The colorful lights that sparkled and flickered around the club's walls and floor simmered out when a blinding white light illuminated the dancefloor.
The humidity in the air was like a hazy fog, only visible when the white light flickered three times. The ceiling lights slowly brightened. Once the noise settled, and everyone's attention was directed to the small turntable along the back wall, the DJ announced last call at the bar, earning a loud groan from everyone on the dance floor.
Riarshi, wet with sweat, wiped his brow and straightened his shirt. He hadn't realized how long he had been dancing. Even though his moves were anything but rhythmic or skillful, he never knew how much fun it could be to let loose, not caring what anyone else said or thought.
The steady buzz from another rum and cola also helped break down that hard-standing social wall. He glanced at his phone, almost dropping it once the time glared up at him from the screen.
Jeez, it's two in the morning!
He had just danced and drank for roughly three hours straight and never even bothered to check the clock. The blush on his cheeks, a deep crimson red, was more from moving his body since his buzz had burned off an hour ago.
Now where the hell are Tabito and Hara?
He lost his friends after about thirty minutes on the dance floor and hadn't seen them since. He grooved with Tabito to a couple songs, but then Tabito ran off when he spotted a group of old high school classmates.
Riarshi had preferred to not be introduced.
Hara had come up to the floor as well, but immediately disappeared into the crowd.
With the club gradually filing out the front door, Riarshi's head spun around in search of his classmates. At that moment, with random shoulders bumping into him from various directions, he felt like a sailor lost in the ocean without the ability to use water magic.
But this was not the worst of it.
A fear ten million times worse spread throughout Riarshi's body when he heard someone call out to him. Each word was sloppily slurred. "Hey-sh, it you, Riars-shi!"
Oh dear gods, no...
The second Riarshi turned to the voice, a bundle of midnight-black hair smacked him across the face. The sweet scent of apples, spring flowers, and vanilla punched him straight in the nose like a heavy fist as the wave of hair fell along a short girl's shoulders. The girl buried her deeply blushed face into his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist.
She held onto him. The girl giggled and snorted at Riarshi's bare chest, rubbing her sweat-covered forehead on his shirt. Her nose twitched in the air.
"He-he, you sh-mell so good, Riars-shi!" slurred Hara.
Riarshi's mind went completely blank. His brain froze, astonished beyond comprehension. Unconsciously, his arms moved on instinct to hold Hara by her shoulders, preventing her dead weight from crashing onto the wooden floor. One of her heels fell off.
After a few speechless moments, his brain kicked in again. Shit, shit, what do I do? She's completely plastered.
A thunderous laugh echoed throughout the empty club. Big Joe stomped his way over to Riarshi, carrying a limp Tabito over his shoulder like a sack of flour.
The orange-haired teen hiccuped, lifted his head, smiled widely, then slurred, spitting a bit, "Hey-sh, it you, Riars-shi!"
They're both completely plastered...
YOU ARE READING
The Divine Demon - Book 1: A New Beginning
FantasyEven in the darkest of times, one can still find light. They just have to look at the stars. Humans have been blessed by the Divines. For centuries, civilization has flourished, and mankind has rapidly progressed with the use of innate magical power...
