EMBER IN DARKNESS Chapter13 (Demons)

My eyes widened and I slowly shook my head. Reading those things will turn him into this scary, violent person.
“If you don’t read it, I will be turning into a vampire…and I will kill you.” He tore his shirt and wiped the bloodstains off the marks.
Left without a choice, I read the words engraved on his chest. “Kryl tas…” he began to heave, closed his eyes and continued taking in deep breaths. Even though I my brain refused to read the final word, I went on anyway. Read it or not, things will be screwed up…”valtmyr…” I squeaked. River growled slowly; his breathing became deeper until he appeared to be sleeping.
Of all circumstances to lose consciousness, this certainly isn’t one.
“Wake up. Don’t scare me.” I grabbed his collar and continuously tried to shake him out of unconsciousness.
Please don’t be a vampire when you wake up. I chanted while feeling for his skin’s warmth.
Well, it’s still warm.
“Coward.” He muttered. I gulped at the deep sound of his voice.
Even in the dark, I could see his eyes-almost clear, but not as clear as before as I am still unable to see the bloodspots on his iris. Is that what happens? When I read those things on him, they become black or clear…yet, sometimes, when he freaks out, even his eyeballs turn black.
There’s just one occasion where those eyes turned clear. I felt his strength during that time, but now, it’s different. There’s a static charge of energy exploding on his skin completely unavoidable to the senses.
He slowly stood up while I continued making a fool out of myself just by staring. He gives me this weird feeling every time he looks, and I always respond the same way, desperately trying to stop myself from stumbling into awkward situations.
“Out.” He ordered, pushing the door open. Like a mole rat feeling the light for the first time, I hesitantly stepped out, but River had to ruin all the drama and shoved me hard that I literally had to stop myself from stumbling and rolling down the floor of dirt.
Once I regained balance, I took the mirror from my bag and checked on my hair.
Still a reddish-brown.
I wrinkled my nose and threw the small mirror back in my bag. Why am I doing a mirror check anyway?
“River?” I swerved around and sighed at the closed door.
Forget about knocking. He might need some time inside.
The moment I folded my knees to squat on the floor, the door burst open and I, on the other hand, curved into a perfect ball and continued rolling until I hit an empty garbage can.
Thank God it’s empty.
River came out of the dim room and looked at me questioningly.
“Don’t give me that look.” I hissed at him, bringing myself up the second time around.
“I’m sorry.” He approached me, showing off a sincerely apologetic face.
Honestly, I’m not much of a punisher. Though I’d love to kick his foot so he could do a somersault over and above the ground, his sincerity is enough.
River was protecting me after all. Spade is going too far. He didn’t have to hurt River.
“Where the hell are your bruises?!” I exclaimed upon noticing that the cuts and blood are gone.
He just shook his head. Okay, I understand-leave it to the unknown.
“I heard what Spade said.” My voice sounded croaky while the uncomfortable lump made its way to my throat again. Don’
After swallowing and taking a breath, I felt at ease but it was only for a few seconds. After which, what Spade said will hit me again and I’ll be stuck in the same cycle. A few more breaths and I’ll be fine.
BREATHE. I commanded myself when my throat hurt more. Spade’s voice echoed inside my head. She was adopted…
I was adopted.
I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to wipe the whole thing out and then, I recalled River’s tone when he asked Spade why he’d give me up… He was angry and I know he felt sorry for me.
“I can’t forget what happened.” I told River, who is observing me, probably wondering why I’m acting weird. My face tightened a bit. I could feel the tears rising up to my eyes.
A loud BANG bashed our ears and we both looked up at Fathom, who squat over a huge, rusty metal shelf beside the garbage can, grinning.
River immediately got himself into a defensive stance and pulled me behind him.
Fathom’s eyes flared a piercing green color-brighter than Shade’s.
“I will not harm you.” He announced, leaping down, landing on the floor with one hand. “The vampires know about you, Lily.” His voice really freaks me out. How can somebody with a thundery voice pretend to be human?! “If you come with me, we will protect you and your friend, here.” He nodded at River, who looked ready to tear him into pieces.
Did he just say he’ll protect me and my friend? River is a demon, like him. Even the vampires knew it when he was bleeding. I’m definitely missing something here.
“Spade is a human. We will be able to dispense him if he’s a threat to you-“
“NO! Don’t do anything to Spade!“ He’s still my brother and I know I can still fix the misunderstanding between us.
Fathom nodded intently, keeping his green eyes on River. After a few more seconds, he walked away.
“I think he’s a good guy.” I whispered to River when he was out of sight.
“Because they need you to read their seal. They don’t have any other use for you after that.” At least he responded. The last time this happened, River was totally non-conversant.
I took a peek at his eyes-a pure onyx. If I didn’t know better, I’d surely think that he’s a vampire.
“Can we just head straight home? I’ll call Dr. Burke later on.” I asked River. If Spade is not my real brother, does it mean that I’m an adopted child-or is Spade the adopted child?
Heavens, I wasn’t able to find out who killed my parents and now, I have another question inside the bag.
We both started strolling down the halls and warily made our way outside. Maybe Neon will back off, now that they know that River’s a demon…well, that is, it shadows the fact that I could read seals.
“What if I pretend that I can’t read seals anymore?” I asked River as we waited for a cab.
“Then they will kill you, just like what the vampires could do to Spade.” He stretched out his hand to call the empty cab.
What does he mean by that?! Will Neon kill Spade? He couldn’t!
Then, the most absurd idea drilled into my head. “What if they turn him into a vampire?” I nervously asked him.
“Then the demons will be the ones to kill him. Get inside.” He snapped while holding the door open.
He acts constipated ninety-nine percent of the time. I can’t believe that my patience has stretched this far.
I flipped my hair towards his face and crawled inside the cab. How will I know if I’m facing a vampire? Do they have somebody who could read seals as well?
Impossible, it’s easy to see a vampire-when someone has fangs, then it’s positive.
I glanced at River. How lethal could he get? If I finish reading his seals, then how will he control himself?
River blinked and turned to me-I stuck my tongue at him.
Nice move, Lily. That was really mature.
“How did we get here so fast?” I mumbled when I recognized the huge gate. After River paid the bill, I jumped to open the door, unexpectedly sprawling all over his lap.
Good Lord…I froze in ultimate shock. I’m all over him. He didn’t move as well, as mortified as I am. Sticking with the original plan, my sweaty hand reached for the bolt and opened the door…now, how to get out?
Cold sweat formed on every imaginable part of my body as I crawled and squirmed my way on his lap and successfully slid off when my hands reached the road pavement.
Why did I even think of opening that stupid door if he could open of himself?
MORON. I slapped myself thrice on the forehead in extreme embarrassment.
Neither of us uttered a word on the long way to Dr. Burke’s doorstep.
To escape the situation, I turned right, to where the lake and shrine is.
“Where are you going?” He interrupted.
He is so nosy. “To the lake.” I said, speeding off to my most ideal place in the world. As soon as the sparkling water met my sight, I hastily took my shoes off and took a step into the cool water. How does this even stay clean? There’s no sign of moss or any of those gross stuff anywhere.
The smooth pebbles beneath my feet rubbed against each other, giving me a bit of massage. The water felt so refreshing that I wanted to dive in it. I continued to walk and descended further until I noticed a certain spot where the water reached until my neck.
This is so cool. I almost forgot that I’m still wearing my gym shorts…it feels like every negative feeling I had previously is being
“Hey, are you just going to watch me enjoy this?” I called out to him.
He sat on a rock, a few feet away from the lake.
I felt a little dumb to waddle in the water with someone watching.
Hurriedly, I stepped out of the water and stood in front of him…without warning, I sprinkled my hands and splattered the water towards his direction.
“Stop!!!” He madly yelled.
My hands stopped in mid-air. Did I upset him with a few sprinkles?
“Don’t do anything stubborn again.” His eyes smoldered into a pitch black. Grumpily, he snatched my shoes and walked away.
“Sorry.” I muttered under my breath. This guy can’t even take a joke. “River, I just recalled…have you seen Dr. Burke’s ceiling painting? It has you in it, a guy with seals.”
“I know. That’s why I don’t trust him. He’s just after you…” he opened the door and let me inside, then led the way to the library. Beyond the rooms and a hallway of huge paintings was a library.
We went inside.
There are still beads of water rolling down my hair and legs but I didn’t mind. I have a feeling that this will be important.