Between Heaven And Hell

Chapter 6

The red Jeep pulled into the driveway, music blaring. Shar shut off the engine and they all sat there laughing together. The girls were about to get out just as the sun fell behind the rooftops. The evening began and they held onto the fun of the day.

"Well, I best get you home Esme." Shar sighed softly. Her heart hurt to say goodbye. But time stood still for no one.

"Actually, my Mom won't be home till tomorrow." Esme blushed slightly as she looked out the car window towards the apartment building.

Taylor pulled herself up between the two from the back seat. Shar saw the excitement on her face. She was silently pleading for another night of fun.

Shar groaned. "Well, I can't say no to either of you." Esme's eyes lit up. "Alright then, everyone in the house." The girls got out of the car and headed toward the house. "Wait." Shar commanded.

The girls halted at her word. Shar looked around quickly sniffing the brisk night air. "Not good. Someone's been here." She whispered under her breath and quickly walked up to the door. "All seems fine, just make sure you stay close." Shar held out a hand for them. Esme took Shar's hand as Taylor stood next to Shar, her ears twitching frantically searching for whatever Shar had sensed.

The girls walked into the apartment slowly. Shar held up a hand at her door and said, "Let me check it out first." She navigated through her house with ease keeping the lights off.

She entered her bedroom feeling at one with the inky blackness of her apartment. A dark shadowy figure sat on her sheets. "Well Sharlotte, good to have you home." The demon hissed through sharp, yellow teeth.

Shar's eyes just narrowed at the intruder. "Bakus, you know damn well to get out of my house." She grabbed the sword that was on the wall next to the door. It was mostly for decoration above her dresser, but it was sharp enough. "Now leave before I run you through." She pointed the steel blade towards him.

"Have it your way." He shrugged with his hands held in the air and vanished in a wisp of smoke.

Sharlotte placed her hand on her head. The sword went back onto the wall mount and she tried not to let the interruption get the best of her. "Everything's clear girls." She said when she returned to her front door. She flipped the lights on as her friends entered. The blinding light helped her refocus on the evening.

Taylor quickly jumped into her favorite chair and Esme slid into the couch. "Anybody want anything?" Shar asked. She was too nervous to sit down just yet. So she made herself busy in the kitchen.

Taylor saw the worry on Shar's face and gave her a questioning look when she walked back into the room. Shar just shook her head softly as she pulled Esme into her lap. Esme snuggled into her, her black raven hair cascading down her back. Shar ran her fingers down Esme's spine softly as if she was absentmindedly petting a cat.

* * * * * * * *

Taylor stretched and yawned. The noise startled Shar as she dozed, and she jumped. "Sorry, Batty." Shar stretched her neck and slid out from under Esme. "Everything ok?"

"Ya, everything's fine." Shar replied softly as she stretched her body. "What are you doing up so early?"

Taylor smiled softly. "This is normal. I just normally lay there longer." She got up and followed Shar out to the balcony. "What happened last night?"

She didn't know what to say, or even how to say it. She did what she always did, avoided it. "Just something was off but I guess I was just being paranoid." Shar said as she looked out at the sunrise. Taylor stood next to her.

A loud crash brought them both back to reality. It had come from inside the apartment. The two friends looked at one another for only a moment. Shar didn't say anything as she ran into the apartment grabbing a butcher knife from the block on her way.

Shar entered the room to see Esme backed into a corner. A tall slender demon stood there. The same one who had dropped by last night. "Hands off!" Shar yelled as she charged the demon.

He snarled and stopped what he was doing to turn his attention towards Shar and caught her by the wrist. He grinned at her, but before he could say anything she opened her wing, clipping him in his gut. She surprised herself with the articulation of her new limb.

He doubled over clutching himself. Shar stood there knife in hand. "Now, I won't say it again. Get the hell out of my house, NOW!" She screamed at him. He shuttered and vanished in a puff of smoke.

Shar dropped the knife and ran over to Esme who was still against the wall in the corner. "You ok lov?" Shar scooped her up and carried her over to the couch.

"Ya, I'm alright, thanks." Esme said as she wrapped her arms tightly around Shar's neck. Shar wrapped her arms and wings around the girl. She opened it when Taylor walked close. The girls just sat there in the comfort of each other.