"At last!" Natesighed and joined us.
"Nate." said Dylan with a frown. "Can you tell me what's all this about?"
Nate's wings flopped and his face had sorry written all over it. He was saying with a contrite voice. "I didn't mean to harm you. I didn't know that those god jerks would--"
"Oh, you know." Dylan said.
"Alright! I knew. I thought I could make Leigh falling for you by using them!" Nate said with a touch of hopelessness. "But I didn't know that you'd go as far as venturing into the fire and worse!, healing her!" He pointed at me.
Wait, what?
"She was about to be grilled!" Dylan protested. "It's my duty! I had to!"
Oh, so it was the duty to our contract. Weirdly, I felt a bit down.
"Dylan," Nate lowered his voice so that now only Dylan and I could hear. "you know that we couldn't tolerate the fire and our power's not for healing, we���ll lose all of it. We'll die."
"But I couldn't stand¾seeing Leigh dies." Dylan said and I was suddenly fetched from the low.
"But I forgive you Leigh." Nate turned to me. "Since you love Dylan and you gave him your perfect red soul. It'd be better if this guy just took the whole--"
"Not so fast Nate." Dylan interjected the yellow eyes demon taking the attention back at him again while I stood stunning and blushing slightly at what Nate had just said. How did he know I-I love--?
"Okay, okay." Nate seemed restless. "Sorry for killing one of your friends. But I get rid of her for Leigh. She wanted Leigh dead."
"I understand that." Dylan said and looked at Jessie's body sadly. "There's no help when one make a contract with human and was forced to do such things."
"Right!" Nate lighted up a bit. "And it's Jess who forced me to work with those god jerks!" Dylan's face fell a bit at the mention of the gods.
Dale's voice broke the conversation like a thunderbolt. He had a knot on his brows. "Leigh, I think you owe me an explanation. What's this? What the hell exactly are you Ziarre?"
His face showed scarcely fear or panic, but rather temper. Before I could explain anything to him, I felt like there's something even more important than the explanation I owed. I blinked and goggled at Dale turning my brain on full capacity.
I realized then gasped. Eyes grew larger and turned to Nate. "Oh no!"
I had just remembered that Nate changed into his demon form not long ago after Jessie's contract end. And Dale was here witnessed the entire incident. What would become of these two? They are going to have a contract? That demon, Nate, is going to kill him!
Nate merely smiled viciously. "Don't worry Leigh. It isn't him."
"But who could?--" If it wasn't Dale, who else could it be?
Nate jumped at the bushes and the DW s scattered in every direction like mice. Don Winter was among them, and was the quickest in running despite his size. Nate came out later with one of them in his clasp. The poor guy was as white as his jumper.
"Now I've just HELPED you out of that dim-witted ex-boss." The demon sneered. "How would you like to return me?"
A blazing yellow light radiated on both forehead, of Nate and the poor guy. Just like Dylan and me at the time. As soon as the mark was curved, the ex-member of the DW's light brown irises moved upward and disappeared behind the lids, spit out his pure white soul. I couldn't keep my hand still seeing the soul-sucking process proceeded in front of my own eyes.
"Do something Dylan!"
"I'm sorry Leigh. I cannot intrude in other demons' contracts. It's the rule." Dylan said and as if realizing something he groaned, "Ah, I should have known! That's why there're so many heart attack here right Nate?"
Nate gave him a thump-up. I watched in dismay at the helpless guy getting his soul sucked out, realizing with horror what Dylan meant at the same time. Soon there was only a lifeless body clinging onto the demon's clutches.
As the last glint of the soul sank deeper into the yellow-eyes demon's mouth, Nate folded back his fully-healed wings and turned completely into human after the delicious teatime. "Thanks for the treat!" Licking his lips, he skidded pass Dale, looking hungry and greedy. I was panicked and had to rush to Dale. Being sandwiched by the yellow eyes demon and my dear friend, I put out my hands to cover Dale's eyes.
"Relax." Nate grinned. "I'm human now, you see?"
I eyeballed Nate suspiciously. This demon was too dangerous. I was sure, especially after seeing him eating the soul alive two times in a row.
Nate laughed. "I'm not going to eat him now. I'm in an exceptionally good mood 'caaause…."
The naughty demon sang, skipping toward his cousin joyfully, clasping his hands around Dylan's shoulder. "We've just got the almost…no actually most powerful demon." And he cackled uproariously. "Demons are invincible now. Everything goes according to our plan."
"Not that plan again." Dylan groaned slightly.
"Sorry Dylan." Nate said understandingly. "You know I can't defy your dad."
"What about the gods?" asked Dylan worrily.
"Not yet. But I doubt it wouldn't be long before they notice the death rate."
Sirens broke the demons' conversation. Both Dale and I jumped at the noises too. Then, Dale muttered. "It's the 911!"
Dylan did not say another word as he took out his wings, came to me and carried me up ignoring the protest going on by Dale who shouted and hanging on to my hand. He slipped and the demon took flight into the broad azure sky.
I looked intently down below to the green land. The height did not bother me as much as the worries for Dale whether he would be accused of murder by the policemen or eaten by Nate, and the shyness that had swept all over my redden face. The escalation of the color concentration went on every time I caught his smell. After that kiss, I lost the ability to talk Dylan.
"Don't worry. Carter would be alright. They would only detect heart attack form the bodies." He whispered to me as if reading my mind then gave me the sweetest smile.
I shied away avoiding his stares. My face was now as red as ripe tomatoes. My heart pumped more blood than usual and it felt like I would need more. I ran my brain at full capacity thinking of something…anything!...just say anything to wave off this awkwardness.
"Why-why is my soul red?" I said at last with some difficulty, gasping a bit. "Is-is there something wrong with…with me?"
His mouth curved up. He kept looking at me and snickered. It's like he's having some fun. "What's so funny?" I finally could stand no more.
"It's because-" He tried to suppress a smile. "You love me."
That's the worse topic ever! My face was so numb and red that if you prick it with a needle now, it would surely bleed without giving me any tinge of pain, like a balloon filled with red liquid.
Dylan went on explaining. "Demons will get infinite power consuming red soul. They won't need any more souls for the rest of their lives." He said it so care-freely, undisturbed by the touchy subject that's getting on my nerve. "It's the soul of the contractor who's fallen in love with their demon. It is…was a legend. I'd never thought it's real. It's rare for human to fall in love with creature like us."
He said 'Love' and repeated that 'I love him' so many times that I nearly passed out. I mean-you don't have to emphasize it you know. It's embarrassing especially when Dylan's the one saying it! The word 'Love' aroused me but also spooked me. It tickled my brain and especially heart. Just like its taste that coated and blended in my soul. The moment I thought that this sure is an absolute happiness, a second later fear replaces. And before I could even start to scare, sadness comes. Love, in my experiences, was hopelessness and pain. I was now not sure if falling in love was the right thing.
Unable to respond to Dylan, I looked away. Seeing the vast blue ocean approached, I temporarily forgot the muddling thoughts. "What are we doing here?"
We landed on the shore and Dylan folded up his wings. The wings went under the skin of his back and soon disappeared. He walked straight toward the sea.
"Where are you going Dylan?" I called out after him while Nate landed next to me doing the same with his own wings.
My demon took my hand. "I'm going home for a while. Have to talk to dad about that war. You'll miss me?"
What war?
I didn't get a chance to ask as Dylan continued "I'm not going to let it happen." Dylan said sternly. "For you."
"Huh?" For me?
"Oh come on bro!" Nate complained. "This war controls the fate of our demons' clan! We can eat freely after we win! And I'll make those gods--"
While Nate went on endlessly with his dream, Dylan looked me in the eyes and my heart went wild again. "That is why. I cannot let demons destroy your kinds. This is your world. You need your people."
I gave him a bashful grin. "Thank you."
Dylan smiled. "I know you don't like it but Nate will look after you while I'm away. I promise I'll be back in a few days."
I was about to protest that I can look after myself. But when I heard that he's going to be away for a few days, my heart sank. Unknowingly, I tightened my grip to his hand.
Dylan kissed on my cheek before turning to the sea again. The heat spread from that kissing point to all over my face. Like an anesthetic, I was bewitched into a stone statue.
I watched my demon walked away venturing further and further into the sea. When the kiss effect was gone, my demon had already vanished, sinking deep under the inky blue velvet carpet.
Feeling like something was not right, I shouted after him and began to follow.
"Dylan!" But Nate caught me before my toe could get wet.
"Let me go Nate!" I said; voice almost loud. "He's drowning!!"
"Relax. He's fine."
"But--!"
"He's just going home." Nate said dully.
"But isn't he supposed to go under the ground?" Pointing to the ground, I looked at Nate, eyes widen with confusion. "Or back into the forest?"
"No, because Dylan lives under the sea." Nate answered plainly and yawned.
I was silent for a while. "Under the sea….?!" Like the little mermaid? "Don't you guys…except for those forest demons, live in hell?"
The yellow-eyed demon laughed. "Well, yes. Some of us do live in 'hell'. But it depends on what types of demons you are talking about. Like those forest demons, they live in the forest right?" I nodded. "And me, I'm a bird demon. So I live up in the sky among black clouds."
"But Dylan has wings too!" I countered, remembered that pair of shiny black-feathered wings very well.
"He's half. His mother's in our family, was a bird demon.��� Nate said. "His dad is the sea demon."
"You mean a sea monster?!" I blurted out.
Nate tried to clap his hands on my mouth, half whispered. "Be quiet!!! It's too close to the sea. He'll hear you!!"
"Is he that scary?" I said, voice lowered as well.
"He rules the demons of the Ocean."
I was speechless. It added to my wonder if falling in love with Dylan was really the right thing. Ruler of the Pacific Ocean's son was probably too much to ask for. I was miles and miles out of his league, couldn't match him in every way.
I clasped my hand on the cheek. The lingering energy from the kiss made it irresistible for me to forget. The fresh wind wafted the sea smell inland giving me a little goose flesh. I'd just realized it's the same as Dylan's smell.
Looking out to the vast majestic water with the ray of light sheening on the surface like diamond crowns, I felt like floating and decided to drop all the worries curling inside. The freedom and feelings toward Dylan held me high that even the local news about heart-attacked two teenagers dead near the burnt abandoned warehouse on TV the next day couldn't pull me down.
I'll be waiting until he comes back.
For now, I cannot deny this feeling.
I'm in love.