Page 17 of A Beginner's Guide to Demonic Possessions
“That’s not coffee—that’s dessert,” Paz murmured.
Trent didn’t think Paz could be heard over the sound of the coffee grinder, but the guy behind the counter looked up and stared at them. He was kinda cute, and Trent vaguely remembered him from stopping in before.
And get one of their pastries. They’re divine. Or a muffin. They’re probably sort of healthy, Trent added in.
“I suppose since I got you up this early you deserve a treat,” Paz sighed.
Trent was about to respond with something snarky, but he got distracted by the guy behind the counter. He kept looking at them, and he looked… Trent didn’t know. It wasn’t a flirty look, that was for sure.
Hey, is it just me or is the guy behind the counter staring at us like we’re about to rob the place?Trent asked.
“Hmmm, maybe. Ok, mom, I’ll see you in a few minutes,” Paz responded, and then he hit a button on his phone and took out his earbud.
I guess you’re trying to show him the talking on the phone thing. Only now you can’t answer me without looking even more suspicious. Although maybe he was just giving us the stink eye for talking on the phone in the shop,Trent mused.
Their turn came up in line, and Paz ordered his frappe (Trent might have squealed with delight at that) and a blueberry muffin. The guy started mixing the drink and went over to get the muffin, then Paz pulled out his wallet for his credit card. When they looked up the guy wasn’t behind the counter anymore.
Paz turned around to see the counter guy flick the lock on the door and stalk towards them.
What the fuck, Paz? What’s he doing? Don’t let me get mugged!Trent yelled, realizing belatedly that getting mugged by a coffee shop employee was probably not very likely.
“Uh… Is everything alright?” Paz asked.
The guy muttered something that sounded like “Everyone out,” but the shop was already empty. Then he just kept coming towards them. Paz put his hands out in front of him, probably to protect his personal space, but the guy just grabbed onto one wrist and mumbled something.
Then Trent had literally the strangest feeling of his entire existence, even stranger than realizing he wasn’t in control of hisown body. It felt like something… tore. It didn’t hurt, not really, but it wasreallyuncomfortable.
Then he sort of moved, and he was staring at the guy from a different angle. He looked at the guy, who was frowning, but not at him—-he was looking off to the side, which was when Trent looked over too, and saw… his body?
What. The. Fuck.
“What did you do?” Paz asked, and Trent definitely heard panic in his voice.
“Ah, well, that didn’t work like I intended,” the guy said, but he didn’t seem terribly worried about messing up whatever he had intended.
“What the fuck did you intend?” Trent asked, and he was surprised to hear his own voice. The guy looked over at him, but Paz didn’t. He then looked down at himself, and… fuck—was he a ghost? He was sort of see-through and not all there, but if he really thought about it, he could sort of feel himself, like he still had a body. It was weird as fuck.
“Well, I guess I accidentally separated you from your body. I’m Cassius, by the way. I meant to separate the demon from your body, and I’m not sure why you separated instead,” he mused.
“You did what?” Paz demanded. “Put him back! Right now!”
Cassius turned to stare at Paz. “He’s right here. Don’t worry; it’s easy enough to put him back.”
Paz seemed to calm a little at that, the panic leaving his face.
“Interesting,” Cassius mused.
“What the fuck is interesting?” Trent demanded. “And can he hear me?” Trent asked, pointing at Paz.
“No, he can’t hear you. You’re on the astral plane, and the demon can’t see or hear you, but I can,” Cassius told him. “You are…” he said, looking at Trent and waiting for a name.
“I’m Trent, and that’s Paz. And really, we just came in for some coffee and a muffin, not an exorcism, so maybe you can fix this, hmm?” Trent snarked. It was really too early to be on the astral plane or wherever the fuck he was.
“Well, you’re feisty, aren’t you,” Cassius said.
Paz chuckled at that. “Yes, my human is feisty. Now could you put him back please? We have plans for the day.”
Cassius looked at Paz then. “Interesting. You know, usually demonic possessions are not wanted, even when they’re called.”
