Page 104 of Demons & Damnation

Dylan’s heart skipped a beat, warmth and pride filling him in an instant. Whilst her saying Azazel’s name as she came around had hurt like hell, he knew she’d been drowsy and also in his arms as she woke up. However, after the demi-soul bombshell, he couldn’t shake the little niggle in the back of his mind that it was something more.

Despite all that, Dylan couldn’t wait to hold her in his arms and keep her safe by his side. The memory of slitting her throat played over and over in his head like a horror movie mini trailer on repeat. He knew he had to do it, it was a means to an end, but he’d never imagined he would have to do something so horrific to the woman he loved more than anything else on earth.

Upon hearing Kyla’s words to Dylan, Azazel’s heart sank, disappointment flooding him. Realistically, he knew she would turn to the safest comfort but the fact she’d said his name when she woke had planted a seed of hope inside him.

Trying his best to ignore his feelings, he walked over to one of the red roses and picked it up, twirling it around in his fingers. “We need to have a conversation about this tomorrow.”

Kyla stared at it for a few seconds then looked over at her grandad. “Do we?”

Malcolm nodded. “Lucifer has just handed the pair of them a death sentence.” He held his hands up and smiled. “But don’t worry about it now. Go home, rest, and we’ll revisit all of this tomorrow.”

“We’ll, erm, take care of this,” Azazel said, motioning his hands out at the room.

Kyla offered him a genuine smile, truly grateful at his offer. “Thank you.” She dug her hands into her pocket and fished out the keys for Sam’s car. “I’m sorry, I’m just not up to driving. I can barely process my own name right now.”

Sam took the keys from her and then wrapped her friend in a warm, crushing hug. “Don’t you apologise for anything. Now go home and chill. And I do mean chill. Not Netflix and chill.”

Kyla laughed. “Definitely not Netflix and chill.” Kyla looked over at her gran and smiled, tears glazing over her vision. Rushing to her, she embraced her in a bear hug as she whispered, “Thank you. I love you.”

Lily hugged her granddaughter back, her own tears already falling. “No need to thank me. I love you, too.”

Taking a deep breath, Kyla broke the hold and headed towards the door, forcing herself not to look back at her mother’s carcass. Dylan pressed his hand to Kyla’s lower back, guiding her out of the house.

Dylan rushed forwards to the car, opening the passenger door for her. Kyla slid inside, offering him a tight smile as a thank you. He shut the door, giving her a precious few seconds of time to herself before he joined her in the car. In those few seconds, her only thought was Should I have asked Azazel to take me home?

Settling in the driver’s seat, Dylan struck the car up and pulled away, desperate to get her as far away from her demi-soul as possible. He knew that eventually Kyla would find her way to Azazel, it was written in the stars, already designed in fate. How could he stand in the way of that? If anyone tried to be in the way of him and Kyla, if she were his demi-soul, he would end them without a thought.

Yet, here he was, about to spend the night with another man’s demi-soul. How must Azazel be feeling right now, watching Kyla walk away with him?

Dylan shook his head and reached over, placing his hand on Kyla’s knee. He couldn’t afford to get lost in his head right now. Kyla needed some stability and comfort, not him second guessing himself and putting some demon’s feelings before his own.

Kyla sat her hand on top of Dylan’s smiling at the warmth seeping through her skin from his singular touch.

Leaning her head back against the head rest, she began to process everything right from the moment Mildred had invaded her.

She’d never felt so scared or lost in all her life. In those minutes she was trapped in utter darkness with a psychopathic old hag, Kyla had never felt fear like it. Fear of helplessness, fear of life being done, fear of looking back on her time and not feeling satisfied or accomplished with what she’d spent her time on. In those moments, Kyla felt nothing but grateful that she’d never managed to achieve her aims of suicide.

Kyla realised that in order to live life to its fullest, to succeed in a happy, successful life, she needed to trust. She needed to open her heart and let people in, or someone at least. To live a life scared, full of anger and bitterness, would get her nowhere. That wasn’t the way to be. After all what is life if not but a state of mind? A mere perception of being?

“Are you ok?” Dylan asked, glancing over at her. “You look lost in thought.”

Kyla sighed and smiled. “Just a lot to process. I don’t really know where to start.”

“You don’t have to process anything right now. You just need to rest. Worry about all of that after a good sleep.”

She nodded and fell silent, losing herself in thought again.

“What’s this dog?” Dylan asked, trying to keep her mind in the present.

“He’s my familiar,” Kyla replied. “Gran said witches get their familiar when they go through a traumatic event.”

Dylan frowned. “But you went home before you came here, right?”

She nodded. “I’ll tell you about it tomorrow. He’s nameless at the moment. He’s a Dobermann.”

“Nice. They’re good dogs. Very intelligent, agile, protective. He could be a good friend for you.”

“I hope so. I have no food for him though. I kind of just abandoned him at home before I drove...here.”

---