11 At Steak Stake (1/2)

Rare? Medium-rare? Well done?

”How would you like yours done?”

”Stix and friends love it raw. I'll have medium-rare please.”

I lined the plates of meat slices in front of the ravens. The biggest, most expensive piece went to Dylan. These were my thanking gift for them as a replacement for my soul. Dylan told me that it was Stix that went and told him I was kidnapped. He lectured me for an hour about drawing the summoning symbol and carried on telling me the advantages of having Stix around.

”Weren't you lucky? That I helped you on time?” Dylan put another piece into his mouth. ”Umm…this is good!”

I was wondering about demons' foods when I heard the word 'help.' My auto-response was turned on. ”I--I didn't ask you to come!” And suddenly felt bad because if it weren't for him, I would be a soulless body by now.

”Okay. Okay.” Dylan said and continued with his food. ”But it was nice hearing you call my name. It was the first time!” He smiled ”Call me again, come on.” I shied away and ignored him.

Stix's friend number 3-- that's what I called them now-- asked for more meat. He sure ate a lot! Unlike me, I had no appetite. My tongue tasted like earth.

”By the way,” said Dylan. ”What did you do to them? Why did they want to kill you?”

”Only God knows!”

”You mean Satan.”

”What?”

”Never mind.” Dylan went on. ”You've never done anything to them?”

I shook my head until it was going to fall off. Dylan lost in his thought for a while and came out with a conclusion that got me even more confused. ”You humans are so weird!”

I thought I wasn't weird and Stix's friend number 4 requested a refill. ”They're yummy, are they not?” I said to him. ”I'm glad that at least you eat like us.”

”Who told you that?” Dylan talked again. ”Only small creatures like Stix and friends eat like you. I don't!” And I watched him munching on the tenderloin with disbelief. ”Soul's my only food. I'm only eating this for fun, for a change.”

I almost fainted. Is he keeping taps?!

But nothing happened and Dylan left, trusting me with the ravens again. Since then, I allowed them in the house during meals. The birds proved themselves useful and reliable. I was still in the dark about who did that to me. Bully at school was ok but hiring someone to kill me was probably too far. Maybe it was the Queen, it seemed kind of her thing.

I decided to go to school the next day despite the demon's advice. I couldn't stand stepping out of the house after dark. But the fear couldn't hold me back during day time; I needed to go see Dale.

I opened the kitchen window and called the ravens for breakfast. I gave them each a piece of bread. They all aa-ed in joy. Actually, they are pretty cute.

Stix took place on my shoulder on the way. The other three were flying closely behind my back. It may be a weird sight. But, it was actually kind of cool and fun having them close by.

Stix aa-ed at his friends next to my ear. I blenched. ”Ow, Stix!”

The bird nudged his beak and head against my cheek like a cat purring at its owner. Oh my god, I started to love them!

The other ravens wanted attention too. They tried to find space to sit on my body. One got the other shoulder. One got my head. One couldn't find anywhere and kept hovering in front of my face. Stix got jealous suddenly and the bird fight began around my head.

”Stop!” I yelled, only once, and they did stop obediently. ”Good boy.” I added. They all resumed their positions. Not bad! Having clever, obedient birds as pet. I could enjoy this!

So I played with them. No, more like they played with each other and I had fun watching, giving comments sometimes. We had become good friends in such a short distance. And when the gate came into sight, I told the ravens to hide.

They made me happy. And I walked into the school with a small smile on my face, temporarily forgot the dead box experience. I was pretty confident. If anyone bullied me again today, I would just give them the I-don't-care attitude. They would soon be bored and I would be free. Oh yeah, that is-- only if I could keep Dylan out of this too. He would just make the mess messier.

Dale was at the music club alone working on the itinerary for the concert with a bloated face. Half of his cheek was under a white plaster. ”Dale.”

Dale made a twisting face. I took a few seconds to realize he was smiling. ”Leigh!”

”Your face---are you alright?”

”Not a big problem. It will get better before the concert.” He said. ”By the way, where were you yesterday? When I woke up, Sonnia said that you already went home.”

I avoided his eyes. ”Um...yea. School's become an unpleasant place.”

”I know.” Dale said understandingly. ”You should change your drawing model. Anyone but Dylan Ziarre is fine.”