But I wasn’t happy. I was fucking pissed.
Infuriated, I shoved past all the guys in my path.
“Give me that fish right now,” I shouted at Jared.
Jared paused. “Who said ‘at?”
I leapt onto the kitchen counter, bristling with rage. The blue betta looked panicked. It swam from side to side in the tiny cup, confused and helpless.
I stretched out my hand. “Give me the fish.”
“What?” Jared asked, confused. “C’mon, man, we’re ‘bout to summon the demon, though.”
“I don’t give a shit.”
Jared frowned like I was the bad guy for harshing his mellow. “Dude, it was only $7. I’ll buy you one tomorrow, okay? Same colour and everything.”
My heart pounded in thick, sickly beats. I didn’t want to start a brawl at my own damned birthday party, but if Jared didn’t back off, I’d be left no choice.
“Hand over the fish, or I’m going to kick you in the nuts,” I warned.
He paled, freaked out by my threat. “Jesus, bro, it’s just a fucking fish. Calm down.”
I didn’t say anything. I was too angry. Glaring at him, I snatched the cup from his hand, careful not to slosh the water more than necessary.
The room turned quiet and awkward. But I didn’t care that I’d killed the vibes. It was better than those dickheads killing an innocent animal for no reason.
From my vantage point, I suddenly noticed Hot Stranger at the back of the crowd. His black eyes were wide. Was I imagining it, or was that admiration in his gaze?
Then he shook off his daze and pointed urgently at the book.
Did he expectmeto grab it?
Keeping the fish safe was more important than the stupid demon-summoning book, so I hopped off the counter. I heard Hot Stranger’s indignant growl behind me.
“Chase!” he cried. “The book!”
Shit, why did I like it when he yelled my name?
I was too distracted to notice as Jared continued the ritual without the fish. In a drunken hurry, he read off a poorly pronounced Latin chant from the page.
I was almost out of the kitchen. Everything went still and silent for a second.
Suddenly, a beam of pure matte blackness erupted from the book. It swirled against the ceiling, writhing and buzzing with the intensity of a living thing.
The frat boys were too drunk to be scared, so they hooted and hollered in triumph.
Hot Stranger swore in a language I didn’t understand.
Then, like a predator locking onto its prey, the dark beam focused on me.
Without warning, it shot into my chest.
A sudden wave of dizziness swept over me. My body didn’t feel like my own. I was like a car with the brakes cut, spinning out of control.
Hot Stranger bolted towards me. The last thing I remembered was him saving the blue betta from my hand before I collapsed.
2
