Running with a Devil

Death

The ride was uneventful. After we had talked about the world, we had settled into an uncomfortable silence. We pulled back into the parking lot of the school and I opened my door and got out. I didn't say goodbye, simply started up my truck and drove away. I pretended Luc's eyes weren't on me as I cranked up the radio. Since it was Dad's truck, the stations were either country or a mixed station that plays everything. I played the country station and sang all the words to songs I had been hearing for years. It seemed like this town was just like country songs. People could live here and to the same things for generations and never get tired of doing what their parents and grandparents and great grandparents did.

Luc

Watching her leave was interesting. She seemed to intentionally ignore me as she turned up her radio. However, she didn't slow down as she approached the stop sign at the end of the driveway of the school parking lot. And then it happened. An 18 wheeler came and smashed into the front of the truck. I watched grimly as Grace's truck was sucked towards the side of the thing, and eventually was trapped between the wheels of the mac truck. I could already smell her blood and her soul struggled to stay with her body. I went over to her and looked down. Her body was definitely shutting down, but the soul stuck stubbornly. I couldn't help but admire how truly tough she was. The truck had stopped and the trucker was stepping down into the road. Grace's truck was on the opposite side and he had yet to lay eyes on the gore. Her body was slumped over the steering wheel, her ribs broken and pushed into her lungs. Her breath was shallow and ragged and blood was already coming from her mouth. Her nose was broken, and her skull was cracked. Impossibly, her eyes fluttered up and caught sight of me. Her last ounces of life were spent uttering my name in absolute wonder. Surely in her death she saw me as I was. For what I was. And then her eyes glazed over. The shimmering fire behind them went out and her soul stepped away from her body. Once she saw herself she started screaming. The trucker saw her then too and started cursing. He pulled out a phone and dialed 911. Grace went to her body and tried to shake it. Of course her hands went right through the previous form of herself. I grabbed her wrist roughly and dragged her away. She fought me, wailing and flailing the whole way. Her howls were physically painful and something about her desperation broke my heart. I had seen many people die, but for some reason her death affected me. Of course I was attracted to her because she was going to die. I grabbed her shoulders and shook her roughly,trying to get her to shut up. She didn't. I couldn't listen to her wailing, so I walked away and waited for the police to come.

By the time they showed up, Grace has stopped that god awful wailing. I stood beside her as she watched the paramedics check her non-existent vitals. They shook their heads and the police talked with the trucker for awhile.

Then, Grace looked at me, "I can't see my dad. Not after this. I will lose it."

I didn't say anything. Of all the things in the world, she was worried about her father. Not about where her soul was going to go or the fact that I wasn't human. Just her father.

She sighed and looked around, "So what do I do now?"

"I don't know. I suppose I should see if you are claimed for good or evil."

"That is a question?!"

I looked at her with a cocked eyebrow, "Have you repented and confessed your sins to the Lord?"

She pinched the bridge of her nose, "Fucking great, I am stuck with you."

I couldn't stop a smirk from appearing on my face. Once she recovered from initial shock, she was pretty hardy. Her soul was strong too, powerful. And as much as she said she didn't like me, I could see us becoming close. My brother, after all, would refuse her. Grace was unclean to him, stained. I doubted he would even show up to look at her.

But as soon as I thought it, I heard the engine. The low purr of a white pearlescent Porche. Grace immediately looked up, her eyes glued to the car. I took satisfaction in the fact that she didn't look nearly as impressed with his as she did mine. My brother got out of the car and walked toward us. He was dressed in a light blue polo and kakis. Too bright, if you asked me.

But Grace didn't hold the same look of distain. She looked... Curious. I said nothing as he approached her.

"I am sorry for your loss, madame. However, it has given me a chance to meet you far earlier than intended," he said, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles.

She didn't say anything, but as soon as he touched her, all the grime from the accident fell away and her every imperfection was washed away. Not that there was many to begin with.

He held her hand and she looked up at him with the strangest look of devotion. I boiled inside. Her dark hair was sleek and straight down her back, her clothes were changed to a gown of white that glowed against her tanned skin. Her eyes were bright green and lined in metallic gold. She could pass for an angel. And worse, she wasn't fighting my Brother's power.

And she absolutely sickened me.

"Where are we going," Grace asked dreamily.

My brother chuckled and looked directly at me, "You are coming with me, my darling. But first you must confess your sins and repent. You must pledge to blindly worship me for eternity, and cast out the forces of evil."

Her eyes flashed, "What?"

My brother had said the wrong thing.

His smile faltered for a moment and he quickly tried to fix his mistake, "We are going to the most beautiful place ever created, but you must repent and pledge your eternity to me."

Grace stepped away and immediately the transformation fell away and left her as dirty as before, "I think I will spend eternity as I choose, not worshipping a man who hasn't ever had any interest in me until today."

My brother and I stared. He couldn't believe what she was saying, but knowing her as little as I did, I could believe it. I was surprised she could think through my brother's ability.

He snarled, "You disgusting creature. My brother can have you."

My brother spat at her feet and it sizzled on the pavement. She flipped him off and smirked, not knowing what she was dealing with. As amusing as it was to watch it, I knew eternity would be dangerous now.

The Porche burned rubber and peeled away. By then, the ambulance had gone and the wreckage had been cleared away. Grace stared at the empty road for a few moments and then just sat.

I sat beside her for awhile and deep into the night I looked at her and said, "Do you want to go home?"

Her voice broke, "Yes. Can you give me a ride?"

I nodded and helped her up. We walked quietly to the car and she helped herself in. The drive was silent for awhile until she said, "What do I do now? I can't linger at my house forever. I don't want to haunt my dad."

I sighed, "Well. You turned Paradise down. I'm not sure."

She laid her head against the window and closed her eyes until she felt her home. Her dad was asleep so she went through the door and into his room. She sat there awhile and then moved into her room. It was a mess, of course. Paints and books and dirty clothes were everywhere. A person sized patch was cleared on the bed for her to sleep in. She sat and just kind of looked around. I leaned in the doorway and looked around. Her canvases were beautiful; galaxies, poppies, and forests all were propped against her walls in various colors. Books were numerous and could be found on almost any surface.

"Grace."

She looked at me with tears on her cheeks.

"Do you want to come with me?"

"Where," she whispered.

"Somewhere warm and safe."

She stood and came to me. I led her back to the car and we drove away. She fell asleep on the way, her head leaned against the window.