It took me five minutes to get a grip.

Leon's car left the driveway two minutes ago.

The same kind of fear that crippled me in the eastern building three months ago thudded through me now.

A demon.

I couldn't-

I couldn't feel it because I didn't have magic anymore.

But others would. They would. And they'd- I had no idea what they'd do, and frankly, it wasn't my primary concern. What would Leon do?

Did he behave the same way as demons?

Fuck.

Snapping out of the trans, I flung the jacket over my shoulders and rushed out of the room, hand reaching for the phone. I pressed call and held the phone to my ear while I retraced my steps out of Leon's house.

After three rings, Thar answered.

"Hey-"

"He's a demon." I pushed the door open and stepped into the blinding sun.

Thar sounded choked, "What?"

"Leon. Is a demon." I repeated, then took the phone off my ear, "Wait a second. I have to call a cab."

I put him on speaker as I moved down the pathway to the street.

"You went to see him?" The speaker distorted his voice. "Where is he now?"

"Went to the Academy." All drivers were at least half an hour away; rush hour. "Dammit."

"Where are you?" Thar asked. "I'll come get you."

Words 'his place' got stuck in my throat.

"I'll send you the location." I said instead, cancelled the cab ride and sent Thar the information.

For a few seconds, silence thudded around me.

"Alright. I'll be there in ten."

Next, I called Morta.

As soon as she picked up, I spoke, "I need you to keep an eye on Leon."

"Uh, hello to you, too." She grunted.

"He's a demon, Morta."

"What?!" She squealed. "How? Why? How is that possible?"

"Because I'm an idiot, that's how it's possible." I ground my teeth and paced back and forth in front of Leon's house. "He's coming to the school. Now."

"What the fuck?"

I heard her jumping off the bed.

"Is he- Is he going to attack?"

Something bit my heart at that question. Anger or desperation or disappointment, I couldn't tell.

"He's... weird, but he's himself. Sort of."

"Don't give me that bullshit." Morta dropped something on the other end; it hit the floor with a muffled thud. "Is. He. Dangerous?"

I sucked in my lower lip, "Well, he hasn't hurt me. And he had plenty of opportunities."

"Yuck." Morta murmured. "Please, don't tell me you slept with a demon."

"Oh, fuck you." I furrowed my eyebrows. "Of course not. I didn't even know until he told me."

"He told you?" Suspicion crawled to her tongue. "What if he's lying?"

"I don't know, Morta." I sighed. "It makes perfect sense. A piece of black ooze disappeared inside him and-"

Earlier when I tried to come closer to him, he didn't let me. Like he was afraid of touching me. And his staff were all gone. I didn't mention any of that.

"What if we die when we touch him like with the ooze?" Morta asked.

I chuckled, "Trust me, we don't."

"Oh, dammit, Jade. Ew."

"Just keep an eye on him." I said. "Thar and I will be there shortly. If he starts behaving strangely, get the fuck away from him."

"Great. It's not like we're having a party and everyone will be served to him on a platter."

I wanted to, but couldn't bring myself to defend him.

"Just keep an eye on him."

"Okay, okay."

I hung up.

Fear and anticipation mixed inside me. What if he was as dangerous as the ooze? Or even worse, what if he was as dangerous as the demon whose strength none of us knew? What if I'd unleashed horror on earth just because I couldn't stop for a second and think whether what I was doing was a good idea?

By the time Thar arrived, I've bitten off most of my black nail polish and hated myself for doing that. He drove a beat-down black Ford, which weirdly made me remember he got fired because of me. Pushing down guilt, I sat in the passenger's seat.

"What the fuck are you even doing here, Jade?" He didn't look at me.

"Oh, come on, Thar." I let out a sigh. "You know me well enough to know I'd come here."

He stepped on the pedal without an answer, and the car rumbled through the street. Once we reached a better road, it smoothed. Thar's presence felt judgemental.

"What are we going to do?" I whispered.

Thar's grip around the steering wheel tightened, "Do you want to be un-expelled?"

The question took me aback, and I found myself stuttering the truth, "I mean, yes, but-"

"Then stay away from him, Jade." Thar's voice was hoarse, tense. "If someone finds out that you did this, you're never coming back."

Surprise jolted through me, making me glance at him, "You know something that I don't."

Thar's jaw is tight for a second longer before he speaks, "I've been thinking."

"Yeah, we've got that in common." I murmured.

"You said you thought your father wanted to perform the spell on himself." Thar spoke, which made my mouth go slack with the sudden realisation-

"That would mean he wanted to become a demon." Sweat washed over me. "Fuck."

"What if he knows someone else became a demon instead?" Thar briefly glanced at me, then looked back at the road. "I mean, he must have been certain he could do it. He must have."

"You're right." Trees exchanged before my eyes.

Another glance my way. "And if he finds out you're responsible for his spell going awry..."

He was right.

"So, what are we going to do?" I repeated my first question.

"Make sure Leon doesn't do anything stupid." Thar said.

"Knowing him, that's probably gonna be difficult." I crossed my hands on my chest and stared out the window.

"Jade, I need to know something."

My heart dropped to my gut like a rock.

I looked at Thar; his hands gripped the steering wheel, knuckles white, and his jaw was set. He would cross that imaginary line that existed between us that none of us wanted to acknowledge.

"Will you be able to stay away from him?"

I chuckled, but my heart hammered, "Oh, come on. I know what's at stake."

"I'm serious." Thar's tone changed, dropped a few notches. "No guilt-driven sympathy. Or attempts at saving him. If your father finds out-"

"So, you think I'm an idiot."

"I think you're in love with him."

For a few seconds, I could only blink. Then, I let out a forced low chuckle.

"Funny. He accused me of being in love with you."

Thar's clutch on the wheel loosened, and his mouth fell open. Then, he composed himself and turned left, to the road that led to the Academy. He said nothing for the rest of the ride, and when we parked in the Academy's parking lot, he got out before me.

The sight of the Academy took my mind off things for a second. Warmth enveloped me as soon as we entered its grounds, and I didn't know if I imagined it or the shields were once again working their magic. Either way, a huge lump formed in my throat at the thought of never returning.

The main building has been restored, all leftover black ooze removed, but the same icky feeling still crawled through my veins when I looked at it. Fortunately, we walked past it, to the male dorms.

I couldn't help turning around, though, wondering what I'd feel now if I still had magic. Would it be a demon? The same demon that's been haunting my dreams.

Ignoring it, I caught up with Thar, "How are we going to get in?"

"Your father's not here."

"Oh."

I thought about it.

"How do you know that?"

Thar had no time to answer, because my phone rang.

Morta.

"Hello?"

"Where are you?"

"We were just about to walk in." My heart pounded. "Is he here?"

Thar faced me.

"I'm coming out now." Morta said and hung up.

Thar and I came closer to the building and could now hear the music coming from inside. The poster on the front door was written with a black marker, and simply read: Pre-Valentine's Day, Pre-Exams Get-together. Why they'd started drinking so early in the day, I didn't know. Maybe we were all afraid of the dark as of late.

The door swung, and Morta appeared in front of us.

"There you are." She had a plastic cup in her hand filled with wine that almost spilled over her fluorescent pink body suit tucked into black leather hot pants and fishnet stockings.

"You're wearing pink." I glanced over her.

"Trying something new." She pushed her black hair off her eyes, revealing her signature black eyeliner. "You scared me to death earlier." Her voice dropped to a hiss as she leaned closer. "I thought he was gonna attack."

Thar and I exchanged a glance.

"He's here?" I asked.

Morta nodded, "Inside."

"How is he behaving?" Thar was ready to storm the place.

Morta cocked her head towards the door, "See for yourself."

With some reluctance, I followed her inside. The techno music was so loud it blocked out my thoughts. The party was in full swing. People gathered in the middle of the common room, others sat around the tables moved aside to allow space for dancing. Plastic cups were passed around. Bottles raised in the air. Hips moved. Pieces of clothing were being taken off. Something chaotic overtook the large room.

"Shit." Thar cursed behind me, and I realised his lips were a bit too close to my ear. "What is going on here?"

"Honestly," Morta slurred, half-leaning against me, "I thought it would be pretty boring."

Everyone was drunk. Or high. Or both. Thick smoke was gathering in the air, and when I breathed in, I smelled weed amongst all the cigarettes. No one bothered to look at me or Thar.

"When did this party start?" I shouted at Morta.

"It wasn't supposed to start until 8PM."

It was half past five now.

"The lust charm is strong." Thar's murmur reached my ears, and when I turned to him, I noticed his throat bobbing. "It's like everyone is using magic."

But I could feel none of that, and I wondered if I was at a disadvantage or spared.

"Where is Leon?" I asked Morta.

She nodded towards the middle of the crowd, and that was when I noticed it. The crowd gravitated to something – someone. In the back of the room, Leon sat on the table, his legs on a wooden bench. He had a bottle in his hand and a cigarette in the other. Two girls sat on his left, and one on his right. The one on the right was Bella. They were all giggling to something he said.

He was laughing, too, between swigs and inhales and whatever the hell he was saying that made everyone swoon and touch his arms and legs. It was like- like he had them under a spell.

The whole damn room gravitated towards him. Even guys seemed eager to get his attention; calling his name, asking whether he wanted a shot, trying to engage in a conversation.

But no one was hurt. They all seemed happy. And drunk. And eager.

"I don't understand." I whispered, unable to stop staring.

Leon noticed me, then. He grinned and raised the bottle in the air, as if saluting. The girls around him frowned, their gazes shooting daggers at me.

"One thing is certain." Morta slurred. "His ego did not need this."