And All Things Come

Chapter One: Who is Me

Adri wandered the forest for days. Not looking for an end but not wanting to stay. She faded into the earth and moved across the sea to find herself standing on a dirt bank. She could hear the waves crashing behind her in the night.

She looked around for anyone who could see what she was about to do. When she saw no one, she unfurled her wings and let her four horns out. She stretched her arms to the sky and arched her back, flexing her wings and flapping them once, hard enough the sand in front of her was blown away.

After a few minutes she let them disappear back into her body. She walked the beach and learned where she was. It had been centuries since she'd been there. She allowed to earth to absorb her once again, she moved to a place she remembered easily.

At the corner of March and First Street, she stood, saddened that the tree she slumbered in had long since died, so she planted a sapling in hopes that another will grow. She wandered the street once again, until morning came. When the sun rose, she disguised herself as a human woman.

Long, curly black hair trailed down her back and curled at the ends, resting just at her waist. Beautiful green eyes pierced whatever was in front of her. Her slender face and small features accented the fact that she wasn't human, but looked to close to one. Her body curved just right so she looked mature. She stood six feet and four inches tall.

Her clothes consisted of a modern flowered blouse and blue jeans with black sneakers. She tied a bandana from the back of her head to where her bangs began. She began walking towards the playground that once stood there three hundred years ago. The equipment had been since updated to plastic and metal, and new things appeared. The swings were now chained and made of rubber instead of rope and wood hanging from a tree. Slides, rocking animals and a wall with small protrusions, big enough for someone to place a hand or foot on were new.

Children began to cover the equipment and showed joy. Again, sadness over took her old heart. She remembered the little girl that had spoke to her all those years ago. She watched the children play, mothers came and went with their sons and daughters.

Time passed exceedingly slow. At some point, a little boy walked up to her.
"Hi, are you lost?" The little one could have been at least three or four years old.
Adri cocked her head and considered the young boy. Then smiled and said, "No, I'm not lost. Why do you ask?"
"My mommy hasn't seen you here before and says you're being creepy by standing here and watching us play." Adri became a little angry at that, then the boys mother approached.
"I'm so sorry. Jackson go back and play. He's a bit of a social butterfly." She seemed sincere.
"It's quite alright. However, something he said troubles me." Adri was solemn and dangerous.
"What did he say?"
"He said that you think I'm creepy solely for standing here and keeping an eye on the children. After all, mine was kidnapped from this same park and killed soon after." Her green eyes flashed at the mothers brown ones.
"O-o-oh I didn't realize... I-i-im so sorry. I just hadn't seen you here before and I just jumped to conclusions. It was wrong and I'm sorry." Terror and pain spread across her face. Adri laughed.
"It's quite alright. It's easy to do that these days. My name is Adri."
"Courtney, where are you from?"
Adri smiled.
"A small village off the coast of England called Hades. You couldn't find it on the map it's so small."
"Your name is so unique. Where does it come from?"
"It's said in certain books that Adri was the protector of the 12th gate of Hell. My mother's name was Luci and my father's name was Abyss." Horror spread across Courtney's face with that. She backed away slowly.
"You stay away from me. I'm calling the police." She took out her phone and froze against her will.
"Oh? But I was just having a little fun with the mortals of my new home. After all you asked, and I answered." Adri's eyes flashed to the red irised and black eyed nature they are normally, then faded back to green.
"What good would the police do with a demon? Call a priest?" She cackled. "Just go home and forget all about me. It'll be for the better of both of us." She released the mother from the hold and she scrambled to the playground to collect her child. Adri moved to a nearby tree and hid. Voices moved closer.
"She was here, she was right here!"
"Courtney, are you sure you're okay?"
"YES, I'm fine. I'm perfectly fucking fine, but she's gone!"
"Courtney, I think you need to go home and sleep. You were drunk last night and I think that hangover is causing you to see things."
"I talked to her. I asked her for her name and where it came from and she said it was the demon Adri."
"Go home. You're over reacting."
Adri heard more protest and then footsteps walking away. The sounds of children ceased. She came out of the tree and began walking down the sidewalk. Her clothes changed from pants and a blouse with sneakers to a blue sun dress with matching three inch high heels. Her black hair French braided on either side of her head. They reminded her of horns. An expensive set of sunglasses covered her eyes and part of her face.

She wandered down the street to a house at the end. She took out her key and unlocked the door to the house. People stopped and looked. Adri heard mumbling of how they don't remember a house being here a few months ago.

She covered the windows, letting down the blinds and closing the curtains. When that was done she moved to the kitchen and fixed herself an English breakfast, with extra meat. After she'd eaten, she allowed her true form to show itself.

Four horns protruded from her head. Two pointed upward from either side of her forehead, the other two rested above her ears and curved downward then ran parallel to her jaw, stopping just before her chin. Black, leathery wings unfolded and spanned over eight feet on either side. Adri's pale skin was now covered in black tattoos that resembled flames. They covered half of her body. The top of one arm and the bottom of the other, the same for her legs. They moved up her body, wrapping around her torso. One hip was covered with the black mass, the other had it sit just above it. The ribs on the left side of her body were covered and her right breast as well.

At the back of her neck, it covered it and her pointed ears as well as the top part of her face.

Red and black eyes were uncovered. Fangs and a forked tongue hid behind full, angled lips. Claws rested at the end of each finger. Reptilian legs now took the place of her human legs.

Adri hadn't wanted to see herself for a long time. She renounced her demon form. One of the many curses she has to live with on Earth. Her exile wouldn't last long.

A knock came from the door. Adri hid her form once again and answered it. A girl, maybe fourteen or fifteen, stood on the step.

"May I help you?" Adri asked with a smile. The girl was nervous.
"I-i hope so. My name is Sarah. I know what you are, and I need your help." Her voice was small and soft. She fidgeted with her hands and ran her hands through her long, raven black hair. Beautiful grey-blue eyes accented her pale face.
Adri considered her words for a moment.

"If you know what I am, tell me your wish." Adri's toxic green eyes met Sarah's. They shimmered and shifted.

"I wish for you to help me." Her small voice was stronger.
"With what do you need help with?" Adri was genuinely curious.
"I..." Sarah stopped, bit her lip, and looked away as if to hold back a sob,"I want my parents to stop abusing me."

And a tear fell.