My stomach growled. I had skipped breakfast, trying to avoid another awkward conversation with Marsha. My adoptive mother. My adoptive dad, Brent, is out of town on a business trip. He's supposed to be back in a couple weeks.
I didn't really care if they weren't here or they were. Yeah, they gave me a roof over my head and food. I still don't really care. Call me selfish, call me brutal, call me whatever. I am who I am. And I am Darius, a kid who sits in the back of the cafeteria alone to not bother anyone. Or more likely hurt anyone. But the school bullies don't ever get the point, now, do they?
Yes, I could have gotten lunch, but I really don't like the servings they have here. So I passed.
I sighed and looked around, ignoring the rumbling in the pit of my stomach. My thoughts mainly consumed itself on the fact I didn't get to watch the news this morning. I had slept in. And I knew if I didn't leave immediately, mom would ask me if I was okay with the suicide that happened last night. Obviously I'm fine with it, it's ID card is stashed in my backpack pocket. Marsha never goes in my room, she liked giving privacy. I don't have siblings.. I have a blood related uncle who meets me every Christmas to tell me how sorry he was that his sister didn't want me. I'm fine with that. She was probably going to be a terrible mother anyways.
I don't even want to know who my biological father is, that's a whole another conversation.
Last night, I saw more than a dead body, a body starting to go cold from the freezing point of death.
I wish I had got to it before they did. But that would also put me at the scene of the crime and I really don't like talking to people about where I am and where I have been.
Two hands slammed down on the lunch table in front of me. I looked up, meeting eyes with the one and only Riley and his little side kick Carter. Who the hell do these guys ever think they are. They've been the ones to pick on me for the three years I have going to this school. The last school I was at led me to fighting everyone who tried to come near me. Or nonetheless glare at them until I saw what they looked like in a coffin. Sometimes I wished I was the one to put them there.. but that wouldn't ever happen. Not unless I keep my control and don't let the dam break.
"What do you want, Riley?" I asked, Drako growling and whispering things inside my head. Sometimes I really did want to take his advice. And then other times it was best to try and forget he was even there.
Riley scoffed and Carter threw away their empty trays in the mean time, "Why so quick to think I want something? I was just going to ask if you wanted to come over later. Or just see me after school. We have something of yours and I think you might want it back." Riley chuckled and left me in curiosity, "Well, I guess it's the other way around. You're gonna want this." He said and snickered to himself before walking away, back to the table with most the females and jocks. I never understood him.
My finger tapped on the table quickly. What could he have that I would be eager to get back? I don't really care for anything so much..
they were meddlesome boys who only teased other kids younger or their age for certain thrills it gave them. But, I searched for more thrilling things.. Not sex. Not money. I have a lust for blood. Or just the sight of drawing it. I could care less for my own, but if I could make someone else bleed. That was a whole new scenario.
☽ ☥ ☾
The rest of the day went by faster than I expected.
It was cold, pouring rain, and I happened to find myself waiting outside the school for the dumbass Riley. With another sigh, I leaned my head back against the wet, brick, school wall. School had let out a few minutes ago and I thought that whatever Riley had, it had to of been something good. Considering he knows I don't give two craps about anything else he's taken. Then suddenly, I thought of something.
My backpack was alone in the classroom and Riley showed up late to the cafeteria. I slipped my backpack off my shoulder and looked in the side pocket under the random paper I had stashed. The ID was gone.
I knew it was a bad idea to bring it here, but I really couldn't trust Marsha not doing laundry and taking most clothes. I had nowhere to stash it but in coat pockets. I could have hid it in my drawer, but I also couldn't be sure she wouldn't have went in and looked for a supply she may need. My room isn't very secure in the first place.
I could have hid it under the floorboards...
That's what I would do.
But for now, I had to deal with Riley.
"So, you really did wait? Must have figured out what it was." He grinned idiotically while I put my backpack back on my back.
I looked him up and down but didn't see a sign of him carrying it on him unless it was in his pant pockets or jacket.
Pursing my lips and walking around the corner of the school where I knew most kids wouldn't go, considering school's let out. They all want to get home.
"Where are you going?" He followed behind me.
I heard Drako whisper small threats, and a mischievous grin grew on my face.
No.
You can't let that side show. That's for your own pleasure, Darius.
I kept a part of me locked away for others to never see or meet. I was selfish and wanted it for myself. But I was also selfless and didn't want anyone else being hurt by it. It would torcher you, carve out your insides, then play fetch with its dog with them. Maybe even a scavenger hunt for the mice.
I watched my breath still in the air, it was dark on this side of the school and Riley had no idea what he was walking into.
Drako's whispering stopped and my hearing cut out. He was out once again..
I wondered if Riley had a demon. I wonder if Riley made a pact with his demon or was going to let it consume him like the woman did last night.
I wonder..
My feet stopped moving, my eyes darting straight ahead. Drako stood in the shadows of the tree's, watching, and lurking. But most importantly, waiting.
There has been multiple times where sociopaths have made rules on how to contain themselves. And I have took some of their rules for my own.
Say something nice to them if you want to hurt someone or if you're thinking bad about them.
Don't go near animal's, keep your distance from them.
If I let the other part of me out; try not to kill.
If I lust for the thrill of blood, distract myself.
When someone is threatening me walk away.
If I find myself watching someone for too long never meet their eyes and stay out of their sight until I get a grip.
I used to have a rule for calling dead people "it" but that's out the door now. I'll try and rebuild it sometime, just not anytime now.
And I happen to of just made a new rule;
If someone has something important of yours, get it back as soon as possible without showing who you really are.
Riley clicked his tongue and shook his head, "You really are a freak of nature." He spoke.
My hearing was back, and Drako had the same idea I had. I may not be able to hear him perfectly, or barely see him, but he is a part of me. I know what he wants and he knows what I want. And right now, we both had the same idea on how to get it.
"Yeah, uhm,.. sorry about that.." I whispered, putting a hand on my temples, facing back towards Riley and away from my shadow of a demon.
Riley lifted an eyebrow and dug in his back pocket, "Yeah, yeah. But hey, apparently Angelica digs that type of stuff." He pulled out the ID, I could see it through my fingers. With a hum and nod, I looked up at him.
"And what am I supposed to do about her?" I asked.
Angelica was the straight brown haired, blue eyed, bubbly, girl in my first and third period.
I kept tabs on her even though it broke my sixth rule, yeah, but I needed something to focus on.
I didn't have any friends, I didn't ever really think of family, I basically only helped out at a camp on random days in the summer and around school close to this time.
And I only did those things so I didn't have to be around my family. I could stay out of sight and not get into any trouble with others.
And the fact I work at a church cools Marsha's nerves. I used to talk to myself so much she thought I was possessed at one time. Wasn't fun going through a baptism because no one believed you. Now I just act as if I'm listening when I'm actually thinking of how pretty everyone's faces would look smeared with their own crimson red blood.
No.
Stop thinking like that, Darius. Get a grip!
"Well, for one; I want you to stop talking to her." I already don't talk to her. I watch her when she's not looking and I secretly follow her home sometimes. But I haven't ever spoke to her. Not face to face at least. Or over a device.
"And two, I don't want to see you even looking at her. She says she sees you glancing every now and then and she likes it because she knows you're into her. Honestly, I don't know what to believe. But you better shut it down." Riley talked as if he was going to go mad if I didn't, and it led me to wonder. Would Riley actually go mad if I took her away from him? Would that even be good enough pay back?
"Maybe you should get a knife and take a closer look at what he would break down on inside that head of his..." Drako growled out, his voice rough like sandpaper, it was enough to send shivers down my spine and make goosebumps rise on my skin. It felt as if he was right in my ear. And what I didn't notice, is that he was.
Standing right behind me, a few inches taller than me, was a demon that started to show himself in the darkness of night.
"Are you even listening to me?" Riley asked.
Drake's plan was a good one, but I was disobeying one of my rules just by thinking that. It was a no go.
"Hey! Freak! Look at me when I'm talking to you!" Riley shouted, catching my attention from Riley's shadow off the wall. My mind ran around in circles. There was so many ways I could make him give me back that ID but I knew he was waiting to threaten me. And I was ready to listen to it.
"M'kay." My eyes scanned over his face. My bland response making the blond male in front of me scoff.
He shook his head, "How did you even get this?" He asked, "Isn't this the dead girls ID?"
Yes.
"She was all over the news."
I know.
"Did you kill her?"
I could have.
"No." I said.
I killed her demon.
Drako stepped closer. I could see the particals from his shadow in the corner of my eye.
Why did he hide himself?
Does he not have a human looking form yet?
Does he have to kill for a humans form?
"What are you even thinking right now, you Psycho Brat?" The boy said.
"I like your jacket. It fits you well." If he were to ask again, I don't know if I could contain the real words eating at me; wanting to spill from my lips.
"What? I asked you a question!" He said, "Don't change the subject!" His hand clenched around the card, my eyes watching his every move.
"Well, if you really want to know.." I started, Drako whispering to continue.
I paused.
Rule one.
"I'm sorry." It wasn't sincere, "I just remembered how I didn't do my homework. Would you want me to do yours for you?" I asked. I knew how to put on that similar real fake smile everyone gets from me. The exact same one every. single. time.
"What? No!" Riley shouted and stomped closer, closing the big gap between us with only a couple feet left.
"Listen," He started, "I just don't want you talking to her. Got it? I don't care how you got this ID or where it even came from. You're a freak of nature and I really don't want to be caught talking to you. So here, take it. Just know, that next time, I will go to the police before I even glance your way." Riley's words snapped something inside of me. Or maybe it wasn't me.
I smiled and grabbed the card he held out. Yep, this was the woman's ID.
Before Riley could walk away, I felt the presence of Drako become more dark, more ominous. And Riley could feel it too. I could tell by the look on his face, how it contorted from satisfaction to unsteady in less than five seconds.
"Why were you meddling in my backpack?" I asked, my tone sweet; the complete opposite of my mind.
Riley rolled his eyes and shook his head, about to walk away, I grabbed his wrist. Riley jumped and looked back, his eyes widening, "Why did you snoop in my personal space, Riley?" I asked.
To me, my voice sounded fine, but I heard an echo of it that sounded quite deep. Sort of gravelly. As if not only I said it.
Drako was using me. Talking through me as I did the same. He was working with me instead of me being the bait, we did it together.
"I-I.." Riley started, but his eyes went from mine to the shadow behind me. Of course he couldn't see Drako, but the blue flame I saw behind his eyes showed that it wasn't only him seeing. So, he could see Drako..
Interesting..
"Freak! I was only looking for something to threaten you with. Maybe you shouldn't of had a dead girls ID card! Get your hands off me!" He shouted and knocked my hand off his arm, quickly walking away. It was dark now. As Riley went around the corner, I saw a shadow figure of a human look back with dark blue flames for eyes. The look was pure evil, a grin, and a glare. I could tell it was going to take over when it got the chance. If Riley gave it a chance.
Riley had a demon. Seems as if I might need to take care of it soon also if it tended to take control.
I didn't understand how I could see demons and everyone else couldn't unless they were looking through their demons eyes. And you can only look through your demons eyes if you have bonded with them and made peace. Obviously those demons weren't a threat unless they took over the human themselves. But I could see them with my naked eye. I didn't need to look through Drako's eyes or even ask him.
Me and Drako didn't have a bond. Barely even a string attached. But if we were going to start doing things together, it would be best if we at least try to understand each other more that what we see at first.
I think Drako is a lonely demon that strives to be stronger.
And he probably sees me as a lonely human who strives to be alone.
But we both want certain things, and we could both get those things if we tried and tried together.
I wanted to win. I wanted to own the strongest demon now that I knew it was possible. I wanted to be secret and other people to look at me as if I was dirt when I looked at them like they were the ants building my castle.
Drako was what I wanted, and even though he knows that, he hasn't objected against it yet. So, maybe Drako liked the idea. Obviously things will change as we went on. Drako would use me as he wished; as long as it kept us hidden. And I'd use him as I wished; as long as it kept us hidden.
But there was stepping stones to that. We had to collect demon souls, or whatever Drako took last time that made him a little more powerful, and keep it up.
There was so many things we had to build up to.
And I had multiple questions with no answers. And I wouldn't get my answers until I made Drako stronger. And I can't make Drako stronger unless I find out a way to get others demons to control their humans so we could take them away and steal what we needed, leaving the human bland and boring.
We needed to kill the demons.
I didn't care if demons were more powerful than I am, because I had something a little more stronger. I had a path I needed to follow. And now that the liquid, crimson red, road was laid out with black rose petals. I won't let anyone get in my way. Not even myself.
☽ ☥ ☾
I walked home, wondering how other demons got stronger. Was it like Drako did, or did they have different methods? Did they get stronger by time? If the person has a strong hate for someone would the demon be as strong as their hate?
Drako grumbled in my head. I know, I'm giving myself a headache too.
Each step made a new imprint in the bloody water under my feet, then the rain, that steadily fell, covered it up all over again as if it wasn't there.
That was how I needed to do everything. Seamlessly, as if I wasn't there at all. As if it never happened. And my passion for these new thoughts corrupting my mind, made Drako stronger, and I didn't even know about it until his whispering turned into cheers. He really was like a little kid at times. And I knew I couldn't get attached to him, and I knew it would be hard to get attached. But I couldn't because if Drako were to betray me, I wouldn't be hurt. I would more so be back to how I was a month ago. When I was fifteen.
I huffed and entered my house, "Welcome home, Darlin'!" Marsha yelled from the living room.
Here we go.
"Got home a little later then yesterday. Go dry off, hunny." Her country accent was the main focus in her words. I nodded and took the opportunity to run up to my room and hide the ID in the floorboards, change clothes, and dry my hair again. My backpack was soaked. I'll deal with it later.
I heard Marsha call me down again, and I grumbled under my breath. I really didn't want to talk about this thing who suicided. I mean, I didn't kill it, but I know how Marsha is.
I stepped down from the stairs and went into the living room, my adoptive mother was sitting on the couch, watching the late evening news, as usual. I loved watching the news, but now, I was just anxious.
"Did you hear about Kristine Johnson?"
The dead thing that killed itself? Yeah.
"What? No." A white lie.
"She was found deceased last night.. and I know how you get when you hear about a random death outside of town. But this one was in town, are you okay?" She asked.
I didn't "get like" anything. I was intrigued. I liked watching about serial killers and reading about death. It was just how I was. I needed something to keep me on the edge of sanity. Didn't want to fall just yet.
"I'm fine. It's just odd that it was in town." Really odd, why did its demon kill its owner?
Did it really not want to deal with it's baggage.
Drako chuckled inside of my head, appearing in the corner of the room, the darkest spot, where the TV light didn't reach.
"It was.. they said she jumped from her hotel's roof.." Marsha muttered, her eyes tearing up. Why was she getting so emotional over a strangers death?
The NEWS came back on from its commercial break, and what caught my attention was the line "Her ID was missing and her husband seemed to also be murdered in the bedroom.." So, the demon killed the woman and the husband?
Or maybe the demon pushed her to where she killed the husband and she killed herself out of guilt..
That was when the demon took the opportunity to get the ID and be free.
Can demons not kill their owners?
Drako growled loudly in my head. Did I just hit a nerve?
Another growl.
I guess, I did.