It's Your Life: The Sleeping Demon

Curiosity Killed the Cat

It had been several months since Light's debut into Blake's life now. While he still had that mischievous streak of his going, it was clear to the shoulder-angel and all around he really was trying his best to be better. Well, all except Jason, but he didn't really matter.

Despite the few months of perfection Light still had a bad feeling in her gut about the sleeping demon next door. There were times where at night the angel could hear strange banging and thrashing noises from the closed door. She was too scared to explore the reason for the racket so she just lay there until it finally stopped. She wondered if that was the noise Blake heard when he head a headache or something. This particular night there was no such commotion. In retrospect Light should've been suspicious, but she was just happy to have a proper night's sleep.

The day started normally, Light got up and got dressed in a new, crisp white dress. It was long-sleeved and was rippled below the waist. She put on her shoes before popping out to find Blake struggling to strap his shoes in for school. Light called a good morning but the toddler seems pre-occupied with his Velcro and something else in his hands. When Light greeted him again a blue raccoon jumped out onto Blake's bed, giving the angel a scare.

"Tobias!" Light shouted.

"HAHAHAHA, YOUR FACE!" Tobias cackled. "Also, good morning. Blake, you say good morning?"

"Morning Light." the toddler said, without looking at her. The boy was finished with his shoes and moved to the floor, fidgeting with something red in his hands.

"Ooh, what's that?" Light asked from the boy's shoulder. Blake loosened the balled fist, revealing a sleeping auburn-haired imp sprawled out in his palm. The smile on Light's face vanished instantly. What was THAT doing outside the psyche?

"I wonder what he's dreaming about?" Blake said, taking his thumb and gently rolling the demon from side to side.

"Probably something red," Tobias presumed "He seems to have that theme going on."

"Blake, put the man down. You might wake him up!" Light said cautiously.

"Aw, why?" Blake said, now dangling the demon by his tail with his thumb and index finger.

"Remember what I said a while ago? Don't trust him. He is no angel."

"I know. But I just wanna know what he's dreaming about." 

The chat was interrupted by a rapid tapping on the door. "BLAKE!" The toddler's older sister, Mariam yelled from the other side of the wood. "We have to go now! Or mum says she's locking you in the house!"

Blake scoffed and rolled his eyes. Locked in the house? She said that like it was a bad thing. During the ride to school Blake talked to Tobias about all the new kinds of sea animals they were going to launch into space today. Light only observed the talk and nodded encouragingly, though she couldn't help but grow distracted by the demon on Blake's left shoulder. What kind of weird influence could his presence cause? It was hard enough getting Blake to trust her before, she did NOT need some imp undoing all her hard work.

The tiring part of the morning passed as kids lined up to go to their classrooms and take out their stationary. Blake spent most of class time ignoring Light and drawing outlines of the sleeping demon. "What if the teacher calls on you?" Light asked urgently.

"Relax L," Tobias said in his mouse form "She never calls on us."

"Blake." Ms. Orchid said with a grin. "Know the answer to this question."

"Uhmmm," Blake was drawing piles of blanks. He couldn't even remember what subject this was.

"TWO!" Tobias exclaimed. "You can't go wrong with lucky number two!"

Blake repeated the rodent's answer and was given a spirit-crushing laugh as a result.

"You i***t!" Jason- the source of laugh- said. "The answer is TREE. As in T for TREE. How dumb are you!"

"Actually Jason, two also begins with a T, so good answer Blake. And that's a question you should ask the mirror Jason." Ms. Orchid said, tuning out the series of chuckles that heated little Jason's cheeks.

"Sheesh, how embarrassing for him, am I right?" Tobias said, elbowing Light. But Light's focus was on the demon once more. "Blake, just let me put him away for you. He's distracting you already from your work. You didn't even know this was English class!"

"I wanna wake this guy up." Blake said promptly.

"Blake, no! You won't know what will happen." Light argued.

"A little guy your size can't be too hurtful."

"You'd be surprised."

This quarrel carried out into lunch where whenever Light tried convincing Blake not to wake the slumbering imp the toddler would react in spite by either throwing the smallest rocks he could at the demon or just blowing a raspberry at the angel. The three were at a shaded corner of the schoolyard, far away from the other kids so they could work their magic.

Lunch was over in five minutes and this demon still hadn't awoken. "Can I try the screeching seagull again?" Tobias asked.

"NO." both Light and Blake snapped. Blake wanted to see the tailed man awake but if had to hear Tobias' impression of a screeching seagull one more time...

"Oh please!" The raccoon begged "What if I sang a little tune instead?"

"Somehow more deafening than screeching." Blake muttered.

"Hey! I am an excellent singer thank you very much. And it's not like you have a better idea do you?"

Blake glanced at the snoring imp in the grass, he had a few marks on his cheeks from the pebbles that were thrown but he was so small nobody would even notice. Blake glanced over at his shoulder where Light was seated, shaking her head as she watched Tobias morph into a megaphone. Before the boy could actually make up his mind on what to do, a voice from behind him almost made all three jump out of their skin. "Hello Blake, what are you doing in this corner of the yard?" Ms. Orchid asked nicely.

"Hey! Didn't your mother teach you that it's rude to sneak up on someone like that!" Tobias nagged, pointed a finger (or...toe? he walked on hind legs so it didn't matter) at the woman.

"Hello miss," Blake said quietly. "I'm just testing new rocket launches."

"Wouldn't you rather go play with your classmates?" The teacher asked.

"Yeah!" Light intervened "Let's forget about the demon and go play with the others!"

"I will, but first I need to figure out who this guy is!" Blake replied to Light

Ms. Orchid gave Blake a strange look. "Okay, well good luck with that. And remember, afternoon church as soon as break's over."

With that the lean lady walked away. "Finally, some privacy." Tobias sighed "Shall I try screeching demon again?"

"Won't need to Toby." Blake answered confidently. He scooped up the miniature man and carefully placed him on his shoulder. "Ms. Orchid just gave me the perfect idea on how to wake this guy up."

"Wake him up by ignoring he's even there?" Light asked with hope in her voice.

"No, by taking him with us to church! If there's any place that can wake up a demon, it's a church."

Tobias applauded Blake's plan as the toddler packed up his sheets and make-shift rocket. Light stared at him in bewilderment. "Have you ever BEEN to a church before?"

"Our mum makes us go every Sunday."

"Blake, this is silly. Put the demon to rest and-"

"Light!" Blake snapped for real this time. "I know you like telling me what to do all the time. But I only put up with it because I feel bad. How about this time YOU listen to what I want to do!"

Light didn't look angry, just eyes of sadness, guilt and surprise looked into Blake's. Blake could already feel Shame tugging at him. "Don't look at me like that. I said what I said."

"Alright then," Light said in a hushed tone. "What is it you want to do?"

Blake grinned with a mix of mischief and confidence glowing in his eyes. "I want to wake up my shoulder-demon."