Demons Don't Feel Love

Chapter four: Daren strikes

Dawn came early, and the birds started chirping. I still felt tired and wanted to sleep more, but I realized that Daren was gone.

God, does he ever sleep? I thought to myself. I crept slowly from under the blankets, and moved through the cool air in the room. I looked towards the window, and I saw Daren looking though it again, a sort of thousand yard stare towards the horizon.

"Is everything alright?" I asked.

"I was waiting for you." He said. I walked up behind him and wrapped my arms around him tightly, resting my head on his shoulder.

"What is it that you look at out there?" I asked, wanting to know the object of his seemingly absent gaze.

"it's not so much about what I'm seeing, my love, as it is what I'm feeling. Look outside, the world around us, it's beautiful isn't it?" He asked.

"I'm not sure I feel what you do..." I said, somewhat saddened by the physical beauty of such a horrible world.

"Close your eyes, darling." He whispered. As he walked from the window. I felt him standing behind me. "Take a deep breath in, and just relax. It's okay, I've got you."

"Okay..." I answered. I felt his hands on my back, and suddenly I understood.

"Now open your eyes." He instructed. I could see the universe. Planets, galaxies, all residing in a sky completely absent of light. Only the stars created their own sort of luminescence, seeming much like small specks of neon spattered across the sky. I saw myself, and Daren, our lives merely stardust in comparison to the great expansion of time, space, and matter. It seemed that life as we knew it was only an unintended by-product of the natural web of ecosystems and its residents of nature. I began to feel things that I lack the words and poetic ability to describe. It was astounding, gorgeous, but suddenly there was pain. So... Much... Pain! I cried out, then collapsed into his arms, no longer able to hold myself up.

I awoke some time later, Daren was holding a cold towel against my wrist.

"I'm sorry, Anna. I had no idea you would react so violently... I guess humans aren't accustomed to that sort of perspective."

"What are you...?" I stammered.

Daren sighed. "I am an omnipotent being...I am rouge. I am bound by nothing, including time, space, and matter. I have many forms, but I take the form that you can relate to, that you can understand. I would never hurt you by showing you anything else; you know me as I am, so as I am, I will stay."

"I feel dizzy..." I said, the room starting to spin. That was the last thing I remember until I woke up. I saw a large tree above me, and scattered sunlight peeking through the leaves. A Cool breeze made a trail of goosebumps on my arms. The soft grass beneath me was surprisingly comfortable, and it seemed to calm me.

"Hey, figured you could use some fresh air. How are you feeling?" Daren asked me.

"I'm okay... What happened?"

"I, uh, you were having a nightmare. I mean, you were in complete terror. I wasn't sure if I could shake you from it... So I brought you here."

"Where am I?" I asked.

"The same spot where we first saw each other." Daren said, blushing a bit. "Come with me, I wanna show you something." He said, helping me to stand up.

We started walking through the park, towards a forest area not too far from where we were.

"Why are you so quiet Daren?" I inquired in the silence between us.