Demon Hunters and Angel Killers

The apartment was so quiet; all I could hear was my own breathing, and the sound of the clock on the wall ticking. I sank down into my soft bed – worn out and tired from work that day. I leaned back and let my head hit the pillow, sigh. I moved to curl onto my side, folding my hands under my pillow and head. My gaze traveled over the night stand table that was covered in books – inside and out.  Next to the high stack of books, that threatened to fall over on me while I slept, was a retro alarm clock and an old lamp. My eyes drifted to the walls, dancing across the room leisurely as they went. The walls were a deep shade of red - with old cream stenciling. They were cracked slightly, starting to show signs of aging. A row of book shelves covered the walls, across from where I was lying in bed. The shelves were filled to the brim with books upon books- yet still there were books scattered all over the aging apartment. The shelves were a dark coloured wood that were paired with a dark brown bean bag chair, placed on the thick black rug next to the shelves. 

The next wall held three paintings that I had found while I was touring Romania; one was a depiction of the woodlands scenery looking out over mountains, another was a dark illustration of a Catholic Church, and the last was a group of wolves gathered around a rocky cliff. In the last painting one of the wolves was howling out to the moon overlooking the cliff and sometimes if I stared at it for long enough- I swear that I could hear them; howling at the moon, in the middle of the night. I rolled over to regard the other side of my room. Straight across from my bed was a slightly open window, which was partly concealed by a pair of dark curtains. The cool evening breeze blew through the window, causing my hair to sway into my face. Brushing the strands away, I moved my gaze to my open bedroom door. The white wooden door was cracked and old; almost falling of the hinges. With a sigh, I rolled on to my back. My ceiling was riddled with a variety of dream catchers, and hanging wind chimes. All of them different colours and shapes. The wind made them sway and ring softly. I closed my eyes and savored the moment of absolute peace.

*ring*ring*ring*

Opening my eyes, I reached over for my cellphone and rolled my eyes when I saw the number on the screen.

“I just got home.” Pause. ” What do you want, Theo.”

“Sigh, is it too much to ask for a little chat with my best friend.”

I rolled my eyes. “Not at this time of the night, Theo. What is it.”

“I was wondering if you could meet me for a drink.” Pause.

Sitting up I narrowed my eyes – “What did you do?”

“God! Do I always have to have done something- just for wanting to hang out with you!?”

I smirked, “Demon or vampire, Theo?”

I could just picture him dropping his head in shame.

“Goblin,” His voice was no higher than a mumble.

My smirk turned into smile, as I chuckled.

“It’s not funny! You know those little shits freak me out!"

His snap made me laugh harder as I climbed off of my bed and started towards the door.

“Where are you, I’ll be there as quickly as I can.”

He prattled off his where-a-bouts, while I made my way through the rest of my apartment. The walls of my hallway were lined with an array of book shelves- which just like the one in my room- filled with books, not only on the shelves but also on top of them right to the ceiling. Passing a few doorways, I finally reached the living room, which was set up almost exactly like my bedroom. Black sofas, dark love seat placed next to a book shelf on the farthest most walls. And a television placed atop a dark wood table, with a coffee table in front of it; three white candles laid atop it and an ebony rug on the hard wood floor.

 I told Theo I was on my way and hung up. I pulled leather boots atop my dark wash jeans, then stood up and took in my appearance in the mirror next to the front door. My dark hair was slightly dishevelled and fell around my pale-ish face lightly. A small amount of eye liner and mascara, lined my dark violet coloured eyes. I turned away from the mirror and tugged on my hoodie, throwing my black leather jacket over my arm – walking out the door.

Just as I was about to close the door I heard the sound of nails scratching against the floor of the apartment. I cursed loudly; trying to close the door by pushed my body against the door - only to have it burst open and to be knocked on my back. I groaned, as a heavy weight pushing down on my chest.

“No, Dexter,” I hissed, shoving the giant dog. “Off!”

The mass of black fur- barked loudly in my face, his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth.

“Eww- Gross!!” I cried, but I couldn’t hold back my quiet laughter. Luckily, most of the people that lived in the apartments near me were asleep by now or out on the town.

“Alright - alright! You can come, with me! Just get off!” happy with my decision, Dexter climbed off me and sat next to me waiting for me to get up. Wiping his slobber off my face, I sat up and couldn’t help but laugh and ruffle his muzzle affectionately. He looked so much like a puppy dog when he sat like that – but yet he was so much more. Dexter was a hell hound. Enormous, man eating, vicious, and yet I know that he would never hurt me. I had found Dexter 3 years ago during a case in Lawrence, Kansas. A rogue demon was making his money by having hellhounds fight each other to the death; I had caught him in the middle of one of his fights. After I had dealt with him, I found Dexter in the fighting ring. His fur had been torn out by the other hound; deep cuts and gauges all over his body. I had tried to convince myself to put him out of his misery – but I just couldn’t. There was something in his eyes that reminded him of me. I couldn’t bring myself to kill him; I had wrapped his wounds and nursed him back to health. I don’t know if it had been out of loneliness or pity, that I had had saved him- but all that I did know is that I was glad that I did. It had been before I had met Theo- and I didn’t really have anyone or anything important in my life. Ever since he had completely healed, he had become a kind of guard dog to me. Demanding that he go almost everywhere with me.

Blowing some of the hair, that Dexter had cause to fall into my face when he had knocked me over , out of my face I grabbed a hair tie from my wrist and pulled my hair up into a pony tail. I looked into dark red eyes and smirked.

Jumping up I reached back into the apartment, grabbing his collar and leach from the cabinet.  Hearing a growl in protest, I turned to send him a glare-

“Either you wear the leash or, you stay here tonight.” That silenced him.

Reaching over, I grabbed his head gingerly and clipped his collar on him- hearing his low grumbles of discontent. I rolled my eyes, quickly attaching the leash then standing up; checking the time on my phone.

I shook my head at the mass of black fur, “and because of your theatrics – you’ve made me late.”

Locking the door, we made our way down the stairway at a slight jogging pace. When we finally made it out of the building, I quickly unlocked my truck and opened the door for Dexter. After I made sure he was seated, I closed his door and climbed in my side. Turning on the engine, I just hoped that Theo would be okay till we got there. Next to Dexter, Theo was the only one I had in my life. I reached over at Dexter, scratching behind his ear. When I retracted my hand, he settled himself down onto his seat. I sighed as we started off into the night.