Page 31 of Demon Apathy: Sunderverse
“They took my sister. They took her.”
“Oh.” Drevan winced and let go of his arm.
Was he saying that those guys had kidnapped Lunar?
“Put that down!” Drevan ordered a guy that was practically sticking his phone in Solar’s face.
Immediately, the guy did what he was told, and not only that, he turned and marched away from us as if on a mission.
“Let’s get you out of here.” Drevan, once more, took hold of Solar and dragged him back the way we’d come. When we got back to the restaurant’s attendant, we found that he’d brought the Ferrari back around.
“My sister, my sister,” Solar kept saying under his breath as his attention wandered from side to side in addled confusion. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what he must be feeling. If anyone took one of my siblings, I would go insane. The thought of anything bad happening to Leo, Toni, or Dani was terrifying.
Drevan threw open the passenger side door and stuffed Solar inside. Next, he shoved me around to the other side, took the fob from the valet, and pressed it into my hand.
“Drive him to his place. I’ll meet you there.”
My mouth opened and closed. I barely knew how to drive, much less a stick shift. Toni, who owned a 1970 Camaro, had taught me, but I barely had time to practice.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said. “You take him. I’ll take the subway and go to the league.” I doubted I would make it in time to the airport without Drevan’s traffic mojo.
“You’ll be fine.” Drevan grabbed me by the shoulders and forced me into the driver‘s seat.
I swatted his hands away, but when I looked up, he was gone.
“Drevan!” I jumped out of the car and searched for him, but he had disappeared. “Bastard. I knew it. I knew it!”
“Ma’am.” The attendant smiled at me and put out a hand. I stared at it for a second, not understanding what he wanted, and then it dawned on me. Drevan hadn’t given him a tip.
“I’m sorry. I don’t have any cash.”
His eyes tightened, but to his credit, the courteous smile remained in place. I got back in the car to find Solar weeping and rocking back and forth in his seat.
I slammed the door shut and pressed the start button. The engine purred like a giant feline waiting to be released into the wild. I grabbed the wheel, hands shaking. I had no business driving a car in New York City. I would probably not even make it a couple of blocks before a cop stopped me and asked for my license and registration.
Someone started blowing their horn behind me, and the attendant gave me an annoyed look from the sidewalk. Clenching my teeth, I put the car in first and lurched forward, nearly stalling it. I carefully pulled into traffic, going at a snail’s speed. More people blew their horns, but I didn’t care. The first order of business was tonothit another car or, worse yet, a pedestrian.
“Where do you live?” I asked Solar.
And why the hell was I taking him to his place and not the police station?
“God damn you, Drevan!” I said under my breath.
—I can hear you, you know?His smooth, deep voice said inside my head, almost making me choke on my own spit.
How was he speaking in my mind again? Had he possessed me once more?
—And no, I didn’t possess you again. I’m able to talk to you this way again because you’ve agreed to help me.
“No, I didn’t.”
—Yes, you did, and thank you, by the way. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Fuck me!Fuck me! He had changed my mind. He had!
I knew I should’ve gone directly to the airport. Instead, I had let him brainwash me.
—Solar lives in Queens. Ozone Park, to be precise. I’ll guide you.
