by Jamie Loeak
one with the fading green paint. The colors in this world looked almost like Technicolor and Kate skipped in her ivory gown, humming the tune from The Wizard of Oz.
Kate stopped in front of the house that the older professional purchased. The dilapidated shack that once stood there was gone; in its place stood a log cabin built on top of stilts so that the owner could see the beach from the front porch. The wood was stained a dark, golden tan color and there were plenty of windows to provide light. The stairs that led up to the house twisted and Kate had the urge to run up them. She had a love-hate relationship with winding staircases. The stairs above her head were always out of reach, but she found herself ducking down anyway, afraid of smacking her head into them.
Kate began to continue toward her friend’s house, but found herself stopping again. The staircase was the thing that pulled her to this point. She looked around, making sure that no one was watching her, and then ran to the bottom of the stairs. She jogged up and stood on the front porch. Up here the breeze was stronger, and Kate’s ivory gown swirled around her legs. She saw two shiny telescopes that she hadn’t seen before in either corner. The gold surfaces glimmered in the sun, sending rays of light in every direction. She smiled, thinking about the man sitting out here watching the stars.
Kate walked up to the telescope on the right and looked into it. It was pointed directly at Adriana’s house. Kate’s heart stopped. She found herself rushing to the other telescope, with an uncanny idea of what she would find when she reached it.
Kate touched the telescope, her heart beating furiously. She looked into it…
And Kate woke up. She cursed inwardly, angry at losing the dream. She felt her heart racing in her chest, knowing that it had pulled her from the nightmare. That couldn’t be it, though; she had to find out what was going on. So, in one lithe movement, Kate swung herself off the bed and tossed on a t-shirt and comfortable shorts. She slipped on her running shoes, grabbed her cell phone, and headed outside. Once her feet touched the pavement, she ran. She made her way toward the log cabin, her heart pounding in her throat, her hand ready to speed dial Adriana. The house wasn’t far from hers but she seemed to be running through dense fog. She felt it pulling against her, its resistance pushing her backward.
Somehow, the fog broke ahead and Kate stopped in the middle of the street. There was no log cabin. The dilapidated house still stood; there were even a few cans on the ground. Kate stood there for a moment, shaking her head in confusion, clearing away the fog that hung around her mind. What did this new information tell her about her dreams? Were they all fake? Was her mind going crazy from the amount of stress that the thought of the unknown demon caused?
Kate threw her hands up in the air and turned around, headed for home. She would have to deal with this later.
Headlights flashed and a car horn honked. She heard the driver slam on the breaks but knew that it was too late. When the car hit Kate it felt like every bone in her body broke. It hurt too much to scream or cry. She rolled over onto the side of the road, pushed there by the car. She saw the driver get out, heard him screaming into a cell phone. After that, she drifted off into nothingness.
16
Kate woke up in a hospital bed. The lighting in the room was dull, and Kate had to squint to see everything around her. She was hooked up to a heart monitor that listened to the steady beat of her healthy heart. There were three vases that held beautiful flowers with cards from her parents, Adriana and Rico, and the gardener. His arrangement was the most beautiful, with lilacs and exotic grasses.
“Oh, Kate!” Blaire’s voice sounded shrill.
Kate flinched, but turned to face her mother.
“Oh baby, your father and I have been so worried,” Blaire said, pulling Kate into a tight embrace. “You were hit by a car, baby. It was Adriana’s father, Donovan. He was coming home from work and hit you. He said that you were standing out in the middle of the road, and that the fog was so dense he didn’t see you until it was too late.” Kate watched as her mother sniffled, tears running down her face.
“Where’s Dad?” Kate asked, suddenly realizing that he wasn’t there.
“He went to get some water for us,” Blaire said. Her expression changed from concern to worry mixed with a tinge of sadness.
“What’s wrong, Mom?”
“Oh, nothing’s wrong baby. I’m just worried about you, that’s all.”
“How long do I have to stay here?”
“A couple more days, baby. The doctor said you were lucky. Donovan’s quick reflexes saved your bones. You have a head injury, though. It wasn’t a concussion but you needed stitches. Nevertheless, the doctor says that you need to rest; you’re pretty bruised up.”
Kate stretched, feeling sore. She yawned, suddenly tired, and let her eyes flutter until they shut. She felt her mother kiss her on the top of her head and heard her sit back to watch her sleep.
The next time Kate woke up, Donovan was sitting in front of her.
“I’m so sorry,” he blurted. “I never meant to hit you. You just came out of nowhere. If I had seen you a second later I would have killed you.” He lowered his head and held it in his hands, pressing his palms into his eyes. He looked like a wreck. His normally tousled hair was sticking up and dark circles framed his chocolate eyes.
“It’s okay,” Kate said kindly. “I know it was an accident, and I’m not too hurt.”
He looked at her, a pained expression painted across his features.
“I don’t know you very well,” he said at last. “I’m sorry about the way you had to see me last time. I’m afraid for Adriana. If Light or Darkness discovers what she has done I will roam the planet alone for eternity.”
“What will happen to Adriana? Rico never told me about this when he told me the truth about the universe.”
“Darkness will destroy her. Light took away the presence of demons from human memories and forced Darkness to keep it that way. Demons are not supposed to exist in this world.”
“I’m so sorry,” Kate said, and she really was sorry. “I feel like it’s my fault that Adriana told me. I’m so curious about your lives that I wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
“That’s understandable. If I were in your shoes, I would demand answers too. However, Adriana never had to give you any. I’ve stood by her side for longer than you can imagine, watching her attempt to save humans from Kern, from other demons. I don’t help Adriana and Rico save the humans, as you may have noticed, but I have protected Adriana. It’s still my job to protect her.”
“I understand,” Kate said.
The two sat for a moment in companionable silence.
“Adriana told me that you were interested in the story of my existence thus far. I hope that you will take it as an offering of peace and apology.”
“Of course I will,” Kate said as she sat up. She tried to keep the excitement from entering her voice, but it didn’t matter. He knew that she had been waiting for this.
Donovan leaned over and helped Kate position the pillows so that she was comfortable. Then, he began the story of his past.
“I, just like Adriana, used to be a monster while living on Lilith. You see, demons didn’t know anything other than hatred while living there. As you already know, Adriana is caring and compassionate; she saw the power that love and kindness brought to humans. I did not. I thought that humans were lowly and disgusting, the epitome of weakness. I killed humans. I planned on taking over this planet much like we did on Lilith.
When the humans began fighting back, I was on the front of every line. I led each battle, and I was great. I won every battle or war that I fought, and quickly grew famous among demons. Demons that liked to possess human bodies would find me. I would weaken the human enough for possession, although I would never take one for myself. I saw possessions as a weakness. Demons were parasites that craved human emotions.” Donovan pulled in a deep breath before continuing, his eyes roaming Kate’s features for betrayals of fear or ange
r or sadness. He found nothing.
“When the treaty was formed, I hid where no one would find me. I was afraid that I would attempt to rage wars, that I would expose my true identity. You see, demons cling to life because there is nothing for them after death. Humans strive to live fulfilling lives but know that their souls will live on for eternity. I was, and still am, afraid of death.”
Donovan shuddered at the morbid thought, but pressed on, motivated to finish now that he had already begun.
“Somehow, Adriana found me where I hid. When I look back on it, I think that she was running after Kern. You should have seen her back then, Kate. Adriana was wild, beautiful, free, and smart. She still is all those things, but when you’re a man, and you truly see a woman for the first time, it’s unbelievable.” He smiled to himself, remembering. Then, he leaned back, stretching his back before he continued. He seemed to want to stay in that moment, the moment where he was saved. When he continued, the small smile remained on his lips, dancing there as he spoke of Adriana.
“Adriana saved me,” he whispered. “Believe me, I was resistant at first. I fought her and told her she was insane. I blamed her for my misery and hatred. I hated her for thinking that humans were something to envy.” Donovan laughed, embarrassed by his words, and ran his hands through his hair as his cheeks turned a