12. Pike

Chapter 12

Pike

After going over everything Drake wanted to talk about, I'm mentally exhausted. Who knew business was so demanding? I grab Frankie's harness and something brushes my fingertips. As soon as we're home, something metal falls to the floor.

"A coin? Where'd you pick this up at?" One side has a raven, the other a dragon.

Frankie's already on the couch, curling into her favorite spot with her tail wagging. I shove the coin in my pocket, not giving it another thought. Frankie always finds weird treasures. I never know how or where she picks them up.

"We can't sit around too long. You need a proper walk after a day of us being so lazy."

Her ears perk up. Not that I found being with Trick all day lazy. I got a lot of good information from him, even if I'm no closer to figuring out how to free him of the soul tether.

I grab Frankie's leash from the hook by the door and clip it to her harness. If I were a smaller demon, she'd drag me in her enthusiasm to get outside. The demon realm isn't all that different from the others. Not to the naked eye. The grass is still green, the sky still blue.

The one major difference is the threads of magic throughout. This is what gives us demons our power. We feed the magic with our bargains, otherwise the magic would have run out eons ago with how much we use it. I get to live by one of the most prominent threads of magic because I snatched a soul and that soul will fuel the magic thread for eternity.

As Frankie sniffs at the rosebush by our front door, the magic thread shimmers milky white in the field across from us like it has since that fateful day. My house isn't the biggest on the block, but it's impressive. Two stories with lovely gothic revival architecture. Sue me, I was into the look as a kid and still am, if I'm being honest. Every house on the block is different, right down to a modern day mansion.

Frankie always likes to walk right up to the magic. It smells a little like steak the closer you get, so I can understand the appeal.

I let Frankie do her thing as we stroll along. I've always loved home, even if I am lonely. Even if no one waves when I try to be friendly.

Frankie licks at my hand and whines. My next step, someone drops on my back. Their arm wraps around my neck with a dagger pressed to my throat.

"Where is my brother?"