Dantalion of the Goetia: Taste the Obsession of a Demon

The next night, Rowan, Lucia, Erin and Professor Good stopped by to see me. I heard a knock at the door and I was so numb I could barely make my way down the stairs. I peered through the window and they were all standing on my front doorstep, Rowan smoking his usual cigarette. I hesitantly forced myself to open the door and let them in because they were my friends, and because I'd been avoiding them. A rush of cold air followed.

"Hi" I smiled a fake smile, when I really wanted to burst into tears.

Rowan was the first to give me a hug, "Hey, I told you I'd see you later, didn't I?"

Professor Good was happy to see I was okay. I'd been cutting classes and hadn't been on campus to see her.

"Laurel, I wanted to stop by and make sure you were still practicing, you know, the Craft" she winked at me.

"Umm, I haven't really been doing much of that lately."

Lucia was wearing her hair much longer now, still dark and pulled back from her face. She looked annoyed.

"Laurel, you know, we haven't been out in months. You're not still waiting for Mr. Tall, Dark and Demon are you?" she joked.

I didn't find it funny, as a matter of fact, I hauled off and punched her in the face. She fell backward and Rowan and Erin caught her before she hit the floor.

"Laurel!" Professor Good yelled.

I didn't answer or speak a word. I just turned and ran up the stairs and into my bedroom. Erin and Rowan ran up behind me, while Professor Good stayed with Lucia.

"Laurel, c'mon out. She was only kidding!" Erin yelled through my door.

"I didn't think it was funny. It was pretty harsh!" I yelled back.

Rowan knocked on the door. "Laurel, let me in," he demanded.

I refused to open the door. Professor Good came upstairs with Lucia to use the bathroom and wash the blood from her face.

"How's Lucia?" Erin asked.

"She's, fine, just a little blood," Professor Good answered. "How's Laurel?"

"She won't let us in," Erin replied.

"I know she's been hurting, but she can't really believe this is gonna help," Lucia mumbled from the bathroom.

"I think we should help Laurel," Rowan said.

"How?" Erin asked.

"I know." Professor Good went on. "We'll sit down at Laurel's altar and see what we can find out about her demon."