 
Chapter 1

School was no fun.

Sweat burned my eyes.

But I was not supposed to be sweating, a thunderstorm was roaring outside the window and it was a bit chilly in this room.

A white streak of lightning struck with a muffled grumble and another drop of salty sweat slipped in. My eyelids folded up and down rapidly like a high-speed windshield as I tried to blink the water and the brightness out. My arms were tightly cramped against my body in this tiny space to be of any help, and if I moved he would hear, and I would be dead.

I was quite sure that I would be dead. Maybe that was why I was sweating.

Five minutes in this fetid box felt forever. I waited...and waited...and waited. Fear completely paralyzed my thoughts and my nervous system, slowing down the nose muscle.

Shit! Not moving doesn't mean I can't breathe!

I took in a big gasp of air by mouth making up for the portion I missedShit! it's too loud! He turned...!

—only a fraction toward me, or the locker in his case. The breath caught in my chest stocking up tension in my sinuses. As the air begged to be released, I thought piteously to myself again that I was going to die, either by him or by not being able to breathe out when needles started running up my legs. Gosh...It was only a matter of time before this pair of stiff calves give up, and I would tumble out of the locker and he would see me and sadly...I would be dead.

I should think of something fun! A crazily terrific idea came right off from pure madness created by fright. I could guess what would kill me, the numb knees, the breathing, or the guy.

The numb knees...

The breathing...

The guy...

The breathing...

The guessing took my mind off the stress and I was able to breathe normally once again. But the rain suddenly stopped and the room became deadly quiet. I had to lightened breath in order not to be discovered.

There was a saying about 'Blue sky after the rain' which I had once heard and started to think was not true. Well, first the sky was still dark out there; and second, the guy was still here, yet to disappear, unlike the feelings on my lower part.

I'm going die!

Of course, I will die! Think, what kind of people would have a pair of wings on their back?

X-Men? Bird-man? Alien? Cosplay? Angel?but the wings were black.

Dark creature? Black means dark and evil.

Yes, a dark creature! A monster! And a dark creature would kill me without a second thought even if we were classmates.

My knees had finally come loose. I held onto a stickprobably an unclean mop kept in this lockerand looked out again in my final moment with fright.

But the winged man was climbing up the window, and with a single blow, he flew away into the mystery of the moist night sky.

I fell over the cold hard metal door and it bursted open in clanking and clacking. I rolled down among the clattering mops and brooms, was hit with a corner of a chair when suddenly my forehead burned. Bright blue light was shining everywhere.

When the pain and the weird light subsided, I scrambled over the scattered cleaning equipment to the window where the reflection of me with a circular Celtic-like symbol on my forehead freaked me out of my mind.

Is this some kind of curse? I will die in a torturing way because I know too much about them?!

I felt like shit! The curse's shit! The rain's shit! Dinner's shit! Everything's SHIT!

And while I was moaning and rubbing desperately with my wild hair at the fresh curse on my forehead, someone was bending over me.

"Leigh?"

My tears rolled back at the voice. I looked through the all messy hair on my face at the one who called my name. All the pain and panic vaporized, my head was just—shit!

"What are you doing here? Are you alright?"

SHIT! It's CONNER RIDER!!!!

I uttered shit one more time in my head before shooting out of the room. I ran and fell, ran and fell, ran and fell.

Damn! School at night wasn't fun at all.

Chapter 2

ADHD

I did not come to school at night to have fun to begin with. I was painting a picture of Hydrangea earlier this evening when mum came home from work bringing along her new date, Galvin. Things got uncomfortable when she said that she was going out for dinner with him.

I let mum go, thinking how lonely she was these past years. She had rights to be happy after all. And while she was happy, I adopted ADHD. It was not the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder like you all understand, it was rather—

A. Angerfor being left behind all alone. I thumbed angrily on the i6 screen and missed the password twice.

D. DisappointmentI was disappointed at not having a mother-daughter quality time I was looking forward to. I wanted so much to show her the Hydrangea and she had to dart out as soon as I said I was not hungry.

H. Hungeryeah, alright, I was hungry, very. And it tripled the two things above.

I sighed. The music playing on each icon accompanied my growling stomach. It was hard to focus on the name list but I finally got to the nameDale.

The line went on for like an eternity as I was cooling off believing that in the end he would pick up,

"Hello...."

"Dale!"

"... This is Dale Cartner. I'm not available at the"

I found myself furiously pushing the pedals of my rusty almost-off-balanced bike minutes later, and that the sky ahead was growing dark with enormous black cumulous clouds advancing onwards like an army of reapers escorting me to death.

Lightning flashed, briefly shined on the winding road ahead, followed by a little rumble from the dark heaven. I blinked a few time to adjust my sight and accelerated my legs. I hated summer storm. It was always ruthless to cities close to the sea like here.

The disastrous weather did not give a slightest clue to an unfortunate event ahead. I did think that I might get stuck at school for a few hours, get really cold, get a cold, or worsea fever. I might end up hungrier, or the night guard might catch me and give me detention. None of it came close to the real situation. My thought had not included anything about a winged man at that time.

My face was pressed flatly by the ferocious wind and my hair was lifted up like a dancing clump of seaweed as I came closer to the shore. The storm was obviously trying to stop me from going any further, but anger prevented me from turning back.

My bike creaked and wheezed and threatened to fell apart. The brutal wind whipped us left and right and down a couple of times. And by the time I arrived at school, bruises littered my bare legs and rain started to sting on my face.

It was not because we could not afford a new bike. But this one was a present from dear long dead dad.

I hurried inside with my precious present and rested it near the exit, otherwise it would surely have turned into scrape and flew away like a piece of paper in this gale. I stomped along the corridor heading to the Music club temporarily forgetting how dark it was.

The sudden roar of the thunder startled me and I quickly ran for the comfort of the illuminating exit sign—the only source of light around. The poster announcing the coming charity concert, dyed with green light, made me sigh.

Dale worked too hard for this.

I stared at the flat faces of the school orchestra members on the paper realizing how stupid I was to think he might still be working here this latein the middle of a storm.

The thunder gonged and it sounded not very nice in this narrow space. I slipped into an unused room on the right side. The green light blacked out as soon as the door closed but my vision was not robbed away. The rolling lightning was the one driving the darkness out from time to time.

The storm rocked the window. Heavy raindrops hit the mirror giving weird rhythm like percussion. Lightning struck the soil timpani and thunders drummed the sky. The wind blew across the building creating a thrilling singing-like voice. As the room got colder, I wrapped myself with both arms with a faint hope that they could warm me. Gazing outside, I saw nothing but silvery stripes flashing now and then in the darkness.

Out of the blue, my rumbling stomach joined the band.

It was not a nice music, but it reminded me of my hunger. I gulped the air down as if it could fill the void while looking around. I scurried to the row of lockers at the back of the room and began my search for foods.

A tip-tapping noise sounded on the other side of the wall. I strained my ears while moving on to the next locker. It was dawned on me as the noise came closer that it was the sound of footsteps and every single hair on my body stood up in harmony. The echo became louder with my thudding heart. I did hope at that moment that it was the night guard. I preferred detention than a close-up horror movie. Well, I didn't see a single soul in this school, so whose footsteps could this belong to, if not a ggoghost!

My instinct immediately guided me inside the locker. I squeezed myself between mops and brooms and closed the door lightly as the moldy smell engulfed me. My eyes were right at the louver so the whole classroom was clear to my sight. Seconds later, a black shadow slowly strode in.

My pulse thundered my ears but the next lightning showed me the familiar face of my classmate. I sighed noiselessly with relief.

He's DWhat's it? Yes, DylanDylan Ziarre from Geology.

He stopped at the window and stood still gazing through needles of rains far away outside. As I looked at him, the lightning reflected his black pupils turning them into blue-green. It was hard to know what he was thinking because it was the first time I saw him without a smile. Silence made him look so different and his blank face was unbelievably adorable that I temporarily lost into his heavenly divine.

Shit! No, no, no! Okay, okay, it's the atmosphere and lights and shades and all.

Dylan was popular since his arrival half a year ago. And I was an anti-popular kind of person, not exactly an outcast though. He was loved by everyone because he was nice and friendly, good at studying, good at sports, has a good face, and seemed to have a good amount of money. Too perfect to be true.

I thought I should paint him for my next piece.

More people entered the room. Unlike Dylan whose black hair and black clothes were one with the night, these people were easy to recognize.

There were three of them and I saw at once the light blond wisps of hair from Conner Rider that shined faint yellow in the dark above his sparkled blue eyes. He's in my art class and is pretty goodI hate to admit he's a geniusat drawing too.

Next to him was Phoebe Zitkalasa. She had a weird taste for red tone color judging from her fiery red hair, the red boots she always had on, the red contact lens, and an orange red handbag hanging beside her scarlet dress. She was smiling smugly with her red lips.

Finally, coming in like a glow was the last boss of this last-week new transfers. He was Seth Lee whom, despite being an Asian, had white hair, super pale skin, and amber eyes. Someone said it's albinism, but how would you explain the yellow eyes? Adding in the white outfit he had on, he floated in just like a living lamp.

"Seth! It's so great to see you! I've been looking for you everywhere!" Dylan exclaimed livelily and was about to throw himself at the lamp.

"Stop!" Phoebe scolded while Seth slid aside and gave the guy a cold look before saying, "We're not here to befriend you."

"But we are friends!" said Dylan looking perplexed.

"No, we're not." Seth said again harshly. "And I called you here just to warn you thatI'm watching you. Don't ever think of doing your evil here."

Dylan seemed to be stunned. I felt really bad for him. He was all alone while those people were ganging up on him.

"I will never do anything bad." Dylan said with such heaviness in his voice.

Phoebe smirked. "Easy for you to say. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be here."

"What are you doing here?" Dylan asked.

Seth threw Phoebe a shut-up-or-I'm-going-to-freeze-you stare and silence took over the conversation. I felt like struggling in a powerful psychic fight between them. As the smoldering atmosphere infiltrated the coldness, Seth seemed to be illuminating more and more.

I blinked a few times. Maybe listening to other people's petty business made me confuse and huffy that I thought he glowed.

"Anyway, no matter what you say," Dylan finally began again. "I will always be your friend."

"We are not friends." This time it was Conner but he said it so gently. "We can never be friends."

Dylan's face grew somber.

The trio was about to leave and I felt even sorrier for him. It must be hard for the guy whom everyone at school wanted to be friend with, but was not successful at making these three his friends. I was about to step out of my hiding and tell him that he doesn't need to make friend with these smugs when Seth swirled back his head and gave Dylan a disgust glance before leaving.

I followed Seth's gazes and saw something strange with Dylan. His back was hunch so I thought he was scrunching his neck crying at losing three friends, but I was soon to find out that he was not. His bloated back kept getting larger together with my dilated eye. When I thought that it was going to explode, a pair of black wings whirled out gracefully.

Seth's words retraced through my head. 'Never be friend...not friend...evil...'

And that was when the last D jumped in sealing my fate.

D. Desperation

Chapter 3

The Stalker.

Meek morning light, alarming clock noises, and the nightmare made me sprang up. Feeling like going through a hard party last night with a bit hangover, I went for a shower, leaving cold water running down on my head. Feeling like there were many shit last night, I did not want to shit and instead had my teeth brushed, dressed up as the mirror told me I was not dreaming.

An ancient-looking symbol was sitting smugly on my forehead.

I went back to my bed, closed my eyes for half a minute, and got up to the mirror again.

It was still there and I decided to go back to bed once more, only to see the circle remain engraved on my face.

The process went on for an hour before I really did give up. ADHD came back for a moment with slight alteration; Annoyance, Disappointment, Hunger, and Desperation. I had been hoping it was a really bad dream. While I looked in remorse at the reflection of myself, an intense realization almost blew me off my feet.

Hey!

I'm alive!

I touched all over my body and pinched on my arm to make sure everything was still normal and in its place. The pain was overcome by delight when I was sure that I was still breathing and kicking, and not dead like I had thought yesterday.

Nonetheless, the celtic-symbol on my forehead still reminded me that I was not curse-free. But as long as I live, I have hope.

Grabbing scissors, and with one swift cut, I found myself observing my new full bang. I thought it look weird but I had no choice since walking outside with something tattoo-liked on your forehead was far weirder. I arranged the bang hoping the hair was enough to hide the mark, remembered now that last night I had rubbed it with everything I could find, soap, shampoo, Vaseline, sunscreen, collagen, salt scrub, beer, orange juice, coffee, and even cabbage, but not the slightest fraction would come off. I would just put another plaster beneath the bang as well just in case.

Downstairs the kitchen was deserted but the TV was on. Morning news about heart attack causing by summer heat was a disturbing subject for breakfast. The weather had been exceptionally, unbearably hot this year and that was why it rained so hard last night. I tried to look for mum, but she was nowhere to be seen when a message from her came in. It was saying that she had an urgent trip to Arizona about the heart attack case, she asked me to turn off the TV, and that she would not be back for a week.

A reporter and a sudden trip were two things that couldn't be separated. I was used to it but also felt lonely sometimes. But for once, this might be a good timing for escaping mum's question about this thing on my forehead.

I sent her a 'good luck' sticker and told her to take care and not to worry then set out for school.

I live. But it would not be long before the curse consume me. Something must be done before that happen!

People were streaming from every direction into the school gate like every other morning. I looked from side to side, flipped the hood over my head, then thought it was going to attract attention and pushed it back. I bit my lower lip knowing that I had to face Dylan anyway if I was to settle this. The hood went up and down a couple of times until Dale called me.

"Morning Leigh! Wo—wow! What's the occasion?"

He stared at my bang. "Morning Dale."

"This is new!" said Dale as we walked through the busy morning corridor arriving at our locker. "I like it though."

I ignored Dale's comment on my hair as he went on showing me the brochure for his concert and puffed up proudly when I complimented them. He made those himself refusing the help from me even though he knows very well of my skill. I was a little upset at first but well Then, he looked at the time on his iPhone. "Shoot! I'm gonna be late for the concert sponsors' meeting. See you later Leigh."

"Okay"

I did not have a chance to talk much or tell him about the curse, about Dylan Ziarre. Actually, I was not sure if I should. Dale had his own to worry. I did not need to add anymore of mine to him.

"Back away! The Queen's coming!"

I turned in time to see seven girls stepped on Adam's assignments stamping dirt on them as they made their ways. Viva La Juicy filled up the space. The girl in the middle brushed her curly long blond hair and something seemed to be glittering on her neck. Heck! It's a real diamond necklace!

Somebody cheered while somebody sighed with boredom, but none dared to block their way. Everyone knew something not very nice would happen if you mess with this squad, especially Natalie or the pale blue-eyed girl with the diamond necklace. But she was pretty, very pretty that she became the school's most popular girl—or the Queen—within one week of our first year.

I took another turn to avoid the Queen and ran into Conner. Our eyes met and I quickly ran away. Damn! Why do I have to run away? I sighed as I saw that he did not follow and moved on.

Sonnia was waiting in front of Geo checking on her make-up and hair. She was a pretty girl and with the pale pink tank top that we bought together last week, a mini-skirt jean, and the perfect big curl on her copper red hair, she looked just like a model. She dressed exceptionally well today.

"Hey! Nice bang!"

I hated that everyone just had to talk about it and reminded me of the curse.

Sonnia gave me a big smile like always. She put the pocket mirror away, straightened her top, tilted her head slightly until her overly sparkling red hairpin speared through my eye. "What about me? How do I look?"

"You're pretty."

"Oh right! I know!!" Sonnia beamed with pride. "Let's go."

It was as if time had slow-downed when I was about to cross into the classroom threshold. I was dreading and counting down in milliseconds. Nervousness had me doubt whether I could succeed my mission.

My first class was Geology.

I repeated the plan I made this morning.

  1. Follow

  2. Observe

  3......

Umm...

  3.....

I cut off the thought, leaving number three blank to adjust along the situation and feeling like I had such a great plan.

Two guys in white clothes caught my eyes first instead of the huge crowd surrounded my target that I had expected. They were the DW, the delinquents, which was led by Don Winter and usually wore dark. The lighter color had become weirdly popular with Seth Lee's arrival. Also, the fact that they came to class today was another mystery. The unused corridor at the back of the school was their regular habitat.

It was briefly before I turned to my main target. I could not see him but I knew he was there. His friendly and sweet voice was drifting from the group from time to time.

Sonnia darted over there and was swallowed amidst the giggling horde. I heard her unusually high voice screeching and greeting, and the center of attention guy amiably answered in return. She was one of his admirers.

I went straight to Michelle who was already in the room saving seats for us. Her face was behind a glasses and a book like always. "Morning. What are you reading?" I tried to act normal while keeping a look out at the crowd. My forehead tingled, the mark tingled.

"What happened to your head Dylan?" Sonnia's voice rose and the noises in the room suddenly died down. Those who were not circling him also looked at the direction. A hole between Jessie and Rose loosened and I got a sight of a figure with mystical onyx hair who was dressing nicely in grey leather jacket, blue T-shirt and black jeans. Dylan Ziarre, or the monster, the super popular monster and the center of the crowd's attention, had a bandage wrapping around his head. I froze.

"I fell down the stairs." He said and turned a fraction towards me. I got gooseflesh and quickly looked away.

The curse was really from him!

"What happened to your head Leigh?"

I jumped at Michelle's voice as everyone started to resume their conversations. It took me almost a minute to get what she was saying and what should I tell her? "Oh—oh this? This?" I pointed at my bang, relieved that I had it now. "I just feel like a change—"

"No, I mean the plaster on your forehead." said Michelle and I froze for the second time.

"I—I—" Since he took the stairs then—"I hit my head with a wall."

"A wa—?"

"Anyway, what are you reading?" I cut her fast, not wanting to continue the subject. "Oh, I see you've been reading this one for ages!"

Michelle shifted her glasses like all the professors did and glimpsed at the cover. "Yes. It's so addictive. I'm reading it the twentieth time."

"Twenty times!" I exaggerated my scream.

"It's about a sea monster who fell in love with a human girl."

I did not really care what it was about. I cared about my life more. "That's disgusting." I talked to her just to keep her out of my forehead.

"No no no not at all! The sea monster is in human form and actually very intelligent and good-looking."

"It's still disgusting. Knowing that the guy will turn into a monster at anytime." And that reminded me—the monster! Oh no!

Michelle chuckled. "Oh, how I wish I could be that girl in the story."

I shuddered at her thought. Real life was never like in the stories. I was not going to have a princess-like happy ending. I was on the verge of death. I had to focus from now on.

All my senses alerted on Dylan's action throughout the class. After the first hour, Sonnia and Michelle went for their Math, and I followed Dylan to English. I should have Chemistry at this period, but I would not let the evil monster escaped my eyes. I would follow him and get him to uncurse me. Maybe he would kill me but I would die either way so what is there to lose?

Lunch was much easier. I got to eat with my friends while still being able to observe Dylan. Dale was glancing worriedly at the white clothes figures while talking about the sponsors meeting which seemed to go well. It was odd with the DW members scattered around the cafeteria. They had been going to classes and walking everywhere in the school like normal students since this morning, this create quite a disquieting to the whole school.

I left when the monster did, telling my friends I needed to do some homework, and followed him down to the library. He was there for about an hour, and went off to Chemistry. When he was drinking juices and chatting with his friends during break, I attached myself to the pillar not far away feeling like a psycho paparazzi. Later that day I attended Physics with him but fell asleep. And before going back home, he went into the loo. I almost walked in there too but held myself just in time. I loitered in front of the toilet growing more embarrassing every second passed and started to hate myself for this!

My plan did not seem to work out as I had thought. Dylan's life was even more normal than the DW. If it was not for the bandages on his head, I would assume that everything I saw about him was just my imagination.

Dylan came out of the toilet a few minutes later but quickly disappeared in the rushing crowd. I countered the human current trying to get a glimpse of him. It was the time I wish I was taller than average or having Superman's eyes so that I could see through everybody's head. The Queen's friends, Cleo and Simone, coming from the opposite were just too tall on their high heels. I stood on my toes trying to look up but the bang got into my eyes. Argh!!

That was not for the eyes, but for the sudden pull that got me into a not-so-bright corner.

"Hey."

I turned round and saw the face that I had been observing all day smiling. He looked even more—urgh! I hate to say—cute up close. I blushed and the mark prickled harder as if about to explode.

"I see you've been following me all day. Do you want to talk to me?" Dylan said it so directly and looked at my forehead. "Did you—"

The plan!

The number three suddenly popped up!

  3. Run!

"I...I wasn't following you. No. Nothing. Good bye." I shook myself away from his grasp and acted on the number three.

"Leigh!" he called out and came running after as hairs on my neck stood up with the realization that—he knows my name!

Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! I hear nothing! Nothing, nobody's coming after me. I'm alone!

"Leigh!"

Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Ignore!

"Leigh! Leigh!"

Just ig—

Then, in a blink of an eye, Dylan Ziarre was in front of me.

I was startled and almost fell backward if it was not for Dylan who grabbed at my hand fast. But I quickly shook him off and swerved toward the parking lot, to my bicycle.

"Why are you running away from me? Don't you like me?" Dylan followed me doggedly. "Am I not nice?"

Wow! You could ask!

"Don't you want to talk to me? Why are you following me?" His questions bombarded me making it hard to concentrate on running away.

"What happened to your head?"

And that was the nuclear bomb.

My knees suddenly came loose and my heart fell to the floor. I looked up at his face with horror pressing my lips, lifting my cheeks so the tears would not pour out. Dylan seemed to be confused and reached out to touch me. It, instead, provoked me and I gathered my last strength scampering to my bike.

"Let's talk." Dylan popped up before my bike out of nowhere.

"I don't want to talk. It's none of my business!" I scowled back managing to repress fear with anger.

"But it's mine!" he exclaimed.

"Who cares!"

"I do! Look Leigh," Dylan grabbed my shoulders and put his face so close to mine. "You have to understand—"

The rest was lost to me, taken over by muscle convulsions. The monster held me so tight that I could not escape or turned away. And when I had no choice but to look at his gorgeous face, into his black eyes, I saw that tinge of blue and green with black feathers falling down in those turquoise backgrounds. Fear started to revive like a click. I did not know if Dylan were just talking to me or what, all I could see was he was trying to eat me! I will die!

I screamed, burst into tears, and collapsed onto the floor.

"What! What!" I heard Dylan stammered in desperation. "I haven't done a thing! Stop crying Leigh! Stand up! Quick! Everyone's looking this way!"

He took my arm and dragged me into a bush. He was so strong and I could not do a thing to resist. "Oww...!" I moaned at his clutch because it felt like my bone was about to break. Dylan immediately let go, "Sorry," he said and tried to wipe my tears with his handkerchief. I snatched it from him and did it myself.

"Ahem...ummm you have to return me that." said Dylan pointing at the handkerchief.

I stuffed it back to him.

Dylan pushed back my hand, making a face. "Keep it for now."

I buried my face in the handkerchief, temporarily forgot that it belonged to a monster.

Dylan sighed as he looked at me. I peeked at him wanting to know what he was going to do with me next. Boil? Fry? Bake? Or barbeque?

"I'm sorry I pushed you to hard." He said once again looking at me with sympathy. "But I really don't understand? I'm just asking about your wound."

He continued rather sadly. "You know, I'm asking it just to be nice. See? I'm not like the Winters or Natalie. I'm sooo kind. And I saw that you were following me earlier, so I just want to give my fans some sign! What's wrong with all of these?!"

Fear allowed me to miss his conceit. Voice started to make sound in my throat, "Nothing wrong it's just—"

"What're you saying?" said Dylan leaning even closer for a better hearing.

"wings—" I mumbled.

"What? Wigs?" He touched his head. "This is no wig!"

"W—wi—wings—b—black—black—"

"Yes, tell me, and I'll take care of those." demanded Dylan.

I gathered all that was left of my courage and looked up, spitting it all out.

"You grow Black Wings!"

I stared at him with fright, trying to keep my mouth shut without much success. Words kept pouring out as if it could take away the nervousness conquering my head. "G—Green Eyes!"

Sympathy on Dylan face vanished without a trace, his friendly smile lost without a trail. White translucent muscle of his beautiful face strictly tautened as his marble eyes widened. I could feel forces rushing out of him, threatened me to withdraw as if his power was activated. His blackhole stares had gone from fierce to calm to cold. Despite yet to get to the curse part, I regretted telling him. Now I was so terrified that my conscious had fled far leaving pure basic instinct to deal with the situation itself.

Tongue stuck in my mouth, air stuck in my throat, I wanted to throw up. I held my hands across my mouth to prevent my breaktime's kiwi juice from spurting out as my legs drew backwards little by little—I was actually quite amazed at how much I could move. But it was not long when Dylan darted swiftly forward as if blown by wind, drilling a hole within me with his pupils in which their dark spaces were eaten up by sparkle of blue-green. His lips moved up and down but the most terrifying voice seemed to be ringing right within my ear.

"It's you!"

"IT'S NOT ME!"

I screamed as hard as I could into his face and ran. Grabbed my bike with sweating hands, I started pedaling frenetically breaking the record on wake-up-late-rainy day.

Chapter 4

One After Another

Something square and hard jagged against my head. It fell down on the floor and turned out to be books—big binding books. Slowly pushing myself out of the heavy heap, I stacked it one after another beside me wondering at the colorful hardcopies that were covering my body without reasons.

How did I end up in here?

There was no light but, looking around, I found myself in the familiar space of my bedroom. I switched on the white neon-light and checked all the doors and windows which were well locked. Everything was in order.

I went over to mum's room—it was fine. In the kitchen—nothing was out of normal. I got a pack of frozen spaghetti and ate. My stomach was empty. The house was empty. My head was empty.

I could not recall a thing. It was exceptionally peaceful.

My stomach was full now and I went back into my room to prepare a canvas. Getting into a mood, I used the paintbrush to mix blue and black acrylic colors, then spread the indigo on the pale sheet in front of me. The emptiness on the canvas started to fill and, slowly, so did my head.

My hand was unconsciously drawing a guy with wings—wait, what!

It was that night!

I grabbed a big walnut patterned sheet and threw it over the unfinished painting, too scared to look at it any longer. My head started to rearrange the events from yesterday night in which I went to see Dale but got a curse, this morning in which I stalked the monster but was found out, and just now in which I was drawing in such a joyful mood but it turned out to be the picture of that monster! Everything went wrong one after another.

I remembered now. I ran home after that monster threatened me. I locked every entrance and got myself squashed by heaps of books to feel safe before falling asleep—no, fainting.

Light chilly air touched my neck. I swiveled my head and saw the curtain flying with the current of cool night wind that came through the opened window. I chuckled—

I had locked every doors and windows and now it was open.

Everything went wrong one after another!

"Hey,"

I quickly turned to the direction of the voice, jaws hung like a fool with disbelief. There, at the edge of my bed, s—sat Dylan Ziarre!

"H—how did you get in?" I asked, voice quavering, felt a little—no a lot!—spooked.

"Now, now, before you run away or cry or scream again, let me tell you, I mean no harm." said Dylan as he stood up and took of his jacket showing sleeveless warm grey shirt. He advanced toward me.

I fell back a little. "How can I trust you? You—you are—"

"I'm a demon."

Huge gust of wind appeared out of nowhere. It surrounded Dylan Ziarre like a hurricane. I had just noticed that he did not have bandages on his head. So when his black hair was rising with the wind, a mark similar to that on the forehead of mine was imprinted there. It casted a bright blue radiance that temporarily blinded my eyes. When I regained my sight, a pair of huge obsidian wings was whirling elegantly on his back where it then rested shiny and shimmering. His black marble pupils had turned into jewel of the sea, brilliantly sparkling with colors of blue and green.

Many glowing circular symbols appeared on the floor, under my feet where I stood and under his. My legs refused to move me and the plaster flew away in the unnatural currents. Despite the bright lights that pulsed over my eyes, all I can felt was calmness and coolness as if this wave of light had washed away all my worries and pains. When the symbols on the floor disappeared and the magic-light died down, the weird identical mark to that on Dylan's head had vanished.

I was about to shout with glee when he said,

"Now, that's done. Our contract."

I had a hard time getting to my voice. "Wha—what? Contract? I'm GONNA DIE!"

"What! Why? Why?" Dylan almost shouted too.

"Because you'll kill me!"

"No!" Dylan put his face in his black hand. (Heck! From his elbows until his hands were black!) "I said I won't harm you!"

"No, you won't!" I began to sob. "You'll kill me!"

"I won't kill you!"

That did shut me up.

The demon sighed, "Just relax and listen okay?" and he threw himself on my bed. "I'm a demon," he began once again, "don't freak out just yet! We, demons, usually do not show our real selves to people like you unless—" There was quite a long pause and the pessimistic thought almost taken over me again. 'Unless we want to kill you' was what I had in mind but he continued at quite a different topic, "—we like you."

I startled. "Y—you like me?"

"Of course not! How could I? You—you're—"

"I'm what?"

"Anyway," he quickly changed the subject. "we only show ourselves to people we choose, people we like, because human who witnesses our true form has to make a contract with us."

Curse and contact kind of mingled up in my head and I wondered if it was a 'contract for the curse' or 'curse of the contract.' "W—what sort of contract?"

"The contract which enforces me to serve under you," he pressed his lips. "to protect you, to help you out of any troubles or dangers, A.K.A., your bodyguard."

"I don't want a slave!"

"I said bodyguard!" Dylan groaned. "Look. I don't know how you saw me like this in the first place but this thing," he put his forefinger on where the mark used to be. "—came up yesterday, and that means I'm already tied with someone. I just didn't know who it was! And never thought it'd be you!"

He said it as if all the fault was on me. And maybe it is—I thought as my mind made a quick visit to the memory of that night and my eyes made a quick glance at the covered up portrait. I felt bad. I should not have looked at him. I should not be there on that day!

I sighed. "Fine. What do you want me to do?"

"There's nothing we can do. I'll just have to do my duty." said Dylan. He was clearly upset.

Guilt rushed up in me all of a sudden. "Will this contract ever—expire?"

"Well...actually...yes."

"How? When?" I leapt closer to the demon, instantly felt excited at the potential solution for both of us.

"Well, when you make a request, I will grant it but—" he seemed reluctant, "demons don't serve you for free. We do it for your souls. After working for you, we'll be exhausted, so we need your soul to refill our power."

"My soul?"

Dylan nodded. "Demons gain power by consuming human's soul."

And I'd die!

Wasn't it all the same! After investing so much energy on stalking this guy, became happy for a short moment thinking that I did not have to die because it was not a curse. No, this is a curse! It curses me to be this demon's master, and I'll have to die in the end anyway!

Depressed, I plunged down into the gloom when, almost immediately, a light bulb lighted my murky head up.

What if I never make a request—? This was an interesting proposal from the light bulb, since I had never really made any request—or even talk—to Dylan since I had come to know his face. I, in fact, do not need to make any request to him or ask for his help. The splendid knowledge shone bright light of hope all over my world. I will not have to die! He cannot take my soul because he hasn't done a thing for me!

"What's this?"

Dylan was pulling off the walnut patterned cloth on the portrait as I was about to jump with glee. I veered my jump at him and knocked him down. Glossy and soft black feathers from his wing got into my mouth and eyes as I did. My stationary box on the easel was smashed and a cutter and scissors fell out. I was not in a good position staying under him and rode toward the sharp edges of them.

Dylan caught both my arms and turned me upside. I ended up lying on him.

"S—sorry. I—I didn't ask you to help—" I quickly got up but there was something wet on my hand. I looked down on the floor and saw a small pool of clear water.

"What's this?" I rubbed them on my jeans.

Dylan sat up wincing. He took the left wing which was weirdly wet and flipped it back. The cutter was sticking there, straight and sharp, with clear liquid spurting from the spot flowing down in a mite stream.

"Don't tell me it's your blood!"

Dylan nodded.

"Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!" I scurried down stair and came back up with a first aid. Dylan was groaning. He had already taken the cutter out. I did not know how to bandage the wing. So I just put a plaster on there but it fell off.

"It's all right." The demon said with a smile. His voice was still sweet and soft. And he looked at me so kindly that I was briefly embarrassed by those sparkling eyes. "Thank you."

"Are you gonna be okay?"

He laughed. "Don't worry. I'm a demon! Small wounds don't budge me."

I relaxed but smeared more antiseptic onto the wound just in case, when Dylan chuckled.

"I like this." he said fetching me to where he was looking. My face went crimson red seeing my painting fully exposed. "Is it me?" He asked.

"Ye—I mean Yo! No. No! It's not you!"

He seemed skeptical. "There can't be anybody else with black wings. And that hair, those eyes...it has to be me."

"No, no, not you! It's just a person with wings!"

"Which is me."

"No! It's someone I know." Aaaaargh! No!

"Which is me."

"No! It's my imaginary friend!"

"Hmm?" Dylan smiled naughtily and leaned on the painting. "You imagine that I am your friend?"

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!

"I can be your friend." He said friendlily.

One after another—things went WRONG!

Chapter 5

Contract First Day

A thousand 'Aaa' rang in my ears.

I rammed my head under the pillow pushing the weight down, but the noises would not fade away. It took me all night to chase that demon out of my house and I got only two hours of sleep, and now this?!

The noise went silent as soon as I slammed my fist on the window. It was somewhat like an alarm clock.

I got myself ready for school wondering what was going on this early morning. The noise was so loud as if a big fighting stadium rose out of the earth beside my house within one night, or maybe it was the siren for accidents. It could even be that new kind of exercises where people breathe in and out singing 'Aa' loudly. I heard they called it the 'Chi' practice from China.

I opened the front door and something flapped into my face. I hit the thing with my bag and when the vision was clear, I saw—

The beginning of my doom.

Walking into the lawn, looking up the roof, I saw—

It was like black dots spreading everywhere. I pranced on my previously green lawn trying to find a walking space, felt almost—just almost—like Harry Potter when little Harry got his admission letters to Hogwarts for the first time. The sad thing was they were not cute owls from the witch school, they were—

"Aaa!"

A thousand CROWS cried in unison.

I am NOT going to any demon school!

"Aaa!" They called again as if greeting me.

It took me about five minutes to think what to do with these crows. I could not think of anything in the end but chasing the black birds away like I did to Dylan last night. "Go! Go! Shoo!" I flailed my arms and bags like a lunatic. The crow took shelter on the roof where I could not reach them. I morosely pelted balls of hardened soil with my aching arms.

I was already very tired by the time I arrived school. Walking like a zombie, I went to Dale and Sonnia who were talking to each other excitedly about the heart attack news. But something with evil auras was coming from the opposite direction.

"Hey Leigh! I heard your mum's—"

Dale was left mid-sentence while Dylan dragged me away in the midst of everybody's eyes. They all watched me while I looked back at them for help imploringly.

Dylan pushed me into a cleaning room. I quickly ran for the door. He closed it and cornered me as I tried to look away from his beautiful eyes.

"Why did you chase all my friends away?" Dylan said in a slight angry tone.

"Friends?"

"I sent them to watch over you!" He said. "So you can be safe when I'm not around!"

"You mean—" I said and tried to think hard what he was talking about. Wait,— "Those are CROWS!"

"Ravens!"

"There were hundreds and hundreds of them!" It was my turn to get irritated. "Are you crazy? People will think I have evil spirit following me with that many c—ravens!" Actually, that is quite true, I have this evil demon following around. "And I didn't ask for anything to look after me!"

"It's my duty. And it's raven not craven."

"Oh, come on!" I was about to reach my limit and I really needed some sleep. "Just leave me alone okay?"

I shoved Dylan aside and walked out of the room. People were gathering around listening to our conversation. I hoped they heard nothing.

"Leigh!" Sonnia called out. She was with Dale and Michelle. They were one of those in the front row. "What happened?"

I pressed my lips not daring to meet the eyes of the audiences who were waiting enthusiastically for my answer. It was going to be hard to explain. "Nothing." I decided to say and quickly walked away to art room where people were less concerned about those that happened around them.

"Leigh." Jaden, our class rep, called out. "We are painting on large canvas today. You can get one in the store room." I nodded and saw Conner, carrying his, was walking this way. He stared at me piteously that I had to avert my eyes not to feel anymore guilt. Hey, I didn't do anything wrong!

"Leigh." Conner called and it felt like I was getting caught at doing something evil—like—summoning a demon.

"Y—yes?" —sir.

He put a small piece of paper in my hand, "If you need any help, you can come see me here," and settled into his seat. I looked after those blond hair with confusion and surprise. I thought he was going to—I don't know, something not nice! But then suddenly I remembered, Conner might actually be a nice person because he used to compliment my paintings (Okay, enough lame reason!). I looked briefly at the paper. It was a rough map to some place.

I put it away. For now.

The canvas was about six feet high. It blocked all my vision and I had a hard time holding it with the height of five feet five. The cumbersome wood frame got in my way and it jerked forward.

"Careful!" Someone got hold of the canvas saving my fall.

"Thanks—" err—

—Dylan was giving me a friendly smile.

Fastening my clasp on the canvas frame, fastening my mind, I tugged the frame over to my side. "It's okay, I can carry this. I don't need your help."

Dylan didn't let go. He pulled it over to him. "It's too big for you. Let me help you."

"No, it's alright." I yanked the frame close to me. I was not going to fall under this demon's trap. If I let him help me, he will take my soul.

"No, let me help." Dylan insisted.

"No."

"No. I'll help."

"No."

"No."

"No."

"No."

The seizing force increased with the number of 'No.' I did not hear the crack until the frame clean split in two.

Damn it! Ms. Alder will charge me for this!

"O—oh." The demon looked at the broken frame in his hands with remorse. "Sorry."

"Look what you've done." Tremors crept into my voice. "Why don't you just stay away from m—"

"Is that an order?"

Shit. If I order him and he does it, that will mean he does as I request, and I will be dead very soon. No, I can't let him.

Heaving up a long deep breath, I strongly said, "No." and snatched the broken frame from him going into the art room dreading Ms Alder's comment.

But those were only one of the first tragedies. Dylan and his dazzling face pestered me the whole day, made it harder for me to face people by --saving a seat, asking to be paired up with me in Chemistry so he could help with the titration experiment. At lunch, he bought the set and brought the tray over to our table, squeezing himself between me and Dale. I went white while my friends stared at me wide eyes trying to ask—especially Sonnia, being one of Dylan's admirers.

The demon put on his charming smile. "I am Leigh's body—"

"Body drawing!" I blurted out and spluttered. "I—I asked Dylan to be my drawing model! For—for the next project!"

I said it pretty loud so others who had or had not been straining their ears could hear as well. Some of Dylan's admirers nodded understandingly, Sonnia and Dale and Michelle too, whereas some retained their doubtful glances. I expelled my breath with tiredness and excused myself. Dylan tried to follow and I only prevailed his persisting pursuit via his admirers' help. They were swarming him wanting to know what kind of posture would he put on for my project.

It truly was a disastrous day. I dared not get too close to my friends afraid that they would ask more, while every one of Dylan's admirers tried to get to me to ask more stupid questions. The DWs, who were pretty much normal students now, looked at me dubiously. And Natalie and her friends were trying to eat me with their carnivorous eyes.

That was not even close to the end. When I thought the path was clear and was riding on my bike heading home, a black Porsche skidded in an ear-bled noise, halting at a mere hairsbreadth from the front wheel, convinced me for a moment that I was hit. Yet to be recovered from the shock, Dylan got down from the car, threw my bike into the back seat, and hauled me toward the black door. I resisted with all my might but was not able to fight his strength. He was able to ram me into the car and hurled the bold black door shut in the end.

I opened it again. But he was faster. He got into the driver seat and caught my wrist driving the car off with one door hanging about. The speed went up crazily fast.

"Stop! The door is open!" I shouted with fright.

"Then, close it."

"No! Stop! Stop!"

"Is that an order?"

He put a cork in my throat. It was as if he looked through my intentions and I had no choice but to do what he said. Pulling the door shut, I sat stiffly as the car accelerated.

"W—where are you taking me?"

"Home."

Riding a shotgun with Dylan was nothing to be enjoyed. I stole a look at the speed meter and my face went chill as if a block of ice attached to it. It said 310 km/h.

"C—can't you drive any slower?" Unlike the stillness of the ride, my voice wavered.

"It's too fast? Sorry, I'm used to flying." He said but did not slowdown.

The car pulled up in front of my house and I was more than glad to be able to get out. My legs shook and I almost threw up when my feet touched the grassy ground. It really did feel like flying in this car. The demon was unloading my bike and—what's that Louise Vuitton suitcases?

"What. Are. Those?" I asked, still found it hard to control my voice.

Dylan looked down at the suitcases raising his black brows. "Huh? This?" he said. "I'm moving in."

WTF?!

"I need to give you a lesson."

Chapter 6

A Witch Lesson

The demon barged into my house, somehow he was able to open the door without the keys—right, the lock is busted. I stumbled after him trying without much success in changing his mind.

"You can't! Mum's gonna kill me!" I begged and dragged and moaned and pulled.

"Your mother's not home Leigh."

I was stupefied at his information.

There was not much I could do later but watching Dylan settling in wherever he liked. I did not have any appetite for dinner so I just shut myself in my room until the demon intruded my territory again.

"Let's begin!" He announced.

I'd rather die now!

"Here." Dylan handed me a book—a notebook with scary brown leather cover. The writing inside of the cover said,

Rule of the Demon-Human Contract.

Nothing is free.

I gaped at the words did not know what to make of it as Dylan laughed. "It's funny, isn't it!"

I answered him 'N' and 'O' with my eyes.

"That's just a joke." Dylan said suppressing his chuckled. "It's just a normal notebook. It's my gift for you."

I could relax only a little. "Why would you give me a gift? I don't nee—"

"Oh, you'll need it." The demon said. "It's for our lesson."

I dreaded the word. "What...lesson?"

Dylan walked casually, yawned a bit, and dumped himself on my bed. "You are now a so-called witch. At least, that's what humans named people like you. You need to learn how to summon me when we're apart. And if you wish to know more, you can also learn how to—"

"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!" That was too fast. Did he say— "I'm a witch?"

"Yes." The demon continued. "I heard a lot of you were burned to death." He smiled a little.

Don't smile saying that kind of thing!

I went two shades whiter at the thought and wondered whether I would be burned at the stake too if people find out? But, hey, that was like—two or three hundred years ago. It's the digital era now! We are civilized. People don't believe in such superstition anymore. There's a scientific proof to that witches don't exist too!

Dylan fanned out his wings blowing all the consolations away and forced in the new not-quite-blissful knowledge that—

I am a witch!

"Shall we begin?" the demon said.

I spent the rest of the night scribing weird ruled shape consisting of circles, squares, triangles, curved lines and more on that notebook. Even though I was already good at drawing, scribing such complicated pattern with that face watching you all the time was not an easy job. Dylan make me memorized them and said that I had to draw the circle big enough for him to stand in order to summon him. We then went on to the weird tongue-twisted incantation of something like 'Ztsiu' or 'Wrhzo.' I spent the whole night with him studying all these—witchcrafts.

The sun had already risen when I was drawing the two-hundredth symbol. The yellow ray of hope shined through my gloomy mood and I finally made up my mind.

Peeping at Dylan who was still napping on my bed, I pranced with stealthy steps out of the room, out of the house. I reduced all the noises to minimal and started running as I stepped on the asphalted road. I could not take it anymore!

Fetching out the small piece of paper that Conner gave me, I followed the map. It was not far.

It turned out to be a half-neglected church which situated beside a remote graveyard. The cloudy sky and dense landscape transformed the construction into a haunted chapel and made me shivered. Taking in a deep breath, I exhaled the agitation cumulating inside, bolting up my courage. I needed to meet Conner getting some advice from him, or maybe get any holy stuff there if he was not in the building, be it a holy cross, holy water, holy bible, holy chair, holy table, holy shit!...—Sorry, that was not the shit that was holy but was for me running into the door.

The hinges did not grate in the damp weather. I peered inside the place rubbing my forehead at the same time. The hall seemed desert.

"Hello?"

It actually began to feel like those horror movie as the 'Hello' traveled from wall to wall in the empty room.

"Welcome."

I did not expect any reply so that 'Welcome' almost made me jump out of my skin. Seth, Phoebe and Conner appeared at the altar. I swung round and hit my arm with the oak pew as they advanced forward. "Wh—what do you want?"

"Oh, look, she scares." sneered Phoebe and I suddenly hated her.

"What's your problem?" I asked sarcastically.

"Hey, that's rude!" snapped the red maniac.

Seth dismissed Phoebe with a wave of his hand. "We're here to save you. We are your savior." He sounded so high and mighty, but it could not restore my confidence in them. Conner alone was okay. I did not expect to meet the other two. "Let's not waste time." He said coldly holding his look with mine. "You're Ziarre's contractor?"

Bewildered, I stared back at the amber eyeballs in disbelief. "B—b—bu—but—but how?! Are you also d—da—demon?"

"NO! WE'RE NOT!" Phoebe exploded scornfully, her face turned to her favorite color. "And you don't have to know HOW!"

Irritated, I ignored her.

"We can help you end this contract." Seth ignored her too and continued.

My mouth gaped stupidly in shock and I, busily confusing, forgot to pull the lower lip up. So many questions were harassing my brain-- how come Seth and his team talk to me?, how did they know things between Dylan and me?, why do they offer to end this stupid contract? I did not know the answers. And even though I wanted very much to care and doubt for their reasons, I could not, their offer blinded my judgment.

"Y—you can?"

"That's more like it!" Seth said it in monotone but he seemed to be pleased while both Phoebe and Connor also gave me a big grin. "Just kill him."

"KILL HIM?!" This guy's crazy! "You're kidding?!"

"No, we're not." confirmed Conner. And that's coming out of the man I thought was kind!

"B—but—but I can't kill him! That's bad a—and he's far stronger than me!!!"

"Yes, you can't, not without our helps." said Phoebe.

"You will...help me...kill him?"

"No." said Seth patiently. "We can help you with the plan, but you have to be the one who kill him or the contract won't break."

I observed the trio hesitantly. I had never killed a person and I confidently did not want to now. It is bad, very bad, no human on earth should do such thing. Groping for something to mask my indecisiveness, I asked, "Why do you guys want to help me anyway?"

"Aww..." Phoebe made a face that added my hatred to her. "It's just because you are such a pitiful being."

Pitiful being?

"So, are you in?" asked Seth with his icy tone.

No, of course not! I don't want to kill anybody. Ending the contract is all I need! Frustration reigned my head. I was torn between my desire and the moral conscience.

Six eyes fixated on me pressuring for my decision. So I made a simulation in my head to help me, picturing myself holding a knife, no, an axe, no, a gun—no, okay, I'll go with a sword, facing Dylan, I run the steel blade through him in slowmo. Water-clear blood splashes into my face drop by drop, ferrous-rich air stung my nose, and the demon falls down in heap, eyes filled with desperation, shrouded by death. A buzz ran through me and I choked and quailed at the too-real imagination. But I got an answer, eventually.

"I'm sorry. I can't do it."

Turning them down, I rushed out of the place without looking back.

Head still whirled with the cruel illusion, I ran faster trying to shift my mind to the legs movements. I found it really uncomfortable around the trio. They were strange and they gave out an evil kind of aura. How could they be the savior when I could not sense a tiny bit of safety and peace from them, especially Seth and Phoebe?

The church was soon left behind. The farther I went away from those freaks the more back-to-earth I felt. Far ahead, ominous clouds began to mass the sky which was losing its color gradually. Trees, big and small, swayed back and forth in the gale as if trying to humiliate my decision. Maybe, I should not have left the church after all.

Suddenly, lightning struck into a tree and it went up in fire. I was startled but was even more scared when I came into an open meadow where everything seemed to be rattling like my heart. The gale became so strong that it plucked off a big oak as easy as plucking a rose. I wide-eyed with horror at the crashing and the dirt were sprayed over me. Butas it always happened in the thriller movie...the worst was yet to come.

THUUUUUDDDD!!!!

There came the thunder. I was expecting that. But the sound still chilled me to the bones. THUD! THUD!! THUD!!! The noise echoed again and again. And it was getting weirder because...I think if I'm not wrong. It'slouder, as ifcloser?

The noise bothered me so much that, despite very scared, I could not resist not looking up into the dark grey sky.

I raised my head and my mouth fell open......

Is that possible?

No, nothing is logical in this world anymore. Take Dylan for example.

THUDD! THUUDD!! THUUDDD!!!

GGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!

It was a DRAGON!

Chapter 7

Jimmy

Ear-piercing squeal filled the sky. Like a sword, it ran through my head in a powerful single thrust. And I truthfully hoped that it could stab that dragon RIGHT NOW!

WTF! WTF! WTF!

WHAT THE FUUUUUUCK!!!!!!!

I screamed and ran across the meadow. But as my voice vibrated with the thudding of its wings, a very sensible thought caught meHey, maybe that dragon isn't following me after all? Maybe it's just passing by having a leisuring flight? Maybe if I scream or move too much I will annoy it?

I shut my mouth and whirled around at once facing the hideous creature. Stopping dead, I briefly wondered if I should play dead too, but play dead is with a bear! Okay, okay, let's play cursed into a stone!

Feeling the chill stinging on my skin, I stood still like a stone statue with sweat smells.

The creature was enormous! Its body was covered with thousands and thousands of brown scales which might be gold once, but time and dirt and grime and mosses had cooperated in dulling them. The spikes along its spine were sharp and crook. I did not think anybody could ride on those like in many movies. The thick tail, also with many of those sharp stalagmites, swooshed heavily in midair in accordance to the thudding wings. Its feet, if I looked very closely, was stained with dry blood and there was even a bone sticking in one of its claws. Whose bone it was I preferred to be kept in the dark about it.

I was taking in all of the detail of the dragon that I did not realize when it landed in front of mewait! In front of me?!

Bumped on the ground, the dragon roared the thunder-liked noise announcing its presence and shaking the vast land laid before it. The vibration rocked me up and down and made me want to throw up. Blood in my face evaporated into the air. The creature looked satisfied with the triumphant entrance before casting its red eyes down, coming back to its business which I thought was me. Seriously?!

White smoke puffed through red hot nostrils heating the surroundings. Its fiery eyes could not set fire in my body. Frozen still, I panicked and, little by little, my conscious tried to flee. The big monster inched forward bringing together its musty odor. The dragon lowered its head, sniffed around me, and grunted with disapproval. I started to relax when it did not do anything more than that. But as everI was wrong.

Out of the blue, it roaredinto my face.

Hot air steamed my flesh. I was convinced that it breathed fire for a moment and that I had already turned into Grilled-Leigh or Steamed-Leigh or even Burnt-Leigh. And I was not even talking about the horrible rotten meat smell.

Suddenly the sight of the dragon blurred and was replaced by pitch black curtains. I guessed I was already in the after-death because I found this place very cool and soothing. Warm beautiful melody floated faintly all around. I heard people talking to, but the pleasant voices were far in the distance so I could not make out words.

The peace did not last long. Earthquake came and I thought they were sending me to hell. I did not yell because I could not utter my voice. The shaking went on for a long while until I felt like my head was going to fall off. With that one last jerk, I was brought back to senses and the awareness that I was not dead and Dylan was holding onto my shoulders shaking me out of my shit, his black wings spread behind protecting us both from the dragon.

"Leigh! Leigh!" His voice started to sound rather irritated than melodious.

"Yes! Yes!" I replied adjusting to the reconnected senses.

Dylan blew a whistle, "I thought that you'd already gone out of your mind seeing Jimmy."

"Jimmy? Who's Jimmy?"

The demon raised his black hand pointing right at the hideous dragon. And it snorted back at him.

"This guy's Jimmy." said Dylan "Seth's dragon pet."

"Dragon? Pet?" Okay, okay, slow down Leigh"Can one have dragon as a pet?"

"Sure!" Dylan nodded vigorously.

"Where can you get them?" I knew this was not the time to ask but sorry it really bugged me.

"Well, you can ask Seth if you want one."

So the guy's a dragon agent.

Jimmy roared again to get attention. His bone-breaking howl sent hairs on the back of my neck stood up straight and I shrieked, pressing both hands on both of my ears, and curled like a frying shrimp. Dylan faced the dragon trying to say something to it through the deafening noise. He then spread out his black beautiful wings and hurled them elegantly.

Fierce strong wind forced Jimmy to shut up and retreat. It was irritated and snarled at the demon viciously. In the little hot brain of him, no one was better than dragons, and sure, not this tiny no-name demon. He had met this folk somewhere before, yes, he had. But at the time it was so fast that he could not catch it. Not this time, though! This time he will catch and smash it! And master will touch his head!

Jimmy was very much encouraged by the thought of Seth's white and cold hand on his hot head. It opened its mouth as wide as it could, at the same time, huge column of flame blazed through air, right toward Dylan. There was some sort of blur and I felt the lift. I saw later that the demon was carrying me out of the fire path. He held me so tight and tighter even when the crazy dragon seemed to have fun breathing fire. Both black-feathered wings spread wide covered both of us as the orange flame broke out on them. For a second, I thought we were at the sun.

"A—are—are you—" I looked through the feather alarmingly watching the fire danced on his wings.

"Don't worry. This guy's fire's just a baby toy. Can't even heat my pinky."

I did not know how to explain my feeling after hearing that. I was part scared, part relieved, part comfortable, part confuse. Most of all, I did not know when did I begin to be less scared of Dylan.

"This stupid lizard!" Dylan grounded his teeth. Looked like Jimmy succeeded in getting him annoyed. "I have to teach him some lesson!"

For a split second when the fire stopped, Dylan unfolded his flying instrument and darted quickly to the dragon kicking it hard in the ass. Jimmy choked on its fire and cried out in pain. Plume of black smoke flew everywhere.

"Stop it! You'll hurt this person." said Dylan pointing at me. "You guys are not allowed to hurt human, remember?"

Jimmy gagged on his amber flame and howled out in pain, plume of black smoke flew everywhere. It looked at Dylan with pure fire of hatred.

"Go! Go back to your place!" said the demon again with great command.

The last word from the black demon was like fuelsa silky liquid, grade A petroleum that was trapped deep down in the center of the earth. Jimmy jolted back a little at first but decided to fight in the end. That was why the fuel words resulted in another big ball of fire, several roars, and many slashes.

The dragon attacked like mad. Big rough tail whipped here and there without navigation. The barb struck and dragged the land forming wide canals. Many trees went down. Deadly claws swung about the air, like a Viking boat rocking on the sea, piercing through trunks and shredding them like tissue papers. The bone stuck between filthy nails was flung up into the sky and immediately burnt down into ashes by continuous fury fire. Dylan was yawningyes, yawning, acting as though this was just a child play. He jumped right and left easily avoiding the blows. This insane one-side fighting went on for a while. My eyes followed both around-the-clock. Dylan's boring face was such a contrast to the seriousness of the situation.

"What's with this stupid dragon?" Dylan scoffed and flew aside as the boredom got over him. Jimmy rocketed along persistently. Dylan, having more than enough, drew out both black hands. Dark blue pole-liked something appeared there. It shimmered like water on the surface and darted swiftly forward and hit Jimmy.

Bone breaking sound reverberated the air. It was so disheartening as I saw the muddy dragon fell. Its massive trunk hit the ground. Left wing tattered, right wing which hit the earth shredded like dangling clothes. On its huge underbelly was a wound, bleeding. Dylan landed on the ground rushing to my side.

"Oh, I may have overdone it!" exclaimed the demon.

Amongst the scarlet blood, Jimmy tried to stand up again. It was now piercing a malicious look at us. I had to shift behind Dylan.

The dragon clenched its dangerous fangs. It tried to roar but could only growl, which I imagined goes like this

No, this cannot happen! I cannot lose to such tiny demon. I'm a dragon, master's DRAGON! We are the greatest in the world. Humans are scared of us! Demons are scared of us! Even other dragons are scared of us! This is a shame! No! I could not let this happen! Master will punish me. Master will not like me! Master will hate me! He will not pet me again! OH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"That's enough Jimmy."

Cold icy voice extinguished all the fire that was burning inside Jimmy. Seth Lee and his friends appeared behind his dragon without warning.

Jimmy whined like a baby. That whine could have meant many things. Perhaps Jimmy was greeting his master, perhaps it was for the pain, or perhaps he was afraid to see Seth.

"Never mind," said Seth but he did not pet the dragon, "I won't blame you. I underestimated that demon. It's not your fault."

Jimmy cried as if understood what Seth had just said and lay down to rest.

The snow boy then turned to us and I saw Dylan's face tightened. Seth merely gave out such a sharp stare which was like a fierce cold disturbing wind before walking away.

After Seth departed with his team and Jimmy limping away after them, I slowly exhaled all the air stuck inside and plunged onto the ground. I just had no more strength to stand.

Dylan sat down with me, and gave a beautiful smile. "So, are you okay?"

I nodded. "Don't you want to follow them? They almost killed you with that dragon."

Dylan shook his head. "No, it won't be any good messing around Seth Lee, especially now that he knows about our contract. And I think it's you he wanted to kill."

I choked. "What?! What have I done to him?"

"Not you. Me."

Dylan refused to talk anymore and it grew a bit awkward in this silence. I started up brushing dirt out of my pants and said shyly. "Umm, thank you. How did you find me anyway?"

The demon gave me a dazzling smile. "My friends told me."

"Your friend?"

He nodded getting so excited at the mention. "Do you want to meet them?"

It was peculiar. I did not feel like I hate or fear the demon anymore. The unease was lift and went with Jimmy. So I followed the demon into a forest, to meet his friends. As trees got denser, I wondered if I made the right decision.
Chapter 8

The Forest Demons

I waded through groves of trees, got stung by thorns and disconcerted at any faint noises.

Bushes moved and I attached myself to Dylan. Temporarily found him as a sanctuary. "So—something—something's over th—there—"

We stood looking tensely in that direction. My wet palm held onto his shirt. A grey skinny wolf with hungry eyes trod out of the thick of wood. Dylan straightened up and smiled.

"Dylan?" A rough voice was coming from the wolf's direction. I strained my sight trying to see the person who was walking behind that dog.

The wolf came forth, shook its shaggy bodies and threw itself on its hind legs. Very fast, its fur melted together and became one smooth piece of lighter skin. In no time, it had the torso and lower body of a human while the sharpness of the claws and fangs, the fluffy ears, and the tail remained. The guy standing in front of us spoke the same voice I heard before.

"Hello, Dylan."

Hell! It's a werewolf!

"Cody!" Dylan beamed and hugged the werewolf. They exchanged a few words of greetings before the werewolf observed me with the same hungry eyes.

"This is Leigh." said Dylan. "My contractor."

Cody bore his fangs at me, wait—is he smiling? "Cody, wolf demon, nice to meet you."

"A—wolf demon?"

"Of course! What do you think I am? Puppy demon?" Cody laughed. His strong dog smell made me took a few steps back. But I could not take my eyes off of those cute fluffy ears, I wanted to touch it so bad. No, it's too risky. "Come on, let's go in." He said. "Your wings look burnt too Dylan, let us get you some herbs."

I looked at Dylan astonishingly. So he was hurt from Jimmy's fire after all. "Are—are you alright?" I asked. It was partly my fault.

Dylan smiled. "I told you it's nothing."

Cody led way deep into the shrubs. I looked about nervously wishing someone could tell me where we were going. Taking out an iPhone, I took photos of the surroundings so I could remember the way back, like when we do at a parking lot. My attempt was in vain. All of the photo of trees and trees failed to hint me of where I was. I soon lost the tracks. If the demons were to keep me in here or eat me, this was their best chance.

We went into a thick barrier of hedge-like things and after seeing only leaves for a few minute, we came into an opening.

If I was to tell you what this place was like, it was not big, not small, but spacious enough. Although the whole place was covered with tree canopies, but there was sufficient sunlight coming through chinks. Plants were soft and inviting and their gentle green made the place looked like a fantasy land.

There were all kinds of animals, bears, rabbits, deer, birds, ravens, wolves that stood up like Cody, andWTF!...is this real?

That guy's lower part was like a horse...what do they call?Centaur?

And the ones beside him were...half goats?

Seriously...now that I looked carefully, there was Legolas or maybe it was just his friend sitting under a big tree.

What more, they were doing something like a CSR work, planting trees. This is absurd!

I was going to disappear into the hedges again when all the weirdoes spotted us and came running at Dylan. I was pushed aside and ignored. He was popular even among creatures.

"I'm so glad you visit us!" A small Legolas boy jumped at the demon. He turned his big bulbous green eyes keenly at me next. "Hello." He said.

"Hehell" Yeah, hell! "Hello. Areare you an elf?" It was a stupid question. Obviously, he was an elf with those pointed ears.

"Oh," Dylan swiveled his head around. "This is Chane. He's a tree demon, or what human called elf, yes."

"Nice to meet you." Chane said and extended his tiny hands at me. I was obliged to take it.

Tree demon!? "Ninice to meet you. I'm Leigh." I looked about wondered if I should add my status. I didn't want to say it but would I get out alive if I didn't? "Dylan's contractor."

That drew a big smile and gleaming eyes out of Dylan and a Woo-hoo like something out of the creatures. The weirdoes were in awe. That seemed to get me more attention than I needed. They circled me and soon I was in the middle of demons. A few butterflies swarmed my head. When they were close enough, I saw human figures instead of those insects'. I screamed again. "Fairies!"

"Flower demons." One of them corrected me with tiny voice.

My head spun like a fairiesno, ferris wheel but a hundred time faster. "If...if you're flower demons, Cody's wolf demon, then" I rotated my eyes at the half humans. "They are horse demons and goat demons, and" I stared at Dylan. "You are a bird demon!"

"Sort of." said Dylan.

"And I'll have a dozen contracts now!"

"You can only have one contract at a time." I heard Dylan said but the other demons already came taking my hands.

"If Dylan brings you here, you must be a good human. Let's go plant trees together!" Chane said.

Later, while Dylan was taken away to cure the wings, I found myself doing the CSR work too. Chane kept passing me young plants he produced out of his hands. They were smaller comparing to those from older elves. Dirt hid in my nails as I dig the soil with my bare hands. The tip of my finger went red at the fifth tree, while Cody and other demons with claws still worked untiringly.

Soft soil stabbed my thumb when a dark shadow towered me, Dylan squatted down and took my hand. It was definitely weird. He looked so happy and there was a twinkle in his eyes. We held our gazes. And I thought I was going into some kind of trouble. "Let me help." He said and scooped out the soil with such easiness. He helped me lower the young plant in the hole and we filled it. I suddenly felt like I had done a lot of good deeds.

"How do you like forest demon's job?" He asked.

"You mean planting the trees?" I said and he nodded. "Isn't that supposed to be human's job?"

"No. Your job is to destroy." I almost choked. But he said it with such a smile that it didn't feel like we were blamed at all. So I went along.

"Oh. You fix the forest. Good. Good job. So Liked!" It sounded like we human were the villain here, not the demon. WTF?

Dylan didn't seem to get my sarcasm. "I didn't help them that much. I hardly visit a forest."

I was going to ask what he meant when a scream struck somewhere in this tree globe. We turned around and saw the demons back away from something. A female centaur screamed. "Evil!"

It sounded very strange with demon talking about evil. "What else can there be except..." I pushed myself to the front, heard a rustle and a goat...no, faun, no, half a faun, was inching out of the deep wood. Half right of his body showed the background of the trees and the other half was bathing in blood. My face was frozen at the horror scene. The half faun fell down as he saw us. He had the eyes of the death.

All the forest demon went silence. A wolf nibbled at my shirt and slowly dragged me out of the front line. The hedges, which I now saw could move, parted and closed down leaving the half faun body out of the circle. Dylan got hold of me and looked tensely in that direction. The others were shivering.

"It's been going on for two weeks now." said a centaur with fear in his voice. "Something is killing demons in the forest."

"We'd better not go out of the circle anymore." said one of the wolves with rough voice.

"Leigh." Dylan called and I answered to him obediently. After seeing that half faun walking, I was willing to do anything to get me out of here fast. So when he said, "If you don't want me to move in, at least have Stix and his friends with you. They can look after you for me." I agreed without any rejection. Four ravens came flying and Dylan introduced the second one as Stix. They all looked the same to me.

Dylan thanked the forest demons. I did the same as Chane told me to take care and thanked me for being kind to Dylan. Did I? He hoped I could continue being good to the black demon. I was super confused now. Trying to run away from him means I'm being good to him?

The demon suddenly scooped up my leg. And when I got back my sight, I was already gliding above the ground in his embrace with Stix and his friends following behind. I wanted to struggle. But considering the distance between me and the ground, I'd better pass this time.

I looked up and saw Dylan's pretty face. Even from this angle, he was still so beautiful. His pearl skin was so smooth that it almost lured me to touch. Black hands that held me weren't as scary as I used to think. They were soft and glitter like starry night sky. From this point, I could see some part of his sparkling blue green eyes. I looked absent-mindedly at those jewels until my cheeks felt hot. And it wasn't long before the heat spread all over my face. It was really hard to breathe and my heart beat was getting heavy. OMG! No! I can't feel this way! He's...not human! He's nothing but a burden to my normal life!

"Are you alright?" asked the demon suddenly.

I was startled and stuttered. "Wwhat?"

"Your face's red. Are you having a fever?"

I looked away. "Nno! I'm fine."

I could see that Dylan wasn't totally convinced of what I'd said. I swerved my concentration at the panorama view to get rid of anymore weird thoughts. It wasn't that bad with green hills and houses dotted here and there.

This surely was troublesome. I could feel my annoyance with the demon and my desire to end the contract dwindled. A thought that Dylan and the forest demons could be my friends or that they were nice flashed through my head. It was a queer feeling. I was so confuse and not sure what to do next. Get an 'A' in the witch's lesson? Ha ha, very funny!

The journey was fast. It lasted only about one minute, right at the time when I started to fall asleep. Dylan chose the window as an entrance again.

He put me down on my bed, took off my shoes and tucked me in my blanket. I tried to get up but he pushed me down again and again.

"Hey!" I was getting miffed.

"Just lie down for now." said Dylan and placed his black hand on my forehead. "Your head is warm."

"I'm fine!" I tried to fight.

"No. you're not, I know...everything that happened today's too much for you. You just have to slowly take it in. Just take a break today."

I was about to contradict again but he'd got some point. Maybe everything's too much for me. Maybe I really am having a fever. Maybe I should rest for now.

I lay down and closed my eyes.

"Sweet dreams."

The demon crooned the spell before I lost into my slumber. I felt so relax and comfortable as if I was lying on a beautiful sandy beach. Warm sea breeze blew across my face, took away all the bad memories.

Chapter 9

Ravenous

Missed calls from Dale, Sonnia, and Michelle filled up my i6 screen. They sent messages too asking if I was okay, and that if I wasn't, I should rest for a few days. They were pretty worried since I did not show up yesterday and was dogged by Dylan the day before. I did not reply them. I had to cook up a new excuse for my absence first.

After a day and a night of slumber, I woke up feeling oddly ravenous. I wasn't sure why I had black out for so long. Dylan's traces had all vanished from the house. I was extraordinarily cheerful even though my stomach was protesting about not getting any food for two days. It was as if my life from now on had come back into its place. Yea...until the 'Aaa' blared into my face and the four ravens filed themselves on the branch of a pine tree in my front lawn.

So raven-ous!

"Morning." I said to the ravens dourly. The bread in my mouth suddenly tasted bitter despite the honey I put on earlier. They were going to stick with me all the time from now on. I had better make friends with them now.

The ravens Aaa-ed in answer and stole the bitter sweet bread from my mouth.

There was an out-of-place atmosphere since I arrived at school. I chained my bike and looked about timidly. It was like the first day at school, except that on my first day, I did not have four ravens flying after me. Odder still was when I found that my locker was a center of attention. Sonnia, Dale, and Michelle were among there too. I swam through the people, forgot about the number of excuses that were floating in my head, wondering what again.

"Leigh, there's some weird smell coming out of your locker." Jessie said and I had to push faster to get to the center.

"Leigh." Sonnia pointed at the stinking box folding her nose.

I inched near it with uncertainty. I was sure I hadn't left any food or unwashed socks in there. The metal door grated slowly as hundreds of rotten eggs poured out. Everybody was at their limits and had to back away at the foul stench.

"Who did this?" Sonnia said through her pinched nose and grinding teeth. She leaned away trying to keep her white short clean.

Michelle, a lot cleverer, covered hers with a handkerchief. "Did you leave lots of eggs in there?" Well, not a very clever question.

"Hell, no!" I said.

The bell rang and I decided to leave it like that for the time. There was only one textbook in there. Besides I wasn't sure how to clean the mess. Maybe I would be able to think of something after class. I turned my head and walked brusquely to Chemistry with Dale.

With Dale by my side, my mind settled with reassurance in spite of the ravenous morning and the locker incident. It had been a while since the two of us last do things together, be it just walking. Because of that charity concert, Dale had been very busy practicing and organizing every bit of it. I really missed the time when we played, having only each other, not worrying about anything, the time when dad was still alive.

I slid the classroom door opened. A tiny piece of wire sprang pass my face and a bucket showered me with tomato sauce. I was sure it was tomato sauce. God, please let it be tomato sauce!

"What!" Dale yelled wiping a few red drops on his face.

What...is...this?

"Someone is not happy with you Leigh," Jessie who was standing behind Dale said something I already knew. Some of the tomato sauce sprayed on her white trousers too. "that you ask Dylan to be your drawing model. You know, Dylan is public property."

What?!

Jessie sounded very much like she was one of the culprits. But I knew that she was just trying to warn me. This was why I did not want to be friend with popular people. I knew they were public properties and some of the fans had a very frightening possessive disorder. If only I knew who did this, I would be more than grateful to give him, no it should be her, Dylan's contract. I would even add a hundred bucks. That if I could transfer the contract. Maybe I can talk to Dylan about this?

"I'm going to wash." I told them plainly and went off without looking into anybody eyes.

It was going to be hard to wash was all I thought the whole way to the toilet. Red dollops dripped and trailed along the route and I looked like a heavily injured people in the mirror. I put my head under a tap seeing the water went red like blood. Pink droplets raced across my forehead into my eyes. When I was rubbing them, somebody grabbed my wet hair and pulled. I did not get a chance to see who it was when my head was submerged under the sickening toilet water. I held onto the disgusting bowl trying to fight.

"Your head's still dirty." The person said and I heard laughs. It was hard to make out whether it was a girl or a guy voice with my head under the water.

The bully hauled my head up and I seized the chance to breathe. My face found itself under the stinking water again only after a few seconds. The bully laughed harder she or he almost seemed mad. I really hoped that the person who used this toilet before me had flushed everything out clean.

"Leigh! Leigh! Are you alright?!" Dale's voice was distant. But it was enough to release my head from the freakish controller. Then, I heard his footsteps coming into the girl's loo.

Dale crouched and put his hands on my shoulders. I took in a new big lot of fresh air. I knew I was in a restroom, sitting beside a toilet bowl. But anybody who had not had a proper breath for more than a minute would find the air here perfectly refreshing.

"Fuck, the!"

Dale swore at the footsteps scuttling out of the restroom hurriedly. The bully was hiding in the other toilet room. We only got a glimpse of white cloth (again? I started to hate white.) and he went after her or him. I washed my face thoroughly at the tap again and followed him. I wanted, at least, to see the face of the malefactor behind my misfortune. We met a pair of the DW members.

"It's you!" Dale said suddenly judging only by the cloth's color. He had a slim body, arms and legs were those of musician. He had no muscles to support when he punched at one of the DW. The guy took his hit directly, didn't budge a bit. Dale must have hurt his hand because he winced.

The DW guy emitted a killing aura. His eyes turned menacing. "You're a dead man."

All I knew was I stood in horror for the next five seconds which seemed like eternity watching Dale got punched and kicked. His mouth was now covered with the tomato sauce. When I recovered from the shock, I dived between them shouting "Enough! Enough! It's a misunderstanding!"

Something seemed to block their ears. I guessed it was anger. The DW pushed me aside and carried on with the one-side fight.

The unpleasant odor of the toilet was taken over by the equally unpleasant ferrous-rich air. The smell of blood was heavier. There was also no other noises but Dale's cough. Everybody was already in class and the staff didn't want to have a go with the DW no matter what. I could only pray for miracle for Dale now.

Puffing up my chest, I charged into the chaos again with dry and hoarse yells. The DWs were tired of pushing me so they punched me.

I closed my eyes tight but didn't feel the hit. The DW surely took too long to hit a girl. Or maybe moral was suddenly born in them. I peeked and my hypothesis was proven wrong.

His arms were, like mine and Dale's, thin, and his body showed no athletic sign. They were the shape of an artist, but Conner held the fist of the DW in place. And the guy seemed to have a hard time resisting Conner.

Conner finally let go. The DWs clenched their hands, frustrated, and walked away without saying another word. Conner was like a savior for a second there. "Are you okay?" He asked kindly and I felt so grateful that my fear toward him vanished into the air. I nodded, began to feel I could rely on him, but he too, walked away without another word as I did.

I was brought back to Dale again. He was moaning in the blood pool on the floor. Okay, okay, I did overstate that but how could I do else? He was so battered up. "Dale!"

"...'M..o..ay" Dale was trying to said with shattered lips. His fingers that touched the swollen face bounced back as if met by hot melt lava. A few drop of tears escaped my eyes without knowing seeing him.

"Oh my Satan! Leigh!" Dylan appeared at that instant.

This is the worst! Why does he have to show up now? When I cry? Oh, bother!

I rubbed the tears out quickly, reasserting my previous self. "I'm alright. I'm taking Dale to the infirmary."

"Then, I'll go with you!"

We were in silence until the nurse finished with Dale's wound. She gave him two more Paracetamol and two more anti-septic, and asked him to lie down in the infirmary for a few hours. So I left with Dylan.

"I'm sorry I was late." Dylan said suddenly. "I couldn't help Cartner."

"That's alright." It was good Conner was the one who saved us. Or I would have to pay the demon the price of my life!

The first hour had already ended. Students flowed out of the square doors in stream. Adam, Rose, Jaden and their classmates just came in by the front gate, back from PE, sweating in their white PE shirt. Dylan walking with me caught all their attention. They murmured and stared. Then, the crowd parted way for the Queen and her friends to come up front. They all dressed in theme today. "Nurse", I thought, because all the skirts were tight and white. Natalie shook the fold out of her short skirt and stood with one hand rested on her hip.

White... But so many people dressed in white today.

"What do you think you're doing hanging onto Dylan?"

That voiceit's definitely her. Well, it could be her.

Natalie went on saying. "You can't keep Dylan to yourself! You have nothing to match him! I'm a lot prettier than you!"

What the?It must be her!

The Queen nudged Dylan intentionally and gave him a sugar-coated eyes before advancing on to me. Her sugar-coated lapsed into X-Men's Cyclops' laser beam. Argh! Somebody put a sunglasses on her!

She shoved my elbow and said nastier things, something like I made myself look pitiful and tried to lure Dylan with my painting skill. Nonsense! There were too many, too dirty, and too stupid to remember or even listen. Natalie's glossy lips flapped open and close with such speed. It blurred my concentration. For god sake! Are you crazy! Don't you have better things to do?

I could only scream to myself. So pissed was I that the Queen's presence and the crowd could no longer threaten me. I was going to have a go at her. I would fight until one of us die if that's what she wanted.

"That's enough Natty." Dylan interjected unexpectedly. My tongue was held by what he said next. "I help Leigh because she's my friend too. And I don't like it that you bully her."

The Queen was taken aback. I, too. But I regained myself first and used my arm to keep Dylan out of me and the Queen. "I can deal with this." I said defiantly.

"No." Dylan said. "I won't just stan..."

I inserted trying not to let him spoke anymore. "It's ok. I"

"No, it's not."

"Yes, believe me. The QNatalie and I are good friends."

"No, we're not!" The Queen squeaked, curling her upper lip in disdain.

God! Why can't you just get along? I thought feeling rather fed up.

"Just let me talk to Natty, Leigh. I believe she will understand." Dylan said again. "Let me help..."

That's the thing I fear! "No! Don't help me..."

Dylan grabbed me and covered my mouth shut with his big hand. I looked at him in alarm, so did the Queen and other people, as he dragged me away out of the exit, into the parking lot. He let me go there.

"What do you think you're doing" I started to complain.

"It's not good like this Leigh." Said Dylan. "Natty won't let you go. You should go home today."

I didn't get to say anything else when he called Stix and friends, and the four ravens came gliding down. They pecked my back forcing me to move forward and walked out of the school. As soon as Dylan was out of sight, I said. "Okay, okay. That's enough! Let it go Stix!"

So Stix stopped pecking but his friends went on. I ground my teeth. "And your friends too."

My back ached and I swiped my hands on them to soften the pain. The ravens flew ahead and went up high into the sky.

Potentilla blossomed yellow in the small square garden of the houses. It reminded me that I should bring a bouquet of flowers for Dale. It would make him feel refreshing even with that face. The summer flowers colored the path and the atmosphere became a little more warm. The view was nice until two big muscular men narrowed the already narrow street.

"Erm excuse"

One of them had a beard and tiny eyes while the other had sunglasses on so I didn't know the size of his eyes. The bearded guy's glances flicked from sideway to sideway, at the same time; the other observed me. I didn't know who were they and didn't get to finish what I was saying when the bearded guy yanked both of my arms behind; pressed a smelly dirty handkerchief on my mouth. Eyes wide with horror, I struggled to breathe and kicked wherever my legs got. The sunglasses guy punched me in my stomach, muted the voice muscle as I curled like a millipede. My lips mouthed 'Ow' silently. Everything was so fast and they were too strong. I didn't get a chance to react or even think! And ouch...the second punch...that hurts.

The sky was raven-ous as Stix and his friends flew in circle and cried aloud in alarm like siren. It was like something even worse was going to happen. And for the moment I was really ravenous for some luck.

Chapter 10

Worse than Demons

The pain dispersed and melded with fear. Such revolting mixture froze my body but stimulated my heartbeats in which its loud and jerky noises cloaked my eardrums. Holding my breath, I was able to move less. There must be some anesthetic in that dirty cloth like in movies so I had better not breathe it in. But my best record at breath-holding was only thirty seconds and that was with lung packed with oxygen and staying still. Fright and panic had already reduced my limit to only five seconds and I began to sniff.

The bearded guy tied my ankles and wrists keenly while the other put a big cloth bag over my head. Gnashing my teeth with the sting, the agony, the fear, and the grudge, I could merely watch unable to do anything. Everything felt so numb. I couldn't manage to think of a single joke to make me feel better. Finally, they tied the knot and carried me up. I stayed as still as I could. Partly, because it was really hurt and I was so scared.

This is serious, right? Not just a film-shooting or reality TV show?

I half entered into a trance. The drug must have already taken its effect. My eyelids seemed to gain weight while I tried my hardest to resist. I couldn't fall asleep now. Or I wouldn't get to wake up again!

I have to call now. Call Dylan. Before everything's too late. Isn't the contract with demon for a moment like this? I have to use him at last. I wanted to sigh but I couldn't. Shit!

Eyes were almost fully shut when I tried to raise my hand and realized they were tied. Ow, shit!

It was too late as darkness devoured on me.

A thudding sound waked me up. But I wasn't sure if it was just a dream because it was pitch black.

The clattering noise continued as I scanned through the curtain of darkness. Slowly, I could feel my hands in a weird angle...and there...legs. Ok. Let's see if this really is a dream or not.

Two fingers pinched on my thigh.

Ouch. So this isn't a dream! Then where am I? Why is everything so dark?

I got up and earned in return another big OUCH!!!!

My head bumped into something solid right above. So I'm lyingbut in what? Why does it seem so narrow?!

I swept my hand all over the place and found that both of my wrists were still tied and jammed up against my body. Wedged in a tiny space, I started to feel pins and needles rushing up from the feet. I tried to get my hands out of the rope, succeeded with more pain and blood. At least, they were free now.

One more thing I knew was, I was still in a cloth bag. I grabbed part of the fabric as much as the space allowed my hand to move, flinched at my chafed wrist, and used all my power to tear it out. Putting the cloth away from my sight, I tried to get up again and got another bump with the confining wall. I squinted at the pain on my forehead and reached out. This place was so small and the walls were closed in in every direction. It's like...like...I'm lying in a very small box of my size. Like...like...don't tell me this is a coffin!?!?

And that constant irritating noise...don't tell me they're burying me alive!?!?!?

No, no, think on the bright side...I CAN'T THINK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE! IT'S SO DARK HERE!

I began to get really scared.

Panic-stickened, I screamed as hard as I could, heaving breath in and out, banging and kicking this deadly box at the firmly nailed lid. I groped for whatever I could but only emptiness and splinters answered. Why do they have to do this to me? What have I done wrong?

"Hey! Let me out! Don't do this please!!!" I shouted in vain, voice rasping, hoping that the person who's burying me would hear and had a little mercy. I'm just sixteen, have never done bad things. Why do I have to die so young?!

"Please..." Tears trickled down from fear. Despair wore on my face. I didn't know what to do but kept on banging the lid with faltering hope. My hands went from hurt to numb. Splinters got into my fingers. I couldn't move. I couldn't get out. And it was getting harder to breathe. Seconds ticked by as I felt the coffin size's decreased. Does it shrink? Yes, it must be shrinking! Why else would I feel so cramped in here if it isn't getting smaller? And the scraping sound was drawing further away. I must be very deep under the earth by now.

I thought of mum. What would she think if she doesn't see me at home? What would my friends think when I suddenly disappear. Dale must be mad that I haven't even said goodbye to him. I'm sorry. Why can't I just have one last chance to bid farewell to all my loved ones?

Despair swallowed me down. I couldn't even summon Dylan here. There wasn't enough space to draw the symbol. But I sincerely hope that I could call him, could ask for his help now. Either way I would die, but calling Dylan would give me a chance to say goodbye to mum and Dale.

"Dylan."

As if that would help I thought glumly. But whispering Dylan's name, in some way, made me feel better.

BANG!!!!!

A deafening noise echoed from above and my heart skipped a beat.

What's happening?

BOOM!!!!

Are they exploding this place?! No! Burying me alive is bad enough!! Don't kill me with bombs!! I don't want any more pain!

I snapped my eyes shut wanted to see no more while the succession of crashes went on. No matter what's going to happen. I'm just gonna let it end while I'm imagining about my loved ones.

An unexpected crack blared in front of me. My eyes automatically opened wide with fright and terror. I saw the coffin lid wrenched off and was ripped away with great force. Light poured in, briefly blinded me. A familiar pretty face showed up amongst dusts and soils that flew all over the place, and a black hand reached in and pulled me up into its owner warm embrace. A musical note echoed beside my ear. "Leigh!"

"Dylan!" I cried the demon's name out with warm-hearted feeling for the first time. An explosion of relief made me burst into tears. I'm still alive! I couldn't stop trembling, couldn't control the outpouring emotions.

"It's ok. You're safe now." Dylan's voice was calm and composed.

I let it all out. Both hands gripped the dangerous monster firmly. Never once in my life that I thought us humans were scarier than this creature. Yet we truly are. We mercilessly kill our own kind, kill each other. We are even worse than demons.

Chapter 11

At Steak Stake

Rare? Medium-rare? Well done?

"How would you like yours done?"

"Stix and friends love it raw. I'll have medium-rare please."

I lined the plates of meat slices in front of the ravens. The biggest, most expensive piece went to Dylan. These were my thanking gift for them as a replacement for my soul. Dylan told me that it was Stix that went and told him I was kidnapped. He lectured me for an hour about drawing the summoning symbol and carried on telling me the advantages of having Stix around.

"Weren't you lucky? That I helped you on time?" Dylan put another piece into his mouth. "Umm...this is good!"

I was wondering about demons' foods when I heard the word 'help.' My auto-response was turned on. "II didn't ask you to come!" And suddenly felt bad because if it weren't for him, I would be a soulless body by now.

"Okay. Okay." Dylan said and continued with his food. "But it was nice hearing you call my name. It was the first time!" He smiled "Call me again, come on." I shied away and ignored him.

Stix's friend number 3 that's what I called them now asked for more meat. He sure ate a lot! Unlike me, I had no appetite. My tongue tasted like earth.

"By the way," said Dylan. "What did you do to them? Why did they want to kill you?"

"Only God knows!"

"You mean Satan."

"What?"

"Never mind." Dylan went on. "You've never done anything to them?"

I shook my head until it was going to fall off. Dylan lost in his thought for a while and came out with a conclusion that got me even more confused. "You humans are so weird!"

I thought I wasn't weird and Stix's friend number 4 requested a refill. "They're yummy, are they not?" I said to him. "I'm glad that at least you eat like us."

"Who told you that?" Dylan talked again. "Only small creatures like Stix and friends eat like you. I don't!" And I watched him munching on the tenderloin with disbelief. "Soul's my only food. I'm only eating this for fun, for a change."

I almost fainted. Is he keeping taps?!

But nothing happened and Dylan left, trusting me with the ravens again. Since then, I allowed them in the house during meals. The birds proved themselves useful and reliable. I was still in the dark about who did that to me. Bully at school was ok but hiring someone to kill me was probably too far. Maybe it was the Queen, it seemed kind of her thing.

I decided to go to school the next day despite the demon's advice. I couldn't stand stepping out of the house after dark. But the fear couldn't hold me back during day time; I needed to go see Dale.

I opened the kitchen window and called the ravens for breakfast. I gave them each a piece of bread. They all aa-ed in joy. Actually, they are pretty cute.

Stix took place on my shoulder on the way. The other three were flying closely behind my back. It may be a weird sight. But, it was actually kind of cool and fun having them close by.

Stix aa-ed at his friends next to my ear. I blenched. "Ow, Stix!"

The bird nudged his beak and head against my cheek like a cat purring at its owner. Oh my god, I started to love them!

The other ravens wanted attention too. They tried to find space to sit on my body. One got the other shoulder. One got my head. One couldn't find anywhere and kept hovering in front of my face. Stix got jealous suddenly and the bird fight began around my head.

"Stop!" I yelled, only once, and they did stop obediently. "Good boy." I added. They all resumed their positions. Not bad! Having clever, obedient birds as pet. I could enjoy this!

So I played with them. No, more like they played with each other and I had fun watching, giving comments sometimes. We had become good friends in such a short distance. And when the gate came into sight, I told the ravens to hide.

They made me happy. And I walked into the school with a small smile on my face, temporarily forgot the dead box experience. I was pretty confident. If anyone bullied me again today, I would just give them the I-don't-care attitude. They would soon be bored and I would be free. Oh yeah, that is only if I could keep Dylan out of this too. He would just make the mess messier.

Dale was at the music club alone working on the itinerary for the concert with a bloated face. Half of his cheek was under a white plaster. "Dale."

Dale made a twisting face. I took a few seconds to realize he was smiling. "Leigh!"

"Your faceare you alright?"

"Not a big problem. It will get better before the concert." He said. "By the way, where were you yesterday? When I woke up, Sonnia said that you already went home."

I avoided his eyes. "Um...yea. School's become an unpleasant place."

"I know." Dale said understandingly. "You should change your drawing model. Anyone but Dylan Ziarre is fine."

"I will consider that."

"And I heard that Ziarre stood up for you when the Queen was onto you too."

"Oh, er" Well, this is hard. "Er"

"He seemed to be very good to you. He is nice to everybody. But he seemed to care about you more than other people."

The whole explanation swirled and mixed in my mind, and after summing up and filtering, all that left was "Er" I would very much like to tell him that Dylan was doing it after my soul.

I was safe by the wind that came blowing. The document flew around the room and we both had to run around catching. My hand fumbled for a flying paper and met his wounded face as he yelped. I quickly apologize.

"I'll have to thank Conner Rider too." Dale said touching on the bandage with care. "I didn't know he's that cool. He even scared those DW away!"

Nor did I. He was obviously some kind of demon hunters. He warned me against Dylan. What else could he be? Maybe I could ask him to help

My thought was interrupted by the uproar outside the window. Michelle banged the door open and said, "Leigh you have to hide!" when Adam saw me, shouted and pointed. "There she is!"

The Queen's guy friends pushed Michelle aside and came gushing through the tiny exit. I watched them opened mouth, Dale likewise, but they were only interested in me. Both my arms were locked by stronger arms. They cried victory in unison and carried me on their head like I was a hero. NoI felt more like I was a pig about to be slaughtered.

I was transported to the basketball field putting down in front of the Queen and her acquaintances for final judgment. People, including the DW, gathered around curiously in circle and I was trapped. Many of us including me had no idea what was happening. Natalie waited until everyone was quiet and settled, then she announced.

"She 's a WITCH!"

This is the WORST BULLY ever!

Natalie leered and pulled out her i6. There was a tiny photo and I couldn't see what it was. The Queen and her friends started sending it around. The Dings and Buzzes went off non-stop. My phone got something too and I went rigid when I saw the photos.

All eyes on me. Hundreds of them pierced through me who had already turned into a dead log. The circle was quiet again except the queen who wanted to announce something I didn't want to hear. I couldn't feel the phone in my hand anymore even though it's still there. My eyes met Sonnia, Dale, and Michelle who, with their phoned in their hands, stared at me in horror. My heart all at once shrank. What were they thinking of me?

"TIE HER!"

The Queen announced again and all her tumultuous guy friends grabbed and dragged me to the basketball pole. They tied me to it with ropes and clothes. Other people merely moved their eyes, but not their bodies. They were scared like every time when Natalie did it with someone. But this time, I wasn't sure if they were scared of the Queen, or they were scared of me. Teachers and staff were nowhere to be seen which was kind of normal because they were afraid of Natalie's dad power. I'm doomed! No! No. I'm not doomed. I'm just not going to care. Yes! I don't care. I don't have to care. The Queen will get bored and this will end very soon. Getting tie to the pole isn't that bad. It's a rare experience. Very...very...rare.

My determination was swayed by what they lugged out next. Natalie's admirers arranged the old wooden tables and chairs pieces that were neglected for years in the gym's store room around my legs. I doubted if they would really only tie me to the pole.

Stix and friends, sensing danger, rocketed down from the tree nearby pecking on the ropes. They were strong and bold, loving and caring, loyal and obedient...at the WRONG time! I wanted to cry!

"See! See!" Natalie cried excitedly and chortled as if she had just done a world-class discovery. Others curiously looked my way and the birds. "I told you! She's a WITCH!"

I sighed and Stix and friends looked at me wondered if they had done something wrong.

"She practices black magic! The crows, bird of death, are her servants!" She waved her phone showing the photo of me giving Stix and friends food this morning, and of me talking and playing to them again. "That's how she lures Dylan!"

And now we're back to this.

"She has to be managed the way witches were managed in the past." Natalie still talked. "BURN HER!"

I should have imagined. If she could bury me alive, why couldn't she burn me alive too? Stupid me.

There were totally two different groups. One hollered in agreement and passion to burn me. The other was like me, like trees, stood still, rooted to the ground and head full of saw dusts and not an idea of how to get out of this situation.

They lit the fire. Oh my god they actually light the fire! You know, I still had a faint hope that they were just joking with me. Stix and friends were threatened by the heat and had to fly up higher. They circled above the pole crying for help too. They probably didn't know what to do. The flame fingers slowly crawled up towards my feet. I glanced at Dale, Sonnia, and Michelle pleadingly. Please help me.

Sonnia who was shocked by everything heaved in a breath and shot off calling Dale and Michelle with her. I watched them bearing my last hope away. I couldn't draw the summoning symbol here. I couldn't move my hand. And it would just provide more proof that I was a witch.

I DON'T WANT TO BE A WITCH! I DON'T WANT A DEMON!

"How would you like yourself done Leigh?" The Queen raised her voice behind the flame fence. "Medium-rare? Well done?"

This is like a déjà vu.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure you're overdone."

Chapter 12

Nate

Mass of heat and smoke floated, clogged my vision, and chased the ravens up higher. I felt the blood in my feet boiled and the skin on my legs leaked oil. The orange fire ate up the woods very fast. But among the heat, I still froze.

"Leigh!" Dylan's sharp voice penetrated through the heat wall. And I saw him standing not far, shocked. But it was very shortly and he came running to the fire while Natalie pulled his arm.

"Don't go Dylan!" The Queen cried. "She's witch. We have proofs. She's using dark magic on y"

"Let me go Natty." Dylan said very sternly. "This has gone too far. Do you really have to kill each other like this?"

"I'm cleaning her!" protested Natalie. "I'm releasing her from dark magic!"

Dylan lost word for that. He hesitated at the Queen for a second and looked at me again. I'm not going to say it. I'm not going to ask for his help. I have to help myself first. I can use him in the last minute.

But Dylan took Natalie's hands off and said. "I've never ever thought that you'd be"

Natalie was about to cry. "It's not me! I didn't do it!" But Dylan's gaze toward her was still cold. "It's true! Someone sent me these photos." She took out the i6 again. "And the instructions. It says that I have to burn her! See, see!"

Dylan took the phone and watched the content in there with horror. I wanted to see too. Who sent the message to the Queen? Who wants me dead? Isn't it her?

Then I felt the fire receded and something cold on my feet. There was some white stuff like snow on the woods. And I saw Dale carrying a fire extinguisher and Sonnia and Michelle a bucket of water. I almost cried at the scene. I thought they had believed the photos and abandoned me. But...the photos and Natalie's excuse was true. That was why I didn't reject.

Dylan joined them. He went into the building and came out real fast with another fire extinguisher. He couldn't turn into a demon and help me here or both of us would end up even nastier than this. I saw Conner and many other people were helping with the rubber tube too. Seth and Phoebe, however, were observing the spectacle calmly.

The fire was about to die. I couldn't be any happier. Not only because I didn't die, but also because everyone still had some kindness and sense in them. They didn't go along with the stupid things Natalie said. These meant so much more. It meant I still had a chance of living a normal life. I was so grateful.

Dylan came closer with a knife. He cut all of the ropes and let me loose. My legs folded under me while Dylan propped my arms. Friends I could call them that now came from everywhere and supported me up. I felt so good now realizing that there was still good in this world and that maybe humans were not as bad as I'd thought. Dylan told everyone that he would take me to the hospital. No one opposed him. Sonnia, Michelle, and Dale wanted to tag along, but Dylan told them that he would go alone. Dale didn't seem very pleased but I had no energy to object. Whatever, just let me have some rest. Got buried and burned within twenty-four hours could really drive you mad.

Dylan took me to the parking lot, to his Porsche, and I saw that something wasn't right there. Waitwhere's my bike?!

Using my last resort, I raced across the asphalt ground craning my neck in all directions anxiously. A foreboding sense overran me as a glint of metal lit at the end of my eyes. There was a big garbage bin which gathered the trashes from all over the school. My bicycle was a newly added member in there. It was upgraded to a folded bicycle even though it couldn't fold. Despair hit me like a block of brick coated with poison. The poison spread from where it hit, disabling my muscles and nerves and I slumped onto the slimy ground. It must be deadly because I felt like I wanted to die.

It was the only present from dad.

Suddenly everything that happened until today was too much to bear. And tears came pouring out like Niagara Falls with limitless supply of water. It was like I lost dad for the second time. The bike had hitherto been the only thing that held me together and here, within less than an hour, it was ruined.

"What's happening Leigh?" Dylan was speaking at my ears. Shit. Stop messing with me! All of this was because of you! Dad's bike...

Then, he wrapped his arms around me. It was awkward. But at the time, I didn't want to do anything but cry out all the tears that had been stuck inside since dad was gone. I had enough. The last straw of my strength was already destroyed, dumped into the trash. All the misfortunes replayed in my head. I faced down, dejected, too tired to try for any longer. I don't want him. I don't want him anymore!

"My, my...am I interrupting?"

A guy with a big yellow sweater walked to us. His golden silky hair danced in the wind and gleamed in the sunlight. My tears suddenly stopped. Something about him didn't make me feel at ease. And rather than crying here, I wanted to run away. I didn't understand why someone would put on such thing in this weather, and how could the eye color of a human be as yellow as that sweater.

I mopped my eyes as Dylan said. "Nate! What are you doing here?"

They know each other? So it is another demon!? This demon was somehow a lot scarier than any demons I'd ever met. Oh my god! I've seen another demon! Do I have to make another contract?! No. No. Dylan used to say we have it one at a time. Yes, that's good. One at a time is hell enough!

"I come to see you." The yellow-eyed demon voice was high like those of a boy. And he flicked his gruesome stare to my direction again. I immediately sneaked behind Dylan. "Who's this?"

"My contractor." said Dylan and he introduced us. "Leigh, this is Nate, my cousin. Nate, this is Leigh."

So it's a relative demon. A family visit?

Nate lifted his eyebrows. "I see. That's why you were trying to help her just now." The new demon didn't take his eyes away from me and it's getting on my nerve every second passed.

"You were there?"

"Are you not going to eat her?" Nate ignored Dylan's question. My muscles went stiff.

"No." Dylan replied him. Nate, with surprise, widened his eyes and cut them between me and the demon. I sidled further behind Dylan, holding onto him without knowing. My instinct must have understood and realized that Dylan was a hell lot safer than other demons like this Nate.

"I got it!" Nate said finally, after a long staring at us. He put on a cheeky grin. "Right, I totally agree! Let's not eat her now."

What's with the word 'Now.'

"Your father sent me." This time it was Dylan who went stiff hearing it from Nate. He must be very scared of his father. Of course...demon dad, who wouldn't be scared? Oh! Dad! I sniffed lightly again while Nate continued. "He wants me to tell you that you need to keep up your performance for the plan."

"I told him I'm not interested in the plan." said Dylan.

"Let's not worry about that now." Nate dismissed Dylan again. "There is more important thing."

"Which is?" Dylan seemed pretty annoyed by now.

"She's here."

"Who?"

"The witch!" My ears perked up.

"What witch?"

Nate held a hand over his eyes. "What witch?! That witch! The one and only witch that's our enemy!"

There's another witch?! This might be the opportunity of a life time! And like a flicker of hope was relit, my misery diminished. I felt my body lighter as if the new fire of hope had evaporated all the disgraced tears. There was a chance to get my life back into place. The new demon, Nate, was talking about the witch who was the demon races' enemy. That meant she must know how to get rid of them. The demons must be very scared of her. Nate even came all the way here to warn Dylan. She was my true savior.

Dylan's voice seemed softer. "Where's she now?"

"In the forest." Nate said and pointed to the way that I recognized was Chane forest. I knew the place. It wasn't far. Oh. My freedom was in such a short reach. So I didn't wait and listen to what the demons had to say to each other more. Let's go and grab my normal life back!

Like people said 'There's blue sky after rain.' There might be rainbow as well!

With light steps, I crept away from them. Surreptitiously went out of the school, ran with all my might to the forest. It wasn't far.

Chapter 13

The Imaginary Witch

Long shiny hair glinted in the sun like the thinnest copper wire. It was straight as rain and soft as the finest silk.

She was picking herbs. Magical ones. She had been doing it since the demon forced her into the contract, into a study of witchcraft. She didn't resist, had taken advantage of it. She learnt tremendously and researched even more. Magic, was the only thing she could rely on to get her freedom back.

Previously she was a lively normal girl. But red always attracted the death. Her red hair was the most beautiful color in town, if not the world. The demon loved it.

Well, whatever the past. She had become the professional, the scholar, with doctorate degree in witchcraft now. She knew the spells more than any demons, knew more about plants and animals than any races in the world. And she finally did it. She got rid of the demon.

The ultimate achievement, it was. Oh, it brought her limitless happiness. So she devoted her life in helping other people falling under demons' selfish contract.

She turned her head and met me. Sparkling green eyes were bright like the clearest emerald. A strand of red hair lay across the white smooth cheek. Green and red, oh, so magical. She gave me a smile so kind. She knew immediately why I was here. She had magic after all. She said, "Come here, dear. I can help you."

Gentle, she was. She took me into her hut. It smelled of cinnamon, a little too warm for summer, but still very comfy. She gave me her herbal tea drink and ginger biscuits. "Just a relaxing session before the real work." She said and sat down opposite of me.

Taking a good look, she was still very young, not more than thirty, I guessed. She's beautiful. No wonder why the demon wanted her. And their mistakes! She had become the unrivaled enemy of the demons.

We had a girly chitchat. Demon contract was nothing to be worry. She told me. She could get it off me within seconds so I should just relax. We talked about fashions, foods, TV shows, celebrities' gossips. Even with the life of a savior, she was so cool! And when I seemed relax and happy, she said it was my time. With just a twitch of a strong magic-coated wand she fetched out of the wardrobe, I was free. It really was simple, easy, and fast!

I hugged her and jumped merrily saying 'Thank you' a thousand times!

And, goodbye Dylan, that was my Happy Ending.

Smile. If you want, you could stop reading here.

Smile stretched across my face. And, not far away, someone was bending over the bushes. It was a woman. My heart almost jumped out of my chest. She, I thought, seemed to be picking something busily. Must be the magic herbs!

She turned her head and met me. Staggering green scaly skin was lurid like color-injected emerald. A stream of red blood lay across the not-so-smooth chin. Green and red, oh, so er...menacing. She showed me a row of fangs. She knew immediately why I was here. She had madness in her eyes after all. She grumbled something that sounded like, "Come here, dear. So I can eat you."

She wasn't picking herbs. She was picking a dead deer fleshes, eating.

Something is very wrong here.

Chapter 14

Never Enough

There was no girly chit-chat, only growling and snarling. While I was shock, Dylan appeared between me and the psycho woman, following by Nate who was saying. "...your mind, she's dangerous! Heaven!"

Black wings grew out of Nate's back and he jumped onto a tree instantly, yelping as he did. Dylan morphed into his demon form standing in fighting stance.

'Isn't she supposed to be a witch?" I said loudly in panic. "A kind witch who helps human cancel demon's contract?!"

"Stupid!" Nate said from the tree above. "If she kills demons, how can she spares human?! Are you stupid?!"

Seems like I am!

Never enough.

SHE lived a life of a beggar in her childhood. There was never enough food to fill the void, enough water to quench the thirst, or enough clothes to keep her and her family warm. Wiping out all the crops with vicious weather, eliminating all the poultry with murderous flu, the land was never in her favor, and nature just loved to play on her. Unlike those beautiful quotes, to her family, hard work was paid off with the life of her mother and more hardship awaiting ahead.

But SHE wasn't alone. Her only neighbor shared the fate. The only thing that differentiated them was the mind-set.

Amelia was the daughter of the neighbor and her best friend. Every other day the girls would venture deep into the woods in search for food. There was a colony of apple trees which constantly fed them on. Amelia loved them. SHE detested them. It was impossible not to dislike something you eat three times a day. For Amelia, it was better than nothing to eat.

Sometimes the girls would chat about their dreams. Or only Amelia would chat about her dream of following the sun, traveling to the east in search for a better land. And SHE would just remain silent. SHE had no dream. SHE'd never ever had one.

Soon Amelia had grown up into a fine woman. And her beauty that lied beneath the dirty clothes was noticed by a son of a wealthy family. Amelia had become a Madame within one night. Since then on, SHE lived a life of an envier.

SHE adopted the likeness for green. And with some money that Amelia had given her, SHE managed a little house in town. Her family was satisfied, but it wasn't enough for her.

Amelia was now shine and clean and beautiful. SHE was still dirty. A number of her green dresses and the money from Amelia paled over the years. Why can't SHE have new dresses? Why can't SHE have those emerald necklaces Amelia has? Why can't SHE live in a big house like Amelia? Why can't SHE eat what Amelia eats? Why can't SHE have a rich husband like Amelia? Why can't SHE have Amelia' money? Why can't SHE have all the money in the world?

Nothing was ever fair to her.

Envy turned her green and turned her to the notorious witch of the village. SHE wanted a curse. The witch told her the world secret and SHE sought out the green dragon demon. SHE had now got one thing Amelia didn't have. SHE was delighted. Briefly.

The green dragon would help her. One time. Only one time. That wasn't enough. But SHE had no choice since the contract was made the moment SHE set foot inside his den. If there's only one wish SHE could have, SHE chose the one on the top of her list, SHE wanted Amelia dead.

The green dragon granted the wish. Amelia was dead.

There were no tears, only an apple for the lifeless body of an old friend. SHE took a jade hairpin from the body. SHE'd always wanted it.

Before long, SHE realized it was her turn. SHE was terrified and ran aimlessly into the woods hiding among groves and thickets. SHE came across those apple trees, Amelia' favorite trees, and kicked them angrily. A strong wind peeled the top of the trees and SHE remembered and started running again. The green dragon had come for her.

But it was not her to fear, for no demons on earth ever possessed a heart hole that could match hers, in term of both the depth and the breadth. SHE was limitless. Her desire, her greed was limitless. The one endangered this time was the green dragon.

The demon hadn't seen it coming. He rummaged the whole wood with his thick powerful tail, smashed them down with an iron-like underbelly, and stood magnificently casting a shadow over a small greenish figure.

It was time for him to be fed. And as the light from the symbol on their forehead blinded both, SHE felt the pull and retched. In her heart, SHE couldn't allow to let her soul go, SHE just had one soul, it's not enough!

The table was turned. And SHE felt the pull no more, only the power, more power was coming into her. Finally, the green soul was fully taken. SHE laughed. But...that was not enough!

SHE sucked the soulless body of the green dragon in. SHE wanted everything. Every one last bit. SHE closed her eyes and took pleasure in her new treasure.

Even though the bottomless heart was able to control the new power, the mind and body of a mere human couldn't. Continuous pulse beats started in her ears and grew louder. SHE shut both ears tight, but the noise drummed on. Something else swelled and expanded from her heart, slowly taken up her body, spread the green scale along with it. It finally came to her eyes and a curtain of mist closed on her.

Her mind was blocked. There was only one word left in her head. More.

Sanity was gone.

From that moment, SHE lived a life of a monster. Of something that was neither human, nor could she be called demon. Forever stuck and lost in between. Equipped with the jade hairpin, SHE went on staining the hair pin with girl's blood, killing every one of them who had a good life, which was almost every girl on earth. SHE would stab and stab and stab until the other move no more, rewarded the prey with only an apple. And SHE would move on with her instinct, the instinct buried deep down that told her to aim eastward.

SHE became a horror and legends.

On foot SHE walked to the east for hundreds of years. SHE couldn't age properly, the demon power might have twisted her look, but it lengthened her life span. With the civilization blooming, it was brighter at night, harder to kill, and the noise from the city added up to those in her head. Unable to adjust to the world's changes, SHE took refuge in greens of leaves, moving from west forest to east forest. And when SHE encountered the water, She would turn into that green dragon and flew in between the dark clouds, had a little fun scaring the bird demons. Soon the demons of the sky were hiding whenever SHE was near, so SHE tread on the water playing games with those water demons instead, until non was visible to her sight or sense anymore.

SHE had now come to another green forest, prepared to carry on with the revolving journey. As SHE trotted along, bushes moved. It wasn't of an animal. It was human. SHE sniffed the air. A human girl. Thrilled, SHE tightened the clasp on the hairpin. SHE hadn't seen a girl in ages. Hadn't kill in ages.

The girl came into her range, followed by two demons. She was nothing special. No jewelries or expensive ornaments, but she must have had a good life. And the desire was stirred, the power was ignited. SHE couldn't hold back anymore.

Blood clotted hairpin raised in the air, SHE lunged forward.

Chapter 15

The Legendary Witch

"This is how the story should be!" Nate shouted from up above finishing his tale as the old psycho woman lunged at me. I screamed and dodged something black and sharp in her hand daring not to take my eyes off of it. The lunatic lady was fearsome, but her black weapon was worse. It had an eerie kind of aura all about.

"Leigh!"

I lost a focus at my name, but Dylan came in between me and the old hag before that black-thingy of hers pierced my head. The demon twisted her wrist only for a few seconds before she tossed him aside. I looked at Dylan with shock.

Then, during the next period, my eyes had only that black-thingy stamped on them, and my head only commanded fleeing acts. Seeing from time to time that Dylan was trying, to no avail, to attract attention, attacking the woman from behind, or being sandwich between me and her, I began to fear for him. The woman didn't budge a tinee-tiny bit, not even when he slid a huge cut on her cheek and the blood turned one-fourth of her face greener.

I crashed into something soft and moving. The familiar big green eyes met me. "Gosh! Chane?"

"Leigh. Help me." The tiny elf sobbed. "I'm so scared."

The witch dived at me again. "Go up on the tree!" I told Chane and rolled sideway. She persistently followed. I seemed to be in more danger than the little demon. I stood with my back to the tree Nate was on. "Heaven!" Nate exclaimed. "Don't bring her here! Go away! Shoo!"

The maniac stormed the tree with that black thingy of hers. The trunk, as if receiving acupuncture, was full of holes. It also shook so violently that Nate fell down. I held onto him as he was trying to fly up again. Nate made an effort to shake me off and ran at the same time. "Let me go! No one can help you! No one can kill the witch!"

The yellow-eyed demon went into a narrow gap between two pines and I hit with one of them, loosed my grip, and lay down on the damp ground. Chane who was now high up on this tree whimpered out loud.

Dylan jumped at the witch buying a few more seconds for me to escape before being thrown away to join Nate.

"We have no chance!" I heard Nate say. "Let's run!"

"No!" Dylan said in a husky tone. "I will not leave Leigh!"

Among the mist of danger, I felt something full and soft and warm at my heart all of a sudden.

"Is there any way we can kill her?" Dylan said again while I was muddling behind tall grasses. The witch gave him a huge slash on the right arm. His clear blood poured out like a waterfall.

"Destroy her heart. But it's impossible, we, all the demons, dragons, those jerk neighbors, none of us can defeat her!" Nate said quickly without breathing. "Wait! Maybe...we can...may...might"

"How?!"

By this time, Chane's noisy blubbering was so irritating.

"The witch is obsessed with killing human girls. Girls are her favorite prey. That's why she'd been ignoring you and me and that little tree demon. Until Leigh dies, we won't be her target." I found myself listening to Nate quite attentively while avoiding the witch's attacks with more expertise. "Leigh can attract her attention. You aim at her heart, destroy the whole of it in one blow."

"Am I not attracting enough attention!!" I retorted. I was the one running and falling here while they chatted! It was irritating even more when I glimpsed Nate reposed himself against a tree trunk relaxingly. My hand groped on the ground and I threw everything I got at the monster lady. I had to help myself, relying on the demons might bring the end to me.

The freak swept whatever I threw at her away with one hand when her belly expanded. I took a chance to back away and saw that her stomach wasn't actually expanding but she was bending back so far because of the blue laser-something from Dylan. She struggled in pain as green scales on her skin cracked. Her face extended outward and two huge green webbed wings flung out of her back swiping the blue thing like a windshield wiper. A fragment of Dylan's blue power sprayed on me. It caused no harm, to my surprise, and felt just like normal water.

"She's changing into a dragon!" Nate screamed and his face went wild.

A dragon!? I chokedanother Jimmy!?

The shape-shifting was thwarted by the blue beam that pierced through her chest just in time pulverizing her heart into nothing.

The witch flumped onto the ground and moved no more. The black weapon fell out of her hand and rolled at me. I moved away from it as fast as I could, still felt creepy about the thing.

Dylan, despite sweating and panting and having all the minor injuries and dirt all over his face; bore a smile. Nate's wild face was replaced by a stupid look. He stammered. "Wwewe"

Dylan stepped on her body and yelled on his triumph while Nate danced around singing. "We kill the witch! We kill the witch! We, demons, kill the witch! Long live the demons! We are the greatest! We kill the witch!" It seriously went on.

Little Chane climbed down and joined their celebration. A rustle in the brush tore me from the scene and a boy with golden hair emerged. "Conner!" He had the most anguish face on and looked at me briefly before turning to the stupid scene of dancing Nate, laughing Dylan, and clapping Chane. He murmured "They kill the witch."

"Oh. Hello, neighbor!" Nate looked livelily at Conner and went back to his singing.

And, getting caught up in glee, victory, hopelessness, and half-hanging relief, we were all unable to leave that place for a long while.

As the green pupils slipped behind the lids; came the end of the Wicked Witch of the West.

As the scrawny finger stopped shaking; came the end of the Evil Queen.

As the last lot of the air disappeared; came the end of the renowned Maleficent.

As the blackened soul became dust; came the end of the legendary Witches. Or the one Witch they all shared.

Chapter 16

Conner Rider

"I was walking with Deero and that scary old lady attacked us. She ate Deero." Chane said, voice catching in his throats, looking a bit down at the dead deer.

"She must be the one killing the forest demons these past weeks." Dylan said. "Remember the half goat demon?" And he shivered. "Satan, I almost end up like that!"

"But now we're even greater than Satan!" Nate was the only one still singing. "We kill the witch! We kill the witch! We kill the witch! We, demons, kill the witch! Long live the demons! We are the greatest! We kill the witch!..."

Everyone ignored Conner who was crouching beside the dead witch looking rather upset. He got up abruptly and was about to walk away. I quickly grabbed his arm. "Conner! Can I come with you?"

He was my only hope. No one can help me end the contract but him now. I needed him.

"Leigh." Dylan grabbed my other arm with his unwounded hand. All the demons quieted down and looked serious. I avoided Dylan's pleading eyes, met Chane's cute plus pleading eyes instead. They were good friends, but if Dylan's still my bodyguard, the bully would never stop. I would never ever have a normal happy life again. I have to choose!

"Don't let her go." Nate said to Dylan. And the demon held my arm even tighter. Chane came towards me with water brimming in those big eyes. He said "Are you going to leave us?"

"Leigh, please don't go." Dylan said it again and it was already too much for me. I couldn't look at the heart-aching scene anymore. It was as if I was abandoning my family. I turned my face the other way, shook Dylan's hand off, and went with Conner without looking back.

Conner trod on dead leaves and twigs among the jumble of trees with light, soft, and effortless steps. I didn't talk to him much. It was a bit awkward. We soon came out to a green meadow and I saw two more persons there whom made me groaned, Seth and Pheobe.

"The witch's dead." Conner told them. Phoebe dropped her little red lip in shock, while Seth remained the same, only the atmosphere around us seemed cooler.

"How?" Seth asked shortly.

Conner was reluctant but he finally said. "The demons killed her."

The weather was colder than ever. If I wasn't wrong, I thought I saw some ice on the tip of grasses. Seth asked again. "Which demon?"

"Dylan." Conner's voice was light.

"That damned creature!" Phoebe suddenly exploded. "She's us to kill! We're supposed to be the hero! We've come all the way here and that, thaturgggg!"

I recoiled at the way Phoebe acted. I shut my mouth knowing it wasn't time to say anything. Seth was still quiet while the red girl went on swearing. They story sounded like they planned to kill the witch to regain their reputation at their home town or something, but the plan was thwarted by Dylan, and partly me too. I shouldn't be here.

"That demon put us into this! And now it takes our only way of honorable life away!"

Phoebe said that before Seth veered his icy eyes at me. "What's she doing here? Are you changing your mind? You're ready to kill the demon?"

Hell! "No! I"

"Then, there's nothing to say." And he and Phoebe turned and walked away.

"But"

"Excuse them." Conner said. "It's been hard years for all of us." I looked at him and he smiled. "Now, tell me. Why are you coming with me? You still don't want to kill that demon."

I shook my head. "Help me Conner. I want to cancel the contract. I cannot kill anybody but I can't stand it anymore."

"There's only one other way." Conner said and started walking toward where Seth and Phoebe were gone. They were already disappeared when I looked again. But I was more interested in our conversation now. Did he just mention another way?!

"You have to clean your soul." Conner carried on calmly. I wanted to jump. Isn't that just so easy! "Literally. Souls can be cleaned by fire. So if you can burn your souls..."

"You mean...I have to burn myself? Like what Natalie was about to do with me?" Man, she was really trying to clean my soul? To help me?

"You'd die."

Of course, I would!

"But that's the only way. Some human wait until he dies and burns his body. Or you can pull your soul out while still alive and burn it, but only demons can do that. And demons would always eat souls after pulling it out right away."

My face bore desperation. The only other option was not an option. There was no way I could be free now. I'm stuck with the demon until I die!

"Be strong. I'll help you protect your soul."

Chapter 17

The Portrait and The Decision

Notification sound from messenger woke me up and I rolled out of bed in alarm. Two horror events yesterday, the photos and the witch, had merged in my head and trigger my danger sense. But this time it was good news, mum's coming home tomorrow.

I got up in that instant and cleaned myself. Adrenaline rushed through me and schedule of chores lined up for my day. I started with breakfast. The troop can only move with food.

I opened the kitchen window and called like I did yesterday. But the lawn was weirdly quiet, no flapping or tweeting. Where are Stix and friends?

Shrugged, I had the breakfast alone. But the tranquility of the morning annoyed me. What the heck? Something didn't stop scratching at the back of my head. It made me go and open the front door.

I almost jumped. Umm...give me a sec.

I didn't know how to react. Dylan was leaning on the panel. He teetered on his neatly-polished shoes when I opened the door, and said hi with unconfident, shy, and quiet voice. He didn't even look to me in my eyes when I exclaimed his name in surprise.

"Dylan!"

Then, we stood hurting our legs in silence for a few more minutes.

Dylan's taciturn expression astounded me. Is this the same demon I used to know? Usually he would just barge in without asking for permission. Is he waiting for me to invite him or something?

"Wwhy don't you come in?" I finally managed to say.

"Thanks." His voice was still very weak and he lingered.

"Well, come on in!" I said again.

He stood twitching, idling in the door way. I had just noticed the bandage on his left arm and recalled the witch attack. I was about to ask how he is when, unexpectedly, he pulled out from behind the most colorful bouquet of flowers I'd ever seen. "For you." He said.

"Oh." I took the flowers hesitantly.

Dylan quickly went away to his Porsche parking not far away. I was still stunned when he came back again with more boxes and bags wrapped in ribbons. He stacked them on the doorway adding up my chores for today.

"Wait, wait! What're these?"

"Gifts." said Dylan. "For you."

"But it's not my birthday!"

Dylan lasped into silence again. He seemed to be thinking hard about what occasion were these presents for. In the end, he said. "For defeating the witch."

"But you defeated her." I reminded him.

"Not without your help."

"But I cannot take them." I said a bit louder. "I ca..." Before I could finish what I was saying, a thought inserted in. If I were to argue with him about these presents, I would have to use a day to do it. "Whatever. Bother!"

Dylan seemed pleased. And he followed me into the kitchen.

"Do you want a coffee?" I asked politely. I needed one coffee to refresh my morning too.

The demon nodded.

I made coffees. And we sat in silence again. It was oddly awkward with him today. I have to say something!

"Hhow's your arm?"

Dylan looked at his left shoulder. "It's not bad now. Thanks for asking." And that same charming smile of his came back.

"Where are Stix and his friends?" I asked again, suddenly remember the reason I opened the door. Actually, I shouldn't have.

"They are celebrating the death of the witch today. I give them a day off. They deserve it." He said proudly and the smile broadened. "Leigh...are...are you alright?"

I stared at him. "I don't feel anything wrong."

He nodded. "I was worried. You know, I thought the witch must have blown your mind off." Yea, she did. "But I was forced to party with the forest demons last night. I'm sorry I didn't come to you right away. You should have been there too. Chane was crying to have you there."

A child's favorite is already a nightmare. When have I become a child demon's favorite? "It's alright." I said. "I had a lot to think last night."

Dylan's relax and happy face thinned out again at that. He must be anxious and worried about what I talked with Conner too. It wasn't much. Conner didn't tell me anymore because there wasn't any to. And I was left with all the information to decide for myself. The whole thinking process had taken all my concentration and energy, so in spite of the horrendous experiences, I totally forgot about the burying, the burning, and the insane witch, and wasn't as scared as I should be. I had come to the end of it.

I smiled to him. "But everything's alright."

After saying that, I seemed to be able to relax for the first time after dad was gone. It was as if all the jigsaws were finally fit. My smile confused Dylan. And I was in exceptionally good mood all at once. I decided to drop the chores and asked Dylan out. "Let's go for a walk. It's a beautiful morning."

It was the demon's turn to be stunned. But he was happy after recovering.

We went out and the Porsche started my conversation as we paced up the street. Birds were still singing in this early morning, and the sunlight was still that beautiful golden yellow. "I don't think that car is necessary. You can fly."

"I'd like to try human's stuff." Dylan reply. His tone was brighter and livelier by this time. "And I've got too much money to spend on."

I would usually roll my eyes at this. But I thought I already got used to his conceit. Rich spoiled brat.

"You know." Dylan pressed on. "Human are so funny. They gave me so many of these money-things when I showed them rocks I brought with me from my home."

"Rocks?"

"Yea, blue rocks." said Dylan. "I heard they called it gems."

Gems! So that's where he got all the money!

This made me shudder though. A home with lots of gems. If it doesn't mean somewhere under the earth, where could it be? And under the earth is something likehell? But Chane lives in the forest?!

We came to the end of the asphalt street and instinctively took the left into the brick path surrounded with trees. The shades sheltered us only briefly and we emerge into the white sand land that almost half of it was swallowed by great blue churning water.

The briny strong breeze greeted us here. It freshened my already refreshing mood. The ripples of the white-crowned waves came crashing as if bringing new hopes. The scenery seemed to be projecting the image of my feeling by some means.

And I started feeling like drawing. "I should have brought my sketch book!" I said to myself without knowing.

Dylan disappeared in that moment. I didn't know where or how he went. I would just ignore it and enjoy my kind-of new life.

I was bending over observing a hermit crab when he reappeared again with...my sketch book, the portrait of him I left under a sheet, my water color set, my acrylic color set, my oil color set, my pencil box, my easel, and more. The whole lot of them?!

"You went into my room?" And bring all these? I adopted an angry tone.

"You said you want to draw!" the demon said. "It took me quite a while to search in the labyrinth of yours."

It's my room and it's a girl's room, you know!

Okay, okay, calm down, calm down, Leigh. You can't get angry. You've decided on this. This is the new life you have to live with. It's gonna be like this for the next ten, twenty, thirty years. Get used to it now. The life with the demon. The life with Dylan.

I managed a slightly twisted smile. "Alright!" Since he brought them all here. "Let's do this."

"Oh, oh, and," Dylan handed me the books and put other things on the sand. "If you have time, please finish this." He pushed the portrait of his forward.

Well, he even said please! "I'll paint that one then."

We set everything and I sat down on a small stool that he brought too. Dylan quickly scuttled to the seaside and put on a pose, the one exactly the same as in the portrait. I couldn't hold my laugh.

"Stop that." said Dylan, face turned crimson.

I painted the picture, didn't bother to make an excuse about the person on the canvas anymore. It was Dylan to begin with and I didn't want to waste energy and mind on trying to win him on stupid stuff all the time. I had to live with him in harmony.

It wasn't a bad day. And I actually had quite a lot of fun with the demon. We had light lunch together at a restaurant on the beach. Dylan kept making jokes on the foods and they were funny. In the afternoon, we sauntered on the other beach and had a little swim with tiny fishes. We watched the sun set and went back home having dinner, watching telly, teaching him how to play board games. I unwrapped Dylan's heap of gifts and found that all of them they were drawing supplies. I thanked him tremendously and the demon and I spent more time on that portrait at night. And I had just had a chance to check on my i6. A whole lot of messages and missed call on there from Dale, Michelle, and Sonnia jammed the screen. They were checking if I was ok with the burning. I called all of them back saying I was fine and that I didn't get admitted. They agreed to give me another quiet rest tomorrow. Dale's conversation was strangely curt today though.

Dylan was flipping through my drawing collections when I finished with the calls. He didn't stop praising my works. I began to like him even more! Late at night, we watched 'The Walking Dead' together. Dylan couldn't stop laughing and making fun at the zombies and said that human are very imaginative. He assured me that zombie doesn't exist.

What a day! Having Dylan accompanying was even more entertain than I had thought. He could be like Stix and friends, only if he didn't have that gorgeous face, lovely smile, and the world's most magnificent eyes.

Is my heart beating faster?

Chapter 18

Mum Returns

I was pushing Dylan out of the door when the car pulled in the drive. He was holding on hard to the frame.

"I don't wanna go!" he said.

"But my mum's coming and it doesn't look good to stay alone with a guy, shoot!"

The engine stopped and mum got down followed by Galvin. "Leigh!" she boomed with a big smile. "How's every...oops. Hello."

"Hello mum!" I lost control of my voice and it faltered. "Hi Galvin."

"Good morning, Mrs. Camden." Dylan made a sunshine smile. He didn't greet Galvin, however; merely goggled at him. Nice doing!

I was obliged to introduce this guy. "This is Dylan."

Mum and Dylan had a handshake and some chat while I looked at the fence gate in horror. Nate was walking through it. What is he doing here? Right now?!

"Morning Leigh!" He called out livelily. "Hmm?"

"This is Nate." Boringly, I told mum and Galvin again.

Mum said hi to Nate and came whispering to my ears. "It's nice you have more friends. Especially that good-looking black hair one." She winked and went into the house.

Nate's noticeably exaggerating voice snatched me back to the scene. "Nice To Meet You, Galvin!"

Galvin smiled at Nate. "You have a very bright face. Slept well last night?"

Nate's face was indeed bright and shine. His skin radiated as if it had just received a diamond-head laser plus gold-mask plus snail massage treatments. Maybe he even had a bath milk or a spa.

"Yeaaaaaa." Nate said teasingly rude. "Two nights of good sleep and good news." Then, he swept his yellow eyes at me and Dylan. I wondered what would Galvin think about them. Contact lens?

"What?" Galvin was very patient. He still talked to the yellow eyes demon. "What do you mean?"

"My brother here," and he draped his arm over Dylan's shoulder. "got a very interesting con"

I lost their conversation when mum came out again with her newly pack baggage. I looked with confusion. "Sorry about the laundry Leigh." She said.

"You are going out again?" I asked.

Mum nodded. "Possibly a month this time."

"A month!" I almost shouted.

"I have to be on the spot." Mum said. "People are dying like plague. Haven't you listened to the news?"

I haven't. I haven't got time. I was too busy staying alive.

"You take care not to get dehydrated too." Mum pressed on. "Wear light clothes. Turn on the air-con if you want. It's a very strange summer." She walked in and out of the house fetching needed stuff into the car. "And you know, I heard from Ruth just now," Ruth was her colleague. "We found another two dead in their apartment in this town. They are young healthy men. And to think that even they would be killed by the heat too!"

Galvin walked to me. He left Nate and Dylan talking to each other. It must have been a pain talking with that yellow eyes demon. I understood. He was very rude!

Galvin coughed a signal to begin an awkward conversation between about-to-be stepfather and daughter. I stirred a little bit but pretended I didn't hear. What is this? It doesn't feel right at all.

"We are going away for a month to work on the heat attacks hearts cases." He tried to begin with the simplest topic.

"I know." I answered without turning to him.

"Umm. Ahem." Galvin coughed again. "Are you gonna be okay living alone?"

And he hit right at my wound. Of course, I won't be totally okay with those demons looming around! But what can I do? Mum has to go and I cannot change her mind. She's the only person that can make me feel normal. Even though I have admitted a new life, some normality wouldn't hurt! But it's going to be super weird telling him the truth. I mean, telling your real dad the truth is already weird enough, not mentioning he's not even my stepdad yet.

"I'll be fine." I said voice slightly high as I tried to hide the fact.

"You have to look after yourself. Lock the door. Don't forget to eat every meal. Keep the house tidy"

And now he's acting like my dad! "I know." I said without even really listen. He's not my dad. Why should I?

"And don't go out with a guy alone." He glanced at both teenage demons.

"I know."

"You know," continued Galvin. Oh! He really isn't going to end it, is he? "You're a girl. And you're still very young for...love stuff."

Now I looked at him. What's his point? Why is he talking something like this to me? He's actually a pretty brave man. Not scare to talk to a teenage girl about romance.

"I know." I said again after a long staring. Most of the reason was I didn't really know what to respond.

"Good." Galvin seemed satisfy. "You're too young for love. You don't understand them. You're not in love. What you teenagers call love right now is actually just lust, which means it isn't love, it's just a wrong decision you're making and you're going to regret it, and it will be a scar in your life when you grow up. You should wait till you're a bit older."

A whole lot of logic flowed non-stop from Galvin. I tried to digest what he was talking. Seems like there is a lot of 'do not love' thing. But my head was still full with clouds. So my mouth responded with its muscle memory. "I know." And it followed with what my instinct told me to say. 'Don't worry Galvin. I'm not with anyone."

"I'm ready." Mom called out while she was making a noise walking down the stairs. I was grateful she was finally done. "Galvin can you lend me a hand with this?"

"Gladly." He was obviously pleased as he spoke, beaming at me, before getting to her. "Take care Leigh."

I followed them with muddy head. I couldn't concentrate on mom's goodbye and whatever happened before they left. I had a vague memory of a tight hug and kisses and something mom said about 'care'. When I knew again, the car was long gone.

"I like your mum." Nate said but he barely talked to her. He was obviously faking it.

"She's very friendly." Dylan added. Yea, she really likes you Mr. Prince. I secretly sighed after the chance of having mum, my only reality, dissolved into air. Encouraging myself again, thinking of time with Dylan, I was then back to my pace.

"Hey, Leigh." Nate said. "You know, I got it out of them last night. I come especially to give you this good news."

I raised my brows. "Who?"

"The guys who kidnapped you, remember?" Dylan said. Who would forget that? "I sought them out that night you got buried, or I wouldn't have left you with Stix and pals after such incident."

"And you actually found them?" I listened to both demons with interest and disbelief.

Dylan nodded. "It wasn't hard. And I saw their faces. I want to know who make them do such things."

"And who would that be?" I wanted to know too.

Dylan turned to Nate for an answer. The yellow eyes demon put his arms around our shoulders and said with a twinkle in his eyes. "Let me deal with that. Both of you don't have to worry."

"But"

"What are you going to do by the way?" Nate interrupted me. "I'm so free. Can I hang out with you today?"

The horror! My brain was running at full speed finding a reason to chase this demon away. It was, nevertheless; still too slow for Dylan. He accepted the request and talked about my hobby. Dylan said that he thought we were going to draw more today. Nate demanded a look at my collections and both demons raced off to my room. I felt like this house, this life, had become less and less mine. And when I was half way at the stairs, they came racing back down with all of my supplies.

"Let's go draw something fun Leigh!"

Chapter 19

The Meddler

There are three places in this world I would not want to visit again in this lifetime.

Nate had this weird idea of drawing something new when he saw my works which, according to him, were boring, because there were only trees, the sea, houses, more trees, more sea, and more houses. He said I needed to try new perspectives. So, I had to travel to some place...umm...I didn't know how to explain.

First, Nate took me to a rock in the middle of the sea of nowhere, saying that there's a cave underneath it. The rock was a good location with spectacular scenery to draw if the wind wasn't too strong and I didn't have to constantly avoid two meters high waves came crashing. So, going down the cave was out of the question. Dylan had to hold me tight all the time and I, unable to concentrate, shrank at his electric touches. Gooseflesh ran down my shoulders as the shock waves alerted me non-stop. I agreed to give Nate one more chance at the second place and regretted the decision, we went to drift creek and Nate put us on a canoe. How can one draw while canoeing?!

For the third one, Nate promised that he would take me to a more normal place and the view was absolutely breathtaking. I got soft-hearted and let him led the way. Dylan was always by my side so there shouldn't be any problem. But I discovered later that the cat-eyed demon wanted me to draw aurora. After going through the freezing air, up into the sky, we came flying so high that it was becoming harder to breathe, yes...breath-taking...breath-taking away, why am I so stupid!  and my ears were about to explode!

At the end of the day, I was so exhausted!

"I am very sorry..." Nate said putting on a sad face. I didn't believe one bit of it. "Let me make it up to you. Please."

"No." I declined him sturdily.

"Please, please. I've already booked this grand place"

He booked it in advance!

"It's worth a try Leigh." Dylan said. "Nate is really sorry. Give him a chance."

I did not believe a thing about this demon! But since Dylan said it... "Alright."

Nate beamed and stretched out his wings. Dylan did likewise. We flew to a bigger city nearby and went up to a very grand restaurant with Victorian style decorations. So big and grand that I was like an ant in term of size for both body and heart. I observed what we were wearing. There was no way the guards would let us in.

"You cannot go in. Dress properly." said a guard to me. Why only me? Aren't the demons the same?

"She comes with us." Dylan told him. The guard gave him a lecherous sweet eyes and smile. "Of course." He said and I was in.

Hmm...that horny gay!

We were the center of attention. But I doubted if it was because of my- our dresses. People seemed to be looking rather exciting as if they had seen a movie star at Dylan. His face saved my day after all. I trod on with shaking legs and sat stiff on the wooden chair with high back. The waiter brought a menu that I couldn't bear to look because of the price so Dylan was the one ordering foods.

The tables were lit with a candle light, perfumed with rosy kind of smell. Everyone came in couples. The atmosphere was too romantic with flowers in every possible corner. I looked at the two demons in front of me and suddenly felt melancholy. I should have come here with someone I like, or even mum! not these two nuisances.

The appetizer came very soon. Nate sniffed, made a face, and said holding the whole plate up. "How do I eat this? Swallow it all with this white hard circle thing?"

Dylan touched the yellow eyes demon hand. "Look and do it after me."

Nate observed Dylan eating. He picked up a fork after Dylan and looked at his cousin very closely what to do next. Shortly, he clanked his fork on the plate. "So bothersome! Why human's eating so complicated!"

"Shush! It's a grand restaurant Nate." I said, eyes darting left and right. "Stop complaining. You're the one bringing us here." I had enough attention for today, oh...heHELL!

Nate pouted. "I heard it's a roman"

I did not get the rest because my eyes met something I had rather die seeing. The evil aura was all over the two-table apart from us. I wanted to hide myself, but there was nowhere this sweaty T-shirt on me, that face of Dylan, and the noisy Nate could take me. The collagen and every bit of moisture in my body seemed to be replaced with cement. My neck cannot move. It's stuck hard!

I manage to break the hardened blood and started my appetizer that failed to bring out any appetite while Dylan was still trying to teach Nate to eat. Dylan was on the verge of feeding his cousin...wait, he actually fed him!

Dylan pulled the fork out of Nate's mouth. "Now, chew. Like this." He said.

The funny scene could only console me for a moment and I was overwhelmed again by fear of those two big piercing blue eyes. It bore through my throat like a steel blade and blocked the gullet. The food felt like gravels, I had to drink a whole glass of water to wash them down.

Something sprayed on my face. Not the water I was drinking. I thought a piece of bacon got into my eyes. I wiped it with the napkin and saw the origin of the food rain. Nate.

"Thissssssssssuck!"

Yea, especially when a cabbage sticks on your face.

Nate made more fuss about the taste of food. How souls tasted much much much better. He said that there was only death in what we eat, but souls had so many emotions, many tastes.

Dylan ignored him too. "Leigh, you should go and wash."

The thought of going to the toilet alone agitated me. I didn't want to be alone now. No. But the foods and Nate's saliva on my face were so disgusting. I could quickly go and return.

I got up and shot off. One of the lights was broken so the toilet looked even more vintage and scary. I washed once with water and twice with hand soap. I didn't want any demon's saliva left on my face. It felt like cursed water that could bring unlimited bad fortunes.

Reeeeally bad fortunes...

Bad fortune number 1, I, with a cleaned and smelled nice face, looked up and saw a person stood attached behind my back like a ghost. My neck pricked.

Bad fortune number 2, the person raised a hand up. I didn't see what's in there but now, it seriously looked like those in a serial killer movie.

Bad fortune number 3, there was nothing in the hand. Sigh. But the person clasped my arms. I cannot run away now.

Bad fortune number 4, finally it came.

"Why are you having such a romantic dinner here with Dylan?!"

And the bad fortune counting went on

Chapter 20

I'm Gay.

What am I going to do? I'm so scared. I almost peed in my pants!

The manicure nails stabbed my flesh. I wondered if the red on them were actually my blood. It went deeper when I didn't answer the question.

"I'm asking you why Leigh!"

I know! I know!

A woman dressed in gold gown pushed the toilet door in and changed her mind speedily closing the door with a bang. I saw the gay guard went into men's toilet at that moment, wanted to call, and changed my mind speedily too. He wouldn't help me. I kind of understand the gold gown woman. Who wouldn't be afraid of those menacing stare? Not to mention the one who was sitting across this maniac at the table. Hell, yeah, it was the mayor, Natalie's dad.

And now, the queen was squeezing my flesh, trying to break my bones demanding an answer which would result in neck breaking for sure.

Natalie moved her hands up to my neck. I could be a great fortune teller!

"Tell me, or die. Are you flirting with Dylan?!"

"...am...not..." That was the true part and I could only manage to say that much.

"I don't believe you!"

She fetched the power from somewhere and her hands fastened even firmer around my neck. There was no doubt she was the one inflicting all the miseries that happened to me at school. After all, she was Dylan's number one fan club and she was the queen who always got everything she wanted.

Natalie's nails now went deep under my skin. Her teeth clacked as tight as a vice. The beautiful wallpapered walls seemed to lose their sharpness. She strangled my only way in for the oxygen. And now, there was only one way out for me. Sorry Dylan.

I struggled for her arms and sank my nails in there too. Natalie screamed and let go.

"Listen." I said with a wheeze and panted for air badly. "I"

Natalie shrieked. She didn't listen to me anymore. Taking off her high heel, she aimed the pointy side at me. Shit, noooooo!

I screamed into her face briskly.

"DYLAN'S GAY!"

Ooh. It really stops her.

"What are you saying?" The queen's voice and eyes were still threatening but at least she didn't move forward any further.

"Don't you believe me?" I spoke really fast. The idea form that gay guard woven a story in my head. "I found it out. That's why we're closed. I'm keeping this secret for him. I'm sorry I lie to everyone about Dylan being my drawing model. I didn't. I just saw him kiss the blond hair guy one day."

"I don't be"

I shut her off. "He's here too, the blond guy." I wasn't sorry, Nate. "You wanna see?"

Natalie started putting her shoe back on. "Show me."

I sighed. At least now, I would get out of the toilet alive. I didn't want to die in here; it was a very embarrassing place to die. Natalie set her dress and hair properly and followed me out into the smell of wine. I tried to relax my body but it was hard. My mind kept on praying for the right timing.

We arrived at the table. I told Dylan I accidentally met Natalie in the toilet and they were chatting amiably. Natalie told Dylan that she was dining with her dad. I gazed at Nate who secretly spitting out a piece of asparagus and wondered what would he think about meeting Natalie. Does he know she's the one after me? He must know.

A nip brought me back to Natalie. She leaned over and whispered angrily. "I don't see a weird thing here!"

"Stop talking to him and go eat with your dad. He won't show himself if you're closed." I whispered equally angry back.

Dylan introduced Nate to Natalie at that moment. The queen went back to a friendly chit-chat but quickly excused herself per my suggestion. She did truly take my bait.

When Natalie was back with her father, Nate made a mess on his plate again. I ate mine, not knowing much what I had put into my mouth. My focus was on both demons. I was using my psychic powers praying for that scene. I even ordered more foods for this matter.

Nate stirred his spaghetti on the plate. Dylan was showing him how to eat this new type of slippery food when Nate put down the fork, lower his chin and put his mouth on the edge of the plate. The yellow-eyed demon then sucked, real hard and loud.

"Stop that!" I told him. "Everyone's looking. It's rude."

"But it's so hard to eat!" Nate complained.

"Here." Dylan put a fork with spaghetti rolled neatly on it in front of Nate's face. Nate gladly took the bite.

Here it comes! The feeding scene! Thank you, God. I'll survive now!

I peeked at Natalie whose hand holding a fork was half way up and lower red lip was half way down. Her two pupils were shown into full pale blue circles. It was like magic. The queen's reaction turned the cement in my body into warm flowing blood again. I'm also gay now!

"Wait." Nate was saying. "You should do this to Leigh too! She might not know how to eat these snakes." And he pushed Dylan's hand to my direction.

"Thank you." I said politely and I swore I wasn't annoyed one bit. "I'm human. I know how to eat our foods."

Nate was flummoxed with my reaction. He went back to his food and quietly ate, still with some difficulty. My head was free of worries or any bad feelings now. I felt like I could deal with anything from now on.

I gandered at the queen once more to confirm and sighed hugely once again. I was afraid no more when I asked Nate. "By the way, Nate, about my kidnappers,"

Nate's face perked up. Dylan looked at me and him.

"Who hired them?"

"I told you I'll look after it."

"I want to know." I know it's Natalie so just tell me. Natalie's no threat to me now. The demon did not need to get rid of her or do anything to her for me.

Nate grinned like a bird. "You guess. I used up so much energy squeezing the information out of those two guys. I got to keep it."

The yellow-eyed demon did not seem to want to say any more than that. I shrugged. That's alright. It's probably Natalie and I do not have to be afraid of her any longer anyway.

Chapter 21

Peace Please

Stix and friends were back in the morning. They were very happy to see meor that was what I thoughtand very wisely kept a safe distance when I was at school this time.

Dale and Michelle were already at our usual place in the middle of the lawn. The sun was nice and warm today.

"Leigh!" Both of them were, like Stix and friends, happy and a bit excited to see me too. I was very glad to have them as friends. Though, Dale seemed to fidget slightly. From the heat?

"That was seriously bad." said Michelle. "I'm sorry we didn't help you faster Leigh. I didn't think that they would actually burn you."

"That's alright. I didn't think that they'd go that far too." I said with a smile.

"Aren't you angry?" Michelle asked. "You actually look quite...happy."

"By the way, will you be okay coming to school today?" Dale said and casted a worried look sideway.

"It was just a really cruel joke." I said trying to think of a way to explain that there was nothing to worry. Sonnia walked in long quick steps across the garden and plummeted onto the soft grass looking appalled.

"Did you hear?" Her hair rose untidily. It was unlike her. "They say Dylan's GAY!"

She couldn't control her voice at the end so everybody turned into our direction curiously. Sonnia still spoke off-tonely. "It's all over the place! They send it around on Whatsapp. And they say Natalie even confirms it!"

O, oh.

Other people came to her. "Is it true? Harry sent it to me yesterday too..." Within seconds, Sonnia was swarmed and taken away. The whole school was on a buzz about this topic. And everywhere I went, whispers drown the corridors, tiny gossip groups occupied spaces. I had to fend Dylan off at least for today. But it's great that everybody had forgotten about the witches and burning things.

I walked pass Natalie during the first break and she gave me a smile. I smiled back at her thinking this was a good sign. Moving on, I heard Dylan's voice and, with bated breath, I took another turn. That was close!

Above all, I got my peaceful life back. No more silly bullies or hard feeling at school left today. That confirmed it. Natalie was really the one after me. She was the one putting the rotten eggs in my locker, setting up the tomato sauce trap, shoving my head into the toilet bowl. She hired professional killers to bury me alive under the earth. She took the photo of me and Stix and blamed it on other people. She obviously tried to burn me that day. All the nasty things. It was her. Since Dylan was no longer a straight guy, she might just give up on both him and me. And here, peace!

"This is nonsense." Michelle said during lunch. Only Dale was here with us. Sonnia was still in one of the gossip groups having so much fun talking non-stop. I could feel that the news did kind of disappoint her. She really liked Dylan.

"Any sensible person will know Dylan's not gay." Michelle finished and awestruck me. She was the first one that saw through my lie.

"Wwhy would you say that?" I tried to act innocent. "The queen even confirms it!"

"Natalie's no brain." Michelle said straightforwardly. "I don't wanna brag but I'm kind of a professional in this area. I read lots of gay comics from Japan."

Michelle frightened me just now.

"Sometimes normal books bore me." she added.

"I don't' feel like it too." Dale said. "Dylan Ziarre's gay? That's the lamest lie of the year."

Umm, sorry 'bout that.

And I went back to eat dumbly and speechless. Two of my best friends just said I'm lame. I'm sorry! I had no better idea to get out alive at the time!

"Anyway Leigh," Dale said. Is he going to comment more on my lie? "It really bothers me. When and how did you get close to Ziarre? He's not your type, I know."

"I" I had to lie again. "I told you I asked him to be my drawing model."

"But he went as far as helping you out with the queen! And the other day, he didn't want us to go to the hospital with you. Are you sure it's just work partner?"

Michelle stared at me too. Four eyes really did give you a great deal of pressure.

"Itit's true!" Oh god! Can I say it? Can I say Dylan's a demon?

"Maybe he likes you." Michelle suggested and gave a playful smile. Red color abruptly burst through my face, going up my ears. Why would I flush? I don't feel a thing for that demon!

Dale, likewise, was flushing with red on his oval face. I thought he liked Dylan too in the beginning. But steam and wrinkles were added in his case, and I realized he was angry.

"I don't like it." Dale said. "He and you are totally different. Do you like him too?"

"Of course not! Like you said, he and me, we're alien to each other!" That is 100% true.

Dale's steam died down. "Thought so."

This is new! Dale doesn't like me with Dylan? Or was he angry because I am secretive about Dylan with him? Or was it because he didn't get to send me to the hospital?

In the afternoon, we had an outdoor class. Students were allowed to go out once or twice per subject per semester. Today Ms. Alder took us to the Lint Slough. Imagination grows better in a wide space, that was what she said.

The art class was bustling with Ms. Alder's new project 'Peace' and about Dylan being gay. Some even inspired by it and drew a hugging homo. It was quite nice. Conner was quiet and concentrated solely on his work. He was another who know Dylan wasn't gay,...was he? I thought I should try him.

"Hey." Conner looked up. "Do you think it's true?" I went straight to the point. "About Dylan?"

"He's beyond my understanding." Conner said. "He's the only demon that can ruin our lives. And now he's the only gay demon I've ever heard of."

My mouth dropped open.

Conner looked at me and sniggered. "Just kidding. I know it's from you."

Gosh! He even knows I'm the starter.

"It must be hard. Life in high school." He said and went back to his canvas. I was really embarrassed. Talking to him was a mistake. Conner's paintbrush hovered in front of the white frame. He finally put it down when I was about to go back to my seat. "I'm out of idea. Wanna go out?"

"Huh?"

"Do you know anywhere that has this...Peace?" Conner got up gathering his things.

"Well, yea." I said. "But I'm not sure if you'll like it."

"Try me."

I stood up brusquely sweeping my stuff into the bag, and made a quick gesture southward. Conner obediently following me. We sneaked away and soon were far apart from the group. There was only one place that I could think of as 'Peace' now. I led at a brisk pace; legs slightly shook as a result from excitement, nervousness, hesitation, and anticipation. Why would Conner ask me to go out together? Does he want to talk about cancelling contract? But he said it couldn't be done! Being alone with him now feels really weird. But I was also happy that I got to draw with him.

Silver gray barrier came in sight, drawn apart the asphalt road and woods. I stopped under shades, leaning against one of the big trees, catching my breath.

"What's this place?" Conner asked as I pushed the crisscross steel gate in. I didn't answer. I was too excited. Heck! Why do I have to be excited?! I don't feel anything about him,...do I?

Stilled air hit my face. And I felt like stepping into another dimension of time. The sedate environment roused my perceptions. With not even a small gust of wind, it was so calm and motionless and...dead. Some might reckon it as peace.

In this peaceful abandoned cemetery where the time was paused, big and small trees dozed dreamily; clouds floated lazily, as if to say that there's no more to worry about. I had always taken care not to come close after dark, despite the tranquility; the place was able to give me chills.

Ankle length grasses tickled, beckoned me to move forward. The contrast brown and gray statue emerged disorderly. Some were already broken and covered with beautiful daisy and dandelion, while some were still clear carved with names and dates. I tried to ignore whatever that lied beneath by counting the steps I took. It helped calming my emotions as well.

Conner sat on one of the rock...err...I think I see scripts on that, he arranged his things and began the work.

I did the same but the overdose of silence almost drove me mad. I decided to talk, just talk, anything!

"Wwhere's Seth and Phoebe? Haven't seen them all day." I hoped this could break the ice.

Conner smile kindly. "They went back home. No witch, no goal."

"Aren't you going back with them too?".

"You want me to?"

"I didn't mean to"

"I know. Just kidding." He said and I grimaced. "I swore I'll protect your soul. I have to stay here."

I was about to feel really thankful then he added. "And it's so colorful here. There are still so many places I haven't drawn."

So he just wants to draw.

We both went back to our work quietly again. Conner still looked more relaxed than me. I didn't know what else to talk to him and actually wasn't able to paint properly knowing he was close by. It grew uncomfortable every seconds passed. My trees began to twist and became like one of those ghost trees in Snow White.

My i6 fell off and hit a stone. I picked it up quickly and rubbed it with my jeans. Lucky that there was no damage on the screen. "Right! Can I have your number too?"

Conner looked perplexed. "What number?"

"You know. Number." I repeated. Not quite sure what wasn't clear. I held the i6 out at Conner. "I don't seem to have your contact anywhere in here."

Conner looked stunned for a while. I waited waving the phone in front of his face until it finally looked like he was able to recall something. "Oh. That...A...I... Phone...." He stressed each word carefully and clearly.

"Sorry, I don't have it." said Conner.

"Huh?" What kind of weirdoes didn't have a phone in this century? Don't tell me he uses all of his money on the water colors, acrylic colors, paint brushes and papers! If that's the case then...I can forgive him.

"Alright." I said. Didn't know what else I could. "Never mind."

We drew in silence again. I could only go as far as one minute before the jittery stood me up. My feet moved forward aimlessly, until they were blocked by a rock chunk. I didn't see it coming, actually I didn't see anything. I was about to trip over a huge grave. And when I took a good look, there were pieces of debris on the floor waiting to support me. A support that would certainly hurt a lot.

There wasn't enough time to scream. I was plunging fast towards the sharp edges.

Somebody grabbed my waist and the falling stopped. The debris hadn't got any chances.

Conner put his arms around me and pulled me close to him. He brushed a strand of hair out of my face. "Are you hurt?" He said softly and my heart galloped like a horse that had been doped. My face went crimson. I stared back at his robin blue eyes, felt as if the whole blue sky was taking over me. It was warm, bright, relax, and free. Like as oasis of serenity. I could feel that my spirit was soaring with freedom. Do...do I like him? Do I like Conner? Sudden questions inserted in bringing me back down to earth. "W...what about you? What exactly are you Conner? Where are you from? Why do you want to help me?"

Conner let me go and did his favorite facial expression, smiled. "I'm me. I want to do what is right."

"I don't understand."

"I'm sorry. I can't talk anymore." Conner closed the conversation with a gentle smile, leaving me with a jumpy heart and confusions. I began to doubt my feelings too. Can I really fall for a guy full of mysteries? It was like I did not know him at all.

Chapter 22

Budding Romance

My Peace piece consisted of shades of blue. I could not seem to get Conner's blue eyes and the sky in them out of my mind whenever I thought of 'Peace' later. It was the feeling giving out of the pair of his, total and absolute peacefulness.

I was not sure if it was the consequence of the painting. Stix and friends lost in the dusk and it was a pretty peaceful way back home which I had not had for a long, long time. Taking some more time on the walk, I indulged in it gladly until the sky turned into the color of Dylan's wings.

Jingling of the keys reminded me of how quiet the evening was. Too much of peace did have quite the opposite effect. The picture of the broken rocks and the green grasses in that graveyard floated up and crept me. I quickly pushed myself into the house.

Light dinner was enough for today. I went upstairs to take the rest of the day, or rather...to find the mess of the day.

A little provoked, I drew back at the sight of my demon. Dylan was sitting on the window pane. Alright, he was cool and looked princely. But he even invited Stix and friends into my bed room. The picture of them chatting against the starry sky was like those only in a fantasy dream land. But this wasn't some imaginary kingdom, it's my room! The raven soared across my bed and landed on my shoulder.

"Don't fly in my room Stix!"

Stix aa-ed. I wasn't sure if he understood me.

"Hello Leigh."

It was a regular hello thing but the vibe in the air wasn't right. Maybe it was just me feeling guilty about the rumor and being with Conner. They were enemy. I clutched my painting, bit by bit putting it down on the floor. "Hi."

"I heard you were out with the art class." I nodded trying to hide my surreptitious talk with Conner. "Is that your work? Can I?" He seized it away from me before I could set it on the ground. "Nice."

"Ththanks." The praise untied the tension knot in me. Nobody actually ever praised my paintings but him. I started to talk. "I got an idea from C..."

"Hmm?"

"Clouds, the sky." I almost blurted out Conner's name. Then, it occurred to me, maybe Dylan would know about Conner. They seemed to be friends before. I could learn more about him from the demon. I will just ask...straight but carefully. "Do you know anything about...Conner?"

"Conner?" Dylan, still admiring my painting (Smile), said uninterestingly. "I don't know him. I only know Seth."

"What were" I sat on my bed, not sure if I was getting too nosy. "you and Seth"

"We were good friends," Dylan put my painting down, face darkened. "until he discovered that I'm a demon."

"Was he" Stix's friend number one jumped onto my lap. "your first contractor?"

"It would've been easier that way." Dylan said and gazed out of the window, into the emptiness of the dark sky.

It sounded to me like they were ex-lovers of some sort. But Dylan isn't gay...is he?

There was a long pause in our conversation. I dared not say anything more or be the first one to speak. I sat restively on my bed patting the ravens. I was glad they were in my room now and hoped that they would do something funny to break me out of this awkwardness too. I shouldn't have asked him. It got me to nowhere but this disturbing ambience.

"By the way Leigh," Dylan said in his outgoing tone. I attended to him eagerly. Finally, a chance to get back to our normal attitude.

"Did you tell Natty I'm gay?"

Ouch! It was like a huge rock hit on all four directions of my head. I was completely nonplussed.

The demon sagged forward closer as the horror began. His face, in all seriousness, went plain rigid. I should have thought about this beforehand. But it was the only way to get away from Natalie at the time. And I did try to avoid Dylan the whole day...alas!

Wind wafted over my head. I wondered where it was from because the window was still close. The ravens' call rang in my head. They jumped about the room flapping with panic. I went panic with them too.

His inky wings fanned out, oh...the wind was from them, and blackness ran up his arms. He's turning into a demon! Shit! I'm gonna die today! He's going to eat me for spreading the rumor he's gay! What to do? What to do?!

Pupils were the last part. As the color of the sea sparked, it slowly unfurled over the circles. I was rather mesmerized by it than scared. His eyes were the only part that always fascinated me. Those colors were other-worldly, almost too beautiful to be from earth.

I winced as he grabbed my wrist. Okay, it's not time to be admiring his eyes. "I didn't mean to!" I shouted and tried to edge away.

"DO YOU"

The demon was using his echoing voice again. It tripled my fear of death. I skirted my bed continuing to the wall and the window on it. Two ravens were chilling out at the cooling night breeze. They had to move away when I got there, complaining a little bit. The demon, not letting me go, followed, wings hanging him in the air. I leaned out onto the empty frame, for a second, hoped I had wings too.

"Do you," Dylan voiced again. This time it came out normally form his mouth. But my fear didn't fade. "Do you...like me that much?"

Huh?

"Do you really really like me?"

Huh? Wait.

Was he being sarcastic? Or had my hearing ability gone nuts? Flabbergasted, my eyes, my mouth, and even my nostril formed an 'O' shape. My brain certainly was having an 'O' in there too, an 'O' shape void that contained no thoughts in it, and I was about to crack my head for what was happening in front of me.

"You want me all to yourself," Dylan contently went on with his narcissistic optimism. "you told everybody that I am gay so I will only have to stay with you all the time."

"That's not"

"I know I'm too popular."

"I don't"

"It's also difficult to be born looking good."

"I mean"

"If you really like me, you can just tell me. I'll devote all my time with you."

Really, please don't! I thought because there was no way I could break into his talk, now that he was just going on with himself.

"We are soul mates after all."

I'm not your soul mate! Umm...think carefully, maybe I am...GOD! NO!!!!

In that horror instant, by trying to get away from the condescending demon, I did a somersault and fell backward out of the window. All around me was dark. Only white band of something appeared now and then, probably my house's wall. Only a short scream and I was stopped in midair, head still pointing down to the ground. Dylan was holding me and I, to him. His eyes, leveled with mine, set off with the dark even more brilliant and vivid than ever. Forgetting everything that happened earlier, I went off course into the realm of the ocean gem. It at times casted out blue, occasionally flared green, most of the time just both colors span and fused and whirled together. The more the colors shined, the more my heart desired. It hammered at my chest that if I had not got a strong chest bone, it would unquestionably jostle out and went to the ocean gems. Was it the colors that allured me?

Dylan turned our heads skyward and delivered me back safely into my room. I broke myself out of the sea's spell when light returned, but my heart would not stop its crazy rhythm. It was presumably the after-effect.

Dylan stroked my head. "Are you hurt, Leigh?"

Now, it was like there were a hundred drums in me.

"Ththanks." That didn't help when Dylan stopped his hand at my cheek. It wouldn't go away, the drums. And I feared they were getting bigger, the people hitting them were getting stronger too.

I decided to try something else and looked at his face. It did not help. It was so angelic, so well-carved, so strikingly... Ow! No, no, no, no, no! Okay, let's try the wings. Oh my god, they are so shiny, sleeky, and soft! The color, it just goes with his eyesshit! Not again! Not the beautiful eyes again!

I moved without much success onto his black arms next. They seemed to be stronger and wonderful somehow. I accidentally touched them and had to bounce my finger back for it felt so good, full with muscles. Lastly, I could only go to his hair which, coal black and at the right length, had no flaws and had no help. What the hell? What the hell is this?

Am I falling for him? Why am I falling for him now? Because I fell out of the window? And there was his heart waiting for me in that air? That's ridiculous! No. No. I'm not falling for him. I can't just fall for a guy who is so full of himself and had just said I like him. He said the same thing Conner said today. The 'Are you hurt' just brought back the déjà vu with Conner. Heck! Why are there only those eyes floating in my head? This isn't right. This isn't right!

I tried to analyze it. No, it wasn't the same with Conner. Heartbeats with Conner was brief, but the peace was the real deal. While this, this with Dylan, it was just pure chaos. I, I must be really scared of him.

The conclusion allowed me to ignore the energetic heart.

I couldn't have liked Dylan, let alone love. He's a demon. He would eat me one day or in my next life. But he did help me many times. I was rather in debt than in love with him.

Pray, it be that. Please!

Chapter 23

Whirl Wild Wind

I was stuck with him! Dylan, reminded me with that gay rumor, chose to attach himself to me wherever I went, whatever I did, however I did it. He seriously was becoming a haunting ghost. He even sat watching me going to sleep which made it a great deal harder to even hold my eye shut. I had to pull the cover over my head to get rid of that pretty face.

Next morning, I tiptoed out of my room with Stix and friends trailing behind. I put a forefinger in front of my mouth to shush them down. They were quite obedient and allowed me to exit the house and I successfully ran down the street with them on my shoulder.

The ravens started flying when we were out in the open. I took the turn through a wood thinking that shades and leaves could hide my presence. Thinking again, it might be wrong since demons were associated with nature, it might be easier for Dylan to find me here.

At the thought, I went off the track again. It was the shortest shortcut to a busy morning avenue which was full of mouth-watering smell of fresh baked bakeries. Just by the thought of it had already stirred up the demonstration from my tummy. I hadn't had anything this morning for fear that the demon would wake up.

There was an opening at about midway. The light creamy ground led off to one side and the earth dropped away there to the land of velvety blue rolling carpet. The noise of the crashing waves was clearer here. The headwind collided with my face like a smacking kiss. The wind out in the open was always a bit strong.

As soon as the first waft of wind was gone, the second lot came. I was forced to root there, unable to move. I tried turning my back but almost slumped onto the ground. Stix and friends were having a harder time. Their wings looked fragile comparing to the current. And the ravens floated and swayed in the air like pieces of dead leaves or burnt papers.

I know wind could be strong in a wide opening cliff. But isn't this

The third lot came and it dried all the moisture in my eyes.

Heck! Isn't this a bit too strong!

Stix and friends were blown away.

Then, the wind came from every direction all at once. I was caught and squeezed in the invisible walls. I wanted to flail my arms to send them away like when we did it with the flies, but could not raise even my finger. Temporarily, the air was lost in this dimension so I could not breathe. When the wind suddenly vanished all together again, I almost flopped.

That is a very strange "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

Not a very strange 'Aaaa,' sorry. I had not even finished my thought and here the gale was back again. This time it hit me so hard that I flew to the edge of the cliff. My left elbow hit with a small rock on the ground and bled.

I got up and ran back to the track. My foot lept forward as I was thinking

Shit! This must

The crazy gust clashed and I was back toward the empty space again.

...be

The wind hit me and I ran battling my way toward the safety of the wood

...some kind

Ouch!

...of doing

My eyes! Ow! Sands flew into my eyes.

...from

I can't see!

...demons!

I finally finished my thought, but the wind also finished their work tooit successfully blew me out to where the soiled ground could not reach.

It was actually very short during the fall. But in that short moment, plenty happenedsuch as, the realization that there was no floor under my sneakers; or that it was about five meters between me and the churning sea, four and a half if I did not count the jagged rock that was right under my feet; and the ferocious wind was gone leaving only light carefree briny breeze; I wondered where was the forest demon who was the cause of this; I wondered what would it be like flying without wings, hitting on the rock; I also wondered whether I could try to move a bit to the right so that instead of the hard rock, I could fall into the sea; I was worried about Stix and friends and stopped worrying because they would probably be fine, they had wings.

Why wouldn't my misfortunes end just yet? What is the purpose of doing these to me? Is it because I talked to Conner yesterday? But that's nonsense!Oh, there's a squirrel eating an acorn over there.I'm not sure what's the feeling I felt with Dylan last night. There was a giddy whirl like the wind just now when he got too close. I don't like it. I like the feeling when I'm with Conner. But those green eyes are so nice, shoot! That acorn makes me think of chestnut. I should have eaten some breakfast. Bother! I'm falling.

It was a terrific rush through air. My hair upraised like billows of black flames painting my vision with black strips. I stretched my arms to one side and did a freestyle hoping the strokes could move me a little to the right. Just a little, and I would not have to be smashed by that rock!

I remembered there was an 'Aa' ringing somewhere when I was falling.

Maybe it was Stix or one of his friends. But they could not help me. They were too small.

Next, there was also a pull.

The damn wind came back again! It seemed to materialize this time. I could feel quite a solid line of something whipping at my waist. At least, it would veer me out of the rock path.

I was halted in the midair and realized it was not the solidified wind. It was Dylan holding me SHIT! That's too close! His face's too close!

"Seriously Leigh," Dylan said while flying up to the cliff-edge. "I don't think swimming in the sea this early morning would be fun. And you're jumping too high."

Swimming?! In the morning?!

"Your diving posture's hideous. It looked awfully like falling." He added.

"I was falling!" I protested.

"Did you?" Dylan smiled now. "I believe the path's about seven meters from the cliff. You must be very sleepy to be able to walk off there. Were you sleepwalking?"

"I wasn'tthere'sthere's this windvery, very strong wind. II don't know where it's from. And, and, phew! Blew me off!" I stammered.

"Are you saying that there was a very strong wind blowing you out of the path and off the cliff?"

I nodded fervently.

We are now above the ground. Dylan was descending down but there was no sign of letting me go. "If you really want me to be closed to you, just tell me so Leigh."

He's unbelievable!

I should have objected those. But he was unbelievably full of himself that his fullness stuffed up my mouth and I was unable to utter a word. He set me down and I walked on as if nothing had ever happened in muteness.

Oh my, there's one thing.

I went pale turning my face to the demon. "I wasn't calling for your help though!" Why saying this made me feel really bad now?

"Yes sir!" Dylan mocked me by acting like a soldier. "I was sticking up my nose. It's kinda fun, you know."

Chapter 24

DW = Dylan + Wind.

"It's not right! They said that I can have the place around the beginning of September! Why's it fully booked 'til the end of the year now?" Dale took a bite on his sandwich. He had been complaining for almost half an hour.

"It's a big hotel." I said and Sonnia nodded understandingly.

"And we've been talking about it since January!" Dale went on ignoring me and Sonnia. "No, last December!"

"Others may be paying more." Michelle remarked and this time Sonnia and I nodded understandingly.

"But we are a charity concert!" Dale stopped eating. "We're not doing it for ourselves! We do it for the sake of people, this town, the beach, the sea, the world!" Dale's voice went louder at each word.

This time Michelle and I repeated what we said earlier while Sonnia added, "And we haven't got much money." Our voices laid on each other that it could hardly make sense. But it did not matter because Dale still paid no attention to us.

"We're holding the concert next week!" Dale almost shouted now. Michelle put her face back behind a book. "But now we have no place! Mr. Johnson's" That's our music instructor. "been calling every hotel and stadium for the last hour. And everywhere is full. Full!" It seemed he was talking more to himself. "What are people doing at hotels and halls in September?"

"What did the hotel said it was for?" I managed to cut in.

"Weddings." Dale said. "For a VIP. Everyone in America seems to want to get married next week! Cake prices will rise, just you wait!" He babbled on other irrelevant subjects. "And it's a very good time to open a flower shop now. Just because we couldn't tell the exact number of the attendances doesn't mean nobody will come! What're we going to do with all the leaflets? And do you know what I don't understand most?"

Dale piped down at this. He fixed his gaze expecting one of us to answer. We looked about timidly, but Michelle had already left our world.

"What I don't understand most," Oh, well. He doesn't really want us to answer. "is that why this guy is here?"

Dale, Sonnia, and even Michelle reappeared from the book, turned to the guy sitting beside me. I put my face in the palm of my hand, did not know what to answer as well. He had been gluing himself to me since the wind this morning, no, since last night. That Dylan.

"You know." Dylan's jowl drew into a smile. "It's very hard for me to live in this school when everybody is saying I'm gay."

He's talking to me. That demon!

"I had no more friends left but Leigh and Sonnia." He ended with a wink.

"It's okay Dylan. No matter what you are, you will always be my friend." Sonnia said very understandingly again. I was wordless.

"Are you?" Dale challenged him giving a quizzical look. "Are you really a gay? Like they all say?"

Dylan's smile broadened. "That's what people say."

"And ARE you?" Dale emphasized his question.

"I'm not denying it."

Dale, Michelle, and even Sonnia who seemed to totally believe the rumors one hundred percent just now, gaped and gawked at the demon. I just looked away with remorse.

Dale, as if the gay conversation never happened, carried on with his gripes. He put the sandwich down and covered his head in both hands, moaning. "What are we going to do? Where are we going to hold the concert? I'm so useless, I wanna hang myself!"

"You can do it in the gym, you know." Dylan interrupted. Sonnia, Michelle, and I eye-wided with shock. What a cruel advice! The gym was a terrific dying stage, especially hanging. Unlike the normal classroom, everyone will get a good view of it. You would be the center of attention and you would stand....float high above others and making it hard for people to get your body down. A very dramatic hanging place.

Dale went white, probably had the same thought as us. But Dylan started giggling. "I mean the concert!" He said. "Not the hanging, of course."

From perplexity to shock, now everyone had an enlightenment kind of thing wore on their faces.

"I'd never thought about that!" Dale beamed and stormed out of the cafeteria. He must be going to Mr. Johnson.

"That's great Dylan!" Sonnia said admiringly. "You are always so helpful." Even though you're a gay. She might be adding those in her thought from the look on her face.

"It'sit's" I felt obliged to say something since Michelle put her face behind the book again. The problem was solved and she didn't need to be in this world any more. "It's the best," I paused a little. "choice for concert."

Dylan made his dazzling smile. And Sonnia blushed despite knowing by her heart that he was gay. I felt like my heart stopped dead.

The music band had the rescue later that afternoon. Getting permission from principal wasn't a tough job. However, Dale and Mr. Johnson had days of hard works to come. They had to move in and set up all of the stages and stereos, redoing all the leaflets all the while. Dale had asked me to help him with posters this time. I spent two hours in the music club after class every day to work on them.

Problems still haunted me, however. Apart from Dylan never wanted to stay apart; the wind was never in my favor, literally. There was once when the strong wind thrust a flower pot above my head. Twice that the wind tried to knock a canvas frame on me. Thrice that it almost succeed in lifting me up. There were many times when it blew all my papers around, okay I would not count that.

It was more dangerous outside the school. The squall would bring heavier and bulkier stuff such as a brick, a grandfather-clock, a rock-loaded bag (Huh?), a computer, a bathtub, a car (A Four Wheel Drive to be precise.) I was thinking that a submarine could come next. It was very specific though, only brought one at a time and only to me. Thanks. Now, it was clear that someone was plotting a scheme on me. What on earth did I do again?

But I was still safe! I was amazed at how much, accurately and professionally, I could dodge those stuff. Another reason was whenever Dylan was closed to me, the wind never showed up. And it was harder for the wind nowadays for the demon determined to glue himself to me twenty-four hours, one thousand and five hundred minutes, ninety thousand seconds. He bought a new bed and had it sent to my home, setting it up in my room. It's like we're living together! God! I wasn't sure if that's good or bad. But I'm sure I don't want him in my room!

Although the wind attack did stop, on the fourth day, it was too much to bear. I finished painting the posters early, did not wait for Dylan to finish his class, and ran home longing for some alone time. The irritation overcame the fear and I was willing to fight the wind than having to stay with the demon one more second. With him beside me, it was so uncomfortable. I felt like I heard a thrum all the time. Maybe I was getting ill. May be I was dying.

I made my way down the street with quick steps, tremulously looking to and fro, jerking at every light breeze. The sun was still high in the sky today and after a minute of running, I was out of breath. I dropped into a walk and prayed for some wind to dry my sweat.

As if answering to my plea, the wind came seizing its chance then. I swore many times in my head. Fool! Why did I ask for a disaster! I'm going to have nightmares about wind for the rest of my life now!

A muffling burble provoked me. It was as if the whole world was full of engines. I didn't know where it's coming from this time but a shadow that darkened the area told me that it was above. I looked up and despaired.

Suppose it could be a rain cloud, oh, how better would that be? Even with the thunder and lightning.

Sad news, it wasn't, and it's going to be a sad news on mum's channel indeed. The article's gonna be 'Poor sixteen-year-old girl got stabbed by an Airbus.' Yea, an AERO-PLANE! You know, demons love to exaggerate things! And now the captain and his assistants were looking at me in horror from their cockpit. I thought I could hear the passengers cried and screamed in panic too. Some of them pressed their face at the window to see what was happening. But I assured you and everyone that nobody else, and I insisted, nobody else's shit would come out as much as mine. I was the one the narrow head of the plane was aiming at after all.

But I thought before the plane could even touch methat super fierce wind and the sight of a plane about to hit had already blown away my soul. Goodbye, fellows on the earth.

Black shutters covered almost all of my sight and I slowly lost control of my body. I was faintingthat much I knew, and a hand was holding at my back, and there was the very light sea smell mix with the engine's oil, then I was gone.

I regained my consciousness in heaven. I thought it was heaven because it was so comfortable in here and it smelled so nice. I rubbed my eyes and took a better look around. There was a blue, very familiar, curtain. Heck! The heaven looked amazingly like my bedroom! They made it in the way I wouldn't have to adapt myself much with my after life? Good thinking.

"Leigh!" someone was saying. "You're awake! Thanks Satan!"

I was confounded with the beautiful face. This angel looked awfully like someone I didn't want to think of.

"Are you alright?" He kept saying. "Hey, look here. Look. Oh my, she looks like an empty shell. She must have lost her wits. Oh, Leigh! You're an idiot now!" And he wailed and moaned about.

That did bring me back. I'm not in heaven. I'm still in hell with this impossible demon!

Normally, I would just smack at his face for that. Or better, sprayed a lot of holy water on him, if it really worked. But the plane and the wind did blow some part of my mind. I grasped his sleeves and said in panic.

"There's a plane!"

He smiled now. "Yes, yes. But there's no plane now, you're safe. II mean, a hero, a very handsome hero sent it back up into the sky. Everyone's safe too."

"No!" I went on choosing not to notice the hero-whatis he mentioned. The panic that had been delaying when the plane was about to hit me came round now. "The wind! This crazy wind! It wants to kill me! It keeps blowing thing to hit me! It must be a demon!"

Dylan pressed me to him. "Now, now, calm down." He said it melodiously and the words mollified my excitement. "Did you, by any chance, implant a powerful magnet in your body? You seem to attract a lot of things"

"I said there's this wind"

"Shush." He raked his fingers on my face. "Or I'll kiss you."

NO! THE HORROR!

I shut up immediately as he laid me back down on the bed. I wanted very much to be angry but he kept on saving me. No, he didn't! Oh man, It's so hard now! So, I let him pull the blanket over and sent me back into a sleep again.

Chapter 25

Night Dress

I picked out my only party dress for the concert. It was made up of many layers of pink clothes embroidered with grandmother laces. I had it since primary school and I wasn't sure if I could fit in it now.

"Seriously." said Dylan who took the liberty of my room as his. "You're not going to wear that."

My face went dark red. "I was going to buy a new one!"

"Okay, let's go." Dylan said, got up, and got ready.

"I was going to buy a new one with Sonnia and Michelle." I said deridingly. "Not you."

"Of course," Dylan smiled back. "You CANNOT go anywhere without me."

Pressing lips, I put the dress back into the closet. I couldn't deny it. Since Dylan cemented himself with me. The wind never attacked again. I'd lived a thoroughly peaceful week.

The demon was waiting at the doorway. "Come on. You can go with your friends again later. I want to choose the dress for you."

What?!

I did not protest though. It had become exceedingly hard lately to object or get angry with him. I thought it must be because he saved me many times that I felt too grateful to the demon. Dylan opened the door waiting for me to go out. I stumbled after him.

"Wh...where are we going?" Dylan did not answer. And I had not got a chance to ask him again because he strode quickly so that catching up with him was all I could do on our way. Dylan finally stopped at one of the dress shop in the most expensive street.

After my breath's rhythm came back to normal pace, I saw what was displaying in the showcase. Many beautiful dresses on mannequins gleamed in halogen lights shining as if weaved from gold. I was spellbound at those pretty dresses but the enchantment was broken as soon as my eyes rested on the price tags.

"I don't have money for those." I said prepared to return home.

"Wait." Dylan grabbed and dragged me into the store. "Just try them on."

I stood like a statue while Dylan picking out dresses and piled them on my arm. I dared not look at the price. They must be really costly. Whatever, I'll just put them on for once in my life and leave.

Trying on clothes was an extremely laboring job, I just found that out. And I thought all of them were beautiful. If I was really going to buy it, I wouldn't know which one to choose. But Dylan kept making me change until I was at the ninth.

It was a long strapless light blue evening gown with glittering sequins and shiny beads on top and wired edged chiffon dress fell in layers. It was a stunningly beautiful dress and I actually did allow myself just once to steal a peek at the tag. I gave up after that.

I came out of the fitting room wishing this would be the last one. I wanted to go home now.

"Let's go home." I moaned as Dylan observed the dress, not moving a muscle. I sighed and was ready for Dylan's 'Let's try another one.' But the silence was getting too long and uncomfortable. Why does he keep staring at me? Oh...he's about to say something. Okay, I'm ready to change.

"Let's take this one." said Dylan as he got up.

"What?" I tried to reach for the price tag but it was too far at the back. So I charged back into the fitting room, quickly changed and came out with the tag in my hand. "It's 500 dollarssssss!!! I don't have money."

Dylan snatched the dress away from me and went straight for the cashier. "I'll pay for it."

I was dumbstruck. He's going to buy me the dress? But...no! It's 584 dollars to be exact. It would cost me arms and legs, take me a year to pay him back all that money. Not even counting the countless help, I was going to be ocean-deep in debt with him! No, I couldn't let that be. My soul wouldn't even be enough to pay for all that.

"Dylan." I pulled his arm trying to stop him. "No. It doesn't matter. Really. I don't want it." Because I don't have money. "II prefer" I searched impetuously for a cheaper dress on the racks nearby; at least it would take less time to pay back for a hundred dollar. My hand groped around and finally found an eighty-nine dollars short sleeves shocking pink dress. "This one!"

"That's hideous." said Dylan almost immediately. "You have a very weird taste Leigh. Don't worry" And the demon handed me the wrapped dress. "It's my gift for you."

I gawked giving up breathing.

....................................

Really?

.....................................

Then, all the excitement stormed back all at once. Really? I don't have to pay for it? My hands were trembling as I slowly took it from him, didn't notice the girl behind the cashier bar who was smiling at us.

"Just take it." She gave me a wink. "You're so lucky to have such a good boyfriend."

I looked at her with horror. Did she just say bboboyfriend?

"Oh no, no, he and I" I pointed back and forth at us trying to laugh the shyness off. "Ohwe're just"

"Let's go." Dylan interrupted my protest and dragged me out of the shop.

We walked in silence on our way back home. But, muffled by the heartbeats, I could not relish the peace at all. That girl she thought Dylan and I are...I dared not think of the word. This was getting more and more complicated. The demon made it difficult for me. There's this contract, the way he always help and save me, those eyes (No! Don't think about it!), the way we're living together, it just made me went softer and softer on him. How long would I be able to resist before the soft-heart overtake me?

"I'm just borrowing it, by the way." I said.

Dylan sighed. "If you really want to pay me back, why don't you just take me to the concert with you?"

"But I thought you're coming?"

"As your date, of course." He ended with head slightly tilted beckoning for my answer.

"No way!"

"Alright then"

Grr...the debts...I bit my lower lips. There was no way out for me now.

"I have at least a right to date that dress." Dylan suddenly said again. He was not giving up. "And you don't have to worry because everyone will think I'm gay."

Oh, there it is! I felt like throwing up my hands in defeat and plunging down in heap into a quicksand pit and let myself be dragged down.

"Do whatever you want." I could only snort scornfully.

Chapter 26

Parties

"Wait, Sonnia!" I put myself between the door and my two grumpy friends. Sonnia got the key from Dale and there was no way I could stop her now.

She pushed me aside and inserted the brass key into the key hole. "It's not right of you to go and buy the dress alone. We have the very right to have a look at it. Mich, hold her."

Michelle took my arms. Everybody seemed to talk a lot about their rights recently. What about my right!? I peered nervously at the window of my room which was left slightly ajar. The only reason I could not let them in was because Dylan was in the house!

"Michelle, Sonnia! " I yelled, hoping that it would be loud enough, as Sonnia pushed the door in.

"What?" Sonnia turned back with surprise. The voice was too loud. Even Michelle cocked her head to one side in astonishment.

I panted heavily with excitement and nervousness "Don't... forget to take off your shoes..."

"Oh, you're so dramatic, Leigh!" Sonnia giggled and took off her shoes.

Two girls went upstairs. I followed them last. My eyes went around the house nervously, praying that they would not meet the demon anywhere. The kitchen's safe. Dining room, safe. Living room, safe. Only those upstairs now. That made it even worse!

I couldn't let them know he'd been nestling in my house. The gay rumor would become useless then!

"Where's it?" Sonnia opened the door to my bed room so suddenly that my heart almost fell. Dylan would have no time to hide. Even if he had, he cannot hide in the closet which was the only place suitable for hiding in my room. Sonnia strode across to it remarking. "You've a new bed in your room?"

I slipped pass Michelle hurriedly and grabbed the closet handle in time. "The bed's for my cousin. She'll come and stay with us next summer."

"I've never heard of this cousin!" Sonnia exclaimed, excited about new piece of information. She wanted to know everything.

"I'll tell you later." 'Cause I would need to invent a story first. I thought and very very slowly pulled the closet's door. I tried to see whether Dylan was in there or not, but it was hard with such narrow opening. I gave up and only opened it wide enough to put my hand in there. Groping for a few seconds, I pulled out the dress.

"Wow!" Both Sonnia and Michelle exclaimed. They marveled at the dress. I had to admit I was a bit proud.

"Well, you see." I started talking more normally. "I was walking back home the other day and saw this beautiful dress. I had to buy it then, I had the feeling."

Both girls nodded in agreement inspecting the dress.

"It's beautiful!" Sonnia said at last. "I'd buy it at the sight too! You're so lucky Leigh!"

I forced a smile. Now, where's that demon?

"Let's try it on!" Sonnia said again and brought out the dresses that she and Michelle bought today. We switched trying on the dresses, taking photos, selfieing, making several hair styles. It was supposed to be fun but I had this anxiety all the time that when, two hours later, they finally leave, I sank into the sofa not wanting to get up ever again.

I thought I was lying there for almost half an hour. But there was still no sign of Dylan. I finally had to get up wondering where was he, or whether he had moved out? I should be focusing and wishing hard on the second hypothesis. But I found myself worried at the disappearance more than any other thing.

I decided to call. First, voice was still very low because I wasn't used to it. But as I went about the house, it got louder. I was getting really worry now. Had he left me all alone?

I finally came up to my room for the third time. I looked at his bed with desperation. Where is he? I went to the window and pushed it out looking up at the sky feeling really lonely.

"Dylan!" I called out one more time, but it was going to be useless.

"Here."

Huh? I hit my head with the window frame. The noise startled me but it was, no mistake, Dylan's voice. I looked all around the room again and out the window.

"Up here."

I looked up. Dylan was hanging his head down from the roof.

"How did you get up there?" I asked and it was a stupid question with those wings on his back.

"You wanna join us?" He said and a tiny head leaned out from above the roof too.

"Hello Leigh!" The elf said livelily.

"Hi, Chane!" I said. "I'd love to. But you know, unlike somebody, I cannot fly."

Dylan glided down at the moment and carried me. "You can just ask me nicely."

"I'm not going to ask for anything from you." I said defiantly. But deep inside I somehow felt really relieved.

The demon only smiled and took me up onto the roof where Chane and the ravens looked like were having such a fun party. They have several biscuits boxes from the kitchen and small biscuits scattered sparsely everywhere.

I sat down with them. "Well, what's the occasion?"

"Chane's visiting. He misses you." said Dylan taking his place beside me. "I heard Sonnia's and Michelle's noise so we moved up here."

"I miss you so much Leigh!" Chane hugged me. "You never visit us again!"

"Sorry." I said hugging him back. I was weirdly popular with demons. "I'm a bit busy. I'll find sometimes."

Chane let me go and grinned with his big green eyes. "Okay, you promise!"

I smiled at him too. "Yes."

Then, he started up and danced around me. "Yeah! You could come next week! We're having a summer party! And you can come again next next week because we'll have a green party. You should also come to the chestnuts fair which is next next next week. Oh, the summer flowers party is also fun. It's next next next next next week"

The forest demons seemed to have a party every week from what Chane said. And he kept telling me the schedule of each party or fair until, from my counting, we arrived at December.

"We'll mostly sleep during then." Chane said, calming down a bit now. "But I'll think of a party for you. But be careful."

"Hm?" Both Dylan and I were giggling at the tiny elf.

"Recently, your friend's been snooping around." Chane talked to me. "My mum and dad don't like your friend's friends."

"My friend?"

Chane nodded.

"You mean him?" I said and pointing at Dylan.

Chane shook his head. "Dylan's not your friend. He's your guardian!" Wow, he puts so honorable. "Your friend, the one you went with when Dylan defeated the witch, remember?" Then he shuddered at the word 'witch.'

There were Dylan, me, Chane and Nate when we fought the witch. But he could not possibly mean Nate. Nate's one of them too. Oh, there's one more

"Conner!"

"What's he doing over there?" Dylan was alarmed too. He asked the tree demon anxiously.

"I don't know. But he was better than those friends he brought with. They are so scary. Everyone has to hide you see. But I hope they will leave us before the summer party."

"These friends you're saying," I said forebodingly. "are they by any chance have red hair and white hair?"

"Yes!" Chane beamed. "You know them? Are they your friends too?"

Oh my, Seth and Pheobe are back.

I glanced at the demon. He looked equally vexed by the news. Demon hunters roaming around the forest demons' lair was very dangerous indeed.

Dylan didn't allow Chane to go back alone or with the ravens that night. Neither did he want to leave me alone too. So Chane stayed and we sent him back to the forest in the morning. Dyaln were extremely cautious. Me too.

"What do you think they are doing here?" I asked Dylan after seeing Chane off.

He smiled sadly. "Probably something about you."

"Me?"

"And me and those winds."

Drat.

Chapter 27

Within the Symphony

The concert night was a clear and quiet evening. Michelle and Sonnia came over early for a hairdo and make up. But when we were about to depart, the bell rang, and Dylan appeared at the door with a shopping bag.

"Hi girls." He was using his most fatal weapons again. But wait, he was on the roof whole day, how could

"I need to talk with Leigh for a while. You can go first." He told Michelle and Sonnia.

"It's alright." Sonnia said. "We can wait and go together."

He twiddled about and looking coyly at them. Sonnia's face turned pink at the sight because, I could not deny, he was so cute. "It's... about." He said shyly. "I'm sorry, I can't say it! It's too embarrassing! It's about my"

"Your?" Sonnia said.

Dylan nodded as if that could tell the answer.

Sonnia took the guess and fell the trap. "Yourppartner?"

Dylan was still nodding.

"But we can help too!" Sonnia said. Michelle didn't seem really interest.

"But it's embarrassing!" Dylan said again and I found it very irritating. He looked like a girl in love. "I have to prepare"

"I understand." Sonnia said. "It's ok. You can talk to Leigh first and tell us all about it next time." And she pushed Michelle and walked away. I still didn't really understand what was all this about.

"See ya later!" Dylan called after them. Then, he handed me the bag.

"What was that?" I asked looking confused at the demon.

He steered me back into the house and closed the door. "I don't know too." He said. "Sonnia seemed to think of something else. I was just trying to say I'm going to take you to the concert as a date."

"YOU DON"T!"

"I didn't." He smiled teasingly. "And it's embarrassing that I can only get you this just before the party start. Open the bag."

Mystified, I opened the bag as he said and took out the box. Inside of it was a pair of a glass shoes with sparkling transparent beads and crystals. It was a perfect match to my dress. Umm... my borrowed dress. I held the shoe to my eyes' level, awed.

"It's the perfect match!" said Dylan. "So hard to find. Put it on! See if it's the right size."

"But"

"Or I CAN put it on for you."

I put it on without further objections. It was a perfect fit too.

The demon smiled pleasingly. "I got the size right. I've never measured a person's feet before especially in their sleep."

"YOU MESSED WITH MY FEET WHEN I WAS ASLEEP?"

"Okay, shall we go?" He waved those off, just like that.

I spent the next ten minutes trying to persuade Dylan to let me go to the concert alone. It would raise the topic if people see me walking in with him. I failed AGAIN though.

"Please. They will get us wrong." And probably would not believe that you're gay anymoreI pleaded one last time before we left the house.

"It doesn't matter." said Dylan carefreely. "I don't mind."

"But I do!" Oh! Come on! Why is this guy so stubborn?! "They'll think we're"

Dylan gave me a teasing grin which I found intensely annoying. "What? They'll think we're what?"

I shied away at his gaze. My lips were unable to hold a still seal, nor did it pronounce a steady voice. "III" My stutter went on and on.

Dylan linked my arm with his, escorting me to the car parking about a block away. My heart beats accelerated and my face went numb as he held my hand tight. "Don't worry." He smiled warmly at me. "You are beautiful. And I need a beautiful date tonight."

I swore that the time did stop. When it resumed again, I almost tripped. I couldn't recall what had happened during the lost moment. And I suspected that my heart had stopped beating and I had forgotten to breathe because I was out of energy. My legs were feeble and I wobbled from left to right.

I did not talk to him again later on. I did not know what to. And I had tried my best to manage to breathe and bring myself back to its composure. What happened to me? What was that symptom? I kept asking myself and keeping my eyes on the ground. I was afraid that if I looked up and saw that otherworldly beautiful face, my head would certainly explode.

I got back to the world when Dylan opened the black door of Bentley for me. Huh? "How many cars have you got actually?" I asked sarcastically just to get myself out of that weird feelings.

"Only one." Dylan said and walked to the other side.

"But what about your Porsche?" Come to think of it, I haven't seen that car for a while.

"I got tired of cars." Dylan said as he started the engine. "They are so slow. My wings are much much better. So I sold that one and because I have to take you to the party today, I just bought this boy a week ago."

I almost fainted. He bought this car just to take me to the CHARITY concert.

Oh, well.

Dylan barreled through something gray that seemed like road, street. I could not really make clear of it because I was covered in blur. He pulled the wheel hard to the right one last time and we came to a halt in front of the school.

"I think I'll sell this thing tomorrow. It's so slow." Dylan said and got me out of the car.

I was still too stiff to remark anything.

But there were a lot of expensive cars in the school's parking lot today. Apart from students many riches people came to donate too. So the demon's car did not really stand out. That was good. Dylan held my hand tight all the way. I heard the crowd louder as we entered the concert hall which was the school's gym converted into an auditorium. Someone greeted me, I guessed. I didn't really know. I was too shy to look up. But one good thing about charity concert was not many teenagers like it, so the audiences were mostly adults and old people. There was a chance that nobody at school, except Sonnia, Michelle, and the band, would come.

"Hey Rose!" called out Dylan and destroyed all of my dim hope.

"Dylan!" Rose replied back. "How are you doing?" Her voice was very cheerful. I saw that she had a pink dress with gold strap at the waist on. I sensed that her eyes were resting on me. "And...er...Who's this?" Yes, she's mentioning me. I thought with a cry for help.

"Leigh." said Dylan, voice sounded equally cheerful. Damn it! "She's my date tonight."

And what choice do I have apart from looking up? I instantly put on an outgoing smile and a super friendly voice. "Hey Rose! How are you? How's your dinner? Oh! You look goooorgeous tonight." Okay. I overreacted it.

"Ththanks." Rose was probably dumbfounded.

"Oh! And" and the show must go on. "No no no no." I glimpsed at Dylan. "I'm not his date. We just metmetth" I tried to pull my arm out but Dylan held it even tighter. The demon looked at me, amused. After flashing Dylan a resent stare, and knowing that it was useless to fight against his strength, I gave up and came back to a less friendly smile and wry laugh. "There."

I should not get excited. Dylan's gay to Rose after all. I sighed. I ruined it all.

Rose gave me a wry grin and looked at Dylan with hesitation. I wasn't sure if she's convinced. "Okay...you two have fun." she said shortly and left.

Dylan let out his laugh. "What are you doing?"

I was totally exasperated. Temper and embarrassment flushed in my face. "I'm trying to get people to understand what is right!" I said with a bitter tone. "But you always get in my way!"

Dylan caught my wrist and pulled me closer. "You really don't want to be my date that much?"

It happened again, the lost moment, but this time it was shorter. I broke out of the reverie to see his pleading big eyes. Is he real about this? Does he really want me to be his date? And how can I refuse those eyes?

"Do you...hate me?" Dylan asked again and made my heart fell. Oh

I was lost for both words and voices. I did not know what to say or to react. Which was the best answer to get the best outcome out of this situation? I did not know what was right, what was wrong, what was appropriated, what was not. I did not even know what my thinking was anymore.

"It's alright." Dylan was finally the one who broke the silence between us. He wore a bitter smile and I felt sad at it too. What exactly is this? "Please be my date just tonight. And I'll stay as far away from you as you want."

A bottomless hole bore in me after hearing his words. Am Iam I too harsh on him?

We met Sonnia and Michelle beside an appetizer table. There really weren't many people from our school. Apart from Rose, I could only see a few more. Dylan was still not talking to me until the concert began. We walked to our seat and sat quietly. I didn't really enjoy it at all, even when I saw Dale vigorously soloing his flute.

The melody floated and danced in the air but scarcely got through my head. I was trying hard to understand Dylan, about all his acts, about what he said, about everything that happened between us. He's acting as if he

I stole a glance at my demon from time to time. Thought that it might be able to give me clues. He seemed to be enjoying the music.

It's just the contract, I concluded.

At last, I let the symphony gushed through. Hoping I would find more answers in them.

We had a small break for fifteen minutes. Somebody brought punch bowls and we each helped ourselves a cup or two. Dylan got one for me but we still did not talk. I tried to avoid him as much as possible by walking away into the crowd. But I could not force my eyes not to turn to his direction from time to time.

Michelle even brought a book to read during the interval, while Sonnia was on the roll with Ella about cheap dresses and gowns down town. And I could not see Dale anywhere, probably taking some rest behind the stage. I strolled around feeling very lonely until I ran into Rose.

"Leigh!"

"Hey Rose." I turned to the voice, fake friendly smile readied on my face, but my heart was not. "Good to see youagain."

Rose smiled back and looked around the room. "The music's better than I thought."

"Yea." I relaxed a little bit. Glad that she talked about something else.

"Your friend's up there too right?" the conversation was rolling. "The soloist, the one name Dale? He's pretty good."

"Yes." I replied. "He's awesome."

We were quiet for some time, then Rose said again.

"Your dress is beautiful!" she beamed changing the topic. "You've changed tonight. You look very pretty!"

"Thanks." I was a bit shy at her praise. And our conversation died again.

We were both looking at each other and away in an awkward silent for another while. We were not very close to start off, but what Dylan had said to Rose earlier made it harder for me to stand face to face with her now.

"Can I ask you something?" Rose suddenly blurted out.

"Of course." not. I said it just to be nice.

She was reluctant. Hope she's not going to ask about Dylan. I'm not prepared. I'm not ready now!!

"Are you going out with Dylan?"

Crap!!

I was blown away. All that came out was "No. No. No. No. No. No." At the mention of that name, I made a quick glance again. "No. No. No. No. No. No."

"But he said"

"No. No. No. No. No. No."

"But you were" Rose was trying to join the dots with puzzles. "You seem pretty close."

"Oh you see!" It finally came into handy. "He's gay. I'm just his disguise."

"Ohhh." Rose drawled, widened her eyes. She seemed to get my some-part-true excuse.

"That's it." I confirmed. Hope she would believe me.

"Well, there's such rumor. But I didn't believe it in the beginning. If you didn't say that, I'd really think Dylan's not gay and he likes you."Rose shrugged.

My heart jumped at her word and my eyes rolled to Dylan's direction again. He was talking to Patricia, a girl in Biology class whom I'd never talked to. Actually I hardly talked to anyone except Dale, Michelle, Sonnia. I thought that it's because I had a little social anxiety.

Patricia was one of his ex-admirers. They giggled and seemed pretty happy. I stirred at the sight. What are they talking about? What's so funny? And...why do I feel so disturbing?

A guy walked into Patricia and she fell over. Using demon's reflexes, Dylan caught her and held her gently, the way he had always held me. I felt like a big stone just hit my heart. It was now numb, I could feel nothing.

"You know, even though he's gay," Rose was looking at the same scene. "Many girls can't give up on that face."

"Excuse me." I said and turned quickly for an exit. It's too hot in here. I needed air. I needed to get away.

They were calling in for the second half so outside the gym was quite. I breathed in deeply and out. I do not understand myself. Okay, I don't hate Dylan, but I also don't like him. No. NO! Then, there should be nothing wrong with him and Patricia. He has all the rights to be with any girl. Why am I upset? He's not mine. Oh...I'm so confused.

The concert resumed. The symphony accompanied my thoughts as background music. Clogged in emotions turbulence, I didn't notice a sudden gust of wind or hear a sudden clang above. I looked up absent-mindedly and saw the roof collapsed, started to panic only when a huge piece of metal was about to hit on top of me. I yelled but was not sure if it was loud or not. I was unable to hear anything but the cheerful melody from the band. It did not make me feel better by the way, knowing what was happening right at the moment. The gray beam flew closer and shut down all my sight. Oh this is the end!

The entire memories flooded back in that instant in a slow motion. Mom's face appeared with a beautiful smile, I was never gonna see that again. I wished I had told her I love her one last time before she left. I love you Mom! I called out in my head with tears. Dale's face came next, and the first time I met him when we were children. All the fun we had back then, all our precious moments. Oh, my brother! I wish we could spend more time together. But after I'm gone, I hope he has a good life.

And then I saw Dylan, those glorious black wings of his, and the mystical blue green eyes. A twinge of pain hit me. I should not upset him. He was always good to me. He saved me many timeseven though it was because of the contract. I should be more straightforward with him. I should not act like a douche. I realized I, in fact, enjoyed his company. Even if he doesn't like me, I accept now that I like him and after dying, I'm gonna miss him...so much.

The memories and thoughts streams ended there. I felt chilled air on my face as the metal was about to hit it. I wasn't gonna die beautiful, but who cares, either ways it's death. My instinct took control of my body in the last minute. I went down on my knees buying some spare seconds, arms covered up my head.

Then it all went really fast. It's good to die fast so I don't have to suffer from pain. Darkness overcame my world as I heard the crashing and shattering noise. The hitting was, as a matter of fact...soft? Something warm and soft with familiar scent wrapped around me. How could the metal be this soft? God's mercy?

The cranking noise went on. However, I, buried under the debris, was already safe and sound in life after death. But... am I really dead? Why do I still hear all this noises? Do spirits hear?

The clatter gradually died down. I felt something moved. And when the darkness unfolded, I saw the familiar divine face of Dylan with his suppose-to-be frantic voice. "Leigh?" My heart picked up the pace and adrenaline rushed in my face. My brain now was working efficiently. I figured out many befuddled questions, resolved many mysteries of my heart; and all the puzzles were in its places. All this time, I'd been in the middle of this hazy maze, got lost and walked relentlessly in many different directions, but then the sun came out and all the fog disappeared. Everything was crystal clear. It was the moment of enlightenment. I knew now. Yes, like is with Conner. With Dylan, it's different. It's not Like...it's Love.

I'm in love with my demon.

I'm in love with Dylan.

Chapter 28

I Love.

"Are you alright Leigh?!" Dylan said in an almost yelling tone, freaking out.

"Dylan!" My voice was hoarse but my feelings flowed as smooth as silk. I could feel my cheek turning red knowing Dylan was holding me tight.

Despite the chaos surrounded me, all I could see was Dylan's face. And the world seemed a lot more beautiful even in this danger. Dusts glittered like pixies dusts. Flying debris was like petals and butterflies. Dylan looked at me and only at me. I was flying high. I didn't want to be parted from him. I wanted him to hold me like this forever.

"Are you hurt?!" The demon's voice rang fetching me back to the real world. He inspected all over my body as I observed the place. The roof collapsed only where I was standing. How unlucky. No, in fact, how lucky. The accident helped me untangled the knot, helped me understand...that I should be more sincere with myself.

Dylan breathed a sigh of relief after seeing that I was fine. He then pulled me in and pressed me to him.

My cheek grew even more red-hot.

The music in the hall stopped and people started to pour out to see the source of the deafening noises. Elders gasped when they saw the pile of what used to be the roof. Rose quickly made a 911 call. Sonnia and Michelle took place beside me hollering with worries. The musicians followed out later, among them were Dale.

"Leigh!" cried Dale, spotting me in the middle of the wreckage.

"Dale!" I shouted in reply.

Dale pushed through the crowd toward me. His face was in panic and was almost white. "Is everything ooo" Dale slowed down as soon as he saw me. His worried face went cold and he abruptly turned and walked away.

"Dale!" I called out trying to get up, totally forgot about that romantic moment.

"Dale!" I called again but somebody grabbed me. It was Dylan. "Leigh you should go to the hospital."

"But Dale"

"We can go see him later."

"That's right Leigh!" Sonnia said. "Listen to Dylan. You should go to the hospital."

"We'll talk to Dale." Michelle added.

I wanted to go after Dale. But they were right. I actually felt a bit dizzy. I should let doctor check my brain.

Looking back to where Dale had gone, I went after my demon to the police car. The flashing red and blue lights from the siren and the feeling that something was not right here disturbed me. What is it with Dale?

The concert was cancelled. Someone must have put some curse on the band or it wouldn't have so many obstructing incidents. The musicians might be a bit annoyed having practice hard many months and did not get to perform, but other than that I thought they already got enough money for their purpose.

We were dropped at the hospital and Dylan supported me into the ward. Nurses had already been informed about the accident from the policeman who drove us here, so many of them rushed to see me when I walked in. When it turned out that I only had a few small bruises, they seemed pretty disappointed. Well, they had prepared so many stuff for such big accident and emergency.

The doctor examined my X-ray film. "Well, your brain looks perfectly fine Miss Camden. You're very lucky."

"Thank you Dr. Ramon." I said with light head. "So there'll be no pills for me?"

Dr. Ramon shook his head. "Nope. You can go home. And get a good night sleep. Tell your friend you're fine. He looks worried sick."

"Thank you doctor." I prepared to leave. Did he mean Dylan?

Outside of the ward, my demon was pacing back and forth anxiously. He came running to me loyally as he saw me.

"Is everything alright?" he asked, his voice still had that panic in it.

"I'm fine." I said and smiled.

"Thanks Satan!" Dylan covered his face with both hands, uttered with relief. Dylan took my hand. "Come, let me fly you home."

I smiled at my demon. Appreciated that he really worried about me. I have to be good to him from now on.

Dylan looked at me with curiosity. "Are you sure your head is fine? The doctor didn't get anything wrong?"

"Huh?" Why does he say that? "What's the matter? Something's wrong with me?"

Dylan shrugged. "You seem to be in an extraordinarily good mood after almost got smashed in the head."

I laughed. Dylan was ever more flummoxed. "I'm fine. Let's go."

I just enjoy the love I have for you. I'm in love.

Chapter 29

Brother.

Dylan was nowhere to be seen the next morning. This startled me a bit since he had never left my side after the plane. I ferreted around my bedroom, stirring at the unaccustomed emptiness. Not that I was scared of the wind, but it just felt so lonely. I had already admitted that I love him, I should spend more time with him.

But Sonnia and Michelle visited me. Maybe it was lucky that he was not here.

"Dale's impossible!" Sonnia said. "But I'm glad you're alright Leigh. It's very lucky of you to survive such accidents without scratches."

I poured coffees for all of us with Michelle's help. "What about Dale?" That's right, I hadn't heard from him since last night. He was never like this. He always ran to me the first thing whenever, whatever happened.

Michelle took two cups to the table and said. "He's very angry that we took Dylan in."

"Yea, even if he's gay!" Sonnia complained.

That was probably my fault.

"Maybe it's because Dylan's...gay?" I suggested trying to cool off the atmosphere. But inside, I was a bit worried.

Sonnia shrugged. We talked a little more about my condition and they decided to let me rest. I didn't want to rest. Story about Dale was nagging at me irritably that I had to go out see him right away.

I went straight to Dale's house, trying to put Dylan's aside unsuccessfully while I was walking. My mind kept coming back thinking about him pondering about how he treated me. Could he have liked me too? Hope flickered on and off liked about-to-be-broken light bulbs. Then, my mind wandered to our time together roaming across to the future. Will I ever have a chance to confess my love? Do I want him to know? Or should I keep it a secret? No, Leigh! Concentrate! It's about Dale now!!

The buzzing bell awaked me from the never-ending train of thoughts. I pulled myself together and placed a smile on my face. In fact, I did not have to. I could not stop smiling since last night. Love forced it.

Dale opened the door and I quickly said hi. His face was expressionless then turned sulky.

"Are you okay?" seeing his sullen face, I asked and touched his forehead which he moved away instantly. I staggered. Dale was never like this. What changed him during these days when we hadn't time to get together?

"Are you with Dylan Ziarre now?" Dale demanded, voice sounded threatening.

My mouth was about to curve into an O for 'No'. But, then, it also looked 'Yes' to me. We did hang out a lot. I didn't want to lie to Dale, but neither were I brave enough to speak the truth. Swinging my arms to wave the shyness off, I blundered on my answer. "'Yono, I mean Nesno"

"What exactly is it?" Dale pressed on demanding my answer.

I mumbled hesitantly avoiding his stare. Wait, is he mad about this? Why? Dale doesn't like Dylan?

My silence provoked Dale. He was about to shut the door into my face. I could not let that happen and jammed myself between the door and the wall

"Wait! What is it? We're just friends! And he's gay!"

"I don't believe a word about that guy being gay!" Dale shouted. "I know he just wants to get close to you!"

He got it right. I was shocked. "Nno"

"Michelle's right Leigh." Dale continued with an angry tone. "Any sensible human would never believe such stupid rumor. He clearly likes you! Yesterday he was hugging you, wasn't he?!"

No, he's just doing his duty forcing by the contract. I could only answer that in my head.

"Nothing to say?" Dale smirked. "What about you Leigh? Do you like him?"

Now, I was totally exasperated. If Dale had asked me this a day earlier, I could tell him 'no' without any hard feelings. But how could I say it now? I didn't want to lie. I couldn't tell the truth!

The tension's getting on my nerve and I could hold it no longer. I peevishly shouted. "Okay! Okay!" Oh! What is this?! "If you don't like it, I'm not gonna be friend with him anymore! You're happy?!"

Outraging, I turned and tramped away, didn't wait for an ending. His behavior today really pissed me off. What happen to Dale's logical lobe of brain? Is he making me choose? Between him and Dylan?

Of course, I would choose him! We knew each other for so long! And I loved him too. I doubtlessly had to choose a family over a random guy, no, random demon.

Yet, I was agitated at what I had announced. Knowing for certain that I could not be with Dylan anymore, and with such short time of realizing the crush. I was going to spend a lot of time with him. I was going to be good to him. Thanking everything he had done for me. Now, it could only be a dream.

Obviously, I could not expect anything more than friendship from Dylan anyway. I lost in every way comparing to him. Long, long, light-year long way out of his league. My look was so ordinary and he was so good-looking. My dresses were cheap and tomboy while he always dressed well. And the greatest difference was our character. He was a popular out-going guy whereas I was an introvert anti-social who was never at ease with the arrival of tomorrow.

Most important thing, we live in a totally different world!

I sighed considering all the reasons and possibilities between us and thought about Dale. A drop of tear drew a line across my cheek.

I gave up.

Tears brimming in my eyes and washed down my cheeks. It felt just like dad's bike when I lost a very important part of me.

Chapter 30

Who's Unfortunate?

I had no idea where Dylan was now but I needed to find him. I wanted to end this stupid one-side love for Dale, and for myself. I thought with a heart throb.

My intuition took me to the forest close to the sea. And I found my demon talking with his cousin from the distance. I quickly ran and caught up with them, did not really care what issues they were on.

"...wind." Dylan was saying.

"I did it for you bro!" Nate was saying. "I didn't actually try to kill he" Nate trailed off when he saw me.

"Dylan!" My heart sank hearing his name coming out of my own mouth. This was going to be the last time I called him like this. I told myself to get over with it, for the best, and took the bull by the horns.

"Leigh!" said Dylan with his velvety voice. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to rest."

Coming to a stop in front of the demon, I panted and exhaled. "I know. I have something" I swallowed one more time to make sure I was ready. "important to tell you."

Dylan stood quietly waiting for me to say. I looked at him and glanced at Nate deciding to ignore the yellow-eyed demon who had a disturbing grin on his face. I wouldn't have anything to do with Dylan from now on, so there's no need to be involved with another demon. I did not really have to be friendly with him.

"II know we have that contract." I began and jumped straight to the point. "But I don't need you to protect me anymore."

Dylan was paralyzed at my words. I tried to look away from that bewildering face of his.

"Let us just." I gulped again before the ending. "Leave it here. Andandmove on, on our own."

I turned to walk away. I didn't want to be here any longer.

"Wait." cried out Dylan and seized my hand. "What's this all about Leigh? I thought we're good."

I didn't have an explanation that was good enough, so I was just going to say anything that came across my mind at the moment. "Eevever since I signed the contract with you, many bad things happened. You take away my luck!" I found a big lump of concrete in my throat. "I'll find a way to cancel the contract."

My voice was shaky. Those cruel words, piercing at me brutally, made me cry. I shook his hand off and walked as fast as my legs allowed, trying to get away from this place as soon as possible.

But Dylan would not give up, and my super speed could not match his crawl. He instantly appeared in front of me clutching my shoulders. "I don't believe it. Then why are you crying?"

This stimulated my tears. It poured out even more. My word sounds pathetic through the sob. "Lelealeave me alone."

Dylan put his arms fast over my shoulder. Suddenly I was in his embrace. "No." he said firmly. "Not with you crying like this."

All I had to do was stop crying. It was a wonder how hard it was when Dylan was still so kind in spite of what I said to him. He hugged me even tighter when the tears were unstoppable. And I cried even harder.

He stroked my back gently. I actually calmed down by those, his soothing tone and his refreshing smell. I pushed him away with my hands and said. "Pleplease I want to stay alone for a while."

Dylan didn't agree. But I said 'please' again and he nodded with one condition. "Call me as soon as you feel better, okay?" I nodded and then walked aimlessly away.

The sun was camouflaged by mass of clouds by the time I arrived at the forest. The grey sky supported my gloomy mood. I was full of confusion. I did not know what to do next. I had decided to end it with Dylan for Dale and for myself. But his kindness befuddled my decision.

Unknowingly, I wandered into the dense of the tree. I trudged forward pressing through tiny gaps between trunks and bushes. I knew I was lost, but I did not mind. I wanted to get lost like this forever, so that I would not have to deal with all the troubles awaited for me out there.

A wolf appeared in front of me. I was taken aback and about to run when it changed into someone I knew. "Cody!" I said with relieve. Wait, should I felt relieve? Dylan's not here with me!

"You're near our territory." Cody said. "Where's Dylan?"

"Sorry, I didn't know." I said. "I'm not with Dylan."

Cody looked at me quietly as I wondered whether I should run, he said. "Come."

I followed him deeper inside the woods and, like last time, soon I came out into a clearing where all the forest demons live their lives in peace. Chane came running to me and jumped into my embrace. Other demons welcomed me very kindly.

"You came!" Chane grinned with delight. "I'm so glad!"

I laughed with the elf as he took me to meet other forest demons' kids. "Where's Dylan?" Chane asked after he finished introducing everyone of his friends.

"Umm... I didn't come with him." I tried not to reply him straight.

Chane shrugged and sat me down with his friends. Some of them were tree demons like him, some of them were tiny fauns, some of them were cute wolf demons with those ears, oh, and some of them were, I guessed, rabbit demons, because they had rabbit ears sticking out of their head. Oh, I'm going to die with all of these cuteness!

The adult forest demons offered me various foods and drinks. They said it's organic. They even knew the word 'organic!' I giggled and thanked them. Cody joined us too.

"How do you remember the way to here?" Cody asked me.

"I don't!" I replied him truthfully. "I was lost actually."

"I thought so." Cody said. "You seemed like one. I was surprise too when you show up. You know, we move our place around so it's impossible for human to come here."

"Really?" I said and looked at the trees and shrubs that grew so closely that they looked just like a wall.

A wolf demon kid threw himself at me and tried to lick my face. I pat his head and laughed. "It's tickling."

"Luca!" Chane hugged me. "Leigh's mine!" They glared at each other.

"It' alright." I said and smiled at them. "I can hold you both!"

A rabbit demon girl approached me. "Can you hold me too?" She asked shyly.

"Of course!"

Within no time, my arms were full with demon's kids.

"When we heard that Dylan got a contractor," Cody began. "we were very worried."

"Huh?" I looked at him puzzling. "Why?"

"It's considered a bad luck." Cody explained. "We were terrified of how the human slaved us. So we think it is very unfortunate for a demon to get into a contract."

And I thought I was the one unfortunate!

"But he's lucky to have you." Cody finalized it with a fanged smile.

A message came in with a ding-dong. I freed my right arm and fetch it out of the pocket. 'Unknown' were shown at the number. I clicked in and read the message.

We got Dale Cartner, come if you want him alive.

Then, another message arrived with shared location.

"I know that place." Cody said. "I can take you there."

Chapter 31

Hall of Flames.

Cody let me ride on his back. It was an amazing and a bit hair-raising experience riding on a wolf. It did not take Cody long to get me there. He dropped me at the edge of the forest, told me the place was supposed to be some kind of a deserted building and wished me luck.

This was weird. I thought and rethought and rethought. I could not understand why someone would kidnap Dale, on top of that, chose to tell me instead of his parents. There was only one possibility I could think of, I had what they need, and it wasn't money. What's the thing that only I have? I thought further. My paintings?I don't know, a demon?

My journey out of the demon wood was easy, but to find that building Cody told me was a different thing. Wading into overhead length bushes, I wasted almost twenty minutes to search for that place, found it with nettles and thorns in my hairs as a present from the trees. It was out of sight from the main road and well hidden in the middle of the neglected dry swamp. Lucky that I glimpsed something old and decided to take a look. It was a sort of warehouse.

Hair bristled on my neck as I swam my way through tall grasses toward the warehouse. Not only because the area was deserted, and the silence crept me, but also because of that haunted look of the building. This sure was no place for a child or even an adult to come and play. It was a sort of a place where kidnappers would imprison the victims.

The place smelled damp, old, bad like unwashed socks, somehow a bit salty and rusty, and dead. I gazed at the dirty wall stained with something purplish and brown chemicals. That was enough to make me terrified. Adding up the dark vacant entrance, my whole body just shrank into the size of a tiny marble. It was like a black hole trying to suck me in....suck me in...

A solemn hum resounded across the space accompanying the gloomy atmosphere. At first, I thought they were ghosts when I saw something white floating in the middle of the darkness. Scare the shit out of me. But later I realized that they were the DW dressed in their code, still scare the shit out of me. Laid prone in the blood pool before them was Dale.

The scene kicked me in the guts. My whole body went numb and cold. Everything had gone blank in an instant. I moved forward to Dale, hands and legs shook like I got epilepsy. I touched him lightly and quickly bounced my finger back as if touching a hot plate, but no, this wasn't a hot plate. I was afraid it was as cold as a dead body.

Taking in an ocean-deep breath, I summoned every last drop of strength left in me and put my hands on Dale again, turned him over. It was hard to explain the feeling of relief when I found that he was still breathing. But tears that were detained by the shock were all at once released.

There were bruises all over his body and he was stabbed in the stomach.

I raised my head and looked at Don Winter, the head of the DW gang. Usually, I was scared of them, especially him. But Dale's condition had invoked my courage. I said.

"You're the one sending the message?"

"What message?" Don looked a bit bemused but his voice was very threatening.

"Don't play dumb!" I started to yell. "You send me the message to come here! You kidnapped Dale and tried to murder him! Is this about that day?" I pointed at the two members who used to beat Dale up before. "I think you've done more than enough last time. You broke his arm!"

Don smirked. "I don't understand a thing you babbling about."

"Are you denying all of this?" I said sweeping my hand at the faint Dale.

"No." said Don with deep dark voice. "It's our work."

"You admit!"

"But we did it because we got an order from someone else." He added.

"Wh...who?"

Don Winter stood up and moved toward the exit. The gang followed him. "I'd love to hit that guy with our own accord. Just for fun. It's sad that now we are their slaves." I detected a slight quiver in his voice. "And there's one more job for us to do."

Is he talking about being a demon's slave? I wondered as they left, didn't really give much thought of what's another job of theirs.

"L...Le...Leigh?"

"Dale! Are you okay?"

"You shouldn't be here." He tried to get up.

"Wait. Wait. Just lie down." I pushed him down on his back, about to fetch my phone for the 911.

A sudden explosion drowned the place. I turned around and saw that the DW had lighted up the bombs they hid somewhere near the exit. The blast didn't damage the place much but the fire caught up and spread out rapidly. The next thing I knew, we were already surrounded by the burning ring of fire. And the blazing conflagration turned this old building into hall of flames.

Oddly, I wasn't as scared as I should be. Apart from the goggling and the sudden heart-jump, I was actually quite composed. All that in my head was to get Dale to safe ground. I had responsibility with me now. Dale's life was depending on me.

I tore out a part of Dale's cloth and wrapped it around his wound tightly while trying to lug him. I bet my luck for the exit. There was only one way, I had to run through the fire, or we're all going to die. And I couldn't let Dale died. Not like this.

"Leigh..."

"Be quiet." I said sucking in a smoke-concentrated air, coughed a little bit and held my breath.

It did not took me long to get ready this time. I have to protect Dale. I have to rescue him. Take him to the hospital. I told myself and darted into the fire.

Who knew how long I ran in the sea flames. But when I got out, I found that we were blocked by another fire walls.

Amid the walls of flames, I fell down on my knees, unable to breathe. I panted heavily as the air gradually escaped and the heat replaced. It felt like my windpipe was boiled. And I felt like I was burning inside, not the anger, literally burning inside. I was worried about Dale despite all of this, his situation must be worse.

I decided to lay Dale down on the ground. He should breathe better there. Coughing harder, I tried to look ahead hoping to find some way.

But no, the black smoke befogged the place. And I could see nothing but orange and black color, could smell nothing but heat. This is the end of me. I just hope Dale lives.

The smoke and heat befogged my thought as well. I could not think straight. Actually, I couldn't think anything. And I felt like my conscious was borne further and further away.

Hot red curtains made me felt like I was in hell. At the word hell I smiled a little bit. Dylan lived in hell. It would be good if I could see Dylan here before I died. One last time...

A tear rolled down and quickly evaporated into the air. I miss him...I really miss him...

Chapter 32

Rescue.

Another bang resounded raucously but I got used to it now. The fire must have destroyed most of the warehouse. I only hoped that I could die from lack of oxygen rather than parts of the building falling down on me. It would hurt less that way.

And another bang. I could not move but I tried hard not to pass out. Three-fourth of the eyelids were drooping helplessly. With all the consciousness that was left of me, I stayed awake as long as the reaper allowed, hoping that I could somehow think of a way to help Dale and had one last glimpse of Dylan.

"Leigh!"

Oh, another blast.

"Leigh!"

Huh? That's a very weird crashing sound.

"Leigh!!"

If I'm not wrong, that is my name.

"Leigh! Leigh!"

Who could it be?

"Leigh!!!"

The voice calling my name was louder and louder. So somebody was coming closer. Help me,...no help Dale please...

"Leigh!" The voice was right next to my ear. I remembered now, it was Dylan's. In the blurring trance, joy took over me and although unable to force a smile, I did cry. But tears vaporized as soon as they met the hot air. The demon held me, called my name over and over again. I could die in peace now.

I was about to fall into the deep abyss of nothingness when suddenly the gravity shifted and soon seemed to vanish. The air carried me out of the darkness into light. And it wasn't that hot and burning anymore. Cool fresh air poured into my lungs. Awareness slowly returned bit by bit. And when all the nerves were fully connected with my body again, I heard a singing song drifting across my ears, soothing all the searing emotions inside. Feeling like a warm jelly wrapping around, I blinked a few times to make sure that I was really awaked before opening my eyes. It was just the face I wanted to see most, my demon.

Great delight cemented my mouth. Unable to take my gaze away, I could not describe how overjoyed I was. Tears outpoured as he called my name once again and squeezed me tight in his embrace.

"Leigh! I...I thought I'd lost you."

My heart jumped. Partly happy, partly also uncertain of his intention. Does he also like me? Or does he just think of me as his master? But this isn't time to think of something like this!

"Dy...Dylan."

The demon helped me up. He seemed weirdly pale in this orange light. "Come. We have to go. It's dangerous in here."

I followed my demon obediently. But something on the floor caught my eyes. It was Dale.

"Wait!" I pulled the demon back and knelt down beside Dale. He looked just like perfectly blue rare grilled meat. "Please, help him too."

Then, I realized, with mouth and eyes wide opened. It was the first time I requested Dylan. I had made a request and would have to pay back later. But I did not regret, I would give anything to help Dale.

Dylan smiled kindly. "Of course."

Dylan bent down, putting his hand slightly above Dale's belly and chanted a spell. So the singing song I heard was from him. The blue light started from his palm, spread all over Dale's body and the wounds were slowly healed. As the light faded away, Dale took a big gasp and choked before springing up to life again.

Dale glared at Dylan in an instant. "What the?!" And went into a row of coughs because of the smoke surrounded.

I turned to my demon. "Can you get him out of here?" Oh, another request.

Dylan nodded panting exhaustedly. His breath rhythm seemed a bit strange. "But I have to get you out first."

"No." I refused bluntly. "I can go later. Please, please, help Dale first."

I pleaded casting a poor cute kitten eyes. Dylan couldn't resist very long. He grabbed Dale with one hand and shoot out to the top of the flame.

"Wait there. I'll be back!"

Even with Dale's shout, kicks and punches in the air, my demon did not let me wait long. He came back almost immediately after flew out.

"Wow, that was fast!"

An explosion from somewhere thundered the hall, interrupted the constant rumble of the fire waves. As I flinched, my eyes met the ceiling and saw that a huge piece of rock was falling down on me. I screamed as the size of the rock increase every second it came closer.

Dylan spread out his wings and covered me up with the onyx arms. He kept me underneath and took the hit. The demon pushed the rock away, carried me up and we took off out of this hell.

As soon as we were out, Dylan lowered his hands and we dropped down onto the ground. I rolled a couple of times but got up instantly and hurried to my demon. Dylan lay still. Beautiful dark wings shattered. The elegant face went a shade whiter. He was badly injured and could do nothing but moaning quietly.

"Dylan!" I cried.

"Dylan!" Somebody else said the exact same word and panic tone and rushed beside me seizing my demon away.

"Jessie!" I stared at the girl holding Dylan with surprise.

Chapter 33

The End...of the culprit.

Nate, golden hair ruffled, landed next to Jessie, crouching down beside Dylan looking as white. His wide-eyed stared at his cousin in despair before glowered at me with ultimate hatred.

"You kill him!" Nate grounded his teeth. "You filthy human!"

"II didn't" How could he say this? I'm as sad as him.

"Wh..what's this?" Dale voice was shaking. I glanced at him with the corner of my eyes. He was looking bewildered and out of place. Beyond him, behind the tall grasses, the DW took refuge in there as if waiting for prey.

"Yes, you kill him!" Jessie said, giving me red eyes, and turned to Nate. "You said you'd kill her! Why isn't she dead yet?"

What? Why?

Nate glowered at her too.

"It's the only request I made and you can't do one bit about it?! You stupid demon! Keep blowing your stupid wind here and there and nothing hit her! Why don't you just shot" She wounded on him angrily.

"Just shut up human!" Nate scolded at her. "You can't make me do things I don't want to!"

"But we made the contract!" Jessie said. "And Leigh Camden's death's my only request!"

"Wait, wait!" I just couldn't keep on listening anymore. "Jessie, what are you saying? You...want to kill me?"

Jessie made a very scary face. Ugliness created from anger and hatred resided on her pretty face. "Yes! If you die, the contract with Dylan would end and I'll be his next!"

"Dylan?" I said looking at my demon in her arm. "You... like him?"

"Only seaweed brain like the queen would believe the rumor you spread. You want him all to yourself, don't you?" Jessie sneered. "Dylan's mine! I'm his number one fan! I like him more than you. I'm the one who love him the most! Now, quick, give him your soul!" And she squeezed Dylan even tighter that Dylan slightly moaned.

"He hurts. Stop it human!" Nate suddenly yelled at Jesssie and took her wrist. Dylan dropped back down onto the ground as Nate put his face close to Jessie's. Then he used his other hand grabbing mercilessly at her cheeks. "You...you're not gonna" Nervous grin fluttered all over the perfect oval face.

"I did as I was told." Nate said through grinding teeth. "Put Leigh in an accident that can kill her. I don't care if she's dead or not. I'd put in my work. Time for you to pay."

He held her mouth open as if trying to kiss that plumping red lips. But Nate stopped right before his touched hers; and a bright light spilt out of that lovely mouth. Jessie, realized what's happening, eyes bulged with fear and hatred.

I stared at the scene, blood draining from my face. I thought I had to do something. I had to help Jessie, but how?!

"Stop it Nate!" I called at the top of my lung. "No!"

Nate ignored me. And when the whole white ball of light slowly travelled into the demon's mouth, my body went stiff and cold like marble stones. From this point, I could see Dale and the DW behind the grasses. They were, similarly, turned into a type of stones like me.

"YOU FUCKING DEMON!!"

Jessie managed to utter her last words as Nate sucked away her soul. Her conscious started to drift away and she fell on her back, unable to enjoy the cool light drizzle that came down from heaven as if mourning for her departure. Somehow I realized, my misery at school may have come to an end as well.

"Thanks for a grand feast. I especially love those jealousies, although anger and hatred aren't so bad." Nate sneered with satisfaction, swung his tongue around his lips wiping all the remaining taste of the delicious anger mixed with jealousy and hatred soul. It seemed like he was shining for a moment and reminded me of the time he came to my house and met Galvin. Dylan was saying that he captured my kidnapper and passed them on to Nate. Terror widened my opened eyes. Nate must have eaten their souls too. That's why he shined. He was powering up.

"That's why we're called demon. And" The yellow eyes demon turned to me. I drew back in panic but he grasped my wrist as well. "I got rid of your enemy. You have to help Dylan."

"She's not my enemy!" I protested, still frightened of this Nate. It was like I'd never known him at all. "She's my friend!"

"Are you calling someone who wants you dead a friend?" Nate snickered devilishly. "Your stupid kidnappers led me to her. She had been trying to kill you even without demon's power." I did not want to listen to Nate anymore. I did not want to have bad feelings toward Jessie. And she's dead. I almost cried at the realization. "I heard she'd been giving you a hard time like pulling pranks on you at school, trying to get people to burn you by accusing you as witch. She was so jealous of you being too close to Dylan. And even more jealous when she leant about demons and knew that you're my bro's contractor. Her first request to me was to kill you."

I wanted to shut my ears but Nate was holding my wrist firmly.

"Now, thank me." Nate said forcibly. "Help Dylan!"

Dylan stirred and it dragged me out of Nate's menacing circle. I held him up in my arms again. I would help him without Nate forcing me to. My eyes were swimming again when I saw how bad Dylan was injured. I said. "How do I help him?"

Nate loosened his fierce tone and grip. "There's only one way." He suddenly looked so sad. He must have loved Dylan a lot too. I understood what I had to do then.

Chapter 34

Oh My God.

"Well, well, look at that." said an arrogant girl voice. "We don't have to do anything much after all. Our long years of pain is finally avenged. That Jessie's plan works well."

I looked up at the voice. And someone I did not want to meet most appeared before my eyes. It was Seth Lee.

He's back!

...sadly, with even colder gaze.

Phoebe was the one who said that. She had one hand rest resolutely on her hip looking even prettier than I last met her. Conner was with them too, he looked troubled and casted me an apologetic eyes. The trio approached us. Their body glowed but I had no mind to waste on that now. I had to thinkthink! Think about helping Dylan!

Don Winter rushed out of his hiding to Seth. He looked very intimidate and spoke in such a submissive way even though his size was twice as big as Seth. "Master Lee"

He even used such polite way of speaking!

"We have done our job. Will you please...release us?" I detected fear in his voice! Oh my, what had Seth done to these people?

"You should be grateful." Seth said and a chill ran down my spine. "It's not easy to become our slaves."

Seth leered and made an evil grin. Don sank away behind the grasses again without further objections. It seemed they would have to continue being his slave.

"You can finish him now." said Seth to...me, I guessed, and I gawked at him. Seth continued. "And you'll be free forever."

"You dared!" Nate roared at the trio and stood up fanning out his wings protecting Dylan. His skin melt and color changed as he slowly shifted into a big bird. Black feathers that mingled with gold were outstanding with the orange of the fire from the warehouse that the light rain was unable to calm it down. His, or its?yellow eyes were blazing with rage and full with readiness to fight anybody who's going to harm his bro.

"Can anyone tell me what is happening?" Dale called out daring another chance, moving awkwardly closer behind Conner.

But no one cared to explain him, including me, because Nate the bird, squawking and screeching, swept his powerful wing in my direction in an attempt to hit Seth. It almost knocked me away from Dylan. I held tight my demon despite the high frequency bird noise that was piercing through my eardrums.

"Stop it crazy bird! You'll hurt Leigh!" yelled Conner and he jumped at Nate, the angry bird, and they went on engaging in fighting again.

I watched the brawl in horror. Arms circled Dylan securely. The situation was getting crazier and crazier. What exactly is all of this about?! I looked at the fighting and at Seth and Phoebe who had no sign of wanting to help Conner, could not stand it anymore!

"Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!" I cried out as loud as I could. "STOP IT ALREADY!!!!"

The bird and Conner stopped. Seth casted me an icy look while Phoebe's was fiery.

I talked to the angry bird first. "I'm going to help Dylan, I promise, okay, Nate?" The bird looked at me with those clear bright yellow eyes. I was not sure if he still understood what I said. I did not know how to read a bird's face. But its size gradually shrank and part of the head started to turn into human form. So, he understands.

I sighed, one problem solved. "Okay, so now Seth, Phoebe and Conner, this isn't time to hunt demons. So demon hunters please go. I won't let you harm Dylan no matter what."

"Demon hunter?" Seth had this quizzical look on his face. "Oh, okay, I kinda like it."

"But I don't!" Phoebe said angrily. Her red aura flared brighter and bigger. "How low could you be human? You even think of us as a lowly demon hunter!"

I looked blankly at the red hair girl, confounded by her act, and turned to Conner for help. Conner shook his head. Had I done something wrong?

"Then, tell me!" I shouted back irritably. "How am I supposed to know what you guys are, if you don't tell me?"

"You pitiful lowly being." said Seth flatly but the light around his body shone brighter as if releasing more power. One thing I was sure...he must be angry.

I watched Seth, eyes wide with fright as he was about to whip the light beam at me. Nate's warning had made him stop. "Quit it Seth! You're not allowed to hurt human! Don't forget it!"

Seth Lee veered the beam toward Nate instead. "Don't call my name demon!" Fortunately, Nate duck away in time.

"Whawhat are you exactly?" I looked at the trio, agitated, trying to move further away from them.

Seth Lee smiled. It was rare. But this rare smile didn't give me comfort, it did exactly opposite. "Listen." Seth Lee began. "Kill that demon. You have to believe me because we are"

The aura surrounding the trio radiated and glittered beautifully like diamonds. Oh my god! Are they going to turn into something else too? Like some kind of heroes? Batman? Spiderman?

Nate cut in and ruined the exciting moment. "They are gods."

What?

"Yes." His lips weren't moving but Seth's voice rang all over the area. "You have to believe us because we are GODS." The 'God' word resounded and vibrated through the air magnificently giving me goosebumps.

Oh...my....m...........................Gods?!

"We are on your side." Now it was Phoebe's voice turn. "We want what's best for you."

"OOkay hold on." I held out my palm and, like a light bulb was switched off, the trio stopped glowing. There was a lot to take in. Compiling up all the information, I tried not to think too much but instead understand it. I still couldn't though. What? Gods?

Now, I knew that when there's good, there's evil. But gods? Seriously? Demons? And gods? Like Dan Brown's? Oh...it's the world end, isn't it?

But it's real. I looked at the demon in my embrace, his wings, and thought of those blue green eyes. Everything that had been happening was real.

My love for him too.

"Don't be dazzled about that." Nate started saying. "There's nothing to be excited about being a god. The only advantage is that they don't need to be fed on souls to gain more power. Otherwise, they are almost the same as us."

Seth whipped another silvery ribbon at the demon. "We are nothing like you! We don't do evil things like killing people!" And both Seth and Nate jumped into a fight. The swiping and slashing from them were so loud and thunderous that they covered up the deteriorating noise of the burnt collapsing warehouse.

"What about you?" Phoebe brought me back to her from the god and demon's fighting scene. "You're with them? Then, you should die too!" Phoebe glowered at me and emitted red corona once more. Then, it was the first time I saw her red wings unfolded elegantly.

Conner, left eye twitched, quickly moved in front of me, guarding. "We can't harm human Phoebe." And the beautiful snow white glittering feathered wings of his popped out. My...so many wings, so many colors. Nevertheless, I felt safe and warm at the sight of them. He was like a guardian angel.

"Conner, those are demons behind you." said Phoebe about to get into her fight mode.

"And human too." countered Conner.

"She's with demons!"

"But she's still human." said Conner.

"Somebody had better explained something to me, or I'm calling 911 NOW!" Dale tried to raise his voice, but everyone still ignored him.

The rapid succession of events since this morning confounded me. There were too many things...too MANY things going on. I started the day feeling happy, then moving on to sad, and came right here to despair. I loved my friends but they betrayed me. I thought demons were good but Phoebe said

"Demons aren't all bad." I tried again talking from behind Conner. I thought about Chane and Cody and the heart-warming forest demons. "They arethey are kind..."

"They brainwashed her!" Phoebe screamed at Conner.

"No!" Conner said. "We ARE brainwashed, by Seth's grudge and anger."

Phoebe balled her hand and fire sparked up there. She pointed with that fire balled hand. "Haven't you seen that?" I followed it and saw Jessie lifeless body lay twisted on the ground. Her unclosed eyes, left-opened pale mouth, and hollow face stamped its image in the bottom of my heart. She would haunt me forever.

And the last thing she wanted me to do as well...

Help Dylan.

Chapter 35

Red Soul.

I copied Nate and bent down holding my lips a few inches above Dylan's.

But seconds passed with nothing happened. Ugh! "How do I give you my soul, Dylan?" I mumbled to myself.

A squall was spawned from somewhere and the rain eventually became a storm. The burning warehouse collapsed and the fire was completely extinguished. I took in a brief deep breath but before I could even think of what to do next, cold blue light washed over and the symbol appeared on my forehead. It had begun.

Like an invisible huge vacuum machine was switched on, my awareness was gradually sucked away. My eyeballs bulged as if the air void wanted to suck them out too. Dark screen conquered half of my sight, then three-fourth, and the soot waded on.

Suddenly, like every time I was about to be welcomed into the afterworld, I found myself traveling back on my memory road to the beginning of this strange adventure, where I unintentionally and unwillingly stepped into the demon world. I gave myself a little smile. Feeling like it was just yesterday that I saw the enchanting Dylan beside the classroom window, made the contract with him. How irritated and scared I was at the time. If I had just ignored him, it would not have come to this today, to the end of my life. But I accepted it. I wanted him to live. It did not matter if I had to be the one who sacrifice. When have I begun to like with him? These feelings grew so fast that I hardly knew it's there. Like a bad tumor, when I realized it was too late.

All memories coiled around emotions and the two became one within a second. Then, even though it was bleary, I got my sight back.

And here I was...staring absent-mindedly at a luminous white ball that was floating in front of my face.

I looked at the ball with half conscious, feeling almost fainted but also mesmerized. So it looks like this...my soul.

I had always thought that a soul would look like its owner. And we'd have control over it. Like a ghost. Like a spirit. I could go haunt any people I want to.

But it turned out...it's just a ball. Just like Jessie's.

"Stop her!!!"

Someone yelled something but I hadn't got enough strength to think about it. I had to concentrate on Dylan.

"Somebody stops her!!"

Loud noises went on. But my eyes only focused on the soul which was drifting lazily towards my demon.

The light ball, or my soul, glowed brighter and brighter and white-washed all my sight. I could not really see what was happening. But I could still hear Dylan's breath getting heavier and heavier in my arm clearly. I hoped he's going to be okay. I hoped that my soul can really help him.

This time, I just couldn't avoid him like I used to anymore.

And I stroked him gently, watching my beloved man devoured on my soul. At the first touch to his lips, red color washed over the clean white lights emitting from the soul turning the place into a blood pool.

"It's a Love soul...." gasped somebody.

"How...how could..."

"Ha ha ha. LONG LIVE THE DEMONS!!!"

"Stop it!"

"Get her out of there!!"

"STOP HER!!!"

Bathing in warm red sphere, I did not want to pay any attention to the noisy quarrel going on out there. It was so good and comfortable in here.

However, at his first gulp, I felt a part of me suddenly vanished as if it was erased out, as if my lung was gone, as if there was a hole...a hole inside of me.

That hole got bigger with every swill Dylan took. This feeling of nothingness brought me down to the lowest. I was getting into depression. My instinct told me to run away, but I yelled out a 'NO,' kept thinking about Dylan. Dylan...DYLAN!!!

Then it stopped. The hole stopped expanding. I felt my fingers. Confounding, I looked around for a clue. What's happening? Will Dylan be okay?

And I saw my demon, wide awake, looking at me with those beautiful blue green eyes. The eyes became bigger and bigger as if zoomed in by a magnifying lens. My conscious was brighter too. And the demon pressed his lips with mine, kissed me.

Sipping in the glistening red light, sweetness seeped in and disperses in my mouth. Oh, what a kiss! The extreme aromatic and strong taste took me to heaven where the joys compacted and appreciations engulfed the entire realm of my heart.

While I was lost in the sweetest scents and flavors, a sour jet shot through. I was taken aback and almost yanked away if Dylan hadn't held me so tight. However, a few seconds later, bitterness took over the domain.

The red light was forced back into my body with constant changes and mixing tastes. So soul did actually have tastes.

Back into reality, I felt Dylan's lips next to mine. My heart skipped a beat and tears trickled down my cheek without any reason. Unable to believe that my first kiss would be with a demon and with him, I kind of panicked.

Holding back my desire to hug him back, in returns, tears came out more. At least, he's safe. He's safe...

"Leigh." My demon said with his same-old melodious voice.

The emptiness I felt earlier, somehow, was filled up too. It's a different type this time. It's not only me. I could feel something else, some additional part. It's...it's...like Dylan's kindness,...as if he's with me, he's in me.

Moreover, I'm still alive? Dylan's not dead? What's happening? Hasn't my soul been taken? I checked all over myself. Everything was in its place and seemed normal enough. "Wwhy?" Why don't I die, body wriggling, like Jessie?

I got a big hug as an answer. "I only took half of your soul." said my demon.

"Butbut why?"

Dylan smiled and looked at me with his bright blue-green eyes. "Because I don't want you to die."

"Why?"

The demon chuckled. "Anyway, thanks." And he put his hand on his chest. "It's so warm in here."

I blushed, not sure what he meant. But I didn't need to know anymore. What does he think about me? Whether he likes me or not? The fact that he's still alive and smiling was enough to make me happy. And also because right now my heart was so warm as well.

"DEEEEEMONSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Phoebe let out a wail and woke me from the joyous world of us two. I looked around in panic, seeing Dale, i6 in hand, froze and the gods burning with anger. Nate was the worst. He looked so battered up and was soaked in blood and painted with purple bruises.

Seth's halo was brighter and shinier than ever. He stepped forward approaching us but it's rather like floating. He should have been sainted but why do I feel so scared?

"Demon, you have to receive the ultimate penalty for the crime you have committed." Seth announced with such magnificent and powerful way. His voice resonated throughout the forest up into the sky. Even I suddenly felt so small.

Dylan stood up and faced the holy god without fear. "I decline. I haven't done a thing wrong."

The three gods got in their positions, ready to strike the demon any time. Then Seth spoke. "You eat a soul."

"Half a soul" corrected Dylan "And she's still here." My demon took my hand. "She's as alive as you and me."

The gods were stupefied by the answer. They stood awkwardly, tongue-tied. Phoebe and Conner cut their eyes between each other and Seth for help. They moved uncomfortably and seemed pretty mad, especially Seth and Phoebe.

At this, I glanced back at Nate who, obviously, had eaten a soul. The evidence was still lying here. Then, Phoebe seemed to notice that too. She walked over to Jessie's body and kicked it lightly. I flinched at that. "What about this?" She asked, looking smug. "Are you denying this too?"

"What about you?" Nate countered back challengingly pointing at Dale. "Being gods but hurt human!"

"It's not us." said Seth plainly. "It's these people's doing." He gestured toward the DW's hiding.

"But it's your plan." Nate did not give up.

"It's HER plan." Phoebe had an irritating smile on her face jerking her thumb at Jessie.

"And you agreed to work with her even though you know that she's using a demon like me?" Nate made a vicious grin. "You're, in a way, working with demon as well. I'll tell everything to the Pure Court. Those white clothes human can be my witnesses."

Phoebe smirked. "As if the Pure Court would believe a demon."

"And they'll believe demon's friend like you!?" Nate laughed.

"Nate!" Dylan rebuked his cousin while Seth was throwing a very very very scary eyes at us. Oh, Nate must have kicked right into his gut.

"Oh, come on Dylan!" Nate was choking in his laugh. "It's all over the sky! Everyone up there knows you two were friends. That's why they're casted out."

Phoebe clamped her teeth furiously while Seth stayed silent for a very long time casting us the snow turmoil look. I was restless, not sure what the god of ice was thinking and felt uncomfortable at Nate's dispute. What is Seth going to do with us? I tightened the hold to Dylan's hand. My demon, despite shocking, gave me an assure nod and smiled kindly. I had goose pimples and felt like my heart grew.

I responded him with an uncertain smile and stole a glance at Nate who in spite of the wounds was making a jovial face. Next, at Dale who was still dumbstruck by the circumstance, and lastly at the DW who still kept themselves well hidden behind the bushes observing the situation. It'd occurred to me that they must have known that Dylan's a demon from the beginning. But no matter what, I will stand firm beside Dylan.

The storm quieted down. Only black clouds were still smothering above in the sky. But they soon dissipated and the sunlight was able to escape to the ground once more. The wind's whining turned into a low hum making the silent atmosphere even more muted. The stench of the wrecked warehouse, or now just a pile of ashes and firewood, was washed away with the rain and now only a faint stinky charred smell still hung around. I grasped a deep breath as I saw Seth turning his back on us.

"Grab your chance and go back to your place now demons." said Seth walking away, Phoebe following him. "I won't let you get away next time."

"Seth." Dylan murmured quietly to himself. "Sorry."

I looked up at Dylan, seeing him sad made me sad too. But Dylan smiled at me and held my hand. As a promise that I'd always be by his side, I smiled back.

Sighing with relief, I watched the gods left. Seth floated up into the sky. My mouth dropped wide-open with wonder, he didn't have wings but he could fly. That was so awesome!! His white sparkling halo drew into a line like a jet plane. The beam line suddenly turned into some kind of tail. Wait a minute...tail? Is that just an illusion?

Squinting my eyes and looking carefully, I saw an all-white gigantic Chinese dragon flying magnificently among white and gray clouds. The light reflected with the scale and scattered creating pleasing shimmers along the silvery body. I still hadn't been able to utter a word when Phoebe, giving me an evil eye, kicked off from the ground. Red luster covered her body as she shifted into a mighty red bird, a phoenix.

"D...dra...nix..." I stuttered mixing up words.

Conner walked to me. Despite my choice, his face and blue eyes were still kind. "I'm sorry for all the troubles. I shouldn't have agreed to involve you or Cartner in the plan. I thought I could save you later" He gave a sad smile and glimpsed at Dylan. "Call me when you change your mind."

My ears were blocked by the wonder of what would Conner change into. Excitement grew when Conner's golden hair and face elongated, the lower part of his body expanded backwards. I couldn't guess. He could be anything! Anything with a pair of angel wings. Pigeon? Seagull?! Chicken?!

The shape change had come to an end and a familiar creature was formed. My heart pounded at the beauty of the creature standing right in front of me. Its perfect pearl white skin glimmers as if there were a million stars on a white sky. It wasn't a pigeon as I'd guessed. Lame guess. Even better, it's a horse. A white horse with wings... Pegasus!

The Pegasus glanced at me one more time with those robin blue eyes which looked a lot bigger in this form, before took off. I watched until they vanished behind the cotton clouds, made sure that they really were gone.

Chapter 36

Under the Sea

"At last!" Nate sighed and joined us.

"Nate." said Dylan with a frown. "Can you tell me what's all this about?"

Nate's wings flopped and his face had sorry written all over it. He was saying with a contrite voice. "I didn't mean to harm you. I didn't know that those god jerks would"

"Oh, you know." Dylan said.

"Alright! I knew. I thought I could make Leigh falling for you by using them!" Nate said with a touch of hopelessness. "But I didn't know that you'd go as far as venturing into the fire and worse!, healing her!" He pointed at me.

Wait, what?

"She was about to be grilled!" Dylan protested. "It's my duty! I had to!"

Oh, so it was the duty to our contract. Weirdly, I felt a bit down.

"Dylan," Nate lowered his voice so that now only Dylan and I could hear. "you know that we couldn't tolerate the fire and our power's not for healing, we'll lose all of it. We'll die."

"But I couldn't standseeing Leigh dies." Dylan said and I was suddenly fetched from the low.

"But I forgive you Leigh." Nate turned to me. "Since you love Dylan and you gave him your perfect red soul. It'd be better if this guy just took the whole"

"Not so fast Nate." Dylan interjected the yellow eyes demon taking the attention back at him again while I stood stunning and blushing slightly at what Nate had just said. How did he know II love?

"Okay, okay." Nate seemed restless. "Sorry for killing one of your friends. But I get rid of her for Leigh. She wanted Leigh dead."

"I understand that." Dylan said and looked at Jessie's body sadly. "There's no help when one make a contract with human and was forced to do such things."

"Right!" Nate lighted up a bit. "And it's Jess who forced me to work with those god jerks!" Dylan's face fell a bit at the mention of the gods.

Dale's voice broke the conversation like a thunderbolt. He had a knot on his brows. "Leigh, I think you owe me an explanation. What's this? What the hell exactly are you Ziarre?"

His face showed scarcely fear or panic, but rather temper. Before I could explain anything to him, I felt like there's something even more important than the explanation I owed. I blinked and goggled at Dale turning my brain on full capacity.

I realized then gasped. Eyes grew larger and turned to Nate. "Oh no!"

I had just remembered that Nate changed into his demon form not long ago after Jessie's contract end. And Dale was here witnessed the entire incident. What would become of these two? They are going to have a contract? That demon, Nate, is going to kill him!

Nate merely smiled viciously. "Don't worry Leigh. It isn't him."

"But who could? " If it wasn't Dale, who else could it be?

Nate jumped at the bushes and the DW s scattered in every direction like mice. Don Winter was among them, and was the quickest in running despite his size. Nate came out later with one of them in his clasp. The poor guy was as white as his jumper.

"Now I've just HELPED you out of that dim-witted ex-boss." The demon sneered. "How would you like to return me?"

A blazing yellow light radiated on both forehead, of Nate and the poor guy. Just like Dylan and me at the time. As soon as the mark was curved, the ex-member of the DW's light brown irises moved upward and disappeared behind the lids, spit out his pure white soul. I couldn't keep my hand still seeing the soul-sucking process proceeded in front of my own eyes.

"Do something Dylan!"

"I'm sorry Leigh. I cannot intrude in other demons' contracts. It's the rule." Dylan said and as if realizing something he groaned, "Ah, I should have known! That's why there're so many heart attack here right Nate?"

Nate gave him a thump-up. I watched in dismay at the helpless guy getting his soul sucked out, realizing with horror what Dylan meant at the same time. Soon there was only a lifeless body clinging onto the demon's clutches.

As the last glint of the soul sank deeper into the yellow-eyes demon's mouth, Nate folded back his fully-healed wings and turned completely into human after the delicious teatime. "Thanks for the treat!" Licking his lips, he skidded pass Dale, looking hungry and greedy. I was panicked and had to rush to Dale. Being sandwiched by the yellow eyes demon and my dear friend, I put out my hands to cover Dale's eyes.

"Relax." Nate grinned. "I'm human now, you see?"

I eyeballed Nate suspiciously. This demon was too dangerous. I was sure, especially after seeing him eating the soul alive two times in a row.

Nate laughed. "I'm not going to eat him now. I'm in an exceptionally good mood 'caaause...." The naughty demon sang, skipping toward his cousin joyfully, clasping his hands around Dylan's shoulder. "We've just got the almost...no actually most powerful demon." And he cackled uproariously. "Demons are invincible now. Everything goes according to our plan."

"Not that plan again." Dylan groaned slightly.

"Sorry Dylan." Nate said understandingly. "You know I can't defy your dad."

"What about the gods?" asked Dylan worrily.

"Not yet. But I doubt it wouldn't be long before they notice the death rate."

Sirens broke the demons' conversation. Both Dale and I jumped at the noises too. Then, Dale muttered. "It's the 911!"

Dylan did not say another word as he took out his wings, came to me and carried me up ignoring the protest going on by Dale who shouted and hanging on to my hand. He slipped and the demon took flight into the broad azure sky.

I looked intently down below to the green land. The height did not bother me as much as the worries for Dale whether he would be accused of murder by the policemen or eaten by Nate, and the shyness that had swept all over my redden face. The escalation of the color concentration went on every time I caught his smell. After that kiss, I lost the ability to talk Dylan.

"Don't worry. Carter would be alright. They would only detect heart attack form the bodies." He whispered to me as if reading my mind then gave me the sweetest smile.

I shied away avoiding his stares. My face was now as red as ripe tomatoes. My heart pumped more blood than usual and it felt like I would need more. I ran my brain at full capacity thinking of something...anything!...just say anything to wave off this awkwardness.

"Whywhy is my soul red?" I said at last with some difficulty, gasping a bit. "Isis there something wrong with...with me?"

His mouth curved up. He kept looking at me and snickered. It's like he's having some fun. "What's so funny?" I finally could stand no more.

"It's because" He tried to suppress a smile. "You love me."

That's the worse topic ever! My face was so numb and red that if you prick it with a needle now, it would surely bleed without giving me any tinge of pain, like a balloon filled with red liquid.

Dylan went on explaining. "Demons will get infinite power consuming red soul. They won't need any more souls for the rest of their lives." He said it so care-freely, undisturbed by the touchy subject that's getting on my nerve. "It's the soul of the contractor who's fallen in love with their demon. It is...was a legend. I'd never thought it's real. It's rare for human to fall in love with creature like us."

He said 'Love' and repeated that 'I love him' so many times that I nearly passed out. I meanyou don't have to emphasize it you know. It's embarrassing especially when Dylan's the one saying it!

The word 'Love' aroused me but also spooked me. It tickled my brain and especially heart. Just like its taste that coated and blended in my soul. The moment I thought that this sure is an absolute happiness, a second later fear replaces. And before I could even start to scare, sadness comes. Love, in my experiences, was hopelessness and pain. I was now not sure if falling in love was the right thing.

Unable to respond to Dylan, I looked away. Seeing the vast blue ocean approached, I temporarily forgot the muddling thoughts. "What are we doing here?"

We landed on the shore and Dylan folded up his wings. The wings went under the skin of his back and soon disappeared. He walked straight toward the sea.

"Where are you going Dylan?" I called out after him while Nate landed next to me doing the same with his own wings.

My demon took my hand. "I'm going home for a while. Have to talk to dad about that war. You'll miss me?"

What war?

I didn't get a chance to ask as Dylan continued "I'm not going to let it happen." Dylan said sternly. "For you."

"Huh?" For me?

"Oh come on bro!" Nate complained. "This war controls the fate of our demons' clan! We can eat freely after we win! And I'll make those gods"

While Nate went on endlessly with his dream, Dylan looked me in the eyes and my heart went wild again. "That is why. I cannot let demons destroy your kinds. This is your world. You need your people."

I gave him a bashful grin. "Thank you."

Dylan smiled. "I know you don't like it but Nate will look after you while I'm away. I promise I'll be back in a few days."

I was about to protest that I can look after myself. But when I heard that he's going to be away for a few days, my heart sank. Unknowingly, I tightened my grip to his hand.

Dylan kissed on my cheek before turning to the sea again. The heat spread from that kissing point to all over my face. Like an anesthetic, I was bewitched into a stone statue.

I watched my demon walked away venturing further and further into the sea. When the kiss effect was gone, my demon had already vanished, sinking deep under the inky blue velvet carpet. Feeling like something was not right, I shouted after him and began to follow.

"Dylan!" But Nate caught me before my toe could get wet.

"Let me go Nate!" I said; voice almost loud. "He's drowning!!"

"Relax. He's fine."

"But!"

"He's just going home." Nate said dully.

"But isn't he supposed to go under the ground?" Pointing to the ground, I looked at Nate, eyes widen with confusion. "Or back into the forest?"

"No, because Dylan lives under the sea." Nate answered plainly and yawned.

I was silent for a while. "Under the sea....?!" Like the little mermaid? "Don't you guys...except for those forest demons, live in hell?"

The yellow-eyed demon laughed. "Well, yes. Some of us do live in 'hell'. But it depends on what types of demons you are talking about. Like those forest demons, they live in the forest right?" I nodded. "And me, I'm a bird demon. So I live up in the sky among black clouds."

"But Dylan has wings too!" I countered, remembered that pair of shiny black-feathered wings very well.

"He's half. His mother's in our family, was a bird demon." Nate said. "His dad is the sea demon."

"You mean a sea monster?!" I blurted out.

Nate tried to clap his hands on my mouth, half whispered. "Be quiet!!! It's too close to the sea. He'll hear you!!"

"Is he that scary?" I said, voice lowered as well.

"He rules the demons of the Ocean."

I was speechless. It added to my wonder if falling in love with Dylan was really the right thing. Ruler of the Pacific Ocean's son was probably too much to ask for. I was miles and miles out of his league, couldn't match him in every way.

I clasped my hand on the cheek. The lingering energy from the kiss made it irresistible for me to forget. The fresh wind wafted the sea smell inland giving me a little goose flesh. I'd just realized it's the same as Dylan's smell.

Looking out to the vast majestic water with the ray of light sheening on the surface like diamond crowns, I felt like floating and decided to drop all the worries curling inside. The freedom and feelings toward Dylan held me high that even the local news about heart-attacked two teenagers dead near the burnt abandoned warehouse on TV the next day couldn't pull me down.

I'll be waiting until he comes back.

For now, I cannot deny this feeling.

I'm in love.

Epilogue

Sea monster...?

The word echoed many times in her ears. The strong sea breeze had brought it but refused to take it away. Could she have misheard? Maybe 'the master' not 'sea monster?'

No. She's pretty sure. It's the sea monster.

Could it be true? A real sea monster in an absolutely gorgeous human form. Like in that book?

The branches of the tree above rocked enthusiastically like her mind. She had read many, countless, fantasy books, but had never seen one comes true. It's fantasy! No one expects it to be true!

But if it's really, really true, if what she heard was right, then this evening walk would worth everything in the world. She'd discovered something that she'd been hoping for all her life. Her true love.

Her true love carving from the beautiful words became a real human, real monster, and pretty much alive like her.

She doesn't need those books anymore.

