Page 122 of My Roommate from Hell
“This is the best part,” says Zarmenus, who is giddy like a kid at Christmas. After the attack, he’s remained in his true demon form. It’s obviously been noticeable, but I haven’t asked him about it. I’m happy for him, though. He should be able to be himself, if that’s what he wants.
“One of the hardest things for a man to do is admit when he is wrong,” says the leader. The video is a live stream filmed in a crowded church. “And I am here to humbly admit that I was wrong about demons and the threat that they pose. Thus, I have decided to disband the order, and encourage all of my followers to reconsider their stance.”
“I don’t understand,” I say. “Not that I’m not happy about this, but how do we know this isn’t some trick?”
“Because,” he says as he takes his phone back. “My mom appeared to him last night, in his dreams. She actually appeared to everyonewho has even been thinking about joining the order. She made it very clear that they crossed a line attacking me, and if the church doesn’t disband, she will show them just how terrifying she can be. Which is pretty terrifying. You’ve met her, you know.”
I pick at my fingernail. As happy as I would be if the Order of the Golden Sun truly was no more, something isn’t sitting right with me about this. It seems too easy, like we’re being set up for a fall.
“Why didn’t she do this before?” I ask.
“Apparently they were actually helpful in human-demon relations. Having anti-demon rhetoric most associated with a group of online fanatics was a good thing. But anyway, did you see that Adam got expelled? His father is apparently furious.”
I can’t help smiling. He did threaten me, after all.
“So it’s really over?” I ask.
“Seems so,” says Zarmenus. “We’re quite the team, huh? Ever think you’d help take down a cult?”
“Oh, yeah, that’s a totally normal thing to do your first semester of college.”
He laughs. He puts his arms behind his head, stretching. “Have you noticed I haven’t changed back?”
“Wait, really? You’re telling me you don’t always have horns?”
“I hate you.”
I chew my lip. Jokes aside, I can tell this means a lot to him. “Want to talk about it?”
“Yeah. I’ve been thinking about what you said in the car. I’m the prophesied one. Not my parents, not any of their advisors. Me. And my gut tells me I should show who I really am.”
“For sure.”
“Plus, it helps knowing you like how I look in this form.”
I remember him kissing me on the cheek in the middle of the attack. In some ways, I liked it more than our make-out, because it was so casual. It implied a closeness, a familiarity I know isn’t real.
It felt as if we really have been boyfriends all this time.
“You do like me when I’m like this, right?” he says, his tone still joking.
I know he’s fishing, so I give him a glare.
“You’re hideous.”
Twelve days.
That’s how long until the dance where Zarmenus and I are going to break up.
In some ways, this semester feels like it’s lasted a lifetime. I’m a completely different person from the guy I was when I got here. I’ve learned to not stress so much about every little thing, and to only apply that energy when it’s actually helpful.
I’ve gotten excellent grades, made a bunch of friends, and fallen in love with Point. I’d say it’s gone about as well as a first semester could possibly go. It’s been difficult at times, sure, and the schoolwork has been a lot of work, but ultimately it’s been fun.
I’m not ready for it to be over.
This is obviously coming from the fact that Zarmenus is leaving. Twelve days. That’s all we have left. Even though a lot of the pieces will still be in place next semester, Zarmenus won’t be. He’ll be back in Hell.
And then what? Will we see each other ever again?
