Odrin Demo

This story is the product of all of my ish I needed to work out, I guess. This little series is turning out to be good therapy.

Luke doesn’t give a crap about my writer’s block or past pain – he just wants me to get over it so I can start writing again and he can get back to Naya.

Here, Luke fights like crazy to show just how much Naya – and being reunited with her – means to him.

I didn’t know dude had it in him… #BlackLove

Luke and I have defeated his demon and locked it away, so, onward to the next test!

Except the next milestone won’t reveal itself. It appears to be cleverly hidden…

… by me. (Ugh…)

It’s during this time that we learn – uncover? – more about Luke as a character and as a man by finally just talking to him instead of at him.

Turns out, he’s way more different from the typical male than I thought.

Luke and I are just resting in the woods for a day.

I’m working – i.e. writing – while I nurse my son back to health.

He had a terrible nightmare last night where he woke up screaming. (I don’t know why I feel like that’s relevant.)

Luke isn’t looking too good, either… I wonder if he and my son’s illnesses are connected?

Now I feel even guiltier about not finishing this part of the path yet.

The closer we draw to the monster I must face, the higher and faster my fears and insecurities rise. It’s crippling me, and unfortunately for Luke, that means I’m going to be running from my problems today. I’ve also been acting incredibly irresponsibly. The events have turned out to be both sad and obnoxious for Luke, who kind of looks up to me now, but it’s all got a cartoonish feel to it as well.

Avoiding problems means drowning myself in wine coolers while chilling outside in the sunshine with a spliff. It also means surrendering to the guilt I feel whenever I feel I’m not being productive, so I have a notebook and a pen next to me so I can jot down notes that will push this story forward.

Luke is confused, but there is one bright spot: he finally gets to see Naya. Not quite in the way that he expected, but still a touching reunion nonetheless.

Oh, and Carlo shows up! Dope. He’s my favorite, but don’t tell Luke.

The battle continues… who will emerge victorious?

Carii, a powerful demon well-versed in battle, is using psychological tactics to weaken Carlo and Ana through Jenea, a newly-formed feral demon. It appears the poor girl got entangled in the demon fuckery of Roshaton while trying to visit Carlo for a sweet V-Day smoke session.

Carlo is pissed and can’t think straight. Can he get a grip on his emotions enough to fend off Carii?

Ana is scared. She knows they’re up against a deadly foe and they don’t have their powerful leader Naya there to guide them. Plus, her love/hate for Carii is a very dangerous variable…

This twisted story takes place two years before the events of the novel, Goddess of Flames.

Here is where you’ll get to know Laraii, the sister and adversary of Naya, and the leader of the rising demon army. But she’s not doing any dark rituals today. Instead, she’s visiting her special friend.

Just who is this “friend”? And why is Laraii so hell-bent (pun intended) on keeping them a secret from her mother and brother?