Star Eater
Chapter Thirty-One

Kai sat down on the love seat and buried his head in his hands. What am I supposed to do?

Akuma didn’t have an answer. Kai sighed. He had to go home. He dreaded having to deal with his parents, but he didn’t know what else to do.

You could stay here, Akuma said.

No, Kai thought. I’m tired. I’m so tired.

And what happens when the electricity turns off at home? Akuma asked.

Kai growled and stood. He began pacing. Akuma was right. His parents may not take it into account, they may not acknowledge it, but it would bring all their memories of his childhood back. And then it would be right back off to the hospital. He couldn’t go home. Or to school. He was on his own.

You should eat, Akuma said.

Kai glanced at the half-eaten pizza Link had left. He kicked it aside, and grabbed a blanket instead.

If you’re going to kidnap my body, could you not kill someone tonight, Kai snapped. The demon didn’t answer. Kai curled into a ball. He was a murderer. His best friend was being arrested because of him and daemons wanted him to help free a killer. Kai made a sound somewhere between a moan of pain and stifled sob. It was too much.

A week ago his biggest problem was trying to stay awake in science class. Now he felt like there were so many strings attaching to him, he was bound hand and foot. The weight of what Akuma had done in his body, made him feel heavier and worse than that year in the hospital.

Kai got up and walked around listlessly. Then sat back down on the couch.

“Akuma, I need to see what happened,” Kai said finally.

The demon stirred. No, my memories always upset you, Akuma said.

“I need to see,” Kai insisted.

The demon refused again until Kai began shouting that he would never talk to Akuma ever, that he would go and take the pills voluntarily if the demon didn’t give in. And Kai was serious. Akuma didn’t argue any further. Instead, he unwound from the star, and expanded inside Kai. The teenager allowed his consciousness to be gently pushed over. He felt the cold glaze tingling everywhere, then his sight was clouded by a gray film. Akuma closed their eyes and Kai found himself in total darkness.

It wasn’t natural darkness. Kai didn’t see mirages or images of light like he normally would when he closed his eyes. This was a true darkness, and he shivered as he floated in it. This place was like where Akuma had come from. It was dense and heavy. Kai tried not to panic. He hated this place.

The scene erupted around him with no warning, and he cried out. Akuma steadied him, subtle pressure around Kai, like a balloon holding him up. Kai saw through his own eyes a memory that wasn’t his own. He saw the whole story unfold up until the moment when the security guard twitched for the last time. A broken cry shattered the memory, and Kai realized it was his own. Then he fell back into the oblivion.

Kai didn’t know how long he’d been out. He was half off the couch, his face covered in sweat and his stomach roiling. He crawled to the laundry basket, and threw up what little food was in his stomach. When he was done, he lay on the carpet, trying to recover his breath. He couldn’t get the security guard’s face out of his mind. The nametag had said Fernandez.

It was me, not you, Akuma said.

Kai didn’t reply. He stood unsteadily, and lay back down on the couch, staring up at the ceiling. Above him were bare rafters and metal beams. He thought of his room at home. Dad had insisted on putting up those glow-in-the-dark star sets when he was a kid. Half the stars had fallen off since but a few stuck around, aged and booger-green.

Kai wondered, not for the first time, what it was like to live your entire existence striving for some heat, fighting, moving, and shoving just to get to a food source. Removing obstacles. Life for Akuma was about removing obstacles. Was it a wonder that Akuma had fought so hard to steal a piece of a star before fleeing to Earth? Was it a wonder he’d killed to keep that star alive?

Stop, Akuma said.

“It’s not easy living with you, you know,” Kai whispered. It’s not easy bearing this pain.

Akuma was silent for a moment. This was the first time Kai resented Akuma’s presence. His only friend in the world, and Kai suddenly wanted space.

We can’t separate, Akuma said, reading his thoughts. We’re far beyond that.

Kai didn’t acknowledge the comment. He didn’t know whether he could separate from Akuma or not. “I can’t live like this anymore,” he said.

Akuma didn’t reply. The silence was deafening. Kai curled up on the couch and cried.

Ava sought Mason out after school, before he could make it to karate practice. When she found him, she dragged him into an empty classroom.

“Kai wasn’t in school today,” she said, her tone accusatory.

Mason shrugged. “So?”

“He’s not answering his texts either,” Ava said. “What happened?”

“Ava, it’s complicated—”

“Kai is my friend,” Ava cut him off. “And you made me give you his number and then he just disappears? All the while you’re running around with Joseph.”

Mason glanced around and closed the classroom door. “I made contact with Kai and I warned him,” he said. “That’s all I can do. You need to stop asking questions.”

“Now you sound just like Father,” she said angrily.

Mason’s mouth compressed.

“This is how they turn you into one of them,” she said.

“I am trying to divert attention away from us,” Mason hissed. “And to not get killed. This is a temporary alliance until…” he inhaled sharply. “Until I can get us some leverage. I don't know why Kai was absent, but his phone is probably not working.”

“Probably or isn’t?” she demanded.

“He’s not what you think, Ava,” Mason said. “He’s not some dreamy, oblivious kid that falls asleep. He’s not innocent.”

“What does Joseph want from him?” she asked.

Mason leaned away, and shook his head ‘no.’

“Is he okay at least?”

“Yes,” Mason said. “He’s—Look I can’t talk about this. You shouldn’t know anything.”  Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FɪndNøvel.ɴᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“Promise me you won’t let them hurt him,” she said.

“Ava—”

“Promise me, Mason. And that you won’t do anything illegal,” she added.

“You know it’s not a promise I can keep even if I had the power,” he said quietly. He turned and opened the door gesturing her out. “We should go. The car will be waiting for you.” 

Ava looked at her brother, and her expression was heartbroken and pleading. “Please don’t become like them,” she said.

Mason felt the entire weight of their lives on his shoulders. “Never,” he whispered.

That he could promise. Even though her eyes were glassy, Ava smiled and then hugged him. She walked out of the classroom and down the hallway towards the front of the school. She didn't look back, leaving Mason feeling like a failure.

If he had found the case already, none of this would matter. He thought about searching for the case and stuffed his impatience down. He didn't know where else to look. His best bet was still playing the role of loyal nephew until he saw his opportunity. And if he could subvert the game Joseph was playing, if Mason and Kai could figure out how to turn the tables, then maybe he could keep one archdaemon in jail. And maybe, just maybe, he could send the other there as well.

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