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“Oh, to the crossroads.”
Dan stood. “Not alone. Kane wouldn’t approve.”
I snorted. “You think I give a flying monkey’s ass whether Kane would approve?” He wasn’t the boss of me. Even Big Boss wasn’t the boss of me.
Dan’s brow creased in confusion. “Why would you give a flying monkey’s ass anything?”
Ignoring him, I ran to the truck.
Dan chased after me. “I’m alerting Kane to the potential situation.”
“You don’t have to do that. I can handle it.”
“I made a promise.”
“You’re a demon. You break them all the time.” I climbed behind the wheel. “Besides, you’re supposed to be my protection, not my snitch.”
He jumped in the passenger seat beside me and slammed the door closed. “Then protect you I shall.”
I hit the gas and drove as fast as my aging truck would allow to reach the nearest entrance to the crossroads. I parked in a small lot designated for hikers; we’d have to travel the rest of the way through the Wild Acres on foot.
The woods were blanketed in silence; I could hear the rushing water of the Falls in the distance.
“Something’s wrong,” Dan said.
My eyes locked on the problem in the clearing ahead. “You’re not kidding.”
The creature’s lioness head was sandwiched between two long donkey ears and covered in long, straggly hair. The rest of her body looked human, aside from the talons on her feet.
We quickly sought refuge behind a cluster of bushes.
“I take it she isn’t one of your neighbors,” Dan whispered.
“She must’ve come through the crossroads.”
Dan’s gaze darted left to right. “Any sign of your friend?”
It took me a minute to locate Alicia near the top of an oak tree that circled the clearing. Her arms and legs were currently curled around its branch. The creature released a mighty roar in her direction.
“Someone’s hangry,” I remarked.
The creature started toward the trunk of Alicia’s tree, her talons scratching the dirt. “My grip means death,” she rasped.
“I’ll take care of her,” Dan said.
I tugged his shirt. “You’re not responsible for Alicia. That’s on me.”
“And I’m responsible for you. Do you not understand basic logic?” Dan stepped into the clearing and whistled.
The creature seemed torn between pursuing her prey and acknowledging the newcomer. I clapped my hands, prompting her to pivot toward Dan.
Except he was no longer the demon with the handsome face. He looked exactly like the hideous creature, right down to the talons.
The mirror image threw her off guard and she seemed unable to decide what to do next. Dan seized his advantage and swiped his sharp talons at her. They grazed the creature’s neck; blood bubbled to the surface.
I crept to Alicia’s tree and saw that she’d managed to climb higher. I needed her to climb down so I could escort her to safety while Dan took care of the creature.
“Did that thing just multiply?” Alicia yelled.
