The Demon's Daughter

My Brother’s Keeper

An hour later, Madison was in a hospital bed, her legs bandaged, and her vitals checked. She was dehydrated, which was expected, but otherwise she’d be fine. The doctors couldn’t tell what had caused the wounds on her legs though, and Madison claimed she passed out and had no clue either. Demons left distinctive marks unlike any animals.

                “There’s a man here to see you,” a nurse said, coming into the room. Behind her was Cillian, back to his human form and dressed in his usual dark pants and t-shirt.

                “Thank you,” Madison said to the nurse. The woman nodded and left. “I see you found your way back just fine.”

                “I followed the ambulance,” Cillian replied. “I owe those men near the woods a pair of clothes though.”

                “I wondered about that,” Madison said. “What do you usually do when you shift?”

                “I have a bag that I carry clothes in,” Cillian replied. “I didn’t think to carry it since nothing seemed out of place at your school, but I was wrong. I should have been more observant.”

                “Demons are tricky,” Madison remarked. “Whoever that demon was knew my routine and knew you were a wolf. He had probably been watching me since before you even got there. Don’t blame yourself for him getting the drop. There’s no way to beat demons who can transport like that.”

                “Have you told your father what happened?” Cillian asked.

                “He knows,” Madison answered dismissively.

                Cillian raised an eyebrow questioningly.

                “As long as I’m still alive, he doesn’t really care,” Madison replied. “He’s not upset with you. You still have a job. Anything else you’re worried about?”

                “Your mental health, but that’s a different story,” Cillian said offhandedly.

                “Oh, so now you have jokes,” Madison teased. “Where was the humor in the woods? Or does your wolf not get humor?”

                Cillian laughed under his breath and shook his head. “Are you going to be okay?” he asked.

                Madison looked down at her legs. “They’ll heal eventually. They heal quicker with magic, but here I am in the human world with a human body that heals at a human rate. I’d give anything to heal as quickly as you do.”

                “Sorry to bother you again, but you’re a popular person today, Miss Beck,” the nurse said, entering with another man following her. This man was tall and slender, dressed in an expertly tailored Armani suit with gold cufflinks. He looked young, but powerful and impressive, nonetheless.

                “If it isn’t the demon from Boston,” Madison said with a smirk. “It’s been a while, big brother.”

                Cillian looked at this dark haired, dark eyed stranger and could smell demon on him immediately. It was the smell of Hell that fire, sulfur, and blood mixture that pervaded his senses whenever a demon was near. This demon, however, was clearly different. Madison seemed at ease around him, and she called him her big brother. Cillian knew Madison had many brothers, but she didn’t seem to have a good relationship with any of them. Why would one be visiting her in the hospital?

                “Maddy,” the demon said with a rare smile. “As always, fragile little Maddy is in a bind.”

                “And as always my big brother is coming to save me. Please tell me you brought something from home, Azzi,” Madison replied.

                “You mean this?” he said, pulled out a small potion bottle.

                “You are the best brother in the world,” Madison replied with a laugh.

                “I didn’t come all this way just to give you this,” he said, not handing over the bottle.

                “Azrael, you know how f*****g painful these cuts are. Come on,” Madison begged.

                “Father wants to know who attacked you,” Azrael commented.

                “I’d like to know as well, but unfortunately I think what’s left of that demon is being digested in our friend’s stomach here,” Madison retorted.

                Azrael looked at Cillian. “I heard father had hired a werewolf, and one who can shift at that. What pack are you from?”

                “I’m the alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack,” Cillian answered.

                Azrael’s face showed recognition for a moment. “Of course he hired you,” he remarked. “You saved my sister’s life. Did you notice anything about the demon?”

                “He could throw fire and set things on fire,” Cillian said.

                “Hmm,” Azrael mused.

                “Azzi, can I have the potion now?” Madison asked.

                Azrael handed the potion to her without looking at her. Madison uncorked the bottle and downed the liquid in one gulp. The look on her face suggested it didn’t taste pleasant, but the color in her cheeks suggested it restored her health and strength.

                “Why would someone go after you?” Azrael questioned.

                “Beats me,” Madison replied. “Maybe they want to get back at mom or dad. Even then though, they should go after one of you guys. It would hurt them more.”

                “Careful sister,” Azrael warned. “You sound bitter.”

                “Azzi, you know me. I’d rather be a human than a demon any day,” Madison said with a smirk.

                “And a b***h than a witch, hm?” he added for her.

                Madison laughed. “You really are my favorite brother most days.”

                “I’d love to know who makes the cut on the other days,” Azrael replied. “If there’s nothing else you can tell me, I’ll be leaving.”

                “So soon?” Madison asked, a hint of sorrow in her voice. “I rarely ever get to see you anymore, Azzi. Can’t you stay just a little bit longer? Maybe work some of that demon magic and get me out of this place so we can do something fun?”

                Azrael looked at his sister for a moment and sighed. “I’ll get you out of the hospital, but then I need to get back to work.” He left the room without so much as a goodbye.

                Cillian felt bad for Madison. She had seemed so excited to see her brother and that excitement hadn’t been returned at all. Sure there had been a bit of playful banter, but in the end Azrael was just like the others. He had been given a job, to deliver the potion and get information, so he did that and he left. He didn’t seem to care about his sister’s well-being at all.

                “So that was your brother,” Cillian remarked, breaking the silence.

                “The oldest one, yeah,” Madison said, trying to sound more cheerful than she felt. “I have seven brothers, you know? Azzi, Azrael, is the oldest and he was the nicest to me when I was growing up. He was fully grown by then though and had no interest in the games the others would play.”

                “You never talk about your brothers,” Cillian said.

                “You never talk about your family either,” Madison pointed out.

                “Touché.” Cillian was quiet for a few moments. “I lost my older brother. He died in battle when I was a teenager. It’s how I became alpha.”

                “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought up family,” Madison replied. She felt stupid for saying anything. She didn’t know Cillian’s family situation, and he had told her before to not ask about his pack and now she knew why. He had never wanted to be alpha. He only became it because his brother died. What an awful reminder of a siblings death.

                “You didn’t. I started this conversation by talking about your brother,” Cillian said. “I miss my brother, sure, but I have other siblings as well, and I’m close with all of them.”

                “Is it true that werewolves can mind-link others in their pack?” Madison asked.

                Cillian nodded.

                “Do you do that often?”

                “I check in on them occasionally. My brother, Liam, is my beta and he’ll mind-link me once a day or so to check in and update me on the others,” Cillian explained.

                “It must be hard to be away from them for so long,” Madison remarked.

                Cillian nodded again.

                “Do you tell them stuff about me?” she asked.

                “No,” Cillian said shortly.

                Madison looked at him skeptically.

                “Sometimes,” he admitted. “They were curious about you at first, but I told them you were a normal human and to drop it. You weren’t any of their business.”

                Madison smiled slightly. “I don’t care if you tell them about me. I’ll probably never meet them anyway,” she said. “Besides, I’m like super boring.”

                Cillian was about to respond, but the nurse entered and announced that Madison was free to go. Without even checking her wounds or vitals the nurse unhooked the machines and let Madison leave the hospital.

                “What’s your brother’s talent again?” Cillian asked as he drove Madison back to campus.

                “Mind control,” Madison said with a shrug. “He’s really good at it too.”

                “Does that not worry you?”

                “I don’t think Azzi cares much to control me. It’s rarely fun when you can’t get anything out of it.”

                Demons, Cillian thought in disgust.