Page 41 of Hellfire & Tinsel
Kassel tilted the pole toward him, jagged, waterfowl-disemboweling end out.
“Okay, okay! Here.”
The guy unhooked the duck and threw it over. Beau caught it with eager arms and a giggle of happiness, snuggling his face into the fur. “Kassel, you did it!”
Kassel took Beau’s hand and led them away, nose held high in the air.
And if he left a tiny spark behind that had the stall owner yelping and panicking as it caught quickly on the highly flammable stall, that was just him doing his rightful duty of punishing the wicked.
He’d only promised Beau not to set other people on fire.
They walked away from the chaos beginning to develop, with Beau actually not noticing for once and instead cooing over his prize. Kassel felt his chest puff out, his makeshift spear slung over his shoulder.
They wandered around until they were under the shadow of the giant metallic wheel spinning in a slow loop over their heads. This close, he could see the seats suspended on it, carrying people who were laughing and screaming.
It looked odd, but not completely unappealing.
He glanced at Beau and found him staring, the lights from the wheels reflecting in his eyes like stars.
“You want to ride that?” Kassel asked.
Beau nodded eagerly, dragging Kassel toward a substantial line of people waiting to get on the ride.
“Looks like it’ll be a while,” Beau said, standing on his toes to try and see over people’s heads. He glanced at the watch on his wrist. “I hope we can make it before they close.”
Kassel allowed a tendril of demonic energy to seep out into the space around them. It slithered toward the people in front, whispering in their ears, convincing them they absolutely didn’t feel like riding the weird thing above them and instead wanted something far more appealing.
Gluttony. Lust. Greed.
One by one they sprinted off in search of their hearts’ sinful desires, some climbing over food stalls and grabbing handfuls of food to cram into their mouths, others falling into each other carnally on top of tables, ultimately clearing the path for Kassel and Beau until just enough people were left for one ride.
“Was that you again?” Beau asked.
“Humans are easy to distract. It’s not hurting them.”
Beau hummed. “They do look like they’re enjoying themselves I guess.”
The line dwindled and the cart attached to the wheel rumbled to a stop in front of them. The man operating the ride ushered them into the last cart, uncaring about the sudden exodus that had happened before his eyes.
It was a tight fit. Beau, Kassel, the duck, and the spear. But they managed to get the bar over their heads and pressed down over their laps.
“It’s for safety,” Beau said in response to Kassel’s confused expression. “So you don’t fall off.”
“Isn’t that the point?”
Beau giggled, shaking his head as they rolled out of the entrance and upward.
Kassel huffed. In his opinion, the ride would have been much more exciting with the prospect of people hurtling to their demise. As it was, he sat there with his arms crossed, feeling like he was on the bus again. Just slightly less comfortable and on a much worse road.
Beau seemed to like it though.
“Do it like this, Kassel!” he called out to him, taking one of Kassel’s hands and lifting it into the air, swinging it above their heads. “Aaaaaaah!!”
He was looking at Kassel expectantly, hands still in the air as they crested the top of the wheel, even though it was moving at the speed of Jek after a hellparty.
“Aaaah!” Kassel repeated dutifully, making sure to keep his voice as level as he could, but still loud enough for Beau to hear.
The human threw his head back, the sound of bells filling the night air with no obstructions. Laughter. Pure and filled withjoy, but free. His bright soul shining, completely uninhibited, with only the moon and stars to bear witness.
