Chapter 5

He was quite simply the only demon that would wind up on the road crying for an injured dog. He was a blight, a stain, a joke to be laughed at, and thinking of it that way, he asked himself a very important question. What did it matter if he decided not to go home? It was clear as day to see, he was always going to be despised for this part of himself that he could not, would not change.

He cared.

“Hey, where are you going?”

Artem blanched, dread washing over him at the sound of Drew’s voice.

“Away, very far away from here,” he answered without turning back.

“What about the dog?”

He shrugged. The creature, the very one who came to him with happiness in its steps, acceptance in its eyes, was in good hands, the kind that could actually save it and see to it that he got a good life. Neither of which Artem could do.

“He’s where he needs to be.”