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Chapter 16

I looked good. Too good. Every single year of high school, I dreamed of being one of those girls, the ones that seem to glitter and shine as they walked through the hallways. The social butterflies.

I looked like a butterfly, pink and pretty, hair flowing around me like golden waves, makeup expertly applied. Red had done this to me. But after my last party, I no longer wanted to be a butterfly. I'd prefer a stick bug, blending in, completely unnoticed.

"Drive your fucking car!" Red shouted at the vehicle in front of us, hand stuck out in a one finger wave. I took in her crazy mane of red curls, her enraged snarl, the way her butt didn't touch the seat as if she could somehow get physically closer to the object of her annoyance. Something tells me no amount of camouflage will make me go unnoticed with her beside me.

We were the only two cars on the strip of highway, the same highway with the double yellow line in the middle. Double yellow lines meant no passing, which meant, stay in your lane.

These are the facts that raced through my mind when Red yanked the wheel. She accelerated, bringing us alongside the car in question, one finger wave still in place. "Learn how to drive!" She jerked the car back in there direction.

I watched in horror as what looked like a typical soccer mom, was forced to swerve onto the shoulder with a silent scream. Or at least, it seemed silent from my position. Inside her car, I'm sure the sound was anything but.

Red whipped back into the correct lane, then finally took the time to look over at her unfortunate accomplice. "Don't worry. I'm a good driver."

I gaped at her. "You're a maniac."

"That too." She shrugged, looked away, then hit her turn signal.

I had just enough time to turn my head before she pulled down a new road, if you could even call it that. It wasn't paved, wasn't even dirt. A lonely line of tire tracks were the only thing distinguishing the path, and the tall trees on either side made it feel like we were taking off into the wilderness.

I looked at Red again, then back to the road to nowhere, and for a not so brief moment considered the odds of her planning to murder me out here. It looked like a perfect spot for it, not that I spent too much time thinking of such things. "Where are we going?" I asked tentatively.

Red looked over and smirked. "There's a house back here. My buddy Rick lives in it with a few of his friends. It's where the party is."

I nodded, trying to school my features in a calm expression, a-no way I thought you were a murderer-expression.

To give proof to her statement, a house came into view ahead of us. It was small, white, a little run down, and pitch black apart from the glow of Red's headlights.

"Are you sure this is the place?" I asked, as if she could accidentally go to this house. Maybe, it was the next random hidden driveway. Maybe, she planned to kill me after all.

"This is it. See?" She pointed, and it was only then that I noticed the light glow emanating within the front window. A candle.

She threw the car in park, climbed out, and I, very slowly and reluctantly, did the same. We walked the short distance in silence. Inside my mind, a childlike version of myself was shaking her head, arms crossed, and looking at me like I was an idiot.

Red opened the door without knocking, and as I followed her lead, I found a group of people all sitting in a circle, four candles strategically placed around them.

I did a head count. Four guys. Three girls. One, I couldn't see past the dark black hood covering their head. They were all staring intently at what lay on the floor between them, so much so, they didn't notice our entrance.

"Hi, guys!" Red shouted.

"Oh fuck!" a guy hissed as another girl let out a blood curdling scream.

"What the fuck, Red!" came a deep male voice. It was the hooded figure. He flipped back the garment, allowing me to see he was nothing more than a young man with a baby's face. "You scared the shit out of me!"

Red smiled, not sheepishly at all. "What the hell are you all doing sitting in the fucking dark?"

"Rick got a ouija board," one of the girls answered, sounding excited. "We're trying to make it work."

"No way!" Red plopped down in an empty spot. "I just finished reading this book about a sexy demon. You think you could try for one of those?" She bounced in place, leaning forward to inspect the wooden board.

Sexy demon. Fuck you.

I took a step back, clutching my purse tighter.

"Amelia!" Red motioned for me. "Guys, this is my new friend Amelia."

I chewed my lip, weighing my options. Have a seat, or make the long walk back in the dark? I clutched my purse again as realization dawned. Brady couldn't come. Demons probably aren't real.

Heaving a sigh, I took a seat in between Red and Rick. "Hi, everyone."

A chorus of welcomes and hellos filled the air around me, and along with it came a feeling of ease, almost comfort. I looked around at the easy expressions and realized this wasn't like a party. This was a gathering, and each person here wasn't just a mindless body fueled by hormones and a need for alcohol. As a matter of fact, no one even seemed to be drinking. I eased further.

"Okay," Rick prompted, pulling his hood back into place.

Everyone leaned forward, placing their fingers into the little plastic piece on top of the board. They looked at me, and I sat torn for a moment. There wasn't enough room between me and either of the people beside me, it was too big to put in my lap and still be able to lean forward, but I was absolutely unwilling to relinquish the purse. After a full minute of being stared at, however, I finally opted to place it behind me. It will be okay. It will be safe. It's right there.

"Are there any spirits who wish to communicate with us?" Rick asked in a voice a little too theatrical.

"Are there any sexy demons?" Red added.

The plastic began to move. It swirled around the board twice before settling down on the word yes.

Red bounced. "Yeah, buddy! I'm gettin' me some today!"

A couple of people laughed, but Rick's expression remained flat. "They were obviously answering me."

"Nu-uh."

"Yes-huh," Rick countered. "What is your name?" he asked the air.

Everyone's eyes went to the board, and minutes ticked by like hours. I stared in anticipation, even though I knew no spirits were involved. They couldn't be. I had the stones.

The plastic once again began to move. It swirled twice.

"B," a chorus of voices sang out. Another two swirls. "R." My breath locked within my chest. "A." I was sweating. Definitely sweating. "D." Fuck. Fuck,fuck,fuck. He couldn't. He can't. I have the stones. "Y."

"See, Red? No sexy demon has a name like Brady."

Red said something, but my ears heard nothing but white noise. My gaze drifted outside the circle, around the darkness beyond the candles glow. I slowly pulled a hand away and reached back. My fingers found hardwood, then more.

I jerked and flipped around. It was gone! Gone! "My purse!" I shouted. "Where's my purse!" My voice was manic, far too desperate over what shouldn't have been that big of a deal. At least, not as big of a deal as it was.

Red looked around. "Did you leave it in the car?"

"No!" I searched, heart pounding, hands shaking.

"Relax," Red cooed, her hand landing on my shoulder in an attempt to calm me. "It has to be around here somewhere."

Suddenly, a loud boom echoed through the room, and bright, red light, like a burning flame, filled the center of our circle. It blinded me, but the shouting let me know the others saw it too.

Red gripped my hand, pulling me back, but we'd only made it a couple of inches before the light disappeared, revealing the chiseled, fiery red body, of one very real, in the flesh, sexy demon.

"Did someone summon me?" Brady's voice boomed throughout the room.

I looked up, and sure enough, despite his demonic coloring, it was most definitely Brady.

Screams erupted once again, and I looked around to see everyone scrambling backwards in a desperate fight to escape. All except for Red that is. She was frozen in place, mouth opened in either shock or awe, I couldn't tell which.

Brady let out a deep throaty chuckle. "I demand a sacrifice!" He pointed in my direction.

I met his gaze, saw the twinkling eyes, the anticipation. "You wanted a demon. I always deliver." He crooked a finger, and my legs straitened on their own accord. I took two steps forward, and no matter how hard I fought against the compulsion, when he crooked his finger again, I repeated the action. I was stepping right into the danger zone, and within it was one very devious looking devil.