Teaser Tuesday

Here's a short teaser from Mystic Taxi. Henry has a conversation with his demon-possessed cab:

"You hate Wanda because she's an exorcist, don't you?" Henry asked Mystic.

"Yes."

He nodded. "She was born that way, you know. It's not like she chose to have a life killing demons."

Mystic had no response to that. Her silence spoke volumes.

"I don't blame her for what she is. Look at me. I'm no paragon of Hellspawn virtue. I'm not a model half-breed."

"You… are… good… person."

"Thanks. But I doubt Wanda thinks so. Have you seen how she looks at me? Like she'd try to kill me the minute my back was turned."

The laugh track from a studio audience chortled through the Victrola horn on Mystic's radio.

"What's so funny?"

"Seen… her… when… your… back… turned. You… wrong."

"Yeah?" Now he was curious. "How so?"

"Not… try… kill… you. Kiss… you."

Henry frowned. "I must have given you the wrong oil for your engine today. You've gone loony." But it did make him wonder. As lovely as Wanda was, he couldn't help thinking those full lips of hers might be deadly for someone like him. What if she sucked out his demon soul? Not a risk he was willing to take.

Silence from the cab.

Henry asked, "Do you think Wanda—?"

"Shut… up."

Mystic had never told him to shut up before. He must have struck a nerve.