He calls his girlfriend, Grace. An easy first target.

Justin took a quick shower, dried himself off, and got dressed. Things needed to look normal for him to do what had to be done next. Hell, he had to act normal if things were to proceed as planned. He picked up his cellphone and gave his girlfriend a call.

“Hey Gracie, what are you doing today babes?”

“Nothing much,” she said. “Dooooo you want me to come over?”

Grace’s voice was beautiful. She was always energetic and bubbly, and whenever she spoke, she invited people into her orbit.

“That’d be great, babe. It’s a little late, but do you want to come by after dinner? We can spend the night together and then figure out something to do tomorrow.”

“Ok Justin! I’ll be over in an hour then, ok?”

“Sounds good… Hey, I love you, Grace.”

She giggled. What an infectious giggle. It rose up and out of her from her very core, and it was impossible not to feel her joy.

“I love you too, Hartman. See you soon.”

With that, the line clicked dead.

Justin strolled downstairs and sunk into the recliner in the front room. All at once, reservations about what he was about to do weighed down upon him. Nausea rocked his body, and he just about doubled over where he sat.

His guilty conscience was working overtime, battering his mind with intrusive thoughts.

I’ve been dating Grace for 3 years now. I love her… She trusts me! A demoness waltzes into my life, brands me, and makes a bullshit promise about supernatural power, and my first sacrifice is going to be Grace?!?

Christ, I must be a real piece of-

The doorbell rang, yanking Justin free of his own headspace. He froze.

I must’ve been wracking my brain about this shit a lot longer than I thought I was.

The doorbell rang again.

“Baby! It’s drizzling outside! Come let me out of the rain!”

Justin walked over and unlocked the front door, where his girlfriend was standing in the doorway.

Grace was a cheerleader, but she certainly didn’t conform to any of the stereotypes.

She was on the shorter side, standing at just 5 feet tall, but she was confident in a way that made her seem larger than life. Her long, flowing locks of raven hair hung loosely over her shoulders, matted down from the rain. Her cloudy grey eyes reminded Justin of the storm she had just been caught up in.

His eyes wandered lower.

She usually dressed quite modestly, but tonight she came wearing only a robe. It outlined her figure tastefully, but anyone who saw her would still be able to tell she was a curvy woman. The neckline plunged, giving Justin just a glimpse of what was underneath. It seemed as though she came wearing a lacy black set that evening.

It was an incredible balancing act, really. Her cheerleading kept her fit and muscular, but she kept her feminine charms for Justin alone.

She’s fucking radiant. My beautiful girl.

Grace followed her boyfriend’s gaze and blushed deeply.

“I, uh… maybe I should’ve come dressed in something else? Are Paige and your mother home?”

Justin stammered, waving his hand.

“My mom is gone for a couple weeks on a work trip, and Paige is… Well, she’s not here now, anyway. Probably staying with a friend and smoking some pot right now, honestly.”

The worry drained from Grace’s face. She batted her eyelashes with another giggle.

“Well then… are you going to invite me in?”