I had studied the book all night and since I woke up. The more I looked at it the more I could understand it seemed. Even now I could only understand some of the titles and minor spells. Maybe it would let me read more the stronger I got...

Prometheus still hasn't made so much as a peep, which I'm grateful for. I still don't trust that damned demon. I decided to put the book up for now. I still hadn't told Dani about losing my job, and it was almost noon.

I walked into the living room and heard Dani on the phone talking to one of her friends. They were talking about a shopping trip in the city today.

"Yeah, I'll ask him Becca. All right we'll see you there in about an hour." After she hung up she said "hey, babe. We're going to the city to shop at the mall."

"Oh cool, well have fun babe."

"No silly your coming too!" She laughed. "Why am I coming?" "So you can help carry the stuff duh. Besides Rebekah wanted you to try on some clothes so she can see what would look good on George."

I couldn't bare to tell her that I had lost my job. She looked so happy, and I couldn't ruin that for her. Maybe the spell would work, and we would come into a new job or something.

"Alright." I said."Let's go, work gave me a few weeks of vacation, so we have all the time in the world."

As we got ready, I watched dani get dressed. she was so graceful as she dressed in the morning light, her long blonde hair swaying as she dressed. She still had her perfect body from highschool, even though she wasn't a cheerleader anymore. How the hell did I get so lucky?

I quickly through on some of my good cloths, not the kind i wore to work, and sprayed myself with cologne. As i put the finishing touches, dani looked at me and smiled. I felt a pang of guilt for lying to her, but I was glad. I was happy, that she was happy.

Traffic wasn't to bad as we made our way to the city. under usual circumstances you couldn't go a few miles without someone cutting you off. It must be because all the college kids were gone for fall break. we finally pulled up to the mall, next to Rebekah's little prius. I always hated that she drove such a crappy, pretentious car.

"Hey Becca, how was the drive?" Dani asked as we got out of the car. "It wasn't to bad, I almost miss the college traffic." Becca laughed.

As we walked inside the mall there was one of those stupid contests no one ever won. "It's all a scam." I told them, pointing at the atrocity in the middle of the hall.

It was some scam to get emails, and phone numbers for a car manufacturer. It was claiming a prize of no less then five-hundred thousand dollars to one lucky winner.

"Oh that looks fun, let's try it!" Becca said excited Dani quickly grabbed two forms for each of us while Becca filled hers out. I looked at the form skeptically. "Go ahead master." I heard Prometheus say in his gravelly voice in my head. "Great this guy is back." I thought to myself. "Why not, worst case scenario I get phone calls every morning for the rest of my life." I grumbled to Dani. She just looked up from her paper and smiled at me.

We walked through the mall for about an hour before I had to play the part of human mannequin. Dani decided that Rebekah could handle things without her and went on shopping leaving me alone with the dreaded bubbly Prius driver.

"So where to first?" I asked her. She thought for a second the told me "Athletic cloths. George has been gaining weight and I don't like it. If only George was as fit as you" she gave me a wink and started walking. I frowned "was that her flirting with me?" I thought to myself.

We made our way to a overpriced sporting equipment store, and she immediately went looking through the clothes. I checked the price tags of a few she handed me, and couldn't believe someone would pay such a absurd price for clothes. She dragged me to the changing rooms and had me try on each outfit until I was finally on the last outfit.

As I was undressing she slipped inside the booth. I covered my self quickly embarrassed expecting her to look away and apologize for barging in, but she just stared at me with hungry eyes. "What the hell" I asked her. "Quit being so proper for once sal. I jus wanted to check up on you" then she gave me a smile and came closer.

"You know if you wanted we could have a little fun. Dani doesn't have to know." "No Becca you know I love Dani. I would never do that to her." I threw my clothes on and walked out to find Dani.

I finally found her shopping for perfume. I thought about telling her what happened, but the thought of her knowing what her best friend wanted was terrifying. She didn't handle jealousy well at all. I told her o felt sick, and we decided to go ahead and leave. As I walked out the mall I saw a text from Becca.

"If you play nice next time I'll make it worth your while xoxo - B"

I felt sick to my stomach, and deleted it before Dani could see.

"Who messaged you?" Dani asked. "Just a email from some scammer" I assured her.

A few days went by of me staying home and studying the book. Rebekah hadn't messaged me anymore, so I hoped that was a time thing. Maybe I made myself clear enough, and she realized I wasn't interested.

Prometheus commented vague things about the book every now and then but none of it made since. I did however learn to make a ball of energy. But I had yet to master changing the shape or color of it. I liked to play with it. It felt both hot, and cold at the same time, not quite hard but not quite soft either.

I decided to check the mail before Dani got home. She's been excited that we might win the drawing from the mall and told me to look for a letter from them. I went to the mail box and saw a large manilla envelope with my name on it. I opened it to find a letter.

"Congratulations

You have won the drawing for $500,000 dollars

You may opt to revive a first check of $100,000 and then monthly checks of $10,000 or a one time $300,000 check. Please let us know within thirty days of your choice.

Sincerely, Your favorite auto manufacturer"

Dumbfounded I walked back inside and set the letter on the counter. That's when he appeared. The stranger from the night I found the book.