CHAPTER THREE: THE TASTE SHE WASN'T MEANT TO CRAVE
I opened my eyes in a daze, my head throbbing, it spun around as if I'd been drinking. I touched my head, oozing from my hands was a thick fluid that was all over my face to my neck and clothes. I looked around trying to process what was going on, trying to remember anything from last night but it was as if every memory was erased. I breathed slowly, calming my mind and taking in my surroundings.....I wasn't home. The kitchen I was in looked a mess and before me laid a female body the life drained out of it, that's when I saw the blood in my hands, I wasnt wounded, it was her blood.
"Malak" a soft whisper was all I could manage.
I heard footsteps then, "sweety you need rest". She helped me up completely ignoring the body on the floor.
***
Fully awake, I spread my eyes to the massive space before me. It was a bedroom with a big bed on one corner, a TV area occupying the other 2 corners and a reading desk on the fourth corner. I looked at myself in clean clothes now, my mind still a mess, I pushed the blanket aside heading towards the door before me where large hallways. The house looked ancient, filled with statues and paintings, it was magnificent from the wall paint to the tile arrangement with a pinch of modern items, vintage and all sorts blended. I kept walking, sneaking glances into open rooms admiring the architecture until I found the spiral staircase.
"You're not gonna go through there are you?", from behind me came a girl about my age, "we've an elevator".
My heart was bursting with amusement. Where was I?.
"Do you come from a poor family?"
"Agatha! Be nice to the simple young woman", a lady walked in from one of the rooms. She wore all black resembling Morticia Addams. She carried this heavy energy, similar to Malaks but hers was weak. She examined me, judging.
"Where am I?" My small brain was kicked back to reality.
"Silly me where are my manners", the lady laughed, "the name's Elena, Malachi's mother".
Mother. The words sunk but not too deep. I thought he was a demon, cursed.
"My son doesn't like me enough to mention me but I exist darling. Walk with me."
We followed Elena down the staircase to the ground floor. "You must've questions, I'll leave that to him. Meet my husband Rob", she wrapped her hands around a tall man, similar features to Malak. "This is .......... What's your name again sweety?"
"Eva" I whispered between my breaths
"Yes Eva, Malachi's lady friend". They exchanged glances.
The door bell rang, my heart skipping as the maid opened the door and two officers walked in. "Good morning Mr and Mrs Star", the officer took his time glancing around, "I'm officer George and this is my companion officer Luke. We're here on accounts of a........."
Before he could finish, Luke fell to the ground touching Elena's dark dress. "Please my daughter is the only family I'd. Give her back". The man wept.
Elena pushed his hands in disgust. "I don't bring the dead to life". She coldly replied.
"We're here because one of the cctv footage shows that young woman brutally ripping apart my fellow officers child", George said lowering his voice as he spoke of Luke's child.
"That's the woman you want, go ahead and take her" Elena sat down, her face unfazed.
Luke got up, his eyes full of hatred, he charged towards me. My legs gave out and I sat there like a dummy. He pulled out his gun aiming it at my head, I cried. The room went dark and silent, darkness that only covered us then his eyes glowed behind Luke, hungry, I found myself eager excited but that wasn't my spirit. I was scared. George fired his gun straight at Malaks eyes and the darkness was gone, Malaks eyes glowed as he took his human form, slowly turning to face George. Dark energy surrounded his body and his parents sat there admiring there son.
"You", his mouth watered, "I thought I tasted something familiar. I never forget a smell George", he smirked.
*A Few Years Ago*
George Miller was a young man with a dream of serving the country. Parents honored that by sending him to military training and his commanding officer sent him to recover something that some soldiers had gone to capture. Twenty soldiers went on this journey, what was to be taken was a box chained heavily with locks no one had seen before. The box glowed, it's energy tempting each of them to open but George fought it the most until they reached base camp. "That box is not ordinary sir. It has this dark power" George told his commanding officer.
The man laughed, "come let me show you something ". He led him by the hand into a secluded part of the camp, heavily guarded area until they reached a room in which the box was in.
"In that box is a thing disguised as human. It feeds on fear, uses a person's worst fears until you can't take it anymore. It watches you in despair as you crumble until you're ready to be taken. We need it for .........", before he could finish the glass through the room shattered, the lights flickering. Soldiers came running from all corners even though they knew that this thing wouldn't be killed by guns. He crawled out of the box, the room filling with darkness every soldier cried as they saw there fate but George wouldn't budge it was as if he had no fear. Malachi stood in his demon form face to face with him. Smiling he said, "I'll meet you someday George". And with that he disappeared taking with him half of the soldiers leaving some traumatized or in a comma. George moved cities begun fresh but it haunted him that a demon was out for his blood and the thought of it alone, the feeling that one day he'll kill him was what George feared and that made him ripe everyday.
***
Malak was moving majestically towards George who was now on the ground crying. I quickly run over to him, wrapping my arms around him and said, "let him go Malak. I don't want this".
He smirked, locking his eyes straight onto me. "Remove your hands off of that"
"No. I'm not letting you take another life."
He scoffed. "You're weak Eva. You let that stupid heart of yours take control now move".
Then I felt something warm run down my waist, looking down I saw a pocket knife launched inside me, officer George had tricked me, he knew but I fell for it. I put my hand to my waist, Malak rushing to hold me, everyone stood up as blood gushed out from what seemed to be a small wound. And for the first time I saw Malak scared.
"Do something Elena. Rob." He shouted. Agatha rushed to get the car keys. "Elena please do something". I could see his eyes clearly now, ocean blue eyes, wet with tears.
When my eyes opened, I wasn't in a hospital or at home, I was still here in the same room I'd woken up in only this time aunt Leah Mira and Ezekiel where here.
"We'll be taking her home now. You people have done enough". I could hear my aunt's voice in low tone.
"You don't understand I just healed her she needs time to rest and let the medicine work through". Elena said.
"What exactly was she healed from? I've police men banging up my door telling me my niece is killing people and you want me to keep her here with strangers ?"
"I'm Mrs Star everyone knows me"
"I'm taking my niece and that's final".
Aunt Leah reached for my hand to help me up when he appeared. His eyes tired, that heavy feeling of something dark and powerful stronger than when I first met him. He stood in the doorway. "Let her go. Nobody will touch Eva". His words where commands.
"Don't cause a scene Malachi, let them have her", Elena moved him. I feeled my waist with my hand and the wound was gone but I couldn't say a thing.
I didn't want to leave Malak here or ever be alone without him. Life was different now and if he felt the same way then we could build something.
***
I was at home surrounded by the people I love but something felt like it'd left me, like a piece was missing. I sat up and Leah hugged me with tears. "Don't you ever scare us like that again", she said. I looked around hoping I could see him but his presence wasn't even with me anymore.
"Can I take a stroll?" My shaky voice tried to sound firm.
"No. You're never leaving this house unless it's work"
"How about I go with her?" Mira touched my aunt's hands assuring her and she agreed.
We went to the park, a place where I could let my mind roam free. I breathed in heavily.
"Please Mira let me go and see him" tears where now flowing from my eyes.
"I want to Eva but he's ruining your life" she sounded concerned.
"Just to say goodbye to him and I'll never ask of him again"
"For a few minutes and that's that"
She drove me there and as I stood facing the mansion, his spirit was still not there. I quickly rung the doorbell and as if she knew it was me Elena walked out. She took me to her garden and Mira excused herself.
"Eva I can tell you've a pure soul. You care and love my son", she touched my hands.
"I want to see him. I can't feel him. Is he here?" I was panicking.
"Eva listen to me", she raised my chin, "Malachi was born a normal human, he's not cursed or anything. I was barren for 20years and afraid I might loose my role as Mrs star, I made a deal, a bargain, I traded my son's soul instead of mine. Talk about a selfish mother", she forced a laugh.
"What are you talking about?" I looked puzzled.
"I talked with Lucifer himself, he met me the same way Malachi met you. The deal was sweet until my son was made prince of demons. Rob flipped, cursing me but I'd to do it". She made a long pause.
I breathed out heavily. "You did this to him because you where barren?".
She sighed. "He wanted this. The other part of the deal was I die and he lives to be free and normal but I woke up at my funeral", fear filled her eyes. "Malachi stood at the base of the coffin, his beaming smile lost, his personality dark. I cried for my son and we never spoke again. We became strangers. I cursed him because his my child and I'm his mother".
"Where is he now?"
"Only his sister can tell that. But I can say Malachi isn't coming back. LET HIM GO".
Those words sank deep into my heart. Piercing every last bit left in my heart it was like I've lost something precious. Tears couldn't even form. Where was Malachi???
