Boon's chest heaved as he lay on the bench press, sweat dripping from his brow. He slipped the last forty-five-pound weight onto the bar, preparing to test his strength. Leona stood nearby, her arms crossed in a mix of amusement and concern.

"That is way more weight than normal, are you sure you can handle this?" she asked skeptically, eyeing the excessive weight he had loaded onto the bar.

"Of course," Boon replied, almost annoyed by the suggestion he couldn't. "I've got it."

He gripped the bar tightly, knuckles turning white, and began to lift. The immense weight bore down on him as the bar began to bend under it. His muscles screamed in protest, but he refused to surrender to them, he knew if he had vessel strength then he could handle it. The bar lifted a mere millimeter off the wrack before slamming back down, Boon's body trembled from the attempt.

"See?" Leona said, smirking. "Told you so."

"Shut up," Boon muttered, embarrassed.

Leona shook her head "I'm going to hit the showers, I have class in an hour," She headed out, leaving Boon alone with his bruised ego.

As he layed under the bar, Boon felt his rage building up. For a fleeting moment, his body convulsed. The strain and pain he was feeling only moments ago vanished and he felt normal again. He reached back out for the bar and this time he lifted it with little effort.

Just as quickly as it had come, the sensation vanished, and he dropped the bar hard again. What is happening? he wondered.

"Boon," Olivia's voice cut through his thoughts. He turned to see her standing in the doorway, her brown eyes intense. "Ethel wants to see you. Now."

"Olivia?" Boon stammered, thrown off by her sudden appearance. "Why would she want to see me?" He hoped that Olivia hadn't seen his feet of strength.

"She's been watching you and she has some concerns," she explained, grabbing his arm and leading him out of the gym. "Now get moving before I hurt you."

As they entered the parking lot, Ethel stood waiting, her long black hair framing her narrow face. Her brown eyes bore into Boon, searching for answers he didn't have. "Boon," she began coldly, "You didn't break the rules did you? Remember what I told you about trying to become a vessel."

"No I swear I'm still human," he insisted, feeling his heart race. He now knew Ethel wasn't the one who changed him. "Test me, I can prove it."

"You see vessels and Supremes can sense the auras of all living things," Ethel explained, her voice tinged with suspicion. "Your aura has been off for a while now."

"So?" Boon said, exasperated, "I've been under a lot of stress. I mean with classes and basketball, not to mention you harassing me. Maybe that is what you are feeling."

Ethel narrowed her eyes, unconvinced. "There's one way to be sure." She moved closer, and before Boon could react, she thrust a handful of palm ash into his mouth, forcing him to swallow. "If you're telling the truth, this won't hurt you."

Boon choked and coughed, feeling the gritty ash scrape against his throat. His stomach roiled, but the expected pain never came. He looked up at Ethel, confusion written across his face.

"Fine," Ethel conceded, stepping back. "It seems you're still human after all. But I am still watching you. I know your type, you'll do something stupid eventually. Now get out of my sight."

Boon looked at Ethel and then at Olivia, still confused about what they had just done to him. As he left the parking lot, Boon replayed the tone of Ethel's voice, she was positive he was just a human. Boon kicked the curb hard, how could she be so sure?

Boon made his way back to his car, still wearing his sweat-drenched clothes. As he went for his key, he felt the familiar buzz of his phone in his pocket, the screen displaying John's name across the front. He hesitated before answering, not knowing what John could possibly want.

"Boon," John said coldly when he answered, "I need you to retract your statement to Lindsey about the night Dean Ray died."

"Why would I" Boon started.

"You know what I am and what I can do to you if you don't" John threatened. "I didn't kill the dean, but that doesn't mean I won't kill if I have to. Do you understand?"

"Ye-Yeah I will." Boon stammered, unsure if John was bluffing and not wanting to find out.

"Good," John replied, his tone icy. "Make sure it is done by tonight, I knew I could count on you."

As Boon hung up, he punched the dashboard in a rage. He knew he was nothing to these vessels, who held all the power.

-----

In the hallway, Rob cornered Zack, he looked ready to burst. "What did you find?" Zack asked, giving his friend the excuse he needed to spill.

"Zack! You have to hear this. My research on the Familiar shows it's some type of witch's assistant, aiding in spells and tracking targets.: Zack went to speak but Rob cut him off. "I know, I know, that doesn't fit with what we know about our Familiar problem – it's killing, not tracking."

"Right," Zack said, trying to keep up with his friend's rapid-fire explanation. "So why is this one different?"

"Well I don't know," Rob admitted instantly sucking the energy from the room "Clearly Wikipedia and Google don't have all the answers. We need Deb and the copy of the Demonology book to really know the truth."

"Fair enough, I just hope she was able to make a copy before she gave Pablo back his keys," Zack trailed off as his hearing began to sharpen, bringing Olivia and John's hushed conversation into focus. Their words echoed in his ears, amplifying until every other sound fell away.

"John, we can't just kill Ahmed," Olivia whispered. "We need to test him first."

"Fine," John growled, his frustration evident. "But he is the only one who survived Gluttony's curse and didn't become a vessel, so who else could it be?"

"I know but we have to be sure," Olivia agreed.

Zack snapped back to his conversation with Rob, but his focus was now on Ahmed. He knew he had to do something – anything – to protect him, knowing if he was the familiar then Ethel wouldn't hesitate to kill him.

"Rob," he murmured, cutting him off, "I just overheard John and Olivia, they think he could be the familiar. They are going to give him some kind of test to figure it out."

"Ahmed?" Rob repeated, as he tried to process this information. "No, that can't be right. He hasn't shown any signs of being anything other than human."

"We need to find Ahmed," Zack insisted, his mind racing with possibilities. "We have to protect him from them until we can come up with a plan of our own."

-----

The organic chemistry lab buzzed with the hum of anxious students, each one feeling unprepared for the Lab midterm. Prof. Dowding stood at the front of the room, his stern gaze sweeping over the assembled young faces.

"Alright," he began, his voice commanding silence, "I cannot emphasize enough how important it is you succeed today. You will have two hours to complete the midterm today. Now to go over some basic rules for a lab midterm."

Boon seized the opportunity of Dowding going over the rules, leaning in close to Zack and Rob "Ethel is a real freak you know. She forced this weird powder down my throat, you two need to do something about this."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"We don't have to do- wait a weird powder?" Rob asked, as what Boon said finally clicked. "What does this powder look like?"

"Know you care, it was black and tasted like ash," Boon explained. "Now are you going to tell her to back off or not?"

"Sure, whatever," Rob said glossing over Boon's concerns, "It's a black powder, and what better place to sneak something like that in without raising suspicion than a science lab." Zack and Rob looked over the lab benches and saw several different black powders.

"Rob, you're sure it can't be Ahmed?" Zack asked, needing some reassurance.

"Positive," Rob replied firmly, his eyes locked on Boon's. " I have smelled Ahmed's cologne a million times and it isn't what the creature smelled like."

"Wait what is going on?" Boon asked, confused by the conversation.

"You passed that test so they are moving on to Ahmed, we have to stop them," Zack explained, watching Olivia take her seat on the bench in front of them

Boon leaned back realizing that rob and Zack didn't really care about what happened to him, their mind was on something else. Deb entered the lab, earning a glare from Dowding who was still explaining the rules for a partner's midterm.

"Alright," Zack whispered, his voice barely audible as Deb took a seat next to Rob. "We need to make sure that John and Olivia don't get anywhere near Ahmed tonight."

"And how do we do that?" Deb asked, her dark eyes flashing with worry behind her glasses. "We can't exactly fight them during class or talk once the exam starts."

"Remember," Rob added, "they could have hidden that powder anywhere in here, so we have to be extra cautious."

At that moment, Prof. Bobby Dowding launched into what they will actually be doing for the midterm: "Fools gold; just because it looks like gold doesn't make it so." His voice boomed through the room, signaling the beginning of the lab session.

"Today, we will switch lab partners at each step of the experiment," Prof. Dowding announced, his brow furrowed beneath a mop of graying hair. "This will ensure that it is your own work you are handing in and at the end of this experiment you should have created your own fool's gold."

As the students shuffled around the tables, Zack made sure he started next to Olivia. Her brown eyes seemed to smolder as she leaned in dangerously close. "Oh Zack, what are you so worried about," she purred, her hand resting on Zack's thigh, lingering just a moment too long. "Relax, I can feel your aura from across the room."

Deb, now seated across from them, narrowed her eyes at the display. But before she could react, her lab partner toppled over their beaker. the chemicals spilled all over the floor and they were shuffled to a different table out of view.

Meanwhile, Rob found himself paired with John, who seemed agitated as he recounted a story about his high school basketball career. "Ahmed always bested me on the court," John spat bitterly, his anger barely restrained. "And then he didn't even try out for the University team, it is like he is mocking me."

"You need to chill out," Rob replied tersely, unwilling to engage in John's vendetta. "It's just the demon side of you talking," John shot Rob a look that stopped him from finishing his thought.

As they switched partners, Zack and Rob kept a watchful eye on John, who had been partnered with Ahmed. As they worked away on their solutions, they watched as John reached into his pocket and pulled out a small baggy of black powder. Zack went to move but Prof. Dowding's stern glare held him in place.

"ACHOO!" John feigned a sneeze, releasing a plume of palm ash toward Ahmed. The fine particles swirled around Ahmed's face, making him cough and gag, desperately gasping for air. His eyes watered, and he stumbled from the room, clutching his throat.

Zack's heart raced as he shared a panicked glance with Rob. Ahmed began to collapse unable to breathe and confirming he was anything but human. As Prof, Dowding rushed to Ahmed's aid, all Zack could think was how could they protect him from Ethel?

As the lab let out, Zack, Deb, and Rob huddled together in the bustling hallway. The air was thick with tension as they brainstormed how to protect Ahmed from Ethel.

"Okay, first things first," Zack began, his blue eyes glinting with resolve. "We need to get Ahmed somewhere safe, where Ethel can't touch him."

"And where would that be?" Deb muttered, adjusting her glasses. "She now has proof Ahmed in the familiar and she has a covenant willing to fight with her."

"Right," Rob added, frowning. "John, Olivia, and Kristian will do whatever she tells them to do. We only have you as our supernatural muscle, I don't think this is a fight we can win."

As they talked near the green lockers outside the lab, the trio spotted Ethel making her way down the hall. Her long black hair swayed as she walked with purpose toward the lab.

"Ethel, listen," Zack pleaded, stepping in front of her. "All we know for sure is Ahmed isn't human. We can't just assume he is the familiar without any real—"

"Save it," Ethel interrupted coldly. "We can't risk letting that thing continue to kill."

"Please," Deb chimed in, her voice firm yet compassionate. "Just give us time to prove Ahmed isn't the familiar. We just need a little more time."

Ethel regarded them for a moment before sighing. "You think I would help an exorcist?" she asked, stepping around Deb. I am going to handle this now." she reached for the door.

Rob quickly pulled out his phone and turned it on Ethel. "Then I hope you don't mind me live-streaming this," Rob Threatened, holding his finger above the button. "I am sure a few trained exorcists would find the footage really interesting."

Ethel hesitated, very eyes shifting to their dazzling green. "You think you won? I will be back for him and I will kill anyone who gets in my way" Ethel turned and left, clearly infuriated by Rob's stunt.

Rob let out a huge exhale as he slid down the locker, "Shit that was too close"

"That was amazing," Zack said, helping Rob back to his feet. "Now we need to get Ahmed out of here."

-----

Meanwhile, in the lab, Ms. McLeod gently guided Ahmed through a vision test.

"Tell me what you see, Ahmed," she instructed, holding up a card with several words written on it.

"Butterfly," he read, attempting to keep his voice steady. In truth, the words began to shift to become Gluttony, but he didn't dare share that with the counselor.

"Interesting," Ms. McLeod murmured, switching to an image card. "And what do you see here?"

"A beautiful beach," Ahmed said, masking his discomfort as the monstrous figure loomed on the beach's shore.

"Alright," she nodded, setting down the cards. "Thank you for your cooperation, Ahmed. You seem fine, doesn't appear like whatever was dumped on affected your vision."

"Thank you, Ms. McLeod." Ahmed quickly exited the lab, but the image of Gluttony still crept into his mind.

As Ahmed entered the brownstone hallway, Zack, Deb, and Rob rushed to his side, relief washing over them.

"Ahmed, are you alright?" Zack asked, gripping his friend's shoulder.

"I'm fine," Ahmed assured them, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of fear. "It was just dust or something, everything is fine."

"Are you sure? I didn't know you were so allergic to dust, it was scary seeing you react like that." Deb explained. "If you want you can come over and we can take our minds off it with movies and drinks."

"Definitely," Rob agreed. "I know an amazing pizza place, we can pick it up on our way."

"Thanks, guys," Ahmed murmured, touched by their unwavering support. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

-----

Boon sat at a table in the library, his fingers drumming against the wooden surface. The musty scent of old books and polished wood filled his nostrils, making it difficult to concentrate on the textbook in front of him.

"Hey, Boon," Sarah said, approaching him with Leona by her side. Her long blonde hair swayed as she walked, she seemed concerned by something. Boon couldn't help but wonder if they had found something in the video.

"Sarah, Leona," he acknowledged, nodding towards them. "Did you find something?"

"We have some questions for you," Leona explained, her voice surprisingly gentle but her gaze showed concern. "About that missing footage from your video."

"Right," Boon sighed, running a hand through his red hair. "What do you want to know?"

"Who else might have had access to your house?" Sarah asked, her blue eyes narrowing as if suspecting everyone and no one all at once.

"Why," Boon muttered, deep in thought. "I mean, you don't think someone I know tampered with it? Who would want to do that?"

"That is what we are trying to figure out," Leona cut in. "Now we both know I have a key because we dated and I haven't had the chance to give it back. But in my defense, I would be happy never going to your place again.... no offense" she said realizing Boon was giving her a hurt look.

"I could have gotten in too," Sarah added, a hint of mischief in her voice. "Considering I know your back door's lock doesn't really work. Maybe we staged the whole thing together just to fuck with you?"

Leona's eyes twinkled, clearly picking up on Sarah's flirtatious tone. "But in all seriousness, someone purposely tampered with the footage, and if we can figure out who, then maybe we can figure out the why."

"True," Boon agreed, as he wracked his brain for a possible suspect. That is when it hit him, "But there is someone else who might have done it... Ahmed has a key to my place."

"Ahmed?" both girls echoed, surprise evident in their expressions.

"Ahmed," Boon confirmed, nodding gravely. "He comes over all the time, I wouldn't have noticed if he had done something to it."

"So now we have our suspect," Sarah said, her voice suddenly serious. "Let's figure out what his motive could be for ruining your video."

-----

Deb walked through the campus, scrolling through the Demonology book she had downloaded. Her face twisted with confusion as several sections were written in languages she didn't recognize, including the section on familiars.

"cup cupida... cupiditate serv...," she tried to read it out, her dark eyes glued to the phone. She didn't notice her reading had drawn the attention of Ms. McLeod, who was sipping her coffee nearby.

"Cupiditave serviendi" Ms. Mcleod finished for her, "It's Latin."

Deb looked over at the woman before sitting down on the old wooden bench, next to her. "Do you know Latin?" Deb asked.

"I know over seventy languages," Ms. McLeod answered in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Could you translate this?" Deb asked, holding out her phone. "I am trying to translate it for a mythology assignment."

The counselor scanned the page on the phone, examining the archaic script with a furrowed brow. "There really isn't a direct translation for it," she confessed, tracing her finger along Deb's phone screen. "But it seems to speak of... a supernatural spirit with a desire to serve, created by a rift between living and dead. Slow is the master who creates it."

"Is there anything else you can tell me about it?" Deb asked, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Unfortunately, no," Ms. McLeod shook her head. "That's all it says about it."

"Thank you," Deb replied, disappointed but grateful for the small piece of information.

As she headed back to the dorm, she hoped this little bit of information would be able to help them in some way.