Sorry this is a bit late, I tried to get a poem together to post but I’ve been too stuck on my prose lately so I decided to just post a prose piece this time. Well, part of a prose piece, it’s to long to post all of it and sorry if it’s a bit choppy, I’m still working on my editing for this piece.
PROLOGUE: QUESTIONING YOURSELF
Is it odd to think of life as a playground for the dark and corrupt? Is it odd to go through life hoping that something will change in your morals? That you’ll be with those with the power; no longer a pawn in the game of life? Well I think about it all the time. We live in a world where demons and their slaves endanger our lives. Where good has lost the battle and the light pushed back into the depths of darkness. But those with morals still live on; they live on in fear of being killed; in fear of being found and tortured till they send you to the deepest circle of hell.
But it’s even more dangerous to be part demon and have morals. My name is Laura. My mother was a seductress demon and my father a bookworm who gave into his deepest desires, forgetting his morals and condemning his soul forever. I don’t know where he is now; probably lost in the black forest where most humans live after they gave into evil. As for my mother, though, she’s probably hunting me down ready to decapitate me if given the chance. It seems harsh, yes, even for a demon. She is a mother and does have motherly instincts as to not hurt her children. But she also has the instincts of survival. Parental demons that have lost their children to good have six years to track down and either convert or kill their child. The high demons of the Horned Circle made this to keep us from helping light to regain power.
They did well on that because that’s exactly where I’m heading. To the Garden of Eve where the purest people left on this earth lay waiting for a time to take back their world. And I’ll kill my mother if it means restoring this ground to the way it’s supposed to be.
This is my story: A story of heartbreak, betrayal, and death, but a story none the less.
CHAPTER ONE: CAPTURED
I stopped, though only for a millisecond, to assess my surroundings. Once again one of my mother’s assassins had found me. Only this time, I was two short breaths from being killed. This demon was good, and she didn’t care that I was only seventeen; I was dead if I didn’t keep my wits about me. Two milliseconds later I could hear the soft sound of an arrow cutting the air and quickly ducked and rolled into some underbrush. I held my breath.
“Laura, come out, come out wherever you are,” the woman laughed softly as her heels crunched the leaves only inches from my face. “Come out and denounce all things good and I can take you back to dear old mommy. She could teach you that being a demon on the run is not a good look when trying to get a guy.”
I rolled my eyes at this, my mother was a seductress. No, not a succubus or a siren, she was more of the demon’s version of Aphrodite. Any man that was on the brink of darkness would fall into her arms. But that still didn’t stop people from comparing how beautiful she is and how plain I am. I’m more demon than human, but I look more human than demon.
The assassin was now a couple feet away from me and I knew that it was either now or die. It was then that I realized my breath was still being held and I gasped for air.
Crap.
Jumping up I barely missed the spear that was now where my head had been. Turning, my feet took me as quick as they could away from the weapon master. I knew that the only thing that would now keep me alive was my demon heritage; and being under the age of twenty-one meant that any demonic power was under my control. My entire body was suddenly covered in flames. The orange and red licked at my skin but I felt nothing. Pausing for only a moment the flames snaked up my skin and formed into a ball in my hand. Turning I realized how close my enemy actually was and knew I had only one shot at this. I aimed and threw the glowing sphere at my pursuer.
Perfect aim, I thought as the same flames that didn’t even harm me exploded and sent her to Hell. My body sagged as I relaxed, the threat was gone, and I could relax for a moment. Though, only for a moment.
Moving cautiously toward a tree I listened and looked, making sure that no one else was with the weapon master. My heartbeat was beginning to rest; no longer moving a mile per minute. I needed rest, and the sun was almost set, the best time to sleep since all the demons will be out and about.
Speed, I thought as I felt my legs grow strong and anxious for a run. Perfect, and I took off running for the closest town.
I stopped in front of an old building with a green roof and red brick walls. Christmas colors were a signal to demons on the run that this was a safe haven. But to be careful my features morphed into someone else. I chose a perfect candidate, my mother. Thick, platinum blonde hair that I felt grow till it reached my lower back and then stopped. Tan skin that looked painted, long lean limbs that she used ever so gracefully. Even though she was trying to kill me I couldn’t help but admit my mother’s heart shaped face and small nose looked beautiful. She had chosen a good path for her demonic nature.
I walked into the motel, instantly the owner at the desk recognized me, “Oh Miss. Rose. I didn’t know you were coming to town. Looking for your child no doubt.”
Giving him my best smile I looked into his eyes, “Ah yes, my dear Laura. Such a shame, she had a lot of talent, but the good seeds must be thrown out.” The owner looked thrown back, another way to tell if the place was safe.
“Yes, the most perfect apples must wait till their rotten to the core.” I smiled and nodded, he knew.
“A room for one night, please.” And without another word he handed me the key to room 106.
© Ashlea Gable, 2012
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