Fallen

5

     It was already late and the streets were busy as I looked for where the screaming had come from. My hearing may have been better than any human's, but the screams were loud enough that anyone near by should have heard. The fact that I found the source with no mortal there to offer help disgusted me.
     At the end of a dark, dead end alley I found three demons in human form standing over a man. He was beaten badly, but still fighting for his life. Something I knew from experience made the hunt all the more enjoyable for demons.
     Pulling my blades from my boots I twirl them through my fingers before approaching. "Why don't you mess with someone that's going to give you more of a fight?" I taunted. They all spun to face me. Eyes glowing red around their all black irises. Lesser demons.
     "Look at this one. She's been plucked." The one on the right hissed, a serpents tongue flicked out between its teeth. Without thinking twice I threw one of my blades and watched it sink into it's chest. It let out an angry howl before vanishing into dust.
     "Do either of you have anything else stupid to say?" I goaded. The demon on the right growled before charging me. It met my second blade mid air. He fell on top of me seconds before disinteresting. It wasn't fast enough to save me from a harsh swipe of its talons unfortunately.
     Gritting my teeth as the burn pain I climbed back to my feet swiftly and brushed myself. How was I going to explain the three deep slashes in my collar bone later? Bastard. If I was lucky it would leave minimal scaring.
     Pained grunts brought my attention back to the victim of the monsters. He had propped himself up against the wall and was staring at me in a mix of awe and terror. Lovely. Another mind I'd have to erase.
     The third demon had already vanished. Leaving just me and the mortal. Coward.

     My shoes crunched on the sand like substance left on the ground. The only indication the monsters had been here. If only my small blades were enough to permanently erase them from existence. They would reform sooner or later back in the pits of hell.

     The man watched me, ready for the attack he thought was coming. "I have no relations with those men. I swear." He vowed, as if his life depended on it.

     Crouching down in front of him I sighed. From what I could see he wasn't harmed as bad as I thought. Some scrapes and bruises, probably a broken nose from the looks of it and a nice gash on the side of his face from where it must have hit the concrete. 

     "I believe you." I whispered softly.

     "I won't tell anyone anything, I promise." He nearly whimpered. His fear had his heart racing. I hated what I had to do, but it was necessary to keep him off the demons radar. Fear lived in the hearts of humans and that is what fed them. 

     Caressing his face gently, I smiled when he met my gaze. His crystal blue eyes full of fear. "It's alright now." I hummed, pulling on the little bits of power I had left. I could feel it in my head and hear it in my voice. A warm, safe sensation pouring our of me and into the man.

     "Your eyes.." he mumbled reaching up to touch my face, but I brushed his hand away.

     "That's not important right now. You need listen to me carefully." I spoke watching as he became still, listening to everything  I said. "I am going to take you home. You will forget about everything you saw tonight. You got into a stupid fight with some drunk guys before the police showed up and broke it up. Do you understand?" He nodded, eyes blank. "Good. Now take my hand and let's get you home."

     I pulled him to his feet and kept my arm around his middle to steady him. His adrenaline would ware off soon and I needed to have him back before then or it would take much longer with him limping back. I needed to hunt the third demon before the sun came up and destroyed the trail.

     His apartment was only a few blocks away, but when I walked him to his door I felt a sense of deja vu. "Get inside and lock the door. Make sure your windows are locked and do not answer your door for anyone until morning. Got it?"

     "What about you? You're hurt."

     Glancing down, I grimaced. I'd forgotten about the claw marks across my chest. They were healing, but there was still dried blood staining my dress. I would need to clean up before I drew too much attention. "It's only a scratch. I'll be fine.  You won't remember me when I leave here tonight. You got into a scuffle after one too many drinks. After the police broke up the fight you stumbled your way home." I instructed, channeling as much persuasion into the order. Thinking back it had been stupidly easy to do this before banishment. I didn't even have to think about it. Now it took  all my concentration to get one mortal to listen.

     "What are you talking about?" He asked, eyebrow raised. "You're not making any sense. Maybe you hit your head when that guy attacked you."

     "Doesn't matter. I do have one favor to ask before I leave."

     Thankfully, having him go inside and bring me a flannel took little effort. He handed it to me without anymore questions, before closing the door behind him. I waited until I heard the lock turn before I headed back out to hunt.