Page 22 of Prayer of the Damned

“So that’s why you—” she pauses. I don’t need to be a mind-reader to know she meant to ask if that’s why I look like this.

“Yeah, I’m not exactly a demon. The overdose did something to my body, you could say I’m waiting for their effect to wear off so I can complete the transformation.”

“So what does that mean? You’re vulnerable around demons who’ve already completed their change?”

“Something like that.” I decide not to tell her anything about my impervious body. It seems like every time the subject comesup, the demons around me insist on trying to wound me. My skin may be impenetrable, but it still hurts like hell.

Valentina gets off the bed, determinedly places her hands on her hips, and confidently declares, “Well, don’t worry about it, girl, that’s what I’m here for! I promise you, no one will mess with a Bandini!”

I burst out laughing and fall back onto my bed. Valentina joins me, lying at my side, and we giggle together. Maybe I’ve found a friend after all. My first best friend. “So why did you do it?” Her voice suddenly gets a little too serious for the light atmosphere.

“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. I mean, in the moment it seemed like Ihadknown, but in hindsight, having had my whole life turned upside-down, I can’t answer her question.

“I understand…” she weakly comments.

“Really?” I rise up on my elbows and look at her.

“Yeah, I know what it’s like to feel like life is too big for you. We’re just eighteen, and our dads expect us to conquer the whole world. Considering the lifetimes of experience they have on us, that’s a little unrealistic. Too much pressure. It’s a recipe for disaster.”

“Yes, exactly that. What you said.” She’s managed to express what seemed so complicated to me. I give her a long glance and smile at her. Her smile is amazing. I might’ve fallen in love with her a bit just now. She really is amazing.

I look at the bed we’re lying in, and a thought occurs to me. “Say, if we don’t sleep, why do we need a bed?”

“For the full college experience, I guess.” The side of her mouth curves and it takes me a second too long to understand what she means. She bursts out laughing. “Don’t tell me you’re a virgin!” She bounces on the bed excitedly.

“Will you keep it down? I think the whole campus heard you!” I punch her in the shoulder and she fakes being in pain, dropping back down on the bed.

“We’re going to fix that tonight, sister! Prepare yourself!” She groans dramatically, excessively. I cover her face with a pillow and try to stifle her, and she punches the pillow with her fists.

I’m startled when she stops moving, and remove the pillow from her face.

She lies there still, and I start panicking and jostling her body, calling her name over and over. She opens her eyes and shouts “Boo!”

I gasp, and fall onto my back. “What the hell is wrong with you?!”

“You thought I was dead?” she bursts out laughing. “Sorry to say, hon, I’m here for the long run!” She smacks the pillow in my face and I hiss out a curse. She gets to her feet and puts her hands on her hips. “Come on, we’ve got a major oversight to correct!”

“What are you talking about?” I ask her.

“There’s a mixer tonight in the main hall!” she says with an excitement I don’t share. The first and last time I was at a party with people my age left a bitter taste in my mouth. Valentina doesn’t notice my concern and continues, “We’re going to get you a hot demon to liberate you from your virginity, because there’s no way I’ll be friends with a prude.” She contorts her face. “Wait, you’re not one of those sentimental girls saving themselves for ‘Mr. Right’ or something, right?”

“I’m not a prude!” I feel the need to defend myself. “I just… haven’t had the opportunity, that’s all.”

“So come on, we’ve got a lot of work to do if you want a demon with an impressive cock to get into those granny panties of yours!” she shouts, pulling my white cotton underwear until I’m sure they’re about to tear.

“Cut it out!” I shriek. I can’t believe eighteen-year-olds still go for atomic wedgies. I thought I’d gotten out of that in kindergarten. She’s unreal, this Valentina, but I’ve just fallen for her a bit more.

She allows me to feel normal.

Chapter Eight

Bellcolor

Valentina is true to her word, and does an exceptional job. She picks one of the designer dresses Betty packed for me, a white summer dress Valentina says ‘keeps my innocence’, but is still hot enough to invite entry into my panties. Her choice of words, not mine.

I let my hair hang loose and Valentina curls its edges, adding a hairpin made of real diamonds that will draw demons with the right ‘status’. To emphasize my own status, she chooses a matching set of earrings and a delicate diamond necklace. Completing the summer look, I put on flat, gold-colored open-toe sandals.

Valentina, on the other hand, is ‘going for broke’. She’s wearing leather pants that cling to her like a second skin, perfectly emphasizing her curves, and a black collared shirt with an open back. She’s got high heels on, again making me look more like her little sister than her peer. Her make-up is carefully done, and she’s all glamour and power, as befits a mafiaprincess. I skip heavy makeup so as not to draw attention to the pigmentation in my eyes.

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