Leaving the building, me and Steph took the long walk back to my house, back in the city. Walking up to the door I tried opening it as quietly as possible so I didn’t alert my parents to the fact we had been out all night only to have my hopes crushed when I saw my adopted mom sitting in a chair reading a book in front of the door.
“Molly, do you have any idea what time it is?”
“Come on, mom, I’m eighteen now. I should be able to stay out late.”
“Not so long as you still live in my house, missy.”
My mom took her gaze off me and looked behind me at Steph. “Hello Stephanie, what did she drag you into this time.?”
“Hey, Mrs.Wilson, and tonight she was pretty tame, actually.”
Moving to pull my mom and Steph away from each other I said
“Ok, that’s enough for you two. Goodnight mom, we are going up to my room.”
As I said this, I grabbed Steph’s hand and dragged her up the stairs and to my room. The floor was covered in comics and I had several posters on the wall of all the different heroes that were active in the city, the biggest one was a picture of Mrs.Wonder the most badass hero in all of West City which sat right above the head of my bed. Maneuvering my way across my room, I jumped onto my bed, smashing my face into a pillow only to be picked up by Steph. My beautiful rest denied to me.
“Nope, you promised you would clean up that wound first. Now we can either do this the hard way where I drag you to the bathroom and clean it up myself or you can do it yourself.”
“I’ll do it myself, don’t worry.”
With Steph setting me down, I headed to the bathroom. This was the perfect chance to look at this book without making Steph suspicious. Walking in and closing the door behind me, I locked it, then pulled out the book from my jacket and placed it on the sink counter. I was giddy at the chance to finally have real powers.
“Ok that demon guy said all I needed was to give it some blood so use it, so let’s see.” standing over the book I picked at the wound on my hand until it started bleeding again allowing the blood to drip onto the pages of the book
“So how does this work, Umm, Abra Kadabra? Avada Kedavra? Wingardium Leviosa? Oh, great book deity give me powers?” nothing happened, so I went through several more imaginary spells and phrases trying to get something magical to happen, after several more tries I finally got a response in the form of an annoyed sigh.
“This was far less entertaining than I imagined it would be. You, humans, are all the same. You hear magic and think I work miracles. With an offering as measly as this, you need to ask for something more basic, not these random words.”
I jumped in surprise but I recognized the voice immediately. It was the same guy from the house. Settling down I looked around the room, I couldn’t see and thought I had been imagining things until I heard his voice again.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
“I’m not manifesting a body this time, contractor. It uses far too much of my energy unless, of course, you enjoyed my face enough you’re willing to offer some more blood to see it.”
“Yeah, no thanks, book dude. I think I’ll stick with just your voice. But that’s beside the point you said I just need to think more simply, right?” Saying that I walked over to the bathtub and focused for a moment before finally choosing my word and sticking out my hand over the tub. “Water”
As I spoke, a small stream of water shot out of my palm, barely filling up any of the tub before sputtering out. Well, that was just disappointing and I know what you think I just performed magic. How could that be disappointing? Well, I’ll tell you when monster attacks are a monthly event and even c-list superheroes are launching cars across streets. Doing something that could be accomplished with a water gun isn’t exactly special.
“Was that it?”
I could hear a scoff come from behind me before I heard his voice again. “What did you expect when all you offered were a few measly drops of blood? You need to offer me more if you want your big display.”
“Isn’t there an easier way to do this whole process? It’s not exactly convenient for me if I have to cut myself and then let the blood drip onto your pages?”
I heard an audible scoff before as the voice spoke again
“All about convenience, fine.” as the book spoke it suddenly shined floating into the air, and began morphing into what looked like a dagger with a pitch-black handle and pure white blade before collapsing back onto the sink with a clang. But that wasn’t the only sound I heard. I also heard a knock on the bathroom.
“Hey Molly, you ok in there?”
“Yeah, I’m fine Steph, just give me a sec kay.”
Looking back at the knife I whispered, “Can't you like turn invisible or something like that? I can’t exactly be seen carrying you around with me.”
“You are a very demanding contractor, but very well, I shall make myself disappear. I will be expecting a sacrifice for this.”
“Fine just hurry it up will you, we don't have long………………………..WAIT! How am I supposed to get you back?”
“All you have to do is say my name, Nox. Now best hurry. That friend of yours is waiting.”
Oh, crap, he’s right I could hear Steph impatiently tapping her foot from outside the door, with the knife gone. I ran over to the bathroom door and rushed to open it putting on my best, I'm totally not conversing with a demon I found in some creepy basement face.
“Did you need something, Steph?”
“What? no, I was just checking if you were ok since you were taking a while.”
I saw her look down at my hand with a confused look coming across her face before she grabbed my injured hand
“What were you doing in here, Steph? You haven’t even wrapped your hand?”
Crap, I completely forgot about that. “Um, I was just checking my makeup. Heh”
Now she was just looking at me with that typical we both know you did something wrong so fess up face. “Molly, you don’t even wear makeup, but fine, I won’t ask anymore. Let’s just get this hand wrapped, okay?”
“You got it, boss.”
After Steph finished wrapping my hand, she went and got her stuff, getting ready to leave for the night and head home.
“Ok I’m heading out Molly, but before I go, promise you won’t sneak out and try to break into another building without me, OK?”
At that comment, I started pouting. “Just who do you think I am, Steph?”
“I know exactly who you are Molly, that’s why it’s got to be said. So don’t go doing something dangerous without me, promise?”
“Yeah, yeah, I promise Steph I won’t engage in any risky behavior without you.”
“Ok, good night.” with that she walked out the front door, leaving me standing there feeling bad about how I just lied to her face.
“Sorry, Steph, but momma's gotta try out her new toy.”
I went back up the stairs and to my room and waited for an hour just to make sure my mom was asleep and Steph was gone before climbing out of my window.