Drowning (1st book)

6. Kill of the Night

Hey guys! I changed my mind on what Rose would look like. I think Lily Collins looks and would do a better job acting as Rose. I do love Shailene Woodley, but she's just not Rose. Check out her photo above. 👆. Check out the song Kill of the night by Gin Wigmore
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Lake. Even the word gives me a chill. I've been scared of the word since I was eight.

Today I have to hide my fear because my family wants to go down to the lake. I, of course, have a strong objection, but I can't just tell them a manipulative water demon lives in the bottom of our lake and is planning to murder me. They would never believe me! They'd probably consider therapy. Plus, he did some voodoo demon stuff to my mother.

Before I leave, I put on pile after pile of foundation on, hoping to cover up my purple and black bruises. I've almost used the whole bottle by the time the bruises have vanished.

I also have some questions for my mystery demon. Like how the hell does he know my name?

I change into my swim suit, a two piece. I pull over a translucent cover.

My mother packs up our towels and food.

I frantically bite my nails. I keep feeling guilty about not telling her.

"Does that satisfy your appetite?" Dante jokes.

I look at my hand and put it behind my back.

"Shut up," I mutter.

He stands next to me and watches our mom and dad load food into the back of our truck.

"What's got you so worried? You know you can tell me anything, Rose."

I stare at him for a really long time. I try to tell him through my eyes that there is a crazy demon trying to kill me.

"Rose, Dante, in the car!" my dad yells. He stops moving to look at us when he sees the intensity in my eyes.

He stops in his tracks when he sees the intensity in our eyes.

He sweeps his graying hair behind his ear.

"Am I interrupting anything?" My dad questions. I brake my gaze from Dante.

"Nope, your timing is impeccable," I smile.

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We get to the Lake and I look around, expecting Asher to jump out and yell "boo!"

My mother lays out a towel on a beach chair and pulls out the newest copy of "The New York Times". My father and brother jump into our paddle boat and push it out to the lake.

I see my mother and I get this urge to work out my problems with her like I've always done. I used to always be able to confide in my mother, but that was before Asher.

I look at her, and I don't understand why telling my mom could get me in trouble with Asher. He can just make her forget, right?

I walk over to my mother and plop down in the green grass beside her plastic fold out chair. My mother sets her magazine on the ground.

"Rose, honey, what's the matter?" my mother asks while smoothing out my frizzy hair.

This is it. To tell her or not to tell her? That is the question at hand! See what I did there? William Shakespeare? Hamlet? Didn't you read it?

"Mom, have you ever met someone... bad?" I ask.

She smiles, delighted to fill my brain up with so called "adult wisdom".

"Of course I have, there are lots of bad people in the world, Rose."

I sigh. She doesn't get it.

"No," I shake my head. "Like really bad."

My mother's face suddenly becomes confused.

"Are you okay Rose? Are you doing drugs or alcohol..." she trails off.

My eyes widen and I freak out.

"No! Of course not!" I clarify.

My mom calms me down and apologizes.

"But maybe, have you ever met a person that was really bad, but you kind of like it?"

My mother stares at me for a long while, trying to figure me out. What is she thinking?

"Are you pregnant?" she says in dead calm.

I double over laughing.

"Oh mom," I say while wiping my tears of laughter, "Pregnancy requires sex, and that will not be happening anytime soon with me!"

My mom laughs with me.

I still can't help feeling guilty. I will never be able to tell her about the wretched, disgusting, stubborn, perverted, sexy little prick of a demon living in my lake! It's not my fault I can't tell her! He'll kill me!

That makes me loathe him even more.

My life wasn't supposed to be like this. I was supposed to be the shy and insignificant Rose that I was before this all happened, but I can't go back to her now.

I look at my reflection in the rippling current of my lake and see a girl I never knew could exist. But here I am.

He changed me.

The thing is, I let him change me.

Then I realize, I like Asher.

I've known I was attracted to him, but I didn't think it was like that.

I guess it.

I really want to find Asher now. Everyone else is so busy, they won't notice if I disappear for a while.

"Asher," I scream," come out wherever you are!"

I look down towards the dark, murky water of my lake.

His face emerges from the surface.

"Gosh you're so clingy!" He says gratingly.

I catch sight of him and jump. He grabs my leg and pulls me into the water.

I shriek.

"Stop screaming Rose, you're my kill of the night," he whispers.

I feel my body being dragged to the bottom of the deep, dark, scary lake.