Page 187 of Demons Dig Donuts

“Safe,” Mr. Heiss replied. “You just missed him. I’ll bring him in for questioning first thing tomorrow—“

“Tonight.” Q. looked at the remains of the club. “We need to find those drugs and we need to find them as soon as possible.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Mr. Mitternacht will need to survive at least long enough to help us recover as much as we can. I am also very curious to know where he found those chains. I haven’t seen anything like them in centuries. Lou, I need you and your weres to hit the streets. Absolis and Vilanos, you too. Mr. Heiss? All your little fiends as well.” Q. took a deep breath. “We need to tell them. Not just the dealers, but every monster in the city.”

“And tell them what?” Lou asked carefully.

“The truth.”

“The truth?” Mr. Heiss spat. “That there is a drug out there that can reveal our true selves to humans if you take it?”

“Yes.” Q. raised his brow. “We know this is going to alarm monsters, but some fear may be necessary. We need them to be cautious, to reconsider a short stint of euphoria that can and will put us all at risk.”

“And potentially create a panic.”

“A panic limited to our own kind is far better than what would happen if the world of humans finds out we’re real.”

The following silence was tense, broken only when Absolis spoke up and cheerfully said, “Well, on that delightful note—”

“We have work to do,” finished Vilanos. “You all have fun.”

“Have a ball.” Aboslis held up a finger. “Oh! But one thing.”

“One tiny, little thing.”

“Itty bitty—”

“Yes,” Mr. Heiss drawled. “When we’re done with Mr. Mitternacht, I will happily turn him over to you for your king to play with. Can’t promise there will be much left. Maybe enough for a small bouquet.”

“We’ll make it work.”

The twins laughed, waved, and then disappeared.

Thank God.

The ground shook once more, but it was only Izba lumbering over with a very frantic Neil sprawled across the remaining section of floor and clinging for dear life.

“Lou!” Neil shouted.

Lou ran over to quickly intercept, holding out his arms. “Jump! I’ll catch you.”

“What? Fuck you!” Neil groaned loudly. “Izba! Can you, like, sit?”

YES

Izba plopped down, tucking his legs underneath himself so he was flush with the ground.

Neil remained as he was, however. “Okay, yay. You can come get me now.”

“Coming, baby.” Lou chuckled, carefully stepping over the broken bits of foundation to retrieve Neil. He picked Neil up, covered his face in kisses, and rocked him gently as he carried him back out of the building.

“There,” Neil fussed. “That’s better.” He gasped. “Wait! Seymour! Sariel!”

“Shit.” Indy was already walking to where they’d left them. “Are they—”

“Just peachy keen,” Seymour called out, waving from where he was still stretched out on the ground with Sariel’s head in his lap. “Y’all okay?”