Star Eater
Chapter Thirty-Three

“Ah, Kai,” Joseph said. “We were beginning to wonder if you were going to show.”

“It’s a little hard to get this far without a vehicle,” Kai said, which was true. Kai definitely wasn’t going to tell them about Ava on the other side of the wall. Or the apparent spy equipment—which, thanks to the star, wasn’t working.

“You’ll be happy to know that Mr. Palmer was released by Homeland Security last night.”

Kai was relieved that Link was free, but Link should not have been caught up in this in the first place. Right now, this knowledge prompted a different question.

“Why are you telling me this?” Kai said. “If Link is off the hook, then I don’t need you.”

“I told you you needed protection and I meant it,” Joseph said. “Homeland Security released Lincoln from lack of evidence. But they are tracking the movement of the blackouts. They think it's a localized EMP generator developed by the Koreans, and they are closing in on the locus.”

He left it at that while Kai felt his entire world crumple.

I will not let anyone take you, Akuma said. Kai could barely hear him. I won’t let anyone ever hurt you again.

You may not be able to stop them.

You need to trust me, Akuma said.

You killed someone, Kai thought. And these people—

I will always protect you, Akuma said.

Kai didn't know what to think. For all his bravado walking in, he was so keenly aware that he was out of his depth that he wanted to curl into a ball and hide. How did things get to this point? This was Homeland Security and who knew what they would do.

“Consider this a down payment for your talents, “ Joseph said and gestured to Cole, who walked forward and handed Kai a box.

Kai studied it. Joseph was far too confident. It was making Kai nervous and he was already internally freaking out. He glanced at Mason, but the boy’s face was unreadable. He felt Akuma slither into the box and report back that it was just clothing.

Removing the lid, Kai pulled out a thick body suit with silver flashing accents and ribbing. It wasn’t the same material as a wet suit, Kai thought running his hand across the chest, but that’s what it reminded him of. There was another in the box, same material. It felt as smooth as silk.

“I suggest you put that on now,” Joseph said.

“What is it?” Kai asked.

“It’s a bio-suit,” Joseph said. “I had my seamstress up all night fitting it to your measurements.” Kai wondered how they got his measurements, but Joseph was still talking.

“—designed for the next generation of astronauts. I had it re-sewn inside out.”

“Why?” Kai asked. Though his attention had been piqued at the word ‘astronauts.’

“I have a theory,” Joseph said, “that your demon, your fhear dorcha, is emitting a sort of cosmic radiation, as all heavenly bodies do. I’ve done the research. This suit should block it.”

Kai blinked in surprise. “This will stop me from interfering with electronics?”

“If I’m right,” Joseph said. 

Kai put the box down and shook one suit out.

“Go put it on. There’s a bathroom through that door,” Joseph pointed towards the front of the store, where a side door had escaped Kai’s notice.

Kai hesitated. For some reason, he looked at Mason. Mason looked him straight in the eye and, after a second, he nodded.

“Fine,” Kai said.

As he took off his clothes in the bathroom, Akuma insisted they leave again.

We have to see this through to the end, Kai thought.

Why? Akuma thought. We can go anywhere. We can do anything. We don’t need anyone else.

You don’t need anyone else, Kai thought. I do. I need to figure this out, Akuma, because I am freaking out right now. Between you and the daemons, I’m not sure who to trust. All I know is that people are trying to hijack my life, you included. Now I have let you live inside of me for eleven years and I have never fought you. But I need to live my life, Akuma, and I need to know you’re with me. And I get that you don't understand my reasons and that you’re not human but I am. So either we do this together and figure this out together or….

You want to know if we can separate, Akuma thought.

Kai knew there was no point in lying; Akuma could read his thoughts. He was too angry and guilty about what had happened to care.

I need to figure out what you are, for real, Kai said. And I need to learn more about the star, so that it never goes hungry again. And, yes, I want to know if we can separate. It doesn't mean we will.

What does it mean? Akuma asked.

I don’t know, Kai thought. Do you want to live inside me for the rest of my life? What happens to you when I die? Don’t you want the option of living outside of me?

No. Akuma’s firm answer to the last question surprised Kai. I am happy with you.

Kai didn't know what to do with that. He realized the demon was the one person that didn't ever expect him to be anything but himself, even when Akuma didn't understand what that meant. Akuma loved him the way Kai wished his parents did. He felt his heart ache and swallowed hard. Kai realized that if he was honest with himself, he couldn't imagine life without Akuma.

Are you going to help me? Kai asked.

I will always help you.

It was a demon’s promise, and Kai knew that unspoken, Akuma would always do what he felt he needed to protect Kai. He felt Akuma acknowledge that, but also felt the demon’s promise to not kill again if it could be avoided. Akuma didn't understand Kai’s emotional distress over violence in the way a predator didn't understand why they would empathize with prey. But the demon was willing to reset his boundaries if it meant Kai would talk to him again.

The boy knew it was the best he was going to get. That still filled him with anxiety but standing there, in the lair of daemons, with a bio-suit in his hands and the government on his tail, Kai knew he needed Akuma more than ever.

Thank you, he said. He took a deep breath and swallowed his emotions. Thank you, he repeated and meant it. Not just because Akuma had agreed, but for what the demon felt.

Stripping quickly, Kai stuck his foot in one of the legs. He balanced on the other foot, and then started the hopping dance. The bio-suit was tight fitting. In that sense, it was very much like a wet suit. He managed to get his foot into the second leg but overbalanced, and fell through the side wall. Akuma phased them out in time, yet another example of the demon watching out for him, and Kai found himself halfway into a dark space with metal walls.

Kai turned his head this way and that. In the darkness, Kai could just make out stacks of money, papers, and a black case. It’s a safe, Kai thought. It's a secret safe.

Someone pounded on the door.

“Geez, I’m working on it,” Kai yelled.

He wiggled back into the bathroom and finished pulling the suit up to his thighs. Then he stood and pulled it all the way on, zipping up the zipper in front that ran from neck to ankle. It was not perfectly fitted. It was a little long in the limbs, a little big in the crotch (although he wasn’t arguing there), and it was loose in the chest. Kai wondered if the seamstress had meant to give him room to grow or if she just didn't have the correct measurements.

Or maybe she couldn't believe how small I am, he thought with chagrin. Akuma, how do you feel?

Oddly, it feels more like home, he said. Kai wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing. Neither was the demon.

Can we phase out? Kai asked.

He felt a surge of energy run through him and the suit and then he phased out. He walked through the door back into the storeroom as a test. It was harder. He had to concentrate more to include the suit, as if the suit was elastic and difficult to grip, but it could be done.

“Well,” Joseph said, sounding pleased. He came forward and inspected it. “It’s not perfect,” he admitted. Then he gestured to Cole who brought out a piece of equipment.

“What’s that?” Kai asked, suspiciously.

“This measures the energy you emit,” Joseph said. He studied the readings. “And it’s considerably lower,” he added pleased.

“Let me see your cell phone,” Kai said.

Cole handed it to him. Kai tapped the screen but it remained blank.

“There are gloves,” Joseph said. “Try them.” Kai put them on and took the phone again. He hit the home button and after a second, the screen flashed white as it restarted.

“Yes,” Kai said, triumphant.

“Excellent,” Joseph said. “We couldn't get boots, they haven't manufactured them yet. But I’ll take care of that later. Now, it’s your turn. Are you ready?”

Kai shifted uneasily. There was a very real part of him that wanted to run. It was his go-to strategy. He glanced at Mason. The other boy seemed to see Kai’s instinct. For a split second, Mason looked tired or maybe jealous. Maybe a combination. That’s when Kai remembered Ava on the other side of the wall. No, he couldn't run. Not yet anyway.

“There is a jewelry store downtown. Top of the line security. I want you to steal something, anything you like, without tripping the alarm.”  Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the Find_Nøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“I’m not a cat burglar,” Kai said.

“No, you’re a killer,” Joseph replied. Kai flinched away from that remark. “Do this and I’ll know you have the capability for the real job I have in mind.”

Kai sighed. “I do this test and this other job for you, and we’re square,” Kai said, swiping his hands like he was cleaning a counter. “I keep the suits and we go our separate ways.”

“We’ll discuss the terms after the test,” Joseph said.

He’s got something else planned, Kai thought.

I will protect you, Akuma promised him.

Kai considered arguing but he didn’t. Mason needed to know the plan before they could stop Joseph. And Kai needed to do this test.

“When do we leave?” Kai asked.

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