Sorry, this is a weak chapter, but I wanted to get something posted to assure you all that I haven't forgotten or given up on this fic. But I'm getting lazy with all these new, fun Ral fics out there. I don't have to write em all anymore yay!

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I passed out again, after I managed to make that dumb screaming face (my pretty geometric design had apparently reset to Al's control glyph) bring me into Al's ridiculously lavish and modern bathroom, and after I got a griping Al out of my bed. I don't know what the hell they put in wine in the ever after, but I swear I'm a strict teetotaler for the rest of the time I'm stuck here.

When I finally woke again, I had a nasty headache but was otherwise recovered from my first taste of demon spirits. I felt gross though, and wanted to get cleaned up. My room didn't have its own bathroom, I'd been making use of Al's. But I'd never showered in his before. He had a Jacuzzi tub too, but I wasn't feeling ballsy enough to try that out. Yet.

It hadn't come up, but I was assuming Al had a way to know when I was in his damn bathroom. I couldn't imagine how the hell to "lock" that face glyph which got on my nerves more and more every time I had to use it. So I rushed through my shower, scrubbing ineffectively at the burnt amber smell I suspected I was getting too accustomed to and half the time terrified Al was going to come barging in to take a leak. But such are dangers of having a demon roommate. God, it had only been one day, and I'd gotten drunk, puked on myself, and had Al in my bed. How the hell was I going to survive the three months until the witches' conference? I knew I could always go back. The alien environment of the ever after always made me homesick. But running back to the church would solve nothing, and worse, I'd needlessly be risking Ivy and Jenks. I just wish I could talk with them, but of course, on top of having and ugly red sun, nasty coffee, and crazy demons, the ever after had no cell phone reception.

But maybe I could ask Al about a charm to talk with them…It worked with my summoning mirror, so why not? I wasn't sure if he'd go for it. But also, I didn't really want to ask him. I didn't really want to see his face after last morning or night or whatever. It was creepy and upsetting, sure, but my face also flushed with the memory of Al's strong arms wrapped around me, holding me tight against him. And that was a very bad thing to be thinking. Avoidance and repression seemed safest.

But as I also quickly discovered, if I didn't leave my room, sure I wouldn't have to deal with Al and the awkward aftermath of him seeing me naked and then waking up all cozy and safe in his arms, but I would be bored out of my fricking skull. I tried to read some of the Nancy Drew's I'd snatched back from Ivy, but apparently they're more interesting when you're eight. I gave in and opened up my snack bag, munched down a granola bar and half a peanut butter sandwich. I thought I'd be hungrier after not eating my dinner last night, but maybe the alcohol was still turning my stomach.

I was pacing about, looking for the third or fourth time at all the little details on my dresser and bed, putting away the few things I'd packed, and diddling around with my room interface trying to get rid of that dumb screaming face again. My interface assured me Al was still on the banned list. I had no idea how the hell he'd managed to get in anyway. Him and his "teacher's prerogative". So not fair.

I was about to slump back into bed and laze about for an unknown amount of sluggish time when my interface starting blinking it's friendly little blue light at me.

I had to catch myself and ease my hand away from the little gizmo that seemed to bring speech into the room. It was probably Al, and I very much did not want to talk to him, see him, or even think about him right now. Maybe I could tell him I still felt sick? It wasn't anywhere near Saturday, but I was sure he'd want to start playing school again, but maybe he'd let me play hooky longer if he thought there was a danger I'd puke all over him?

But as much as I'd like to deny it, curiosity won out over common sense, as it mostly does with me. I turned the dial and cringed, waiting for Al's pissed voice to fill my room like a theater with first-rate acoustics. I almost didn't notice the slight tug of ley line energy the interface tapped from me before my command went through. I hadn't noticed it before, but it made sense the demons would have more charmed stuff than high tech goodies. Their giant demon collective was nothing but a public curse after all.

"Rachel?" asked a voice, and it was fuzzy and sounded distant. And it certainly wasn't Al.

"Uh, yeah?" I asked, placing my hand back on the dial and jerking away suddenly when it pulled from me again, sudden enough to feel like a big static shock.

"You're breaking up, dear. Keep near the interface, feed it a small, but steady stream of power, that's it," the voice said over my interface. It did sound much clearer if I stayed in contact with the interface, and it didn't zap me anymore if I didn't sudden take its power source away either.

"Much better," the male voice I totally knew and seriously hoped wasn't really calling me said.

"Dali?" I asked, feeling unsure and worried and not pleased either way about it.

"Who else, Rachel? But then, since you've matured enough to move in with Al, I expect there will be nothing but growing interest in you. And then after showing off what a cheap date you are last evening, I wouldn't be surprised if your inbox was filled each day," Dali said pleasantly. Not only did it seem to be generally known I was here in the ever after, more or less permanently, but also that I get totally wasted off half a glass of demon wine. I wanted to smack my head against the wall.

"What do you want?" I asked, not even trying to be polite. Dali creeped me out, not as much as Newt, but still. And I think he used to be Al's teacher or something, which didn't give him any gold stars in my book.

Dali chuckled, as if my tone only amused him. But before I could tell him off, he got to the point. "Why, I just wanted to invite you out. I'm throwing a party in three days time, and I hope it's not too short notice, but I'd just love for you to come," Dali's voice was all sweetness and sunshine but I felt a lump form in my throat. Was he inviting me, alone? Al brought me along to parties more than I cared for, but I almost never went anywhere without him in the ever after. As much as I hated to admit it, I felt naked without him. And way too vulnerable. Like a hen in a yard full of cocks. Literally. Ick.

"You can, of course, bring Al along, if it makes you more comfortable, but I just thought I'd offer you some away time from your teacher. We both know he can be a bit overbearing," Dali said with a chuckle, as if we were sharing some private joke.

"I'll think about it," I said more decisively then I felt, then flicked the little double ridge I'd thought was a vent the day before. I smiled genuinely at the usually annoying beeping one gets from disconnecting a call. Hanging up on people was fun no matter how old you got.

Sorry, no Al in this chapter, but this is a building-block sort of chapter. I'll have the next one up in a few days. I tentatively promise tastiness and naughty fun. Thanks Silvia Kundera for the review. Your comments got my devious little mind shitting out some plot bunnies =D