The pages were a crisp white, as if it hadn’t been opened before at all. Which was odd for a book coming from a secondhand bookstore. Usually there would be some wrinkling in the pages, some folds in the corners, dents in the cover. But not with this book.

Zain flipped to the table of contents, eager to know if there would be something that could help him out of this slump, maybe get him to atract a man who he really could connect with.

“There it is: chapter 5, Incantations. Doesn’t specify what kind of incantations, but knowing as it says Love on the front...” He mumbled to himself.

He skipped to page 60 and started reading the intro.

These incantations, or spells, are meant as a guidance to find a new goal in your life. The author doesn’t take any responsibility for any further fuck ups in your life.

The bastard doesn’t even list his name anywhere and still has the nerve to insult him like this. Zain clicked with his tongue and decided to continue regardless. On page 69 – the author must love puns – he finally found what he was looking for.

Incantation for Love

This spell will make sure to attract someone that can give you love. Draw out the following symbols on any flat surface and recite the following incantation:

The page showed the same symbols that were etched into the cover, but without the heart and in a straight line. Then followed a short spell. It was oddly specific, but Zain shrugged it off as the author being overly dramatic.

Oh Prince of Midnight
Hear my heart
Hear my yearning
For your love

Oh Prince of Midnight
Hear my call!
Come to me
And bless me
With your Love!

It didn’t seem like a very difficult spell, so Zain got to work right away. The page didn’t tell him what kind materials to use, so he grabbed a piece of chalk from his chalkboard that he used to write down groceries he shouldn’t forget to include in his weekly shopping list.

He decided to do the spell in his bedroom, as the floor was easier to clean up there. He drew the symbols needed and then hurried to pick up the book again for the verse he needed to chant.

“There, all set.”

He sat down on the floor, his legs crossed, with the book open on the right page. He started chanting, watching as the symbols started to glow.

Cool, he thought, finally something magical happens.

Nearing the end of the spell, he could feel a presence pushing through the veil that separated this world from the next. It was so strong, it almost took his breath away. He continued on, not wanting to know what he would get stuck with if he didn’t finish. He had read one to many stories about half-finished spells that made the caster sick, deformed or dead. Yeah, not gonna fucking happen.

As he uttered the last word, the strong presence he had felt before had become crystal clear. Zain had closed his eyes only for a second, and when he opened them again, in front of him stood a gorgeous man with porcelain skin and dark, almost midnight blue hair. His eyes were an enticing black.

He was well built, muscular but not too much and only a bit taller than Zain. And naked. Zain shamelessly gawked at the man in front of him. After a short moment he managed to tear away his eyes from the man’s godly body and settled on the silver horn sprouting from the top of his forhead. It was straight with a smooth surface and a blunt tip, wavy locks of hair hiding the base.

“Fucking finally! Those walls felt so stuffy! Ow, my wings hurt!”

Zain couldn’t believe it. The man’s voice was smooth as butter, alluring, even as he was cursing. Whatever was happening, the redhead was left dumbfounded. Only when the other seemed to notice him and came closer, he knew he wasn’t dreaming.

“Oh hello gorgeous. Were you the one who freed me?” The man said as he started to circle around Zain, taking him in.

“I-I… You got wings!” Zain exclaimed, only now noticing the small black set of feathered extensions on his back.

The taller man chuckled. “Yes I do, I’m an alicorn after all!”

“An ali-what?” Zain felt stupid for not remembering what an alicorn was again. He had read about it before, but everything felt too overwhelming for his brain to recall that specific bit of information right now.

The other man didn’t seem too offended by Zain’s dumbstruck expression. In fact, he actually looked pretty amused.

“An alicorn, also known as a winged unicorn. I’m born from an angel and a demon, hence my silver horn and black wings,” he twirled around for the redhead to see, then dropped down in front of him, his face now suddenly close to Zain’s. “Now what’s the name of my rescuer, hm?”

“Z-Zain!”

“Such a pretty name for such a pretty boy,” The alicorn praised, running a slender finger along Zain’s jaw, and then stood up, “Nice to meet you Zain. I am Nyx, the Prince of Midnight.”

Nyx bowed and flashed a grin as he lifted his head back up again.

“Prince of Midnight? As from the spell in the book?”

Nyx blinked. “Book?”

Zain nodded and picked up the grimoire he had just read from. He handed it to the alicorn.

“Incantations of Love, hm? The old bastard.”

“Huh, who?” Nyx didn’t make any sense. Did he know about the book too?

“The man who locked me here in this house loved to write books about magic. It doesn’t surprise me that he wrote a book with spell to free me.”

A frown appeared on the redhead’s face. “Why would someone lock you up? I don’t understand.”

“Ofcourse you don’t,” Nyx sighed, hurt flashing in his eyes at recalling the memory, “I’ll tell you in a minute, handsome. But could you get me some clothes first? It’s kinda chilly in here.” He eyed the windows, which had caught a small layer of white snow.

“Oh, ofcourse! Just a moment,” He eyed the mystery man once again, “Though I’ll have to see if I still have some oversized sweaters here, because I don’t think you’ll fit my regular clothes.”

Nyx giggled, a clear, honest sound that made Zain’s heart jump in his chest. He wanted to hear more of it, but instead he got up and went over to his closet, not wanting to let the man wait any longer than needed.

This turned out to be a crazy night, Zain thought. But unbeknownst to him, it would get even crazier very soon.