The Demon's Game

IV

Kathy's POV

"Dinner's ready!" the cook called. I marked my page and closed my book. I was reading This is What Happy Looks Like. It was a great book.

I sat down beside John and waited for Connor and Lyla to arrive. John began to laugh.

"What?" Peter asked.

"What do you think they're doing?" John laughed.

"You dirty little-!" I slapped John's arm. Raina laughed as well.

Connor and Lyla arrived. They both had a look of fear and worry on their faces. John snorted.

Aria, the cook, set a dish on the table. It was grilled chicken. I raised my hand a bit.

"I didn't forget you," Aria said. She fetched a small bowl and set it down. Salad. I stabbed the lettuce with my fork but didn' eat it. Lyla kept glancing at Connor, and vice versa.

Fifteen deadly silent minutes had passed. I still hadn't touched my food.

"Okay, what?" Peter asked.

"Hmm?" Lyla hummed, surprised.

"Why do you two keep looking at each other like the world is going to end?" Peter said hastily.

"We, um, aren't. I don't know what you're talking about." Connor's words dripped with worry.

"Okay, sure." John said sarcastically. Connor glared at him and Peter turned to Lyla.

"Are you guys okay?" Peter asked.

"Yeah." Lyla shrugged. The rest of dinner was not only silent, but awkward.

When Lyla and Connor finished, they headed back upstairs to Connor's room. I sat against Connor's bedroom door and listened. Hushed voices and silent moments. I finally knocked. Shuffling. Voices. Connor opened the door.

"What's up?"

"Can I come in?" I asked. Connor sidestepped and I entered. Lyla waved. "What are you guys doing?" I sat on the edge of the bed.

"Nothing much," Lyla shrugged.

"Let me guess, you guys have a secret book club." I said sarcastically. Open books were all over the place. Pages were tabbed, words highlighted, the whole nine yards.

"Actually," Connor said,"We are researching the history of the house."

"Ah," I nodded.

Lyla's eyes got big, "Did you guys hear that?"

"What?" Connor pressed. A soft scrabbling went through the walls. It got louder and louder until it stopped, right beneath the bed. Connor, who had been sitting in a desk chair, lunged forward and knocked me back onto the bed. Lyla scrabbled up on the bed too.

Pages in books flipped without anyone to touch them. A shrill laugh whispered in the air.

Without a thought, Connor mashed his face into mine and Lyla burried her nose into a book. I tried to push Connor away, but he didn't budge. What happened to him? I looked over his shoulder and saw a plush doll with souless black button eyes staring at us. Fear bloomed in my chest and I kissed Connor back. Something told me he wasn't just being a jerk. After a moment or so, the doll disappeared and Connor sat up.

"Sorry," He said, rubbing his lips on his arm.

"What was that, doll thing?" I asked.

"Akuma," Lyla said grimly.

A/N Comment, vote, tell ya friends. I am really enjoying this book. Thank you for reading.