Page 95 of Black Hollow: Awakening

“I was talking about my coat, but sure.”

“God!” Will turned red. “That is so not what you meant!” Liam was still chuckling. “I’ve never seen your coat.”

“No?” Liam composed himself a bit, but a provocative smirk still played on his lips. “We’ll have to change that.”

“Just not here,” Will stipulated nervously. “And what difference does it make, anyway?”

“It’s just unusual.”

“A black werewolf?”

“Completely black,” Liam specified. “A coat like that is extremely rare. So rare that apparently, the clan leader associates me with the leader of a rebellion against humans from a few centuries ago. That werewolf subjugated several human towns and settlements, which means he achieved more than supernaturals usually managed. Of course, it’s not clear if it really happened or if it’s all just legends, but in our community, everyone’s heard of the Black Werewolf. When he was finally subdued, at the moment of his death, he promised he would return to finish his work. And apparently, they think I’m his reincarnation.”

Will studied Liam carefully.

“Uh… No offense, but I have a hard time seeing you as the leader of anything, let alone a rebellion,” he finally admitted, which made Liam start laughing again. “Sorry, that came out wrong. You were made team captain in the middle of your freshman year, which is unheard of and seriously impressive, but other than that… You know.”

“I get it. And don’t worry. I have no plans to conquer humanity,” Liam joked, winking at him.

Will smiled, amused.

“Good.”

The rest of Will’s day passed in relative peace. After class, he went to Oscar’s. He didn’t get back to his own place until late in the evening.

After a quick shower, he went into his bedroom and walked to the window to close the blinds, but then he noticed someone standing outside, right in front of his house. Will frowned and nearly pressed his face to the glass, trying to get a better look at the intruder, but when he finally recognized the person, he jumped back suddenly, feeling like his heart was about to leap out of his chest.

Reaching into his pants pocket for his phone and not finding it, Will concluded he must have left the device in his jacket. He ran downstairs, and as soon as he grabbed his cell, he dialed Norma’s number.

“He—”

“Christine is here,” Will gasped frantically.

“Who?”

“That girl! That demon! It, her, I don’t even know! It’s standing outside, staring at my window.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” Will confirmed nervously, carefully moving into the living room. He was afraid to get too close to the window, but even from there, he could see the intruder’s silhouette.

“What would it be doing there?”

“I don’t know, should I go out and ask?”

“That’s not what I mean. Demons do a lot of incomprehensible things, but why would it risk stalking someone who could exorcise it?”

“I couldn’t do that.”

“Of course you could. Theoretically. Any wizard can.”

“Yeah, but practically I can’t do anything, because I can’t control any of it!” Will hissed, growing more panicked by the second. “Seriously, Norma, do something! I’m scared.”

“Calm down, I’ll send someone over right away.”

Will let out a shaky breath and ended the call. He went upstairs to get another look at the intruder from a more comfortable distance. But there was no sign of the demon, which only made Will more nervous. He started running around the house, checking every window and door to make sure there was no way the thing could have gotten inside.

When a knock sounded at the door a few minutes later, he was so frazzled he almost screamed. He took a few deep breaths and went to the entryway to let in his newly arrived help.