Maternal Instinct

By J. M. Allison

“It’s so cute!” Gloria cooed. She bent over the tiny, growling demon.

“That’s not a puppy, Gloria. You can’t keep it.” I glared at the ugly creature cowering behind my backyard shed. “Rip it apart like a good werewolf and send it back to Hell.”

She ignored me. Crouching next to it, she extended her hand like we’d discovered a stray mutt and not a venomous, blood-thirsty devil spawn.

I tensed, my fingers brushing against the knives strapped to the small of my back. With the warmer weather, we’d seen an increase in demons crossing over from the supernatural realms into ours.

A frill of red-orange flame fanned out over the demon’s back and shoulders. It cocked its lizard-y face and stretched toward Gloria’s fingers. She murmured to the creature, and its frill diminished to a low purple flame before extinguishing.

The demon peered up at me, then looked back to Gloria. It bounded toward her, forked tongue lolling out the side of its mouth.

She grinned and scooped the demon up into her arms. It curled its long, spiked tail around her waist and leaned against her, releasing a string of happy chirps and clicks.

“You do realize that’s a volan demon, right?” I folded my arms and glared. “They’re unpredictable, volatile, and dangerous. It’ll burn down the neighborhood and rip the neighbors limb from limb. It’s a monster, and our job is to eliminate monsters.”

Gloria smiled and hugged the creature closer. “It might be a demon pup, but it’s no more a monster than I am. I thought with all your immortal wisdom you’d learned to look beyond a creature’s basic appearance.”

“If it roars like a demon and makes fire like a demon, it’s a demon. Now hold it still while I finish it off.” I pulled a short knife and stepped toward them.

“No!” Gloria spun away, placing herself between me and the demon.

I reached for the creature, and Gloria again moved out of reach.

“I’m not messing around. This is serious, Gloria.” I lunged, and Gloria sidestepped my attack.

“I’m not letting you hurt him.” She cradled the fiend close.

“We’re not keeping it!” I set my jaw, ready to rebuff her next argument.

“I know it needs to return to Hell, but can’t we send it through the summer solstice portal next month instead of ripping it apart and forcing it to respawn?” She turned pleading puppy-dog eyes back at me.

I hated that look. A warning about werewolves: it takes something greater than iron resolve to successfully resist their puppy-dog eyes. I swore under my breath.

“Fine.” I sighed. “Go fetch a crate or something so we can transport it to lockup.”

Gloria beamed at me and headed toward the house. “I knew you’d see reason.”

“Leave the demon,” I called.

She gave me a dubious look.

“I promise not to destroy the creature while you’re gone.”

She smiled and set the demon pup down. It stared up at her and chirped.

“You stay here,” she commanded in a soft, firm voice. She ran a hand down its back. “I’ll be right back. Behave yourself, Kuzko, and show Auntie Marguerite what a good boy you are.” She gave it a final pat, threw me a warning glance, then raced inside.

I scowled down at the demon. Great, now she’d given it a name.

Kuzko watched Gloria’s retreating form, then looked toward me, chirping and clicking. I glowered back at it. The demon cocked its head, then flopped on the ground, rolling over to offer me its underbelly.

“I do not give belly-rubs,” I announced. Kuzko gave a sad chirp, then rolled to lay his head on his forelegs like a forlorn hound dog. After a moment, he turned large, soulful eyes in my direction.

“You’re not a werewolf; puppy-dog eyes won’t do you any good.” I grabbed one of my knives and tossed it at the target painted on the side of the shed. Kuzko’s dark eyes focused on the knife then back on me. What was taking Gloria so long?

I pursed my lips and flopped down on the soft grass, my back to the demon. He gave a pitiful whine.

“It’s not personal,” I felt compelled to explain. “You don’t belong here, and the fastest way to send you home is to destroy you.”

An ash-coated knife dropped in my lap, and a rough forked tongue licked up the side of my face.

“Ew! Gross!” I shoved Kuzko’s wriggling body away from me and looked around at the shed. Had he just fetched my knife? I wiped the ashy demon saliva off the blade to reveal a shine I hadn’t seen in years. So, baby demon spit worked as a powerful polishing agent. Interesting.

I studied Kuzko as I stowed my knife. I’d never classify him as cute, but his expressive eyes and lopsided, drooling grin might rate endearing. I wondered what other hidden skills Kuzko possessed.

“Immortality is something we have in common,” I coaxed, keeping my voice soft and extending my hand. “If I destroy a monster, it respawns in Hell. If it destroys me, I respawn in the nearest church to start the hunt again.” I watched as Kuzko spied a large stick and pounced on it, wrestling with the branch.

“I’m guessing you crossed into our world during the Beltane Festival while the veil between realms was at its thinnest. I suppose you’re here on accident instead of for nefarious purposes.”

Kuzko clicked twice, his tongue lolling out again. He scampered forward, twisting to press his body against my side, and wrapped his tail around my waist.

“Making friends?” Gloria sauntered forward, smirking, with no crate in her hands.

“Don’t read into this,” I warned. I scooped up Kuzko and headed for the house. “And just so we’re clear, he’s not allowed on the furniture.”

Kuzko wriggled, licking at my face and chirping happily.

Gloria grinned. “Whatever you say!”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J. M. Allison, more commonly addressed as Lisa, or Mommommommom, grew up captivated by the magic and wonder of fairy tales. She finds daily adventure in raising four small humans, teaching musical theatre and dance, sewing, drawing, cosplaying, writing, and reading. Stories can communicate so many things, and she hopes her stories will bring a smile and inspire others to courageously live their own adventures.

---

More Stories | Facebook