Tom found Marco, about an hour later, when he went into the bathroom: everyone had arrived, Tom had introduced Marco to some of his demon friends, and Mrs Diaz was just about to serve the nibbles.

Tom pushed open the bathroom door to find Marco sitting on the floor against the wall.

"Oh my god, Marco, are you okay?" Tom cried, rushing in and dropping to his knees beside him.

Marco looked up with bleary eyes. He nodded slowly.

"S-sorry," he said in a small voice. "I just... it's still a bit of a shock... every time I look in the mirror. I just came out of the toilet and saw myself and- oh, god, it's stupid, I know-"

"No, it isn't," Tom said.

"Sorry," Marco said again, getting to his feet. "I'll let you use the loo."

"Marco, it's fine," Tom said. "It'd be weird if you weren't weirded out by this."

"Yeah."

"Look man," Tom caught his arm. "Wait for me. When I come out we're going to have a chat to my friends. They'll show you all the benefits of being a demon. Or semi, in your case."

"Are you sure?" Marco asked, wiping his eyes. "I'm a bit of a blubbering mess at the moment."

"Don't be silly," Tom told him. "I'll be out in a minute."

"Okay."

-

Tom's friends were called Archie, Sarah and Drinn.

Archie had four eyes and four arms, startlingly orange skin and a broad grin. Sarah had wings like Marco, but they were less bat like and more insect like. She had clawed fingers and a lizard tongue, while Drinn had curled horns like a ram and saber tooth tiger teeth.

"Now look Marc," Archie said through a thick Scottish accent. "What you've got to realise is that you're life expectancy is like, what, plus a hundred years? You've got to get out there and enjoy yourself! And with those wings you'll find it a lot easier to get around."

Marco looked nervously at his wings over his shoulder. He hadn't even thought about flying.

"And don't sweat what people will think about you," Sarah told him. "Seriously, man. It isn't worth it."

"Yeah, I know it's hard," Drinn said. "We all know what it's like to be bullied. It doesn't make it any easier now you're part demon. But look, you'll never be short of conversation?"

"Ha, yeah, I guess so," Marco smiled, already feeling better.

"No one's going to less of you," Tom said. "The only thing is that they'll probably be afraid of you until they know you."

"Hey- what powers have you got?" Sarah asked.

"Powers?!" Marco repeated, startled.

"Yeah, there are lots of different types of demon, and they all have a different power," Drinn explained. "Often they orientate around the elements. Mine is fire, like Tom."

"Mine's manipulation of air," Sarah said.

"And mine's electricity," said Archie.

"Oh wow, I hadn't thought of that," Marco said. "How will I know?"

"Try flexing your fingers and trying to send a stream of energy through them," Tom said.

Marco stretched out his fingers and took a deep breath, then tensed and concentrate hard. Nothing happened.

"Aw, well, it might take a while for your powers to warm up," Drinn suggested. "Especially if you've never used them before."

They tried about four other ways of channelling Marco's power. None of them worked.

Tom clapped a hand on Marco's shoulder.

"Come on man, don't be disheartened. It'll take you a while to get it. Now let's go get some cake."