Page 20 of Hollow Nights

“A little ironic.” I forced a laugh. “It all started when…”

“When what?”

“Well,” I sighed, “when you started haunting me.” His face dropped as he stared at me. “It’s okay. Everyone has fears.”

“But you didn’t have this fear until me,” he said coldly. Lightning struck, and the instant it filled my ears, the power burst, leaving the room in absolute darkness. I tried to breathe, knowing I was safe, but years' worth of trauma instantly bubbled back to the surface. “Hey, it’s okay.” Axelle tried to calm me, but seeing his eyes glowing in the night and nothing else triggered me.

I screamed, falling backward as he stood there. My heart began to panic as I tried to cover my ears and drown out the storm, forcing my eyes shut.Breathe. Just breathe. It’s okay. You’re okay.

“Libra.” I could feel him next to me, trying to get me to open my eyes, but I couldn’t.

All I could think about or focus on were those countless nights of his shadowy self tormenting me in my sleep. The painful, terrorizing memories flooded my mind as I tried to silence them.It’s okay. I barely opened my eyes to see his, glaring back at me, inches from my face.

“No!” I screamed, pulling back as I closed my eyes again, shutting Axelle and the rest of the world out. “I’m sorry,” I cried, “but I can’t. It’s too dark.”

Within a few minutes, the smell of something burning filled my nostrils as I peeked my eyes open to see Axelle holding a lit match, his body soaking in its orange color. He was lighting one of the candles on my nightstand.

“I thought this might help,” he said, extending the box of matches in my direction. “I’m so sorry, Libra. I didn’t realize?—”

“It’s okay,” I cut him off, wiping my face andreaching for the box. My hand missed, knocking the matches all over the floor. “Fuck, I’m sorry.”

“They’re just matches, Libra.” He smiled, helping me pick them up.

I leaned over, grabbing as many as I could and peeking under the bed. I reached my hand around, feeling in the shadows, when I felt something else. My fingertips touched the smooth, cold surface as I pulled it out into the candlelight. The color in my face drained as I stared at the deep orange sphere.

“Axelle,” I whispered as he froze, staring at my hand. “What the fuck is this?” My eyes shot to him. “Why is Duke’s sphere here, under my bed?”

“Libra—”

“Did you kill Duke?” I demanded, shaking the crystal in his direction. “Answer me!”

“Look, he wasn’t the nice guy you thought he was! He was always looking at you like you were some prize, undressing you with his eyes at the store. Fuck, he was stalking you, Libra! When I caught him jacking off outside your window, I thought?—”

“What?” He stopped. “Duke was outside my window? Jacking off?” My face hardened as I put the pieces together. “Are you telling me Duke was the man who broke in?” He hissed, his face hardening. “Was Duke the man who tried to assault me?” I yelled.

“Yes.”

“And you killed him? Ate him, right here on my floor?” I pointed to the very spot his blood had been.

“Yes,” Axelle growled. “But I did it to protect you.”

“Protect me? Axelle, you knew he was stalking me and let me just go about my day. You let him sit outside my window and fantasize about me! What is wrong with you?”

“What was I supposed to do, Libra? I’m a monster,yourmonster! No one can see me or hear me. I can’t interfere with humans without?—”

“Without breaking your precious demon rules!” I yelled, throwing the sphere into the wall as it cracked, splitting nearly in half. “I’m so sick of hearing about these rules! What, are you going to burn in hell if you show yourself? You’re a demon, Axelle. What punishment could there possibly be for something like you?”

Thunder rolled outside as he stared at me, the candlelight flickering in the darkness.

“Something like me?” He lowered his head, scoffing. “You know, the only reason I risked being seen and breaking that fucking rule was to protect you. Because I didn’t want to watch some pervert force you while you slept, unable to fight back or do anything while I just let him have his way. God forbid I fucking care about you!” He stomped his foot, shaking the room. “I’ve spent every second of your life chained to you. I know everything there is to know about you, Libra. So yes, I’ve grown a little attached, but if this is what I get for trying to protect you, then maybe I should’ve just let him hurt you. Maybe then, you wouldn’t have to deal with me.”

His words hurt, cutting deep as I sat there, feeling every one of them as they pierced me. I was overwhelmed, emotional, and triggered. I didn’t want to see him anymore, I didn’t want to hear his excuses or anything else. I just wanted him gone.

“You need to go.”

“It’s not that simple, Libra.”

“Go away, Axelle!”

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