The Mythos Unveiled (Demona series) by Megan Hepler

hit in the head one too
many times.”
    As
Demona finished speaking Balen came limping through the door. She ran and put
her arm around him to help take some of the weight off of his right leg.
    “We
need to talk in private,” Balen said.
    “Uh,
Felix, I’ll be right back,” Demona said. She helped Balen limp back into the
smoky room. Once inside he turned to look her over.
    “Are
you hurt?” Balen asked.
    “I’m
fine. Are you going to be okay? You look pretty banged up?” Demona asked.
    “This
is nothing,” Balen said.
    “What’s
wrong then?” Demona asked.
    “Something
still feels off. I need you to take care of the human for a little while. I
need to rest; I’ve been through the mill. This is not going to be an easy scene
to cover up. It is a good thing you controlled that fire or it would have drawn
the wrong kind of attention,” Balen said. “Now, help me back in there so I can
sit.”
    She
walked Balen to the top step and assisted him as he sat down. His pants were
ripped above his knee, and there was a red stain on his jeans around the area.
By that time Felix had already propped himself up against the wall.
    “My
name is Felix.” He stretched his hand out in Balen’s direction for a handshake.
When Balen did not take his hand Felix let it drop it to his side.
    Balen
briefly looked at Felix, and then returned his gaze to his wounded leg. He
began applying pressure as the red stain spread across his jeans.
    “His
name’s Balen,” Demona said. She turned to give Balen a stern look.
    “Thank
you both for your help. Is that woman or whatever she is okay?”
    “I
managed to knock her out after Demona pulled you out of the room.” Balen looked
at Demona. “Are the police on the way?”
    “Uh...
yeah. I called from my cell phone before Felix woke up,” Demona said.
    “Felix,
do you think you can walk?” Balen asked.
    “Yes
sir. I can manage with some help,” Felix said.
    “Demona,
help him down the steps. You can take my car and go ahead to the hospital. I
will wait for the police to arrive. Oh, can I have my cell phone back?” Balen
asked.
    “Sure,
I’ll come back to get you,” Demona pulled the phone from her pocket and tossed
it to him.
    “Don’t
worry about me. I’ll get a ride home,” Balen said. “Just make sure you bring my
car to me tomorrow. I’ll fill Darius in on tonight’s events.”
    Demona
would meet him again tomorrow at the same time as always. Her questions would
have to wait until then. She returned her attention to Felix.
    “Hey,
do you mind if we exclude my name from the records? It’s a bit embarrassing
that a woman attacked me. No offense,” Felix said.
    “Understandable.
I will come up with a story,” Balen said.
    “I’ll
just tell them in the emergency room that I fell off a motorcycle or
something,” Felix said. “I really appreciate everything you’ve both done for
me. I’m still not completely sure what happened.”
    Demona
helped Felix to his feet and they walked down the steps. They sat quietly in
the car, both still reeling from the previous events. They made it to the
hospital and sat briefly in the emergency room, until Felix was called back to
a room.
    “Stay
with me,” Felix said.
    “I
can’t. I need to go,” Demona said.
    “Please,
I’m terrified of hospitals. If you leave, paranoia will get the best of me!”
    Demona
stared into his puppy dog eyes. “Fine.”
    Soon,
Felix was laying on a gurney with stark white sheets pulled up around him.
Demona sat by his side in the sterile room. Doctors and nurses had been in and
out of the room checking his vitals. In the background machines beeped noisily.
    “So,
what happened before I woke up?” Felix asked. “How did you find me?”
    “Uh…
Balen has this weird obsession with investigating abandoned buildings, so we
were checking out the warehouse. It’s a good thing we happened to choose that
one. We found you lying on the floor.” Demona looked into the hallway as she
finished