Page 63 of Craving Demons
“Chocolate Cosmos!” Donny added, not so helpfully.
Freyja went to stand behind the beat-up old La-Z-Boy chair, putting her hands to either side of Donny’s head while I crouched in front of Donny, taking his hands and keeping eye contact with him.
Freyja had asked for him to remain still but that wasn’t easy for Donny. He’d forget why he was here in just a moment and try to get up, which meant I had to make sure he stayed where he was. The three guys stood around us, close enough that I felt supported but not crowded.
Freyja began to hum to herself, eyes closed, head tilted slightly. “Oh, yes, there’s quite a bit of confusion in here. The dementia has grown deep roots.” She blinked her eyes open. “Did you just want the information, or would you like me to remove the dementia as well?”
I stared at her. “You can do that? Just… poof make his mind better?”
She smiled and nodded. “I have many powers. Yes, I can clear his mind again, if that’s what you wish.”
It was. But it wasn’t really my call.
Maybe Donny liked being this way? I didn’t think so, but I should ask.
“Uncle?”
“What? Yes?” His eyes were gleaming as he smiled at me.
“Would you like to be able to remember things again?”
“Remember?’ He blinked. “I… don’t remember… much…”
“Would you like to remember?” I tried again.
“Ah… yes? I think so?”
I nodded to Freyja. “Yes, please.”
“This will take a little time, keep him as still as possible. If removing all the fog in here doesn’t help him remember where this money is I can do a deeper dive.”
I nodded, and Freyja went back to work.
The clock on the wall ticked by the seconds, seeming loud and obnoxious as time passed.
“Mom?” Reia said, coming down around five-thirty for supper. “What’s all this?”
I looked at Fen. I didn’t know why he was my go-to guy now, but he was sweet and sexy and wonderful. He hadn’t professed the depths of his love for me like Grey had, but he’d told me I was prettier than any other goddess. That meant a lot.
He nodded and knelt in my place. Which was good because Donny was getting very fidgety. I didn’t know if it was the work Freyja was doing or just sitting for this long, but it was taking more and more work to keep him in the chair.
I rose and went to Reia.
“Sorry, dinner won’t be ready for a while. I can give you some money and you can go out and grab something for yourself if you like.”
She stared at me with an odd look in her eyes. “You’re…?” She looked around me at Donny, Freyja, and the guys. “What’s all this?” she whispered, perhaps sensing the reverence of this moment.
At some point, I was going to have to tell her that her mother was a demon and so were all these others, but not now. All I said was, “We’re doing something to help Uncle Donny with his memory. I know it looks strange, but please don’t interrupt.”
Her brow furrowed. “You’re being way too serious, Mom,” she said in her I’m-worried-for-you tone. But instead of asking more questions, she nodded her acceptance. “I’ve got lots of money in my allowance account, I’ll order a few pizzas and take care of everything. You just do what you’re doing and there will be food here for you and your friends when you’re done.”
And yet again, my daughter was being the parent in this relationship. But I was too preoccupied with Donny to worry about that.
“Thanks, dear.” I kissed her forehead, and she pulled out her phone and went out the front door to leave us in peace.
Twenty minutes passed and Reia came in with three large boxes of pizza and one tiny one. She took the tiny one and went upstairs, leaving the rest in the front room. I nodded my thanks to her then returned to Donny. He had his eyes glued shut, grunting and groaning as if this process was painful for him.
I didn’t want to ask Freyja if it actually was painful because she looked to be concentrating intently on her work, to the point of almost being pained herself.