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The smell hits the moment the door of the locker room swings open.

“Jesus Christ, what is that?” Hunter says, pushing in behind me. Arianette, like she promised, sticks to our side like glue.

Whatever it is, it takes over the basic locker room scent of sweat and balls, and seems to come from a crumpled mass on the floor. There’s a chaser bent over him, her dark hair straight as a sheet. I’ve met her before–fooled around with her actually, at some of the parties during rush. If I remember right, her name is Bronwyn. She shifts and that’s when I see it.Him. Fucking Mateo.

“Nnuughh,” he moans, completely naked with the side of his face pressed against the tile floor. Carson tosses a wad of paper towels over the offending smell–vomit.

“What the hell happened to him?” Hunter asks, looking down at his writhing form. He gags, dry heaving at this point.

“I don’t know,” Bronwyn says, standing up. Her halter top is mesh and lace, cleverly placed black velvet flowers cover her nipples. The rest is see-through, giving more of a hint of her round tits. Her skin is so pale I wouldn’t be surprised to learn she is a vampire. “We were in here getting ready for the match when he just started getting sick.”

“Oohhwwnnn.” Mateo’s arms wrap around his body as a shiver of chills set in. “I think I’m dying.”

Arianette pushes past me. “His tongue is black. Eyes possessed, dilated.” She bends, pressing her black painted fingertips to his sweaty forehead. “He swallowed a demon.”

Bronwyn lifts a dark eyebrow at the Baroness.

“For fuck’s sake, sister, not now,” Hunter grunts, but Mateo looks up at her and sure as fuck, his pupils are blown wide.

“Did you eat something?” I ask.

“No,” he promises vehemently. “Well…”

A spasm rocks him, shuddering down his limbs like he’s been electrocuted.

“Well what?” Hunter asks.

“Yes,” he flips his answer. “Yes, I did eat something. Kind of.”

“Jesus, Mateo,” Carson rolls his eyes. “What the hell does that mean?”

“I took some ‘shrooms a couple hours ago.” He flops on his back, flaccid dick rolling against his inner thigh. “I wanted clarity going into the fight.”

“Dude, you’re not dying,” Rob snorts, “you’re trippin’ balls.”

“The demon,” Arianette whispers, eyes fixed on Mateo, “it’s trying to come out.”

“Baroness!” Mateo lifts his chin and squints at Arianette. “Looking sexy in those shorts.” He licks his bottom lip. “Wanna let me tug on one of those strings?”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Hunter declares, stepping between Arianette and Mateo’s wandering eyes. Me? Well, I’m about to fucking snap.

“You’re fucking with us, right?” I ask, looking at my new frat brothers. “Is this some kind of initiation prank? A first Fury punking?”

Their silence tells me everything I need to know. We’re screwed.

“Who gave them to you?” Carson asks.

“This chick down on the Avenue.”

“You took drugs from a random chick? Are you a fucking moron?” I ask. Again, I’m met with the quiet that confirms, yes, Mateo is a moron. “Well, it’s obvious he can’t go in the ring like that.”

All eyes shift to me and Hunter.

“Why are you looking at us like that?” Hunter asks, crossing his arms over his chest.

“We know this is new for you, and we were trying to give you a little time before you dove right into intra-frat activities, but one of you is going to have to go in,” Carson says. “Otherwise, you’ll look like a bunch of gaping pussies.”

“Fuuuck,” I thrust my hand in my hair.