Demon's Blood

Kill Me Already

He looks straight into my eyes, and I gaze back into his bright blue ones. 

"Good morning sleepyhead."

He grumbles as I ruffle his light brown locks.

"More like deadhead."

"Not anymore!"

I dive toward him and mas my lips against his, kissing him feverishly.

"I thought you were dead."

"You're one to talk."

He holds me above him, still staring into my eyes.

"What's wrong with your eyes?"

"Huh?  Whaddu mean?"

"There's black streaks in them."

I touch the skin around my eyes.

"Oh.  I don't know what's up."

"Hmm.  Well I am happy to see you."

"I'm sorry about that stupid fight, but I really don't think I can give up this part of me."

I see hurt cross his face.

"But you almost just got killed because of that power.  I.. couldn't handle that."

"How did we get from I WANT TO KILL YOU!  To I couldn't handle you dying so quickly?"

"I dunno."

"You're funny.  And I refuse to give up this power so if you want nothing to do with it, you'll have to leave me."

"I couldn't do that either."

"But-"

His lips encase mine before I can finish.  I feel his arms around me, surrounding my body with his.  I cave in and allow myself to be held by his warm arms.  I like this warmth, it reminds me that he is alive again.  I pull away and lay my head on his chest, listening.  I hear a faint heartbeat.  Much more faint than before, but still there.  A smile spreads across my face and I look up to see that there is one on his too. 

"Thank you."

"No Koa, you have nothing to thank me for."

"You just saved my life."

"But if I hadn't-"

He places a finger on my lips and leans back.  I see a backstory coming, so I get comfortable and wait.  The motor is the only noise in the pitch black night.  I see his mouth open and close in the dark, trying to form words and failing.  When he finally finds his beginning, it is so quietly spoken I have to lean in to hear it.

"Ever since I was 10, I have been on a mission to kill the demon that killed everyone in our city, my parents,"

He takes a deep breath and lowers his gaze.

"And me."

I feel my brow furrow as confusion enters my mind.

"I have been hunting you for eight years now, well I have been hunting the demon inside of you.  And when I finally find you,"

He laughs lightly.

"I find out you are actually a person.  A beautiful, smart, talented person."

He stops for a moment, swallowing.

"And now, I don't know if I can kill you."

He cries out and then his hands are on my neck, pressing into my windpipe.  He tears a piece of wood off the side of the boat and raises it above his head.  Panic surges through me and I gasp with the little air I have left.  I aim the gun in my hand at his chest, pressing the cold metal into his soft flesh.  He releases me and hangs his head, covering his face in his hands.

"I am so sorry.  I-"

"Just finish the damn story so that doesn't have to happen again."

"I have a mark on my back that burns when I get closer to you.  I have endured it for so long, for it burns when I try to sleep.  It burns whenever I am not on my way to completing my mission.  Eventually I can't withstand against the pain and it takes over my natural instincts.  I regain control of my body when it is in danger."

"Oh.  I don't really..."

"Water doesn't help, and when I am in pain, it hurts ten times more than normal.  For when I am hurt it means that I am failing my mission, I am failing to kill you."

Goosebumps appear on his skin and I see his lips become a white line.

"Then just kill me already."

"I can't."

"But you have to, or the curse will never leave."

"Well, there is one way.  But I could never do it."

"What?  How?  I will do it if you can't."

He shakes his head and looks out over the water.  I notice the bumps on his skin again and wish I had a blanket to cover him with.

"I have to have a child related to me by blood.  Then they will get the curse."

"Oh."

"I couldn't do that.  I couldn't kill a child, let alone my own child.  Plus I've never.. you know.  And no one would ever do that with me anyway."

"I could do it for you.  Both of those things."

I flush as he looks at me in terror.  I feel a cold hand on my cheek and blood rushes to the stinging skin.  Then I feel a kiss planted on the same place, soothing the pain and making my body flare.  His voice is low and dangerous.

"How could you even say you would kill your own child?"

"But it would be for you."

"I don't care.  That is the monster inside of you talking and I don't want to hear it ever again."

"We're not going there again.  And I am not a monster."

Tears prick my eyes and rage burns in my heart.  A billion voices have said that to me.  Hundreds of people calling me that.  But none of them were the person I cared for the most.  I feel his hand underneath my chin, pulling my face up to his.

"You.  Are not a monster.  But that demon inside of you is."

I tug my head from his hands and collapse onto the bottom of the boat, curling into a ball as voices ring inside of my head.  Screaming crying voices.  Voices of the loved ones of those I have killed.  Voices that have never let me have peace.

"I am sorry.  I didn't mean to..."

"Just shut up and let me sleep."

"I am sorry."

"I said shut up."

I say the words slowly and carefully, weighing them down with emotion.  As I close my eyes and try to sleep, I notice that Koa sits upright, rigid.  I wonder why and then remember his story.  He should kill me in my sleep