Page 4 of Indecent

“Hold on tight.” The voice that came from between those sharp teeth was like his human voice but raspier.

Hold on tight to the sharp-toothed demon gripping him in a steel-tight hug? Daniel barely had the sense of mind to fling his arms around the demon’s neck before the wings beat hard, shooting them up into the air so suddenly that his stomach bottomed out.

He did scream; it was impossible not to. The demon laughed in his ear. He swore they spun, dove, and arced even more just so the demon could hear him holler each time.

“Stop it or I’m gonna throw up,” he said, closing his eyes and willing it all to stop.

The kalmach laughed. “Ah, little human. You can’t throw up. You have no physical body.”

“Then why do I feel sick?”

“Because your mind believes you should feel sick.”

“What happens if I fall?”

The kalmach harrumphed. “You will not fall.”

“You could drop me.”

“I wouldn’t.” He said it with such certainty that Daniel couldn’t help believing him.

After a moment, he said, “But what would happen if you did? I can’t die, right? I’m already dead.” Saying the words didn’t actually help him wrap his mind around it. He was dead.

“Right. I don’t know. I suppose we could find out…”

“No, no, don’t even think about it!” If possible, he clung even harder.

The arms around him tightened, and it occurred to him that this was a very intimate embrace, their bodies pressed together from head to foot. If Daniel turned his head, their cheeks would brush. He resolutely did not do that. Just because his brother fell for a demon didn’t mean they were all so friendly.

“I said I wouldn’t.” The kalmach chuckled again.

Daniel studied the kalmach’s pointed ear, unwilling to turn his head and bring their faces closer together. The thought made him heat for some reason, even with the demon in his monstrous gargoyle-like form.

“Why are you helping me?” he asked. “What’s in it for you?”

The kalmach’s head twitched toward him. “The routes to Earth are shut for some reason. I’d like to get to the surface. When you’re transformed, you’ll get access. I can go with you.”

That sounded fair enough. Daniel had no problem helping him get to Earth. It seemed like the least he could do, if the kalmach helped him get through Hell.

They were quiet for a while after that. Daniel stared up at the endless gray sky and listened to the eerie, rhythmic flap of the kalmach’s wings. He could see one pointed ear on the side of the kalmach’s head from the corner of his eye.

“Do you remember how you died yet?” the kalmach asked.

Daniel sighed. “No. Will I?”

“I believe so. Most souls do eventually.”

“Good.” That seemed like something he should know. “What’s your name?”

The kalmach’s head turned, and Daniel thought he’d surprised him. Their cheeks brushed. The kalmach’s marble skin was unnaturally warm. “Chaol.”

“I’m Daniel. It’s, uh, nice to meet you.”

“I believe you might be the first to ever say that to me.”

Daniel chuckled. “Well, you’re not my first demon.”

“Paladin, right? I saw the ring.”