Recalculating

Back at "Spirits & Spirits," the mood was somber.

Jax laid the scroll on the counter. "Okay. Stacy is on Facetime. She’s gonna read the chant."

He propped his phone up against a bottle of vodka. Stacy, looking tearful, waved from the screen. "I’m so sorry, Kevin!"

"Just read the Latin, Stace," Jax said.

Stacy began to chant. The air in the liquor store grew cold.

Kevin’s body began to glow. Green smoke started to pour out of his ears and nose.

"It is time," Zarkon said, his voice echoing. "The lease is up."

"Where will you go?" Kevin asked, his own voice mixing with the demon’s. "Back to Hell?"

"Hell is... noisy," Zarkon admitted. "And the bureaucracy, as we have seen, is terrible. I have grown fond of this realm. The 'burritos' are acceptable."

"You can't stay in Kevin," Jax said. "He needs his body back to do taxes."

"True," Zarkon sighed. "But I need a vessel. Something with access to information. Something... loud."

The smoke swirled, forming a vortex. It pulled away from Kevin, who collapsed into a chair, gasping for air.

The green cloud hovered for a moment, looking for a host.

Jax took a step back. "Don't even think about it."

The cloud ignored him. It shot across the room and slammed into the dashboard of Jax’s El Camino, visible through the broken window.

The car’s GPS screen flickered to life. The mechanical voice was replaced by a gravelly, familiar tone.

" *Recalculating,* " Zarkon’s voice boomed from the car speakers. " *Turn left, you incompetent mortal!* "

Jax stared at the car. "You have got to be kidding me."

Kevin sat up, rubbing his chest. He took a deep breath. No wheezing. He looked at his hands. "I’m alone. I’m... just me."

He looked at Jax. "Thank you."

"Yeah, well," Jax grunted, uncomfortable with the gratitude. "That’s five hundred bucks. Plus window repair."

Kevin stood up. He straightened his cardigan. He looked different. Taller. "Make it a thousand," Kevin said, grabbing a bottle of the good whiskey from the top shelf. "I’m celebrating."

"Assertive," Jax noted. "I like it."

Outside, the El Camino honked its horn aggressively. " *JAX! I REQUIRE HIGH-OCTANE FUEL! THIS REGULAR UNLEADED IS SWILL!* "

Jax sighed, grabbing his keys. "I’m gonna drive him into a lake."

"No you won't," Kevin smiled. "He’s your navigator now."

Jax looked at the car, then back at the accountant. He smirked. "Possession is nine-tenths of the law, kid. But the other tenth? That’s just pure stubbornness."

Jax walked out to the car. "Shut up, Zarkon. We’re getting tacos."

" *TACOS!* " The GPS rejoiced. " *PROCEED TO THE ROUTE! VICTORY IS OURS!* "

Jax revved the engine and peeled out of the parking lot, leaving Kevin to enjoy the quiet, and his whiskey, in peace.