Nemesis: A Love Story

HUGH

He had spent most of the night looking for her.
All to no avail.
It probably ended up for the best, as she was clearly beginning to ride the wave of whatever drug she was on.
This perplexed him.
She didn't seem the type.
The addict type and maybe she isn't.
Regardless he had asked some question at the bar. Found out Mike, the soul bartender and owner of the pool hall had never seen her until that night.
He'd remember her he'd explain.
He frowned at the knowledge.
"You talking about the angel?" A deep baritone voice came from behind, then joined them.
"Angel?" He asks as the large bouncer named Otis joins them.
Otis nods to Mike and receives a bottled water.
"Yeah. 5'8. Blond. All in black. Nicknamed her Angel. She looks like one don't ya think? Hope I don't see her back here anytime soon. Her kind of people don't belong here. " he mutters as he takes a swig of water. A small drop escapes running down his large dark chin.
"Her kind" Hugh asks.
Otis looks directly at him. In that way only Otis can, deep and long.
"Yeah, the light people."
He walked away without another word of explanation. Leaving Hugh tongue tied and Mike laughing.
"What can I say...he reads a lot of Deepak Chopra."

Now it's the next morning and he ventures home, more irritated then normal and he just prays his sister doesn't have someone in there otherwise he'll lose it completely. He's on edge lately. He isn't sure if it's because his P.O is breathing down his neck, the bills will be late again, or Megan and her neediness is starting to get to him. All he knows is everything was more manageable before this Angel had appeared. When he thinks of her an odd mix of loathing and protectiveness sweeps over him.
He doesn't know how to process it.
What to do with it.
So he swallows it down, down, down.
So he lashes out instead.
He blames her for this stress in his life.
This lack of control.
He needs to get her in line.
Under his thumb.
The sooner the better.
He steps inside to a quiet house. No extra voices. No weird smells. He takes off his coat and sees the place has been cleaned.
Claire's way of making amends for her lack of judgement.
He walks to her bedroom door and opens it.
He doesn't knock. There's no such thing as privacy between them.
She's there on her bed. Wrapped completely with blankets, in a cocoon of sorts. He has a flash of her as a child. How when mom and dad were going at it, he'd come into this room, see her frightened tear streaked face and wrap her up in her safety blankets. Rick her back and forth. Sing in her ear until the loud voices and breaking glass faded away.
He stands there a moment longer and then leaves closing the door softly behind him.
He goes to what was once their parents room. Now his and strips off his clothes as he makes way to the large queen sized bed, the one luxury.
Claire has changed the sheets.
He sinks under the covers and pulls them up to his chin.
He just needs a few hours of sleep.
Just a few and then he'll leave again to find the money he needs for he and Claire to survive this week.
His tired eyes begin to drift closed when the ping of his phone goes off. He reluctantly pulls it out. Already knowing what he'll see.
His brows furrow.

Megan
Today! Don't forget. God, I can't wait to feel you inside me again.

He rolls onto his back with effort and groans into the nothingness around him. The sound of this thumb taps filling the air.

Hugh
I'd never forget about you baby. I'm gonna slip it in so good. So hard and rough just like you love it. Soon xo.

Hitting send he quickly shuts off his phone to avoid her next reply.
He just needs a few hours of, thought free, worry free, rest.
His eyes drift closed again and he turns to lay on his stomach. His head sinking happily into his pillow.
He dreams of demons and their angels.