02 July 2020

Massie residence, Santa Clarita

"GramGram!" Karisa ran as soon as she saw our guest.

"Oh my, you've grown much taller than the last time I saw you," they hugged before I was handed a gift bag.

"You shouldn't have," I placed it on the table and hugged her.

"Don't be silly- you worked hard and you should be spoiled," our parents walked in with the luggage. "I should have also gotten you something for your comeback."

My cheeks turned rosy at the fact that she had heard me cuss and I wondered if my besty back in Seoul felt the same. Vernon and Sofia's grandma had moved in with them recently. Neither her or their mum spoke a word of Korean, save for "aigoo", which was cute.

The fireworks started that very night. My sister and I were assigned the front yard to clean in the morning while our parents would clean the backyard of stray debris.

"They're quite loud this year," I remarked from our seats on the porch, dad seeing to the barbecue with mum helping. Not again, I felt the familiar intruder trying to control m-

"NOW KARISA!" our matriarch's voice whispered harshly as she put on a pair of knuckle-busters. 

The glow of crystals under the table was brighter than the pyrotechnics in the sky, and soon I felt them manacled on my wrists.

"Mum, Kyla and I are gonna get the dishes!" my little sister yelled and my mum replied with an OK.

"What's going on?" I asked our grandmother, who was dragging me by the wrist to the guest room. I had wondered why she had taken so long unpacking until I saw the Seal of Solomon on the floor, surrounding a space large enough for my body.

"It took me some time to confirm but ever since your concussion, I suspected that there was a case of demon possession. I searched far and wide for the Lemegeton and I realised which demon it was," GramGram revealed. "Berith, make your exit!"

I felt like I was being dashed against rocks by the demon with an iron grip on my psyche. The gems making up the seal changed colour from ivory to grey as the obsidian miasma of the fallen angel was being forcefully transferred from a living medium to stone prisons. After excruciating minutes, the pain ceased and the ebony crystals vibrated on the ground menacingly.

"In you go," the octogenarian carelessly threw them into an empty duffel bag.

Sitting up gingerly, I asked how they would be disposed of.

"I'll be hurling them into Old Faithful," her reply had me laughing at the thought of one of the most powerful demons meeting his end at a tourist attraction.

"We should be joining your sister now. Your parents will have questions at the sight of us not being there for a few minutes," our matriarch closed the door of the bedroom as we filed out.

"Got you covered," I brought out mosquito spray.

"Smart girl," I could hear grasshoppers leave their earthly abode to savour the cool breeze.

"How do I know if I'm completely...myself?" I bit my bottom lip.

"It's a case of observation, my dear," we sat at the table again, as the meat was taken off the grill.