Free Demon Lord 6: Garnet Tongue Goddess by Morgan Blayde Page A

it and gave me a grave nod.  “It would be a natural response for her, but I think I can hold her off, and keep it in my pants.”
    Sneakily, Malevolence had followed us over to listen in.  She said, “That’s not what Mom says.”
    I pushed Rooster toward the door.  “Go, and do not fail me.”  I grabbed Malevolence’s arm so she wouldn’t follow.  “It’s like staking out goats to catch tigers.  The goats might get hurt, but the village stays safe.  Also, I’ll know where I can find the spooks when I get back.  Don’t be surprised if Lillian and Rooster don’t show up in public any time soon.”
    Malevolence made a gagging sound and shuddered.  “I don’t want to think of my father having sex.  Hey, let me come with you.”
    “It’s against my better judgement, so, okay, fine.”
    She jumped up and down a little and followed me to the outer hallway.  We ran into Teresa there.
    “Caine!  What the hell was all that?” she asked.
    “You saw it on the video monitors, right?” I said.
    “Seeing’s one thing, understanding is something else.” She said.  “And where did you come from?  One second, you’re not in the room, then you are.  Poof, Caine.  Poof!”
    I shrugged and walked on, forcing her to walk backwards.  “Must be that intermittent fault in your camera system.”
    “But the other cast members didn’t see you at first either, and why did Deedee become Python Girl?  Is she a shapeshifter?”
    “No.  I think you can blame that weirdness on the baby snake ghost that just showed up.”  I pushed past Teresa and kept going, Malevolence a step behind me, keeping quiet.
    Teresa called after us. “Where are you guys going?”
    “Taquito Bell!” I called back.  “I’m craving a cheese-filled chu-whump-um and cardio-assail-me fries.”
    Malevolence stage whispered to me.  “You know, that’s not real Spanish.”
    “It’s okay,” I said.  “It’s not real Mexican food either.  We’re also going to hit a liquor store.  I do my best work drunk.”  We reached the main foyer, about to turn toward the exit, when Holy and Shiva intercepted us.
    “What’s going on?” Shiva asked.
    “Where are you going?” Holy asked.
    “We need reinforcements.  I have a couple guys in mind.”
    “Reinforcements?” Shiva said.  “But you’ve got us.”
    “You guys missed all the action, again,” I said. 
    “It was gnarly,” Malevolence said.  “A ghost turned Deedee into a snake woman.  We almost died!”
    “Really?” Shiva said.  “I’ve never fought one of those.  It’s gone now?”
    “Yeah,” I said.  “But keep watch.  It could return at any moment.”
    “Yeah?”  Shiva smacked a fist into the palm of an open hand.  “You think so?”
    “Sure.  Get Teresa to show you the vid footage of it.  You’ll see what you might be up against.”
    Electrical jags crackled and slithered along Holy’s arms.  “How do you want it cooked?”
      Malevolence stared at the albino demon girl.  “You’ve got to teach me how you do that!”
    “I thought you were going with me?” I said.
    “Oh, yeah, right.”  She looked at Holy and whispered.  “Later!”
    We finally got out of the door.  Minutes later, buckled into my Mustang, we went slinging around the drive and out onto Highway 101.  I had to drive the wrong way for a while until I could cross to the other side where 101 headed the opposite direction.  Teresa had said that the town of Hawthorn was just a mile down the road.  She claimed I’d missed it coming out, in my haste to drive that old lady off the road.  That couldn’t be.  My senses are far more sensitive than humans.  Even if I didn’t see a small middle-of-nowhere town, I’d have smelled it.  Especially the garlic scent of a pizzeria. 
    Passing the haunted school, I kept an eye on the mileage.  After a mile, we reached nothing, just empty countryside, but Malevolence piped up.  “Hey, you just missed it.”
    “I