Page 27 of Oracles Always Win

Sally, who was still perched on her regular bar stool, waggled her finger at him. “Jeremy, you know better than to ask things like that.”

Jeremycast big puppy dog eyes at her, the picture of innocence. “I’mdoing research.Youknow, for my book.Myparanormalromance…”Hespoke deliberately and nodded his head in an exaggerated way, as if trying to get her to agree.Shenarrowed her eyes.

Whatwas up with tonight?Wasthere a full moon?Tiredof the weird tensions in the bar and not wantingJeremyandSallyto get into it next,Idecided to just humor him.

Ishrugged. “Idon’t know much about demons.”

“Well, you know about the stereotypical demon, right?Alldark and brooding with a propensity to scowl.”Hewas looking atGage’stable as he spoke, raising his voice a little as he said that last bit.

Wasthat some kind of inside joke between friends?Theguys at the table must have heard him because they all turned to look our way.Gage’seyes found mine.Itwas almost like he wanted to hear my answer, which was silly because it was such a fantastical question, right up there with asking if the moon was made of cheese.

“Mymom kept all that stuff away from me whenIwas growing up.Ididn’t learn about things like that untilIenrolled in art classes, and by that timeIhad a lot of other things to think about.Ionly really know what we talked about in my art history class.”

Jeremy’smouth dropped open.Heset the full pint on the bar counter and turned to me.Iwas pouring a round of shooters for the guys at the pool table. “Anyof that being…?”

“Idon’t know.Paranormalstuff.Mythology.Religion.Mymother considered it all unacceptable.Theonly timeIbrought a book about magic home from the library, my mom freaked.Itwas easier just to stick to stuff that didn’t bother her.”

“What?”Hisquestion came out more like a screech.Hiseyes bulged in disbelief.

“You…Youmean you’ve never seenWilloworLadyhawkeorHocusPocus?Younever readInkheartorTheChroniclesofPrydainor… or…?”Hismouth kept opening and closing like he could go on and on and on.

Ishook my head. “Nope.Idon’t thinkImissed out on anything.Thereare a lot of books and movies that have nothing to do with magic.Iwatched a few things whenIlived away from home for a bit, and again whenImoved toWillowLake, but…”Ishrugged. “Idon’t think it’s really my thing.”

“Hedoesn’t think he missed out on anything.Hedoesn’t think it’s his thing,”Jeremymuttered like he couldn’t believeI’dsaid such things.Hewaited untilIset the bottle of tequila on the counter, then he lunged for me, pulling me into an embrace. “I’llhelp you.Ipromise.”

Ashe hugged me tight, a strange tingling sensation pulsed along my skin whereverJeremy’sskin met mine.Ididn’t know what it was, but it felt… good.Thesensation seemed to sink into me.Alightness filled me as an intense feeling of happiness flowed through me.

WasIso touch starved that a hug from an acquaintance would have such an impact on me?

Iblinked away tears.That’swhenInoticed an unusual white light pulsing around us.Italmost appeared to be coming fromJeremy.Shit.Icouldn’t have another hallucination now.Ihad a bar full of people to take care of.Isnapped my eyes closed and pretended everything was normal.Ipatted his back awkwardly until he released me, thenIpointedly ignored the unnatural glow.

Jeremysucked in a deep breath, then bounced around a bit like he was prepping for a boxing match. “We’llget you through this.”

“I’mfine.”Ilaughed and nudged him back to the beer taps. “Justpull some more pints.”

Thenhe glanced down at his hands, which still had that freaky white glow to them.

Myhallucination was incredibly vivid.

Exceptthe last time you thought you were hallucinating, you weren’t…the stupid voice inside my head pointed out.

Peopledon’t glow, so fuck off.Great.NowIwas arguing with the voice in my head.

Ikept my face as neutral asIcould.

“Holyfuck!”Jeremysquealed and flapped his freaky hands. “Doyou see this?”

“Seewhat?”

“I’llbe right back,”Jeremyshouted at me as he shot out around the counter and headed forGage’stable. “Adrian!Look!”

Jeremy’sboyfriend jumped up from his seat and closed the distance between them.Judgingby the look on the guy’s face,I’dswear he was ready to murder someone.ButthenJeremyshook his still glowing hands at him, and the man’s face changed.Helooked… proud?Adrianpicked upJeremyand swung him around in a circle.Theywere laughing and carrying on likeJeremyhad just achieved something spectacular.

Ihad no idea what was going on.

“Youokay,Jakedear?”Sallyasked.

Itore my gaze fromAdrianandJeremyto findSallystaring at me.Shewasn’t the only one.Atleast half the pub was eyeballing me. “Ofcourse.Whywouldn’tIbe?”