More Than Fiends

by Maureen Child

  I shoved my cart into her stomach so hard she doubled over the edge and landed with her face plastered up against my Oreos. Before she could get up and try at my eyes again, I held her head down with one hand and went for her heart through her back. Turns out, it works just as well from that angle.

  The bitch exploded into a cloud of dust, and before I left the cookie aisle, I kicked cones and syrup out of my way and grabbed an extra bag of Oreos as backup.

  I was thinking lots of cookie therapy.

  Chapter Seventeen

  I took Sugar with me on “patrol.”

  Yes, yes, I can hear you all laughing, and let me assure you, I didn’t have her along for protection. Oh, she’s big enough to scare anyone who doesn’t know her—until she hides behind me and cowers. Nope, the reason I took her was simple. She was getting fat.

  Now, I don’t mind a chubby dog, but Sugar was quickly moving on to hippo size, and you’ve got to draw the line somewhere. Since we both hated exercise in any form, I decided that if I had to suffer, so did she.

  Sugar did not approve of the plan.

  “Look,” I said, dragging on her leash as she planted her big butt and stared out at me through her hair with a pout, “we’re not walking to LA, okay? Just once around the block.”

  The street was pretty quiet, considering it was only about six thirty. Yes, I know that taking a walk around the block wasn’t what Jasmine had had in mind when she told me to go out and patrol the city. But you know what? I’d about had it with demons by then. I figured I’d do my part to make my one little corner of La Sombra safe and leave the rest of the city to its own devices until I was sure Thea wasn’t in any danger.

  No way was I going to look far and wide for demons while leaving my kid alone in a house that already had had demon rocks thrown in and demon mail dropped through our slot.

  The houses I passed were familiar and should have made me feel safe. Unfortunately, since I knew that there were demons hidden all over town, that feeling of safety was long gone. Still, once I got Sugar moving (with the promise of a cookie—and, yes, I know that was defeating the whole purpose of the walk), I almost enjoyed the cool evening air and the quiet broken only by the sound of Sugar’s reluctant claws on the sidewalk. Almost.

  My grip on the spray bottle of Demon Dew tightened reflexively while Sugar stopped to sniff at a nice-looking patch of grass in front of the house on the corner. Streetlights shone down in puddles of pale yellow. Didn’t really need the light yet, but at twilight, they all clicked on, making the neighborhood look cozy, friendly.

  I took a breath and let it out slowly, telling myself to relax even as my gaze swept the street and the sidewalks. The old trees created wide, green arches over the street, and at night, the shadows born beneath them suddenly looked a lot less friendly than they did during the day.

  Sugar covered every square inch of the grass with her nose, looking for just the right spot to pee. I waited, getting a little antsier with every passing second. Not sure why. Jasmine would probably say it was my Duster instincts kicking in, but I was pretty sure my instincts were still buried deeply. So what was it? What was making the back of my neck itch and my heart start jittering in my chest?

  Finally, Sugar squatted to get down to business. At the same time, one of the shadows under the trees separated itself and stepped out into street, away from the puddles of light. I sucked in a gulp of air, held it and swallowed hard.

  It wasn’t even completely dark yet. A demon was going to attack me? Right out here? Then I gave myself a metaphorical kick in the ass. Why wouldn’t they attack now? Hadn’t I just dusted some chick in the cookie aisle?

  “I’ve been waiting.” A deep voice, somehow as dark and scary as the demon itself.

  Sugar whimpered, and I was right there with her.

  Just a block from my house, and a demon was going to challenge me. My finger slipped to the trigger on the demon spray and caressed it. “How long?”

  He took a step and stopped, surprised by my question. “Uh…”

  “Never mind,” I said and dropped Sugar’s leash. “Stay,” I ordered quietly, though I didn’t really expect her to obey me. She never had before.

  This time, though, the dog must have sensed something was up. She dropped to the ground, buried her face between her paws and did everything she could to disappear.

  Meanwhile, I stepped off the curb and walked into the street, passing through light into shadow as I went. God, it felt like every Western showdown I’d ever seen in old movies. All we needed was the background music and a clock pointing to high noon.

  Except this was real. It was night. And I was more scared than I wanted my opponent to know. Hell, I told myself, I was getting better at this. I’d dusted a few demons and clearly, my rep was growing in Demon-land. So what did I have to worry about, anyway?

  Oh yeah.

  Dying.

  He walked slowly to the middle of the street, taking a few steps closer as he did. “You killed a friend of mine, Duster.”

  “Really?” I asked, walking closer myself, hoping to get within squirting range. “Who?”

  “Thomas. You killed him in his own house.” He walked through the soft yellow glow of lamplight. He looked like a banker. You know the type: middle-aged spread, balding. Not exactly who you expected to jump out at you from the shadows.

  But I felt a little better knowing he wasn’t young and vigorous.

  “Ah.” I nodded. So Thomas had been my “customer” in that old Victorian. “You know, he tried to kill me first.”

  “Yeah,” the demon said, “and I’m about to finish that job for him.”

  Almost, I thought. Another step or two and I’d be able to squirt him dead in the eye. Right about then he coiled into himself and sprang at me.

  Pretty good moves for an older guy.

  I jumped back and he hit the street, face-first. Sugar barked. I squirted the back of the guy’s head and smiled when smoke curled into the slight breeze. My smile faded fast when the demon rolled over, swung his legs up and back over his head, then jumped to his feet.

  It was a move I’d seen Buffy make dozens of times. Let me tell you, it’s way scarier in person.

  As soon as he straightened up, I punched him dead in the face and then followed up the hit with another long squirt. He howled, Sugar joined him, and I pulled my right leg back and kicked it out, up and into his groin. I figured if he looked like a human, then his nuts were probably just as fragile as any other male’s.

  They were. He shrieked, went to one knee and sent me a look that should have fried me on the spot. But remember, I’ve got a teenager. He didn’t have a dirty look to show me that I hadn’t already seen, delivered by an expert.

  He swiped one hand out in an attempt to grab me. “Whoa! Look out!” Sugar barked again, a little late, but I give her points for trying to warn me. I jumped over him, stomped one foot into the middle of his back to hold him in place, then reached through his spine and grabbed his heart.

  Yanking it free, I took a deep breath, watched him pop into a cloud of dust, then brushed my palms together to get rid of what was left of Thomas’ friend.

  My own heart was pounding, but there was a sense of satisfaction, too. I’d done it. I’d been scared, but I’d done it. Every time I dusted somebody, it got a little easier.

  Was that a good thing? Or a bad thing?

  “I brought chicken.”

  “Why am I not surprised to see you?”

  Logan grinned, slipped past me and walked into the living room, carrying a bucket of chicken that smelled like fried heaven.

  “Because you were born under a lucky star and have always wanted me back in your life?” He set the tub down onto the table, plopped a white bag, no doubt filled with mashed potatoes and extra gravy, beside it and gave Sugar the death glare.

  The dog whimpered and plopped down on her too-wide butt.

  I closed the door and leaned back against it for a minute. I’d had quite a day alre
ady, with Rachel’s tales of demon dental problems and then, just a couple hours ago, Devlin telling me about the judge’s lair, just before having to brush dead demon off my Oreos. And let’s not forget the “patrolling” with Sugar. God. I’d already shampooed three times trying to get the last of the demon dust out of my hair. That was just too gross to think about for long.

  Anyway, I was pooped. I really wasn’t in the mood to chitchat.

  On the other hand, there was fried chicken on the table, and I never had been one to turn down food.

  “Yeah,” I said wryly, looking at him. “Born under a lucky star. That must be it.”

  “Thea home?” he asked.

  “She will be soon. She’s with Zoe.”

  “Good.” He grinned and lifted one eyebrow. That action still did some funny things to my insides, but I managed to get a grip. “Then we get some time alone.

  “Why do we need to be alone?”

  “Because I’m still winning you over. Stunning you with my charm. Seducing you with kisses and…”

  Mmm. Logan kisses. Mental eye roll. Get a grip, Cass. For God’s sake, try for a grip.

  “How’s that working for you?” I wasn’t so much interested in his charm as in the scent of that chicken and how it was making my stomach growl appreciatively. I walked toward him, following the aroma that was filling the room.

  “Too early to tell.”

  I moved past him, and he didn’t make a move to get out of the way, so our bodies sort of brushed together. Instant sizzle. What can I say? Let’s face it. It had been so long since my hormones had had anything to do but whimper and complain, these little rushes were a good time. And let’s not forget to give Logan his due. He really was a great kisser. Plus, his Mr. Happy always leaped to attention whenever he got near me. Hard not to be flattered.

  Besides, Logan always did look great in a faded pair of jeans. The man has a terrific butt and really long legs.

  Then again, it could just have been the whole slut-puppy issue rearing its ugly head.

  He stopped me with a hand on my arm, and when I looked up at him, he gave me one of those lopsided smiles that men must practice in front of mirrors. You know, the ones that say, Hey, don’t worry about me. I’m harmless.

  He’d used that same smile sixteen years ago, and look where that had gotten me.

  “You look nice,” he said, stroking one hand up and down my arm.

  Mmmm. Goose bumps. Dry mouth. Hoo-hah hallelujah dance. Honestly, I was really just pitiful. “Logan…”

  He let me go and lifted both hands in mock surrender. “Just an observation.”

  And a big fat lie. I knew just how I looked. Barefoot, jeans and an old T-shirt from a Tim McGraw concert that Thea and I had gone to the year before. Only I’d washed the thing so much, the shirt read IM GR W.

  Yeah, I was just a vision of loveliness.

  I scooted past him, opened up the bucket and got down to the only reason Logan was still in my living room. I inhaled deeply. “This smells great.”

  “I remembered how much you like it.”

  I shot him a look filled with mocking disbelief.

  “Okay,” he said with a shrug. “I took a shot. Who doesn’t like KFC?”

  I grabbed a napkin then a chicken leg, and sat down on the floor, leaning back against the couch. “Good call.” I took a bite, sighed a little as I chewed, and after I swallowed, I said, “But Logan, you’ve got to cut this out.”

  “What? Bringing you food?”

  I paused and thought about that for a long minute. “Hmm.”

  He smiled.

  Laughing, I shrugged. “Okay, I admit it, bringing me food is really a smooth plan.”

  “Thank you.”

  “But it’s not going to change anything between us.”

  He sat down on the floor next to me and frowned when I handed Sugar a piece of my chicken. What did I care if he didn’t like it? My dog loved me.

  “I get that,” he said. “But I want you to know that I’m not going away again.” He reached for me and gave my hand a quick squeeze, then let me go as if he knew I wouldn’t be happy if he sat there trying to hold my hand like we were still together. “Since I’m home to stay, I want us to get to know each other. To…connect again.”

  I couldn’t help smiling. It sounded like he’d been reading some self-help books. You know the kind: How to Get That Old Girlfriend Back in Ten Easy Lessons. That was just so unlike Logan.

  He was more the caveman type. See girl. Me want. Me take. Which, I’ve got to say, was usually a pretty big turn-on. I don’t know about all the other women out there, but I was pretty sick and tired of all the whiny, emotional men wandering around. I didn’t want to hear about their “feelings.” I didn’t want to see their “feminine” side.

  Hell, I wanted to be the one having PMS in a relationship.

  “Connect, huh?” I grinned at him.

  “A little too far?” he asked with a shrug. “I thought so too. Felt stupid saying it.”

  “If it feels stupid, it probably is,” I said, and felt very Zen-like.

  “The point is, I want to see you,” Logan said, his blue eyes fixed on mine, his fingers trailing up and down my arm as if to remind me just how well my body responded to his. “And not just as Thea’s mom.”

  Dum de dum dum dum. Treacherous ground here. I mean, I was still attracted to Logan, but wouldn’t starting something up with him now feel like going backward, not forward? And then there was the whole complication of Thea.

  He was staring at me through those beautiful blue eyes, and all I could think was how truly tempting Logan Miller could be. Why hadn’t he gotten fat? Or bald? He was waiting for an answer.

  “Trust me,” I said. “I know what you want.”

  “And?”

  “And, I don’t know.” Coward, my brain screamed.

  “I’m not the kid I was back then.” Logan pushed himself to his feet and walked into the kitchen, familiar enough to help himself to plates and silverware. When he came back, he set everything on the table and took his seat beside me again. “I’ve changed. Grown up. I wasn’t happy in LA. Wasn’t happy in my marriage.”

  “Poor Spiffy.”

  His mouth twitched, but he let it go. “Maybe I’ve finally realized who and what it is I’ve always wanted.”

  Okay, had to admit, this kind of talk really does something for me. I just never get tired of hearing a man admit he was wrong. Like I said before, whiny men don’t do a thing for me. But a man who knows how to apologize is worth his weight in moisturizer. Besides, having a man who looked like Logan interested in you could give your ego a real boost.

  Still…“I’ve changed, too, Logan. I’m not looking to be rescued by a white knight. There’s nothing to rescue me from.” Well, except for the whole demon thing, which he didn’t even believe. “I’ve got a great kid, a nice house, a business I’m proud of. All in all, I’m pretty happy with the way things are.”

  Like I said before, except for the whole demon situation, but I’d already tried to tell him about that, and he’d laughed at me. So not going there again.

  He nodded and helped himself to a breast. He always was a boob man. “Just because things are good, doesn’t mean they couldn’t be better.”

  “And you could make it better?” I plopped mashed potatoes onto my plate and drowned them in gravy. Beside me, Sugar whimpered, but she’d just have to deal. The potatoes were mine.

  “I could try.”

  “I don’t need you to.”

  “I didn’t say that,” he reminded me. “Maybe it’s not about you. Maybe it’s about what I need to do.”

  I snorted. “You’ve got to quit reading whatever it is you’re reading.”

  “Hey,” he said, laughing, “it got you talking to me. Can’t be all bad.”

  He had me there, but I didn’t want him to know it.

  Logan took a bite of chicken and reached for the television remote. “Mind if I check the score on the game?”


  Typical. I wasn’t even sure which sport season it was. But I had fried chicken and mashed potatoes, so I was feeling generous. “Sure, go ahead.”

  He turned on the TV just in time to hear the local news anchor winding up his report on the missing-person cases stacking up in La Sombra. Inwardly wincing a little, I heard the reporter mention the names of some of the demons I’d dispatched over the last couple of days. The police had found no connection between a homeless man, a florist and a certain biology teacher. I could have told them there was most definitely a connection, but I wasn’t looking for a private suite at Hotel Nutso.

  Deliberately, I lowered my head, keeping my gaze on my plate and my mind on eating. It didn’t work.

  Game forgotten, Logan punched the TV off and turned to look at me, his features looking like they were carved out of marble.

  “That’s the other reason I came here tonight, Cassie. Some weird shit is happening in town, and I want you and Thea to be extra careful.”

  I tried to laugh off the warning. “Please. We’re fine. There’s nothing to worry about.”

  He waved a hand at the TV. “Weren’t you listening? People are coming up missing around here. Some woman who worked at the manicure shop—”

  Must have been the evil blonde with the ugly dress and good nails.

  “Mr. Mondaca—remember him? Biology teacher at the high school?”

  “Yeah, I do—” And I remembered a sense of satisfaction as he littered his own desk after I was finished with him.

  “Today, some bag boy at the market went out to collect carts, and nobody saw him again.”

  I took a bite of chicken. I’d left Devlin in the grocery store, gone to my car and squirted that kid as he took my cart from me. The nasty little junior demon had sprung at me, dropping his human “disguise”’ in favor of dagger nails and sharp teeth. I was so surprised, I’d dropped my Fossil bag onto the dirty parking lot and would probably never get the gunk off it.

  The bag-boy demon had shouted something like “You bitch”—not very original, but he was under stress. Still, he’d made me ruin one of my favorite purses, which totally pissed me off. I admit, I actually enjoyed slapping my hand through his chest, and I even remember sticking out my tongue as his ashes drifted to the ground.