Page 70 of My Roommate from Hell
This is a mistake.
I did tell Madison I was bringing Zarmenus to the Gaymers meeting tonight, but given her response was just the sidewise laughing emoji, I’m pretty sure she thought I was joking. Only I wasn’t, and now Zarmenus and I are standing on the front porch of Madison’s house.
Did I seriously bring the prince of Hell to a game night?
“Do I look okay?” asks Zarmenus. He pulls down at his shirt, fidgeting like it’s uncomfortable.
“Come on.”
“What?”
“You know you look amazing.”
He really does. He’s wearing a long-sleeved button-down, black, of course, paired with nice slacks. He’s even combed his hair. If he’d stop acting like the clothes are itchy, he’d look like an academic, serious person. Under his shirt, I can just see the outline of his magical necklace.
“What?” he asks.
“Nothing,” I say.
“You were looking at my chest.”
“I was looking at your necklace.”
“No need to lie, I don’t mind. Stare away.”
I roll my eyes and jab my finger into the doorbell.
A few moments later, the door opens, revealing Madison. She turns to the side, notices Zarmenus, then turns back to me, her head moving so fast I’m worried she’ll get whiplash.
“You were serious?”
“He always is,” says Zarmenus. “I can leave if you want?”
“No, stay, the more the merrier.”
“Sweet.”
Zarmenus goes inside, sliding past Madison, who is still figuring out what’s going on.
“Sorry, I should’ve made sure you knew I was serious,” I say.
“It’s not that, I’m just wrapping my head around a demon being in my house. Anyway, come in.”
The meeting is almost as well attended as the first. I’d say there are about fifteen people inside already. Some are on the couch playingMortal Kombat,while the others are sitting around the dining table, in the middle of a card game.
“Ooh, blood,” says Zarmenus as one of the characters on the screen pulls the spine out of their opponent. “Fun.”
It’s like a record scratch. The house is loud, from both the music and the conversation, but that all comes to a screeching halt when they notice the prince of Hell has arrived. Even the two people playingMortal Kombatstop fighting, making their fighters go idle.
Zarmenus raises a hand and waves.
“Oh my God, hi,” says Avery, who I now see was the one playing the video game. He flips around and rests his head on his forearms. Wait, is he seriously flirting right now? “I’m Avery.”
“Zarmenus.”
Tyrell gets up from his spot on the side of the couch and makes his way over to me. I’m thankful for the escape from whatever is going on between those two right now. I assume it’s nothing; Avery flirts a lot.
“A word?” Tyrell asks, only giving a cursory glance to Zarmenus before he practically pulls me into the empty kitchen. “What’s going on?” he asks.
