Demons In Disguise

Save yourself, I'll hold him back.

Ray hadn't left her side once and she had never been more grateful to him as a friend, he hugged her when while she sobbed and then treated her wounds after she was able to show them to him.

She couldn't bare to see it for herself but he had explained to her the marks that were now littering her body. He explained how she had a perfect handprint now scarring her throat, reaching up and around her jawline on the right side of her face. Each finger perfectly etched into her skin with a burn including the worst one where his thumb had pressed down hard on her windpipe. That was the most painful and intrusive with the skin already starting to bubble and blister to the point the pain made it hard to breath.

She had a spattering of small burns across her left hip, each little burn fingertip sized and each one filling her with memory of his fingers slowly tracing across her body. Her lips were now blistered and dark from his kiss which was making Ray worry as she had trouble sipping water.

'Please let me take you to the hospital, these need treating properly I can't bear seeing you in so much pain Alex!' He begged her, he had been begging her for the last hour but how would she explain this to a doctor, that she got burnt from a dream where she was kissing a half demon?

'Just remember the healing spells and potions I taught you, I'll be fine as long as your here with me.' She spluttered out her breath catching on her words.

She had never been more terrified in her life, she thought it would have been the end for her. She hated herself for still feeling bad for Gerard and wanting to help him after he inflicted this on her. She just couldn't shake the fact he had fought past the demon side to push her back to reality and away from that monster. She was trying to remember they were the same person but they were such polar opposites it was getting hard to think of them as one.

Ray prepared a balm for her from aloe, Calendula and lavender making sure to not use any oils. He bathed her burns with wet green teabags to reduce the swelling and calm the skin before applying the balm and applying dressings. He set to work after using the lavender to smoke cleanse the room and lit black candles to banish any bad energy she may have brought back with her.

When he was finished he came and pulled her close into his embrace careful not to touch any areas she was burnt. She didn't deserve such a caring friend after letting this happen to herself.

'I wish I could heal you properly, if only I had worked on my magic earlier I might have been able to do more. What about Haylea maybe she knows a spell?' He asked she could tell how desperate he was to help.

'No. Leave her be she's with Frank I don't want to ruin their evening, you have done everything you can thank you Ray, I couldn't ask for a better friend. I'll be OK just dont let me sleep please' the end of her sentence came out with desperation she couldn't conceal. He didn't speak his response he just nodded and held her closer only occasionally wiping the odd tear that fell from her red bloodshot eyes.

She didn't know how long it had been but she blinked and suddenly she was back in the room with Gerard again. She scrambled to her feet backing as far away from him as she could until she was crouched in fetal position in the furthest corner. Her brain was screaming out at her shaking her to her core, just repeating no no no no over and over. She couldn't be back here not so soon, not now, not after what happened. She pressed her head into her knees, her hands over her ears and screamed at herself to wake up to no avail.

'I'm so sorry.....I thought I sent you back.... it was...just so strong....Alex I'm so sorry please....' She heard him sobbing through his words but she didn't want to hear them, every word made her skin crawl with the memory of his hand pressing down and choking her.