Page 77 of The Music Demon

Her responding smile was more sad than cheerful. “Thank you, Lally. I love you, too. But let me tell you something. If I was ever going to lose my mind, it would have happened when Carnal died. Be at peace and stop jumping at shadows. Your worries are unfounded.”

When Lyric materialized within inches of Shivaun, she giggled. When he kissed her hello, he stole her breath away.

Technically she no longer needed to breathe, but her body had grown so used to it, that she continued to go through the motions of in, out, in, out.

“Good day, demon,” she said with pretty lips plumped from kissing. “How did your talk with Rosie go?”

“Very well. She thinks I’m a romantic.”

Shivaun laughed her low, throaty, bar wench laugh. ”She does no’.”

Lyric smiled and shrugged. “What can I say? All the female demons like me.”

“Remember my sister? The one you abducted and held captive? She does no’ like you. At all.”

He wiggled his head. “I forgot about the one exception.”

“Aye. Well, I’m eager to hear about our foster lad and how he’s farin’ with livin’ in his grandmother’s day. ‘Tis probably a bigger adjustment than you think.”

“I’ll let him tell you himself. Off we go then? We’re due to meet him right about now.”

She linked her arm in Lyric’s like she was about to perform a tap dance in Mary Poppins. “Away we go.” She turned her head to look at Lyric. “And later I have a surprise for you.”

The demon almost spluttered. Those were words that had never been aimed his direction. “You can’t say you have a surprise for me in the same sentence with the word later. No. That will not do. I’ll know now or not at all.”

“Not at all then.”

“Alright, I didn’t really mean not at all. It’s just a thing people say.” Shivaun laughed. “Come now. Tell me or I’ll do something drastic.”

Her eyes sparkled with the mischief that had rightly earned elves their reputation for fun and stirring things up. “Here’s the thing. The surprise is no static. It can change form dependin’ on my estimation of you. If I do no’ like your reaction, it could transform from somethin’ delightful to somethin’ distinctly unpleasant.”

“I can wait. Long life is nothing if not a training ground for patience.”

“So glad you see it my way.”

Seconds after Lyric knocked on the door of the attic apartment, it flew open and a very excited Doo Darby said, “Come in. I’ve been waitin’ for you. You’re not going to believe what happened.”

“What?” Lyric said.

“I saw Eric Clapton. He’s a dick just like everybody always said, but, you know. It’s still Eric Clapton! I almost didn’t recognize him. I mean, he’s…”

“Younger?” Lyric smiled.

“Yeah!”

“Did you gush?”

With a sheepish smile, Doo said, “Maybe.”

“You’re gonna have to get used to seeing icons in this neighborhood. Try to remember that they haven’t yet become rock gods. Right now they’d be happy with a one-hit-wonder.”

Lyric had taken a hard look at Clapton at one point to see if he was a candidate to be a beneficiary of the demon’s special brand of muse. Lyric had taken a pass. He’d concluded that the man was not coachable, too inflexible, and too hard to get along with. The latter was borne out with history because Clapton couldn’t keep a band together long enough for them to share a lunch and dinner on the same day.

Still, he knew why Doo was beside himself. Clapton had a volcanic talent that couldn’t be denied, personalities aside.

“Who is it we’re talkin’ ‘bout?” Shivaun asked.

“Who’s Eric Clapton?!?” Doo was visibly taken aback by the question. He looked at Lyric with incredulity. “You two don’t have much in common, do you?”