My demons (book 1)

Double-crossed

Aisha had spent most of the next few days with Lucas, while Alina had fanned over Jay like a mother hen and Claire...well she had spent all of her time with Emily, apparently catching up. Aisha's blood boiled but she tried to maintain a impassive face, silently planning the girl's demise.

"I hate her," Lucas grumbled, sitting next to Aisha on the loveseat, joining her in watching his sister laughing freely with her ex. She nodded, a growl like sound escaping her throat. "I want her dead."

"Me too," Lucas nodded. "I would have killed her but I think she might be crucial for our survival since she spent some time with the enemy."

"She should have started talking by now," Aisha frowned. "She seems suspicious to me."

"Well if anything, I'm glad we got this place so far away from people, if she crosses us there won't be any unnecessary victims," he shrugged his shoulders, not looking too concerned on being double crossed.

"Since when are you so considerate?" Aisha grinned at him, gaining her an offended gasp. She leaned against his shoulder, closing her eyes. She had to stop seeing her girlfriend with that snake.

She was on the cemetery again, Lucas was on the floor in agony, and Claire was telling him to let Alina in. Then, he told her Caleb had been attacked. The pain overflew her again and the memory of him came back to life as if she had just seen him yesterday. His big blue eyes and his goofy smile bring her more pain than she was ready for. "Time of death: 8:14pm."

She fought against her demon to wake herself up but just then, it relented, lulling her into sleep with no sad memories haunting her brain.

She finally got a few moments with Claire after Emily decided to go for a walk. She looked at the brunette with her beautiful grey eyes and she suddenly feel like bawling her eyes out. "You okay?" Claire asked softly, her voice filled with concern.

"Look me in the eye and tell me I have absolutely no reason to feel threatened by her and I'll be okay," she sighed in defeat. She never wanted to beg for Claire's loyalty. For her love. So why was she so quick to do it now?

Claire raised her eyebrows in confusion before her lips formed a soft smile. "Babe, I love you. Not her, not anyone else, you. Yes I loved her but that was a century ago. And yes she did imply that she wants me back but I told her I'm with you now. You have no reason to be jealous, I'm all yours."

Aisha allowed herself a smile of relief as Claire caressed her cheek softly. "You are so beautiful, you know that?" she whispered reverently and kissed her softly. "I know now," she replied, still smiling.

In that moment they heard Alina's scream from the outside. "Stay here," Claire murmured and left, but not to go outside, she disappeared upstairs, leaving Aisha scared and confused. Despite Claire's soft command, she rushed outside, only to see her friends trapped in a circle of armed men, she had effectively joined moments later when a bulky man in a black coat grabbed her forcefully and pushed her towards Lucas who nearly tumbled over with the force.

"Emily set us up" Lucas explained quietly and Aisha nodded in understanding.

"This can go one of two ways," the man who appeared to be in charge laughed, showing his crooked teeth. "You can simply tell us where O'Brien is or," he was cut short when Lucas snorted. "Well, I'm right here, sunshine."

Single gunshot sends a bullet through his heart and he dropped dead.

"The hard way, I see," the shooter deadpanned.

Alina held Aisha's hand and the brunette squeezed it in response, saying a silent goodbye.

The gunshots were sounded as if they could crack a skull, as if the sound itself could purify the mind. It felt and sounded as if they had entered the battle field but no bullets seemed to hit any of the standing trio. Aisha grabbed for Alina and tackled them both to the ground, desperate to shield the blonde as sounds of screams and shots filled the night.

After a few minutes, everything around them went quiet and Aisha finally dared a glance up. Bodies of the men who were came to kill them (or maybe just Claire?) were scattered all around them. Alina was still safely underneath her, shaking with each sob that wrecked her body and Jay was lying next to Lucas, gasping for air.

She saw Claire rushing towards them, kneeling down next to Jay who had been shot in his shoulder during the crossfire. "You guys okay?" she asked towards the girls who were still tangled up with each other, half lying, half sitting on the floor. Aisha nodded in response while shifting so Alina was seated in her arms, her head tucked safely under her jaw. "He is dead," she kept murmuring on repeat, not even aware of her surroundings. Aisha's heart ached and she let her own tears fall, saying her last goodbye to Lucas as she struggled to hold her best friend together. She wasn't sure she could even keep herself together, but that's something she had decided not to think about. She had always been exceptionally good in ignoring her feelings.

Meanwhile, Claire had stopped tending to Jay's wound and made her way towards her brother's dead body. The bullet wound was small. Somewhat ragged around the edges but barely even bleeding. The exit wound must have been on his back somewhere. If Claire didn't know better, she might pretend he was just asleep. But as she did know better, being no stranger to death, she reached out to close his eyes. "I'll see you again, brother," she sighed, softly, her hand brushing his hair delicately. The gnawing feeling of guilt ate at her insides and she felt her gut threatening to spill itself on the cold ground beneath her. She knew she couldn't let that happen. No one could see her that weakened. Luckily, Jay drew her back to the present, making it easier to repress her emotions.

"Should we bury him?" he suggested and she nodded at him, noting the girls had joined his side in the meantime.

"He loved spending time by the river," Alina whispered. "By the river it is," Claire agreed before walking away. She needed some time. She knew Aisha was following but made no attempt to either stop her or wait for her. The brunette caught up with her shortly anyway. "I'll give you all the time you need, I just wanted to ask you if you want us to wait until you come back...?" she asked softly, her fingertips brushing Claire's bicep gently, steadying her.

"Jay can start digging. I'm just going on a short walk to clear my head. But your company won't hurt," she answered then, knowing she won't get as deep inside her head if her girlfriend was around, and gave her a weak smile. Or at least a very poor attempt on a smile. Aisha nodded and closed her eyes to tell Jay to start digging the grave. Claire watched her, again not bothering to inform her closing her eyes was pointless. She found it all too endearing. After she was done conversing, Claire took her head as they walked slowly down the road. "When will it end?" Claire asked silently, her voice shaking ever so slightly, while she fought desperately to keep herself together. "I'm so tired of blood."

"So am I," the brunette agreed, resting her head on Claire's shoulder. Claire wrapped her arms around Aisha and in that moment, she felt safe.