ALLURING

SHADOWS

....he thought she had seen him but she hadn't,she was looking at the sweater hanging on the closet behind him. she rubbed her sleepy eyes got off the beg grabbed the sweater and climbed back into bed,she made herself comfortable with the duvet, brought the sweater close to her nose and inhaled it deeply,he wondered the story behind it but he realized she snuggled it and was fast asleep again........

As the days passed, Keith found himself returning to the dinner, drawn to Sophia's warmth and light. He'd watch her from afar, learning her schedule and habits, and even occasionally eating there to justify his presence. Sophia, oblivious to the demon lord's gaze, would smile and thank him, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the city's skyline, Keith mustered the courage to approach Sophia. He entered the Diner, his dark aura masked by the light s, he made his way to the counter. Sophia looked up, her eyes locking onto his, and for a moment, they just stared at each other.

"Can I help you with something?" Sophia asked, her voice husky and inviting.

Kieth's deep voice replied, "It depends,can I?" pointing at the stool close to the counter "Sure," Sophia face showed amusement, what a gentleman,not like there are many of them around.she smiled "tea?" she had a kettle in her hand "please" Keith made himself comfortable while she poured him a cup. "You have nice hair" Keith complimented looking at her long black hair, he noticed she clutch onto it like she was trying to protect it or hide behind it.

"thank you" she said "I get that alot"

"I see" there was tense silence. "you must be new here. what's the story" she lightened up while she cleaned the counter. Keith Chuckled, new indeed. probably centuries old, how extremely short the human life is. "yeah, looking for a place to settle and call me own" he smirk.... "well Graywood Is a lovely place, u get use to the noise and people,most of them friendly, sometimes too friendly" she chuckled and walked to some new customers that just walked in. moments later she came back

"you don't like your tea? you barely touched it,I can make you another one if you don't like it" she seemed disappointed, not at him. "it's good,just trying to get the right temperature" as if a hundred degrees boiling water could hurt him "I see" she walked away to tend to the customers again, he felt like burning everyone in there so they would stop distracting her ,the cup in his hands started to steam again,he gently put it down on the counter and clenched his fists his hands were hot,why was he so angry Suddenly? the Human world works differently than that of hell. in hell demons feared and waited on him, maybe he cloaked his aura too much? his golden eyes began to burn red,he needed to leave before he did something unreasonable,and that's the problem he wasn't an unreasonable demon. Sophia's happy laughter drew his attention back to reality,he clenched his fist tighter he felt his teeth and nails elongate. he stood up to leave,damn this woman for getting under his skin grabbing his coat

"leaving already?" Sophia asked walking towards him she looked at the cup of tea that was untouched and then back at him " you didn't like the tea did you?" he wanted to yell at her that he cared less about her cup of tea but amazingly restrained himself, why was he mad at her? her brown eyes looked worried "it's raining heavily outside,u can't get a cab now,u can wait while I make you something else? on the house" why did she care if he stayed or go? it was indeed raining heavily outside,like the sky's where weep for her or him or both of them, he sighed,where is Adrian when u need him? probably out there flirting with women and having the time of his life while he is stuck here trying to start a romance with this amazing lady.

"seat,what do u care for?" she asked excited she was able to convince him to stay, seating comfortable on the stool he said "scrambled eggs, just scrambled eggs" "coming right up" she said with a smile and went to talk to the chef. "sooooo what's your story?" she asked grinning "Nothing..." he was about to say something when he felt something,he turned around and saw two more demons walk into the diner, the noticed him too, the other demon looked skeptically at Sophia then licking his lips he takes off his coat,hang it on the wall and sat down waiting for Sophia to approach them. "just a sec" she took her note book stuffed it into her apron and went to meet the two Demons "good evening, welcome to our diner what can I get ya?" there was something off about them "Are you on the menu?" the demon eyeing her asked while the other laughed out loud.

" this is a diner sir not a brothel" the second Demon laughed again,sophia thought he must have won a lottery or something to be this happy,the other demon wasn't pleased. "two cups of coffee please" said the second happy Demon "bring some toast and bacon" the first Demon said, looking offended. "coming right up sir" Sophia walked away, today must be a bad night. "those men bothering you?" Keith asked while sipping his tea, " I am used to them,one is happy and full of glee the other is just mean and disrespectful. it hurt at first but right now I am used to them, the walk like a pair,the seem to complement each other, weird" she shrugged and left to get there orders.

weird indeed,what Sophia didn't know was the two were merging demons(merging demons are minions and imps that are at the bottom of the hierarchy the weaker they were the more the merge together to form a stronger bond) the problem is they are hard to control each other when they are apart, being separate now makes dem weak and at the same time dangerous, gnarly skinny creatures. "here's your eggs" she placed a plate of nicely scrambled eggs before him and he ate. " do they bother you?" he asked after a moment

"not really. I think the happy one calls the shots so he keeps the grumpy guy in check" that was fair at least the had some form of control and understanding.

moments passed and the rain roaring rain trickled down outside sounding like a child that was tired of crying and just wants to sleep. the diner was closed. "Need me to walk you home?" Keith asked. "Walk me? how do u know where I live?" Sophia asked bewildered "you don't look like you intended to take a cab so I recon it's close by" Keith sounded like he didn't care but he was fast to correct his mistake.

"hmmm that's some sensitive deduction from a stranger. I wouldn't want to impose. I can manage I hope to see you soon" she smiled and walked away she took the turn into the dark alley, he looked around elevated from the ground and merged with the dark,he soared closely by when he noticed the two Demons from earlier.Sophia felt someone watching her so she stopped in her tracks clenched her pepper spray she turned around and said "Who are you? show yourself" the laughter that came from the darkness sounded familiar then came the happy Demon,he looked excited and sinister at the same time, the grumpy demon came from behind her and she found herself in the middle how is that possible? "stand back, don't touch me, I am warning you" she clenched the pepper spray in her Pocket "She is warning us" the happy Demon laughed cynically ,the grumpy demon was pacing back and forth as if looking for the perfect opening to attack. Sophia wasn't going to stick around and wait for them to attack her she instantly brought out the paper spray and sprayed it on the happy Demon, he looked her dead in the eyes and smiled unaffected by the spray, before she could think clearly she found herself in the air then instantly on the ground she tried to fight and scratch but their strength was overwhelming, thinking of the shame and hurt she would be exposed to she let out the loudest scream she could muster