Daemon Blood by Mary Maddox

Author:Mary Maddox
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mary Maddox
Published: 2021-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

18: Raven

Raven True stops to peer through the window of a bakery cafe. Late afternoon traffic rumbles behind us on the highway and exhaust fumes taint the ocean air. A breeze ruffles Raven’s dreadlocks, which are pulled back and up in an luxuriant mass that falls almost to her shoulders. She wears pink leggings and a turquoise shirt that reaches below her hips. A pink-and-purple bookbag is slung casually over her shoulder. I join her at the window and squint at a menu posted behind the counter. Along with pastries, the bakery offers gelato and chocolates and a few salads and sandwiches.

She says, “They got good sandwiches. The bread’s fresh baked.”

I only need to skim her thoughts to know the sandwiches don’t interest her. She wants a double gelato cone with a scoop of caramel and a scoop of pistachio. Or maybe coconut. No one’s idea of a nutritious meal. But she’s a grownup, even though she looks fifteen.

“Sure. Why not.”

Raven does order a sandwich—to go—along with the gelato. I do the same. We emerge from the café a few minutes later clutching carryout bags and balancing sugar cones. Before we’re halfway to my hotel, melting strawberry gelato is trickling onto my hand. I lick off the stickiness and can’t resist taking another lick. And another.

“Always eat dessert first.” Raven grins and takes another bite of coconut gelato.

“You really wanted the cone, not the sandwich. And you couldn’t decide between pistachio or coconut.”

“So, it’s true. You read minds.” She turns to me. “What am I thinking?”

She’s stressed about her final project in art class, a mixed media portrait. I only catch a flash before the image sinks, but it lingers in my mind. Raven mixed acrylic paint with items scavenged from the beach—bottlecaps, glass beads, fragments of seashells, and other materials I didn’t have time to identify—to create a portrait of her sister. She captured Brosie’s intelligent eyes, mischievous grin, and tremendous energy. Even though Raven’s teacher gave the project an A, she’s afraid her sister will hate it.

But I’m not supposed to know about the portrait. It’s one of many swirling currents rushing beneath the thought she directs toward me.

“You’re wondering if your dad and I have a thing.”

She laughs with brittle gaiety. “Do you?”

“No. I don’t think he trusts me.”

“That’s just him. There’s not many he does trust.”

We stroll along an uneven sidewalk, past modest cottages and bungalows. The yards and gardens along this street are less elaborate than those nearer to the beach, the houses not as well maintained. Only a few have carports, and a steady line of cars crowds the curbs on both sides.

Raven casts a sidelong glance at me. “You like being a seer?”

I hesitate and then decide to give her the truth. “Except for my son it’s been a nightmare. The Knot ceremony is basically rape.”

“Not just for you, your partner too. I hate that they’re called the Goat, like they’re not even human.”

Her desire for freedom from the daemons reminds me of myself.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.