inhale

I pulled my shirt off, dropping it on the bench in the locker room before unzipping my jeans.  Stepping out of them, I messily folded them and placed them on top of my shirt.  Just as I had taken off my underwear, though, I heard a voice from the door say, "bet you never thought you'd be getting paid for this."

I jumped, fumbling for the pile of clothing before holding it against my crotch in an attempt to hold on what modesty I had left. "Shania!"

In a plume of sulphur and brimstone he arrived, kneeling in the center of the sigil.  He slowly rose on sandaled feet, leather pants clinging to his lean body.  The candles lining the room cast it in a dark glow, illuminating his deep purple skin, raven black hair, and two dark horns curling back from his forehead.  He straightened out, his mouth upturned in roguish smile as he opened his eyes, an unnatural gold on black. "So, is it you who..." His smile fell. "...summoned... me?"

A gentle ringing broke the silent air as the alarm clock activated, signalling the start of a new day. Emily turned over onto her other side and hit the off button, her hand flopping onto it like a dead fish.

It was 8:00 in the morning, and it was Emily's 18th birthday. Although she was feeling the excitement that generally comes with having a special day of the year all to yourself, she wasn't feeling it as strongly as normal.