His Guardian Demon

Chapter Fifteen

I landed on a branch outside my window and peered inside the house. I pushed up on the door before I pulled out my phone and asked Domi to open the window. I glided inside and shut the window behind me, folding my wings against my back as I did so. I turned around and was bombarded with Domi's questions.

"Why are you covered in blood? Where did you go? You do realize it's now almost three in the morning, right? Who were those guys anyway? Why did they make you so upset? I thought you could control those things now," Domi said, gesturing to my back. He sat down on my bed and gave me an expectant look. "Well?"

"Okay, listen up."

As my wings lifted me higher and higher off the ground, I felt myself become less and less human. My face and nose grew longer, my teeth sharpened into white triangles, my eyes turned crimson, my limbs became longer and slender, and my fingers turned into claws. I caught onto Domi's scent and entered his thoughts. I told Domi to go home. I knew I would be out for a while.

"Yes, I'm very aware of what happens when you change forms, Ash. You don't need to describe it to me. What I want to know is why you didn't just fly home."

"I don't have that much control over them. I can make them hide out of sight and go short distances, but otherwise, I can't do much. It's like they have a mind of their own."

My wings took me over many houses, none of them familiar. That is, for a while. Eventually, I knew where I was headed. 

"Where?"

"Shut up so I can tell you."

I recognized Winnie's house and gently landed on a branch of his tree in his backyard. Already I could feel myself returning to my human form, my claws retracting back into my fingers. His light was still on, despite it being past ten-thirty. He was sat at his desk, drawing or writing something in a notebook. His mother came in and told him something, making Winnie nod. He closed his book and walked over to his dresser, pulling out baby blue pajamas. 

"Is this really necessary?"

"Shut up so I can tell you the story."

He turned around so I was seeing his back and pulled off his shirt. His back was covered in more bruises. I felt myself become angry at those guys at the diner all over again. I was snapped out of my thoughts when he took off his pants. I felt something weird happen to my stomach. It didn't go away even after he pulled on his pajama bottoms and left his room.

"Again, is this really necessary?"

"I'm going to shove an umbrella down your throat if you don't shut up."

I swallowed and looked around to make sure no one was watching. I jumped to his windowsill and opened his window. I stood on his desk and looked around. I inhaled and watched as my body was restored to the way it should look, aside from the giant wings protruding from my back. I was about to get down and snoop, but I heard someone coming up the stairs. I jumped out the window and flew back to the branch. I turned around just as he entered his room again. 

"Why didn't—"

"DOMI!!"

"Okay, fine, shutting up now."

He noticed his open window and tilted his head. He stuck his head out the window, looked back and forth, and shut it. He reached up and locked it. He was about to pull his curtain closed when he looked in my direction. I backed up into the leaves as much as I could without falling off the branch. He shook his head and pulled the curtains shut. I could still make out his shadow moving across his room before he turned off his light. I waited a couple more minutes before heading back.

"So why exactly are you covered in blood? And why did it take you so long to get back here?"

"I got hungry. I hadn't eaten in months. Don't be surprised if there are a few disappearances on the news in the morning," I deadpanned as I walked to my desk. I put my school things in my backpack so I wouldn't lose it for Monday.

Domi sighed. "Listen, Ash, I know you're different from the rest of us," he started, making me snort. "But you have to control your feeding. Too much in a certain area will make the angels suspicious and come after us. I know you've only been doing this for a few years, but still. Eating actual food helps. And I know your human body gets hungry."

"Fine. I'll eat your disgusting human food, alright? Now can you leave so I can sleep?" I sighed. Changing forms made me tired. 

Domi nodded and left my room, calling out a 'take a bath' before shutting the door behind him.

I looked down and realized just how much blood I was covered in. I walked to my dresser and pulled out a pair of pajama bottoms. I don't bother sleeping in a shirt. My back gets warm when my wings are pressed against it. Besides, who is going to see me anyway?

I walked into the bathroom with my pajamas and turned on the shower. I scrubbed my body until the metallic stench of blood was replaced by the homey smell of cinnamon and mint. I turned off the shower and pulled on my clothes, still slightly damp from my shower. I flopped onto my bed and let sleep overcome me.

***

Wow, I wrote this the same day I finished the last chapter. Be proud of me.