Page 15 of The Nephilim's Touch
“Yeah, and it’s full of so many strange vegetables from other realms. I love it there. And every night there’s a wood nymph that comes out to sing. They’re really nice and have a lot of stories.”
“A wood nymph?” Why am I not surprised? Every type of creature seems to find its way into Hex. Though I guess that was the original plan of the town, a safe haven for supernatural types in need.
“Yes,” Gabe laughs. “A wood nymph. Sometimes when I can’t sleep, I drag myself down to the garden and listen to their songs until I can’t keep my eyes open anymore.”
“Alright, let’s do it.” It’ll be better than staring at each other all night, though that’s no hardship.
“We have to wait until the sun goes down.” Gabe looks to the kitchen window where the sun blazes brightly.
Something flitters to the floor out of nowhere, and I bend to pick it up. It’s the size of a playing card. “Why do you have a tarot card?” It’s two-sided. One sided labeled The Empress, the other The Consort.
“That’s what that is? I thought it was a bookmark. It came in a book I got at The Magic Shop.”
“We have a magic shop?”
Gabe chuckles, and it’s magical. Sun comes in from the window just right, giving him a halo again. “Pike and Lark asked the same thing. I can take you there. That’s fun, but I was just there right before we met.”
I snort as I set the card on the table. “That’s one way of putting it, I guess.” Yet again, my punishment affects someone else.
He gives me another adorable grin and Ireally,really wish I could take pictures with my mind. I wonder how long it’ll take before he gets annoyed with me, like everyone else.
“Actually, yes. Let’s go to The Magic Shop while we wait for the sun to go down.” Gabe bounces to his feet.
“Sounds good to me.” I hate having nothing to do.
“Oh, wait! You need shoes.” Gabe chews on his bottom lip as he stares at my feet, so I wiggle my toes.
“Nope. I’m good. Don’t like shoes anyway, so I don’t wear ‘em.”
“If you’re sure?”
“Absolutely sure.” I throw my arm around his shoulders and pull him in. “Lead the way, my cute little Hex guide.”
He snorts at that, and I let him go. “I don’t know that you can call me a guide. Isn’t your crossroads in Hex? You’d know more than me.”
We get out the door and he locks up.
“Sure, my crossroads is here, but I lived in the demon realm most of my life and just popped in when I got summoned. Then Pike got summoned and fell in love with Larky Poo and I kinda started hanging around them in Hex. I stuck to Flutter and Fangs because that’s where Wicky started hanging out, too. So the few things I know about this place is what you’ve just told me. We have a magic shop and a community garden. There’s Flutter and Fangs, and my crossroads is at—” My mouth seals shut and the stupid magic smooths out my face, making it look like I don’t even have a mouth. Damn it, I forget I can’t tell people where it is. They have to find it on their own or someone else tells them. I can’t even walk Gabe right up to it because the magic will kick me out of bounds every time. I have to be summoned.
Gabe sucks in a breath and stumbles back. I catch him with my tail before he can fall. Hesitantly, he cups my cheeks as we wait for the magic to drain away. “Are you okay?” he asks.
Why does no one ever ask demons that? I blink back at him, not able to form words. I can’t even think of words to say right now and nod. My mouth feels sticky when the magic fades and we’re just looking at each other.
“That has to be scary when it happens.”
I shake my head. “It’s better than if I wanted to tell you how to free me from my crossroads, which I don’t.”
“What happens then?”
“The magic will seal away my mouth and nose so I can’t breathe at all.”
“I’m glad my magic can’t do anything like that to me.” Gabe shivers as he hugs himself.
“Speaking of magic…” I poke him a few times with my tail, drawing out a laugh. “What are you?” I lean down to sniff him and there’s a magic seal somewhere blocking his true scent.
“Isn’t it a little rude to ask?” His hands drop to his waist as he grins at me, so I know he’s not mad.
“I’m a demon. I’m rude. And an asshole. Don’t get attached.”
