The Devil's Embrace (ONC 2024)

Ch 6: The Demon Underneath

Lazarus in his demon-ish form has me mesmerized. I continue to stand on his balcony as he ascends into the sky. His figure becomes a speck of dust from above. Soon, more demons have made their appearance as they begin to fly from the balconies. None of them compare to the size of Lazarus. They begin to fly in synchronized fashion. Lazarus at the head while guys closer to his size flank behind him. In the center has the small ones while the back has three larger ones. Their small crew of demons have made some sort of sideway square.

Roars of what sounds like dragons can be heard. Soon after, two gigantic black dragons with red eyes get on both sides of their odd square, as if they're guarding them. I watch yet again in my awestruck state as they soar across the skies. The door slamming behind me doesn't break my eyes from the group up high. Crackling sounds are heard behind me and soon a gust of wind whips against my skin. Lily is hanging upside down in front of me on the balcony as Tali perches on the balcony railing.

"Jesus Christ!" I squeal out in fright.

"No not Jesus. Just Satan's children." Tali laughs out. I watch as she hops off the railing and levitates in front of me.

"Soon you'll be out here with us." Lily comments from her previous spot.

"I don't have wings." I laugh out as I shake my head.

"Oh, you do. You just haven't called upon them. You'll get them soon, trust me." Tali says as she winks in her demon form. Before I could respond to either girl, both take off in a race. Their wings sends gust of wind hitting me in my face. My hair blows around like a hurricane before it finally falls back into place again. From my perspective, it looks like the sisters are playing some sort of tag. You can hear Tali curse when Lily taps her. You can hear Lily whine when Tali slaps her. They looks so carefree and youthful from this angle. The sun begins to set; the moonlight is shining through the dark skies. The two dragons begin to lower back down to Earth as Lazarus and his crew's figures become larger and closer than before. I take a step back then another as Lazarus's figure comes towards me quicker. Soon, the demon is perched on his railing as the others land onto their balconies.

"You're still here?" His demonic voice rattles my ears.

"Yeah-h" I squeak out.

"Normally my demonic form makes everyone run for the hills. Especially from someone who doesn't know of our kind." He comments as he steps off his railing. I watch as his wings, tail, and horns disappearance. His size becomes smaller soon after.

"Will you explain everything to me?" I ask in a meek voice. An unusual soft smile forms on his lips as he walks past me.

"I'll tell you a story; you just put the pieces together and you'll figure out the rest." Lazarus offers. If I get to listen to him telling any story for that matter then I'll take it.

"Okay." I agree. What am I agreeing to, I don't know. But, I'm ready to listen to whatever he's willing to tell me.

"Years ago, I went to a school with a sweet and innocent girl. She had this pure aura around her. The first time we ever met, she hit me with a door. I always was that hot head, ready to tear limbs off kind of hybrid. Just as I was about to explode, I looked into her eyes. Just like that, my anger dissipated from just one look at her. Slowly, for months the girl and I became close. There was a spell on her, one that only a true mate could uplift. Slowly, her true form would appear. She alway had me in awe when she went to her Angel form. She had the brightest light cascading off her. Her wings were the purest of snow. Not a feather out of place. The reason her and I become close was because we were each other's true mates. The spell was lifting day by day. Her memories were slowly coming back. And just like that..." He pauses as he stares into my soul, yet again.

"And then what?" I question as I take every word of his like it is pure gold.

"And just like that... She disappeared. Once a mate loses their mate, they slowly die within. They become heartless. Mean. Cold. Angry. They become evil. Eventually they'll die. I became this right here in front of you because my mate when I was ten disappeared. She just so happens to reappear after eight years. She's still that pure innocent soul. But, I'm no longer who I once was. Do you know what hurts the most?" He pauses again as I replay his question. With a shake of my head no, I give him my answer.

"She doesn't even remember. She has no memories of what happened back then. She has no memories of who and what she is. She doesn't even remember who her mate is. Mates are supposed to cherish and love one another yet, she can't love me because she doesn't remember. Even if she was to love me, my heart no longer beats. It's dead within me because I lost her for eight years." He explains as his voice cracks. It shocks me to hear such emotions from him when he's always been cold and mean towards me.

"How come she doesn't remember?" I ask the only question playing in my head.

"Because her 'guardians' always made her drink a special tea. With a little Angel Magic, memories can be wiped. With a little Angel Magic, your wings can stay hidden within your skin. With that little magic, it's a deadly combination. One that costed me my beating heart. They took something sacred and turned me into a cold hearted beast." He finishes his explanation as he plops down on his couch. He closes his eyes and I take it as my cue to leave. As I open his dorm door, his voice stops me completely.

"Since you found your mate. Since you're away from your guardian... Soon, all their spells will wear completely off. Soon, you'll have your wings. Soon, you'll have all your hidden memories back. Soon, you'll remember everything."

"I..." My voice stops as his bedroom door slams closed.

Soon, I'll have my memories back?

What memories am I missing?