Boogey Blitz

“Before you go, Malina,” Reaper says, “talk to me for a bit. You’re one of my little gem’s best friends. We should get to know each other.” I look at him, and then at Evie, who is squirming, trying to get out of my hold. “Okay, just for a bit,” I say as I put her down. She runs off to a box in the corner, which is filled to overflowing with gemstones and gold chains. “Evie, don’t—” “Oh, it’s fine,” he says. “Those are bait.” “Bait,” I repeat. He gives me a wide grin that would terrify me if I didn’t know him. “All the dames I love like shiny trinkets,” he says. “I have to restock it on a regular basis. The little one there doesn’t take it, she just likes to play dress up.” “She’d be perfectly happy with plastic jewelry, you know,” I point out. “This way she’ll know the real deal when she goes villain,” he says. “Since she’s teething on a diamond, she’ll never fall for cubic zirconium. A woman should grow up knowing what’s real, little sweetheart. It’s the same for everything, really.”