Chapter Three

In case you're wondering, yes.

We did get in huge trouble when we got back.

Student council threw another cafeteria duty on me as well as detention next week. They gave me the weekend off, but that was about it. After that, I was practically sentenced to death, but I wasn't alone. Dustin and Zeke were sharing the same fate as well as the degrading scolds from the student council and Sister Mary.

We were sent straight back to our dormitories. We walked the spiral staircase in silence, only mumbling goodbyes to Dustin, who ducked into the room he shared with Akira. Zeke and I wanted further down, six doors, until we reached our room.

It wasn't a huge extravagant room, just normal sized for a couple of guys. Two twin sized beds with St. Salvatore bed sheets and heavy quilts for colder weather. Between it was a dresser with our clothes hanging out of it, a stereo hidden under a pair of boxers and an alarm clock that read 8:35 in bold, red lettering.

"I'm gonna shower." Zeke deadpanned, avoiding my eyes as he snatched a towel out of the closet across from his bed, heading to the small connecting bathroom we had. I didn't comment, just waited until I heard the shower running before I sat on my bed, pulling the notebook out from under my blazer.

I sat down and tossed my blazer on my pillow as I opened the notebook again to the first page. The man in the picture was staring up at me, as if to say "hello".

"Hi." I mumbled stupidly. The man didn't answer, just stared endlessly. I scanned the sketch for any sort of signature, but there was none. Just the man standing there in a loose chiton, his bold wings held behind him with a modesty you'd think most angels would neglect.

Something about the way he looked was gentle and calm. For some reason, I could imagine him being blonde and blue eyed.

I scanned the back of the cover, but there was still no signature. Just pencil stains from the sketch. I gave up and turned to the next page, but it was blank. I blinked and flipped through the next few pages, but they were mostly blank. The only notes were in Latin and I hadn't learned much Latin at all yet, so deciphering them was pointless.

I sighed and flipped further into the notebook until I came to another sketch. It was an almost scarily realistic sketch of another man. This time, the man was different. His hair was dark and hung in thick locks to his shoulders, his eyes darker than the first man's. His lips were quirked in a dirty smile, like he was up to something. Four inverted pentacles went under each of his eyes, down his cheeks.

It was just a bust shot, so all I could see was his head and broad, thick shoulders.

At the top, it read Asmodeus. Why did that sound familiar?

I closed the notebook and shoved it under my bed before grabbing out one of my textbooks on world religions. I opened it to the glossary and scanned for the man's name. At least, I assumed it was his name. It sounded like a name. A strong, powerful name with a fluid sound to it.

Asmodeus.

As-moe-dee-us.

I found the name and flipped to the page, then froze in surprise.

The page was torn out of the book!

What the hell?!

I scowled and threw the book down, then went to Zeke's, crouching onto the floor and reaching under his bed for his textbook. My fingertips brushed the book only when I heard the sound of a door creak. I froze for a second, then sat up quickly, whirling around to see Zeke leaning on the doorway of the door, cocking a brow at me.

He was only wearing a towel around his lean waist, water running down his muscular torso and over his rolling six pack.

"Whaaa.... Hi." I said stupidly. Zeke smirked, then pushed off the doorway as I slowly, sheepishly rose to my feet, my eyes looking anywhere, but at Zeke. It felt awkward staring at him like that. Shirtless... Clothes-less, except for that towel.

Oh God, no.

What am I doing?! Zeke's a guy! A man! Just like me. That wasn't right. Nope. Two men just couldn't work out together. I mean, not only would it be so uncomfortable, but how did you do it anyway? Where did you stick-- NO! Oh God, no! Stop thinking, Matty! Just speak!

"I'm not gay!" I blurted, then winced. Zeke looked at me, confused.

"What?" He asked, frowning now. My face lit up like a fucking Christmas tree as I stood there, feeling stupider than I'd ever felt in my entire life. I gulped down the lump in my throat, clenching my fists and shifting uncomfortably.

"Ugh, I mean... Well, I'm not, but that's... not what I meant to say." I said at last, embarrassed. Zeke put a hand on his hip, lifting a regal brow at me.

"Then what did you mean to say? That I'm gay or something?" He asked. I flushed further, shaking my head quickly.

"No! No, that's not what I meant, I mean-- It's just-- I don't know why I said that, honestly. It has nothing to do with what I was going to ask you. I just saw-- Well, I mean, you just got out of the shower, not that I was looking." I stuttered stupidly, mentally cursing myself over and over again as Zeke stared at me.

"So," He drawled, folding his arms over his chest, "You're saying I'm ugly or something?"

"W-What? No! No, I never said-- I didn't mean for it to come out like that," I stammered, feeling the heat reach the tips of my ears, "I just meant I wasn't looking is all because I'm not interested! I just don't like guys! Sorry!"

"So you're assuming I'm gay."

"Oh God."

"Calm down," Zeke laughed, lowering his arms, "I was just teasing you. Jeez, Matty, take a chill pill. You're so high strung. I think hanging out with Stephen is getting your panties in a bunch." He shook his head as I stood there, trying to calm my nerves as he turned his back on me to grab a pair of boxers and pajama pants.

"God, I wish you'd stop that," I managed at last, making Zeke peek at me over his shoulder, "I can't tell when you're serious or not."

"I'm never serious."

"You were when we left the old wing." I announced, letting it dangle there in the silence. Zeke kept his back to me now as he dropped his towel. I didn't move. I felt stuck in place and my eyes were shamefully glued to Zeke's backside. His far too firm and round backside for a guy, and leading right to it was a thick, muscular back rippling with power.

Then I felt my groin ache.

This cannot be happening.

No way.

I'm not homo.

Especially not for my roommate and best friend, Zeke Borowiak. No, that's just wrong! So, so wrong!

"That's because Stephen pisses me off." Zeke said at last as he drew his boxers up onto his hips, taking his plaid pajama pants with so his vital parts were hidden. I just plopped down on my bed, hoping to hide the embarrassing problem in my pants.

"Why?" I managed to ask as Zeke dried off his dark hair before tossing the towel into the laundry hamper near the closet.

"Because. He's pompous." He responded flatly, plopping on the bed. He ran his tongue over his teeth, grimacing for a second before he fell back on the bed.

"Change already. I wanna go to sleep."

"It's only eight!"

"I just lifted almost two tons of rock back there. I'm exhausted. And you almost died today, Matty."

That last part made me go cold now. It settled back in and I didn't feel like moving. Zeke frowned and tilted his head to look at me, then grimaced as he sat up.

"I'm sorry, Matty. I didn't mean to freak you out." He apologized. I shook my head for a second, then cringed as I remembered the rocks and wood falling at my head. I swore they were going to hit me and I was going to die right then and there, but Zeke had grabbed me.

He pulled me out of the way.

"You saved me." I said at last. Zeke blinked, then looked away, his arm draped across his knee.

"Yeah." He replied quietly, nonchalantly.

"Why?" I asked. Zeke stared at me.

"Are you stupid? You're my friend, that's why." Something flickered in his eyes and I frowned.

"Are you telling the truth?" I asked. Zeke just stared at me in disbelief, then threw his hands up in exasperation as he grabbed one of his pillows and threw it at me. It hit my face and fell in my lap where I held it for a second.

God.

What am I saying?

I'm so confused.

I laughed uneasily, then threw the pillow back at Zeke, who looked at me curiously as he caught it. I just got up and changed into a pair of navy sweats with a pale blue Harry Potter t-shirt I got for my birthday a few years back.

"How's your piercing?" Zeke asked suddenly. I blinked, then looked down at my navel. The studded snake stared up at me and I shrugged, pulling my shirt down as I walked over to the bed.

"It's fine. Kind of sore, but that's to be expected... Oh, I remembered what I wanted to ask you," I said as I sat down on the bed, tossing my blazer on the floor carelessly, "Do you know a guy named Asmodeus?"

I didn't get an answer right away and looked at Zeke curiously, blinking in surprise to see him staring at the ceiling with wide eyes. I couldn't quite read his expression, just that the question alarmed him. He sat up and stared at me in silence for a second and I squirmed under his gaze.

"What?" I asked uneasily.

"Where did you hear that name?" He demanded. sounding borderline pissed. I stared at him, surprised.

"What? Is he bad?" I asked, perplexed. Zeke stared at me intensely, making me go still on the bed.

"Where did you hear that name?" He repeated each word with emphasis and I suddenly felt nervous.

"Why? You're freaking me out, Zeke. I just saw his name somewhere at the old wing, that's all." I lied, surprising myself. Why was I lying to Zeke? Why did it matter if he knew or not? It's not that big a secret, was it? Whatever it was, it made Zeke frown and sit back on the bed.

"That's weird."

"Why? Zeke, come on, tell me!" I pleaded. Zeke frowned, glancing at me for a second, then sighed as he folded his arms over his chest, leaning against the wall near his bed.

"Matty, Asmodeus is a demon." He stated. I blinked and looked at him, confused.

"A demon? Like, Satanism?" I asked. Zeke nodded and sat up now, looking at me seriously now.

"Asmodeus is like Satan's right hand man. He's also called the Demon of Pleasure. He's what you call an incubus. He thrives on sucking the pleasure and energy from his victims. He's very possessive too. Once he has captured a victim, he doesn't let him go. He's a real smooth talker too." He explained calmly. I stared at him.

"You act like he's real." I said. Zeke stared at me, then looked away.

"Asmodeus is extremely crafty and manipulative. He controls at least 72 legions of spirits in Hell. He can only be summoned in the light of the full moon and he requires the blood of a virgin, so it's nearly impossible to summon him." He explained. I raised an eyebrow.

"Right, so I just cut my finger open during a full moon and I'm supposed to expect a beefy sex god to appear in my room. Hilarious." I drawled sarcastically. Zeke scowled.

"Matty, this is serious. Satanism isn't something you should dabble in. It's dangerous. Just stick to the word of--"

"Oh, stop," I snapped suddenly, surprising myself by the surge of anger at his sudden switch to religion, "I was just curious. I don't want a damn lecture on why I should follow the word of God. Why should I listen to someone who doesn't even show himself?"

"God shows himself in different ways, Matty."

"Yeah, and I'm Jesus. Look, Zeke, I didn't think you were that into this whole thing. If you're gonna lecture--"

"I'm not," Zeke cut in sharply, frowning at me, "I'm just repeating what I hear. Fine, don't believe in anything, but don't delve into things you don't understand either. Once you devote yourself, you can't rip yourself away. Trust me."

"What? You a Satanist or something?" I demanded. Zeke rolled his eyes and shook his head, turning his back to me as he reached out, turning the lamp off and plunging us into darkness. I scowled and flopped down on my bed, just laying there and staring up at the ceiling.

Great.

Now Zeke was mad.

I wasn't serious about all of that. Why did he have to get serious on me when it came to things like that? It was ridiculous. Besides, I was turning nineteen in a couple months. I didn't have time to worry about devoting myself to a religion. I was trying to figure out more important things.

What was I gonna do after high school?

How I was even gonna pass high school with my grades?

Would my family let me come home after?

Where was I gonna go? What was I gonna do? How was I going to get a job? Would I have to stay here for the rest of my life?

I groaned and pressed the heels of my palms against my eyes before taking a deep breath, rolling over in my bed. I waited and listened until I heard Zeke's steady, quiet snoring before I reached under my bed and took out the creepy notebook.

I opened it on my pillow, right under a beam of moonlight from outside. The moonlight stretched across the first man's face. The unknown man that just seemed really intelligent and calm. I studied the smoothly etched planes of his face for a while, then slipped through the rest of the notebook, pausing at one of the entries.

My eyes drifted across the sketchy old handwriting before my eyes landed on a word that I definitely recognized amongst the gibberish of Latin.

Lucifer.

I shifted uncomfortably and quickly turned the page. So this book did belong to some psycho Satanist. Probably a relative of Jeffery Dahmer, I thought in disgust. A sick Satanist sex fiend. I smirked at the thought, then turned the page and my smirk vanished.

I was staring at that creepy Asmodeus guy.

He just stared out of the page with that crooked smirk of his, his dark eyes slightly narrowed in a suggestive manner. I felt my cheeks grow hot and I literally had to force myself to change the page. Underneath Asmodeus' picture was a message, in English! Finally!

He's coming. Asmodeus told me. He says the Angel of Purity will soon arrive at St. Salvatore's. I should hope so. With this final piece to the game, We will become invincible. The Archs will have no way to...

The rest of the message was smudged. I blinked, then scrunched up my nose with a smirk as I rolled my eyes. Jeez, these people were crazy. I bet this kid was sent off to the psyche ward in the next town over.

I kept flipping through the notebook, trying to decipher the Latin, but it was pointless, so I finally shut the book and stuck it under my bed. I was about to roll over on my back when I felt a cool gust of air coming from the door. I went very still for a second, listening to the whoooish sound coming from the hallway. I quickly looked over at Zeke, but he was still fast asleep.

I hesitantly lifted myself out of bed, goose bumps rising on my skin as the cool air seemed to wrap around me, dragging me to the door. I pressed my ear against it, hearing this strange whooish sound. Now that I thought about it, it sounded like breathing. Deep, long, gentle breathes of cold air.

I stood on my toes and peered through the peephole.

Biggest mistake of my entire life.

Every muscle in my body went taut, blood froze in my veins and a scream lodged in my throat.

On the other side of the door was Death.

A skeleton with flesh dripping from the skull like some fucked up horror movie or monster from Pirates of the Caribbean. The flesh was rotting and decayed, its teeth grinding together as a pair of dark, black sockets stared at me. It had a strange, pale bluish aura layer that glowed on its rotting self.

I finally managed to step away and my scream came out like a rush of air at first. My whole body was trembling and I felt like I couldn't move. Finally, my scream let loose and echoed in my ears as I squeezed my eyes shut.

"Jesus Christ," Zeke shot up in bed, throwing his blankets back like he was going to yell at me, until he caught the horrified look on my face, "Matty? Matty, what the hell? What's going on?" He scrambled out of bed, coming up to me and touching my shoulder. I jumped and started stuttering, gasping for breath.

"O-On t-the other side of the f-fucking door! H-He's dead! He has no eyes!" I gasped, my hand shaking when I tried to gesture to the door, but my body felt stiff with fear. Zeke stared at me in disbelief, then rose to his feet and peered through the peephole.

Judging from his reaction, he didn't see what I saw.

That only scared me more.

What's going on? Am I going insane? Was being locked up here for so long finally pushing me over the edge? Why wasn't he seeing what I saw? Why was I seeing any of this? First it was at the window this afternoon, then it was in the old wing in that classroom, now here it was. The flash that kept darting out the corner of my eye.

Zeke finally backed away and crouched in front of me, looking at me in confusion and concern.

"Matty, what did you see?" He asked. I stiffened.

"I-I'm not crazy! I saw something! It's been following me all day! B-But this is the first time I've actually seen the whole thing! I-It looked like a body! A corpse! A skeleton! Something! O-One of those! It had no eyes or skin on its face, it was just staring at me without eyes! I could hear it breathing, how is that possible? It's dead, that doesn't make any sense. Zeke, I don't know what's happening." I managed at last, feeling tears burn the back of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
I'd already done enough to embarrass myself and crying would just stomp out the rest of my dignity.

Zeke grimaced, then caught me off guard by wrapping his arms around me tightly, holding me against his chest as he rested his head on top of mine.

"Calm down. Just close your eyes and take deep breathes." He murmured soothingly. I didn't understand at first. I felt like he was treating me like a crazy person until I felt his hand sweep up and down my back in a gentle manner. I finally obeyed, sucking in deep, shaky breathes.

We sat like that on the floor for a long time, just listening to my breathes as they evened out. I think I finally fell asleep like that, listening to Zeke's heart thumping in my ear and my breathing.

I woke up some hours later to sunlight streaming across my face as I lay in bed. I blinked a few times, staring up at the ceiling before everything from last night came flooding back.

I shot upright in bed and looked over at Zeke's bed, but it was empty. I was going to panic until I heard the shower running, then relaxed, but just slightly. I quickly got up and checked under my bed for the notebook, which still lay there in silence, waiting to be opened. I sighed in relief, then looked up as Zeke came out, wearing a navy Spider Man shirt and black jeans.

"Let's get to breakfast before all the good food is taken." He said, as if nothing had happened last night. I blinked, then nodded slowly and got up, brushing past him to get to the shower.

The entire time, my mind was wired.

Something was standing outside my door last night.

It was dead. It looked like a fucking zombie standing there, but zombies didn't glow, did they? I shifted uneasily under the warm water, letting it roll down my face as I pondered.

A ghost, I decided. It was some creepy spirit. Ghosts weren't supposed to exist, though, I thought nervously. They were just supposed to be bad special effects like in Poltergeist. At the same time, I couldn't deny what I saw. The terrifying part was that it seemed to know I was watching it.

It just stared up at the peephole, its teeth sliding together like they were grinding. It was breathing too, the whoooish whistling past its teeth and jaws, its decaying ribcage. I shuddered.

I wasn't so hungry anymore.

I finally finished my shower and stepped out, drying off and dressing in a pair of jeans and a loose St. Salvatore sweatshirt before I came out to see Zeke standing in front of the dresser, staring out the window before he looked up.

"About time. You take as long as a woman."

"Do not!"

"Do to. Come on, Dustin's waiting outside." Zeke gestured for me to follow and my legs moved on their own as I followed him out the door. We locked the room and took our time going down the hallway as other guys rushed past us to make it to breakfast before everyone else. We went down the spiral staircase and to the main lobby where Dustin was sitting in one of the Victorian style seats, dressed in a pair of torn jeans, a striped t-shirt over a long-sleeved purple one to match the beanie on his head.

"Anyone else think we should be able to sleep in until noon?" Dustin asked with a yawn, rising to his feet to follow us outside.

"I agree to that." Zeke responded. I didn't say anything. I didn't trust myself to say something that wasn't stupid. Neither of them seemed to notice and just walked ahead of me, talking about nerdy card games and piercings. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise and snapped my head to see Stephen coming up beside me, smiling. He looked pretty good in snug jeans and a blue button up shirt to match.

"Morning, Matty. What's up? You look a little pale." He commented, cocking his head at me in concern. I saw Dustin snort and Zeke roll his eyes as they walked further ahead to avoid Stephen. I scowled, then looked at Stephen uneasily.

"Just... a really creepy nightmare." I admitted. Maybe that's what it was, I realized.

Maybe last night was just a nightmare. Zeke didn't act like it ever happened.

I suddenly felt so much better. I wasn't going insane or seeing the dead.

It was just a freakish nightmare I had because of the experience at the old wing. I didn't mention that last part to Stephen as I explained the nightmare to him. Something flickered in his eyes before he nodded, looking away.

"Well, that is a scary dream. I can't tell what's scarier. The ghost or Zeke." He added with a smirk. I elbowed him, laughing at his comment.

"Hey, come on. Zeke was actually nice to me in my dream."

"That's why we call it a dream. None of its real." Stephen reminded me. I sighed, then let my eyes drift to Zeke and Dustin that were far ahead of us, already reaching the doors at the end of the wall-less corridor that led into the cafeteria.

"Zeke has his moments." I said, remembering the way he saved me from getting crushed to death.

"I would suppose he did," Stephen drawled, obviously not believing me, but agreeing out of courtesy, "So, anyway, are you busy today, Matt? I was hoping we could do something to fill up the time."

"Don't you have student council business?" I asked, perplexed. Stephen smiled.

"Not today. It's our day off. The full moon is a sacred thing." He added. I looked at him, confused.

"Full moon?" I asked. Stephen looked at me in surprise.

"Didn't you know? The full moon is tonight. It's a symbol of truth and revelation. It's believed that God is sitting on the moon, watching all his children on earth." He answered. I just forced myself to smile.

"Eh, that's cool, I guess. Explains the whole man on the moon face, I guess."

"Exactly. Anyway, I have nothing to do, despite. Akira is studying for a Calculus exam. Daniel is with Jason, doing whatever they wish to do in private. I'm on my own." Stephen sounded like he was sulking. I smirked.

"I suppose I can find some time in my busy schedule to pencil you in." I answered. Stephen grinned and ruffled my hair, making me groan and roll my eyes.

"Why does everyone do that?"

"Your hair is just really soft."

"That's not my fault."

"No. Ya know, sometimes, I swear you're an angel." Stephen said, catching me off guard. I blinked and looked at him.

"I thought angels were pure and good." I replied flatly. Stephen's eyes danced with amusement as he smiled at me, lifting a brow.

"Are you pouting?"

"I'm not pouting."

"You're pouting," Stephen laughed, making me scowl, "Yes, Angels are pure and goodness, but all things good have a tendency to stray because of curiosity. It leads them to the more dark and corrupted parts of the world. Take Lucifer, for example. He was curious. He wanted to see if there was more. He wanted to make more. Unfortunately, not everyone saw his views. He was once an Archangel. Powerful and respected until he defied the law of God. This led to Michael thwarting him and sending him to Hell."

"Well, that's stupid. That's like me hating on Zeke because he's a jerk 99.9% of the time." I snorted indigenously. Stephen smiled.

"Life is unfair, especially when it comes to the gods. If you think Christianity is unfair, wait until you hear about Greek Mythology."

"Oh, don't get me started on that. I already know Zeus was a horny freak, running around and screwing women like the whole world was his personal brothel." I retorted. Stephen laughed as we got in line for breakfast.

"Yes, that's true. Did you also know that Zeus wasn't picky about his partners? He's also done it with men as well." He pointed out. I felt my cheeks flushed as I scowled.

"Of course he did."

"It's true. Ganymede. The legend says that Ganymede was the most handsome of his brothers, so gorgeous that one day, Zeus looked upon the glory of him and immediately fell in love with him. He came down as an eagle and took Ganymede away, laying down with him and declaring him the cup bearer so that he could forever stay on Mount Olympus with him." Stephen explained as I grabbed my tray. I snorted.

"I rather die than have a god do that to me." I responded in disgust. Stephen's eyes twinkled again as if I had said something truly interesting.

"Why would you say that? Ganymede was forever loved by the gods, except Hera, but Hera hated anyone who grabbed her husband's attention. Ganymede was granted immortality and riches, as well as the love of the King of the Gods. Wouldn't that be worth it?" He asked. I scowled as I grabbed a bagel and cereal.

"Still not worth it. You couldn't pay me enough to have a guy screw me." I retorted. Stephen laughed.

"I didn't know you were homophobic."

"I'm not! I just-- I'm not gay."

"Oh, that's just a label, isn't it? That's like saying because you're American, you're fat and stupid." Stephen pointed out. I paused, letting that sink in before I scrunched my nose up and shrugged, heading to the table with Stephen right beside me.

Zeke looked up and rolled his eyes when he saw Stephen, but said nothing, surprisingly. I sat between him and Stephen with Dustin across from us, a spoon balancing on his nose.

"So, I was thinking we play some cards. Who's up for poker?" Dustin asked, still watching the spoon on his nose with crossed eyes. I smirked, then shrugged him off.

"Hanging out with Stephen today. Count me out." I said. Stephen smiled triumphantly as if he'd done something wonderful. Zeke stiffened for a moment, then huffed.

"We'll all hang out." He declared suddenly. I stared at him, almost choking on air.

"Seriously?" I asked in surprise. Zeke nodded confidently, casting Stephen this strange look that I couldn't pinpoint. Maybe challenge?

"Yea, why not? Dustin and I aren't doing anything today." He responded casually, folding his arms and resting them on the table. Dustin pouted behind his spoon that clattered to the table two seconds later. He sighed, picking it up and popping it into his mouth.

"So long as you girls don't get into a cat fight, I'm down with anything. What did you have in mind anyway?" He asked, looking at Stephen carelessly. I sighed, rubbing my temples as Stephen smiled.

"I was thinking we go to the pool for a swim." He responded calmly.

"We can't use the pool on the weekends, though." I reminded, but Stephen smiled wider and gave his head a little shake, tapping his chest.

"I'm the vice-president of the student council. I have ways." He answered. Dustin, Zeke, and I shared looks, then shrugged.

Why not?

What could possibly go wrong?