Angles and Demons

Choices

I shut the door to the cottage, stepping into the warmth of the house. My grandmother was at the table once again, preparing some potions for clients tomorrow. Her face paled when she saw me covered in blood.

"What happened?" she asked, rushing over to me and examining my neck.

I was still too stunned to really be able to take in the fact that blood was still coming lightly from the wound in my neck. "I, um, was attacked. I wasn't ready. He bit my neck," I recalled, absently being lead to the table.

My grandmother was a flurry of movement, gathering up hot water and a cloth. She began wiping away the blood, revealing the two small puncture wounds. She ground up some herbs into a pot, then cast a spell for healing.

"How did you get away?" she asked.

I shook my head, the movement sending pain down my spine. "I didn't. I would have died, but this man saved me, gave me the blood."

I opened the palm of my hand, showing her the needle. The liquid inside was a deep, deep, red. Much darker than any humans could have been. She blinked at it.

"Someone saved you?"

"A man. He was dressed in a black and red three piece suit. He was at the club."

She took my face in her hands, her gaze intense. "What color were his eyes?" she demanded.

"Black," I answered.

My grandmother stood, anxiety taking over. She was cursing and muttering spells under her breath. She was warding the house. I didn't know why. I just watched her, the events of tonight settling in.

"Why?" I asked as she was setting salt by the doors and windows, to ward away evil.

"Never mind child. You need to go to bed, get some rest. I have much to do before tomorrow. Some important clients are coming in town. I will need you to stay away from the house."

It was the first time my grandmother had told me to stay away , but I didn't really have the energy to argue with her, to press her for answers when I knew she wouldn't give any. They must have been Fae of some sort, or from the coven.

******

The next morning came early. I didn't sleep well, tossing and turning all night. I could hear my grandmother downstairs preparing the house. I decided to get up and go take the blood to Theo. It was the only thing I could think to do. I had wanted to get my hands on that book so bad, and now I reconsidered the effort.

Maybe I was taking it too far.

This had been something I was so focused on for so long. It felt wrong to give up on it, to leave it unfinished. My parents had died for it, died to protect me. The witch covens were hiding something. Maybe I wasn't strong enough to see this to the end, but I could at least take this next step forward.

I threw my covers off and dressed in boots, skinny jeans, a shirt, my red cardigan, and a long plaid scarf to cover up the bite marks. I had a band aid over it, but I didn't want to answer any annoying questions. I just wanted to push that far from my mind.

I picked up my phone, looking at it for the first time since the beginning of last night. I had several missed calls and texts from Raymond. I forgot to tell him I made it home okay.

I went down the stairs, typing out an apology to him, and explaining that I was able to get the blood. No more, no less.

I walked out with a gruff hello to my grandmother.