‘What’s your name?’ another chides.
‘Are you okay?’ the last one asks.
‘I’m fine, thanks,’ I say confidently but I sway and lose balance, falling down on my backside. Less to do with my intoxication, more to do with the fact that I have never been able to wear heels without falling at some point. I grit my teeth, annoyed at my own incompetence.
‘You don’t look fine.’ One of them laughs. ‘Had a good night, have you?’
I feel sick but in a different way. Urgh, this is the worst. Why am I so stupid?
‘It’s pretty chilly out here. Why don’t we take you somewhere warmer?’ I slap his hand away as he goes to take hold of my arm. ‘Hey, I was just going to help you up.’
‘I don’t need any help, thanks,’ I retort, standing up straight.
‘Come now, don’t be like that,’ the same one chastises, managing to successfully grab my arm a second time around.
‘Let go.’ My voice comes out aggressive, assertive. I pull away but he holds tighter.
‘It’s not safe out here by yourself. You should let us help you.’
His words are cold and unwelcoming. This is a lie not intended to be believed.
‘Get off me!’ I yell, this time raising my voice. The guys flinch a little, looking about to see if anyone heard. I do too but he holds firm at the sight of the empty park. No one knows where I am. My teeth find themselves clenched in my jaw. Don’t panic. Think. There has to be a way out of this.
‘We’ll go back to mine. That’s fine, right? It’s a lot warmer and safer. Just come with–’
‘Excuse me,’ a dark voice interrupts and they all jump. My heart leaps with unexpected relief. I turn around and try to conceal my disappointment. It’s not who I thought it was. I look at the tall figure, puzzled. Where did he come from? There was no one around before.
The lead singer from the band stands in the middle of the path, a black guitar cover strapped to his back. ‘You’re in my way.’
‘Huh?’ The guy holding onto me blinks, confused. ‘How did you…’
‘That’s creepy as hell, man. He wasn’t there before,’ another mumbles.
‘Well?’ the lead singer says, a menacing expression manifesting.
There’s a silence. ‘Just go around?’ one of them says, confused. The singer shrugs and actually walks around the group. After a few steps, he pauses.
‘I wasn’t going to get involved but I thought I overheard the young lady here saying she wanted to be let go of just now.’
‘I think you should mind your own business.’ His two friends step forward in a show of intimidation. I tug again against him, he tugs back harder, bringing my face up to his. ‘See? This guy here is an example of the type of crazies we were trying to warn you about.’ My pleading gaze catches the singer’s eyes. Don’t leave.
The lead singer sighs apathetically. He reaches back and takes off his guitar, resting it on the bench, his footsteps silent on the gravel path. ‘You know I can’t do that.’
Looking up, his eyes shine a deep red. I let out a sharp gasp in realisation. My arm is free, the momentary shock loosening the deviant’s grip allowing me to stumble away. The dark stranger’s teeth and nails grow to sharp points. The group stagger back, engaging in an unnerved array of swears, some coming up with possible explanations for the otherworldly display. They stutter theories of coloured contacts and elaborate pranks. Either way, they admit defeat and back off, making their way back to catch up with their group.
‘Freak!’ one yells back before turning the corner. A silence falls between the singer and myself. I flop back down on the bench, closing my eyes and releasing a shaky breath. ‘Thank you. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t shown up.’ He stares at me, dumbfounded, a horrified expression growing.
‘Why aren’t you running?’ he asks, his voice a lot less menacing than before. ‘This is the part where you run too.’
I give a cavalier motion. ‘You’re a demon, right? I probably wouldn’t make it two steps in my state.’
The demon stands there, stunned, his mouth left slightly ajar. ‘I had a feeling you might’ve been connected to our realm in some way.’ He raises his eyebrows. ‘I just didn’t think you’d be so nonchalant about it.’
‘Right,’ I say, remembering some of the night. ‘You looked at me strangely during your concert.’ The demon walks over and sits on the bench, his guitar filling the space between us. His red eyes fade back to their amber equivalent.
‘Well, for one, you have the smell of demonic activity all over you. That’s what initially caught my attention. I even thought the blonde kid next to you might’ve been a demon but it soon became clear that he was heavily intoxicated after two drinks, so I ruled that out.’ That must’ve been why Heret-Kau didn’t want demon magic used near me. I guess I owe Xander a favour after all.
‘But once I noticed that, I also noticed…’ He trails off, unsure whether to say. ‘Do you know about your…?’
‘My soul?’ I state bluntly. ‘Yeah, look, I’m working on it.’
He responds with an equally concerned and sceptical glare. I shrug. ‘It’s a long story.’
‘I’m sure,’ he says, clearly not convinced. Without thinking, and in a somewhat frenzied state, I grab his jacket.
‘Memories!’
The demon tilts his head. ‘You’re going to have to elaborate.’
‘My family and friends. Their memories of me were taken by Heret-Kau.’ The demon recoils instantly as if I had just said the most vile thing.
‘Please don’t say her name. It might evoke her presence,’ he groans. He must know her. ‘Look, I can’t give them back their memories.’ My face must obviously sink because he continues sharply, ‘But I might know someone who can. Maybe they can also fix your soul while they’re at it?’
I clasp my hands together clumsily, bright eyed. ‘Really? Then can we go no–’
‘I just have something to take care of first.’ He picks up his guitar case, slinging it over his right shoulder. I peer curiously. He continues. ‘I have to find someone.’
I groan dramatically. ‘You’re kidding. It’s not some long lost ex-girlfriend, is it?’
