That got me a full grin. There ain’t a teen on the planet that can resist the pot-smoking adult. In his rebellious, confused brain, that made me the coolest thing since, well, the last dope smoker he met. It was just that way at that age. Luckily for most, it passes—unless you’re me.

His horns looked like pimples again. I had him. I knew the deal: I’d dug around witchcraft as a kid, too. I’d played with the Ouija board and levitated my pals on the tips of my fingers. All kids do it, but this kid went too far because he was tempted. Because some evil fuck gave him a taste of true power.

Suddenly the huge dark shape put its giant, shadowy hand on Billy’s shoulder and spoke. “This one is mine.”

I flicked my butt and lit another. “That doesn’t work for me.”

“Then you will die in here.”

I feigned fright and took a long drag. “Tell you what, let the pimple factory go. I’ll stay here and fight you. You win, you get me and can pretty much do whatever you want after that. Do we have a deal?”

The dark shape laughed.

“I asked you if we had a deal,” I added, padding the plan. “I know you’re a man who follows deals to the letter. You’re bound to them, aren’t you? You and me, in front of all your buddies, in plain sight. To the death.”

The shape laughed again and shoved Billy at me. The kid slammed hard against my body and looked up at me. He looked scared. I didn’t blame him. So was I.

“You stay here,” I told the kid, “If the hole opens, jump through it.”

Billy nodded, near tears. “Okay.”

“But you’re still in big fucking trouble.”

“I know.”

Billy stepped away as I looked up at the huge shape. He was about eight feet wide and just as tall, with arms the size of tree trunks and legs to match. He was all shadow, without features, but even through the darkness I could see the familiar horns and cloven feet. The shape was allowing me to see this. It was part of the illusion, but I didn’t give a shit. He was just another whining spirit to me, and I knew his weak spot.

The shape roared and came at me. I ducked sideways and transformed faster than I had before. This time it was for real. I went full-blown werewolf as my clothes shredded from my body. As the shape lunged I rolled and kneed him in the gut, sending him to the floor. The crowd gasped in unison.