Free Demon Evolution by David Estes Page B

help them. Save them even. They
plotted and schemed, and by the end of the conversation they had
concocted a variety of plans that could be used in various
circumstances.
    Their plans were reckless—that much they
admitted to themselves—but these were reckless times. Throwing
caution to the wind may put their own lives in jeopardy, but it
might also be the only way to save them from a life not lived—a
life without love.
    Although Taylor felt better after talking to
her best friend—she now felt like she was actually doing something,
rather than just waiting around—she could still not shake the
ominous feeling of foreboding that crept into her heart, filling
her with fear. As she felt Gabriel’s hand on her lower back, she
tried to focus on his touch and the love that resonated from it.
She wanted to look into his eyes, but she was afraid that it would
give away her intentions. That somehow he would know what she had
been planning. She laughed at her own paranoia. While he had many
powers, mind reading was not one of them.
    “What is it? What’s so funny?” he asked
her.
    Surprised by his question, Taylor realized
that she had actually laughed out loud at her own thoughts. “Uh,
nothing. I was just thinking about how Sam beat Chris at pool
earlier,” she lied smoothly.
    “Really? When was that?”
    “When you were talking to Sampson. She was
quite proud of herself.”
    “As she should be, that’s impressive.”
    They continued on in silence, listening to
Sam chatter away with Chris. She was asking him a million questions
a minute about what to expect from the evening: how long the show
was, the history of it, who created it, how many demons were
involved in its production, and on and on. Happy for a distraction
from her thoughts, Taylor listened as Chris explained that the
Demon Spectacular was first created in 1982 when Wooster Child, an
engineer in the demon army, complained that the troops needed
something to take their minds off of the War, especially during the
holidays. Liking the idea, the Elders provided Wooster with a small
budget and allowed him to ask for volunteers to help with the show.
The response was overwhelming; so many demons signed up that he
didn’t know what to do with them all. He enlisted the help of five
of his closest friends, who became co-directors. Their first show
was a huge success, and each subsequent year the budget was
expanded and the planning began earlier and earlier in the
year.
    Now, twenty years later, the production
included over 500 demons, including the cast and crew, and
commanded a budget of $10 million. Mr. Child remained as the
overall director, relishing his role and the challenge of
surprising his viewers with something new in each show. Demons from
all over the world teleported to the Lair on New Year’s Eve each
year, as the Lair’s population soared from 5,000 to over
20,000.
    Reaching the summit, they flowed into the
small cave. There were half a dozen demons already gathered on the
cliff’s edge, peering out into the night sky. Hearing voices, they
turned to greet the new arrivals. Before she could make out his
face, Taylor recognized his voice. “Welcome, friends,” Clifford
said.
    “Thank you, sir,” Chris replied. “And thanks
for inviting us to join you for the entertainment.”
    “Ahh, my pleasure, my dear boy. I wanted our
guests to have the opportunity to view this year’s installment of
the Demon Spectacular in its full glory.”
    “Thanks, Cliff,” Samantha replied
casually.
    Smiling, Clifford spoke directly to Samantha,
“Come, my dear, you can sit next to me.” He led her to a blanket
where they sat next to each other cross-legged. Chris followed her,
sitting on her other side. Taylor, Gabriel, Kiren and Sampson found
similar seats on empty blankets that had been laid out for them.
There were five others already seated on the cliff. Taylor thought
she recognized their faces from the panel of Elders earlier that
week.
    “Would you