The Demon I Created

SWANDVILLE AWAITS

POV: IDA

“Huh! And that’s the final bag in the car. Mom, I’m done packing!” I called out.

She’d been in her room for too long. What on earth was she doing?

I turned to face Kate. She was already crying.

“And why are you crying again? It’s only for a few months. I’ll be back before you know it, okay?” I said, pulling her into a warm hug.

“I know, girl,” she said, her accent thickening as she cried. “I just can’t help it. You’re leaving for another country to school there. It’s not a holiday. What if you make another friend, huh?”

I burst out laughing. “Aww, I’m not going to replace you, cutie,” I said, pinching her cheeks. “You’re my favorite. I promise I’ll call and text you every day, even if I’m dull or busy, okay?”

She finally wiped her tears and gave me a goofy smile.

What would I do without this girl?

“Okay, fine. I have to leave now. Dad’s having a banquet tonight, and I need to be there,” she said. “Bye, bestie. Call me the second the plane lands.”

“Sure, I will.” I gave her one last hug as her chauffeur came to pick her up.

I stood there with my hands on my hips, watching her car drive off. I was wearing a cute pink top and blue jeans, my hair tied in a messy bun. This wasn’t my style—Mom did this to me.

According to her, I was her little princess, and she’d dress me as such.

This was our first vacation without Dad. I wondered what he was doing now. He hadn’t even called me yet. Maybe he knew I was angry and wanted me to call first? I’d do that when we reached Swandvile. Probably.

I went inside and found Mom staring at her portrait with Dad. I think I was five in that photo.

It was a family of three at the park. Dad was kissing Mom’s cheek while I stood in the middle, laughing.

I placed a hand on Mom’s shoulder. She’d been crying for a while, looking at our picture. I hugged her from behind and smiled.

“Let’s go, Mom. You’ll be late for work, and I’m not letting you leave without resting properly. Come on.”

I held her hand and pulled her out of the house. We got into the passenger seat, and the chauffeur drove us to the airport.

It was a one-hour drive, so I slept in Mom’s arms. A girl needed her rest.

“Ida, Ida, wake up. We need to board the plane now.”

I heard Mom’s voice and groggily sat up, holding her hand for support. I was exhausted and really needed sleep.

“Come on, child. We’re on now, so you can sleep,” Mom said, patting my back. “I just have some paperwork to go through. Rest, okay? I love you, baby.”

She kissed my cheek, and I drifted off again.

“Who are you? What do you want from me? Why do you keep disturbing my sleep every time I close my eyes?!” I screamed at the silhouette staring back at me.

It was the same 6’4” man. Now that I could see his build, he looked insanely handsome.

The only thing I could really see were his eyes, shifting from gold to red as he looked at me like prey.

“Don’t you recognize me, my love?” he said.

His voice was so deep it sent tingles down my spine and a sensation I’d never felt before. I looked into those red and gold eyes and saw longing in them.

I stretched out my hand to touch him, but this time he transformed into something else—something more dangerous.

“Ah!” I screamed, sitting up so fast Mom dropped her coffee on the plane.

My chest rose and fell faster than ever, sweat beading on my forehead.

“Hey, Ida? What’s wrong, my child? Why do you keep screaming in your sleep?” Mom asked, concern filling her eyes.

I grabbed her arms tightly. “It’s nothing, Mom. I just dreamt of a unicorn pooping dog meat,” I blurted out without thinking.

Mom stared at me, then burst out laughing.

“You and your silly dreams,” she said. “Why would you even have a dream like that?”

The stewardess came to help Mom clean the mess. An announcement followed that the plane would land soon.

I was already tired from sitting for nearly four hours.

Fast forward—we were off the plane.

Jeez, the airport was crowded. Families held banners, waiting for loved ones. Children giggled as they reunited with their parents, I guessed.

I clung to Mom’s arm, trying to snuggle close. She smiled, realizing what I wanted.

“Ida, you’re not a baby anymore. Even though you’re _my_ baby, okay?” she said, smiling at my childish behavior.

We got into the car, and she drove into town.

“Dear, I need to go to the clinic. They’re short on staff. But I’ll drop you at your new school so you can see the environment before you start tomorrow, okay?” Mom said, eyes on the road.

“Here we are, cutie. The hospital is a five-minute drive from here, so I’ll pick you up once I’m done, okay?” she said as I got out of the car.

I looked at the school. It looked like a mansion.

Was this a school or a castle?

I walked inside, feeling eyes on me. Perks of being the new girl in town.

Wow. This place was heavenly, and so were the people. I swear every single one of them looked more beautiful than the last. The girls looked like goddesses, and the guys looked like Greek gods made by the Maker himself.

I glanced at my plain self, comparing every feature to theirs.

I walked around for a while, feeling a pair of eyes on me. But whenever I turned around, no one was there.

After a few minutes, I decided to leave. I didn’t like this school. It felt too weird.

I stepped out and saw a portrait I hadn’t noticed before.

It was a man—6’4”, with red eyes.

I staggered back, staring at it.

Why did I keep seeing him? First in my dreams, now here.

I looked into his eyes and felt it calling to me.

Without thinking, I reached out.

It felt like electricity shooting through my skin, pulling me somewhere I didn’t know—but loved.

A name appeared in my mind like a vision:

*RHAEL.*

Everything went black.

—