My Demon

2. Let's Remember

After several hectic days, made so by both the university and also by the demon that was hanging around my life. Today, I was alone in the florist's shop -it was a quiet day, whereas usually the shop was always full of people-, and my mother had had to go out to request some special orders at the insistence of some customers. If I was in her place I would have simply sent them away, especially considering the amount of orders we get through the website. But my mother was too good, and she takes advantage of even the smallest opportunity to make people happy.

And rather than feeling sad about being alone, I felt really relaxed, why?

Because I didn't have a certain annoying demon -who had already been with me for several weeks- hanging around me like an animal in heat.

That very morning, as soon as I woke up, he was in his demonic form, and with a smile he said to me: "I'm leaving for a few hours, I've got some business. But don't worry, I'll be back so you can enjoy my company.”

And after that, he simply left. And I'm not going to lie, I celebrated his departure.

The only problem was that his smirk - which I'd been putting up with for a while now - wouldn't leave from my head. Every time I remembered him it got more and more on my nerves. In all honesty, whether it took him a long time to come back or he just stayed in his own world, would be a b****y gift to me, that cat was too much of a pain in the a*s.

At such thoughts, a sigh escaped my lips, I looked at the cup of tea I held calmly in my hands, watched as the steam of the warm liquid rise, and slowly it was lost in the space of the room.

And my memory, betraying me once again, reminded me of how I had come to be where I was.

Alone, and on top of that with a demon that wouldn't leave me alone. Just remembering that moment, made my stomach contract along with my chest, but... I couldn't help it.

[…]

It was a cloudy day, we were both having a cup of coffee -tea in my case- at one of my favourite coffee and tea shops in all Manhattan,the Blank Slate Tea.

I remember many things about him, like how we usually talk about both trivial and serious topics, giving our opinions and sharing many of them. I remember that we would have fun laughing at our silliness and I could always see in those cold grey eyes, a gleam of affection and fondness that he only professed for me - or so I wanted to believe - would settle in them. Moreover, I could always see a tender, faint smile on that serious face that he only showed me.

But... that day he seemed different, very different indeed.

His face was more serious than ever, he didn't seem to want to show any emotion, his eyes weren't fixed on me like they used to be, this time they seemed to be lost in the cityscape, watching the people passing by through the window of the establishment. His hand was holding his coffee cup, -which had already stopped steaming, indicating that the bitter liquid was cold-.

At that moment my mind told me not to ask him anything, as he seemed to have had a hard day. But my heart was a different story, because many times he would always tell me what had happened, no matter how hard it was, always looking for my support.

But not that day, so... what could have happened that he was in that state and didn't want to tell me anything?

And that's where I made my first mistake: asking.

“Orfeo... Are you feeling well?” My face changed to one of concern instantly, and my hand unconsciously caressed the back of his, searching for his gaze.

Not knowing what could be happening to him at that moment made my chest shrink with helplessness and sadness.

He turned his head in my direction, looked at me with those sad eyes -which did not reflect that spark of warmth I had felt so many times-. Empty, lifeless eyes, as if there was nothing there but a bottomless abyss.

A shiver ran down my spine, something wasn't right. And yes, clearly it wasn't. I didn't know why.

I didn't know the reason, but my body had started to tremble, my hands held with clear fragility the cup between them, the liquid inside was in constant movement, while my eyes had broken the connection between our gazes, out of fear... «Fear of what?», I asked myself at that instant, and when he started to speak I knew it.

“Caeli”, he called me, letting me notice how in his voice, a voice that had always been cheerful, reassuring and calm with me, had now become a cold, distant voice, a completely different feeling that had made me shrink in my place. “We need to talk...”

The world came crashing down on me when I heard that sentence, for everyone knew that it could bring no good. I didn't want to look at him and find out what he wanted to tell me, at that moment I wanted to go deaf and not listen to him. But, summoning up my willpower, I raised my eyes to meet his once more. As soon as I did, I regretted it, for there seemed to be nothing in his eyes, not even the faintest glimmer of brightness and life.

“We must break up...” I felt the air in my lungs disappear, my pupils contracted and one of my legs had begun to tremble as I returned my gaze to the cup. My vision blurred for a few moments; tears were gathering in my eyes.

“Why?" That was the only question that came from my lips. I didn't understand, and who could understand? I hadn't done anything wrong, had I?

I got no response, silence had filled the shop, as if everyone in the café seemed to have shut up so that they could listen carefully to our conversation. I felt bad about it, I felt the rage coursing through my veins at those damn busybodies who seemed to enjoy other people's pain so much.

“We just can't be together.... “ My reasoning stopped there, because I didn't want to believe what I was hearing, it wasn't possible, with that simple excuse he wanted to break up with me?

I squeezed the mug hard, but I never managed to break it, as I felt a pair of hands resting on mine to get me to calm down somehow. Once again I looked up and saw him, with a sad smile and eyes that no longer showed me the warmth I had often experienced.

“Is that all? Is that all you're going to say," my voice cracked, tears building up, blurring my vision of the boy I still loved even in those circumstances. “That's not a valid excuse for you to want to break up with me, have I not I loved you enough?, have I not shown you things I've never shown anyone else?, have I not been good enough in bed for you?” Hundreds, or what seemed to me like hundreds of whispers could be heard in the room.

“It's more complex than that," he said, looking away and frowning slightly.

“Then explain it to me," I said, taking one of his hands, I didn't want to cry, but I could feel the salty liquid fighting to fall out of my eyes.

“I can't...” He closed his eyes and separated his hands from mine.

My heart stopped, was this how it was all going to end? After giving him everything I had? After supporting him so much? After telling him things I hadn't even told to Akane? After I had given him my body, my soul and my heart? It was all going to end because 'we just couldn't be together'?

My vision darkened, my hands released his and covered my face, not allowing Orpheus to see me at any moment. After biting my lower lip and suppressing my urge to cry, I stood up from my seat and left enough money to pay for everything I had taken.

I turned and tried to leave, as I didn't want to have all those gossipy customers staring at me.

But against my plans, he grabbed my arm, forcing me to turn to look at him.

“Caeli... I... “ Why were you looking at me with that expression? Why were you looking at me with such sadness in your eyes?

I didn't understand. He was the one who was leaving me, he was the one who was breaking my heart. Why was he holding me back? Why wouldn't he let me go? Why did he want to make me suffer like that?

“Let me go Orfeo. It's over, you said so yourself," I said sharply. I let go of his grip and turned to walk out the door as I heard his voice shouting my name. Asking me to stop, begging me not to leave like that.

And I couldn't take it anymore, the moment my feet stepped on the pavement of the street, the river of tears started to flow down, people were looking at me and whispering around me. My mood was getting worse and worse.

I wanted to get home, I wanted to lie in bed and wake up from this b****y nightmare.

My heart was in my throat, my chest hurt too much, it was hard to breathe; I had started to run, arriving home in the blink of an eye. My mother, who was in the living room, the moment she saw me with swollen eyes and gasping for breath. She changed her serene expresión to one of anguish.

Quickly she got up and went to me, hugging me, letting some of her warmth embrace the emptiness that in just a few moments had formed inside me. And when I felt sheltered in her arms, I didn't hold back any longer: I screamed, I sobbed, I shouted, I complained that I was so unlucky to have wasted my time with someone who hadn't deserved it - though it didn't seem that way at the time-.

[…]

And now, after several months here I was, sitting at the desk chair that separated me from the clients. Watching as the cup was empty, as was the store.

I picked up my phone, checking that I had no messages and then looked at the time.

“It's still early for mum to be back," I looked out of the window to see that the sky was quite cloudy. «Just like that day...» I thought, clenching my hands around my mug, but I shook my head and smiled.

I couldn't get depressed now, I had to continue working. “Well... “ I whispered leaving the cup on the table and tapped my cheeks several times to wake myself up, I moved my neck from side to side to make it c***k and after hearing the "c***k", I smiled. And soon a customer entered the shop and I smiled: “Welcome to Bellini's Floristry, what would you like?”

º º º º º º

Hours had passed, between cuts, adjustments and finishing touches that the young girl made to the orders. In the end, she was able to finish her work sooner than she thought. After that, she smiled softly and by the time her mother arrived with the remaining orders, she only had to make a few phone calls to the remaining customers. As there was so little work left, the older woman asked her to go home, as she would also have to continue with the work she had been assigned at her university, because she didn't want to be a bother to her daughter. At this, the youngest smiled, and after a hug and a loud kiss on her mother's cheek, she left for the train station that would take her back to her district.

When she arrived home she snorted softly, and reaching her room, she ran to change into her pyjamas. But she did not stop and lie down on the bed, but sat down at her desk and managed to finish one of her remaining tasks, for her body would not let her do much more.

And, as she lay on her back on the bed, without realising it, after a few seconds her eyes began to slowly grow heavy and close. Her breathing began to slow down and a soft smile formed on her lips as she was able to rest in complete peace without anyone being able to disturb her.

“Goodnight angel," though perhaps she had spoken too soon.

The brunette opened one of her eyelids at the sound of that mocking voice and felt a small weight on her stomach.

There, wagging his tail in a rhythmic way -while lying on the girl's flat stomach-, was that beautiful dark furred feline, who, at the same time, was staring at that beautiful sky blue orb.

“Couldn't you have stayed in your world," she spoke in exasperation.

“It was not me who summoned a demon to make a wish, which I remind you again you have to pass on to me," he rested his head on his fluffy paws and did not take his eyes off the younger girl.

“I told you I'm not going to tell you any wishes, and it's not as if I have any.”

º º º º º º

“Are you trying to fool a demon, little human," an intense green light flooded the room, forcing me to close my eyes, but as soon as it faded, I could see those toxic coloured lights. “We are the kings of lies, you can't fool me so easily little one”

“I'm not trying to deceive- AH!" I screamed as an intense burning formed on my left side, I tried to push him away by placing my hands on his chest. Instead, he didn't move an inch.

The demon smiled in a way that chilled my blood, subtly pulled up my jumper and showed that mark that looked more like a tattoo burned into my skin in the shape of a cat print torn by scratches.

“This shows when you're lying, at least when it comes to our deal. Which means, there's something you want, but you don't want to tell me. We're not asking for that much either, you'll just give me your body and soul when you get what you want”

“That's exactly why I won't ask for anything!," I said with a noticeable blush on my cheeks at the first part I had to offer to him once my wish was granted.

“ Then I'll stay in your house until you decide what you want! If you didn't want me here, you shouldn’t have called me, face the consequences!”

I was silent at once, he was right, I had got myself into this mess by... Wait a minute...

That was a lie!

If it hadn't been for Akane, this demon wouldn't be here, sexually harassing me at every turn. I wouldn't even believe they existed. Damn you Akane! You and your addiction to demons!

“Try it, you'll see how it works!”

Back then, I hadn’t believed her, I just took that note where she had told me how to summon a demon to leave me alone for a while, because I was still upset about what had happened with Orfeo.

I know she didn't mean it, as I doubt she knew it would work. And now here I am, with a demon that won't leave me alone to sleep.

º º º º º º

The girl sighed and, revealing that cross she always - or at least since that demon came into her life - wore around her neck. The jet-haired boy turned away from her and dug his claws into the ceiling as thin tail stood on end.

The girl smacked her head and shook her head, «I'll never listen to Akane again.»

That was the last thing the younger girl thought as she stood there, she glanced sideways at the demon still cautiously on the ceiling, -for he didn't know what that girl had in mind-. And, with a triumphant smile -which made the boy frown-, she got up from her bed and left the room, going to the kitchen to prepare herself something to eat. For after having spent so much time working, and studying, she had forgotten about dinner.