Daughter of Both

Chapter 3

"Of course." I look past him to the door and after a moment I realize that somethings off. I can't hear the crowd of people and the music has stopped, which is strange since the band should still be on. Dreagon stiffens "Shit, it's too late. They're here already. Fuck, if I could just control myself! Listen Rose, I need to go take care of them which means you need to stay here and block the door after I leave. Don't open it for anyone or anything except myself. I nod again, thinking that I must be in shock. What's out there? Who are 'they'? He turns for the door, but the hand I reach out for him stops him in his tracks. "Do you think everyone out there is okay?" His mouth forms a grim line "I really hope so and I'm about to find out. He leans down to kiss the top of my head. "I'll be right back, my Rose." He slowly opens the door enough for him to slip out and as soon as he closes it behind him I rush forward to push one of the big metal shelves in front of it. I back away from it until my back hits the wall and I sink down to the floor. What the actual hell is happening right now? I hear a loud crash and some type of animal howls in pain. Moments later there's a thunderous bang against the door and I practically jump out of my skin as three more follow. The door caves in, splintering to pieces. A Giant hound black as night, with what looks like literal starlight shining beneath its skin towers in the doorway, standing at least six feet tall on all fours. It lets out a low, bone chilling growl. "Woah, it's okay." I hold my breath and lift my hand up towards it. It angles its head to the side slightly before taking a slow step towards me and lowering its head towards my hand. He sniffs me once before pressing his nose into my palm. I smile up at him and to my surprise he lowers himself to lay in front of me, with his giant head in my lap. Dreagons standing in the doorway with a strange looking blade, ready to strike. "No! Don't hurt him!" I yell and he freezes, looking at me in confusion as he realizes our position. The hound tenses and lifts it's ears, noticing the danger behind it.It growls, the stars beneath it's skin burning brighter. I think I can feel actual heat radiating from them. I place a comforting hand on its head "Shh, Dreagon put that weird blade away! You're scaring him." I try to sound calm, try making my voice sound as soothing as I can. He looks at me with disbelief now "Scarlet, that's some sort of specialty hellhound and it was sent to either drag you down to hell or kill you." I raise an eyebrow at him and he slowly lowers the blade before I watch it shrink and then disappear. The so-called 'hellhound' relaxes a little. Dreagon just scoffs at me and it. "I don't know how you can even see it, let alone have it acting like this. Humans can't see hellhounds, so if you're not human then what are you Scarlet?" He sounds almost like he's scared of me. "What the actual fuck are you talking about? Of course I'm human! What else could I possibly be?" This isn't the first time that he's said something like this,but it is the first time that it felt like an accusation. "A witch or maybe a demon would be my first two guesses." He whispers and I hope I misheard him. "Did you just accuse me of being a demon? What the hell is wrong with you? My life was completely normal until you started showing up in my dreams! Then BAM here you are in the flesh and within twenty minutes I'm seeing what's apparently a hellhound, which I didn't even think existed!" Dreagon shakes his head "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say it like that. I've just never seen anyone be able to calm one like this on Earth. Hell, maybe but not up here. Usually they do what they want, which is usually hunting and killing humans.If they are sent to hunt someone for a witch or demon then their soul is dragged down to hell after their bodies are torn to shreds." I hold in a shiver as a chill runs down my spine. With the size and strength of the one laying before me, I'm sure tearing someone to shreds would be extremely easy. "It's just that witches control most of them with a few powerful demons personally owning a few. The demons treat them more like pets, giving them names. The witches on the other hand treat them like wild beasts, so they act like wild beasts. They follow the witches' orders, but they are known to do things their own way." He tries explaining further. "Well, I'm pretty sure I'm not a witch and I sure as hell am not a demon." The hellhound huffs and I raise an eyebrow at him. "You got some information you'd like to share?" I ask him and he actually nods his head at me, my eyes widen at him. "Okay, seriously what the fuck is happening." The hound tilts its head at me again. "They're intelligent creatures, when they choose to be. I've never really seen one respond so directly like this though. Either way, since you won't let me kill it, we need to leave it and go." Dreagon states. He tries to take a step towards me and the hound stands and growls at him in response. Dreagons weird blade is in his hand again. "Stop it, both of you! Dreagon, he obviously doesn't want to hurt me. Maybe he can help us somehow, he obviously knows something." I stand and place my hand on the side of the hounds face "Do you have a name boy?" Dreagon scoffs at me, again. "Witches don't name their dogs and if this one belonged to a demon he wouldn't be acting this way towards you." I look up at the hound towering over me. His skin and fur is blacker than black, but the name Grim pops into my head "Okay then, I'll give you a name. I like the name 'Grim'. I mean anyone who gets on your bad side will have a grim ending, eh?" Grim lets out a noise that almost sounds like a laugh. "I guess he likes it..." Dreagon mumbles, finally seeming to relax a bit. "Alright, so what happened out there? Is everyone okay?" Dreagons face falls "Not exactly, where's the back door that leads to the ally? Probably best that we go out that way." He avoids making eye contact with me and my blood turns cold "Dreagon, is anyone okay? Margo or Jack? Jack was in his office. I need to go see if I can help." Dreagon blocks my path "Trust me Scarlet, the other hellhounds did too much damage before I got out there to stop them." I shake my head, it can't be true. How didn't we hear any screams or anything? "There were nine of them, they made quick work of everyone in the bar and this one came through the back, which is how he was able to get to you. The door to the office down the hall was open and there was blood, so I doubt even Jack is alive. I've already informed law enforcement that some kind of animal got in and attacked everyone, which is another reason we need to leave, so please Scarlet, let's go." I place my hand over my chest, feeling the crystal hanging from its chain beneath my shirt. I focus on it, trying to calm myself down. "Where are we going to go?" I finally manage to ask, feeling sick to my stomach. "Well, my bike is parked close to your house, I checked for you there first. We can discuss a few things while you pack some essentials before we go to my house. Does that sound alright?" All I can do is nod. He grabs my hand and I follow behind him into the hallway. He tries to block my view, but blood is everywhere and it's impossible to miss the smell of it in the air. I can feel Grims' warmth from behind me and Dreagon stops "No, no, no. You are not coming with us, for all I know you could go and report to someone down below." He whirls on Grim and I place my hand on his chest "Dreagon, I don't think he's going to 'report' to anyone. I think he wants to help me." I watch his jaw clench "We'll see." He turns and starts heading towards the back door, his hand still gripping mine. Grim's hot on my heels and I manage to make it into the alley before vomiting.