Of Demons and Fallen Stars

Chapter 18: Daybreak

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Enemies are like collector’s items. They are rare and one of a kind. And you can’t simply throw them away.

***

Neither I nor Jasper mentioned anything about knowing who could be behind the attack. I felt like he was leaving it up to me whether I would share the information or not. I did not, and I appreciated that he let it be. I cannot yet bring myself to explain the circumstances of how I got acquainted with such a demon.

But we did tell them that a superior demon was probably controlling those hounds and that it was most likely just the beginning. Those were after all just ‘scouts,’ although the damage they did was so un-scout like. In my opinion they were more killing machines than scouts.

We decided to meet up at Jasper’s place in the following morning. It was a Saturday so no one would be missed at home. The situation already called for some kind of drastic action and everyone was on edge. They all probably felt it. But they still did not know the gravity of the situation. But the threat was already too much. I might as well withhold the information until it was seriously needed. Something big is about to happen and once it does, everybody will be at risk of losing their lives. Not just us but the humans as well.

We were silent the whole way back. I glanced nervously behind me at the dead creature; afraid it might suddenly burst back into life and bite our heads off. For some reason Jasper wanted it brought back into his house. Jasper stopped the car a few blocks from my house and we walked from there. Jasper knew that I did not want Molly to wake up from the sound of the car. It was one of the rare occasions that Jasper walked with me back to my house. I would have preferred that he did not. Not tonight.

“That anger will not help you,” Jasper said softly, breaking the silence.

“What will, then?” I hissed. I know he did not deserve being snapped at but my anger escaped me like lava escaping a volcano. I held it back all the way back home but it was flowng freely now. He was treating me kindly on the wrong time. I wish right now that he would scold me for being reckless and ending up hurting him badly. I cannot have him being gentle to me, not when it’s my fault for freeing Jean in the first place. But I could not even freely bash myself for that stupid mistake. I had to keep living and take care of Jean first. Until then that alone is my purpose.

“It will only satisfy him, seeing you like this,” Jasper said. I could not make myself look him in the eye.

“Seeing me like what,” I asked. Seeing me miserable? I deserve to be! I could just barely stop myself from screaming at him. “You don’t understand. The guilt- it’s eating me alive. Knowing that all the souls he took since that night are still supposed to be still alive if only I did not… Now because of me you and the others are in danger. This whole town is in danger! YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND!”

“I understand more than you know,” he said in barely a whisper. I was not at all sure if I heard right, or if he even meant for me to hear. He quickened his pace and walked on ahead of me. We were already at my house. I expected him to leave when I reach my doorstep. But he just stood calmly in front of the door.

“What are you doing,” I asked him, still fuming.

“Just open it Bloodmoon,” he answered impatiently.

“First tell me why I would want to do that.”

“I’m setting up wards,” he said irritably. “Just a precaution,” he added, seeing my expression.

“Whatever for? You said we can’t be sure that he was after me.” It was not easy to talk to him when both of us are angry.

“I told you it’s just a precaution.”

“Really? Maybe I can just learn it and set it up myself?”

“You can.”

“Then teach me.”

“I’ll teach you. But not today,” he said tiredly. He was looking over at the horizon. The sky was getting lighter and I knew that Molly will be awake soon. I nodded in agreement and let him into the house. I watched him move lithely around, etching symbols on doors and windows and some portion of the floors. Just light markings that you won’t even notice if you were not looking for them. We went into my room last.

“I guess I have to put stronger wards in here. Just make sure you don’t mess with them if you don’t want to be sealed in.” he said, smiling tiredly at me.

“Seriously,” I said sulkily.

“Yes seriously.” He finished writing up the last one which was the biggest and most visible among the etchings. I guess I’ll have to cover it up with a poster or something or else Molly would notice it. Jasper touched it with his fingertips and it glowed like ember for a moment before going back to normal.

“That’s it.”

I looked closely at the last marking. It was a pentagram with an overlying symbol: a shadow of a graceful bird engulfed in fire— a phoenix.

“Huh. Looks like a child’s doodle,” I said, trying to lighten up the dark mood that I am in. I know I sounded lame and pathetic trying to cheer myself up. When I turned to look at Jasper, he was looking grimly outside my window, not hearing me. It looks like he could use some lightening up too. But I kept my silence. I could not bring myself to even look him in the eye.

“Get some sleep. Let’s meet up later,” he said a moment later, not taking his eyes off the horizon.

“Okay,” I answered, returning to my dark mood. I sat heavily on the bed feeling the tiredness of my whole body return to me full force. I have an idea of what Jasper was thinking and it just made me feel worst. He opened the window. But before he jumped out he approached me and bent down so that our eyes were level without me looking up. I felt like a child trying to avoid meeting an adult’s gaze. He put a hand under my chin and turned my face so that I was looking right into the ember depths of his eyes.

“Please don’t blame yourself with what happened to me. That wasn’t your fault. Those bloodbeasts purposefully channeled their bloodlust, along with their will, to you. I was trying to bait them, making you also target me. So don’t…” he sighed, wiping a tear off my cheek. “Please don’t cry.”

“I never wanted to hurt you.”

“I know.”

“I was weak.”

“You are not.”

“I am. I always get the people around me hurt.”

He sighed. “It’s not your fault. If you were weak you would not be able to snap out of it as easily as you did back there and you definitely won’t be able to get the both of us out of the way of danger. I would probably be dead by now if you were weak.”

“I need to be stronger.”

“We can remedy that. But for now you need rest.” He stood up and gave the top of my head a gentle pat. “I’ll meet you later.”

I nodded, feeling a little better, although I was so going to regret crying in front of him.

He climbed out my window and jumped off.

I did not even bother to change out of my dirty clothes. I just dropped onto my bed and immediately fell into a disturbed sleep.

I managed to sleep for a couple of hours and yet I felt more exhausted than before I went to sleep. My dreams were vivid. And totally disturbing. I saw the mirror again. And Jean was once again safely behind it. But then again I brought him along with me even when I was screaming No! inside. He looked at me knowingly; the glint of malice in his eyes could not be hidden by the innocence of a child’s face anymore. I will have your soul soon, he said with a promise. You can’t hide behind a celestial forever. He will die and you will be mine.