Mattie chewed on her pencil as she stared at the page in her textbook. She had been reading it for the past fifteen minutes. Augustus rolled his eyes before he leaned over her shoulder to read the same page. He raised an eyebrow as he realized it was a potions book. Mattie almost snapped her pencil in half with her teeth when she felt him lean over her. The young woman gave him a look as he moved to take the book from underneath her arm she had placed on it.
"Do you mind?" she snapped.
"Oh, I don't mind at all," hummed Augustus as he looked through the book. "What a fascinating potions book …"
Mattie's right eye twitched as she realized he hadn't caught her tone of voice. She got out of her chair before snatching the book from his hands. Augustus stared at his hands before he stared at his contractor. The university student snapped the book shut before she placed it on her desk. She took a deep breath before moving to pull her hair into a ponytail. She grabbed the key for her dorm before giving Augustus an annoyed look.
"I'm going for a walk. Do not follow me." She slammed the door behind her.
A distinct click made Augustus aware she had locked her door. A grin broke out on his face before he began to laugh. She had a demon in her home, and she felt as if she had to lock the door. His laughter cut off as he stared at her book. Augustus walked over to it before opening the book to the page she had been on before he took it from her.
"It's been a long time since I've played with potions," he said with a small grin. "She had the kit to make them." He whistled as he moved toward the kitchen with the book in hand. "I'm sure she wouldn't mind if I borrowed it."
He found the kit before opening it. The demon frowned. It had been a basic kit. Nothing of importance was in the box. He sighed before taking out the items. No matter, he would make do with what he had acquired. Augustus hummed as he began to create different potions that could be useful around the dorm room. She shouldn't have to buy it when he could make it.
"Mattie better be appreciative for me saving her money," he said as he swirled a vial full of an unknown substance. "It's an art and craft project. A special one …"
Augustus whistled as he stared at the vials. Each one held a different liquid. They were safe to use as a cleaner around the room. He swirled the one before plopping onto the couch. He stared at the door before propping his chin on his hand. The demon's elbow rested on the arm of the couch.
"She's not back yet."
It had started to get dark, and he knew creatures appeared at night. Demons and ghouls loved the darkness. He watched the door some more before he yawned. It wasn't his problem. Mattie hadn't acknowledged him in their partnership, so he didn't have to feel concerned if she had run off and hadn't come back to the dorm room. A few more minutes of staring at the door commenced before Augustus groaned.
"Fine."
He snapped his fingers as his appearance changed. He did tell her he wouldn't let others see him as a demon. The young man stared into a mirror before snorting. He hadn't changed despite being a demon for a few hundred years. Green eyes stared back at him as he ran a hand through his brown hair.
"Ah. I suppose I can't get rid of my demon energy completely," Augustus mumbled as he stared at the black tips of his hair. "Oh well. It'll have to do for the time being."
The demon opened the door before stepping into the hallway with a grin. He hoped somebody saw him leave her room. She would be extremely upset if she knew he had been seen exiting her room without her exiting it with him. Augustus chuckled. He seemed to enjoy trying to press all of Mattie's buttons. The man clapped his hands to refocus himself.
"Let's go find Mattie."
Mattie had been walking back toward the dorm room. She had taken a train to a neighboring town to shop. She felt better being a town away from her demon companion. She sighed as she readjusted her grip on the grocery bags. Augustus went against everything she studied and knew --- demons didn't exist. She stopped on the sidewalk before sighing. She had been threatened by his shadow. Whatever he did was very real. She began her trek once again back to the dorm room. He hadn't come to look for her.
"He has no reason to look for you," laughed Mattie. "Maybe, he would have left the building. He wouldn't return then realizing he wouldn't get what he wanted."
Talking to herself has always been a bad habit. Others questioned if she was in the right mind. Some days Mattie wasn't sure if she was in the right state of mind. It was those days she agreed with the others that spoke about her. She placed the bags on one hand as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. No. It didn't matter what others thought about her.
"Let's get home," she whispered to herself as she moved toward her dorm. "I'm extremely late."
She hadn't realized the time until she boarded the train. She had left her watch in the room. It was black outside. Mattie frowned as she realized she couldn't see the moon. It should have been full and bright.
"Huh," she said. "Weird."
Mattie bit at her lip as she continued on her walk toward her dorm. The young woman was regretting not taking that shifty taxi when she got off the train. The university student sighed as she realized she was overreacting. Nothing was going to happen to her. It was not the first time she had walked home late at night. She gripped the bags tighter as she continued her trek.
"Giiirrrlll …"
Mattie stiffened as she heard the short, sharp whisper ring through her ears. She looked around as she tried to find the source. She had also looked to see if there were other females around her. Her shoulders relaxed as she saw nobody else was with her. Her mind was playing tricks on her. It was late, and she was tired. It was all there was to it. Mattie sighed as she began to walk with a bit more careful step despite convincing herself it was in her head.
"You're just hearing things, Mattie," she mumbled. "Nothing is out here with you."
"Girrrlll," the voice returned. "I just want to playyy."
A small squeak of surprise escaped Mattie's lips as she began to walk faster. It was at that moment she heard footsteps behind her. The young woman began to walk faster. She had to be close to the dorm. If she could make it through the doors, she'd be safe from whoever was following her. As she began to walk faster, the footsteps also started to come at her faster. Mattie tried to keep her breath even and calm. She was being followed by a creep. She looked over her shoulder, but she didn't see anybody following her. She heard their footsteps.
"I-I'm not that great!" she squeaked. "I'm overworked and n-not paid. I don't have a lot of money!" She needed to get away. Mattie turned her head to look over her shoulder before running into somebody. "Wha?!"
"Mattie!"
A firm grip wrapped around her wrist as Mattie realized she had stopped falling. It took a bit longer before she realized it was Augustus who had stopped her from falling. She frowned. He shouldn't have been there. He helped her to her feet before snarling. He felt the presence around them. He knew it had been going after his contractor.
"What are you doing here?" she asked him.
"Looking for you!" he snapped. "You were gone for too long, and it had gotten dark outside."
"My ppppreeey," the voice returned. "Get awayyyy."
Augustus smirked as his scythe appeared in his hand. He wasn't going to warn them nor threaten them. If the creature were to attack, he would take its head off. Mattie looked around the area, and she couldn't see where the voice was coming. Augustus heard it. She wasn't going crazy. Mattie jumped as she heard Augustus give a low warning growl as his eyes narrowed.
"What? What?" she asked him.
"Get behind me and stay there," he said as he shoved her behind him. "Once a Seeker gets its prey in sight, they will not let it get away."
"Seeker?"
"A type of demon that …" Augustus didn't get to finish his explanation as a creature appeared from the shadows.
"Ew."
A mutant cat appeared before them. It had three tails, two mouths and the skin was beginning to rot off it. Mattie grimaced as she watched its tails twitch in annoyance. The beast was the size of a small horse. She gulped before moving closer to Augustus. He could make fun of her later for it, and she'd been fine with it.
"My prey," it snarled.
"My contractor you lowly beast," snarled Augustus as his eyes glowed red. "Now, don't touch her."
Mattie's eyes widened as she saw Augustus slice the Seeker's head off in a smooth movement. The head disappeared in black flames before the body burst into those same flames. Augustus watched the flames before he grabbed Mattie's wrist then began to pull her along with him.
"Time to go!" he said with a grin on his face. "Seekers hunt in packs which means the others will be appearing soon enough."
"WHAT?!" snapped Mattie. "More are coming?!"
"Of course!" laughed Augustus. "Lower demons tend to form packs. Strength in numbers, right?"
"I, but," she stumbled over her words. "Augustus!"
The demon didn't react to her shouts as he shoved her into the dorm building. He saluted Mattie before his appearance changed to his familiar, demonic one. It was when Mattie realized he had changed his appearance. She made a noise as a pack of the Seekers appeared. They were ugly, but she didn't dare mention it outside her own mind. Her left hand shook as she watched Augustus as he summoned his weapon. It pulsated with a light glow. She made a noise as one moved to try and attack her through the doors. Augustus appeared in front of her before kicking the Seeker back. He snarled as his fangs appeared.
"Did you forget who I am?" he said in a low, venomous tone. "Because I think we should refresh your memory."
A grin appeared on his face as all the Seekers moved to attack him at once. Strength in numbers would take down a singular powerful demon if they weren't the Slayer Demon.
"Too easy," he said before moving to dodge the first few Seekers. "Come on, little demons, try a little harder."
"Our territory," he heard them whisper. "Our pppprey."
Red eyes glowed in the dark as Augustus lifted his scythe. He smiled at them.
"Wrong. This is my territory."
He slammed the bottom of the scythe onto the ground as shadows began to appear despite the light not being bright enough for a shadow to be cast. The Seekers shrieked as shadows impaled them. A few managed to escape Augustus' shadows. They were met with the sharp end of the demon's weapon. It was a blur to Mattie. She couldn't keep up with the demon. Augustus was too fast for the human eye. It ended when he stood in the middle of a rage of black flames. They licked at his skin, but it didn't seem to bother him. His scythe disappeared as he began to head in Mattie's direction. She shivered a bit. The aura he expelled had a strong pressure on it. Red eyes stared at her as he opened the doors. Green eyes graced her presence as he returned to his human appearance. She gave a sigh of relief.
"Well, I feel much better," he chirped. "How about you?"
"If I wasn't afraid, I don't think I'd be able to stand," admitted Mattie. "I've walked back this late plenty of times, and I have never come across such creatures."
"Low ranked demons," he corrected her. "And, they normally don't populate dense cities like this one."
"Ha ha ha ha," she said as she leaned on him. "So, the world is out of whack?"
"I hope not," he squeaked out. "I don't feel like dealing with her."
"Her?"
"Why don't we head to your dorm room?" he asked her as he moved to help her walk.
"I can walk," snapped Mattie.
She moved past him as she rubbed her arm. The hairs were standing. She glanced at Augustus. He really was scary. He smiled as he watched her walk in front of him. She was afraid of him. It was a nice thought, but he didn't want his contractor to be afraid of him. He sighed. This was going to be a lot harder than he anticipated.
"I really don't like being up here," he said.
"Then go to hell," muttered Mattie as she moved to unlock her door.
"I was summoned from there, bookworm. I thought you were smart."
"Sleep in the hallway, you ass," she said before slamming the door in his face.
Augustus blinked as he processed what had happened before he laughed. Alright. She wasn't as afraid of him as he thought. It was good to know at the very least. He looked in one direction of the hallway before looking in the other direction. He knocked on the door.
"Hey, Mattie, can I come in?"
The door opened for a pillow and a blanket to be thrown in his face. He made a noise as he caught both of them. He stared at the items before staring at the door. She had it cracked open to give him a glare.
"Sleep in the hallway, stupid demon."
He winced as the door closed. He rubbed his cheek before sighing. She was so moody. He saved her life, and she kicked him in the hallway.
"No appreciation for all my hard work."
He moved to make his makeshift bed before laying on it. He stares at the ceiling before sighing. He frowned a bit. The Seekers shouldn't have been in the city. He needed to make sure no other demons invaded near the university and the dorm building. They were his territory. He closed his eyes. Augustus decided to worry about it in the morning.