My friend, Demise

Chapter 26

Demise laid on the ground with his legs up, kicking them back and forth as the clock ticked mercilessly in the background.

I moved to grab it but he glared at me. "Don't break things that aren't yours."

"It won't shut up!"

"Here." He stood up and pulled the clock from my hands, easily pulling out the batteries so it would stop making noise. "Better?"

"Yeah, thanks."

"I'm going out to smoke, so don't cause trouble."

"Since when do you smoke?"

"Since recently." He pulled a pack of cigarettes form his pocket and took one out. I quickly snatched the box from him.

"You don't get to smoke, it's bad for you. I forbid it!" I watched him light the end of his cigarette and hold it to his lips.

"Forbid this." He blew the smoke in my face and headed out the door. "Don't wait up."

He left me alone, making me sigh and sit down. "He's gonna kill himself if he's not careful."

"Probably." A familiar voice rang in my ear. I immediately screamed and fell off of the bed, backing away until my back hit the wall. Once it did, I opened my eyes and saw Caine sitting on the bed with a smile.

"How did you get in here so quietly?!"

"Demise handed me the key card on my way to the door." He crossed his legs and pulled the hair tie from his bun. Long blonde hair fell over his shoulders, his pale blue eyes piercing through my own. "Said you took his cigarettes and asked me to buy more."

"Don't buy him that stuff."

"I bought him candy cigars. He knows I don't approve of things like that."

"Why are you here?"

"I was hoping you would already know. You remember when you told me some people have been following Demise?"

"Yeah, in the car."

"They're outside. Demise doesn't smoke and can't stand the smell. I would only see my best friend holding a cigarette if it was for the sake of someone he cared about."

"You're saying it was an excuse to go outside?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying. I called the police to take care of the situation."

"How do you know he won't get arrested for going to fight them?!" I quickly stood up and headed for the food. Caine grabbed my wrist tightly. Maybe a little too tight. "Hey! Get off-

"Because I took this." He pulled a gun from beneath his thigh and frowned guiltily.

"He could die!"

"He'll be okay. I know him."

"Maybe, but I love him. I'm not letting him get hurt."

"I just don't want him in prison, okay?"

"You left him alone! That's what's wrong. Not taking his gun or being mad at him for smoking, it's that you left him alone!" I yanked my arm from him and ran out to the elevator, heading his feet following close behind. It didn't take long to get outside and search all around the building for him. "Demise!"

I turned the corner and felt Caine grab my arm. "Stop."

"But-

"Be quiet." He held a hand over my mouth and pulled my back against his chest. I could hear arguing around the corner but didn't think much of it until something metal hit the ground and Demise's voice cut off. I began to struggle against Criane but he held me tighter than expected.

Footsteps began to walk in our direction. "Azriel why did you- ." Demise peeked over the corner and glared at me. "Oh. Craine."

"You're bleeding!" I bit Craine's hand to make him let go and grabbed Demise by the collar, holding a hand over the stab wound in his stomach. He laughed and pushed it away.

"I'm fine."

"What happened to you?"

Craine was paying more attention to the car speeding off then our conversation. "I got stabbed."

"You say that like it happens all the time, that's not fine!"

"....shit happens."

"Shit does not happen!"

"I'll patch him up, let's go inside." Caine began to walk back to the entrance, both of us following behind. Halfway there, Demise hit the concrete heavily.

"Demise-"

"Don't start that shit, I said I'm fine!" He pushed himself up to his knees and coughed a bit. "I'll meet you two upstairs."

"No." I helped him stand, to which he pushed me off of him and pulled out a black switchblade. He flipped it open and held it beneath my chin.

"I said I was fine....so just cut it out."

"I'm worried about you."

"If you're worried then leave me alone! I want to be alone right now, okay? Can both of you just go away?"

"Let me fix your injuries." Caine stared at me while talking to Demiss, his expression empty. "Then I'll take Azriel to my place for a few hours."

"...fine."

"Get your knife away from him."