I loaded my arms up with random foods and drinks and sat on the couch. "I'm ready." I said. "You must be expecting a long story." he replied softly. "Isn't it?" I asked. "Maybe." he replied. "Depends on how detailed you want me to be. I could tell you exactly what I wore each day, how many times I brushed my hair, this story could take weeks." "Alright, maybe I don't want that many details, but this is interesting to me. Don't spare me anything just because you might think it's boring." He rolled his eyes. "Fine then, and if you're eating so am I." he grabbed one of my bags of chips. "Fair enough." I said. "So, where should I start?" he asked. "Obviously the beginning." "This story has the potential for many beginnings. Pick one." I thought about it. "How about the first time you met her." "You're giving me a lot of ground to cover, (y/n). You do have to go bed tonight, you're such an asshole when you don't sleep." "Better start talking then. And who says you get to tell me what to do?" "Alright, shut up and listen, because I'm only telling this story once."
"It all started when I was a teenager. I smoked back then if you can believe it. Like a lot. Like more than Dark. It was fun. Now, the entire habit disgusts me...and it disgusts her, too. She's precisely why I quit. When we first met, I was cutting class for a quick smoke break with one of my close buddies. She just happened to be outside for class and when I saw her, I must've looked funny because I caught an elbow to the ribs from my friend. I guess I should mention this was a female friend and we'd been messing around for a few weeks...so she was interested and immediately jealous, but ask me if I gave a fuck. I didn't. Definitely didn't. She was hotter than a million suns and frankly, at that moment I was in love at first sight. Some say that stuff isn't real, but trust me it is. It's just rare. Anyway, she found her way over to where we were to see what we were up to. First thing out of her mouth that was directed at me was you were cuter when I thought you weren't smoking. She left after that." "Ouch." I replied. "Yeah that doesn't even begin to cover it. Needless to say, I stopped smoking after that. She didn't give me the time of day until I proved it though, and that took weeks. She has a real thing about smoking for some reason, and wanted to make sure that I was really done doing it. After that, we started a weird ass friendship. You know how sometimes you're into someone, but they haven't gotten to know you yet so they're not? It was like that. Times a billion. Plus, I was so fucking shy around her I could barely even tell her my name. For some reason, she thought that pussy shit was adorable...but not adorable enough to date me...or maybe she never got with me because I wanted to ask her out, but I chickened out at the last minute and lost out to some douchebag. Glad he's gone, I always hated that guy. He was such a fraudster, he had everyone thinking he was just a quiet, reserved dude, but he was a fucking asshole. He used to do some twisted shit when no one was looking. Anyway, despite douchebag being in the picture we eventually struck up a reasonable, respectable friendship and it just kinda vanished. Our lives changed...we grew apart. Hurt like hell, but all is well that ends well." I was unimpressed. "You call that a story? Come on, it took like 3 minutes. I need more details." I tossed a handful of popcorn into my mouth. "You're difficult sometimes, you know that?" I nodded. "Fine. I'll tell you more, but only if you promise to sleep your emotions off and come back to me as your rational self tomorrow." I sighed. "Promise." I said flatly. "Alright..."
I wish I had a better way to pass the time at night. Being all alone here is stressful. I watched the wind whip around the trees outside. It storms so often here that I barely even notice a storm rolling in. Back when I wasn't alone all the time, big storms would make me lazily curl up with my caretakers and we'd watch lightning...but those days are over. I saw a figure in the doorway. I didn't call out, thinking my brain was playing tricks on me again. It took months before I stopped hearing their voices and seeing their images in my mind when I was scared, or lonely. "Figured you might like some company." I recognized that voice. "Ramses." I said quietly. Ramses and I have been friends from day one...and from what I can tell, she wants to be more than friends, but I have some reservations about that. "Exactly how long have you been alone?" she asked, looking around. "Longer than you know, and no, they're not coming back soon. It'll be awhile." I hated lying to her, but what was I supposed to do? Tell her the truth? No way. Not this time. "That's unfortunate." she replied. I needed to change the subject and fast. "So what can I do for Ramses, the queen of darkness?" I asked. "More like what can I do for you?" she purred. "Not that. I'm way too distracted." I said, giving her a gentle push. "I'm a leader. You dare to defy me?" I scoffed. "You haunt the tombs of dead humans. You're no leader." I teased. "I'm named after one." she replied. "A human leader. A dead one, too. They call you the ghost of Ramses...you look nothing like him, frankly, but...I wouldn't be fooling around with you if you did." "We're not fooling around...and I kinda have an issue with that." she said, tracing my thigh. "Is that why you came over here?"I asked, feeling a bit smug. "Maybe." she replied. "Or I might have been a bit worried about my friend being all alone in this weather. I know what these big storms do to you." I wished I hadn't let her know that bad weather freaks me out a bit. It's just so unpredictable. "Alright, alright...maybe it wouldn't hurt." I said, cupping her face, I let her cold jewelry press against my skin. "You're a walking display case at this point, why so much gold?" I asked, letting her straddle me. "Why so much talking? You're cuter when you shut up and let me have my way."
I always let her have her way...with me and everything else. I stayed flat on my back while she laid her head against my chest. "You sure are quiet." she said. "Hey, last time I said something, you told me you liked me better when I shut up." I replied. "Oh, and you stayed quiet for a whopping 10 seconds and I didn't say anything about it." I laughed. "You said a lot of stuff...mostly my name." I said my name in a mocking tone and she slugged me. "Can I help that you're fun to play with? I mean you are my favorite." Favorite? I'm not used to any kind of real attention. That awkward feeling crept up on me. "You ready for school tomorrow?" she asked. "Not even." I replied, disappointed that it was Sunday. "Me either. We should cut classes." I looked at her. "Not a good idea. I've heard of some bad shit happening to those who have done that." She rolled her eyes. "Typical Asmoday. Always playing by the rules." "I do NOT play by the rules. I'm just not stupid." She laughed. "If you say so." The room was silent save for the harsh sound of heavy rain pelting the roof. "We should do this again sometime." she said. I looked at her. "I was thinking that same thing. This is kinda nice." "Kinda?" she asked. "Okay, it's really nice. Thanks for dropping in on me." "Anytime. I love being here..." I stared off into space for awhile, hoping she'd just forget about desiring to be with me. Of course, she didn't. She pressed the issue until I had to change the subject. I'm not sure what it is that's keeping me from wanting to be with her-she's great...but something tells me to stay single. Ignore her wants. "You always seem so annoyed when I talk about the two of us." she said, shattering the peaceful sounds. "I'm definitely not annoyed." I replied, half lying. "You sure seem to be. Is it because I'm not of your kind?" I gave her a dirty look. "Of course not. Why would you say that? I don't have issues with anyone who isn't the same kind of demon as me." I replied. "It seems that something is off. Maybe it's me. I should probably get going...I need to think about a few things." Guilt panged me and I asked her to stay. "You mean that?" she asked. "If I didn't, I would have told you to go." I replied. What a mess. What an awkward fucking mess.
"So, the next day I met Lilith and the rest is history." I scowled. "No, that's not how it went down. You chickened out when you wanted to be with her and then tragedy struck." He laughed. "See? You know the story, now go to bed." "It's better when you tell me." "Alright, just a bit..." he sighed.
"I developed quite the friendship with her. Above anyone else, I hung out with her, even though her caretakers kinda sorta wish I was dead." I was surprised. "Why?" I asked. "Well, Malsumis, her male caretaker, he's...a conqueror, I guess. He rides this terrifying white hellhorse around and conquers other worlds with three other demons apocalypse style. He's admired by many because the dude is a combat master, and that all went to his head thousands of years ago. He has yet to change. Sedna, her female caretaker is just an overprotective little bitch. She isn't fond of any guy who gets close to Lilith. " "How does Dark feel about them?" "Those two are so far up each others' asses that they don't know Ari...and that's for the better considering his origin. Those two would sell all three of us up the river in a heartbeat. Denouncing us would save them from having to answer for us. They're egomaniacs, they don't want any negative PR." "God, they sound awful. Kinda makes you wonder why Lilith turned out so sweet." "It's simple: she's better than them." I could see that. "This whole conversation has me trying to combat major nausea." He said. "You okay?" "I have to see these asshats in awhile." I was uncomfortable to say the least. "Sedna throws parties, and we were oh so lucky this time around. We got invited. Lilith is too kind to turn her invite down, so...well, you know." "Oh no." I replied. "My thoughts exactly. If they find out I married her, I think I might have to go into hiding for...how long is eternity again?" I was displeased to hear of his problem. "Maybe it won't be so bad. If people can change, can't demons?" "You're cute when you're positive...look, let me worry about it. I might even still be fighting with Lilith by the time the day rolls around...for now, get to sleep. You need it." He scooped me up before I could make another sound and dropped me into my bed. I looked up at him. "What's that look for?" he asked. "I hate sleeping alone. Blame Dark for that one." He hesitated. "I can't right now...it's not a good idea." I supposed he had a point. "I'll bring you my stunt double though." he joked. "Anything...I just don't wanna be alone." A few moments after Asmoday left, Dark appeared. "Should I ask?" he asked, reading my face. "No." I replied, laying on his chest. He settled in beside me and I fell alseep.
