What are you working on he asked, looking at Dec bond of cookie dough i grinned at him. “litephens is still enjoring the extra energi be get,
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“You’re a birde b? + primoss. I fully support dis,” he said. The askord V?lco + queue and ww, “h it just the awkwardness? You’w a line all over the pins d’y why I con un harm Har was protondling for Ijotions for bir answer, he askest
“Mostly, yes. I feel like there’s a connection somewhere that I’m missing Vinne et teen difeson than the meat of one and I dont know why, but it’s keeping mmc tritated.”
“He hoch different to me toc, perm as s. It’s not just you. Same for The Mooke Teko. My webed about 1 salles
“It was at the point in the conversation where Ivan would respond to Vilkos, de oft only been listening to Valdom that entire time and not talking to me as wel
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“That was hacking impressive.”1 sail when M?ckor started tallong again. I could hear ban laugh in huu haut, beut har Tack I went back to working on Stephen’s cookies, smiling to mussell. man even husted at a smile on his
Sephie
I fell asleep quickly that night, across Adol’s chest. I found myself in my dadiless I fully expected saw my dad appear before me, but it never did Instead, it just continued to get brighter. I glanced around, trying to first
“Holy shit. Creepier than anything else I’ve ever seen here,” I said He giggled Sh it. Da mmit! Apparently, I’m incapable of not cursing in front of you Tell si When I fun fade and the path to the house where i always ept there was nothing around ine. The light to was a small boy in front of me. chich made me realize that Ed post cursed in front of a child “Cap parent I’m very sorry?” I said.
He giggled again, walking closer to me. “Do you know who I am he asked.
I studied him for a few moments. There was a familiarity to him, but I knew hit me. “Kastva? Lasked. never seen him before. I chewed on my bottom lip, then it suddenly
His boyish grin spread across his face. He nodded. “This is the form that Viklikes best, so I use it the most. I wasn’t sure how much you’d looked in his head. I didn’t want to confuse you.”
“I haven’t looked in his head at all, Kostya. I don’t do that. Why does nobody elieve me about that?”
He giggled again. “Because we would all take advantage of being able to read people’s thoughts, so we can’t possibly fathom that you wouldn’t want to.”
“It’s not all burritos and sunshine, kid. There’s lots of things I wish I’d never en,” I said. I looked at him, curious. “Why are you here?”
“You feel a difference with Viktor that you don’t with the rest of them,” he sa. He waited for me to agree with his statement before he continued. “The others are like you, Adrik, and Ivan now. They’ll eventually be able to wk between Heaven and Hell. They’ll learn how to make their demons work for them.”
He didn’t need to finish and I knew. “Viktor wants no part of that,” I said.
Kostya smiled. “Your dad said you were smart. You’re right. He had a choice and he chose to stay away from Hell. As such, his connection to you will never be as strong as the others. Same for them. They’ll never be as connected to him as they are to each other.”
“Does it mean he really wants to leave?” I asked.
“No, he told you he was all in and he is. But the demons scare him. Viktor’s sol isn’t as old as yours, you have to remember. It doesn’t have as much experience.” He paused, taking a deep breath. “It’s also why you’re irritated sand can’t figure out why. It’s not you, it’s your demon that’s irritated.”
I laughed. “My demon’s feelings are hurt? Why do I find that endearing?”
“Your demon hasn’t always been a demon, Sephie. It started out as a soul, just like you. Because you’ve made friends with it and you’re using it for good, you’re helping it repair the damage done by the evil it gave in to. You’re giving it a better existence than it could ever have if it continued to give in to evil. It’s hurt. It feels like Viktor is rejecting it. Your connection is onger with Adrik and Ivan because of your demons. Your connection with Misha, Andrei, and Stephen is becoming stronger because they want to p their own demons. Viktor asked for his demon to be taken away. Your demons all know this, without you knowing this.”
“Is he still scared of me?”
“He can separate the two. He’s not scared of you, but the demons still unnerve him. They always have, it you remember. He’s always had the hardest time with your eyes changing, even before you knew it was your demon stepping forward,” he said.
“How do I help him not be scared?”
“It will take time. I’ve been helping him as much as I can. You were right. I he been coming to him every night, trying to help him accept everything. There’s a small part of him that doesn’t trust your demons still.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.