Demon Girl

by Lisa M. Cronkhite

  Chapter Thirteen

  A few days had passed as all the turmoil continued on, yet something changed in me entirely. I felt like I was becoming more human, as I hadn’t changed into my demon form for a while. That’s when it happened. I checked the clock—7:17 a.m. It had been a full twenty-four hours since I had changed. Was I human again? In the pit of my stomach, I felt cramping pain. I ran to the bathroom and starting puking out a metal-type liquid. As I curled up in the fetal position, I noticed blue blood seeping out between my legs. It felt like I was dying all over again, but in a more painful way.

  After lying there a few moments, I saw a light spread through the ceiling as the walls opened up. I began to float upward and into the light. Here it was, I thought. It was happening at that very moment. I traveled the tunnel of light and heard a voice.

  “Charlene, dear child, come. I must speak with you.”

  It was Delmara. She was floating over me, carrying me with her wings.

  “Your annual has arrived.”

  I didn’t know how to react. I couldn’t move as she held me, yet I could feel soothing thoughts running through my mind like a cool breeze. Scared and confused, yet trusting Delmara, I finally let go.

  She brought me to a place I had never been to before. It was as if God had created yet another realm.

  I lay there on a bed of soft moss, smelling the scent of magnolia again. I knew Delmara was there somewhere, even though I couldn’t see her.

  I was in a forest of some sort. The leaves were thick with green fur and were soft and damp to the touch.

  As I walked through the mist I could see the stars, yet it was a clear, blue day. They peered through the sky as glass-like shards. Everything was bright, and rainbows formed in the corners of my eyes. Was I dreaming again? Where was I?

  “The time has come,” Delmara said as she came into view. She held up her hands, motioning the winds to rise. Swirling leaves of pastel colors flew in the air. I floated there in mid-air.

  “You have gone through the first phase of your trial. Your annual is now complete.”

  The winds continued to swirl as I was carried further and further away.

  “Wait, I don’t understand. Am I dead?”

  My body was forced back through the tunnel of light again as I heard Delmara whisper, “Time for phase two.”

  I woke up on the bathroom floor, still feeling nauseous and uncomfortable, but the pain was tolerable. I got up and checked between my legs again. The blue blood still came down, but in slow drops. Great; my luck to have a demon period now. Just when I thought I was turning human again, it hit me in a different way. I still had so many unanswered questions, and Delmara wasn’t much help.

  I glanced over to the painting David gave me and thought to check the books too. Maybe there was some kind of connection there. Delmara did resemble the painting in so many different ways.

  It was a portrait of a woman. Her tanned face was in the corner down to the left of the painting, and she blew in the winds a sandstorm as a castle formed in the palm of her hands. Her blue and white curling hair flapped in the wind, intermingling with the sky. If was as if she had become part of the sky, part of the earth.

  As I continued to gaze at the painting I reminded myself of the books. Maybe I would find something there. Was she David’s wife in her past life?

  I got back on the computer and did some research on angels in general. I googled the word angel for images, and masses of pictures popped up. I did a search for Jane Lexington, which was David’s last name. I thought maybe something would come up, but all that showed was about eighty Jane Lexingtons on Facebook and some on other sites as well. It was too vague. I couldn’t think of anything else until I sifted through the books again.

  I came across another note. Again it read: I will always love you, David. Like the other one I found, but this one was different. Written on the back was: yours, Chance. I didn’t know if that was a name or what, so I entered Jane Chance into the computer search and, sure enough, it was Jane Lexington. Chance was her maiden name. She had her own web page for her art. The painting David gave me was pictured on the bottom of the screen with the title, “The Chance Angel.” Jane had written a short dedication:

  To my beloved husband David, I will always love you. This piece was for you. Some day you will believe, until then I will never leave your side.

  Had Delmara turned into a Chance Angel? How did she know when the day would come? How did she know she would return to him someday? Had she been my angel for a second chance, or was she protecting him from me somehow?

  As I read her page, an I.M. popped up:

  DemonBoy: Figured it out yet?

  DemonGirl: What? Are you watching me now?

  DemonBoy: Just listening to your thought waves again. Hey, you’re making some progress! Happy re-birthday, by the way.

  DemonGirl: Gee, you heard about that too? What do you not know?

  DemonBoy: Well, since you asked, there is one thing I don’t know…

  DemonGirl: What’s that?

  DemonBoy: Don’t know yet. I’ll tell ya when I find out.

  DemonGirl: What? That doesn’t make any sense, Benjamin.

  I waited for a reply, but nothing. I hated Benjamin’s riddles. Every time I tried to figure it out, I started to feel tipsy, like I had been drinking—like the first day we met.

  Right before I went to lay down the telephone rang. I answered it on the second ring.

  “Hello?”

  “Charlene, it’s me. I am at Lucky’s.”

  “Jesse?”

  Chapter Fourteen

  After I got off the phone, agreeing to meet Jesse, I drove up to Lucky’s as fast as I could without disobeying the speed limit.

  My heart swelled within me. It was taking over my thoughts. The heavy beating sound thumped in my mind as I drove, and the palms of my hands were so thick with sweat, I could hardly hold onto the steering wheel.

  I put the radio on trying to soothe my thoughts, but it didn’t seem to do much but be more of a distraction. Through the radio, I could hear an underlying sound during the songs. It was a weird, mumbled static. I turned up the volume, trying to determine what it was.

  “Mmm…shh…” the sound let out between the piano keys. “Heee…”

  I focused on the lyrics of the song from the Cranberries:

  “Something has left my life, and I don’t know where it went to…ahh, ah, ah,” Dolores O’Riordan sang out.

  Between her lyrics I could hear a low voice. “He will…”

  As the song continued I picked up on: “Didn’t you see me, didn’t you hear me? Didn’t you see me standing there ahh, ah, ah?”

  The image of the dark shadow I saw just days ago flashed before my eyes. Suddenly, I swerved off the side of the road. Luckily, the road was clear.

  As I sat there in the car, I tried to collect my thoughts. “Don’t rush this, Charlene,” I said out loud. God, I am so stupid. This is never going to work. He is not going to love the hideous creature I really am. He said he loved me, but I don’t feel changed. I am not human anymore. How will I know when the curse has been lifted? Do I have to show him I am a demon? What if he is appalled by me? How in the world is this ever going to work?

  There had to be a positive light at the end of the tunnel for me. My main goal was to see Drake again, but how? I saved Sarah, or so I assumed. Did I complete my first mission? I wasn’t even sure if that was over or not. How many lives did I have to save to see my son again? Lately I wasn’t entirely worried about becoming human again, but I missed my family terribly. Even though my father came to visit me after twenty years, I hadn’t any feelings for him. In fact, I was angry and upset he even came to me like that.

  I reminded myself that Jesse was waiting for me. I thought of how sweet he was. He told me over the phone how much he missed me and felt compelled to finally meet me. It would be his first time seeing me. I thought I would be so excited when the time finally did arrive, but I cheated
myself out of that when I spied on him in California. I had to act surprised even though that was a lie too. Would I suffer the repercussions of that?

  I pulled up in Lucky’s parking lot around six in the evening. I hadn’t realized it was so late. Oh, shit! Was I going to change soon? I reminded myself it had been thirty-six hours since I had changed last. Could it be over now? Did my first annual have anything to do with this? I was nervous and excited at the same time. It was as if ants were crawling just below my skin. I was still bleeding, but I had it under control.

  I walked up to the door and saw Jesse sitting in one of the booths, waiting for me. As I opened the door and stepped inside, I took a deep breath and walked right over to him. I nervously held my breath for so long that I seemed to hear my heart stop.

  I looked straight into his eyes as he glanced over to me. “Jesse!”

  “Yes?”

  I paused in shock for a moment. He had a look in his eyes like I was some stranger. I panicked and looked straight down. Had something changed in my appearance?

  “Charlene?”

  “Yes…I’m sorry…”

  “For what?” he said with a half-grin. He got up from the booth and hugged me.

  “Umm…I don’t know. I just thought…” My voice trailed off.

  “That I wouldn’t recognize you?”

  “Well, yes.” We stood there for an awkward moment, and then sat down.

  “You look good. You changed your hair it looks like.”

  I tugged at my hair, glancing down to see if it was blue or something, but thankfully it was still long and blonde, just as in the pictures of the old me I sent him. Over the course of a year, changing into my demon form on a daily basis until just now, I would notice a slight change in my human form. Every night I would change into that hideous beast, but every day I changed back into my natural features. When I did, my human form would have subtle changes afterwards too. At first it was my slow-tanning skin, and then my eyes would change color, from dark green to lime. They were subtle changes, but since I hadn’t looked in the mirror lately, I hadn’t noticed my newest change.

  “Yeah, my hair changed. You’re right.”

  “So, are you happy to see me?”

  Actually, I didn’t know what I was feeling. The more I changed, the more I wanted to find out about how this even started with me. I felt like my two lives were merging into each other. As I paused for a moment, I took his hand and reassured him. “Yes, of course I am, I was just surprised you made the decision to see me without talking to me first.” There, I said it. That wasn’t so hard was it? I wasn’t lying either. I spoke my mind freely to him. It felt good. I could breathe again.

  He looked into my eyes and remarked how pretty they were. “They are lighter than in your pictures you last sent. I could look into your eyes all day if I had the time.”

  The time! I reminded myself again. I glanced at the clock on the wall across from where Jesse was sitting—6:46 p.m.

  “Do you have to go?” he asked.

  “No, why?”

  “Well, you seem distracted. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. I am happy you’re here.”

  “I just had this incredible urge to see you, Charlene.”

  He went on to describe this immediate urge. He mentioned how he suddenly bought an airplane ticket and hopped on the quickest flight here.

  “I know how that feels. I have felt that way for you too.”

  “Felt? As in past tense? What do you mean?”

  I stopped myself. It was because I had seen him before this. He couldn’t know that. I didn’t want to tell him, nor did I want to lie. I wanted this to turn out right, but why wasn’t I having as strong feelings for him as I had before?

  “I meant that, I have had those feelings before and still do…” Not enough to break the curse, I thought. Why were my feelings waning for Jesse, and his intensifying? Something was entirely wrong, and I hated it.

  “Well then, that’s good I guess,” he said, somewhat hesitant in his speech. I could feel through his vibes he was now unsure of himself.

  After a few silent minutes passed, he said, “Maybe I shouldn’t have come.”

  “Jesse, look, I am okay with you coming to visit me. I just need time.”

  Speaking of the time, it was now after seven and I hadn’t changed yet. Maybe I wasn’t going to anymore. I was feeling confident as the time continued to pass; maybe the worst was over. Maybe slowly but surely I was becoming human again. Maybe it was a slow process. I gave it a long thought and decided to invite him back to my place.

  “Are you sure you want that, Charlene? I wouldn’t want to push things.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure.”

  He smiled with relief, and I smiled back in response. We gave each other a sweet gaze, both rising from the booth, and left to go back to my place.

  Chapter Fifteen

  We got to my apartment around eight p.m. In the back of my mind, I reminded myself every other minute was another minute longer that I hadn’t changed, yet I still had unanswered questions as to what was truly happening to me. Delmara only messaged me in dreams and visions, and I hadn’t had them in days now. I was still unsure what she meant when I pondered on her last words; time for phase two.

  Was phase two my second chance at being human again? Why was I still bleeding? I wouldn’t be concerned with it if it wasn’t still blue.

  I ran to the bathroom to check while Jesse sat on the couch in the front room.

  “I’ll be right back,” I told him.

  I entered the bathroom, slipped my panties down between my legs and checked my pad, noticing the bright blue. It was lighter than before. Soon it should stop, I thought.

  I checked in the mirror, observing my hair again. Jesse was right, it was different. It was as if I’d highlighted it with white streaks. Okay, so that was different too, and I could deal with that, but I wasn’t sure about my eye secretion. The last time I cried was before my annual.

  When I came out of the bathroom Jesse mentioned about his early flight in the morning. He hadn’t found a motel to stay in yet. I wasn’t about to ask him to stay in case something went wrong, but he inferred it.

  “Well, you can stay for a while, but…” I caught myself. I didn’t want to lie, but I just reacted for precautionary measures.

  “But what? Charlene, I don’t understand you. One minute you seem interested and the next you seem so distracted. What’s wrong? Talk to me.”

  I thought about it for a while. What was bothering me so much? Why didn’t I feel the same for him anymore? I did find it weird he just picked up and left Sarah there. Sarah! I reminded myself again. The last time I left her was when she was at Jesse’s. She attempted suicide when I had possessed her. Had that been how things worked? Saving lives like that? Delmara did say I would know when the time came.

  “How’s Sarah?” I blurted out.

  “Sarah? My ex-girlfriend? Why are you bringing her up at a time like this?” he asked with a puzzled look on his face. “Is that what this is about?”

  “This? What do you mean?”

  “This, us! I came here to see you, and you don’t seem interested, Charlene. What happened?”

  “I don’t know!” I said loudly, raising my voice.

  “I should have never come. This was a mistake!”

  He picked up his jacket and started to leave.

  “Jesse, wait!”

  “Wait for what?” he said, standing in the doorway. “For you to find someone else? I think you already have, Charlene.”

  He gave me one last look as I froze. I didn’t know what to say.

  “Thought so, Charlene. Good-bye.”

  Jesse was gone. He left just a few hours ago, and again I was alone. I felt down and depressed. Just the look on his face told me I had done enough damage to break his heart. How was the curse going to work out if I didn’t love him back the way he wanted me to? I was miserable. Three months it took to build up that relationship.
I knew it wasn’t long, but I wanted so badly to be human again, I guess I hadn’t seen it before. I wasn’t in love with Jesse like I wanted to be.

  Drained of all feeling, my mind began to wander as I lay there on my mattress. I thought of Drake again and when I first had him. I was so happy and filled with hope, yet I had nothing. The father was out of the picture, thank God, so I didn’t need to worry about that. I missed my mother. The day I called her after living on the streets for so long was unforgettable. She welcomed me back as if I never left. I wondered about my father again. Why did he really leave in the first place? Why didn’t he want to come back? I felt the urge to call him. Where did I put that napkin?

  I got up and rummaged through my work apron. It was still in the left-side pocket. I looked at the number, picked up the phone and dialed.

  “Hello?”

  “Dad?”

  “Charlene! I was hoping you would call!”

  Just hearing his voice again made me feel a little better. I could sense more energy within me too. It was a slow burn, warming me somehow.

  “I need to see you,” I said straightforwardly.

  “Yes, when?”

  “Now!”

  “Well, I am about an hour away. Should we meet at your work again?”

  “Let’s just meet at Sulley Park. It’s closer.”

  “Sure, I know where that is. I should be there in about forty five minutes. Is everything okay?”

  “It’s okay, but we need to talk. There are some things I would like to say to you, in person.”

  “Okay. You got it. I’ll be there. Thanks again, Charlene.”

  “For what?”

  “For giving me a chance…”

  I paused at the word; chance. I thought of Delmara. When would I see her again? Was she Jane Chance? Was this my chance at having a relationship with my father?

  “I’ll see you soon, Dad.”

  The conversation ended.

  It was now nine at night. I went to Sulley Park and waited on the swings for my dad to come. I didn’t care if I changed right then and there. I was at my breaking point. I felt like I couldn’t keep it in anymore—this secret inside me, this creature thriving within me.