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"Kate, open up," I shouted, pounding on her door.
She answered moments later, her long blonde hair pulled up into a ballerina bun on the top of her head. A soft blue blouse clung to her thin frame, like she was some sort of Hollywood model. I swallowed the jealously that dared to rear its ugly head at a moment like this. All my life, I'd been jealous of Kate's tiny lithe figure and her porcelain doll features. Now was not the time to rehash that.
"What's wrong? Is something wrong with Granny? And what happened to your face?" She stared at me with her perfectly shadowed eyes, her mascara thick and black.
I realized that Kate hadn't seen my purple and yellow bruise from Dirk's visit yet. While I normally told her the truth about something like that, there was no time to get into it. I told her the same story I told Granny.
"What? No, Granny's fine. And I fell when I was hiking and hit my jaw on a rock. It's fine."
I tried to think of the best way possible to break the news to Kate that I had a demon prisoner, but there really was no way to soften the blow. The truth had to come out.
"Listen, I need to get some antibiotics for my friend. He's sick."
Kate's eyes narrowed. "A boy?"
"Yes. I mean, no. Sort of." I shook my head. "He's a demon, Kate. I saved him the other day when he and his friend were attacked by another demon clan. And now he's dying from an infection. I need to help him."
Kate jumped back like I'd slapped her. Her mouth opened and closed in silent words. Then she blinked and came back to reality.
"Are you crazy?" Her voice was like a loud whisper. "Do you know what will happen if anyone finds out? You can't help a demon. That's against the law."
"I know." I felt a flush grow along my neck and into my cheeks. I wasn't stupid. I knew I was breaking the law. But I'd hoped to do it without anyone finding out.
"What if he hurts you?" Kate demanded. "Have you thought about that? Maybe it's better if you let him die. No one would have to know about this."
A frown pulled at the sides of my mouth. She didn't understand. No one would. I couldn't quite understand it myself. But I couldn't let Gabe die. I'd seen him out in those woods, looking so vulnerable. I knew he was more powerful than I could imagine. He could break me in two. But I couldn't let him die. Something inside me would die with him.
"Please, Kate. He's different. And I have to do this. With or without your help."
She looked at me like I was crazy, but nodded her head and let me inside. Hopefully, we'd been friends long enough that she knew I’d never put anyone in danger. If I had the slightest idea that Gabe would hurt one of my friends, I'd put the dagger in him myself.
"How are you planning on getting this medicine?" she asked. "The nearest doctor's office is forty minutes away. It's not like you can sneak into one of those."
"I know." I dropped my bag on her mom's elegant oak dining table.
Kate's mom had a story very similar to my own mother's. She'd moved into town when she was seven months pregnant with Kate - alone and confused. Her parents had kicked her out of the house when they found out she'd been knocked up. Kate was only a year older than me.
"Then what's the plan?" Kate put her hands on her hips and faced me. I knew that expression all too well. She was the realist who challenged all my crazy ideas. I kept her from getting a little too set in her ways and she kept me grounded.
"Easy." I put my fingers to my mouth and whistled.
Kate's old golden retriever came running out of the kitchen, her mouth pulled up into a doggy sized smile. She slid to a stop at my feet and sat on her rear looking up at me. Her tail swept the floor as she waited impatiently for a pat on the head. I didn't keep her waiting long. My fingers combed through the graying hair around her muzzle and floppy ears.
"We're going to tell Dr. Richt that Sadie hasn't been feeling well," I explained to Kate. "While you're in her office, I'll steal some penicillin. She won't even notice."
Dr. Richt was the large and small animal vet in Hanna. She cared for both the pets and the livestock of the women who made a living in our town. Her tiny clinic was attached to her home on Willow Street.
"You want me to lie for you?" Kate raised one perfectly manicured eyebrow at me. "You know that might not work. I'm an awful liar."
It was true. Kate couldn't lie to save herself, but I had faith in my plan.
"It's not really a lie. You told me yourself that Sadie's been getting old and tired. She even has a limp on her right front paw. Have Dr. Richt check that out."
She waved her hand in the air in defeat. "Fine. I'll do this for you. But that demon needs to go, Lizzy. You can't keep a pet demon around here. He'll kill you or someone else the first chance he gets."
"I know."
As soon as Gabe was better, I'd let him go. No more shack and no more rope. I was done with this game.
