The voice startles me, and I turn, wincing at the pain in my body from the fight that’s come roaring back in this form. Dank is standing there, his mask off, and his weird, skeletal, fiery-feathered form revealed. The damn cloak must be his, and I don’t know if I’ve ever felt so grateful to see someone. When I first got here, this would have scared the fuck out of me, but now? I look up at the ancient demon with a huge smile.
“I… Dank.. dragon?”
His spooky visage forms what I’m pretty sure is a smile as he nods. Flaming feathers molt and fall as he does so, making me frown. Is being without his protective garb hurting him? I don’t know. Hell, I don’t even really know what kind of demon he is, or how ridiculously old he must be. I just know that even if it is harming him, this kindly old demon made certain that no one saw me for real if I didn’t want them to.
“Yes, Master Kit. You have several secrets, and some have become… less hidden today, it seems.”
I snort and then grunt as it makes my torso ache. Probably cracked those damn ribs again. “Yeah, it’s been a real peach of a day, Dank. Did… they call you?”
“Aye! They called himandme.” The gruff voice of the Keeper echoes behind me, and I blink in surprise. “I didn’t know you’d made such goodfriends with the royal physician. Had I known, I would have added a few suggestions for you to ask him during our last visit.”
His enthusiasm is a bit much for me right now.
Swaying at the sudden influx of emotions and power around me, I put my hand out in case I crumple, but there’s someone behind me immediately. I turn my head slowly, smiling when I see Salem grinning at me. “Thanks, Salem.”
“Don’t worry, KK. We’ll always catch you, even if some dickhead is leading you into a dive you might not have the mechanics to handle yet.”
There’s a growl from the periphery of the circle at the dig, and I sigh in relief when it tells me that Jasper is okay. “I appreciate it. I really have no idea how I managed that. The dragon was in the driver’s seat from the moment it popped free. I could only watch and yell inside, but it didn’t give a fuck what I said.”
“That’s not surprising, lad. All new shifters struggle with control and trust with their animal, and the more powerful the beastie is, the harder it is to learn.” The Keeper backs up, his bearded face barely concealing the smirk. “I believe it would be worse for someone who has more inner beings than they know what to do with.”
“Gee, I can’t imagine,” I mutter grumpily.
“Master Kit, may I speak with you privately? I would like to examine you briefly to ensure we are not ignoring serious injuries and to discuss your condition with you. The others can decide what they will do to clean up this… situation… while we do so.”
I would kiss that flaming bird demon if I didn’t think it would burn me to ash.
“Yes, that sounds like a good idea, Dank.”
Slash lumbers over, picking me up without a word, and stomps over to the bench with me in his arms. The big guy is clearly upset, but he’s gentle as can be, cradling me close, and then finally depositing me on the toilet in the bathroom of the changing area. “Close the door and be cautious. I must go assist the others, little demon.”
Since we’re not in view of the others, I dart forward, kissing his cheek lightly as I whisper, “Thank you.”
“As the panda said, we will always keep you safe.”
I smile to myself as he pulls back and exits the small restroom, so the doc can enter. As soon as he’s inside, Dank chants a few words in the demonic language, and the door glows purple. I assume he’s using magic to lock it in a more serious manner than the handle, so I just sit on the cold ceramic lid as I wait.
“You have chosen your allies very well, Katarina,” Dank says in his rusty voice. “I believe those young demons would truly sacrifice themselves in order to keep you safe. They are not lying to you or themselves anymore, it seems.”
Scoffing uncomfortably, I scuff my foot on the ground. “Maybe. I mean, some of them. I don’t know about everyone. They’re all being better, though.”
“You’re not giving yourself or them enough credit. However, such is the fallacy of youth, I believe.” He laughs, the sound making more feathers fly, and I frown. “Do not worry about that, Katarina. My feathers have molted and grown back so many times over my long life that I lost count before the current royals took the throne.”
I guess that might be a hint to some, but it leaves me completely at a quandary on age and shit.
“Okay, I just… it looked painful, and I thought giving me your cloak and keeping your mask off probably made it worse.”
Dank laughs again. “No, those are devices forothers’comfort. You do not look at me in abject horror as so many do. I am perfectly comfortable and not in pain. You, however, cannot say the same, I gather?”
My nose wrinkles as I whisper, “Jasper and I were practicing sparring. It was fine until the Major showed up out of nowhere.”
“I see,” he hums as he pulls the cloak off of my shoulders so he can see me. “And then what transpired?”
The darkness inside me rears up again as I think about it, and the doctor puts his hand on my shoulder, making it melt away somehow. I give him a wide-eyed expression, but he just goes back to examining me. “Um.. well, The Major ordered Jasper to spar with me again, and um… He said the prince couldn’t hold back this time. It was an order, and I could tell Jasper didn’t want to do it, but we couldn’t say no.”
Pausing, Dank looks at me sympathetically—I think—and shakes his head. “The soldiers loyal to the crown, especially those in the highest ranks, havelost their way. Sadism, cruelty, and lust for power run amok in their midst. Ordering a powerful, elder demon to attack a young one is never helpful and often leads to the thinning of their ranks rather than filling them. You cannot lead soldiers you gravely injure or kill.”
“That’s what I thought, but obviously, this asshole wasn’t taught logic,” I grumble. Dank’s hands move to a spot that makes me cry out, and he stops, turning to look in the bag on the floor. “He seemed determined to fuck me up, and it’s probably because we metaphorically gave the King the middle finger on Halloween. Well, Jasper did, and I was involved.”
