Authors: Kelly Hogan
As Ash rounds up my driveway and cuts the engine, I haul myself off right away. He stays on but we both take off our helmets and have a bit of an awkward silence. Sort of like the silence you get before a first kiss, but this is really a silence because my date just informed me I was part of a different species. Funny. Sort of.
As I look up into his eyes, I see a flood of emotion there. I realize now that he's been waiting for me to say something, anything, that will indicate that I'm not furious at him, think he's a quack, and never want to see him again. Or maybe he's afraid I'll demon out and eat his face off? Ok scratch that, definitely the former, I couldn't be capable of that. Could I? I must shake that horrific image from my brain.
"I really don't know what to say right now Ash, I need some time to think about what you just said. I have about a zillion questions, but I don't think I can handle anymore answers tonight. Basically what you just said changes everything I've ever thought, ever done, anyone I've ever known and basically every belief I've ever had. I believe you, I actually do. I just can't deal with it fully right now."
"I truly didn't say it to be insensitive. I thought when I said 'our world' that you understood what I meant. I feel so dumb that I just thought you got it and were ok. What can I say, I'm not the best communicator," he says with an exhausted grin.
I gently take his left hand in mine from it's spot resting on his thigh and lean in to brush some dirt off the side of his face. I can feel his pulse quicken as I touch his skin. It sends a shiver of power through my entire body, surely this has to be a demon thing.
"I do have one question though," I say barely above a whisper.
"What's that Stella?"
"Is it cool to be one of us, I mean, is it really amazing?"
"It has it's definite perks." Slowly leaning over he reaches for me and grabs my neck in his right hand as he pulls me in for a gentle kiss. His left hand drops mine and weaves it's way into my hair, fiercely pulling me closer to him and deepening the make out. I definitely reciprocate, leaning in close and grabbing his jacket to pull him closer. It feels so good to let go and not think for a second. Erasing all scary demon crap from my head for a brief moment. As he slowly pulls away, he leans his forehead against mine grabbing my hands, keeping his eyes closed and breathing in long slow rasps, regaining control. His scent intoxicates me, I remain with my eyes closed for a few more seconds then pull away as I can see the front porch light blinking like an S.O.S. beacon. Dad must have been getting impatient.
"I gotta get inside."
"Uh-huh," he says but hangs on for a second more. "See you tomorrow?"
"Night Ash."
I turn and rush up the steps and into the house.
I had the most bizarre dreams last night. Scary as hell, then sexy, then scary again, then that one where you are running and late for something like getting to get to the airport, or exams or wherever you really need to be on time. Then I woke up at 4 am in a hot sweat that soaked my sheets and kept me up permanently. It wasn't the same as a full on panic attack, but it was close. Maybe that's my power - crappy scary dream girl. It would be my luck.
I paced, fidgeted, ate a boat load of corn chips, tried distractions – magazines, Facebook, googling demons and supernaturals but falling into the lamest websites where people clearly lost their marbles. Or maybe they haven't and I have instead. Around 6:30, as I sat cuddled on my bed watching the sun rise, it finally registered with me. What Ash was talking about and how my life will never be the same. I mean isn't this what I always thought about when I dreamt of being special, unique and super human? Sometimes the cliches are so dead on – be careful what you wish for or you might just get it. Touché.
It's never the same as in the movies. Where I suddenly burst into my demon self, have a few witty comments for comedic value, and then get on with the butt kicking and super cool save the world things I'd have to do, with nary a thought of the future and what the crap it is going to be like. The questions were multiplying. How did this happen to me? What special powers do I have? Am I dangerous? Could I accidentally kill someone? Is my dad a demon too? Maybe that's why my mom left him? Do I really need to go to work today or maybe there is a huge demon bank where we inherit tons of cash on our 18th birthday?
I dressed in a haze and meandered downstairs to assemble the 'Lard Ass' for Dad and I. From the moment he enters the kitchen, I am transfixed on his movements, mannerisms, covertly stealing stares while he's immersed the paper. Could he really be a demon? I wonder what his power would be? Is he evil? How can someone who wears fuzzy slippers be evil?
"Ok, what is it? Did I forget to shave a patch this morning? Do I have something in my teeth? What do you keep staring at Stella?" Dad pushes his paper down, leaning his flannel clad elbows on the counter. Demons most definitely wouldn't be into flannel checked shirts would they?
"Nothing dad, I wasn't staring," I say with a nervous pfft training my eyes on the bacon as if it's the most interesting thing I've ever seen.
"Right. Ok, do you have something to say then? Something you need to talk about?"
"No Dad, I'm fine, just uh, didn't sleep well last night so I think I'm in a bit of a haze this morning. So, uh, do you have any special abilities you never mentioned?" Ok, not subtle, just laying it on the table, so there.
He looks at me like I have grown another eye. "What do you mean
abilities
?"
"I dunno, like can you see dead people, or read minds, or levitate or you know – something like that?" I avoid all eye contact, just busy myself flipping things.
He heaves a big sigh. "Ok, that's it, you have GOT to stop reading those stupid books and watching silly horror movies. You know it's fake right? I mean that's why you didn't sleep last night – did you get freaked out by 'Death Eaters 2?' I told you not to watch it alone. You are a sucker for punishment Stella." He goes back to reading the funnies.
"Sorry Dad, I'm not looney tunes, you're right I was reading a scary book and I think it freaked me out a bit." Plan B – abort Plan A – Dad is no demon.
Work was a welcome distraction today to be honest. Selling t-shirts, the most mundane task, was so human and simple. The perfect way to work through my issues. Even the annoying richies didn't bug me, I suppose it was partly due to the fact that somehow I knew I was now different, not crazy, and could possibly make their boobs disintegrate if it boiled down to it.
The more I thought about it, the more comfortable I felt. It was as if all things just clicked into place for me. I suppose it would be like when you struggle with a big decision, what college to go to, what career to choose, what outfit to wear to prom, you know – HUGE dilemmas. Once you finally make the actual decision, you can breathe some relief and get on with it. Dumb analogy I know, but it was the best I could come up with.
Now that I know what I am, everything human seems to blur into the background out of focus. My changing looks, the strange vibrations around Ash, being able to sense his emotions, that intensely strong connection to him, my feeling of never really belonging until now, oh and the other day I cut myself while slicing some cheese and when I finally got upstairs to get a band aid it was pretty much healed. Weird crap like that finally made sense. I had so many questions burning through my brain, so by the end of the day I was raring to get home and call him. As I stealthily dodged Rob and grabbed my purse from the back, I began digging for my keys darting through the door.
"Earth to Stella," a voice asks from behind my left shoulder.
I spun around so quickly, my keys flailing through the air. Before they could hit the ground, Ash had them in his hands spinning the circle clasp around his index finger. He was trying to look cavalier and laid back. The dark circles under his eyes told a different story. The moment we had eye contact, everything else turned grey, seeing him and only him. The pull towards his body enveloped my senses as I stood there mesmerized. Suddenly I saw him differently. Saw US differently. We really weren't like everyone else, but only now could I understand why and see us for our true selves. That totally sounds hokey and no I'm not saying that suddenly he turned pink, but now that I was seeing with my eyes fully open, I could really see what we were. Different.
Everything just made sense with him, and I wanted to run over and embrace the life that finally made sense to me. I tipped my lips up into the beginnings of a smile, the smile he was waiting for. I know I barely knew him, but it felt like I knew him all my life. He stared back for a second with an intensity in his eyes that made my knees shake before flashing the biggest grin. We literally just stood there looking goofy and staring and smiling at each other. When I look back, this was the moment I would never forget. This was the moment that changed everything for me. I could feel the tension slip from his shoulders as he slowly leaned up from his car and walked over to me. We never broke eye contact and I could feel the nerve endings all over my body perk up in attention as he grew near.
"Your keys Miss," he murmured softly. He tossed them in my direction and I caught them without even looking.
"Thanks," I said back in barely a whisper. I don't know how long we stood there but it was long enough for some young punks to yell over as they walked by for us to 'get a room'.
It broke the spell we were under and we both started to laugh.
"Would you consider running away with me and leaving all these annoying humans behind," he said with a half joke, half serious twitch on his lips.
"Thanks for the offer. I think I'll stay though, I'm sorta partial to some of them," I said, playing with the keys.
"How was your day?" He slips his hands into his pockets in a gesture that seems eons younger then his actual age which was what 120 years?
"Oh you know, living the high fashion life does take it's toll on you," I said with a grin. "It was a little distracting worrying about whether I was going to vaporize Rob with my laser eyes, but I made it through. I have a few questions though. Well more then a few."
"Yes, I suppose you would. Can we go somewhere private and talk?"
"We could go to my place, Dad is heading to his friends house tonight to watch the game. You're right, it would probably be better to chat alone in case someone overhears and calls the insane asylum." He laughs at this but looks away.
"Come over around 7, he should be gone by then."
"Sure thing." He nods and turns around to head towards the drivers side, but hesitates before getting into the car. "Oh and Stella. You can only vaporize if you're a bad ass demon, and you are certainly not THAT cool," he says with a huge grin.
"Har Har. Watch your mouth Grey, I'll likely be able to out demon you in no time."
I turn towards my car that's parked down the street, smiling to myself the whole way home.
Ash was pretty much on the dot, on time. Very un-demon like. I'll have to mention it to him. He came into the kitchen and sat up at the breakfast bar as if he'd been here a 100 times. I still can't believe he's actually here, in my house, for me. He looks annoyingly great, as always. I wonder if someday I will always look that good, that effortlessly. Nah prob not. He's sporting relaxed jeans, a wrinkled checked shirt with the sleeves rolled up and some converses. I think to myself how funny it is that demons wear converses. Then again the thought shocks me once more that it isn't 'those demons'. I'M a demon.
"Can I get you something to drink? A soda? Beer? I guess seeing as you are old enough to be my great great grandfather I can offer you alcohol," I smile holding the fridge door open.
"Ouch, way to play on my old man insecurities. Soda is just fine, thanks."
As I pull out the cans and slide one over to Ash, I just can't think of where to begin. There is just so much I want to know and yet, how much of it will scare the crap out of me?
"So if we live to be super old, like you," I say with a wink. "why am I aging the same as other kids in school?"
"Ok, first off, enough with the age jokes, you're starting to give me a complex, but it's a good question to start with." He shifts a little in his seat, folding his arms on top of the island, settling in for the long haul. I feel like I should get a pad and paper and take some notes, but figure that would be very un-demon like.
"We actually all age normally until we hit 'the change' which is just around 18, when we're finished going through puberty. Then our aging slows to around the ratio of twenty human years to one demon year. So yes it's true that I am 121 years old but I look around 23 human years, hence my youthful and awesomely rugged good looks," he says with a grin.
"So that's why I went through an upgrade in the beauty department lately, I was going through 'the change'?"
"Yes. I could tell by looking at you evolve that you were coming into your true self. It's quite interesting how everyone else in school noticed before you did. You caused a major stir in the locker rooms, let me tell you," he says with a huff before tipping the can of soda up to his lips.