Page 30 of Fixing the Grumpy Pumpkin King
“I’m thinking of doing something NECESSARY.”
The familiars and Jack all turned as Locke entered, rushing to greet him. Jack reached him first, those carved lines sharp with concern. “You were gone for hours.”
“They said it was probably just some tourists looking for quick cash. Nothing major was taken...” Locke rubbed his face, exhausted. He just wanted to sleep. Forget this whole night happened.
Those carved lines were sharp, angry, protective. “You were in danger.”
“I wasn’t even here when it happened!”
“That’s not the point. You could have been.”
Locke sighed. He could see where this was going. “Jack, it’s fine. The shop has insurance. Grandma’s wards kept them from getting into the actual magical inventory. It’s handled.”
“It’s not handled.” Jack raised his hand, and Locke felt power gathering in the air. The temperature dropped. The vines on the walls rustled though there was no wind.
“What are you doing?”
“Oh no,” Bramble muttered.
“My lord, perhaps we should discuss this...” Russet tried.
Jack’s voice resonated with divine authority, echoing off the walls in a way that made Locke’s bones vibrate. “HEAR ME, SHADOW-BORN. I CALL YOU TO SERVICE.”
The air tore. Not metaphorically, but actually. Locke watched reality split like fabric, darkness bleeding through. A shadow demon manifested in their living room, all writhing darkness and teeth and promised violence. It had no solid form, just suggestion of limbs and claws and a hunger that made Locke’s hindbrain screampredator.
“JACK!”
“Don’t be afraid. From now everyone else will fear you.” Jack’s voice was calmer now, satisfied. He gestured at the demon like he was introducing a puppy. “This is a guardian. It will keep you safe.”
Locke stared at the demon. At Jack. At the demon again. His brain was trying very hard to process and failing. “What is it? Is that a Demon?”
“A minor one. Perfectly safe.” Jack said it so casually, like he summoned demons every weekend. The carved features were relaxed, pleased even. “It will follow you and eliminate any all threats.”
“Eliminate?!” The word came out strangled. “No! Absolutely not! You are NOT siccing a demon on tourists!”
The carved features turned stubborn, unyielding. “But you need protection.”
“I need you to NOT summon demons in my grandmother’s apartment!”
“It’s kinda cute though? In a scary shadow-monster way?” Pip zoomed closer to the demon, examining it with genuine fascination. The demon ignored him, its attention fixed entirely on Locke.
“Pip, you are not helping.”
Jack moved closer, and Locke could feel the earnestness radiating off him. “It won’t hurt innocents. Only those who mean you harm.”
“Jack, this is too much.”
Something in Jack’s posture shifted. Frustration bleeding through. “The feast was too much. The seed was too much. Apparently, everything I do is too much! But I won’t apologize for wanting to keep you safe.”
The words hit differently than Locke expected. He could hear it now: the desperation underneath the grand gestures. The fear. Jack was trying so hard and failing and trying again anyway because... because he cared. Really cared.
Locke’s voice softened. “I didn’t say... look, I appreciate that you care, but...”
“Then let me do this. Please.” The carved features shifted, almost pleading. Jack had never sounded like that before. Vulnerable. Uncertain.
Locke looked at the shadow demon. At Jack. At those carved features that somehow managed to convey so much hope and fear and desperate need to protect. The demon would be dangerous, yes. But temporary. He could manage it for a few days. And Jack looked like he needed this.
“...Fine. But if it does ANYTHING weird, it goes. Got it?”
