Page 2 of I Summoned A Demon For A Date?!
My best friend Tammy would say he was hot as shepherd's pie and just as delicious, probably while fanning herself dramatically. His coloring was fascinating, an interesting shade of dark magenta that reminded me of twilight just before full dark, and even the elegant curved horns on top of his head were magenta, just brighter, like neon signs in the rain. The whole package was intimidating and alluring at once, which I supposed was the point of demon aesthetics. Draw you in before they went for the kill kinda thing.
"You don't know what the next steps are? Why did you summon me?" His roar could probably be heard by my downstairs neighbor if he had been home. "Release me, human, before I disembowel your innards and grill them on a hellstone!"
Shaking my head, I crossed my arms in fake bravado that I did not feel inside. "No way. I know the basics." I was semi-sure of it, at least. "I want to make a deal, and until we finalize the deal,you're stuck in that circle."
"Fine.Why did you summon me?Do I need to keep asking?" If the demon could kill me, he would.
"I need a date." That was the first thing, but most important at this point. "To start with." Rent and having a place to live could wait if it meant rubbing something in Stephany's face for once.
"A date?" He crossed his arms, an incredulous look on his face. "That'swhy you dragged me here?"
I ran my fingers through my tangled hair, a nervous habit I'd never managed to break. "Well, it wasn't, to begin with, but when I took a break from setting up the summoning circle, I got a call from my step-sister and she's such a bitch and always trying to make my life miserable that I now need a date to her engagement party to show her and all my judgy family that I'm fine and not a screw-up!" I stomped my right foot in frustration, the thud echoing off the cheap floor. Just thinking about Stephany's smug voice on the phone made my blood boil. "What I need is a job so I don't get evicted soon and end up on the street, but the engagement party comes first." Pride was a hell of a motivator and I'd eaten enough of Stephany's shit over the years. I glanced at the demon, suddenly aware of how unhinged I must sound. "I'm sorry, I've been rude. What's your name?"
He blinked those otherworldly eyes, and his perfectly sculpted mouth dropped slightly. His magenta skin seemed to lose some of its rich color, fading to something closer to a dusty rose.
Could demons do that? Add that to the growing list of things I should have researched before attempting this whole summoning business.
"What do you mean, what's my name?" His voice dripped with disdain as perfectly manicured talons gestured in disgust at the salt circle surrounding him. "You couldn't have summoned me otherwise." Each word was precisely enunciatedas if he were speaking to a particularly dim-witted simpleton.
I flicked open the worn book, its pages crinkled and dog-eared from my obsessive studying over the last few days. Running my finger down the spell I'd used, I double-checked every detail before turning it to show him. Years of Stephany snatching things from my hands had taught me caution, so I maintained a careful distance from the salt circle. Getting murdered by an angry demon wasn't on my to-do list today. "There was no mention of a demon's name here." I tapped on the yellowed page next to the intricate image of the circle that I'd painstakingly copied onto my floor using table salt from the dollar store. The memory of how long it took to get those curves just right made my knees ache.
"What the fuck is this shit?" He reached for the book with those elegant talons, only to jerk back with a string of curses that would make a sailor blush when the circle's energy crackled against his skin. The acrid stench of scorched flesh filled my tiny apartment, making me wince with unexpected sympathy. I hadn't meant to hurt him. "That's not an actual spellbook. Are you telling me you managed to summon me with a fake spell?" He shook out his hand like someone who'd touched a hot stove, those otherworldly eyes wide with disbelief. "This is ridiculous." His deep laugh started low in his chest before he threw his head back, the sound bouncing off my water-stained ceiling.
Uh oh.
Did I break him somehow?
I lowered the book to my side as I watched him.
I think I broke him. I scratched the back of my head with my free hand as I looked around my room in despair.
The way his throat moved when he laughed was oddly mesmerizing, and I found myself staring before I caughtmyself. Great, now I was ogling a demon. This night couldn't get any weirder.
"Look, regardless of how you were summoned, can we make a deal? Please?" I rubbed my forehead as I started to pace in front of him. "What do you want in return for being my date?"
"You were serious." He gave a dramatic sigh. "Fine. A date to this engagement party to show up your step-sister and family." He crossed his arms again. "Your soul is standard practice."
I stopped pacing and turned toward him. "When would you take my soul?" If he took it, I wouldn't have to worry about being evicted at that point. "What does that entail exactly?"
The demon crossed his arms, his tail flicked behind him. "You'll essentially be my servant for all of eternity, while you're alive and after you die." His grin was wicked. "I take care of my souls, don't worry. I can go more into it after you agree."
Fuck. Was I going to waste my deal on one-upping Stephany?
Why wasn't I terrified that I would be giving up my soul for this? Was I just that desperate?
Yes.
Yes, but maybe I could wrangle a better deal.
"You will go as my date, convince the family we're happy, and after you'll pay my rent so I'm not homeless while I serve you. Whatever that means."
The demon's eyes glowed bright red. "I will be your date to this and you shall sign your soul over to me. I agree to make sure you're housed and fed as well as a modest salary. Do we have a deal?" He held out his hand, careful not to go further than he needed to.
I was going to do this. It seemed almost too good to be true.
I reached through the circle and shook his hand.
No going back now.
