It was Friday night and I was nervous. I adjusted my top for the hundredth time, studying my reflection in the mirror. Damien studied me from the other side of the room. His arms crossed with a pensive look in his features. He was not happy but I wasn’t going to allow his mood to change my mind.

“Stop sulking Damien. It’s not a good look,” I allowed the comment to slide effortlessly off my tongue.

His frown deepened.

I turned to face him when he didn’t reply. “What no reply? For once you don’t have anything to say?”

“I warned you but you don’t want to listen. I can’t physically stop you, can I?” His eyes were onyx pools, cold.

“All you need to do is tell me what I want and I won’t go.”

He pressed his lips firmly shut and shook his head.

I was determined. I was going to go through this whether he was on board with it or not. The fact that he was totally against it made it more important for me to do it. What did he not want me to know? Did it have to do with the fact that I was convinced Parker could see him?

My grandmother was so glad I was finally ‘making friends’ she handed me the keys to her car and told me to have fun. Most teenagers my age would have curfew, rules. I had none of that.

I didn’t drive often even though I had my driver’s license. As I approached the car and took a deep breath and released it.

I was a nervous driver. It was because of the accident. But I couldn’t allow that to stop me tonight. My fears were worse at night.

“You can’t do this, you’re not strong enough.” Damien’s words hit me straight in the chest, he was voicing the fears I was already wrestling with.

“Turn around and go back.”

I remained still. If I gave into the fear I would never find a way to break free from Damien and this endless cycle would continue. What happened when I didn’t have the strength to fight him anymore? Then what? He would take me to hell and I would spend eternity burning.

Compared to that, what was a little nervous drive at night to a place I had never been. It was a piece of cake. After putting it into perspective I felt more confident when I opened the door to the car and got in.

Damien appeared in the passenger side with a dark look in his eyes.

I put my seat belt on and felt a momentary flood of panic. Gripping the steering wheel I rode it out by breathing deeply. It was too much of a reminder of the day that had changed my life to shrug off quickly.

“You’re a mess Tessa. Stop this now.”

I started the car, more determined by his words than anything else.

For the rest of the trip Damien was quiet but restless. I could feel the anger radiant off him but I ignored it, trying to focus on keeping the panic at bay as I drove.

It wasn’t too difficult to find Parker’s house. I followed the loud music and turned into a street filled with cars.

I wiped my hands on my jeans as I neared the front of the house. This was everything that went against staying away from people.

A few groups were gathered outside and I felt self conscious as I ascended the few steps onto the porch. There was too much noise and too many people to hear or see Damien. For once I felt free from his presence.

It was noisy and there were so many people but for the first time I felt alone. Truly alone and I took a deep breath before releasing it. I had no idea where Parker was and I had no idea how to find him. At first I wondered around, trying to scan the crowd. He was tall and would be easy to spot but there was no sign of him.

The house was big and not easy to navigate through. Eventually I ended up the kitchen where some guys were handing out drinks. I refused. I wasn’t here to drink, I was here to speak to Parker. That was my plan. Besides I had to drive back home and that I took very seriously.

Just as I was about to leave in walked Parker. He smiled when he saw me.

“You made it.”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“You get something to drink?” he asked.

I shook my head. “I’m fine.”

“Come on, you need to have something to drink,” he argued filling a red plastic cup with some liquid before handing it to me. “Here.”

I wanted to refuse but I afraid it would annoy him and that would make it more difficult to get what I wanted so I took the cup but I had no intention of drinking from it.

“Thanks.” I murmured, feeling nervous and self conscious. I was sure I stuck out like a sore thumb. Could he tell that I had never been to a party before?

“Relax,” he said, taking my free hand in his.

I had no idea where we were going but I followed behind him through the crowd. He greeted some people as we made our way up the stairs. My apprehension increased when he led me into a bedroom and closed the door behind us.

“Now I bet you wished you had listened to me,” Damien appeared beside me to say. I had never been glad for his presence but I couldn’t deny the relief I felt.

“There is no need to be nervous Tessa,” Parker said as he pushed off the door and walked passed me to the bed that made me feel more uncomfortable. He sat down. “I thought we would be able to talk without being disrupted.”

I nodded, trying to hide how nervous I was.

“This is what happens when you trust someone you don’t know.” Damien’s voice was right next to my ear and I feel a shiver of apprehension.

I tried to hide my nervous fear with a tentative smile.

Parker patted the space beside him on the bed. “Why don’t you sit?”

“I’m fine here,” I said, refusing to get any closer to him. I was already in a situation I wasn’t comfortable and this was just getting worse.

“Don’t listen to him Tessa. I won’t hurt you.” This time he wasn’t looking at me. I turned to see him staring straight at Damien who glared at him.

It took a moment to understand what he said and what that meant.

“You see…” I couldn’t complete the sentence. Damien’s presence had been my own personal hell for the last seven years, something I hadn’t been able to share for fear of the consequences of such a reveal.

While I had suspected he had been able to see him, his confirmation tilted my world.

Parker nodded. “I don’t know why but I can. He’s a real asshole.”

“I’d be very careful if I were you Parker,” Damien warned in a growl.

“You’re not real,” Parker shrugged.

“How?” I asked interrupting the two of them. It was more important than anything else. My legs felt shaky so I crossed the room to sit beside Parker.

“I’m not sure. I started seeing stuff…a few weeks ago.” He rubbed his forehead. “I don’t know why.”

“What sort of stuff?” I asked, softly.

“You know…the usual. Ghosts…and him.” He nodded in Damien’s direction. “What exactly is he?”

I sighed. “He is a demon.” The puppeteer of my own personal hell.

Parker frowned. “Why do you have a demon following you Tessa?”

I let out an emotional breath. It was the first time anyone had ever asked me that. It brought a flood of emotion back and my lip trembled.

“It’s okay,” Parker said, resting his hand on mine.

I swallowed hard, trying to give myself a moment to pull myself together. But I began to tear up.

“If you’d rather not talk about it…” His hand squeezed mine.

There was understanding in his eyes, not disbelief. I had always believed if I admited out loud the existence of Damien people would think I was crazy but here was a guy who could see him as well.

“I was ten…” I breathed through the emotional pain of remembering. “I died and when I woke up he was there. And I haven’t been able to get rid of him.”

Parker frowned. “You died?”

I nodded. “I was clinically dead for twenty minutes.”

His eyes widened.

“Aww look at this. You finally have another crazy to bond with,” Damien sneered as he watched on with folded arms.