Keeley Thomson (Book 4): Demon Trap (26 page)
"Yeah. Um... Thanks for coming?"
Keeley smiled, still feeling a bit stiff.
"You know, this kind of thing only happens at about half the parties I'm at. If we keep trying, why, in the next one or two we should actually get a normal event to happen and everything."
"OK. We'll do that then." He didn't seem put out at least. Then, really, it hadn't been a fight, had it? Just a strange examination. With a few hugs they left, the other people standing in front of the house, or scattered further away, as if that would protect them if Tarsus came after them?
They all headed back to her house, the one she shared with Sherry. The instant they were there Finias clapped her on the shoulder.
"My little girl, all grown up."
Her sister nodded.
"I know this is... I was counting on having you around for a few decades at least, if not longer, and now I'm out of a job." She didn't seem all that upset by it though.
"You are?"
"Of course I am. You're an adult now Keeley. You passed the first Crucible. You don't need protection now. The world needs protection from
you
." She looked at the far wall and then back again. "On the good side I can charge you full rates for everything now."
Keeley needed some time to process it all, but the basic idea was clear enough. She was, after a fashion, on her own. It was early and she didn't know precisely what she was supposed to do, but there it was. She was a grownup, and no one in the world could tell her differently.
"Ah. Well, I'm going to fix some food then. Do you want some? Market rates." She worked the last syllable, so that it would sound cute. The others just nodded.
After all, that was what an adult did when they offered another Greater Demon something to eat or drink.
To them, now, this was just normal.
For her though, things were going to take some getting used to.
She was her own person now, but she couldn't fool herself into thinking that meant she knew what the heck she was doing. It would take time to work that kind of thing out. She had that now, most likely. It would take work, but that's really what passing the test had been showing to everyone. That she would probably survive in the greater world.
As Darla had said then, she didn't need protection anymore. The world needed protection from her, if anything. It was an interesting change.
Smiling she went to get that food she'd offered to make. There was a lot to do, but it was still Christmas, and a nice meal was always a good thing. No one followed her, since she hadn't asked for help. They wouldn't, not anymore.
Other Books by P.S. Power
The Young Ancients:
(Tor)
The Builder
Knight Esquire
Knight of the Realm
Ambassador
Counselor
Slave Line
Ancient Kings
(Timon)
The Dark half of the Sun
(Tiera)
A Simple Darkness
The Infected:
Proxy
Gabriel
Cast Iron
Proxy: Reunions
Cellophane
Dead End:
A Very Good Man
A Very Good Neighbor
A Very Good Thing
A Very Dark Place
Keeley Thomson:
Demon Girl
Keelzabub
Mistress of Souls
Christmas of the Vampire (Related content)
Other Places:
Shortcuts
The Lament:
Without Rhythm
Gwen Farris:
Abominations
Monsters
Strangers and Lies
Stand alone novels:
Crayons
Unrelenting Terror
Table of Contents