DARE THE DEVIL

Lethal friend

Maddie took Sloan’s hand, taking courage and haste immediately. The sense of danger surrounding them, the feeling of being watched overwhelmed her and the fear of a secret coming out in the open to ruin their lives clawed at the back of her mind like dark beings, terribly handsome dark beings with fangs ready to draw out the rest of her life from underneath her.

“Come on,” her voice rang against the chaos and cheerings of the crowd who saw nothing but magic and bewilderment in the famous French quarters. Bicycle bells dinged loudly, and suddenly jazz music rose in the air. A band, calling people to attention, sending dopamines and endorphins running through their veins and through the atmosphere whereas something dark gripped their hearts, like a heavy weight. A deadly feeling, a cold touch. No one knew what it meant, but it was bad.

“We still have to get the food,” Sloan protested, though she had no control over how they moved since Maddie was pulling her along like a small child. And it was worse, because she had heels on and couldn’t stop herself from getting pulled.

“Are you seriously thinking about that right now?” Maddie responded with disapproval while her eyes moved quick and fast as she observed their environment before placing her eyes back to the direction they came from, the public parking lot.

“Well yes.” Sloan groaned, feeling helpless over Maddie’s strong grip and pull.

“We still have people watching us and it would be weird if we rush out without having what we came out for,”

“They would grow suspicious, don’t you think?” she added. Maddie slowed down, seeing some sense in her words. The NOPD and hunters were desperately trying to smell something fishy to push their investigation or to corner them. What had happened might be nothing but once the cops start sniffing around, it wouldn’t be so good. She stopped, hating that she even had to do that. Then she turned to Sloan. Her eyes were hazy and tired but they were bright and were staring intently at her. Her chest heaved up and down as she tried to catch her breath and her hair looked a mess.

“Come on..hope it isn’t far away.” they had walked in there, with one thought in mind. Coming out hastily, looking scared and dishevelled would surely raise alarm.

“No…” Sloan sighed in relief and took her hand. This time, she turned and led the way. Letting her tall figure, gracious steps lead her through the street and cheerful people who enjoyed the nightlife and the peace the quarter brought with them. Her heels clanged loudly against the cobbled stone and her movement was precise, determined, like a woman who knew what she wanted and went for it. But Maddie could feel her sweaty palms and from behind, she could see her head move from one direction to the other. Though she smiled brightly at anyone that caught her eyes, she was wary.

“I asked you guys to get out of there,” Aziza’s voice rang in their mind the moment they arrived at a small restaurant. It was packed to the brim and had people sitting outside, enjoying the night view as they ate.

“Yes, we will be there soon,” Sloan responded, pushing away the urgency in her tone. Maybe she didn’t think it through, but a man’s eyes had glowed purple in front of them and he had spoken about something only four people were supposed to know like he was there himself. Frightening, yet she cared about the cops and food.

“You better be,” Aziza warned, her tone hostile and agitated at their stubbornness. Sloan swallowed, again, pushing away the urgency and fear and walked into the restaurant. She had a friend there and could get away with her package and something nice to eat whenever. Maddie let go of her hand, seeing how crowded the place was and decided that it was best to remain outside and wait.

Nothing unusual happened. People cheered, danced, talked, ate and sang without a care in the world. It was rightly so since the French quarter festival was close by and it had people preparing and trooping in from all over. The place had the atmosphere of nothing but joy and celebration as the sun set, leaving the orange glow to cast in its stead. Yet, the atmosphere seemed to be mismatched by the cold in her heart and the dark feeling caressing her skin the more she stood there and waited. Like something terrible was coming, it grew, thicker, darker, colder and closer. Inching closely, yet no one could see it. Nothing seemed out of place, not in such a place where laughter spread like a disease. But it was there, inching closer and closer and closer, almost a grip away.

“Hey…” Sloan’s voice came from behind and she jumped. Her heart racing and flying out of her chest in panic.

“Is something wrong?” Sloan frowned and she shook her head.

“Let's get out of here,” Maddie helped Sloan out with a bag and together they started back towards the direction their car had been parked.

The ride back home was unlike what it had been when they were coming over. The streets were filled with cars, going home from work and bicycle riders having their fill of the streets. The orange hue fell and slowly disappeared upon the face of the streets and called in night time. Yet heaviness was laced in their hearts and questions, fear, confusion hung in the air. Unlike when they were simply worried and angry over Aziza’s health, this was worse.

The car rode through the black gate and through the cobblestone, straight for the garage as it always did. While those watching them, kept eyes on them as they always had. Sloan and Maddie stepped out of the car, carrying their dinner with a lot more carelessness than expected. Dinner was no longer their problem and their minds were off it for the meantime.

Sloan handled the keys to the door and opened it up. Then Maddie followed suit and started towards the kitchen. Within the confines of their home, she breathed out heavily, letting out the tension in her muscles. At least, she was safe there, rather than out there where nothing but danger and wickedness lurked around. She had just dropped the package she held, when she heard Sloan scream.

With a jump, she ran back to the sitting room to find the woman gaping at a familiar figure in black cap and hoodie. Seeing no danger at all, she breathed a sigh of relief and a smile caressed her lips in recognition. They had totally forgotten about the guest they were expecting due to the incidents that happened earlier.

“How did you get in?” she asked, moving closer. He took off his hoodie and cap, revealing his perfect set of blue eyes and charming smile.

“I told you I had my way,” Nikko responded, feeling light and homey with the both women.

“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he turned back to Sloan who was still gaping at him. she had been frightened at his sudden appearance and looked pale.

“It's not your fault.” She breathed out heavily, turning around to look for a sit before she would fall down.

“We sense danger at every corner now.” She added.

“Well, that is what we get for living with one herself,” Maddie responded, wondering where Aziza could be when they were home already.

Just as the thought came, a rush of air slapped hard against her skin, with a certain amount of pressure almost waving her off her feet. If only, she had not been used to such an entrance, that her feet had mastered being forced to hold the ground or she might fly over. Still, Sloan had been affected, since she fell over where she sat. A loud thud followed Aziza’s entrance and Nikko was flung over the room.

“Arrggg….” Maddie screamed, feeling the impact of his back against the wall. He fell face flat to the floor, she was sure, he broke a bone. But Aziza wasn’t done. She went over to him, and with her right foot, she kicked him. Once again, sending him flying against the wall.

“Oh God!” Sloan exclaimed, with wide eyes as she got up from the floor and made her way to Maddie in pains of her own.

“Stop her, he is hurt,”

“Aziza…” Maddie called out, fearing for Nikko who had so far done nothing wrong to receive such brutality. But she wasn’t having any of it.

Darkness clouded her vision and the memories of those screams, agonising pain, blood, dead bodies and fire she had afflicted all by herself resonated in her mind like a plague. It rose higher and higher and higher, till she heard absolutely nothing else but the screams of the people she had hurt. People she thought she had hurt, Nikko being one of them. Seeing him standing there, in their house, simply rose a thousand emotions within and betrayal stood out more.

“Aziza stop….” Someone grabbed her arm. A low growl escaped from the deep of her throat and in instinct, she grabbed the person’s throat. Only to find Sloan, staring back at her with fright. New images flashed in her head.

“No…” someone was screaming.

“No….” the agonising pain and terror in her voice was recognizable. Maddie. Slowly, she lowered her gaze to the floor, where the scream and pain came from. Sloan laid lifeless, in a position that seemed like she broke all the bones in her body. Maddie sat beside her, and was clutching onto her with tears freely running down her cheek. There was blood everywhere. Fear slashed a hole in her heart when she thought of whose blood that could be. Yet, her answers were given, when she saw the hole in Sloan’s chest. Her heart was lying right beside her.

With a sharp gasp, she let go of the woman before her and took steps backward. Something terrible gripped her heart and once again, those screams resurfaced in her mind.

Slowly, she looked down at her hands, the same hands she had used to torment people, the same hands that had seen so much blood, the same hands that grabbed Sloan’s neck.

“Aziza…” Nisha swallowed, feeling guilty for what they had done.

“It was not your fault. And most importantly, you didn’t mean to.” Aziza swallowed, her skin turned pale and her heart ached with guilt and remorse. She lowered her gaze and took slow steps back, to distance herself from Sloan. Maddie ran to her, and rubbed her hand over her back as she coughed with her hands wrapped around her neck.

“Why did you touch her?” she scolded. Sloan coughed more, easing the dryness and pain in her throat.

“Her grip almost broke my bones,” her voice came out hoarse.

“Tell me, what is it looking like?” she took her hands away from her neck. Maddie jammed her lips together, pushing away the urge to grimace.

“It's bad, isn’t it?” Sloan didn’t need anyone to tell her that her precious neck was bruised and visible.

“No, no, it isn’t…” Maddie lied.

“Don’t lie…”

“Well….” She looked away from her.

“Just a little red,” she lied again. Sloan groaned and looked away, knowing the truth very well.

“I will have to wear a scarf tomorrow. Or a high neck shirt. Those wretched gossipers at the office would have my head if they saw me” she huffed and touched her neck again.

Nikko groaned softly, gaining the attention of everyone again. Then he slowly got up from the floor while his eyes remained on Aziza. Maddie ran to him, leaving Sloan who glared at her. She intertwined her arm over Nikko’s and started towards a seat.

“Get away from him,” Aziza’s voice rose. Reminding them that she was still there.

“Oh stop it. He is a friend,” Maddie snapped. She smirked, her eyes going darker on Nikko. He let out a small nervous smile and released his hand from Maddie’s grip. He knew Aziza was not playing and wouldn’t want to anger her.

“Are you?” she raised her brows at him and crossed her hand over her chest.

“I know you are angry, I know you might want to kill me…but…”

“I do want to kill you,” Aziza interrupted.

“Aziza…” Sloan gasped.

“I didn’t mean to lie…” Nikko tried apologising.

“That you are a hunter.” Aziza yelled. Her pupils turned darker. Sloan and Maddie drew in a gasp and immediately stepped away from him.

“I actually didn’t lie. I just didn’t tell you,” He sighed knowing what was coming. While mentally bracing himself for it.

“So you deceived me then. Claiming to be a friend…”

“He actually is a friend,” Nyx winced. She waved it off, and her voice grew louder.

“claiming to have my best interest at heart…”

“He has your best interest at heart Aziza…”

“Shut up…” she growled, fury consuming her eyes, turning the whole black as the night and leaving a red ring around her pupils. Nyx, jammed her mouth shut, and those around jerked.

“when you want to burn me till I am nothing but ash or take me to your lab as one of your experiments.” She turned back to Nikko. Her voice filled with darkness, just like her eyes and her heart slightly aching.

“I’m sorry….” Nikko tried going close to her.

“I can explain…it's really not what you think.”

“You appeared with your people to take me out, Nikko. You are a hunter, out for my head. What else do you have to explain?”

“I should kill you right now. You don’t deserve my time, my mercy, you don’t deserve anything.”

“Well go ahead….” He snapped, losing every cool and softness that made everyone like him so much.

“Go ahead and kill me then.” He yelled again. But this time, it was deeper, darker, almost like a growl and his eyes flashed red, revealing a lethal being within.