiction problems doesn’t mean they’re horrible people. Just because someone’s in a rough patch and homeless doesn’t mean they’re a deadbeat. Some people need a little help.”
“Perhaps, but it often makes them dangerous. And you’re young and,”beautiful, “look like an easy target.”
“Most people down here wouldn’t hurt me, and if they tried, someone else would step in.” Kat stepped over a broken bottle. “A lot of them know me from volunteering at shelters. If you weren’t with me, I’d have an escort.”
Nex had a retort, but Kat stopped in front of a brick building and pulled open a creaky, wooden door. He peered up at a food bank sign.
Kat held the door. “You’re the one who wanted to come. I didn’t ask you to.”
“I don’twantto. I’m here because you insist on putting yourself in danger. What am I supposed to do if you die wandering unsavory parts of the city alone?”
Kat huffed. “Are you coming in or not?”
“I cannot believe I’m fucking doing this,” he muttered, following her in.
According to Kat, plenty of people volunteered at food banks on Thanksgiving Day, but charities needed help in the weeks leading up to it, packing meal boxes and sorting food. People donated a lot more during the holidays, creating more work along with it. Volunteering was something she used to do with her parents, which was the only reason Nex backed off trying to talk her out of it.
His intention was to stay hidden and be nearby in case something happened. Then he discovered Kat was staying until she helped sortallthe donated canned foods. If he helped, they’d get out sooner. Surrounded by a bunch of humans, organizing canned food, Nex wondered what the odds were that of all the people in the world, he got summoned by someone like Katherine.
Before, he might’ve let her come alone, but he fucked up. Leaving a mess like he did at Jason’s could draw attention from higher-ranked demons. Hopefully, it wouldn’t draw the attention of one specific demon.
Lilith could be vicious, and she outranked him. That made her dangerous, especially since Nex could only do so much while bound to Katherine.
The tedious night wore on. He thought it couldn’t get worse until people came in wanting food. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Kat walked right up and got them settled. She even hugged some of them. Nex wasn’t fond of the way they smiled at her, the way they were too comfortable around her. He didn’t sense anything bad about them, but he couldn’t be too careful.
He reasoned that was why the moment she was at his side packing boxes again, he planted his hand on her waist so they’d know she wasn’t alone and wouldn’t walk alone either. “I must’ve missed the part of volunteering at a food bank where it says you’re to be affectionate with the dodgy people who come in.”
“They’re harmless. I know which ones are dangerous, and they’re not. They’re cold and hungry.”
Nex sighed. “If you could foronesingle fucking day not be so naïve, that would make me less on edge.”
“I’m not naïve. I’ve known them a while.” She nodded to the men at the table eating the soup she brought. “They want to be treated like everyone else, Nex. Do you always judge someone the first few seconds of seeing them? There’s more to people than appearances. You don’t know them.”
“And you do?”
“Yes.” Hands on her hips, Kat faced Nex. “They’re on honorably discharged vets. They both watch out for young kids who end up on the streets. They weren’t here for normal dinner hours because they were watching out for other people.”
“You talk to them enough to know all this? Why?”
“Because they’re people, and they’re kind.”
“They’re homeless and could be addicts for all you know.”
“It’s not like I don’t pay attention. The dangerous people I keep a distance from. You can’t label someone as one thing. Labels are toxic, Nex.” She returned to packing. “People don’t fit neatly into categories. Labels create division and bias. If everyone looked at each other as people with lives and emotions as complex as their own instead of labeling and judging them for something they can’t control, maybe there wouldn’t be so much hate in the world. Haven’t you ever been misjudged?”
Of course he’d been misjudged. Being a demon wasn’t easy, even with the perks. It wasn’t a discussion he wanted to have, so he worked faster. Except he kept getting distracted, his gaze drawn to Kat as she sorted cans and interacted with other humans.
She was sad. He knew because he’d been around her enough. But damn, she pulled off not seeming sad. If he didn’t know what happened, that she still cried occasionally, he’d never know she wasn’t happy. If he didn’t sleep next to her, he wouldn’t know she had nightmares about the accident with her parents almost every night. If he didn’t spend each day with her, he wouldn’t know how often she stopped and stared at her parents’ closed bedroom door, then excused herself to the bathroom where she thought he couldn’t hear her cry.
While part of her was naïve, another part wasn’t. She wore a mask, played the part of the cheerful young woman like she was expected to. Though there was plenty to make her unhappy, she didn’t let it show. Not even with him. That mask held up so well that no one would notice it if they weren’t paying close attention.
He desperately wanted to remove that mask.
By the time they left, it was late. Nex tried to convince Kat to take the bus, but she didn’t like riding it. As long as something wasn’t too far, she walked. Nex hated walking. It took so long for humans to get anywhere.
Picking up on his annoyance, Kat glanced at him as they wandered down the dark, nearly empty street. “What are you huffing about?”
