A Fairy Out of Her Tale - Dear Diary - 58. Scene 58

23rd January 1995

Dear Diary of Racing Minds and Hearts,

I don't even know where to start. The spell-casting session is over. Unn is not dizzy anymore. The demon didn't try to eat her soul or whatever it is they do to make people evil.

But...

I think I'm about to do something really bad. Not quite "killing-my-step-father-who-may-have-been-forced-to-attack-me" kind of bad, but close.

I'm going to see that demon.

Alone.

To find out about Kris's past.

After Lóránt forbade said demon to tell me anything.

And after Kris ran away terrified the moment he saw the demon.

I'm sure you think I've lost my mind.

I completely agree with you.

It's just...

I have to. The unanswered questions will keep bugging me until someone tells me what this is all about. It won't be Kris, it won't be Lóránt, so it'll have to be the demon.

Maybe it's some kind of hero complex? To rush head-first into something obviously dangerous because you believe it's the right thing to do, even when all your other instincts tell you no good can come out of it... Well, I'm the hero of my own story, so in a sense having a hero complex is fitting...

I don't have much time. Lóránt can't find out what I'm doing, and the demon will leave soon. Our conversation shouldn't take long, unless she decides she wants to take me away too...

It shouldn't be worth the risk. I should turn away now before it's too late. I know that's what you're thinking.

But you didn't see Kris face when he came into the room and his eyes fell on the demon. You didn't see his pale face turn even whiter, his breath being knocked out of his lungs, the sheer fear in his eyes.

And you didn't see the demon smile at it all, and greet him like an old friend. 'Hello, Kris, long time no seen. I'm sure your parents would've sent their greetings if they knew where you are.' She passed her tongue through her pointy teeth, showing them off in that low-key way only demons are capable of.

Kris ran faster than I could process the fact that I understood what the demon said. She would have had no reason to speak Fadalesh to Kris, but her words were crystal-clear to me. Maybe it's a magic trick powerful demons can pull off?

'Do you know Kris?'

'Since he was a little adorable horned baby. He looks awful now without his horns.' The demon licked her teeth again.

'Horned... baby?'

'Yes, of course. Don't you know demons are born with horns?'

I don't care if demons are born with horns or cornucopias.

Kris was born with a horn. The grumpy, scary housemate who was still nice enough to lend me a dress for my date and wants to go clothes shopping with me is a demon. Not a shape-shifter. A demon.

I should've seen it coming. That's why nobody bothered to mention what he was. Nobody wanted me to know, in case I felt even more scared of him.

They were right about that.

'How come he hasn't got them now?' I don't know how I managed to speak at that point.

'Horns for demons are like wings for fairies. You do something unworthy, they get taken from you. Why do you think Kris is hiding under the protection of an angel of all beings? And I'm sure you know all about being unworthy, my little fairy...'

'That's enough! Go to your room, Nessa. We'll finish the rest.'

I've been here ever since Lóránt sent me away.

But now do you understand why I can't stop thinking about all this? I need answers!

Why did Kris lose his horns?

How?

Who is he? What was he doing before he ended up here?

Can I trust him?

Can I trust the demons who seems to have all those answers?

If I don't come back, please tell Lydia I love her more than anything.