Demon Soul (1)

XIV

With a smile and a wave I dropped Ryker off back at the police station, beginning my drive back to Nox's home. In the few minutes it took me to get there, I was thinking about all of the things my new life had to offer. I imagined play fights with my brother and early morning tea times with Gabriel by the fire. Being taught how to control my power and bend it to my will was something I was looking forward to. I wasn't just a plain old girl with an attitude problem anymore: I was a demon with a secret and I'd do anything to keep my family safe. Now that I had them, I wasn't going to let go.

The gates were open for me, just as I'd left them. I pulled up and parked my truck off to the side, finally taking the time to really notice the surroundings. We were atop a hill, surrounded by trees in what appeared to be a perfect circle. There was a fountain sitting inside a small roundabout of pavement, one end leading back down to the road and the other to the front porch steps of the home. It was antique, with two small angels holding pots that the water flowed out of. I smiled at it and placed my finger in the water, only to jerk it out quickly when the water turned to ice.

"Don't worry, it happens to the best of us."

I looked to the doorway, seeing Nox standing there with a smug smile. He was crazy, wearing a tank top and ripped up jeans in this weather, but I guess the same would go for me any day of the week.

"So did you think your sister would end up so...reckless?" I chuckled, letting him take my bag from my hands.

"I imagined she'd be just like me." He snickered. "Attitude problems and a penchant for causing trouble."

"Boy, it's like you knew me from the start." I snorted, laughing. Gabriel was in the hall, his nose buried in a book while we tromped up the stairs.

"Welcome back." He chuckled. "I see you're already adjusting to your new surroundings."

"Well I basically told my foster parents they can go screw themselves before I'd stay there another day." I smiled proudly while Nox tossed my bag onto my bed. "And I'm ready to start figuring out how to work this newfound "talent", as you called it."

"I think you're ready, too." Gabriel smiled, closing his book. It was an old leather bound one, a dark green in hue. There were patterns in it, seemingly branded into the cover. I didn't even have to question their demonic origin.

"So, let's bring her to the backyard!" Nox said excitedly. "Let her see our stuff!"

"Okay, okay, settle down." Gabriel chuckled, allowing Nox to run ahead while he walked beside me.

"He's like a kid in a candy shop." I smirked.

"He's excited to finally have someone else to talk to." He said. "The last time he had a friend...a boyfriend to be exact, he was killed by the Order. He's been out for blood ever since."

"Oh, so Nox is...like that?" I giggled. "And you support him?"

"Always." Gabriel's eyes brightened. "Demons don't have the same kind of morals humans do. You like what you like and we know you're wired that way. We aren't worried about reproducing like everyone else here, we just want to live."

"It makes sense." I nodded happily.

"The only ones who aren't allowed to follow their lifestyle like that are Incubi and Succubi, but even they bend the rules." He sighed. "Sylvyn was a nice boy..."

"Sounded like he was already a part of the family." I smiled glumly while he held the door open for me. Nox was already waiting out in the backyard, laying in the snow and making snow angels. "Oh my god you are literally twelve Nox."