Lost Places Read Free

most untrustworthy demon servant. Just as I had planned.
    Barbatos dug his fat toes into the thick carpet. Mmmmm. Plush. Another invention to thank those pesky humans for.
    Wham! The door burst open and hit the opposite wall with a bang. Timothy Hunter stood, breathing hard, in the doorway, sweat beading on his forehead. “Barbatos,” Timothy bellowed.
    What’s he got his knickers in a twist over now? Barbatos wondered. Although TimothyHunter’s high-strung nature made him blissfully easy to manipulate, it also grew tiresome on occasion.
    â€œSir Timothy,” Barbatos purred, keeping his eye on the toaster. The wretched thing had a terrible tendency to burn his food. “The gears of your clockwork world mesh smoothly today, I trust?”
    Barbatos used his most oily, subservient voice—the voice that had persuaded Timothy to allow Barbatos to plan the latest war, while transferring substantial funds from paper currency into far more useful magical energy allotments.
    Timothy stalked into the room and stood over Barbatos. He planted his feet wide as if grounding himself. “I adjure thee, O fallen one, in the name which must not be spoken.” Timothy intoned. “As thou art in this place and time my servant I charge thee, answer without guile—”
    Barbatos sighed and sat up. “Oh, Timothy, spare us the incantations. You know I never lie to you.”
    With a little click, the toaster treat popped up. Timothy started at the sound and grew pale, then sank down in the corner of the room.
    The great mage is more erratic than usual , Barbatos noted. Excellent . Barbatos hid a smirk as he stared at the stricken so-called master. Timothy may have more firepower , Barbatos thought, but I am the true master here . Still, it wouldn’t do to let the magician know that.
    â€œO great master, what is it that is troubling you?” Barbatos asked, as sweetly as syrup.
    â€œSomething is going horribly wrong with the world,” Timothy moaned. He seemed to be fighting back tears. “It is…destabilizing. What’s happening to me? To the world?”
    Barbatos almost felt a flicker of sympathy; the mage seemed so genuinely lost. Then he smiled. Ahhhh, confusion—another lovely human condition to exploit. Yes, junk food, soft fabrics, and easily baffled minds. Humans. Gotta love ’em .
    â€œPerhaps it’s something you ate,” Barbatos said, taking a bite of the completely chemical and synthetic snack. He smacked his lips. Delicious!
    Timothy leaped to his feet, no longer weak and sniveling. He really does suffer from mood swings , Barbatos observed.
    â€œI touch things, and my hand goes right through them,” Timothy snarled, a combination of fear and fury making his body vibrate. “My own mansion keeps disappearing and reappearing. And streets have changed direction, I’m sure of it! You are going to tell me what is happening, demon, and you are going to tell me now.”
    This time, Barbatos truly listened, and he didn’t like what he was hearing. “I was afraid ofthis,” the demon murmured, his attention diverted from his gummy snack. What Timothy was describing was not good.
    â€œWhat do you mean—you could have predicted this?” Timothy demanded. “Why didn’t you warn me?”
    â€œI was hoping to avoid this problem altogether,” Barbatos explained. “You see, sweet master, life is a matter of variables. And your life, in particular, is notably more, shall we say, tenuous, at best. Precarious, if you will.”
    â€œWhat are you saying, demon?” Timothy stepped forward and raised his hands as if he were going to cast a spell. “Speak or I shall compel you.”
    â€œOh, hush. Stop exciting yourself,” Barbatos snapped. “If you would let me explain. See, mortals”—he tipped his round bald head at Timothy—“like you, find it comforting to think of the past as