How To Make A Demon

Recovery

I woke up in an uncomfortably bright room. The amount of whiteness hurt my eyes- the walls were white, the floor was white and a white light flooded in through a large window.

My eyes scrunched closed again, blocking out the uncomfortable brightness.

It was then I noticed the pain I was in. Not as intense as before, but definitely enough to keep me alert. My head throbbed and chest felt tight. It also was difficult to breathe, as if something was restricting my lungs. I reached towards my chest, finding it to be all wrapped up in tight bandages. My hand began searching for something to grab onto and undo the binding.

"Don't you dare," his soft voice murmured, gently placing my hand back at my side.

"Alastor?" I croaked, not yet daring to open my eyes.

"I'm here," he sighed. Relief flooded his voice.

"Am I in heaven?" I wondered, the bright light still burning through my eyelids.

He chuckled in exhaustion. "If you were, I would not be here beside you."

"Am I in hell?" I asked warily.

"You're in the hospital," he whispered.

"I'm alive?" My eyes flew open at that, and I squinted through the blinding light. He was right, this was a hospital room. A private room nonetheless, an unexpected luxury. I almost smiled as I imagined him demanding the best room for me.

"Barely," he shuddered. "It was touch and go for a while. You lost a lot of blood..."

"But you saved me," I began to remember now, it was all a blur but I recalled feeling safer in his arms.

"They wouldn't let me see you for a while. They thought I'd had something to do with your injuries." He frowned.

"I'm alive because of you." I scoffed. The memories started to flood back to me. I shivered, imagining the outcome if Alastor had not been intending to meet me.

But he seemed to disagree. "You have two broken ribs and a huge gash on your head. If I hadn't made it in time..."

"But you did." I told him quickly. He looked back at me guiltily. I really hoped he wasn't blaming himself.

"Where's Carl?" I asked suddenly.

"Burning in hell." Alastor muttered darkly.

"You know what I meant," I whispered.

"I had to leave the body. I didn't want to, but your life was on the line. And that reminds me,"  he growled suddenly. "Would you mind explaining how exactly you ended up being alone with him?"

I groaned, closing my eyes again as I tried to reorganise my cloudy thoughts. "My gig was cancelled. I stuck around for a drink, and then he turned up. He got really drunk and I was helping him get a cab. But then he pushed me down..." I flinched, not daring to say any more.

His lip curled up in disgust. "You were showing him kindness and he took advantage of you. I am glad I ended his sorry life."

I shivered at the quiet fury in his voice.

Someone's noisy heels clacking from the corridor interrupted our moment. And then the door opened and I heard a gasp.

"Is she awake?" A wary voice asked.

"Mother?" I croaked in surprise.

"She just woke up now. I'll give you two some privacy," Alastor announced as he stood up.

"No," I moaned, clutching onto his hand.

"I'll be back soon," he breathed before kissing me on the forehead and placing my clammy hand back at my side. Mother came and took his seat as he left. I didn't miss the hard stare she gave him as they passed.