Satana jumped in fright at the sound of the scream, shooting up from the bed and stumbling around while covering her ears.
Morgan quickly moved closer to Xol and spoke in a low voice.
- What the hell are you doing here?
Xol answered in that tone of his, the usual one, the one Morgan was already starting to hate.
- Didn't I tell you? I told you we'd see each other when you woke up.
Xol smiled with that self-satisfied look of his. Morgan felt something twist in his chest from the nerves. Those words crossed his mind again, *we'll see each other when you wake up*, and now that he understood they had been completely literal he put his hand over his face with a sigh full of irritation.
- Look, didn't you say that to hate you I had to get to know you first? That you wanted me to help you? Fine. That's what I'm going to do.
Xol kept smiling and began licking his paw with a calm that was nothing short of insulting.
- Yeah, I know I said that. But I didn't think you'd come out.
Morgan stayed quiet for a few moments processing what that meant. Xol could manifest physically. He could *come out*.
- Wait... how can you do that? How can you come out of me?
Xol's smile faded and was replaced by something that looked a lot like disappointment.
- Seriously? You watched me come out of your body at least a couple of times and you're only asking that now?... You really never stop surprising me.
( Xol said this with a tone that carried more sarcasm than was strictly necessary )
- You can't be here. You can't let anyone else see you.
Xol slowly turned toward Satana, who was still walking in circles and shaking her head, and said with a little smile that was impossible to ignore.
- Well, I think that's going to be a little complicated, hahaha.
Morgan followed his gaze. Satana was still dazed, touching her ears. Again. He had hurt her ears again and hadn't even noticed. He walked over to her with his stomach turned inside out from embarrassment.
- I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I really am so sorry.
Satana steadied herself on one of his shoulders and shook her head slowly, like trying to put something back that had come loose.
- Don't worry about it, it's fine. But I'd appreciate it if you didn't do that again, hehehe.
( Satana said this with a laugh that sounded more nervous than reassuring )
Morgan lowered his head.
- I'm sorry.
Satana smiled and let her tone shift toward something more curious, almost playful.
- So then? Are you going to tell me who your friend is?
( Satana said this, turning her gaze toward Xol )
Morgan opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.
- He is, well, he's my, well actually he is...
Satana was watching him with that stillness of hers, quiet, barely blinking, and that only made things worse. So Morgan said the first thing he found in his head before it could explode.
- He is... my new pet. His name is Xol, I found him yesterday when I snuck out. He must have followed me here.
( Morgan said this with a laugh that wobbled at the edges )
The word *pet* hit Xol like a slap. His ears shot straight up and his face settled into an expression of pure indignation.
- Pet?
( Xol said in his mind, with a voice that could have melted stone )
Morgan walked over and ruffled the fur on top of his head like it was nothing.
- Isn't that right, buddy?
( Morgan said this with a smile that was begging for help )
He shot Xol a look. One that said very clearly, *help me out, just go with it*.
Xol, offended down to his bones, decided there would be time for pride later. He began to act like an ordinary dog. Morgan asked for his paw and he gave it. He said *stay* and he stayed. Everything any person would do with their dog on a regular morning.
What no ordinary dog did was burn with fury on the inside with every single pat on the head.
Satana came over excitedly and wrapped Xol in a hug with a tenderness he clearly did not know how to handle.
- Ohh, a dog! I always wanted to know what it was like to have one. But hey, this dog has no fur. What breed is he?
( Satana said this with genuine curiosity )
- Ah, it's a hairless breed. Very rare.
Morgan was still trembling a little but hiding it with very little success.
- Poor thing, he must get so cold.
( Satana said this, pulling Xol a little closer )
From inside the hug, Xol turned his eyes toward Morgan. And Morgan smiled at him. With everything he had. Like someone who just won something without playing fair.
- Is he laughing at me?
( Xol thought to himself with a calm that promised payback )
Satana slowly let go of Xol and when she spoke again her voice had a different edge, more serious, almost careful.
- Now that you're up... my lady said that when you woke up you should go to her right away. She needs to talk to you.
Morgan went still. Zarathoz. She already knew. And whatever she was planning now was something he didn't want to think about too hard.
- And...
( Satana said this with a pause that cost her something )
- And?
( Morgan asked, serious )
- It would be good if you also went to see miss Luzbel. I think you two should talk about what happened yesterday.
Morgan didn't need anyone to explain. He remembered the scream, the rage, the way the words had come out of him before he could stop them. Luzbel. Everyone who had been in that room. Something heavy settled in his chest, and that something was guilt.
End of chapter.
Next chapter: Rejoice, young one.