TIME AFTER TIME

duo.

TWO:
"Mist and Light"

SCARLET.

I've never been one to turn down the opportunity for another round. Whether it be sex, drinks, or, in this case, fighting, I always managed to rally. But Mom seems Hell-Bent on getting us out of the house so I don't try to convince her to let us stay and fight. That and Sleeping Beauty seemed to have our enemies handled. Plus, I still had a headache.

The spell we recited together turned the attic window into a curtain of mist. One minute it was glass and the next it's like we rented the fog machine for Bree's sixteenth birthday party all over again. The Latin incantation Mom coached us through was still burning on the tip of my tongue and the buzz between my sisters and I seemed to begin to fizzle out. 

I release my hands from grasping my sisters' to reach through the mist. My hand juts back as the wood in the attic door splits, then Sleeping Beauty tumbles through. I watch Bree run to her friend only to stop in her tracks when the demon from earlier, whose eyes we can't look into, picks her up from off the floor by her hair. 

"Not another step," he threatens my sister slowly. Acid drips from his words and I hear that he is not human at that moment. There was no doubt about it. He's breathing hard, from anger and exhaustion, and he's not alone. In the dim-lit room, it's hard to get a good look at the trio but at first glance, they look human, just like at the party. I would not make the same mistake twice.

I stay on alert.

We outnumber them, I point out after Bree links us up.

They have a hostage, no sudden moves, Mom instructs with a tone that tells me she is serious. I notice the way Bree tenses when Mom thinks "hostage". Now Mom raises her hands and steps towards the demons and clears her throat, "Let's talk this through rationally, we can agree one way or another." Mom keeps her voice light as she steps beside Bree to block her so she's no longer closest to the demons. "Just don't hurt her."

The demon who conjures weapons laughs shortly, as if Mom just told some joke. His arms are exposed and I see the way his muscles flex as he grunts, "Like we'd waste time torturing the human." The demon beside him grunts in disapproval of his joke as if he would rather stay on topic.

"What do you want?" Salem voices, her eyes are the only pair that meets the first demon. She didn't seem scared, unlike the rest of us. 

"You," he states plainly. I look to my sister who's gripping the knife by her side harder now, "And your sisters. If you come with us, we won't kill the human." He tightens his grip on Aurora who groans in discontentment. She has a cut on her forehead that makes a trail of blood drip down the side of her face. I watch the dark liquid drip from her jaw onto the hardwood floor. Bree hasn't unclenched her fist since Sleeping Beauty was thrown into the room. She catches Bree's eye and slowly shakes her head. I hear her friend's warning in my mind, He's lying!

"No." Mom growls. Her focus goes between the demons, her hand pressing against Bree, subtly pushing her in our direction. Salem get ready to freeze them, Bree go with your sisters.

We're not leaving you-

Do as you're told! Mom's demand vibrates through my sore head just as the demon with muscular arms lets out a bored sigh.