Runaway Devil

"Everybody shut up, this is the best part," Issac said. He was the only one paying attention to the movie. The bottles were mainly empty and scattered around the room. Jake lounged in a love seat near me, sipping on some water. He was well aware of his impending headache and had the good sense to curb it. Issac was a giddy drunk, he was impossibly excited about the movie and even bounced in his seat during 'the good parts'.

I got up with a chuckle and grabbed my coat. "Hey, where you going?" Jake said with hooded eyes and set his glass down.

"Just out to the deck." I motioned with my jacket and clicked my tongue, beckoning Balan to me. He followed and seemed excited about the fresh air. Jake got up and stretched loudly, much to Issac's annoyance. I raised a brow. "And where are you going?"

"Shhh!" Issac glared at both of us.

"Yeah, Kara, jeez. They're trying to watch a movie." Jake said as he walked by my side. I smiled and rolled my eyes, slipping my coat on and feeling for my cigarettes in the pocket.

Once we were out on the patio and took a deep breath, feeling the sharpness of it in my chest. I pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and inhaled. Jake sat down heavily with a grunt. I held the smoke in my black lungs for a few more moments, wishing it was Hell's smog instead.

I suddenly felt tired. Chronic exhaustion had been creeping into my soul for a while. The human realm did not agree with creatures like me. It did not harm us, necessarily, but it drained our energy. We had to maintain certain homeostasis within our bodies and minds, the human realm was not where we thrived.

I took a deep drag and sat on the ground, Balan sitting proudly next to me. I folded my legs and leaned against him, letting my eyes close. There was a comfortable silence before I heard Jake sit next to me and lean back on his palms.

"It's so quiet out here." The woods seemed to breathe in time with Balan and me, who are always in sync. I did not respond, unable to find the energy or motivation to. "Let me get one of those?" I held the open pack up in front of him. He grabbed one, lit it, and coughed. He quickly covered his embarrassment with tersely clearing his throat.

A frigid breeze washed over us and combed through my hair. I sneered as I felt the goosebumps rise on my skin. "It's fucking cold here."

"Yeah, it's never been a nice area for people who prefer the heat. Our summers are short and winters are strong." I felt the cold seep into my bones, it snaked over my scalp and down my back. I slowly let my wings emerge from my back, but maintained their glamour, then wrapped myself and Balan in them. He leaned into me, offering his warmth. I used my wings as a blanket and trapped his body heat inside them. I scratched behind his ears and he made a gruff sound of affection.

My patience had run out. I was ready to head back inside and swaddle myself with warmth under a thick blanket and Balan. Flicking my cigarette butt, I expelled the rest of the smoke from my lungs. I stood and headed back inside, Jake following close behind.

The movie was dwindling to an end, the final scene slowly fading out. Ben stood slowly and stretched dramatically. His groan was matched by a louder one from Jerry. Issac laid down, curling up with his hands beneath a pillow and was out like a light. He didn't even take his glasses off. I padded over and took them from his face, placing them on the coffee table. Jerry was already halfway down the hall, silently claiming the guest bedroom. "Where can I sleep?"

"We've got," Ben interrupted himself with a deep yawn. "bedrooms upstairs that nobody uses." He dragged himself up the stairs and disappeared around the corner. Jake chortled and shook his head. He plopped back down on one of the chairs and grabbed one of the bottles with liquor still in it. Issac snuffled and cuddled the pillow closer. Jake looked at me with an amused smile and nodded his head to the kitchen.

I followed, leaving Balan comfortably laying next to the couch. The kitchen light was harsh and cold, reminding me of the kind of light bulbs in hospitals. He haphazardly set the liquor on the counter and opened the fridge. "You want anything?"

I shook my head. "No. Thanks." I wrapped my arms around my elbows, leaning on the counter. He turned around with ingredients for a sandwich. He sloppily plopped bread down on the island. His eyes were hooded, and he licked the corner of his mouth as he made, what he thought, to be the best damn sandwich ever. He pulled up a stool and dug into his meal.

"So," he took another bite. "You from around here?" I shook my head. I got up, grabbed the bottle he had left next to the fridge, and took a swig. "Where you from, then?"

"Nowhere." I shrugged. He nodded, understanding that he wasn't getting anywhere. "Who were those guys from earlier?" They had left not long after we started drinking.

"Just some friends from school, we're all out for winter break." I nodded, not caring in the slightest. I looked down at my palms, they were tingling from the memory of Hell's gates. The memories surfaced at inconvenient times, and at night. I always try to be asleep before they do, but would always wake up drenched in sweat, already fighting an invisible opponent. The nightmares, flashbacks, reliving the past, it was crippling. I could hear Dusty's pained yelling, every night. It haunted me, punishment for leaving him behind.

I knew that if I hadn't rebelled they would have killed me. That was the only purpose for the council's guard. They were the only ones who stood a chance against the warriors, but I was a part of the elites group. We were the best of the best, and I was their leader. I was at the top of our ranks, Dusty alongside me. I had given his nickname, Dusty because he was so many years my senior.

My heart constricted painfully in my chest. I focused again on my hands. I could feel the scars all over my body begin to itch. They always did when I was restless or anxious. I rolled my shoulders, feeling my stomach somersault. "You okay?" Jake's voice was grating. I hadn't realized I was staring at the counter. He had put his sandwich down and was about to rest his hand on my hunched shoulder.

His eyes were clouded, the alcohol finally catching up to him. He starred back as he ran the backs of his fingers over my cheek. I nodded and let him lean in. Just before his lips met mine I whispered, "You're drunk."

Without moving further or back he nodded, starring at my lips. "Mhm," I raised a brow. He smiled and finally looked up to my eyes. "You're really pretty." his voice rasped and his breath smelled of mustard and whiskey.

"You should go to bed." We were less than two inches apart, but neither of us moved.

"Yeah, you're probably right." He reached out and tucked some hair behind my ear, his touch was soft, but unwelcome. He took a second to gauge my reaction, actually looking at my face. He must have seen the lack of amusement in my eyes and leaned away.

I nodded towards the stairs. "I'm going to head to bed." He looked at the stairs, as if not understanding what I had said. "Balan," I clicked my tongue and patted my thigh. He got up and was at my side. He seemed ready for bed as well. I ascended the stairs, looking for an unused room. I could hear faint snoring from what I assumed was Ben's room.

I pushed open a couple of doors, all of them were dark, some cleaner than others. There were a few that looked like they were currently occupied, and the last few in the hall looked as though they hadn't been touched in years. I picked one of them, there was a chill that permeated the air. The moon was bright in the sky, it bathed the room in a cool light. Discomfort crawled up my spine, making me uneasy. I didn't like sleeping in unfamiliar places.

I checked the perimeter, looking into the closet and bathroom, out of habit. It didn't ease my mind, but it was better than nothing. Balan sniffed around the room, chuffing through his chops. He grunted and jumped onto the bed after sniffing under it. I left my pants, shoes, and socks on the floor unceremoniously. Goosebumps rose on my skin as I followed him and slipped between the starched sheets. He turned a couple of times, snuggling into my side. I rested my hand on his head, the feeling of him anchoring me to the world.

I starred at the ceiling, listening to everything around me, for ages. The pipes, the house breathing, the insects outside, the wind, my heart, Balan's soft grumbling. Just as sleeping felt like a lost cause, my eyes slid closed, and I was gone.