My Demon

Violent Storm - 15

Before anything else happened, I retreated to my room. I didn't want to cope with more of the same tedious response that I receive from demons. I felt at odds in the midst of all my grief and pain. All I've ever known was I cannot approve of demons. They were the ones who had thrown off the equilibrium of my world. It's true. Once a demon, always a demon.

I sat on the mattress of the bed and set my hands in my lap. My hands had calloused from all the training I endured to wield my demon eating sword. I remember the blisters that formed and popped open...the pain numbing over the years. Yes, I was no sweet angel.

The door opened faster than I liked with Claudis within the door frame. I didn't even care at this point what he did to me. Claudis could slaughter me or beat me, but it wasn't going to be enough to replace what I've lost. As he sauntered over, his boots were silent over the boards.

"What has got you in such a riled up state?" He asked, but my lips tightened.

I set a hand on either side of me and slowly gazed up at him. The crimson in those eyes of his held no animosity for me. Why was That?

"About what happened in the courtyard why did you say all of that?" He asked me.

I sat still as I said, "Forget me, just forget I exist. It hurts you, so forget me." I saw his eyes widen then soften. "Demons are  by far the most perverted souls I've met, but not you. I beg you to leave me to the winds of this world, so I don't have to remember how I failed as a brother."

I failed Ryu, so he needs to give up on me. Claudis cannot protect me on his own.

Before I knew what happened, I felt slightly chapped lips kiss my forehead. I stared up at Claudis his eyes shimmering softly. "Your brother told me you are a kind soul, but I already knew that kindness. I am indebted to you forevermore, Ryoma. I would follow you even if you told me not to."

Stunned, I felt at a lose again with him. I pulled my eyes from his. "You'll end up killing yourself by doing that you idiot." My cheeks felt hot.

"So be it," he answered and I glared at him. "I am aware you do not have faith in me, so maybe I can remind you," he said, grabbing my right wrist. He pulled me up almost stumbling into his body. "Close your eyes,"

I pushed back from his hold. "What, no!"

"Trust me, I will not do anything to harm you."

"No way in hell would I ever believe that. No," I said as he sighed and placed his hands over my eyes. I gripped at his wrists and tried to pull away. His hold didn't budge, but I felt the gentleness of his hands over my eyes. It wasn't crushing my skin, but acting like a wool blanket.

"Ryoma, calm down and try to rely on your instincts about me."

I scoffed. "You mean like this," I said elbowing him and he released his hold. I turned to see his arm covering his chest. "Don't screw with me, Claudis. I don't like to repeat myself."

"Why is your heart such a violent storm?" He asked as he dropped his arm. "The restlessness and relentless winds there cannot settle because you trust nothing inside of yourself."

"Liar," I said eyeing him with a furrowed brow. His eyes did not brighten in anger.

"Why lie to what you feel? You know I have never hurt you. Ryu could tell instinctually, but you really are not willing to accept I can be a good person."

I crossed my arms and I retreated my eyes from him. "I wasn't. You can't just jump the gun and start acting all weird."

He may think I'm being obstinate, but he just kissed me on the freaking forehead. What kind of lunatic just goes around kissing a guy on the forehead and asks for trust?

"Idiot demon," I said under my breath. "I know what you're doing. I'm not dropping my guard around you."

"Oh and I suppose the pink of your cheeks is an illusion," he said and spun at the heel to his towering form. I glared defiantly as I knotted my eyebrows. "Why are you denying what pleases your body?"

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

"You know exactly what I mean," he said as his hand stroked the right cheek of my face. "You have no idea how much I know about the real you, Ryoma. I will not give up on the promise we made."

I tore from his reach and stunned by the sudden mention I promised anything. "What promise, Claudis? I made no promises to you."

His ruby colored irises remained on mine. "Your wings have changed from the luminous silver they were to the onyx black of a crow's feather. I waited in agony believing the boy with those silver wings would recall the bond, but only his body remembers."

How'd he know what my wings...wait, don't tell me. I stumbled backward onto the floor. "You're lying you have to be. That demon died, I saw it with both my eyes." Claudis moved toward me and bent down in front of me. I crawled back toward the bed until my back was to the frame. "Stay away from me,"

"I may have lost my original form, but I promised to protect you, Ryoma. I told you I care dearly for you, but I lost my way when I thought you were dead."

This wasn't real, it couldn't be the truth. The demon I befriended as a child couldn't be Claudis. Their names didn't match or their appearances. The demon I knew had violet eyes not rose red ones. His name was Macyren not Claudis.

"Ryoma, look closer at my heart." He said with a hand over his heart.

When I searched him up and down, I didn't see a trace of the first friend I ever made. I tried to peer closer, but I couldn't tell if it was Claudis or not. His hand fell away and I saw it. Claudis was Macyren when I spotted the old wound where he was pierced all those years ago. I stopped fighting about this, but I collapsed beside the bed. "Macyren?" I said his name and his lips made a light smile.

"So you never forgot my name at least. Not most demons know it anymore because they believed I was dead, but some are more vigilant to remember my name as a traitor."

I tore my eyes away from him. My stomach coiled at all the things he doesn't know and I hugged my waist tightly. I can't tell him what happened after I thought he died. He would never let it go. That what happened was the work of a demon lord desiring the power that resides in me.

"Ryoma, I will protect you." Macyren's voice had once said.

When he said those words, I wanted to believe him. However, now a storm swirls about inside me. I don't remember why I was so frightened of demon lords back then. Claudis can't know what happened to me after he thought I died. If he did, I won't be strong enough to stop the desperation I felt for someone to save me.

I sat silent while I trained my eyes on cracks in boards. "Things can't be as they were back then. I fell far enough into the darkness to see how grim a reality the world is."

I felt his hands and arms embrace me like he did when he chased me in the forest. I felt heat searing in my chest like he had latched onto my heart. I pulled away and moved from the bed frame. "Ryoma, are you feeling alright?" He said and my grip around my waist got tighter. "I thought you would be happy I was still alive."

I bit my lip and a metallic taste lingered on my tongue. "You should've stayed dead because the boy you tried to protect is gone. I'm afraid your promise means nothing to me." I glanced over my shoulder to see his crimson eyes brighten.

He strode over and latched his large hands on my arms. His brow creased at me as he began to shake me. "Do not give me that! You are lying to me again! Spit it out." He said raising his voice, but it was that very tone of his voice I couldn't ignore.

I knocked one of his arms and shrugged off the other. "It would not make a difference if I told you the truth." I said with my eyes aligned with his. The hag's warning rang again, but what I saw was what ruined my family. The red eyes with the flecks of silver in them and the suffocating grip on my throat were from the one responsible for killing Macyren and my family. That day when my family was slaughtered because of me. It was also the day I found out the truth about my silver wings. I wasn't really Ryu's brother just a confused angel with no actual clue who his family is.

Been a while since I posted a chapter of My Demon. I hope you enjoy this chapter because there will be more of Ryoma's past to reveal. Thanks for waiting soooo long for this chapter and I will continue to write more. Until the next chapter dear readers...