Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Chapter 20
The Planning Meeting
AZROTH
An icy wind whooshed through the backyard to weave around the house and down the street. Winter was the very best season. The trees and plants were all hibernating, leaving behind their languishing corpses. The skies were gray and bleak. And the humans were miserable.
Azroth stood on the rear porch of the house and dragged a deep, chilly breath into his lungs. Part of him wished he could stretch out his wings and feel the caress of the bitter wind along the thin leathery membrane, but it was the middle of the day, and he wasn’t in the mood to draw the attention of the neighbors. Now that Luke was living with them, it had become important not to upset the neighbors too much. That kind of nonsense could hurt their human, which they did not want.
However, maybe he could go to the local mall and mess with the shoppers a bit. Decline some credit cards. Make some bags rip. Spill trays laden with lunch in the food court. And maybe even help a poor soul fall into the fountain. A little mayhem and chaos always did his soul good, and it would never hurt Luke.
Just as he was deciding what to do with his day, the frantic cries of a crow cut through the wintery silence. Azroth took a step into the yard and looked up to see the crow Luke called Atticus wheeling through the air, frantically flapping his large black wings in a rush to reach him.
Azroth lifted a hand, and Atticus drew up his wings to catch the air as he gracefully landed on Azroth’s fingers.
“What’s all this commotion about? Is something wrong with Luke?” Azroth inquired, turning toward the house.
Atticus flapped his wings and let out a series of ear-splitting caws. His toes curled around Azroth’s fingers, but the long talons didn’t puncture flesh.
Azroth’s heart squeezed, and his thin arched eyebrows jumped to his hairline. “Really? So soon?”
Atticus confirmed what he told Azroth, and it seemed as if the crow huffed at him, not liking that the demon dared to doubt his word. Azroth shouldn’t have. The crow might be mischievous and sneaky, but he knew better than to lie to a demon.
“We need to make plans.” Azroth tossed his hand up, sending Atticus into the sky. “Continue to monitor him and report any fresh news. I will inform the others.”
The large black crow cawed, complaining about the complete lack of payment that came with this news delivery service. He could have at least been given a snack for his trouble. Azroth snorted. He’d feed Atticus and his compatriots later. There were more important things that needed his attention.
Luke was going on a date with Matteo!
Plans for chaos at the mall would have to wait. He could always torment the humans later. Their human needed their help if he was going to have the perfect date.
Azroth hurried into the house, slamming the door behind him.
“Wake up! Stop your lollygagging in bed. I’m calling a household meeting in the library!” he bellowed at the top of his lungs as he stomped through the house.
To no one’s surprise, Ogos was already in there, the daily newspaper spread out in front of him. He lazily lifted his eyes to Azroth, looking utterly annoyed that their leader was making such a racket before sunset.
“What has your panties in a twist now?” Ogos asked. He pressed a glob of his body to the corner of the paper and turned the sheet, moving on to another story.
“The crows have brought news about Luke.”
Ogos paused and gazed up at Azroth again. “Good news? Or news that we get to kill other humans?” He shifted his body as if he were cocking his head to the side. “Which, in a way, could be seen as good news as well.”
“We’re not killing anyone…right now.”
“Torturing?”
“No.”
“Not even a little light torment? Paper cuts? Nightmares? Stealing all the fucking toilet paper? Something! You’ve got to give me something. We haven’t tortured a soul in so long.”
Azroth stopped his pacing and stared wide-eyed at Ogos. The demon was usually so composed, but he had a point. They hadn’t run amok for a while. Maybe they were overdue. After they got through their next mission with Luke, he would have to plan an outing. Possibly to an office building. Those dead-eyed drones could use some excitement in their lives, and it would help shake off some of their restlessness. Kill some computers before they had a chance to save their work. Steal all the coffee filters, break all the printers, and turn off the Internet. Petty tricks to break their spirits.
“I think we can arrange a field trip for everyone very soon,” Azroth murmured.
“We’re going to have an outing?” Bath’tuk asked as he entered the room, followed closely by Mullmag and Annod. Tog shuffled in, with his meaty hands balled into fists, looking sulky and grumpy. Yes, an outing was definitely in order for them.