Short Story - Demon's Test
Happy Love Day! Have a short story!
Made a cover. Sad I can only use it here.
Title: Demon's Test
Word Count: 3659
Half betaed.
~
Zam’s back itched, and when he tried to scratch it, his father slapped his hand away. They were last in line.
“Do not touch them. You will make it worst.”
Zam frowned and scratched the back of his hand instead. “They’re taking too long,” he complained. “I want my wings already. I want to be an adult.”
That got Zam a tap on the back of the head. “They will appear when you need them, not when you want them.”
“That’s what the final test is for right? So I can get my wings?”
“The test is something every demon must go through. Wings or not.”
“But almost everyone gets their wings during the test.” Zam’s excitement and impatience were palpable. He counted how many people were in line before him and missed his father rolling his eyes.
“It’s common to get your wings during the test.”
Zam grinned, the tips of his baby fangs showing. Once his wings grow out so would his teeth, becoming longer and more frightening. A full-fledged demon. He had been waiting seventeen years for this day. Though to be accurate it was closer to seven years since his first ten years of life had been spent running around and chasing the family hellcat.
His father pushed him gently as they moved down the line. “Listen carefully. You will meet someone during your test, how you deal with them will affect your position when you get back.”
“The only thing I’m going to be is a hunter like you, father.”
They reached the front of the line. A demon they called the ferryman summoned him. “Zamiel Dath.” Zam stepped forward and presented his left hand to the ferryman. Pale fingers grabbed his palm and a sharp dark fingernail carved a circle on the skin. “The results of your test will show up inside the circle. Good luck.” Zam turned his head to get one last look at his father, but his vision was swallowed by black and red. He felt himself falling forward, faster and faster. He must have lost consciousness because when he opened his eyes he was sprawled on a wet tiled floor. A drop of water fell on his forehead. A second echoed in the distance.
He stood up slowly, trying to make sense of his surroundings. The small space he was confined in smelled musky and he saw that the water was coming from a metal device attached to the wall half a foot higher than the top of his head. There was a weak wooden door beside it. Zam pushed on the door and found himself in a room filled with similar wooden doors. He opened a few of them only to find himself right back where he had started. He trudge forward, unsure what his next move should be when he saw a boy staring at him. Zam jumped in surprise, but when the boy did the same he realized he was seeing a reflection of himself. His mouth opening, he rushed to the mirror, taking a good look at his own visage. His fiery red eyes were now a pale amber, the natural purple streaks of his hair were gone, leaving only black, and his fangs! Where were his fangs?
“I look like a human,” he muttered to himself, poking a cheek to make sure. Was this part of the test? If he looked human, did that mean he was in the human world?
Zam shuddered at the thought. The human world was a place only for lowly tempter demons who wasted their time convincing weak humans to sell their souls. Zam had no interest in either, he was going to be a hunter, but maybe that was the point of the test, to tempt a silly human. If so then why did he look human? Part of being a tempter demon was to look as ethereal as possible. There was nothing of that in the reflection he saw.
Zam started looking for the exit to this place. He stumbled into a larger room filled with walls of little metal doors. The room wasn’t empty. On the far side, a young human was staring at him. This time Zam knew it wasn’t a reflection.
Was this who he was supposed to meet for his test?
The boy turned away grabbing items from one of the small metal doors, then left.
Zam followed.
They boy walked quickly down a hall that opened to a large courtyard. Zam followed him all the way past a gate and down a hill to a secluded parking lot. At times, Zam would hear other voices in the vicinity, other humans. But this was the human he had first seen, so this had to be his someone. He just had no idea what he was supposed to do with him.
There was one vehicle left in the lonely lot. The boy stopped twenty feet from it and turned around.
“Stop following me!”
Zam hesitated. The boy's light brown hair fell around his face down to the nape of his neck. His dark green eyes unsure and afraid. Zam was certain that wasn’t a good sign, it would be time consuming to track down the human if he fled. “What’s your name?”
The boy seemed startled by the question. He held his items tighter. “Gale.”
Ok, he learned the human’s name, but what now? “I’m going to follow you for a little while, Gale, but I won’t do anything bad to you.” That’s how humans talked to each other right?
Gale seemed to relax a bit, but Zam could tell he was still on flee mode. “Where did you come from?” Gale asked.
Zam shrugged. “Somewhere.”
Gale glanced at the floor. “Fine then,” he continued walking to his car. He opened one door and pointed to the other. “Get in.”
Zam got inside the cramped space. He could do this, He could pretend to be human until he figured out what he was suppose to do.
“Seatbelt,” Gale said, and turned on the car. Zam stared at him. “The thing above your right shoulder,” Gale pointed, and snapped something running across his body. Zam pretended to know what he was talking about, but it still took him two minutes to figure it out. When the thing finally clicked he did a small victory dance in his head. Human like, no problem.
Gale cleared his throat and Zam noticed they hadn’t move at all, instead the other boy was staring at him. Zam pursed his lips. “So, where are we going?”
Gale leaned against the wheel and smiled at him. Zam could hear the blood rushing through his ears.
“We’re going on a date.”
~
As the sun went down, they reached a place full of sound and light. People were walking around everywhere, holding tight to each other, screaming and laughing. Things moved and the air smell of something sweet.
“Wow,” Zam felt something bounce inside him, everything was so bright and noisy. He had never seen anything like it. This wasn't the dark and depressing human world he had imagined.
Gale stood next to him. "Do you have a name?"
"Zam."
Gale tilted his head up a little. He was shorter than Zam by an inch or two. While there was still fear in his eyes, there was also something new there. Gale reached out, Zam stared at his hand. With a sigh, Gale stepped closer and grabbed Zam's hand with his own, holding tight. Zam almost jumped when their skin touched and warmth spread through his fingers. He had always thought humans were cold creatures. "I want to ride the roller coaster," Gale said, and just like that, he pulled Zam along towards the noise.
~
Two hours later Zam was convinced that humans had too much free time and that they liked inventing machines of torture. The 'roller coaster' had been the worst. He’d rather try flying wingless than get on it again. It would be safer.
Gale laughed or smiled the entire time and pulled Zam along from place to place, rarely letting go of his hand. Every few minutes, Gale’s thumb would stroke the back of Zam's hand, sending shivers down his spine. "Wait here," Gale said and ran off to a yelling man. He came back with something fluffy and pink.
"What is that?" Zam asked.
"Cotton candy," Gale answered, picking a piece of pink and putting it in his mouth. "You eat it."
Zam hesitated to even touch the pink fluff, but Gale seemed to enjoy it so he risked it. He did a second victory dance in his head. Before he knew what he was doing he grabbed another piece, then another until more than half the stuff was gone. Gale was laughing.
"It's good," Zam said.
Gale nodded then started walking forward, munching on what was left of the cotton candy. Zam kept up the pace, standing side by side next to Gale, his hand reaching out slightly towards the human boy, but Gale didn't reach for his hand again. Zam's hand felt cold already. He waited. Waited. Then he got tired of waiting, Gale didn't seem inclined to grab his hand again so Zam went for it.
Gale almost dropped what was left of the cotton candy, his lips a fine line that Zam couldn't read. Zam started letting go and Gale gripped his hand. "Yeah," Gale smiled, then headed forward again. It was so warm where their skin touched, Gale's palm covering the circle carved into Zam's skin. A scar Gale couldn't see. It was the only thing that made Zam’s suffering in this place bearable.
The place- Gale had called it a carnival- was quieter now, with less humans roaming around. "Last ride," Gale announced and stopped in front of a giant circle machine that moved slowly towards the sky.
Zam shook his head. "There's no way I'm getting on that!"
Gale pulled on his hand. "The ferris wheel is the last one, I promise" he said. Zam met his eyes, ready to tell him no. He had long lost the purpose of this test. But when his eyes connected with Gale's he just shut his mouth and nodded.
Zam realized very quickly that the ferris wheel was worse than the roller coaster. Now more than ever he wanted his wings, because there was a very high probability he was going to fall and crash to the earth.
"Don't look down," Gale recommended. Zam sat back trying really hard to follow the advice, and every time the thing moved he squeezed Gale's hand. "This wasn't at all what I expected," Gale leaned against his side of the seat and looked at him. Zam got the urge to say something, but the thing moved again and he spent the rest of the ride with his eyes closed.
Never again, Zam swore once they were on solid ground. Never again.
The moon sat high in the sky. "It's almost ten," Gale pulled on Zam's hand again, "let's walk." Zam was too tired to complain and allowed himself to be pulled along. As they got farther and farther from the carnival things got quiet, and Zam realized he had been wasting time. What the hell am I suppose to do? I'm going to fail this test. I'll never be a hunter! My wings will be worthless.
Zam was lost in his own thoughts, but snapped back when Gale suddenly stopped and squeezed his hand. It was dark and empty around them.
Another human was blocking their path.
He was taller than them, broader, older. "I warned you, Gale. Didn't I say that if I couldn't have you, no one else would?"
Zam sensed the change in the air as it suddenly filled with Gale's fear and the man's bloodthirsty rage. Gale let go of Zam's hand, placed it on his shoulder and pushed him away. "Run," he whispered, eyes fixed on the man. Zam didn't move. Gale pushed him a little harder. "Run," Gale said again more desperately. Zam still didn't move.
The man pulled something from his pocket. Gale turned around to face Zam, his back towards the man, towards danger. "Zam, run!" Gale screamed this time, pushing him. A blade rose high in the air, ready to strike. Like a snap of fingers, Zam's instincts kicked in. He stopped thinking about what he should do, and just did. He grabbed Gale's shoulders, pushed him out of harm's way and opened his arms, as if in welcome. Grinning as the man struck him, driving the knife deep into his chest. He had nothing to fear from mortal weapons.
Gale screamed. "Zam!"
The man took a few steps back. Zam took a deep breath, blood poured out of his body, his grin vanished. He was a demon, this shouldn’t hurt him. This shouldn't- Zam tried to pull the knife out and pain flared across his body, something he had never felt before. So fierce it made him stumble and crash to the ground, a very human cry leaving his lips. Gale screamed his name again. The man should have been running away, but he just stared and stared. Zam could tell there was something wrong with him, but right now he was more worried about the blade protruding from his chest. Gale called again, and the man turned his attention back to him, his dilated eyes seeing only the human boy.
"You made me do that!" he pointed at Gale, reaching the boy in three quick strides, knocking him to the ground and kicking him hard. "I guess now I have to beat you to death."
Gale cried out in pain. Zam saw red. He didn't understand why, but Gale's suffering was something he could not stand by and watch. Gale should be holding his hand, laughing and smiling, anything less was unacceptable! Zam grabbed the knife again and yanked it out. Blood covered the ground by his feet, but Zam shook the pain off. Deep down he knew this was his test.
Zam moved fast. Faster than the human eye could see. Pain overwhelmed his body, coating his vision with red. He reached Gale and the man before another kick could connect. With ease, Zam pulled the man off and placed himself between them. He growled low on his breath. The man lunged forward, hitting Zam head on. This close, the odor finally hit Zam's nose, the undistinguishable odor of a rotting soul that has been possessed. This was definitely his test.
Zam struggled with the man, his unpredictable movements making things difficult. Zam cursed. He should be stronger than this. This should be easy for him. The man pushed at Zam's chest, right on his open wound. The pain was unbearable.
Gale seem to come out of nowhere. Jumping on top of the crazed man, beating down of him. "Stop it! Help! Someone!" Zam collapsed on the ground and he struggled to move, to breath. Suddenly there was a loud crack, and the man fell sideways, moaning and holding the side of his head. Gale stood next to him with a rock in his hand. The man didn’t get back up, so Gale threw the rock aside and knelt next to Zam. "Zam! Are you ok? I'm calling 911!" Zam's whole body was still racked with pain, but it was getting better. Gale was looking worriedly at him, then started talking into a small black device he held in his hand. Suddenly, Zam saw the man's shadow behind Gale, but before he could warn him, the man snatched Gale's hair and pulled him back, slamming him against the pavement.
Gale tried to squirm away, but the man grabbed his hair and pulled him to his knees. "You're mine, Gale," he said and it made Zam's hair’s stand on end. His world became very small when the man raised his free hand high in the air. There in the grip of his fingers, was the blood covered knife Zam had tossed aside.
"Don't touch him!" Zam growled. His body moved fast. Faster that he thought possible in the human world. His back burned and exploded. He collided with the man before he could take Gale's life, pushed him so hard and so far that the frail human body tumbled and twisted across the pavement hard. Zam was certain the man would not get back up ever again. Zam heaved, the pain on his back finally residing, his new wings folding into place. A warm hand touched his shoulder and Zam turned to meet Gale's eyes. Gale gasped, his hand almost recoiling, but he recovered quickly and continued looking at Zam until his eyes showed no more fear or doubt.
"You saved me." Gale sounded surprised. He smiled and hesitantly touched Zam's face, pulling his bangs aside to see the true color of his eyes. "It was a good deal."
The world froze for a moment.
"Deal?" Zam asked, feeling better by the second. His human visage now gone, he was healing fast.
"Isn't that why you're here?" Gale ran his thumb across his cheek. "To claim the soul I sold?"
Zam looked away, snorting half a laugh. "This was the test? What a sick joke." What was the point in saving you?
"Zam?" Gale asked, doubt on his voice. "Is that even your name?"
"It's Zamiel," he clarified, "but I prefer Zam."
Gale chuckled. "It fits you," he lowered his hand, took a step back. Without thinking, Zam grabbed both of Gale's shoulders and pushed him against the nearest light post. He loomed over him, watching closely, intently, for- and there it was, the lingering visage of the shadow of death, it was fading. Gale’s destiny had been to die this night, for his soul to roam free, a destiny stolen by creatures like him. Demons were nothing if not sneaky.
"What a sick joke," Zam repeated under his breath. Gale didn't hear. "So you sold your soul in exchange to be saved from that man?"
Gale shook his head. "No. I knew that man was going to kill me sooner or later. No one believed me when I said I was in danger, like no one could see him but me,” he smiled sadly, his hands reaching up to the neck of Zam’s shirt, they shook. “I've been afraid and alone for so long.” Gale’s fingers gripped Zam’s bloodied shirt, his eyes brimmed, recalling the memory. “He was so charming and beautiful, and when he asked I just said I wanted someone to believe me! Someone that saw me and only me, even if just for one night. Someone that could make me feel loved and protected!” Zam slowly loosened Gale’s grip. Something inside him screamed to take Gale’s shaking body and cover it with his. Blood and all. But he didn’t. Not like that. He held his hand instead.
Gale stopped shaking, his breathing coming in slowly. He gripped Zam’s hand tight and brought it close to his face, pressing the back of Zam’s knuckles against his lips. “I just never imagined that my wish and my demise would be the same person. Demons sure have an odd sense of humor."
"We sure do."
Zam squeezed Gale's hand and leaned in. They stood face to face, Gale's head tilted up, Zam's tilted down. His free hand touched the side of Gale's face, where a drop of water had rolled down from the corner of his eye.
"Aren't you going to ask me if I regret it?" Gale asked, his feet shifting, his eyes looking around, but Zam had him pinned against the post.
"Why should I?"
"Guess you wouldn't," he pressed his free hand close to Zam's wound. "Does it hurt?"
Zam didn't answer, he just let go of Gale's hand and grabbed his wrist instead. Gale tested his hold. "What if I run?"
"I already have you. I'm not letting you go."
Gale shrugged appearing nonchalant, but Zam noticed the small signs of -what did humans called it?-Sadness? What little fight had momentarily appeared in the human boy was now gone. Gale's lips quivered, his eyes still brimmed. "Thank you, Zamiel," he tried to smile, "Happy Valentine's Day."
Zam had no idea what that meant. "Close your eyes," he said. Gale obeyed. Zam held the tip of Gale's chin and leaned in, closing the gap between them, his lips brushing Gale's softly, opening them until he was kissing him under the moonlit night, and taking his soul.
Eventually, Gale's body went limp in Zam’s arms. The empty shell still pumping blood, still functioning. Zam held it, until the eyelids opened and green eyes found him. They were empty, barren. "Who are you?" the body asked. Zam let it go and walked away, stretching his wings, testing them. He started running full speed down the empty street. His wings stretched. The cold night air brushed against his skin. He had expected it to be freeing, to be the greatest feeling he had ever experienced. But he just felt empty. Hollow. Like the human shell he had left behind. Inside him something pressed against his chest, forcing his anger at the night, the world. His palm burned, Zam watched as a new mark carved into his skin. He had passed. He was finally what he had always wanted to be. A full-fledged demon.
He hated it.
END
Made a cover. Sad I can only use it here.
Title: Demon's Test
Word Count: 3659
Half betaed.
~
Zam’s back itched, and when he tried to scratch it, his father slapped his hand away. They were last in line.
“Do not touch them. You will make it worst.”
Zam frowned and scratched the back of his hand instead. “They’re taking too long,” he complained. “I want my wings already. I want to be an adult.”
That got Zam a tap on the back of the head. “They will appear when you need them, not when you want them.”
“That’s what the final test is for right? So I can get my wings?”
“The test is something every demon must go through. Wings or not.”
“But almost everyone gets their wings during the test.” Zam’s excitement and impatience were palpable. He counted how many people were in line before him and missed his father rolling his eyes.
“It’s common to get your wings during the test.”
Zam grinned, the tips of his baby fangs showing. Once his wings grow out so would his teeth, becoming longer and more frightening. A full-fledged demon. He had been waiting seventeen years for this day. Though to be accurate it was closer to seven years since his first ten years of life had been spent running around and chasing the family hellcat.
His father pushed him gently as they moved down the line. “Listen carefully. You will meet someone during your test, how you deal with them will affect your position when you get back.”
“The only thing I’m going to be is a hunter like you, father.”
They reached the front of the line. A demon they called the ferryman summoned him. “Zamiel Dath.” Zam stepped forward and presented his left hand to the ferryman. Pale fingers grabbed his palm and a sharp dark fingernail carved a circle on the skin. “The results of your test will show up inside the circle. Good luck.” Zam turned his head to get one last look at his father, but his vision was swallowed by black and red. He felt himself falling forward, faster and faster. He must have lost consciousness because when he opened his eyes he was sprawled on a wet tiled floor. A drop of water fell on his forehead. A second echoed in the distance.
He stood up slowly, trying to make sense of his surroundings. The small space he was confined in smelled musky and he saw that the water was coming from a metal device attached to the wall half a foot higher than the top of his head. There was a weak wooden door beside it. Zam pushed on the door and found himself in a room filled with similar wooden doors. He opened a few of them only to find himself right back where he had started. He trudge forward, unsure what his next move should be when he saw a boy staring at him. Zam jumped in surprise, but when the boy did the same he realized he was seeing a reflection of himself. His mouth opening, he rushed to the mirror, taking a good look at his own visage. His fiery red eyes were now a pale amber, the natural purple streaks of his hair were gone, leaving only black, and his fangs! Where were his fangs?
“I look like a human,” he muttered to himself, poking a cheek to make sure. Was this part of the test? If he looked human, did that mean he was in the human world?
Zam shuddered at the thought. The human world was a place only for lowly tempter demons who wasted their time convincing weak humans to sell their souls. Zam had no interest in either, he was going to be a hunter, but maybe that was the point of the test, to tempt a silly human. If so then why did he look human? Part of being a tempter demon was to look as ethereal as possible. There was nothing of that in the reflection he saw.
Zam started looking for the exit to this place. He stumbled into a larger room filled with walls of little metal doors. The room wasn’t empty. On the far side, a young human was staring at him. This time Zam knew it wasn’t a reflection.
Was this who he was supposed to meet for his test?
The boy turned away grabbing items from one of the small metal doors, then left.
Zam followed.
They boy walked quickly down a hall that opened to a large courtyard. Zam followed him all the way past a gate and down a hill to a secluded parking lot. At times, Zam would hear other voices in the vicinity, other humans. But this was the human he had first seen, so this had to be his someone. He just had no idea what he was supposed to do with him.
There was one vehicle left in the lonely lot. The boy stopped twenty feet from it and turned around.
“Stop following me!”
Zam hesitated. The boy's light brown hair fell around his face down to the nape of his neck. His dark green eyes unsure and afraid. Zam was certain that wasn’t a good sign, it would be time consuming to track down the human if he fled. “What’s your name?”
The boy seemed startled by the question. He held his items tighter. “Gale.”
Ok, he learned the human’s name, but what now? “I’m going to follow you for a little while, Gale, but I won’t do anything bad to you.” That’s how humans talked to each other right?
Gale seemed to relax a bit, but Zam could tell he was still on flee mode. “Where did you come from?” Gale asked.
Zam shrugged. “Somewhere.”
Gale glanced at the floor. “Fine then,” he continued walking to his car. He opened one door and pointed to the other. “Get in.”
Zam got inside the cramped space. He could do this, He could pretend to be human until he figured out what he was suppose to do.
“Seatbelt,” Gale said, and turned on the car. Zam stared at him. “The thing above your right shoulder,” Gale pointed, and snapped something running across his body. Zam pretended to know what he was talking about, but it still took him two minutes to figure it out. When the thing finally clicked he did a small victory dance in his head. Human like, no problem.
Gale cleared his throat and Zam noticed they hadn’t move at all, instead the other boy was staring at him. Zam pursed his lips. “So, where are we going?”
Gale leaned against the wheel and smiled at him. Zam could hear the blood rushing through his ears.
“We’re going on a date.”
~
As the sun went down, they reached a place full of sound and light. People were walking around everywhere, holding tight to each other, screaming and laughing. Things moved and the air smell of something sweet.
“Wow,” Zam felt something bounce inside him, everything was so bright and noisy. He had never seen anything like it. This wasn't the dark and depressing human world he had imagined.
Gale stood next to him. "Do you have a name?"
"Zam."
Gale tilted his head up a little. He was shorter than Zam by an inch or two. While there was still fear in his eyes, there was also something new there. Gale reached out, Zam stared at his hand. With a sigh, Gale stepped closer and grabbed Zam's hand with his own, holding tight. Zam almost jumped when their skin touched and warmth spread through his fingers. He had always thought humans were cold creatures. "I want to ride the roller coaster," Gale said, and just like that, he pulled Zam along towards the noise.
~
Two hours later Zam was convinced that humans had too much free time and that they liked inventing machines of torture. The 'roller coaster' had been the worst. He’d rather try flying wingless than get on it again. It would be safer.
Gale laughed or smiled the entire time and pulled Zam along from place to place, rarely letting go of his hand. Every few minutes, Gale’s thumb would stroke the back of Zam's hand, sending shivers down his spine. "Wait here," Gale said and ran off to a yelling man. He came back with something fluffy and pink.
"What is that?" Zam asked.
"Cotton candy," Gale answered, picking a piece of pink and putting it in his mouth. "You eat it."
Zam hesitated to even touch the pink fluff, but Gale seemed to enjoy it so he risked it. He did a second victory dance in his head. Before he knew what he was doing he grabbed another piece, then another until more than half the stuff was gone. Gale was laughing.
"It's good," Zam said.
Gale nodded then started walking forward, munching on what was left of the cotton candy. Zam kept up the pace, standing side by side next to Gale, his hand reaching out slightly towards the human boy, but Gale didn't reach for his hand again. Zam's hand felt cold already. He waited. Waited. Then he got tired of waiting, Gale didn't seem inclined to grab his hand again so Zam went for it.
Gale almost dropped what was left of the cotton candy, his lips a fine line that Zam couldn't read. Zam started letting go and Gale gripped his hand. "Yeah," Gale smiled, then headed forward again. It was so warm where their skin touched, Gale's palm covering the circle carved into Zam's skin. A scar Gale couldn't see. It was the only thing that made Zam’s suffering in this place bearable.
The place- Gale had called it a carnival- was quieter now, with less humans roaming around. "Last ride," Gale announced and stopped in front of a giant circle machine that moved slowly towards the sky.
Zam shook his head. "There's no way I'm getting on that!"
Gale pulled on his hand. "The ferris wheel is the last one, I promise" he said. Zam met his eyes, ready to tell him no. He had long lost the purpose of this test. But when his eyes connected with Gale's he just shut his mouth and nodded.
Zam realized very quickly that the ferris wheel was worse than the roller coaster. Now more than ever he wanted his wings, because there was a very high probability he was going to fall and crash to the earth.
"Don't look down," Gale recommended. Zam sat back trying really hard to follow the advice, and every time the thing moved he squeezed Gale's hand. "This wasn't at all what I expected," Gale leaned against his side of the seat and looked at him. Zam got the urge to say something, but the thing moved again and he spent the rest of the ride with his eyes closed.
Never again, Zam swore once they were on solid ground. Never again.
The moon sat high in the sky. "It's almost ten," Gale pulled on Zam's hand again, "let's walk." Zam was too tired to complain and allowed himself to be pulled along. As they got farther and farther from the carnival things got quiet, and Zam realized he had been wasting time. What the hell am I suppose to do? I'm going to fail this test. I'll never be a hunter! My wings will be worthless.
Zam was lost in his own thoughts, but snapped back when Gale suddenly stopped and squeezed his hand. It was dark and empty around them.
Another human was blocking their path.
He was taller than them, broader, older. "I warned you, Gale. Didn't I say that if I couldn't have you, no one else would?"
Zam sensed the change in the air as it suddenly filled with Gale's fear and the man's bloodthirsty rage. Gale let go of Zam's hand, placed it on his shoulder and pushed him away. "Run," he whispered, eyes fixed on the man. Zam didn't move. Gale pushed him a little harder. "Run," Gale said again more desperately. Zam still didn't move.
The man pulled something from his pocket. Gale turned around to face Zam, his back towards the man, towards danger. "Zam, run!" Gale screamed this time, pushing him. A blade rose high in the air, ready to strike. Like a snap of fingers, Zam's instincts kicked in. He stopped thinking about what he should do, and just did. He grabbed Gale's shoulders, pushed him out of harm's way and opened his arms, as if in welcome. Grinning as the man struck him, driving the knife deep into his chest. He had nothing to fear from mortal weapons.
Gale screamed. "Zam!"
The man took a few steps back. Zam took a deep breath, blood poured out of his body, his grin vanished. He was a demon, this shouldn’t hurt him. This shouldn't- Zam tried to pull the knife out and pain flared across his body, something he had never felt before. So fierce it made him stumble and crash to the ground, a very human cry leaving his lips. Gale screamed his name again. The man should have been running away, but he just stared and stared. Zam could tell there was something wrong with him, but right now he was more worried about the blade protruding from his chest. Gale called again, and the man turned his attention back to him, his dilated eyes seeing only the human boy.
"You made me do that!" he pointed at Gale, reaching the boy in three quick strides, knocking him to the ground and kicking him hard. "I guess now I have to beat you to death."
Gale cried out in pain. Zam saw red. He didn't understand why, but Gale's suffering was something he could not stand by and watch. Gale should be holding his hand, laughing and smiling, anything less was unacceptable! Zam grabbed the knife again and yanked it out. Blood covered the ground by his feet, but Zam shook the pain off. Deep down he knew this was his test.
Zam moved fast. Faster than the human eye could see. Pain overwhelmed his body, coating his vision with red. He reached Gale and the man before another kick could connect. With ease, Zam pulled the man off and placed himself between them. He growled low on his breath. The man lunged forward, hitting Zam head on. This close, the odor finally hit Zam's nose, the undistinguishable odor of a rotting soul that has been possessed. This was definitely his test.
Zam struggled with the man, his unpredictable movements making things difficult. Zam cursed. He should be stronger than this. This should be easy for him. The man pushed at Zam's chest, right on his open wound. The pain was unbearable.
Gale seem to come out of nowhere. Jumping on top of the crazed man, beating down of him. "Stop it! Help! Someone!" Zam collapsed on the ground and he struggled to move, to breath. Suddenly there was a loud crack, and the man fell sideways, moaning and holding the side of his head. Gale stood next to him with a rock in his hand. The man didn’t get back up, so Gale threw the rock aside and knelt next to Zam. "Zam! Are you ok? I'm calling 911!" Zam's whole body was still racked with pain, but it was getting better. Gale was looking worriedly at him, then started talking into a small black device he held in his hand. Suddenly, Zam saw the man's shadow behind Gale, but before he could warn him, the man snatched Gale's hair and pulled him back, slamming him against the pavement.
Gale tried to squirm away, but the man grabbed his hair and pulled him to his knees. "You're mine, Gale," he said and it made Zam's hair’s stand on end. His world became very small when the man raised his free hand high in the air. There in the grip of his fingers, was the blood covered knife Zam had tossed aside.
"Don't touch him!" Zam growled. His body moved fast. Faster that he thought possible in the human world. His back burned and exploded. He collided with the man before he could take Gale's life, pushed him so hard and so far that the frail human body tumbled and twisted across the pavement hard. Zam was certain the man would not get back up ever again. Zam heaved, the pain on his back finally residing, his new wings folding into place. A warm hand touched his shoulder and Zam turned to meet Gale's eyes. Gale gasped, his hand almost recoiling, but he recovered quickly and continued looking at Zam until his eyes showed no more fear or doubt.
"You saved me." Gale sounded surprised. He smiled and hesitantly touched Zam's face, pulling his bangs aside to see the true color of his eyes. "It was a good deal."
The world froze for a moment.
"Deal?" Zam asked, feeling better by the second. His human visage now gone, he was healing fast.
"Isn't that why you're here?" Gale ran his thumb across his cheek. "To claim the soul I sold?"
Zam looked away, snorting half a laugh. "This was the test? What a sick joke." What was the point in saving you?
"Zam?" Gale asked, doubt on his voice. "Is that even your name?"
"It's Zamiel," he clarified, "but I prefer Zam."
Gale chuckled. "It fits you," he lowered his hand, took a step back. Without thinking, Zam grabbed both of Gale's shoulders and pushed him against the nearest light post. He loomed over him, watching closely, intently, for- and there it was, the lingering visage of the shadow of death, it was fading. Gale’s destiny had been to die this night, for his soul to roam free, a destiny stolen by creatures like him. Demons were nothing if not sneaky.
"What a sick joke," Zam repeated under his breath. Gale didn't hear. "So you sold your soul in exchange to be saved from that man?"
Gale shook his head. "No. I knew that man was going to kill me sooner or later. No one believed me when I said I was in danger, like no one could see him but me,” he smiled sadly, his hands reaching up to the neck of Zam’s shirt, they shook. “I've been afraid and alone for so long.” Gale’s fingers gripped Zam’s bloodied shirt, his eyes brimmed, recalling the memory. “He was so charming and beautiful, and when he asked I just said I wanted someone to believe me! Someone that saw me and only me, even if just for one night. Someone that could make me feel loved and protected!” Zam slowly loosened Gale’s grip. Something inside him screamed to take Gale’s shaking body and cover it with his. Blood and all. But he didn’t. Not like that. He held his hand instead.
Gale stopped shaking, his breathing coming in slowly. He gripped Zam’s hand tight and brought it close to his face, pressing the back of Zam’s knuckles against his lips. “I just never imagined that my wish and my demise would be the same person. Demons sure have an odd sense of humor."
"We sure do."
Zam squeezed Gale's hand and leaned in. They stood face to face, Gale's head tilted up, Zam's tilted down. His free hand touched the side of Gale's face, where a drop of water had rolled down from the corner of his eye.
"Aren't you going to ask me if I regret it?" Gale asked, his feet shifting, his eyes looking around, but Zam had him pinned against the post.
"Why should I?"
"Guess you wouldn't," he pressed his free hand close to Zam's wound. "Does it hurt?"
Zam didn't answer, he just let go of Gale's hand and grabbed his wrist instead. Gale tested his hold. "What if I run?"
"I already have you. I'm not letting you go."
Gale shrugged appearing nonchalant, but Zam noticed the small signs of -what did humans called it?-Sadness? What little fight had momentarily appeared in the human boy was now gone. Gale's lips quivered, his eyes still brimmed. "Thank you, Zamiel," he tried to smile, "Happy Valentine's Day."
Zam had no idea what that meant. "Close your eyes," he said. Gale obeyed. Zam held the tip of Gale's chin and leaned in, closing the gap between them, his lips brushing Gale's softly, opening them until he was kissing him under the moonlit night, and taking his soul.
Eventually, Gale's body went limp in Zam’s arms. The empty shell still pumping blood, still functioning. Zam held it, until the eyelids opened and green eyes found him. They were empty, barren. "Who are you?" the body asked. Zam let it go and walked away, stretching his wings, testing them. He started running full speed down the empty street. His wings stretched. The cold night air brushed against his skin. He had expected it to be freeing, to be the greatest feeling he had ever experienced. But he just felt empty. Hollow. Like the human shell he had left behind. Inside him something pressed against his chest, forcing his anger at the night, the world. His palm burned, Zam watched as a new mark carved into his skin. He had passed. He was finally what he had always wanted to be. A full-fledged demon.
He hated it.
END