Finding Demons

Chapter 2

Allya lay on the soft pine needles that littered the floor of the small hut she was in. Her eyes were focused on her horse, Golding, who barely fit through the bamboo door.

Golding whickered softly and nudged Allya's arms. Where he touched, golden light spilled and the cuts and burns healed themselves.

Allya took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She felt Golding nuzzle her, and where he did, she felt the pain go away.

When she heard Golding step away, she opened her eyes and met the gold ones of the horse. "You can't  hide it from me anymore."

The horse dropped it's head in a very human-like gesture and started pawing the ground. Hide what?

Allya sat up quickly. "Don't insult my intelligence, whatever you are."

I'm a horse.

"No you're bloody well not."

Golding snorted.

Allya pushed herself fully off the ground. "I can destory myself just as much as you can heal me."

Golding neighed and snorted at her. Don't do it. 

"Explain then," Allya said, backing away. "I can create pain as much as you can take it away," she reminded him.

And for the third time, Golding Transformed.

She gasped as she saw the boy for the first time without being drugged or in a life-threatening situation. She'd thought it before, but it had not fully registered until now: He was beautiful.

Dark blue eyes like bottle glass.

Inky, messy black hair that fell across his forehead and obscured his eyes a little.

He had sharp features, but his face told her that he would protect her.

"Who are you?" Allya whispered. The fact that her horse had just turned into a human being also just registered properly in her mind.

The boy held up his hands in a surrender gesture. He had long, slender fingers.

Pianist fingers.

"My angelic name cannot be pronounced by human tongue. So I keep the name you gave me, Golding. If you wish, you may call me something differently for this form."

"For this form?" Allya asked.

"Of course. I can shapeshift. And... so can you."

"Really?"

The boy nodded. "Uh huh. I'm going to teach you how, and how to keep that power within you contained."

Allya took a deep breath. This must be some sort of prank or something.

But then... how would she have seen the horse she'd had for years change right in front of her.

Wait. "Have you been spying on me?!"

The boy looked uncomfortable. "No, not really. I was occupying the shift of the horse when you found me, and it would have been suspicious for me to Transform to something else after that. And I didn't want to reveal who I was until I was sure about who you were, and when the demons would be coming for you."

"But I made your stay in my backyard. I saw you eating grass!"

The boy shrugged. "It wasn't the best, but it wasn't exactly uncomfortable. And on the worst nights... When I heard things coming... I sort of came into your room."

Allya forgot about her fear and whirled on the boy. "You slept with me?!"

He didn't even have the grace to look abashed. He tucked his hands in his pockets and said, "when you put it like that... Ally, I just there to protect you. And you know what?"

"What?" Allya snapped.

"Every night you would have a nightmare about your parents fighting, about strange dark creatures coming for you, about a never-ending passageway you would run down."

He was right. She did have those nightmares. But that only fueled her anger. "And?!"

"The nights that I was with you... You didn't have nightmares. I sensed your dreams. You were peaceful, with me there."

Allya gasped. He was right. Allya shuddered and shook her head. That didn't take away from the fact that he had slept in her bed without her knowing.

"Stay away from me, you creep."

"No! Ally, wait!"

Allya spun away from the boy's outstretched hand and stormed towards the door. She didn't even know where she was. But what she did know, was she was going to get out of there.

"Ally, don't leave the safe house!"

Ignoring him, Allya kicked the door open and stepped into the waning sunlight.

It was the worst mistake she'd ever made.