Fallen (editing)

Chapter 32

I sit against the apartment door. I fiddle with the knife. It shines like a beacon under the moon.
The red glow bounces off my face.
What I still don't get is where did it get this energy?
I sigh and tuck the knife away.
The temperature around me drops. The night gets darker.
"I thought I told you not to help humans."
I turn quickly, knife in my hand. My father's shadow grins at me. Its red smirk and eyes glint darkly.
"Wha- How- How are you here?"
His shadow pouts. "Not happy to see me?"
I growl. "You killed them."
The shadow rolls its eyes. "Don't tell me you're still mad about that."
"Are you serious?"
"They were humans, son. Honestly, why are you mad?"
"That human was a better father than you are." All the energy I could've gotten. Stolen from me.
The shadow slinks forward. A tendril of black hits me in the stomach. "You think you are better than me now? Even in this form, I could destroy you."
I snarl as fangs grow into my mouth. "Really? Why don't we find out?"
The shadow smiles. "Yes. Why don't we?"
Anger builds in my chest, dispersing into my body.
I lunge towards the shadow, stabbing the knife into it.
The shadow slides out of the way, laughing.
It sends out ribbons of itself out, wrapping tightly around my neck.
I gasp for air and the shadow giggles.
"I guess we found out, didn't we? Oh, and I've been meaning to ask you," the tendrils squeeze on my neck tighter," why isn't that girl dead?"
The shadow swings me into the wall, cracking my head against the bricks.
I grit my teeth as I fall against the ground.
"I want. Her. Dead. Don't you want to come home?"
I spit out blood, standing up shakily. "Not..... Particularly."
The shadow slaps me across the face, knocking me back down. "Foolish boy."
I stand up, leaning heavily against the wall.
"Sylt?"
The shadow disperses and I lean back against the wall, shifting into the dark.
"Yeah?"
Ash walks forward, swiveling her head around. "Where are you?"
"I'm, uh, coming out."
I try to sneak to the wall next to the steps, but my feet thud against the ground.
"Sylt?" Ash's voice sounds strange.
I sigh. "Yeah."
"Sylt?" Her voice raises an octave.
"Yes?"
"What's- what's on your head?" She shakily points to the top of my head, eyes widening.
Oh Djinn.
I step forward, shaking my hands. "Ash, Ash, it's not what you think."
She grips the bag in her hands tightly, backing up slowly. She looks up at me, her face pale.
Her eyes are big with fear and she looks at me. At my horns. At my fangs. At the red, glowing knife in my hand.
I try to come up to her but she grabs a stone off the ground and aims.
"Don't come any closer." Her voice is brittle and hard. Her eyes flash blue like shattered glass.
"Ash, it's me, Sylt! I'm still me!" I start moving towards her but she shrieks.
"I said don't come any closer!"
"Ash, this is gonna sound strange, but if you just come inside, I'll explain everything. Please."
She laughs nervously. "Right. I'm gonna go inside with....with.....a whatever you are."
She shudders. "I can't believe....... You hugged me!"
Anger crashes down on me in waves. Anger at Ash, for her disgust. Anger at Pops, for leaving me. Anger at Father, for making my life a living Hell.
The knife heats up in my hand.
I growl under my breath. "Ash, I'll explain everything. Just- just come with me."
"I'm not going any where with you. I don't even know what you are."
Blood rushes through my head. "Don't you trust me? Just a few minutes ago, you were crying on my shoulder. We're friends! I'm the same person! C'mon Ash, why don't you trust me?"
"Because-because....... C'mon Sylt! Look at you! You can't ex-"
"Are you scared?"
Ash freezes. "What?"
Power builds in my throat. "Are you scared? Are you afraid? Afraid that I'll hurt you? Afraid that you're insane? Afraid that I might kill you?"
I jump forward suddenly.
Ash flinches.
I laugh bitterly. "Wow. I thought- I thought there was someone. That one person who got it. Wow."
I turn around and walk up the stairs. I push the apartment door open.
I walk in, balling up my fists. I start to close the door-
"Sylt! Wait."
I glance back at Ash. She walks up the stairs, until she's in front of me.
"I'll listen."