Keeley Thomson (Book 4): Demon Trap by P.S. Power Page A

control over him. One that she literally couldn't beat. A human woman that was cute enough, and a little older might be a threat too, except for the fact that by Vampire rules that was totally allowable. It took the sting out of it and she thought that she might know a few tricks to keep a twenty-two year old man happy, that Sherry just didn't.
    It was a complex enough arrangement that Keeley felt a bit sorry for Zack, but as long as he was happy, she decided to stay out of it all.
    Instead she tried to change the topic.
    "Do you have an event tomorrow?" It would explain why she was still up. So would waiting for her to get home, but Sherry had kind of accepted the fact that Keeley wasn't a regular girl, and wouldn't be out doing the drugs or off having the sex . Or more honestly, she might well be, but waiting up for her to get home wouldn't stop that, if it were her plan. Not that drugs would work on her anyway.
    Her mother nodded, seeming more relaxed suddenly. Work was one of her favorite topics after all.
    "Yes. I want some candles for it, but the set up is early in the day. I got a box of them, but they're the wrong color. I ordered red, but these are an off-plum and it won't really work right."
    Zack just asked what she wanted, and said that he could have them to her by eight in the morning. It was kind of him, but after he borrowed a pen and some paper to write it down, he got everyone to leave with him, taking Harland through to his store in the Westwood mall without waiting for her to get Fram around. Then he came back, and rather sweetly, kissed her on the cheek. It was in front of Darla, her mom and Fram, so she got the hesitancy. Also, to his mind she was still too young for him. It would be an issue for a bit, she knew.
    Then, using the same node she'd created earlier and used several times already, he vanished, going back to his shop.
    The one way node to Finias' house in the mountains that shouldn't have gone anywhere else, or opened for him, without her doing the work.
    Because that was normal.
    For a Demon.

Chapter four
     
     
     
     
     
     
    There was a bit of a problem then, since Keeley wasn't going to let Fram go and party until she needed him, since he'd probably find a way to get out of being captured like he had been if she gave him the time. Worse, if he was around too much, he'd pick up bits of information that could be used against her. There didn't seem to be a real way to safely deal with him, but, in the main, the guy was harmless. For a Greater Demon.
    "OK. You're going to take over Barb's life for the rest of the year. She lived with some people that were pretending to be her parents. That means going to Raintree High, and working to take that over. You'll need a good cover story and probably have to influence some of the school staff to let you back onto the cheer team. You'll do that without harm to anyone, understand?" It wasn't that important, making it seem like the girl was back, but she had the resource and he was already Barb, so why not?
    "I can do that. I'm not exactly wild about all this you know." The man didn't growl at her, but did glare a bit. It was honest enough, so she let it slide.
    "I bet. Of course it was your own error that got you into this mess. We'll get you out of it, eventually, but for the next year or two, I expect you to pay for your mistake and not cause problems for me. That's the price of your freedom." It was pretty nice of her, Keeley thought.
    So did Darla.
    "I don't know sis, having a pet Greater Demon is a big deal. Think of all the things you can have him do. Empty his bank accounts, take all his slaves... Things to do with olive oil..." Whatever that last bit meant, it got Fram to pout a bit.
    "Spoilsport." There was a dainty foot stomp and the brown trouser leg swished a bit when it happened, reminding her that the Demon would need to get to his new home that night. It was still there, she knew, having been watching it pretty closely for the last