Azazziel did not trust me."Do you think I called you for fun?" I asked, not quite believing it. Hey, I don't even like being with you! Believe me I wouldn't have done this if I knew what to do."And why didn't you wear the bracelet at that time?"" Damn , because…" I pursed my lips with a lump of pure nervousness in my throat. I-I don't use it all the time.-That? Suddenly a new shade of deep anger suffused her features. It's a joke, right?"I'll never take it off again, okay?" I hastened to say. But really, you have to save that girl." Save that girl?" She repeated, frowning even more.Then, he started laughing, but it was brief when he noticed my expression, which didn't have an ounce of grace. She sighed heavily and reached up a hand to touch the bridge of her nose with thumb and forefinger."Look," he said, exuding irritation, "if what you say is true, I'll see what I can do to make him leave you alone, but with that chick I can't do anything."A gasp of genuine uneasiness left
"And you'll accept it to save Claire's life?"I pursed my lips, still not having the courage to look at him."Yes," I muttered, completely unsure. She wasn't. Actually, she wasn't."What are you willing to give to save her?"I frowned at him."Wh-that the pact isn't enough for you?" A corner of her lips curved into a mischievous half smile, and I gasped. That? But if you were asking for it…!"It's not enough," he interrupted me. Not now. I have no idea what demon I'm up against, Amy. Perhaps he is one of higher rank, and I won't risk it just for a pact of honesty. I need something more.I swallowed. I felt like my stomach was taking a nosedive.-And what do you want?"Answer what I just asked you.I closed my eyes tight. What was she willing to give up to save Claire? I didn't even know. It wasn't something she could express out loud, because she had no idea how far she was capable of going.I slid my palms down my face to brush the hair off me, and sighed, my gaze fixed on the ground
The drive to Claire's house—despite not being that long—had seemed like an eternity. My stomach ached again as I tried to imagine what she would say to Joane. I was aware that she might not be welcome, and it made me nervous to come up with a quick excuse. But I had to risk it.I did breathing exercises before vigorously pounding on the door, immediately regretting sounding pushy. Joane opened it after a few seconds, and her brown eyes—darkened by circles and puffy, as if she'd cried—widened in shock."Amy…" he murmured, then shook his head. Darling, what are you doing here? I thought…“I'm so sorry about yesterday,” I said quickly, “but I need to see Claire.She opened her mouth to reply, but her lips trembled and she closed it. She shook her head slowly."I don't think that's a good idea," he decided.I bit my bottom lip and inhaled deeply."Please," I begged. I really need… I need to see her again.-What's happening to you? -He frowned-. You are shaking."I…" I didn't know how to c
"You're a fucking bitch!" he bellowed angrily. Who do you think you are?!A tiny red cross was marked on her forehead, and her chest had heaved just as much as mine. I watched as she tried to pick up her arms to get rid of the restraints, and I hurried to reach into her bag again. When she saw what I pulled out, her eyes widened again."Not true," he muttered in surprise, looking at how she was holding the bottle of holy water.-What's your name? I demanded.He let out a growl."The one I'll write with a knife to your throat, witch!"I uncovered the bottle, without any consideration.-Who are you?-No no! Hey…” Fortuitously, the anger vanished from his features, he smiled and used a much more pleasant tone. Look, I see we got off to a bad start, I accept that. But let me stay here another couple of days, and this will all be over! I promise! Do you think this bitch cares if you save her? You want to die! Her," she assured, laughing. He told me so many times, Amy."Shut up," I mumbled,
"Think about it, girl," he insisted.The last thing I saw was her smile, before the door came between us.On the stairs, we heard another scream from Claire, and Joane, ahead of me, let out a sorrowful groan."The damn treatment is supposed to help him." I heard her speak so softly, I wasn't sure if it was for me or her. She's supposed to be able to live with it. She—she reached the living room and plopped down on the sofa. But she's getting worse every day...Her voice cracked and she covered her eyes, letting out a weary sigh."Did a father come today?" I inquired cautiously.She raised her face to frown at me."Father Kenae, yes," she replied, confused. How do you know?—M-my mother told me… And did he…? I pursed my lips, not sure how to phrase the question. I mean, are you sure she has… well, schizophrenia?"Of course," he said with a certain austere note."And what did the father say?" I insisted. Did he see something strange in Claire? Something... different from the disease?—F
I covered my face with my hands in a weary gesture, and sighed. The burden that I felt was so enormous, that by a stupid impulse more than anything else, I opened my mouth."There…" I bit my lip, feeling a lump grow in my throat. There is a person who needs help. And I… I have the possibility to help her, but that implies that she must risk something… vital ."What did you get yourself into?" I didn't miss the note of bewilderment in his voice, and then I realized that he had made a mistake. He wasn't going to understand if I didn't tell him the truth.And obviously he couldn't."Forget it," I repeated.I heard a long sigh from him.“Look, I don't know what the hell you're talking about, but you can't risk that much for anyone. You have to think about yourself, okay?I removed my hands from my face and looked at him with a frown. He sighed again and then disappeared down the hall, saying nothing more. I hugged myself, and wished I could be more like my brother.This Claire thing, bein
Or even knew if he would return.My brother actually seemed confused, probably for the same reason as my parents. He looked at me sullenly for a moment, then he sighed and put his hands in his pocket. He couldn't refuse, that was the agreement I had reached with my parents when I bought it from them, that when I needed it, he would provide it to me without protest."Not a scratch," he warned, tossing my keys into the air, which I caught by sheer luck.I nodded and turned on my heel.“Amy,” he called to me before leaving his room, “be careful, okay?I wrinkled my nose and had the urge to ask him if he was sick, but I didn't have time for that.When I closed the front door behind me and found myself there, on my front porch, with no people around me, the cold outside making me shiver and my stomach clench, I stood still.I slowly brought my left arm up to my mouth, with the damn bracelet on. I closed my eyes tightly, feeling a devastating rejection of my intentions, and an almost intole
"This car smells like sex," Azazziel commented under his breath.I continued to look out the passenger window, arms crossed over my chest, and ignored him, just as I had been doing for the entire trip. He hadn't looked at her since I got in the car. I didn't even turn around or say anything as he started the engine and sped off as quickly and recklessly as if we were in a street race.Just being in the same small space next to him was unbearable. A thousand feelings of loathing and rejection sprang up toward him, even more than he already felt. He didn't understand his callousness, coldness, and utter indifference to the fact that I'd just traded my own soul for him to save a life, because he wasn't able to do it of his own free will. Because he didn't care in the slightest if a human soul was lost to a demon."Should I stay away?" I asked in a whisper, just because I needed to know before I got there."No need," he replied listlessly, and I nodded.The silence lasted until I told him