For an hour, Ash sat beside the bed while her Grams slept. Her breathing was shallow and rattling, but Ash didn’t want to wake her no matter how much everything she had recently experienced burned on her tongue.

When Grams stirred, Ash leaned over her. “Hi! May I get you anything?”

“A shot of tequila.” Grams smiled, sitting up partially.

“What about some water or coffee instead?” Ash fluffed up her pillows. “Are you hungry? I can make pancakes and bacon.”

“No.” She patted Ash’s hand. “Coffee is fine.”

Ash kissed her grandma’s cheek, then dashed to the kitchen. Her hands shaking slightly with the news she had to tell her Grams and that she knew about the cancer. She returned with a cup of coffee with extra cream and sugar. “Careful, it’s hot.”

“Thanks.” The old woman set the mug on the nightstand, then grasped Ash’s hands. “So tell me what it is you’ve been dying to tell me since you got back.”

“You were sleeping? How’d you know I was back already?”

Grams only winked, then picked up her coffee, blowing across the liquid. “I’ve my ways.”

“I-I wanted to apologize.” Ash’s voice trembled slightly. “All this time, you were right about everything. About demons and dragons and other worlds—though I only got to see Renjer.”

“Ah.” Grams took a sip of her drink. “And you look smitten…with just the planet?”

“No, I met someone. A dragon…well, I guess he’s a shifter now. He gets me. I feel a connection and closeness to him that I’ve never felt before.” She stared down at her hands. “I never believed in soulmates before, but he feels like the missing piece of me.”

Grams shrugged. “So why are you here with an old dying woman instead of with him?”

“Because he sent me away.” She looked up and clenched her fists. “Said it was too dangerous for me.”

“Bah.” Grams waved a hand. “Does he know you fight the Tryns…the demons? I’d have expected you’d have put him in his place not conceded to run away.”

“I didn’t run away.” The only reason she agreed to coming back to Earth and not staying to fight was she needed to gather her weapons. And Xilon had mentioned quasicrystals would help in the war. If she could round some of those up, then the Renjerians could sway the battle in their favor. Maybe even rid the planet of the bastard demons. Most importantly, she’d left Renjer to return and check on Grams and Brice.

“Grams, I know about your chemo treatments.” She leaned forward in her chair, placing her hands near her grandma’s. “Why didn’t you tell me? And you put another mortgage on the house? I can get a job…one that pays better than demon guts.”

“No, you must not stop what you’re doing.” Grams patted her hand. “You’ve helped so many with exorcisms and killing demons. Until every last one is dead, you must not stop. If you do, they will multiply and overrun our world and every world they touch.”

“But your medical bills and Brice’s scholarship was revoked. You know how he loves football and is a natural talent. If I got a job—”

“No. You could work for years and not pay off our debts.” Grams coughed several moments before laying back down. “I’m tired. Go talk to your brother. He’s been worried about you too.”

“You sure you don’t want anything to eat?” Ash asked, standing and giving her Grams a kiss on the forehead.

“Maybe later. I’m just tired right now, honey.” She kissed Ash back. “Good to have you home.”

“Oh, Grams. I know you’ve got a big rock collection in your attic. Maybe we can sell some of it?” She bit her lip. Would her Grams be okay with parting with the stones she told Ash she’d saved since she had been a toddler? “And Xilon said he’s looking for quasicrystals, you don’t happen to have any of those in your boxes upstairs, do you?”

“Yes, you can use or sell whatever you like. Xilon? That’s a nice name.” She smiled as she closed her eyes. “Can’t wait to see my grandbabies from you two.”

Ash’s face heated as she tiptoed to the door. “Get some sleep.”

“Hey sis,” Brice punched her shoulder. “Next time call or something. We were worried about you.”

Her brother didn’t believe in dragons or aliens or other worlds like her. He barely believed in anything including demons.

“Sorry. How’s she been?” Ash pointed her chin at Grams’ closed door.

“About the same as now.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Hey, can you do me a favor? I’ve got a football scout coming over in a bit and he wants to talk to you about hosting me for his team. The salary would be enough to cover Grams expenses and make my scholarship look like pennies.”

“That’s awesome!” Ash hugged him. “Call me when he gets here. I’m gonna look into some stuff for a friend.”

“Whoa, you aren’t leaving again are you?” Brice frowned and bounced on his toes. “He came by early this morning looking for you. Needs some papers for you to sign and told me to text him the moment you got back. I already did, so if you leave, I’ll look like an idiot.”

Ash shook her head. “No, I’ll stay here for a few hours. Gotta go through Grams collection in the attic and search the internet.” Like what the heck a quasicrystal looked like.

“Oh, okay. I’m going to wait for Mr. Norris.”

Weird, but whatever. She also needed to grab her swords and weapons from her room too. As soon as she met this Mr. Norris she was heading back to Renjer.

* * *

Covered in dust and spider webs, Ash found three stones that might be quasicrystals. She was no expert, but Xilon would know for sure. She tucked the gems in the pocket of her jeans. Her sneeze rang through the small attic. Damn, she needed to clean up here more often.

“Ash!” Brice’s voice filled with panic reached her. “Where are you?”

“Coming!” Gesh, he was so excited about this football opportunity. But he had great speed and balls never fell out of his grip. He had nothing to worry about. She dusted off her jeans and combed her hands through her hair. Maybe she should have done the attic search after Mr. Norris had visited.

She climbed down the ladder and turned toward her room to grab a weapon.

“Ash!” Brice hollered.

Right, she could get the weapons later, once Mr. Norris was taken care of. She went to the kitchen where Brice paced back and forth like a caged animal. He gripped his head in his hands like it hurt.

“Do you need some aspirin?” Ash asked, stopping him. Then the hairs on the back of her neck stood ramrod straight.

“Hello Ash,” a demonic voice said.

Slowly, she turned. Her weapons were down the hall. She’d never reach them in time. Sitting at her Grams’ kitchen table was the demon from Renjer. The one that had licked her cut…tasted her blood.

“I told you I would find you no matter where you ran to. Now come with me or your brother and the sick old woman will die.”