Page 44 of The Devil's Dilemma

But that night in November was a night I’d never forget.

I’d gone to her room and lain with her for a while until it was time for bed. She’d kissed me on my forehead and called me her gift from above and told me how much she loved me.

She’d looked tired, but then I’d thought it was because she was ill. A six-year-old shouldn’t remember things like this, but this memory was seared into my brain. I’d never forget.

Grandpa had ushered me out of the room, telling me she needed to rest, and all night, I’d tossed and turned, wanting to go to her. Worrying if she’d be okay.

The following morning, I’d rushed to her room, but the bed was empty, and that was it. She was gone. Dad had said she’d got worse, and they’d taken her to the hospital, where she’d died.

My life had changed from that day onwards.

Gone was the happy home, replaced with a house full of sorrow and grief. For twelve months, I tried to make Dad happy, but he said I reminded him too much of her. He sank into a life of alcohol and drugs, then disappeared into the dead of night, never to be seen again.

Now here I was, the horror of that night coming back to me like it was yesterday.

What right did Dante have to those memories? No, I’d tell him nothing of the woman who had been the light of my life. She waswith the angels now. That was what Grandpa had always said, and that was where I’d told myself she was.

“Nothing I could tell you about her would help. Don’t ask me again.”

He balled his fists, set his jaw, but he hadn’t earned the right to know anything about her.

“Fuck, Austin. That could be important.”

“I don’t care, but carry on. I need to know what’s happening.”

He walked to the window overlooking the city.

“Angel blessed means you are protected. Without knowing more about your mother, I can’t tell you from what. All I know is that when I touched the mark, the protection was likely broken.”

“Protection from who?” I didn’t need protecting.

“From the likes of me. Demons will come from five hundred miles or more now you’re unprotected.”

What the fuck was he talking about? Demons? I called bullshit.

“There are no such things.”

“Austin, how can you say that after what’s happened these past few days? And you. You’re an anomaly yourself. No one has that much luck, yet it pours from you. I have a theory about that, but the details elude me right now. You think my horns are fake. Touch them, look into my eyes, and tell me none of it’s real.”

I stared at him, silhouetted by the pale morning light coming through the window.

No one I knew had horns, but the guys had said they were a gimmick to get people into the casino.

I climbed out of the bed and walked towards him. He’d told me to touch them, so I would, and find out once and for all.

I stood before him. The urge to drop to my knees and bow overwhelmed me, but I fought it. I lifted my hand.

He closed his eyes, his nostrils flared, and I stroked one of the white horns protruding from his head. He shivered, but it couldn’t be from the cold. The room was like a furnace.

I brushed my fingers over the other one, and he moaned. A sound so sexual it was worthy of a porn star.

Had they been this big before?

They grew, slowly changing colour from white to black, the tips blood red. That had happened the night before, and I pulled away quickly.

How could they be real?

“Now do you believe me?”