3. “Ready, boys?”

"Nothing."I sigh and close the book I unearthed from the apothecary stock.

While Mom's store usually sells herbs, spells, and potions, we also carry a stock of magical books and accessories. They were just never a priority for Kevin. Why sell a book that teaches magic when you can sell magic one little trinket at a time? That was his motto. Well, not really. Just his greedy mind and thought process.

We still have books, though, and I've gone through every single one here and at the library, but there's nothing about the eldritch dimension anywhere.

How the hell do those guys know about it? And even more, how the fuck do they know how to summon an eldritch creature? That's a skill reserved for witches like my mom and me. No one else can do it unless…

I mean, it's not beyond the realm of possibility.

After all, summoning demons wasn't considered easy or common, but that's turned out to be a lie.

Lucian explained it to me the other day. Hell-demons have been walking the Earth for a long time, but other kinds have been locked away, trapped in their own dimensions, and it's only become possible to summon them in the last few years for some reason.

Maybe it's the same with the eldritch dimension. Maybe now that demons are freer to roam, the eldritch creatures are also more summonable.

Whatever the answer, I need to know. I need to find out what they know and how, so I have no option but to go to the party, whatever objection Jace may have.

I don't know how Lucian will react if I tell him, so I don't. I just send him a quick message to say I'll be studying all night and will see him tomorrow.

I don't like lying to him, but…I need to start standing on my own two feet. I can't rely on him for everything. I've got magic now. I am strong. I have no excuses to run and hide behind my demon boyfriend for everything.

Besides, it may be nothing. There's no reason to make a big fuss over something that could be a nonissue. Right?

My phone beeps, and I read the message on the screen.

Lucian: The whole night? I can always come by when you go to bed and we can cuddle to sleep.

My heart skips a beat as I read his message.

Damn it. Now I feel guiltier.

And how can a ruthless demon who can kill without a second thought be such a softie for cuddles?

Me:

Okay. I'll let you know when I'm done.

Surely, this party won't go on forever. Right?

I mean, it is starting at midnight, but hopefully, they don't wait until sunrise or something to show me how they can invoke eldritch creatures.

I pull up Mom's recipe book I found in storage and follow the instructions to make kimchi stew. It's been so long since I've made or had Korean food that I feel like an impostor. But reading Mom's notebook, deciphering her handwriting, seeing the Hangul letters next to every ingredient, every instruction…helps me reconnect with a part of me I thought was dead forever. There are a lot of parts of me I can reconnect with now that I'm free.

Somehow, I manage not to fuck up any part of the process, and I serve myself dinner after a couple of hours.

"Shit. That's spicy."

I hiss and take several gulps of water before returning to my stew.

Even my taste buds need adjusting again. The Taylors were not a fan of spice, and since I was only allowed to eat their scraps, my spice tolerance has diminished.

Yet another thing I have to rebuild.

But I don't care. I'll do it. I'll reconnect with all the sides of myself they stole from me.

I may get hot, I may sweat like a motherfucker, but I finish the stew and enjoy every moment. It's not like Mom used to make it, but it's close, so even that particular comfort helps me finish it.

"Who's Korean now, bitch?" My bowl doesn't respond to me, but that's to be expected.

I feel accomplished as I box up the rest of the food and do the dishes. I might have some with Lucian later. I've cooked for him since we got together, but nothing Korean or spicy. I hope he can handle the heat.

If my experience with him is any indication, he can handle anything I throw at him. Or put in him. His mouth, I mean.

"Right." I turn to Goemi, my spider plushie that now features prominently in my bed, and bid him goodnight.

I make my way downstairs, grab a little protection necklace on my way out, and venture into the night.

I play with the white crystal the whole way, rolling the spell word on my tongue.

A good witch doesn't need to be told the spell word. They can sense it as soon as they hold a spell in their hands, but since I'm new and inexperienced, I cheat.

It's impossible not to. I've been selling these necklaces for years. Let's just hope that if and when it comes to it, I can use it.

I reach the metal gates of Lockwood, and they part. I half expected to have to climb over them, but I guess Lockwood is always open to its students? Or maybe it's so students who live in the dorms can come and go freely.

Everyone seems to have more freedom than I've had in my life.

It's almost weird navigating the streets, the world, and magic without a voice in the back of my head calling me home.

It's strange not feeling the pain of disobeying Kevin and Mason's orders, not having to subjugate myself to them before bedtime. It's almost as if…as if I've escaped, and one day, any day now, they'll find me and take me back home.

They can't get me anymore. They can't get me ever again.

I sigh and walk through the doors.

The old gymnasium isn't hard to find. It stands tall and imposing quite a bit away from the main castle. I'm not sure what makes it old. It doesn't look dilapidated. It doesn't look neglected. I guess until I go to the new gym, I won't know why this one was abandoned.

The doors are open and loud music blasts my ears when I go through them. It takes me by surprise because there was absolute, eery even, silence before I went in.

The benefits of being surrounded by magical people, I guess.

Blue and red lights wash the gym in a dizzying show and dozens of students dance to the music, not paying me any mind, which is how I like it.

A familiar shifts back and forth into her wolf form as I pass by her and her gang of friends while a few ravens and eagles chase one another over our heads. A tall boy with long blond hair and pointy ears smiles at me. He looks like he came straight out of the Lord of the Rings. I wonder if that's the vibe he's going for because most elves don't abide by the fantasy fiction stereotypes.

Three people are making out in the back. I give them a once-over before I realize their clothes are…nowhere to be seen. Two guys with a girl in the middle who looks more than content to be the filling of that particular sandwich. An incubus, maybe? They're impossible to please sexually, or so I've heard.

"Taylor! Glad you came!"

I turn to find Ryan, unable to hide my disdain at the name.

"It's Jung. Yu-jin Jung. And thanks. I'm glad I came too."

If his whole eldritch spiel turns out to be false, this will still have been worth it. I've never been surrounded by so many witches and Nightcrawlers, especially ones with their powers on full display.

"I'm sorry. I thought—" He slaps my back by way of apology, and I have to roll my eyes.

Does he think that shows remorse?

"It's okay. You couldn't have known."

I mean, he could if he'd asked. But I'm not going to make a big deal out of that. I need to be in his good books until I find out what he knows about my power.

"What do you think? It's nice, huh?"

I look away from the incubus and her two lovers and nod.

"Yeah. Do you guys do this often?"

Ryan shrugs.

"Often enough. Want some?" He holds a beer out, and I take it but don't drink it. I have no intention of touching it.

"Thanks." I'm no saint, but I want to have my full senses in case I need to intervene or run.

Ryan watches me and starts dancing. I move my upper body. What else can I do? I have to pretend I'm here to party.

I bring the bottle to my lips and pretend to sip, and Ryan seems to relax his gaze on me.

"I bet you're thinking about the eldritch invocation."

I shrug.

"Oh, right. Are you still doing that?"

"Sure are." He smiles and ushers me to the back of the room toward his friends. "We're just about to start, actually."

I people-watch as we make our way, ignoring the pounding of my heart.

This is it. Whatever they use to invoke, they're about to show me. Yet the closer we get, I can't help but wonder why I care?

What difference will it make if they can invoke? It doesn't affect me. It doesn't take anything from my power.

Maybe coming here was a mistake.

"Ready, boys?" Ryan asks, and I narrow my eyes.

How have I ended up in the middle of a circle surrounded by them? Is this a fucking circle jerk?

"Ready," says another, and I feel a sharp pain on my left arm.

I look to my left and find a dark-haired guy, one of Ryan's lackeys, holding a bloodied knife in his hand.

Did…did he just cut me?