by Tarisa Marie
“Yes, exactly, demon, you have rules and laws so you don’t get discovered by humans, not because it’s morally right not to mess with humans, killing them, playing with them, torturing them, sucking their souls out, spreading demonic diseases through the population, and I could go on. Let me ask you, when was the last time you killed a human? Today, yesterday?” Crispen taunts.
Aiden swallows, glances to me, and then back to Crispen before answering, “This morning. I have to eat, or I’ll die, you know.”
“So you’d rather kill people on a near weekly basis than take your own life and end it all? That there is warped.”
“I have more control than that. I can go over a month,” Aiden argues.
Aria, Crispen, and Mason all look slightly surprised by this.
“Okay, so you’ve been alive for three hundred and some years. That means you’ve killed roughly three thousand and some humans in your lifetime alone. Tell me that’s not evil. Tell me that I’m the murderer here!” Crispen shouts, slamming against the bars. The ruby inside of them burns his skin, and he jumps backwards. Crispen’s words hit home hard. Three thousand people is a lot of people. A lot of people. Putting it into perspective like that is overwhelming, and I realize that Crispen has a valid point here. I suddenly feel sick at the thought of Aiden killing all of these people. “And even if you don’t kill them, and you change them into demons, guess what, they’re going to kill and create more too, adding more blood onto your hands! You have no conscience, no regrets! You’re a monster!”
I glance to Aiden who stands with his hands in his pocket in the corner of the cement room. I don’t know why, but I expect him to look unperturbed. When I look at him, I’m surprised to see defeat and pain on his face. He literally winces as if he’s been kicked in the nuts. Crispen has gotten to him. The two stare each other down momentarily, then Crispen turns to me again.
“How can you care at all for a monster like that?!” he challenges me.
I take a single step closer to the bars. “How many demons have you killed in your life time?”
He looks confused by my question. “I don’t know hundreds, maybe thousands.”
“Then what makes you any less of a murderer than Aiden?” I question.
“Let’s say I’ve killed only fifty demons. If all fifty of them lived as long as Aiden has then do the math, how many human lives have I saved by exterminating those demons?” Okay, Crispen has another point.
“Megan, don’t bother. He’s right, I don’t doubt that. I am a monster.” Aiden bites his bottom lip.
“Even he admits it, so why are you still here with him on their side?” Crispen tries again. “Do you want to end up like him? A monster?”
I focus on Aiden, making eye contact. “You’re far from a monster, okay? You rid the world of serial killers and pedophiles. You keep the world safe. I happen to think that’s heroic.”
Aiden’s eyes light up just enough for me to notice, then he blinks and a stoic expression takes over his face.
“If you didn’t take out those people, then they’d probably find more victims.” I turn back to Crispen. “Did you know that your brother only kills criminals, people who mean humans harm?” I smile as Crispen’s expression slips for a moment, before he can pull himself together. I can tell that, no, he didn’t know this.
Mason gets up and stands beside Crispen. Both men stare me down in silence as if they have nothing more to say, though I know that’s not the case.
“Is that true?” a crystal-like voice chimes from the cell next to Crispen and Mason’s. Aria stands now too, staring at Aiden.
Aiden says nothing but gives a small nod of the head.
“It doesn’t change anything,” Crispen voices, taking a moment to glare at Aria.
“In the scheme of things, it does not. I wish it did. Unfortunately, you’re still what you are. You still kill humans, and you still…you’re still a demon.” Aria looks at me momentarily before sitting back down.
Mason finally speaks up. “Why are we locked up down here? What do you want with us exactly? Is this some sick game to you?”
“You morons keep attacking me, and I keep throwing you on your asses. I have Megan to look out for now, and I can’t have you guys running around like chickens with their heads cut off. I can’t have you barging in here after Megan and putting her life in danger. She’s not even a fricken pure demon yet, and you’re after her ass. Why?”
Crispen explains that he’s after me because even though I’m not a demon, siding with one is just as bad and basically the same thing. Aiden then lips him off, cusses, and kicks a chunk of cement into his thigh.
“Why not just kill us, or do you not know how?” Crispen wonders.
“I know how to kill you, and I could make you what I am, but I’d rather not take away your souls without your permission, nor would I like to kill my siblings, even if not by blood.”
Aria squints at Aiden as if trying to see through a lie that doesn’t exist.
“He’s lying. If he knew how to kill us, he’d kill us. Demons don’t feel compassion or love by any means. Megan, he’ll tell you whatever he needs to tell you to convince you that he’s a good person. I hope you realize that.” Mason looks to me hopefully. “You can’t possibly trust anything that he says.”
I don’t get the chance to reply because Aiden says, “You know, I should be the one who hates you three. You attack me constantly, kill good people demon or not without even giving them a chance, and you killed my daughter. My daughter; your niece. You killed her, Crispen. You killed the thing I cared about most in my life. Is that not punishment enough for me, having to live an eternity without her?” When Aiden mentions his daughter, his level of anger and frustration rises significantly. His face goes red, and I can tell that he’s struggling to contain himself. “You have no idea how painful it is to know that my own brother killed my daughter. What kind of monster does that, hmm?”
Aria’s head rises, and she looks between the two men. “You did what, Crispen?” Aria doesn’t know?
Crispen turns to her smiling. “I killed his demonic bitch of a daughter, just like he said, Aria.”
“You killed…you killed my niece? I was an aunt? I didn’t even know that. Why has this never come up?” Aria demands, clearly pissed off. She seems to catch herself though, because her expression smooths over, and she brushes her hair with her fingers as if embarrassed by her outburst.
“I didn’t tell you because I know you have a soft spot for kids, and you’re emotionally weak at times. I didn’t tell Mason because I knew he’d tell you.”
This seems to enrage Aria. Her eyes shoot daggers at her brother. “What was her name?” she asks Aiden then, her eyes softening a little again.
“Karly. Her name was Karly. She was a halfling. She had the same eyes you have. Vivid blue,” Aiden says this while smiling, and I know that he appreciates her curiosity and genuine concern over her brother killing Karly.
“Aria, snap out of it. Are you for real right now?” Crispen demands, shaking his head. Mason seems to snap back into reality with these words as he too seemed interested in Karly for a mere moment.
Aria clears her throat and turns her back to everyone. The fourth hunter seems to be sleeping. No doubt he’s not as strong as the other three and needs more rest to heal.
“Are you saying you raped a human?” It’s Mason who asks this, sounding completely disgusted.
“Of course not!” Aiden shouts angrily. He then curses, scowling at his brother. “I fell in love with a human, though I doubt any of you even know what love is.”
Crispen scoffs. “And you do? Right.”
“How old was she?” Aria asks, turning back to face Aiden. “Karly, I mean, when she…died.”
“She was fifteen.”
Aria gapes. “Crispen! You killed a child? A halfling child? Why? You could have at least made her a hunter. What is wrong with you?”
Crispen is then in Aria’s face through the ba
rs separating them. “A demon is a demon, you know that.”
“You didn’t kill Megan when you found her, she’s a halfling.”
“That was a mistake.” Crispen makes eye contact with me full of hate. “A moment of weakness.”
I can’t get over the extreme coldness in his eyes. It’s like he’s a completely different person than the Crispen I know and loved.
“What became of her mother?” Aria asks, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear and begging Aiden for answers.
“She passed away young from cancer.”
Aria seems to be satisfied with her answers and shuts up. I can’t even imagine the fight that will instill between her and her brothers about this later. Crispen glares at her like she’s the demon in the room. Mason seems at a loss, like he doesn’t know what to think or feel.
A tear slides down her cheek, and she quickly brushes it away before they can see, but I see it, and by the look on Aiden’s face he seen it too. A look of fascination and confusion takes form on his face as he stares at her.
“I think it’s time for us to go to bed,” Aiden suggests to me.
I nod in agreement. If I stay down here any longer, I might do something stupid. I turn, and as soon as I do, a dull whistle sounds and Aiden is no longer in front of me. I turn to see him holding the chunk of cement he’d kicked at Crispen earlier. He clutches it so hard that it shatters into dust. I’m amazed by this amount of strength.
“I thought it was worth a shot,” Crispen grunts.
“What just happened?” I ask, not getting the situation at all.
“He just whipped this at your head in an attempt to kill you.”
Chapter 15
The next day, while I sit in the kitchen eating breakfast, I can’t help but remember the hurt look on Aria’s face upon the mention of Karly. Aiden strolls into the room in dress clothes. I wonder where he’s off to today.
“I have someone stopping by right away. Please get dressed and meet me in the living room quickly. I will apologize in advance for my future behavior. Please do not say anything unless spoken to specifically,” he rambles off so quickly that I hardly catch what he’s said. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting this person so soon.” He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
I sense the urgency in his tone and do as he says. I’m confused by what he meant about apologizing in advance for his future behavior but let it slip. I change into a nice but simple dress and meet him in the main living room. The house has three, but I know which he is speaking about.
He stands there next to a man wearing a red tie and slacks.
“This is Megan, the halfling I’m mentoring.”
I go through the motions of curtsying.
“You’re sure a pretty thing, aren’t you? I bet you’re not just mentoring her, are you?” The sexual innuendo is clear in the man’s voice, and although I feel disgusted by his words, I don’t say anything.
To my surprise, Aiden smirks wickedly and winks at the man. Appalled, I struggle to keep my mouth from falling open. I know he has to keep up appearances with the demons, but is this really necessary?
“Anyways, I’m here, as you know, to deliver your replacement guards after the attack, Mr. Castile. Hell was sorry to hear you were attacked once again. It seems that such an important man as yourself is high on the hunter’s list.”
“Yes, I agree, Adison. That’s the trouble with being a man in my position I suppose.” Aiden says cockily, an arrogant smirk remaining on his face. I’ve never seen this side of Aiden before, it’s chilling and disturbing. It’s like he’s a completely different man. I know it’s not really him, but it feels so real, so natural. It seems like he doesn’t even have to try to be this version of himself.
The man clears his throat. “Just sign here that you received them.” He hands Aiden a pen and clipboard before pointing to the signature line.
Aiden’s hand moves across the page quickly.
“Hell has also sent you a gift for your troubles, Mr. Castile,” says the man. “It’s just outside the door here.” The man turns to retreat into the porch. Aiden’s jaw clenches after he turns, and he glances to me.
He mouths what looks like ‘I’m sorry’.
I follow the men into the porch. This Adison guy opens the front door and there stands a pretty, petite, human with long blonde hair and thick black lashes. She looks no older than thirty. She looks terrified. Two demon men stand flanking her, presumably making sure she doesn’t move.
“A snack to indulge in. A new soul too, Mr. Castile. I hope she’s to your liking,” Adison muses grimly.
I shudder. A new soul is a soul that has never been reincarnated.
“Very much so.” Aiden smiles appreciatively. “Thanks for your troubles, Adison. I’ll take it from here and let you be on your way.”
“Have a taste of her before I leave, and make sure that she is to your liking,” Adison urges him and motions to the lady in the doorway.
My eyes widen in shock. Thankfully neither of the men can see my expression.
“I’m sure she’ll do,” Aiden denies.
The man looks at Aiden as if he’s crazy. Aiden smiles. “I guess a taste won’t hurt.”
The two guards push the girl into the house towards Aiden. Aiden grabs her arm and jerks her closer to him roughly. I’m not sure I want to watch what is about to go down.
Aiden knocks her hair away from her neck on one side. He runs his fingers down the nape and grins, then his head goes down, and his lips meet her neck. He kisses and sucks on her neck before moving to her lips. He kisses her tenderly.
“Isn’t he an animal? A true classical demon Mr. Castile is,” Adison murmurs to me as we both watch Aiden grope and basically sexually abuse this woman before us. I am absolutely disgusted to the core, and I’m sure it shows on my face. “If only we were all as suave as he.” This makes my stomach churn. Suave? This is suave?
“Hey, Mr. Castile, I think this halfling you’re mentoring is a little jealous. Maybe you should give her a little something too,” Adison mistakes my shock and disgust for jealousy.
I don’t know what to say or what to do, so I just stand there, wide-eyed. Surely Aiden wouldn’t… Suddenly Aiden is in front of me. He tilts my chin up, gazes into my eyes for a moment, and then his lips meet mine. I nearly fall over. What in the hell does he think he is doing?
I’m just about to pull away and shout something rude at him when his eyes meet mine again and he whispers nearly silently, “Quiet, Megan.” I don’t even think Adison notices this, because he’s too busy seemingly enjoying the terror in the blonde woman’s eyes. He holds her still so she doesn’t run.
I try to say something but nothing comes out. I know almost immediately that Aiden has just used compulsion on me to stop me from speaking. Now, I’m pissed.
He lays his lips down on mine again and then goes back to the other woman. This time, between the woman’s lips and his, a white, smoke-like substance travels from her into him, and I realize to my horror that he is sucking her soul from her body. I want to puke. What did she do to deserve this?
“How is she, Mr. Castile?” Adison asks, grinning from ear to ear.
Aiden pulls away from his feast, and the girl drops to the ground. “I’ve had better, but she will do. Now you best get on your way, Adison. Give my thanks to the head office.”
Adison nods appreciatively, and Aiden picks up the girl and begins pulling her soul from her once again. As soon as the front door, which we had replaced early this morning, closes, Aiden jumps away from the limp woman as if she’s on fire and begins coughing and sputtering. After a moment, he approaches her again, and I think he’s about to kiss her again, when I see the smoke-like substance reappear only this time it appears to move from him to her instead of vice versa. He’s giving her back what he took. I didn’t even know that was possible. It would take a vast amount of restraint, I’m sure.
The woman opens her eyes, and Aiden positions himself so he can make c
omplete eye contact with her. “You won’t remember any of this, none of this surreal stuff. The last thing you remember is having a strange urge to go to Toronto for a vacation. Nothing strange has happened,” Aiden says in an instructive voice. He’s using compulsion that much is obvious. “I will call you a cab, when you get in the cab you will forget this place, and tell the driver to take you to the CN Tower. Wait outside on the porch for the cab.”
The woman nods and leaves the house swiftly. Then Aiden stares at me intensely, swallowing hard. “I am so sorry about that, Megan. I am so sorry,” he says in a begging voice. He looks genuinely apologetic, and I’m left wondering what the hell just happened. The revolting smirk that danced across his face minutes ago haunts my mind. For a moment there, he appeared to be a truly demonic creature.
He stares into my eyes again. “You may speak.”
As if like word vomit, I shout, “What the fuck was that?!”
I take three or four steps back from him.
“I’ve warned you before about my having to keep up appearances. This is what I was warning you about. I’m sorry you had to see that. I’m sorry for…I’m sorry for kissing you. You can hit me if you want, and I don’t blame you for thinking I’m some sick asshole.”
His words make me think. He’s mentioned to me numerous times about how he has to keep up appearances. I’ve come to understand that Aiden is a very important person in the demon world, a person capable of making great change among his kind, but he must stay on the good side of the demons at the head office, as he calls it. If he doesn’t act like they think a demon in his position should act, and they start to think that he hasn’t been making his regular trips to hell, which he hasn’t, then they’ll force him to go there, and by doing that they’ll be stripping him of his humanity completely. Does he really have a choice? What if it were me in his situation? No harm was really done. I’m fine and so is that girl.