Page 28 of I Accidentally Summoned A Demon
Afterbeingdismissedfromchoir practice, Kat packed her binder and Bible into her messenger bag. Practice was every Wednesday, and she hadn’t missed one since she was three, or so her parents told her. She couldn’t remember that far back, but the building had a sense of familiarity and safeness she’d always cherish.
“Kat, will you eat these?” Bernice, one of the older women in the choir, held up a container full of cookies. Her gray hair was pulled back in her signature bun, and glasses rested on the tip of her nose.
Normally Kat would say no, but she had Nex at home, so she accepted. Things had been strange between them since the night they kissed. Nex grew distant and went back to being rude and vulgar. Maybe cookies would chill him out.
“What’s new in your life?” Bernice asked, handing off the container.
At some point, it had come around to choir that there was a half-naked man in Kat’s yard. The neighbors liked to gossip.
Kat sighed. “He’s just a friend.”
Bernice feigned innocence. “Who?”
“Funny.”
“From what I heard, maybe he shouldn’t bejust a friend.”
“Bernice.” Kat giggled, covering her face. “It’s not like that. I’m dating someone else.”
“Does this someone else have you blushing as much as your friend?”
Kat bit back the smile. “Yes. We’ve been on three dates and have a fourth planned this weekend.” Kat slung her messenger bag over her shoulder and walked out of the church with Bernice.
Kat liked Jason. He was sweet and gentlemanly. Kissing him didn’t have the same effect on her as kissing Nex, but she attributed that to Nex stealing her first kiss, one that was more intimate with her in his lap.
“I’m glad you’re going out and making friends.” Bernice smiled warmly, linking her arm through Kat’s. Bernice lived directly across the street from the church in a small, cottage-like home. Kat always saw her to the door. “Oh, I almost forgot.” Bernice rummaged in her purse as they crossed the street, pavement wet and reflective from the rain during choir practice. “I finished the book you lent me.” She pulled out “The Canterville Ghost”by Oscar Wilde.
Kat took the short story. “What did you think?”
“I think for a cheerful young woman, you certainly have an affinity for dark things.” Bernice laughed. “I enjoyed it. Humorous despite its morbidity.”
“I warned you.” Kat slipped the worn paperback into her messenger bag and paused in front of Bernice’s house.
“You did, and I’d like to see more.” Bernice eyed Kat. “I know you have more.”
Kat grinned. “I’ll bring something Sunday.”
“That would be lovely.” Bernice kissed Kat’s cheek. “I’ll see you Sunday, darling.”
Bernice went inside, and Kat meandered home. An after-rain chill fogged the air, and she wrapped her jacket around herself tighter. Unable to stop herself, and not so anxious to get home to whatever plans Nex had, she kicked puddles as she walked.
Music boomed from her house, louder the closer she got. Kat wondered what Nex was doing now. Every day he drove her crazy, then reminded her she could get rid of him if she “cooperated”.
Inside, Kat found two other people sitting beside Nex on the couch.
Nex glanced back at her with a devilish smirk. “Hey, kitten. Come meet my friends.” He gestured to the two strangers. “We’re having a demon party.”
A new attempt on Nex’s part wasn’t surprising, but it was almost insulting he thought something so simple would break her.
Kat greeted the two men with a warm smile. “Hi, I’m Kat.”
“Lucian,” the one with silver hair said.
“Marcus,” the other said. He had black hair like Nex, but unlike Nex, his hung past his shoulders and was complimented with a trimmed beard.
Both demons had an unnatural red tint to their eyes, although Marcus’s were darker, and Lucian’s were pale to the point they were almost pink.
Kat spent enough time around Nex to know he enjoyed sweet things. If they did too, she wanted on their good side. She held up the container. “Would you like cookies?”
