The Real Story of Heaven and Hell

I opened my eyes willing them to focus. I had a horrible dream, a dream filled with demons bent on my death.
My eyes still hadn’t focused completely when someone spoke. “Hi there.”

I screamed, I couldn’t help it, my demon sensor was blaring in my head. I calmed down when I realized it was Lil. “I like your eyes better without the lenses.”
Leave it to my sister to make a comment about my eyes. “You scared the fucking shit out of me!”

Lil put her hands on her hips without even realizing she was doing it. “Excuse me? I get home from a long day in Hell and I expect to find my woman waiting for me, and she’s fucking gone!”

She was going for humor but I wasn’t feeling well enough to appreciate it at all. “I think you have enough company.” I motioned towards where Jimmy stood all but directly behind Lil. It wasn’t lost on me how he had put himself directly between the door and my sister.

“He doesn’t cuddle like you do.” She said pouting at me. “I missed you babe. Next time you’re gonna run off, gimme an address so I can visit. Or at least save your ass from demons.”

I tried to move and winced in pain. “Hey, I killed two of them.”

I watched her mouth drop hanging there for a second before a huge grin lit up her face. “I’m proud of you sweetheart.” She glanced over her shoulder for a second before looking back at me. “Hey, I brought you a surprise.”

Lil stepped back and Brian’s handsome face was suddenly in my line of vision.

“Hey.” Brian said with the smile I saw so rarely and had been missing horribly.

I don’t know what was on our faces but next thing I heard was Lil clearing her throat. “Yeah I uhh haven’t eaten in days and now that I know you’re okay I’m famished. So me and the angel are going to get something to eat real quick.” She turned giving Brian a stern look. “You’ll take of her?”

Her words felt heavier then they sounded like there was some kind of meaning behind them I didn’t get. Brian’s own steady gaze met my sister’s. After thirty seconds or so he gave her a short nod. “With my life.”

Again his words didn’t match the tension filling the space between them. I frowned at Jimmy and he just winked at me. I watched in shock as he leaned down and pressed a kiss to Lil’s neck.

Lil seemed to immediately relax as she looked up at Jimmy with a shy smile. So they were a couple but in true Lil fashion she wasn’t comfortable with public displays of affection, yet. “Okay, okay, we’re leaving.”

Jimmy took a hold of her hand and started to lead her away. She paused in the doorway, “we’ll only be gone a few minutes okay?”

When I nodded she and Jimmy left the room leaving Brian and I alone.

Brian moved his chair right beside my bed while I chewed my bottom lip nervously. “I’m sorry.” I blurted before he could say anything.

He stayed silent as he looked me over. I closed my eyes when his fingers met my face, tracing it slowly. “I’ve been looking for you every night.”

“I’m sorry.” I whispered again this time against his fingers as they passed over my lips.

“Open your eyes Dashuria Ime.” Brian urged gently.

I opened my eyes and could barely breath from the intensity of his gaze. He was angry, but also hurt and he looked, older. I swallowed unable to speak as he looked at me.

“Why did you leave?” He stopped suddenly almost like he caught himself before he said something he couldn’t take back.

I couldn’t hold his gaze. “I didn’t want to be a burden anymore.”

“You aren’t a burden.”

I snorted. “Says my Guardian who’s spent the last week looking for me.”

Brian reached over taking my hand in one of his as his other hand cupped my face. “That’s not why I was looking for you.”

My heart began to race at his words. I tried to force it into control. I couldn’t let my hopes get up. No one ever loved me, well save Grandfather and Lil. “Then why?” I forced the words past my trembling lips.

His entire face softened as he brought the hand he was holding to his lips. “Ina ƙaunar ka.” He breathed against my knuckles before kissing them.

“I don’t know what that means.” I said frowning at him and his beautiful words.

“It means you should be with Zacky.” It looked as if it hurt him to say the words; I know it sure as hell hurt to hear them.

“You want me to be with Zacky?” My voice broke. I couldn’t help it, my heart was breaking too.

“He’s perfect for you, not to mention he loves you.”

I couldn’t breathe. This couldn’t be happening. I didn’t survive two demon attacks just to have the third, the one that mattered, finish the job. “But I don’t love him.”

“You should.” His voice was so cool, detached. Just listening to it chilled me.

“But I love you.” The thought was out before I realized I had voiced it.

“Seraphina.” He breathed.

“Tell me you don’t love me.” Look at me being brave. Hey maybe fighting demons had made me grow a pair after all.

He looked at me with cold eyes. “That doesn’t change anything.”

“Brian.” I hated the way his name sounded like a plea. But I guess I was begging. I didn’t want him to reject me. If I wasn’t good enough for a demon then who was I good enough for?

His phone vibrated and he read the text message he had received. “Johnny, Cory, Matt and Zacky are all here.”

He stood breaking the connection we had both physically and emotionally. “Brian please don’t go.”

“I’ll send Lil back in.” Again his voice was cold and detached, like I meant nothing to him.

“Please.” I was openly begging as he walked to the door. It felt as though he was walking away from me, leaving forever. I was losing him. “Brian please…”

He didn’t even pause as he walked out the door. Tears flooded my eyes as my heart broke into a million tiny pieces. I need Lil.

No sooner had I thought that then Lil walked through the door, her angel behind her.
“Lil.” I sobbed.

She took one look at me and her eyes started to glow. “I’ll kill him.” She growled and spun running out the door.

I looked at Jimmy with pleading blood shot eyes. “Stop her.”

He nodded and was out the door.

The pain of Brian’s rejection spread throughout me like wild fire. Numbing any and all of the physical pain I was in. It felt like a part, if not all of me was dying.

With a bitter pain filled laugh I realized my dreams had been right.

A demon was going to be the death of me.

I just hadn’t expected to love him.