Gift For A Demon

Special

The next morning Eve is up before the sun. Her fingertips raise to her face to gently touch her swollen lip and the tender area under her eye. If Krista leaves her alone this morning, last night will have been the last time she lays a hand on Eve.

During the night, Eve took the opportunity to pack one small bag. In the bag are a few pieces of clothing for her and Nana each and the money that Papa has saved for them. On the very top of the bag she places a couple of items that Nana had knitted. It is wise that she did, because when her and Nana walk into the main room.. There is Krista in her silky light blue robe waiting for them.

“What exactly is going on here, Eve?” Krista asks as she puffs her cigarette, the red of the lit embers glowing. “I hope you’re not planning on going very far with the old woman and that bag.”

“No ma’am. I’m going to let Nana sell her knittings in town.” Eve pauses, working on a practiced lie. “To be honest, I only plan on working for Mr. Grogen until I can find a job that pays well enough for us.”

“Hmm.. Is that so? When did you become such a little thinker?” Krista rises up through her cigarette’s cloud of smoke and walks towards them.

Krista yanks the bag from Eve’s hand and nearly rips it open. At first glance, it appears to be many knitted things woven together from Nana’s colorful yarn. The tall blonde woman doesn’t even bother to close the bag back up and drops it at Eve’s feet.

“Then go and bring me the money from the day. Well.. Don’t just stand there. I said go! We wouldn’t want to keep Mr. Groger waiting.” Krista’s wicked laugh follows them out the front door of the cabin.

Eve’s blood boils and her ears feel hot until the cool air of the morning offers her some relief. It’s a quiet walk with only the sounds of their footsteps in the gravel and the breeze blowing through the trees. She always liked the sound of the wind rustling through the colorful dead leaves of autumn.

“Alan..” Eve thinks to herself out loud.

It feels kind of silly to call for someone that isn’t around.

“Such a nice boy..” Nana says with a smile. “He reminds me of your Papa.”

This surprises Eve. There is so little that the old woman notices these days and even less that she actually remembers. Tears fill the brims of Eve’s honey colored eyes as a smile comes to her own lips. This time with a joyful tone she calls Alan’s name almost as if she were singing. By now her doubts about escaping are all but gone and she is looking forward to the adventure that awaits them. Sure enough, by the time they reach the end of the gravel road a happy Alan is walking towards them from town.

“She hit you?!” Is the first thing he says, the marks of her abuse evident on her face.

Shamefully, Eve looks away.

It doesn’t matter. He doesn’t hesitate at all to plant a small passionate kiss on Eve’s soft pink lips. This is still so new to her, but she can’t say she doesn’t like. Alan loves the way her cheeks glow as she blushes. He almost feels ashamed when he looks at her, if she only knew what he was thinking.

Their fingers lace together as they begin to walk around the outskirts of town. Eve explains her situation to Alan. He squeezes her hand tightly not being able to contain his rage.

“What the f**k is wrong with that woman?!” He growls. “Everyone in town knows that Grogen uses young women as his personal s*x slaves!”

Evangeline’s face turns bright red. She knows what he says is true, but hasn’t dared to even let the words into her thoughts. There is truly something wrong with Krista, trying to use Eve’s body for money. She lets out a long sigh.

“I’m sorry.” Alan apologizes. “Things are going to be better now. I’ll take care of you.”

A warmness fills Eve’s chest. For the first time she thinks to herself that she may have a good life ahead of her. Once she reaches Alan’s home though, she suddenly begins to feel doubtful. He reassures her that everything will be fine, but the fact that his mother is also a paranormal doesn’t sit well with Eve. Alan and her Nana and Papa are the only ones to ever show her any kindness.

The windows to the white house are open and there is cool breeze blowing through it. It’s neat and tidy with exquisite antique furniture. There is the smell of something warm in the air, vanilla or brown sugar. Alan points to the living room and tells Eve to wait there and make herself at home. Home, she repeats in her head.

Nana takes a seat by the window as if she had been there many times before. For Eve, her curiosity takes over. She wanders over to the mantle above the fireplace and begins to study each framed photograph. Alan has never spoken of his father to her, yet he is in almost every picture. He was quite handsome, a bit more mature and muscular looking than Alan.

When she hears a noise behind her, she assumes it is Alan entering the room.

“Is this your father?” She questions. “You look a lot like him.”

“Yes.” Replies a woman’s soft voice. “That is Alan’s father, my late husband.”

“Oh! I’m so sorry. I thought..” Eve trails off rather embarrassed and unsure of what to say next in such a situation.

“It’s okay, dear. No worries. It’s nice to finally meet you. Alan has told me so much about you.” The woman with silvery blonde hair places a tray of tea and muffins on the coffee table.

“He has?” Eve asks out loud.

“Yes. It seems as though we share a similar trait.” The woman smiles at Eve sweetly. “We share a certain devotion for humans.”

Evangeline’s jaw drops open slightly as she feels the heat of embarrassment crawl up into her cheeks.

“You see.. Alan’s father was a human, but I loved him all the same.” She says with fondness in her voice as she walks over to the pictures on the mantle. “He was a strong and passionate man that always took care of others. Even though he was the one that needed someone to take care of him.”

Eve waits patiently, sensing that Alan’s mother wishes to continue speaking. After a long moment of staring at her husband’s photo, she turns to face the pretty young woman.

“I have the gift of seeing one’s history, whether it’s a person or thing.” She giggles to herself. “That is why my house is full of all these old things. I know where they’ve been and feel the need to keep them and their memories alive.”

“Oh, how wonderful. My Nana has a similar gift, but it left her when her mind began to fade.” Eve glances at her Nana with such pity before turning back to Alan’s mother.

“If you don’t mind.. May I?” She offers her hands out to Eve. “I have a very strict rule of not telling the person what I’ve seen, but having such a gift fills me with a great curiosity. I’m afraid I cannot resist. Oh, and don’t worry I can’t see everything.”

What?! Eve’s mind flashes with a hundred questions, no, a thousand. There is so much she wishes to know about herself. So many secrets and hidden memories. She quickly places her hands into the woman’s.

Alan’s mother closes her eyes and there is a strange sensation running up Eve’s arms. It’s a tired feeling.. As if she used them too much and they need to rest. Yet, she doesn’t pull away. The woman is quiet, taking deep breaths. Suddenly she opens her eyes and smiles a big knowing grin at Eve.

“You are very special.” She says.

Special? Why.. How can people say this to her? She is so ordinary. An ordinary human.. Or actually, that’s right.. She is part witch.. She thinks.

“You’ve been through a lot and chances are, your journey isn’t over yet..” The woman says before she is interrupted.

“Mother!” Alan explains, walking into the room. “You said you wouldn’t!”

“Oh, Alan. You should have known better than anyone that I wouldn’t have been able to resist such a thing.” She smiles as she lets go of Eve’s hands.

“It’s okay, Alan. I let her.” Eve tries to defend the woman, but sways to the side and raises her hand to her head.

“Mother!” He cries as he rushes to Eve’s side.

“She will be just fine. There were a lot of memories her willpower kept hidden from me. The poor girl must be exhausted from that. Take your special friend to the house out back. She can stay there.” The woman explains as she rubs Eve’s arm.

“Thank.. Thank you.” Eve does feel drained all of the sudden. “What about Nana?”

“If you don’t mind, she can stay here with me. I would really love to speak with her and get to know her. Don’t be offended by my words, but the older they are, the more history they have.” Her face is glowing with the prospect of reading Nana’s past.

Eve actually laughs out loud, thinking of her Nana as just another antique and how excited this woman is. Of course Alan can sense this as well and laughs along with her. He grabs a muffin for her, takes her bag, and walks her out the front door around to the back of the property.

Here they find a smaller version of the bigger house they just left. Inside is everything one person needs to be content all in one room, besides the bathroom tucked away behind a door. The small kitchen, living room, and bedroom all share the space in an open concept.

The door closes behind her and she actually jumps.

“Sorry..” Alan whispers as he steps closer to her and then stops, hesitant of his next move.

Eve knows what he wants. Yes she is still unknowing about most things in life, but she loosely understands. She takes him by the hand and leads him to sit on the edge of the bed with her.

“It’s taken me too long to finally have you, but I want you to know that I’m not rushing you into anything.” His hand strokes the length of her hair affectionately.

“I know.. It’s all so new to me. I guess, I never thought it was possible for me to live a life out from under Krista‘s shadow.” She furrows her eyebrows and looks away.

“Hey, hey. It’s okay. You’re with me now.” He says comforting her.

“But, am I really? What makes a person free from another. I’m an adult, but will she let me go so easily? What if she comes for me?!” Panic fills her.

“Shh. I will never let her anywhere near you again. If that f*****g b***h ever lays a hand on you.. I’m gonna..” He breaks off into a growl, his chest rising and falling. “You’re so special to me, Evangeline Winters.”

“Then let’s go! Let’s leave this shitty little town and go where she can’t get to us.” Eve pleads. “I don’t think I can live here, Alan. I have to go..”

“Okay.. I’ll see what I can do.” He says tracing her face with his eyes before he wraps his arms around her body.