Chapter 8

After a few minutes of Eve crying in Hax’s arms, they both headed inside to find Dylan and Seth hiding on the edge of the couch. They looked like children waiting for Santa to walk in. Hax motioned for them to sit down at the table. Eve did the same, and Hax made them both some coffee.

‘Ok, first things first.’ Dylan said. ‘Please don’t leave us again. We were all worried.’

Eve blushed. She was glad to be home, but hesitant to stay.

Seth raised a hand. ‘Can I ask something before we get started? What does this picture mean?’ he pulled a sheet of paper out of his pocket. On it was a picture of a girl sitting on a demon’s chest, with “LCDSS-TIH-9” written on it. ‘Dylan and I couldn’t figure it out.’

Eve chuckled, and Hax smiled. He pulled a CD case out of his pocket and passed it to him. ‘LCD Sound system, This is happening, Song 9, “Home”.’ Hax said ‘It was a message from Eve that she knew I would get. Such a wonderful indie kid.’

‘So, down to the business at hand.’ Hax said; his face stern again. ‘Do you know what we are?’

Eve shrugged. ‘Vampires? Time lords?’

‘1. Stop assuming I'm a fucking vampire. I don’t sparkle.’ Hax said.

‘But wouldn’t it be cool to be time lords. Or to meet one.’ Seth said ‘two delicious hearts…’ he licked his lips. This made Eve scared again. She scrunched her hands into fists.

‘Seth! You are scaring her!’ Dylan said. Eve’s eyes widened. Dylan realised what had just happened, and he knew he was in trouble. They all watched Eve intently, waiting for something.

‘What?’ Eve said. ‘I’m the one who should be shocked. What the fuck was that?’

‘Eve?’ Hax grabbed her hands. ‘Does your head…hurt or anything?’

‘No…?’ she was really worried now. Her hands shook. ‘Am I going to die?’

‘No. No you won’t.’ Hax let out a sigh. ‘Ok, back to the matter. We are not human’

‘Well duh? What are you then?’

‘Gods…’ Hax looked away.

‘GODS?!?’ Eve almost feel out of her seat. ‘Like deities of religions?’

‘Just…Just one religion.’ Seth said. Eve looked at all three of them. Nervous as all hell, she thought.

‘We are Elder Gods.’ Dylan said.

‘As in H.P. Lovecraft?’ Eve said, not even shocked.

‘Well… longer than that.’ Hax said.

‘How old are you guys?’

‘327 years old.’

‘And how long does a god live for?’

‘Our Elder bodies are eternal, but our human bodies only live 80 years.’

‘So, you’re kind of like a paedophile?’ Eve said with a cheeky smile.

‘That would imply that we did a sexual act.’

‘Well you were asleep at the time…’ Seth, Dylan and Eve all chuckled. ‘But does that mean-?’

‘Yes. I knew granny for a while. I was Steven, but I knew I couldn’t hold onto that body forever. She was a great friend from the day I met her. I always had dinner with George and her on Sundays.’

‘Who else did you know?’

‘Umm, George Washington, Winston Churchill, Houdini, Poe, Lovecraft.’

‘I kind of guessed Lovecraft.’

‘He was a good man. He needed help writing, so we all pitched in and told him about our lives. He was a really good man.’

‘How did he die?’ All three of the brothers’ face’s dropped.

‘Eve, elder god’s were always fair in life. But there was a balance needed; “The Outer Gods”.’

‘Are they like you?’

‘Yes, but they don’t play fair. They have been known to kill for fun. They killed Howard before we could stop them.’ Dylan said.

‘I’ll be back.’ Hax said. There was a sudden rush of wind, and the sound of a door slamming, and Hax was right back to where he stood moments ago. In his hands he held some photos. He passed one to Eve. She recognised it immediately. It was the one that looked like a family portrait. Hax, Dylan and Seth, the twins and young lady.

‘Was this your family?’ Eve asked, looking at Hax with sad eyes.

He pointed to the twins. ‘That’s Nicole and Nikita. They were our younger twin sisters. They were so sweet, you would have loved them. Always playing games. Not once did they lose control on their anger.’

‘Who is that?’ Eve said, pointing to the young lady.

‘Seth?’ Hax said, looking at him. Seth sighed deeply.

‘That was Claire. We were in love in the late 1880’s. She didn’t care who I was, she only saw me as the love of her life.’

‘Did she know?’

‘Yes. She was the first human to find out about us. As I said, she didn’t care. She took it better than you did.’ Eve looked down is disappointment. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.’

‘What happened to them?’ Eve asked Hax.

‘There were people in this world that couldn’t differ us from Outer Gods. They were called “Inquisitors”. Specially trained and gifted for killing us. They used weapons engraved with markings. It made it harder for us to heal wounds, and if kept in contact, could stop us from transforming.’

‘So what do you really look like?’

Hax froze ‘Eve, all the things in Lovecraft’s books about humans going insane when they see us. That’s true. Unless someone is prepared to see our form, they will go insane and die. The same goes for the old language.’

‘That’s what you were speaking before?’ Eve said, Hax nodded. ‘But I didn’t die. Couldn’t that be a sign?’

‘We don’t know.’ Hax looked at the clock. ‘It’s late. Time to go to bed.’

‘Wait! Just one more thing?’ Eve activated puppy dog eyes ‘Since I can’t see your real forms, can you tell me what you are?’

‘Fiiiine.’ Hax said, very annoyed. ‘I am called Hexar, the unknown one. I am made of smoke.’

‘I’m Di-Hydra. A two headed sapphire hydra.’ Said Dylan.

‘ I’m Sebek. Like the Egyptian god, Sobek.’ Said Seth.

‘And I am Eve. I’m a very small, cute human.’ Eve said with a laugh.

‘More like annoying.’ Seth said in old language. Eve smacked him over the head. ‘What the fuck was that for? You don’t even know what I said.’

‘You would have said it in English if it were good.’ Eve said with a smug smile.

‘Bed, now!’ Hax said, leaving the table.

Eve looked at Hax, and then whispered something to Dylan. Hax shook it off and headed off to bed. Eve tackled him on the stairs.

‘Would you please not break my back?’

‘You’ll live. I want to tell you something.’ She helped Hax up and they both walked up stairs.

She leaned in close and said ‘I am in loving you’

Hax chuckled. ‘Did Dylan teach you that? Thank you, but its “nynt” not “nynta”. I love you too.’

‘Did you just call her fat, Hax?’ Seth said walking up the stairs. Eve spun around, and connected a right hook to Seth’s jaw. He fell down the stairs to the bottom.

‘Dylan taught me some words.’ She turned to Hax and said ‘Do you? Or were you just correcting me?’

‘Can’t I mean both?’ Hax said, unlocking his door. ‘You can sleep in your room again.’

Eve looked at Hax with sad eyes. ‘Please can I stay with you?’

‘Give me a minute.’ Hax walked into his room, and locked the door.

‘Oh you suck.’ Eve pouted, and slumped against his door. Dylan and Seth walked up stairs arguing about what Dylan did.

‘You have to tell her now she knows.’ Dylan said. Seth looked scared.

‘But… but what if she gets pissed off again?’ he said.

‘Accept your punishment, be a man.’

‘Tell me what?’ Eve asked. Seth sat across from Eve and looked her in the eye.

‘The night you first stayed here, I kind of tried to…’ Seth looked away, but was smacked by Dylan. ‘Strangle you…’

Eve pursed her lips for a second, and then grabbed Seth by his hair. ‘Do you want forgiveness, or just a clear conscious?’

‘I wanted you to know. If you need to kill me, you can.’

Eve pulled him close to her ‘And yet you could go all croc and kill me? What’s your angle?’

‘I tried to kill you, someone I call…called friend at some point. It hurts too much as it is.’

She stared at him for a second, and kissed him on the cheek. ‘ Do it again, and I remove your manhood.’ She threw Seth to the ground again. ‘And yes, I’m your friend still.’

‘Also, Hax and Dylan would kill me if I killed you.’

‘That’s it! Dylan, Grab him. I’ll cut his junk.’ Dylan did as he was told, and Seth screamed.

Hax unlocked his door, and poked his head outside. ‘Eve, rules apply still.’

‘He tried to kill me.’

‘Oh ok then. Come inside when you’re done.’ Eve punched Seth in the chest, and walked in Hax’s bedroom.

She was shocked. His usual single bed was now a queen sized bed.

‘How did you do this?’ she said in shock. Hax was already tucked into bed.

‘I can recreate matter.’ Hax said, rolling over in bed. ‘Sleep. More questions tomorrow.’

Eve slide into bed, and smiled. She was home again.

Hax woke in the morning with a massive pressure on his chest. It was still dark out, and he couldn’t see anything. He mind began to race.

Was last night just a dream? Was this weight on his chest is heart aching for Eve to return?

He tried to check if he was still in his regular bed. His left hand fumbled around in the dark to find the edge of his bed. His hand landed on something soft, a pillow? He thought. He gave it a small squeeze, testing its material. It didn’t feel like any pillow he thought he owned.

‘Having fun?’ said a sleepy voice.

Hax froze. He slowly lifted his hand of Eve’s perfect behind. Did I just think it was perfect?

‘I know you are awake, I can hear your heart beating faster.’

‘So, you’re using my chest as a pillow?’ he responded.

‘It’s more comfy, all flabby and such.’

‘Well, I know for a fact your heartbeat went very fast when I touched your arse.’

‘You could hear that?’ Eve said, her voice a flutter.

‘Oh there it goes again. I believe you are flustered miss… what is your last name?’

‘How about “Daemonia”?’ Eve said, hold Hax tightly.

‘No. You need your own name. What is it?’

‘Phoenix. My name is Eve Phoenix.’

‘Cute.’

‘What’s the plan for today?’

‘Well, breakfast. Then you can ask me some stuff. Then lunch.’ Hax said, climbing over Eve. After dinner, we are going out for my birthday.’ A pillow hit the back of his head.

‘You didn’t tell your girlfriend it was your birthday?’

‘Who says you were still my girlfriend at the time? It was a month ago, and if I remember we went out for dinner.’

‘THAT was your birthday?’ Eve said, sitting up in bed. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘Didn’t think you’d care.’ Hax flickered and his clothes changed. ‘And I wanted to make you feel a bit better. Seth knew you felt  at unease.’

‘How?’ Eve stood, draped in the blanket.

‘Get dressed, and come down stairs. I’ll make some coffee for us.’

Fifteen minutes later, Eve made her way down stairs. Hax was already sitting at the table, Dylan and Seth had also joined him. On the table sat coffee, which Eve dived at.

‘Jesus Christ!’ Dylan cried. ‘Eve, calm the fuck down. It’s coffee, not life.’

‘Coffee is life.’ Eve growled. ‘So what’s with the family meeting?’

‘We wanted to talk about what we can do. As I showed you last night, I can re-arrange matter.’ Hax said.

‘What does that mean exactly?’ Eve asked.

Hax pulled a piece of coal out of his pocket, and placed it on the table. He cupped both hands over it. His skin darkened, and his hands shook.  He lifted he hands to reveal a perfect diamond. Eve was shocked.

‘Yeah. Pretty cool huh?’ he said.

‘Eve, think of a number between 1 and one billion.’ Seth said.

‘Ok, umm-’

’32,482,844.’ Eve was shocked.

‘Seth can read people’s minds, and sometimes influence them.’ Hax said

‘But, that means he can see me in my dreams’ Seth face erupted in an evil grin.

‘No, the bedrooms are lined with lead. He can’t see shit.’ Dylan said.

‘What can you do Dylan?’

‘Techno-path.’ Eve looked confused ‘I can reprogram technology with my mind. The shed out the back is my work station.’

‘Awesome!’ Eve was ecstatic. ‘So, none of you can do these things apart from you?’

‘Yes, but we can still do some fun things.’ Hax said, with a smile. ‘ Speed, Strength, Heightened senses.’

‘But we have limits. Since we no longer eat *ahem* humans…We have to consume different things to remain in a human form.’ Said Seth.

‘What kind of things?’

‘Dylan absorbs water. Seth must eat protein.’ Hax said ‘And I smoke.’

‘Sounds more like nervous habits.’ Eve said ‘But if you are gods, how come I can still hurt you?’

‘It looks like you hurt us, but we aren’t as vulnerable.’ Hax said. ‘Dylan, get the stuff ready. I want to show Eve our power.’

Dylan slipped on a pair of silver boots, and walked over to the fridge. He grabbed a large water bottle, and quickly drank it. All of them then walked outside and Dylan limbered up.

‘What’s going on?’ Eve said, looking confused.

‘This is going to be fun. Just watch.’ Seth said.

‘Ready.’ Hax said.

‘Hold on. I want to make this count.’ Dylan punched Hax square in the face. ‘FREAK!!’

Hax looked at him. Dylan had just broken his nose, and called him a freak. He smirked.

‘Oh, I am going to make this hurt.’ Hax said.

He reached his arm back, and punched Dylan square in the chest. But Dylan didn’t stay standing for long. He flew through the air, a good 500 metres. Eve was shocked. She couldn’t believe that Hax had this strength.

‘Hax here is very fast. His punches can defy physics, especially when he gets angry.’

‘But what about Dylan?’ Eve asked

‘Just watch the blip.’

They watched the blip, and sure enough, it stop mid-fall. And then shot back towards the house in a straight line. When he came back into sight, Dylan’s silver boots had flames coming out of them.

‘Rocket boots. A bitch on fuel, but fun to use.’ Dylan said, landing in the backyard. Hax walked up to Dylan, and patted him on the back.

‘You still punch like a little girl.’ Hax said with a laugh.

Dylan pulled a knife out of his belt, and was aiming for Hax’s back. Eve could only watch as Hax’s was oblivious to the fact he was about to be hit. She was about to scream, but was muffled by Seth.

‘Shh…’ he whispered ‘Just watch.’

Eve watched, almost brought to tears. Hax was about to be stabbed by his own brother, and no one was going to stop him. Dylan brought his arm down with the knife. It pierced Hax’s right lung and protruded the other side, but it didn’t stop there. Dylan’s hand also passed through Hax’s body, along with his right arm. Hax smiled, as he grabbed Dylan’s arm from the front of his chest.

‘Oh crap…’ was all Dylan could manage to whimper out before his began screaming for dear life. Hax’s smoke body was crushing Dylan’s arm.

‘ You should know better.’ Hax said. ‘Say “Azathoth”.’

‘No…’ Dylan heard his arm breaking under the force of Hax’s body. ‘NEVER!’

‘You sure?’ another bone snapped in Dylan’s arm.

‘F-F-FINE! AZATHOTH! AZATHOTH!’

Dylan’s arm slipped back through Hax’s body, and he clutched it to his chest. Hax laughed in triumph, but felt a hand on his shoulder. Seth looked him in the eye, and motioned to a sobbing Eve. She was curled up in a ball by the oak tree that sat in the backyard. Hax sat down next to her and sighed.

‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you like that.’ Hax said. ‘Dylan got caught up.’

‘Why do I still fear this?’ Eve said in between sobs. ‘Why am I still afraid of you dying?’

‘Fear is a good thing. Without it, I wouldn’t know how much you cared.’ Hax leaned over and kissed Eve.

‘But you all have powers to fight. I have nothing. I don’t want to rely on you to save me.’ Something in Eve’s mind flashed. ‘Hax, something happened while I was away.’

‘If you cheated on me, I don’t want to know.’ He said with a smirk. Eve smacked him hard.

‘I’m serious. One night, I was attacked and I blacked out. When I came to, my assailants were all knocked out. I think I might have done that.’

‘Well there is a way to find out.’ Hax said, standing up and lifting Eve to her feet. ‘We go see Seth.

Eve and Hax both walked inside. Dylan and Seth stood in the kitchen waiting for them. Dylan looked sadly at Eve.

‘Now it’s your turn to be wrong.’ Seth said.

‘Eve.’ Dylan said. ‘I’m sorry for scaring you. I didn’t mean to. I just got carried away.’

Eve walked up to Dylan, and gave him a hug. ‘It’s alright. Apology accepted.’

‘What the fuck?’ Seth said, ‘Why does he get off so lightly?’

‘Oh, I’m sorry.’ Eve said ‘When did Dylan grope me, or stare at my tits?’ Eve grabbed Seth’s shirt and pulled him close ‘When did he ever try to KILL me?’

Seth’s face went red. He mumbled something that sounded like “sorry”.

‘Seth, we need your help recovering some memories.’ Hax said.

Seth looked at Hax and said ‘You want to look into Eve’s mind and find something.’ He looked at Eve ‘Why should I?’

‘If you help me, I will forgive all your actions and never bring them up again.’ Eve said.

‘Okay.’ Seth said ‘Everyone sit down. This is going to take some time, so I want a ham.’

‘What is he going to do?’ Eve asked Hax.

‘Seth can transfer his conscious mind into someone’s subconscious mind, and navigate it. In extreme cases, he can also take us.’

‘So he will be able to access my mind, and see everything?’ Eve looked anxious.

‘No, your subconscious is still the most powerful thing in there.’ Hax said, kissing her forehead. ‘You can decide what we can and cannot see.’

‘Alright, enough chat. Time to start.’ Seth said. He placed his right hand on Eve’s head. ‘Hax, Dylan; give me your hands, and we will be her mind soon.’

Hax and Dylan did as they were told, and Seth started to hum. They all saw a bright flash of light, and all three landed in a large hallway.

Dylan, Hax and Seth all looked around them for a second. The large hallway was filled with doors, ranging from simple wooden ones, to ones made out of steel.

‘Eve.’ Seth called out. ‘Eve!’

Eve immediately appeared in front of them.

‘Hello brothers Daemonia. Welcome to the mind of Miss Eve phoenix.’

‘Wow. Eve’s subconscious is really weird.’ Dylan said.

‘Do you mind if we look around?’ Hax asked Eve’s subconscious.

‘It is allowed.’ Eve said. ‘Each door is embedded with a scanner. If you are allowed by Miss Eve to enter, you will be permitted to enter. If not, the door will not open.’

‘Ok. Thank you.’ Hax said.

‘Wait, Haxathor Daemonia.’ She walked up to Hax. ‘There are things in this mind that may help you understand why Miss Eve is where she is today. Please do not allow this to change the feelings you have for the Miss.’ Hax nodded.  ‘Also, the last door on the left.’ Eve pointed down the hall. ‘That is something that only you may see.’

Eve dissolved instantly. Dylan and Seth had already left looking for the door. Hax ran to catch up to them, to find them standing around a small computer.

‘It’s a catalogue of her memories.’ Dylan said.

He typed in the date Eve gave her, and suddenly a door fell from the sky in front of them. Hax pressed the button on the wooden door. A green light was emitted by a small crystal, and washed over everyone. The door then opened, and they stepped inside.

They witnessed the day in question, Eve trying to sleep in the bus station, how she was attacked, and then how she blacked out. It was like watching a movie, but Dylan and Seth couldn’t help but to see Hax shaking all over. The visions didn’t stop there. The saw Eve wake up, and fight back against the attackers. It was like Eve was a different person. Hax stormed out of the room, followed by Dylan and Seth.

‘I almost lost her.’ Hax screamed. He punched a steel door. ‘All because I kept secrets from her.’

‘Hax, you can’t beat yourself up.’ Seth said. ‘It’s obvious that Eve has the potential to fight. She is strong, and cunning. I am proud to call her my sister-in-law.’

‘Let’s go home now.’ Dylan said.

‘Wait.’ Hax said. ‘I need to see one last thing before we leave.’

Hax walked down the hall to the door Eve pointed out. It was different to all the doors. It was large and pink. This scared Hax, but he powered on ahead. He placed a hand on the door, and it scanned him. The door swung open, and Hax walked inside.

Dylan and Seth waited out the front of the door for what felt like forever. Finally Hax exited; his face devoid of colour.

‘What did you see?’ Seth said.

‘Home please.’ Hax whimpered.

‘But Hax--’ Dylan said.

‘Home!’ Hax screamed.

There was another flash of lights and they were back at the dinner table, Eve staring at them. For Eve it felt like only a few minutes passed, but to Hax, Dylan and Seth, it felt like hours.

‘Well, what did you see?’ Eve asked.

‘You’re mind is weird.’ Hax said. Eve gave him a surly look.

‘Hey Hax. I need to get something out of your car. Where are your keys?’ Seth said.

‘Hanging on the hook in the garage.’

Seth pulled Dylan out to the garage with him. Hax and Eve were finally alone.

‘Eve, I didn’t mean what I said in a bad way.’ Hax said. ‘Every human’s mind is weird. I was just saying your subconscious acted like a business woman.’

‘Well, what does yours look like?’ Eve asked.

‘I don’t know. No-one can dictate what their subconscious looks like. It is just a window into your mind.’

‘You are pretty smart for someone who can’t read minds.’

‘If you live as long as I have, you learn to recognise when humans make mistakes.’

‘And gods don’t make mistakes?’ Eve gave Hax a look that screamed “BULLSHIT”.

‘Only once or twice, but humans make the same mistakes again and again.’

‘Well please, enlighten me with your wisdom.’

Hax thought for a moment and looked at Eve.

‘Humans run their lives like mc Escher paintings.’
‘Is he that new DJ down at Risk?’ He looked at her with a mixture of shock and rage. She started to laugh, which seemed to infuriate him more.
‘I’m joking Hax, I know who mc Escher is. But what do you mean our lives are run like it? As in we are running around in circles or we don’t know where we are going.’
‘A good point, but more the fact you live life running so fast you don’t see you are going uphill, which makes life harder. But if you sat back and looked at it you'd see that there is an easy way-’
‘the downhill path?’
‘Yes, and it all leads to the same point. You just need to see life at a different angle.’
‘but why are you telling me this?’
‘I know I can trust you.’
‘Aww that so sweet.’
‘That and I know you won’t live as long as me in this fragile body.’
Her face went from school girl crush to utter horror. Hax smiled. And not just a slight grin, this was a massive grimace that led into a maniacal laugh. Eve wanted to storm off, but she knew that she couldn’t blame Hax for telling her the truth.
‘Don’t laugh please.’ She asked.
‘Why?’ He replied. ‘Did I scare you?’ His face seemed distraught, like he actually felt bad. Eve’s thought was interrupted by a loud crash and someone yelling.

While Hax and Eve spoke, Dylan and Seth rummaged through the garage.

‘What did you drag me in here for?’ Dylan asked annoyed.

‘Hax is acting weird again.’ Seth replied. ‘Why won’t he tell us what he saw?’

‘Have you tried looking in his mind?’

‘No good. Somehow he has locked it tighter than my powers can reach. Whatever it was, Hax doesn’t want to tell us.’

‘Maybe you should, I don’t know?’ Dylan found the keys. ‘Give up and wait for him to tell us?’

Dylan threw the keys to Seth. He grabbed them midflight and his face lit up.

‘Or maybe I piss him off so much, He loses control and I can hack Hax.’

Dylan did not like the look on Seth’s face, but before he could stop him, Seth made his move.

 Hax and eve rushed outside to find Dylan and Seth standing around the car which, somehow, was wrapped around the oak tree in the backyard.
‘What the fuck did you guys do?!’ Hax screamed. ‘What have I told you about touching my car?!?’ Eve noticed his hands were trembling, shifting shapes, almost growing longer.
‘Hax, what’s the problem? We know you can fix it, I just wanted a drive.’ Seth said.
‘That’s not the fucking point,’ he bellowed, ‘I don’t touch your shit! Don’t touch mine!’

Before Seth could get another word in on the matter, Dylan had grabbed him.

‘Sorry Hax,’ he said, ‘do you want some help fixing it?’
‘No! No, don’t worry. I got it.’ He turned to eve. ‘Do me a favour, and close your eyes. You don’t want to see this.’
Eve did as she was told. There was a large amount of metal groans and a whole lot of popping sounds, it intrigued eve to the point she peeked open her right eye to have a look.
‘Gasp…’ she whispered
 Hax’s right arm was billowing out smoke, right into the car’s engine bay.  Eve closed her eye again before Hax could notice.

‘Okay, you can open your eyes again.’ He said.

Eve saw the car was fixed completely, looking more like new than before. Hax looked at his watch.

‘Come on. Let’s get ready to go out for drinks tonight.’

‘Oh yeah. I never gave you a birthday gift.’ Eve said.

‘Eve, you don’t need to give me a gift.’ Hax said.

‘Are you sure?’ Eve said in a sultry voice. She gave Hax a pose that looked like something out of a gentleman’s magazine.

Hax gave her one look, his left eye twitching, and fainted. He awoke to find Eve lying next to him.

‘Eve, what are you doing?’

‘You looked lonely on the ground, so I decided to join you. Did I break your brain?’

Hax went red, to which Eve laughed at.

‘Stupid emotions…’ Hax muttered.

‘Aw, don’t be like that. Let’s go get ready.’

‘Well, you would have to get off me to do that.’

Eve thought for a second. ‘Or you could carry me inside?’ she said with a smile.

Hax face erupted in an evil grin. ‘Or YOU could carry me?’

‘What?’ Eve said. ‘You like twice my size. How can I carry you?’

‘Just try.’

Eve stood up, and bent down again. She placed her arms under Hax’s body, and wondered what was going to happen. She breathed in and out slowly, and in one movement, she lifted Hax off the ground. He was lighter than she thought he would be. As light as air, She thought.

‘Smoke-body, remember?’ Hax said.

‘You know, you’re supposed to carry me through the threshold.’

‘Silence slave. Homeward bound!’

Eve chuckled as she carried Hax inside.