The Devil Beside Me.

A child with purple eyes.

"She is a brave little girl; don't you think so, Father?"

"I think she is an idiot."

"Why do you say that, Father? She is courageous enough to sacrifice her life to save someone else's. Isn't that bravery?"

"Maybe so but I do not have much interest in noble attributes, my son. However, I do like an idiot who thinks they will be going to heaven for throwing away a life that isn't theirs in the first place."

"I don't think I'm following you, Father."

"God has plans for every single soul he creates. Most of them will end up achieving their purpose and be gladly accepted into heaven for pleasing God. While other, like your brave little girl, goes against their destiny and end their life before their time comes. These little rascals will be reborn into the world to complete their unfinished business. Unfortunately, your little girl is coming to join us here. Be happy, my son. You are finally going to have a playmate."

"How delightful, Father."

Angel ran on the lush green grass looking for Jacob. She looked under the bench, up the tree, behind the bush, on the swings, on the hill and every other place big enough to hide Jacob in it and found nothing. Fearing the worst, Angel shouted Jacob's name over and over again. Still no answer, no reply. All she could hear was the squeaky sound of the swings and see-saw. The laughter of children and their parents giving out instructions filled the air. Angel felt miserable, hopeless and lonely. She had never in her entire life been alone in this playground. Jacob was always there before her, waiting patiently for her to trot up towards him. Mostly, he will be on the swings. Pushing himself to swing as high as he possibly could; Angel always wondered if he lets go of the metal strap, would he be able to fly. She didn't realize when the tears stared pouring. She only realized something was clouding her vision. Wiping her tears away, Angel figured Jacob would eventually make his way towards her when he gets to the playground.

 She slowly made her way to the less populated area of the playground. There were no swings or sea-saws here. In fact, there was nothing here. Only plants and trees existed. Angel always felt at peace when she was here. It was her very own sanctuary. It was also Jacob's favourite spot. Jacob is the one who introduced Angel to this nature's haven. She fell in love with it on first sight. She was away from all human contact. She was liberated from her emotions. She felt free. She felt as if she was one with nature. Letting her hair down, Angel occupied the only bench available there. Her tiny frame was hidden by the large trees surrounding her. If anybody was looking for her, they will not be able to spot her from the playground. She was almost completely invisible. Signing, Angel picked up a stick and started drawing stick figures on the ground. 

"May I join you?" a voice sounded near her left. Looking up, she saw a young boy with ash blond hair and dark purple eyes smiling warmly back at her. "Who are you?" she asked. She knew she sounded a little harsh but she was disappointed that the boy didn't turn out to be Jacob. "My name is Draco Luc-. My name is Draco Morningstar." The boy said and extended his hand for a handshake. Angel stared at Draco's delicate hands which reminded her of the statue of David. It was perfectly sculpted and smooth. Angel grabbed his ivory coloured hands and shoke it. "You have a funny name." she said with a smile and realized that his hand was cold, unnaturally cold. Before she could pursue that thought, Draco smiled back and sat beside her. "It isn't the first time I've heard that. I like my name even though it sounds different. I like to consider it unique. What's yours?" He asked. "Catherine Angel Calestel Emannuel" Angel replied simply. "Well, Angel. Can I call you Angel? You have a funny name too." Draco said. 

Angel couldn't help but grin at this strange boy. She didn't know who he was but strangely, she felt safe with him. The only other guy who made her feel safe was Jacob. It never occurred to her that there could be other people, especially boys whom she could be comfortable with. "Well, at least it isn't as strange as yours. Does Morningstar have a meaning?" Angel asked. Draco leaned back onto the bench, looked up to the sky and stretched his arms. Angel vaguely thought that he was deliberately buying time. Finally, Draco replied, "Yea, it does. But it really doesn't matter now. Can we not talk about this, please??" "Oh, okay." Angel said and fell silent again. "You are in serious trouble, aren't you?" he asked her. Angel looked up at Draco who was staring at something at the distance and asked, "How do you know that?" "I just know things like this. I also know you are afraid." Draco said casually. Angel fixed her eyes on her flip flops and replied, "I am not afraid. I'm doing this to save my sister. She is all that matters to me." Angel said with all the strength she could master. "Are you sure??? I think you are lying to yourself. I think you know that too." Draco said softly. "You know nothing about me! Don't act like you do! I know what I am getting myself into and I'm doing it on my own free will!" Angel replied angrily. "Are you sure?" Draco asked quietly. "Am I sure about what?" Angel asked, feeling her energy draining away. "Are you sure you know what you are getting yourself into?" Draco asked, looking directly into Angel's eyes. "Of course I know what I am getting myself into." Angel said but Draco could hear the uncertainty in her voice. 

"Tell me something, do you know what hell is like?" Draco asked, his voice unemotional. "What does hell have anything to do with this!?" Angel asked, barely able to keep her voice under control.  Draco looked up at her, a small smile playing on his lips. "You mean, you don't know???" he asked with mock surprise on his face. Angel knew something was terribly wrong here. "Hell???? What does hell have anything to do with this??? Why should I bother with hell in the first place??? I didn't do anything wrong. So I can't go to hell, right?? Right???" she thought with wild desperation in her eyes. Angel felt like the whole world collapsing around here. She does not like to be left in the dark like this. She desperately wanted to run and sort things out, alone, without a creepy blond boy beside her. Instead, she asked, "What are you talking about?" Still maintaining his highly disturbing smile, Draco replied, "I'll make things simple for you especially since your head will not be able to process much information when in shock. Anyway, here is the short version. Your sister summoned my father and he wanted your sister's and her pathetic friends' soul. None of them wanted to die, so they exchanged your soul for theirs and now, you are going to hell." Angel understood what Draco told her but somehow found something else disturbing her mind. Gently she placed her hand on top of Draco's cold ones and asked, "Who is your father, Draco?" Draco looked at her, amused he answered her, "You are quite slow on the intake, aren't you? My father is Lucifer, the Devil. "That's quite sad." Angel said softly. Draco was caught totally off guard. He quickly yanked his hand from underneath Angel's and turned to look at her who seemed to be deep in thought. "Whatever do you mean?" he asked with a sickening feeling in his gut. Somehow, he didn't want to hear her reason because he already knew what was going to be said. 

"Its like you have your whole life decided for you. I really don't think you will be able to choose what you want to do or what you want to be. You have to be evil and not just evil but hardcore evil, like your dad. I find that sad. Don't you?" Angel asked. Draco did not like the direction this conversation was heading. He found it unsettling. He didn't like to be pitied and he certainly didn't like being pitied by a mortal human girl. He couldn't understand where so much anger was coming from. "Are you retarded or something? I'm the son of the Devil, D-E-V-I-L. Do you understand what that means? I'm born to be evil and I like it. There is nothing else I want to do, you understand? Besides, who are you to pity me?? You, after all, are going to hell. I think you need to pity yourself for having such a merciless cousin sister. Anyway, I just came to see you because dad wanted me too. Now that I've seen you, I better go. Enjoy your last day on Earth. I'll see you soon in hell." Draco said with a smirk and proceeded to stand up. Angel looked up at him and smiled. "Yea, I guess I'll be seeing you soon, Mr. Morningstar. You have a nice day." She said. 

Draco walked away without saying another word. 'That girl is insane. What is she thinking? Does she think hell is filled with candy floss and sugar, spice and everything nice?? Who throws their soul away for all eternity for someone else??? Arggh, what is that girl thinking!?' Draco thought furiously. He looked at his hand, more specifically, the place she touched it. It felt warm against his stone cold skin. Deep down, he felt a tiny bubbly feeling in his stomach. Something that took his breath away and made it hard for him to talk. Shaking his head, Draco forced that tiny feeling to disappear. The last thing he needed right now was to feel some sort of alien feeling for a mortal girl. He didn't even want to know what he was feeling but he couldn't deny that it left a sweet taste on his tongue.