Chapter 4
1646 Words
I had barely stopped reading the book I had found in the library.
Suddenly enthralled by this archangel turned demon known as Samael.
I currently sat on a bench in the park, book open on my lap.
I was off today so I had free time to kill, and reading in the park on a bright and sunny day seemed like the perfect way to do it.
Such an odd book obviously wouldn't have been the first choice, but it had me hooked.
"Stop."
Jumping with fright, I glanced around but there was no one close by who could have said it.
Turning back to the book, I turned the page to continue my reading, frowning at the now blank pages.
Turning back through the pages I had already read, I was shocked to see that these pages were blank.
Not one word of ink, not even a blotch.
"Whoa. How is this possible?" I closed the book and opened it again, and still, there were no words.
What's going on with me?
Placing the book beside me on the bench I glanced around the park, squinting at the harsh sun in my eyes.
Scratching at the strap of my summer dress, I closed my eyes and leaned my head back, enjoying the sun and letting out a deep breath.
I was convinced that when I opened my eyes, my mind would stop playing tricks on me.
Instead, I found my son was gone and I opened my eyes to glare at the object blocking it out.
Before me stood a huge monster, horns protruding from his head.
Gasping I opened my eyes, still in the park, no monster in sight.
Turning to get the book, I was disappointed to find it was gone.
"Someone stole the book. Of course, they did! Normal day today," sighing I got to my feet, no use sitting here any longer with my current mood.
*****
SAM
I sat in my usual bar, drinking neat rum, in my human form I was able to get intoxicated.
One bonus of this shitty existence.
My mind had not stopped wondering over Stephi, I was hoping the rum would solve this particular problem, it seemed to work well in aiding the humans.
Wait, was I sitting here trying to drown my sorrows like one of these creatures?
Why was I doing this?
It was that damn human woman!
I wouldn't stand for this any longer, I decided, getting to my feet.
***
STEPHI
Leaving my security gate open, I closed my door and hunted for Soul's harness to take him for a walk.
I had just found it when there was a knock at the door.
Sighing I went to open it, hoping it wasn't Donnie.
What I saw was a semi-slumped-over Sam, his one arm leaning against the door frame.
"Um, hi?"
He looked up at me, frowning, which threw me off a bit, his mouth opening and closing as if he wanted to say something but wasn't sure.
He bent himself over to fit through the door and stumbled past me.
"Are you drunk?"
"What are you doing?"
I tilted my head to the side, "I have no idea what you mean. How much did you drink?"
He walked over to the counter and pulled out a chair with such force that it broke under his grip.
What the hell?
"That's not normal. Couch," I went over to help him to the small couch in the living room, "How did you get here?"
"Don't touch me," he shook me off, "On my bike."
I held up my hands, "Be my guest, just don't break any more of my stuff," I crossed my arms over my chest and raised a brow, "You realize drunk driving kills right?"
He chuckled, all but throwing himself down on the couch, "So naive. I don't care about lives."
Definitely not what I wanted to hear from this large, drunk, and strange man sitting in my house.
"What are you even doing here, Sam?"
He shrugged, "You! What have you done to me?!"
I jumped at his tone, "Sam, look, I don't know what's going on here."
"And you think that I do?! You've done something to me."
I put my hands on my hips and raised my brow, "How much did you drink?"
"I don't get it. I don't save lives. Yet I want to save yours."
"You're not making any sense, Sam."
"Of course not. Why won't you leave my head?"
I sat down on the coffee table in front of him, "Sam, I don't know what you're talking about, but you seem upset. Is there anyone I can call to come to get you?"
He laughed, "No. There is no one to call. I'm not like you people, I have no family. No one in this town would be stupid enough to speak to me," he glanced up, "Except you. You're always so nice to me. It's like you can't see that I am something that doesn't need it."
I frowned, noticing how he said something instead of someone.
"Why wouldn't you need someone being nice?"
He shook his head, staring up at my ceiling, "I'm not nice, don't you get that?"
Taking a chance, I leaned over to place a hand on his arm.
He jumped, staring down at my hand as if it was a foreign object, "Don't do that. Don't touch me."
"Sam, again, I have no idea what's going on with you, and I don't know you at all... but come on, you've never done anything for me to be anything but nice to you. I don't know what you're beating yourself up about, but whatever it is, I bet it's not worth it."
"You don't get it, I do bad things. So many bad things," he glanced up, "And I enjoy doing it."
"Well, I'm sure we can talk about that-"
"No! Do you not understand?! I do not want to talk to you! I do not want to see you, or speak to you, or have you in my head!" he sat forward, "You are making me feel... things that I should not feel. That I do not want to feel."
He slammed his hand down next to me, causing me to flinch, I knew that he had seen the flicker of fear cross my face in that second.
"I... I'm sorry, Stephi. I shouldn't be here. I didn't mean to scare you."
"Well, you can't go anywhere in this condition, so you can sleep on the couch until you're sober."
"I'm not good, you know. It's safer for you if you just stop being nice to me."
"This isn't about you. You can't drive in this condition, just sleep it off.
"I won't come near you after this."
***
SAM
"I won't come near you after this."
This is what I wanted, wasn't it? So why did I feel so disappointed at her words?
I had wanted this to stop, yet now I felt something.
What was it? Is this what loss felt like? It hurt. But I couldn't pinpoint where.
I was experiencing emotional pain for the first time in my entire time in this form.
This human woman had caused me pain.
How?
I glanced at where she sat with her dog in her kitchen.
How had she made me feel?
She smiled at something Soul had done and I found my mouth pulling up into a smile.
My soul stilled as I watched her.
This was yet another strange occurrence, when was the last time I had felt such peace?
How was it possible for her to make me feel this way?
She caught me looking at her and turned away quickly.
I wanted to speak but I couldn't.
I wasn't a human, and she was.
I couldn't take any chances.
Not with her.
"How is that book of yours? The Archangel?"
She frowned at me from her seat at the kitchen counter, "That was random. It's... I don't know, it's blank."
So it had worked.
"Ah, what a shame. I'm sure it would have made for a good read."
"Yeah, it looked really impressive."
Without thinking I was on my feet, crossing the space to reach her, "Look, Stephanie Lili, there are things in the world that good people should have no part of. You can get hurt, without even meaning to. You can get hurt simply for knowing the wrong people."
She frowned at me, "Sam-"
"Don't ask questions, please. I don't want to lie to you."
"Sam, you can't tell me something like that and then not expect me to ask."
"It's safer if you don't ask."
She sighed, "Okay, I'm just going to trust you on that."
"Thank you."
"You know, Sam, I don't get you. This hot and cold thing you have going."
"You don't need to understand me. Just... I'm not doing this because I dislike you. I just do not want you caught up in my mess, where you could get hurt."
She smiled, "I'm a big girl, I can look after myself. And I can choose my friends."
I fought the urge to move the hair that fell into her face, turning away, "I don't doubt that. But things happen and I would hate for something to happen to you because of me."
"What are you involved in that's so bad? Is it drugs? Gangs?"
"No, much worse. And I can't say any more than that."
"Okay, fair enough. So you want me to stop being friendly, right?"
I turned back, "No."
"You see what I mean?! Hot and cold!"
And at that moment I did the dumbest thing I have ever done in my entire existence.
I pulled her closer and kissed her.
What the hell is wrong with me?
- Writer
