Chapter Two
Uninvited Guest
TYLER
The summoning circle pulsed like a heartbeat—slow, deliberate, and wrong. The air was thick, heavy with something ancient and malevolent. I grabbed Gabe’s arm, my fingers trembling as they clutched his sleeve. The pressure in the room was suffocating, like the walls themselves were closing in. This isn’t magic. This is something else. Something older. Something cruel.
Holding onto Gabe’s arm, we backed away, step by step. My eyes were locked on the swirling energy. My hand throbbed beneath the blood-soaked cloth, the pain sharp and insistent, but that was the least of our worries at this point. The circle churned like a storm trapped beneath glass, and I could feel it; something was coming. Something that should never have been called.
Then the room exploded in light; blinding, searing, unnatural. A scream escaped me before I could even process what I was doing. I threw my arm over my face as a violent wind tore through the apartment, extinguishing every candle in a single breath. That was when the temperature dropped; it was so fast it felt like the warmth had been sucked from my bones.
Silence followed, heavy and absolute. I lowered my arm slowly, heart hammering in my chest. The summoning circle still glowed, but now something stood within it. A demon. It towered over us. Grotesque. Its skin was cracked and blackened like scorched earth, its limbs too long, too thin. Red eyes gleamed from a skull-like face, and the stench—oh God, the stench—was like rotting meat left to fester in the sun. Gabe and I couldn’t move. We were frozen, staring into the abyss that had answered our call.
‘My God,’ I whimpered in a hushed voice. ‘What have we done?’
I clung to Gabe’s arm, hoping he’d say something, anything, to break the silence. To make it all go away. But he remained as motionless as I. Then, from the shadows, a voice slithered through the air; deep, smooth, and laced with venom.
‘Oh dear,’ it said, almost amused. ‘One slipped through ahead of me. Filth like that should stay buried… or be punished.’
The candles flared to life again, burning with an unnatural blue hue. Gabe and I exchanged a glance, dread etched into both our faces. Before we could move, the grotesque demon shrieked. It was a sound that seemed to scrape against my very soul. Blue fire erupted around it, twisting its body in agony. The sound was unbearable, like bones snapping and flesh tearing. Then silence.
The creature was gone. Nothing remained but ash and the lingering stench of death. A new figure stepped forward from the circle. Tall, composed, and dressed in a black suit that seemed too perfect, too clean. Black wings folded behind him like a shroud. His yellow eyes locked onto mine, and I felt my stomach twist. He looked human… but he wasn’t. Not even close.
‘My name is Adcatar Uxiel Sahkotzi,’ he said, voice smooth and deliberate, like silk wrapped around a blade. He bowed slightly, but it felt more like a predator sizing up its prey than a gesture of respect. ‘Who summoned me to this realm, and who wishes to form a pact?’
Gabe and I pointed at each other at the same time. Reflex? Panic? Who knows, but we both blamed the other. His laugh was low and hollow, echoing through the room like distant thunder. That laugh… is he enjoying this?
‘The blood giver summoned me,’ he said, his gaze narrowing. I gasped and looked down at my injured hand, and in that instant, my heart sank. No… it was me. I summoned him. That means I have mage blood. I’m totally fucked!
‘I didn’t mean to summon you!’ I replied, backing away. ‘So, just go away!’
He froze, his hand still outstretched. His eyes flashed red, and I could see some emotion building with him, though I couldn’t tell what. ‘If you do not wish for a pact, why summon me?’ he growled. ‘You used powerful magic and blood to bring me here. Complete what you started.’
‘I… I don’t know what’s going on,’ I stammered. ‘You’re not supposed to be here. This isn’t supposed to be happening!’ Adcatar tilted his head, studying me. I didn’t like the look in his eyes.
Gabe stepped forward. I assumed he was trying to help. ‘Can’t we just send you back? There’s got to be a way?’
Adcatar smirked. ‘I’m afraid not. I’m bound to this realm until a pact is made, or a month passes.’
I stood up, my hand still pressed to my chest. My fear and confusion, now replaced with a burning anger. Forgetting that I’m facing a demonic entity from the pits of Hell, I shouted, ‘No. I don’t believe that. That’s bullshit. I didn’t ask for you, and I don’t want you here. So, fuck you and fuck this ritual crap. I’m done. You can rot in the basement for all I care.’
No longer giving a crap about the situation, I grabbed Gabe’s arm and pulled him toward the kitchen. Right now, I need him to patch up my hand, not deal with some dickhead demon who thinks he’s some sexy antagonist from a trope manga or something.
‘How dare you speak to me like that?’ Adcatar’s voice boomed behind us. ‘I should rip your head from your body, and bathe in your blood. You should be on your knees, grovelling, praying that I let you live and begging for my forgiveness.’
I didn’t flinch. ‘Forgiveness? Ha! Not a chance. I wouldn’t give it to anyone, especially some asshat jerk like you.’
I dragged Gabe into the kitchen, slamming the door behind us. ‘What the Hell are you saying?’ Gabe squealed. His eyes bulged in his head as he stared at me. He looked scared, bewildered, and possibly on the verge of throwing up. I wasn’t completely sure.
‘Don’t, I’m not in the mood, right now.’ I glared at him. He’d done a lot of stupid things since I’d known him, but this topped them all. ‘I’m not the one who got us in this fucking situation to begin with, so shut up, bandage me up, and make some tea before you pass out.’
I had no idea where this attitude and mindset came from, but it was currently helping me deal with the situation without completely freaking out, breaking down, or having a massive panic attack. I kinda like this side of me.
Gabe looked as though he wanted to say something, but must have thought better of it. Instead, he turned around and rummaged through a couple of cupboards before pulling out a first-aid kit and dealing with my injured hand. I watched as he cleaned and examined it, his eyebrows pulling together in worry.
‘Tye, you need a hospital. This is bad,’ his words slurred less and were more coherent now.
‘I can’t. You know I can’t. How would I explain this? Plus, how would we afford it, huh?’ I held his face with my undamaged hand and attempted a smile. ‘I know you can fix me; you’ve done it before.’
The worried expression deepened, and he became more serious. ‘I’m not so sure this time, Tye. It’s bad. I don’t know how bad it is, but I don’t think a kiss and prayer is fixing it this time, even if I add some alcohol and glue.’
I swallowed hard as he pressed a tea towel into my wounded hand and told me to put pressure on it. I was finding it hard to focus; I felt lightheaded and tired. I sat on a stool and swayed as he began making some tea, leaving the first-aid kit and its contents still strewn all over the countertop. Was he expecting me to put this crap away? Hell, no. He’s got another thing coming. I ain’t doing no tidying after tonight. All that mess is his to deal with. I think I’ve dealt with enough.
ADCATAR
Adcatar had originally been surprised and intrigued by finding out he’d been summoned by a new and unknown summoner, but now he seethed with rage. He stood there glaring after the two humans, who had left him like some petulant child having a tantrum. Throughout his existence, no one had ever dared to speak to him in such a way; he had never in his life been so angry with someone, and yet … why did he like it? To have a female stand up to me, shout and spew profanities at me. It’s somewhat thrilling. His anger faltered, and his mind was a whirl of turmoil.
Why? How? What about this young wisp of a girl could cause him to enjoy being told off? And worse, want her to tell him off more? He was one of the most powerful demons in his domain; he was the one in control, the one who commands, not vice versa. He wanted her to be angry with him and growl menacingly at him.
I’ve lost my mind. He groaned at his reaction to this female human… his Summoner. Maybe the ritual was flawed somehow, and is affecting my brain? Pushing his unusual thoughts to the back of his mind, he balled his hands into fists and stormed off in the direction the two humans had gone. His anger flared once more. He would make her pay for disrespecting him. First, he would make her complete the pact, and then he would cause her pain, the likes of which she has never experienced. He would make her beg for forgiveness, for his mercy, and then he would take her blood, body, and soul. A smile twitched at his lips.
He flung open the kitchen door, nearly taking it off its hinges, to reveal his summoner having her wound tended by the quivering, pathetic male. He glared at them both but was surprised at their lack of reaction to his presence. How dare they ignore me? But he quickly noticed the severity of the female’s wound and the crimson stain on the towel next to her. How had she remained silent and in control when it’s obvious she is in tremendous amounts of pain?
She sat at the kitchen counter, and he noted that she seemed tired and pale. He found it hard to hold himself back from approaching her. Something was pushing him to go to her and help her. No, I’m a demon. We don’t help, not without a price. He couldn’t understand what was going on. Why was he thinking and feeling this way? It made no sense to him.
‘Tye, you need to go to the hospital; you need stitches. It’s too much for me to sort out.’ The male huffed, sweat dripping from his brow, which was creased with concern.
‘Gabe, you can fix anything. Like I just said, you’ve patched me up before, and you can do it again. Now quit belly-aching.’ She hissed as he dabbed at her sensitive hand, which made Adcatar smile.
‘And what do you want, demon? Don’t think I don’t see you, standing there like a love-struck puppy.’ He scowled at her words, though in truth he still wanted to smile.
‘Merely enjoying the view. I love to watch humans writhe in pain, especially before death. It’s rather thrilling.’ He leaned casually against the door frame, folding his arms in front of his chest in a relaxed pose.
*©Copyright 2025, Gemma Newey (Misty Shade), all rights reserved.*
