DARE THE DEVIL

Friends whenever

The darkness was still, calm, peaceful. It caressed Aziza’s skin, eased her subconscious, placed her in the dark where nothing else mattered. It was an out of the world feeling with no tears, no pain, no crying, no screams. It left her there, claiming her for herself like it was one and the same.

Then images flashed in her mind. Images of each death she had caused, each trigger she pulled, each heart she dug out from living breathing people. Images upon images of the blood she had spilled. Then the screams of those people. The agony in the voice of innocent maids who simply worked for the Roxwell. Images of Flossie and Ethan in a burning car, screaming, coughing and begging for help. Images of Nikko. Then finally, the voice of Damon.

“Aziza….”

******

“Jesus christ,” Maddie picked up the remote and turned off the tv that was broadcasting live about the incident that happened in the Roxwell mansion the previous night.

“I knew, I knew that it was not a good idea. I told you that it wasn’t a good idea to let her go to them like that.” She snapped her gaze to Sloan. Sloan lowered her head in shame, remorse and regret. She was guilty of her charge and had nothing to refute Maddie.

“God…how did she burn it all like that? What the f**k did she do? What did we do? What are we going to do?” she ran her hands through her hair, then she gave herself a hard pull, and groaned loudly.

“What actually happened?” Sloan’s voice came out in a whisper as she turned to Russel who sat quietly on a couch, pale, tired, weak.

“Do you really want details?” his voice came out squeaky and hoarse. Both women did not give him a reply. They knew he was weak due to the fact that he might have used a lot of magic the previous night, but they still wanted him to speak.

“Well…I got there to find it burning down. I tried to reach her but whatever she was at the time was a stranger.” Sloan’s gaze fell again and she slowly turned to take a seat as well.

“Flossie said she simply wanted to have a talk,” she mumbled to herself, realising the mistake she had made.

“Did Aziza have to get so angry?” the images of bodies from the t.v flashed in Maddie’s mind and she quivered.

“Something must have really pissed her off, guys. Aziza doesn’t simply ruin things….” Russel paused and took a deep breath.

“Like this,” he added and shut his eyes. He was trying so hard to hold onto his consciousness. Till she wakes up at least. She had collapse immediately he fought against her magic and it worried him.

“I don’t think her reason is enough this time, Russel. Innocent people were in that building. Maids, guards. Couldn’t she just have sped away? no, she had to cause this much bloodshed and collapse immediately after.” Maddie screamed. She was fed up and annoyed and had no idea who or why she was angry. Was she angry at Sloan for putting Aziza in danger? Or was she angry at Aziza for being so stubborn? Was it the Roxwell she should vent on or the fact that Aziza could not just walk away? Or was it because the subject of discussion was in her bedroom, unconscious, pale, lifeless and she worried sick about her?

No one responded this time and they all went deep in thought. For what looked like an hour, they simply paced around, lounged around and thought deep into what was happening.

“Russel…” Sloan called out when she noticed the man getting whiter as the time went by.

“You need to rest…” she went closer to him.

“I need….to fin….d out…..what happened?” he whispered.

“You are not strong enough. We’ll find out for you.” Sloan protested.

“If I…sleep…now,” he breathed out heavily.

“It…would….ta..ke…days before I…open…my eyes again…” he replied weakly. Her heart ached at the care and concern in his voice. She sat down beside him and took his hand in hers.

“How can I help?”

“You….will grow weak if you help…” he smiled at her action.

“Just do it. I’m no help to Aziza…” she jumped into the idea. She was simply human and could possibly not help the way Russel could. He shook his head at that thought and looked away.

“Come on…take what you need. Or do what you have to. It's just a weakness right? Maddie can even help?” she turned to Maddie hopefully.

“Hell no. I need all my strength to talk to that blood sucker upstairs,” she rejected the idea immediately. A faint smile appeared at the corner of Russel’s lips. Slowly, he placed his hand above Sloan’s and began chanting, slowly, inaudibly and weakly.

Sloan gasped when she felt it. It was almost like air was being sucked from her very being. She could feel it leave, slowly, quietly. It made her panic for a second, then she saw Russel’s white skin gaining a bit of colour. Her heart calmed down and she allowed him to carry out what he was doing. The energy slowly left her and weakness replaced it.

Russel stopped, feeling slightly better. It might not last for long but it was enough. And Sloan was simply human, he couldn’t take so much. When he stopped, he slowly let go of her hand and helped her relax into the couch. Then he got up and turned to the stairs.

“We’ll she be okay?” Maddie jumped in, hating the sight of Sloan being so weak and pale.

“I didn’t take much. She will be able to move about quietly in a few minutes. But it wouldn’t be as the usual Sloan.” He answered without turning back.

“Where are you going then?” Maddie followed behind him.

“Aziza is awake…” he explained. Maddie’s footstep halted for a moment and she stared at him. It was nice they had such a connection that he could know all that without seeing her. But it still made her a bit jealous. After a moment's break, she followed behind him and they made their way to Sloan’s room, then to Aziza’s.

In the midst of serene peace, cool air, white and transparent glasses and walls, Aziza remained the odd one out. The black attire she wore was the very opposite of what the room felt like. And with the way she rocked front and back with her face buried in her knees made the peace and serenity around the room look troublesome.

“Hey…” Russel moved closer to her quietly.

“The screams won’t stop….” Aziza responded. Her voice was hoarse, quiet and painful. It was unlike anything they had heard in a while.

“I can hear every scream and agonising pain I have inflicted. It's so loud, its….” She raised her gaze to meet Russel’s.

Maddie gasped and slammed her hand over her mouth as she came face to face with the blood running down Aziza’s eyes like tears.

“I didn’t mean to hurt anyone last night. Not the innocent ones at least.” Blood came running down her face.

“They won’t stop screaming…it hurts…”

“Oh God…Aziza….” Maddie took steps towards her. But Russel stretched his hand out, stopping her. He moved closer and quietly. Aziza didn’t stop rocking and shaking her head to ward off those voices. The blood running down her cheek didn’t stop and the pain she felt slammed him the moment he was close enough. He groaned and halted as it hit him over and over again. It was worse than he thought. He took a deep breath and moved closer then he got on the bed and gently placed his hands at the both sides of her ears. Covering it with his palm.

Russel was quiet for a while. His eyes were shut and it made Maddie panic. But right before she moved closer, he opened his eyes and blood was slipping down his cheek as well.

“She keeps fighting off her vampire counterpart and her magic is unstable and new.” He explained and let out a soft groan in his bid to suppress the pain that poured on him like a heat wave.

“What should I do to help?” Maddie entered, ready to help anyway she could.

“Blood…she needs blood. Her hunger runs deep and it's….” Before he finished. Maddie was running to them and pulling her dark short hair. She packed it with a band on her wrist then jumped on the bed without clear thoughts and tilted her neck.

“Make sure I don’t die…I will hunt you if I do.” She entered lastly and shut her eyes. Russel's eyes shimmered in gratitude, then he slowly directed Aziza’s head towards Maddie’s neck. The screams and agonising pain seemed to seize the moment she took note of the veins in Maddie’s neck. Her fangs grew, and her eyes turned red. But she pulled away, fighting off Russel.

“No…” she could recognize Maddie well and hurting her would be the last thing on her mind. Maddie opened her eyes and shook her head.

“No, no, no…It's fine….” She tried to talk Aziza into drinking.

“No…I will hurt you. Are you stupid…” Aziza snapped, fighting off her vampires as it slowly took hold of her being.

“Get her out of here, Russel….” She grabbed Russel’s hand and tried to turn away. But Maddie took hold of her thighs, pulling her attention back to her.

“Drink…now…or you won’t be fine. And if you are not fine, you won’t be safe. We won’t be safe and Damon…”

“Your mate…” she paused, hitting a spot so she could take heed and listen to what she was saying.

Aziza froze for a second and took note of the last of her words. Damon was the reason for a lot of things and she still had to get him back.

“I promise you, you won’t hurt me.” Maddie encouraged and creeped on the bed till she was sitting in front of Aziza once again.

“You love me too much to do that. Even if you have the weirdest way to show it,” she added and smiled. Just to assure her that it was fine.

Aziza watched her while she fought against her vampire. However, the task became even more impossible when Maddie tilted her neck and her sweet vein came to view.

“Maddie…”

“Just drink before I change my mind…” Maddie snapped. Suddenly feeling nervous. She was at the verge of changing her mind. Aziza shut her eyes and took a deep breath. Maddie’s heart beat was loud against her ears and the blood running through her veins pulled her. she opened her mouth, allowing her large fangs to do what it knew how to do. But she still fought against her vampire. If she took control, Maddie might truly die. She had to still be sane to stop herself.

“Make sure I don’t kill her,” she warned Russel, who still sat behind her. And with that, her fangs buried into Maddie's neck.