I curl in the back as I hiccup, what did I do? I think as I bury my face in my bruised arms as my body shakes.

“Girl!” I hear her yell as I jump before I stand, backing up, I can’t. I think before I start backing up before I turn, starting to run into the apple trees.

“Girl!” I hear her yell louder as I keep running, the wind making my lashes and cuts burning. I feel something shift in my pocket before I blink then check my pocket, my fingers trembling. I see a weird paper folded.

I blink and skid, hiding behind a tree as I look at it. I see writing at the top, making me look closer at it. The writing says in case of emergency under the writing is a circle with a star in the middle. Weird symbols drawn at three of the points under it says draw with charcoal then add a drop of blood in the middle

I blink, I need to get to the backyard. I think as I look back, seeing the light in the back. I bite my lip before head over slowly, seeing movement upstairs as I grab one of the charcoal pieces before I hurry back in the trees as I slowly start to draw them.

“Sage!” I hear my father yell as I jump before I finish drawing it, nipping my finger as I flinch and put the drop of blood on the symbol. A small layer of fog appears covering the symbol as the symbol glows a low red. Human figured forms from the fog as it hovers before it slowly disappears, hearing my parents both yell and coming closer. I see the guy from before his figure a little different as I see long black horns coming from his head, his eyes a bright yellow as he looks at me shirtless, weird markings covering his body. him wearing black ripped jeans a couple of chains hanging from them.

I blink before I hear footsteps as I look back, “They’re comin’,”

He tilts his head as the symbol on the floor stops glowing and turns to ash, “who and why?” he asks his teeth more at a point than humans.

“My parents,” I say softly.

“Sage damn it!” I hear my father roar as I jump hard and look back, seeing him in the trees. The guy walks over to me dragging his feet destroying the symbol. “Why?” he says as he looks at my father.

“I dunno why they’re so mad tonight,” I say as I start walking backward, my father turning as he almost spots me, me ducking.

“Probably because I turned his deal down.” he says as he sighs, “humans… such a pain”

I hear his footsteps before they lead away, grumbling as I bite my lip.

“What do you need me to do”

“I can’t stay in the field, he comes and checks everything in the morning. And I can’t go back, they’ll…” I stop, a lump in my throat forming. They’ll chain me to the wall again. I think as I bite my lip.

Something flashed in his eyes as I see one of his hands, it being black with what looks like black scales that move up his arm with long pointed nails.

I blink and stare at his hand. He looks at me as he sighs. “So what do you want me to do about them?”

I inhale slowly and look back at the house, I don’t want to go back. I think as tiredness starts to wash over me.

He wipes his face with his other hand. “You want me to take you away?”

I nod slowly. He nods slowly. “Alright, let's go,” he says as he walks towards the house.

“Wait, what are you doing?” I ask as I follow him.

“You need stuff, do you not?”

“Y-yes but…..” I purse my lips as I look down.

“But?... what?” he says amusement in his voice.

I shake my head, “W-we can go,” I say softly.

He nods as he puts his hands in his pockets.

I follow him before I see the door open, seeing my dad as he holds a chain, “Oh, Mr. Draven, what are you doin’ here so late?” he asks before his gaze goes to me before his eyes narrow. His head tilts as he looks at my father. “I found her wondering when I was on a walk.” he says “she seemed upset thought I would help her out”

He growls before his eyes widen, “What the……” he says, backing up as I bite my lip.

he keeps walking ignoring my father his hands still in his pockets as he walks in front of me I notice a thin blue tail with a triangle at the end.

I watch it as my dad backs up slowly, “what’s wrong with you?”

“Me?” he asks as his tail sways.

“Yes you,” he sneers as I reach out before I pull my hand back, biting my lip.

“Nothing is wrong with me sir are you feeling alright? You look a little pale” the guy comments trying to sound concerned.

I blink as my dad backs up more, “Sharley!” he yells as I bite my lip. He walks into the house his tail whipping behind him as he walks in front of me. “You coming little one?”

My face warms as I follow inside with him, my dad staying away from him as he glares at me.

“Get what you need,” he says to me as he watches my father. My father steps forward as I hurry upstairs; seeing my mother at the top of the stairs, Uh oh. I think as her eyes narrow. His tail whipped making a loud noise similar to thunder.

My mom jumps as I slip past her, going into my room as I close the door quickly; leaning against it as I hear my dad yelling.

“Hurry up little one” I hear the guy yell.

I jump before I crouch, grabbing a small bag as I put what I can in the bag before I open the door; seeing my mom as she glares at me, “You will be in trouble when we find you,” she growls as I hurry downstairs.

“You will not be able to touch her no longer,” the guy says as he looks at me. I look down and stand next to him, my dad glaring at me.

“Anyone has anything to say?” the guy asks his head tilted.

“We will find you,” my dad snarls as my mother slowly come down the stairs; her eyes widening as she stares at the guy.

“Perhaps, but you will also find something you’re not expecting,” the guy says as he turns. I blink as I turn, following him. He walks out of the house as I notice two scars going down his shoulder blades.

I blink and look at them but don’t question it. He walks down the street before turning to me.

I look away as I look down. He tips my head up as he sighs. “Any place in mind?”

I shake my head, “Never really was allowed many places because of….everything on me,” I say softly.

He gives me a weird look, “what do you mean?” he asks confused.

“My scars ...bruises, it raises questions,” I say as I look away. He scratches his neck as he looks down at himself. “And your saying mine don't?”

I open then close my mouth, looking down.

“Where do you want to go?” he asks again.

“Anywhere but that house,”

He huffs as he pats me on the head.

I flinch slightly as I look up at him, “W-what?”

He stands there as he looks at me.

“What?” I ask again as I look away. He shakes his head as he starts walking. I blink then follow him, sighing.

“You have no place where you want to go?” he says as he walks his tail swaying.

“Not really,” I say, watching it. He nods slowly “uh…”

I hum as I keep watching it before I reach out, my fingertips brushing the tip of his tail. The tail feels rough as it moves against my hand. I tilt my head as I poke it. It stops swaying as it stays in front of me the tip flipping back and forth.

I smile slightly as I watch it. It slows down till it completely stops. I poke it again as I tilt my head.

As I poke it the tip flips from side to side stopping back in front of me. I bite my lip as I smile. The tail lowers as it starts to sway again.

I look up at him, I see him facing forward his hands still in his pockets as I see the markings on his back and sides. I reach and run a finger on one of them.

He tenses as he stops walking making me bump into him.

I blink rapidly before I step back, “S-sorry,” I say softly. “Don't… apologize I'm the one that stopped” he says pushing his hands deeper in his pockets as he starts walking again. “There demon markings. Like the ones you drew to summon me,” he says nodding slowly

I nod as I watch him.

“They keep me bound to... certain things,” he says as he walks. I nod as I look down, “My….my name is Sage,” I say softly, “If you didn’t hear,”

“Dravon,” he says his accent strong.

Like dragon. I think as I hum softly. He takes a turn leading me into a patch of woods. I watch him as I tilt my head. His arm jerks as he walks.

“Thank you,” I say softly.

“For what?”

“Helpin’ me,” I say softly. He shrugs as he keeps walking. I purse my lips as I follow him, “where ...where are we goin’?” I ask as I glance up at him.

“Spare house,” he says as he walks the lights from the town fade away; the only light coming from the full moon above our heads. I look up, smiling softly before I look back down, “they're trying to get me back,”

“Yes?” he says confused “and?”.

“It won’t be good,”

He shrugs as he sighs. “They won't find what they are looking for,” he says.

“What ...do you mean?”

He shrugs as he sighs the moon getting covered by a cloud as the forest goes pitch black. I stop quickly as I inhale sharply. I see yellow eyes in the dark. I tense as I look around slowly. The eyes look at me “you alright”

“Don't ...like the dark. Reminds me of the basement,”

he sighs “keep in mind your in the woods,” he says as I feel his hand on my arm. I flinch as I move away from him slightly. I hear him sigh as he steps away. “Was going to guide you?” he says as I feel him grab my hand putting something in it.

“I….sorry,” I say softly.

He says nothing as he closes my hand something cold and metal in my hand. I blink and look at it, seeing a square metal lighter. I blink and look at it, wait a second…… I hear a sigh before i see his hand grab the lighter flipping the top-up as a red and orange flame appears lighting up a small area around me.

“Oh,”

He nods as he hands it to me.

“Never was allowed to use them,”

He nods before turning as he starts walking again.

I blink then hurry after him. He keeps walking as we soon reach a small cabin.

I look at it as I dip my head.

“So um….”

“Yes?” he says as we reach the house.

I bite my lip and glance up at him, “What exactly are you?”

“What do you think I am?” he asks as he turns to me. I blink and lean back, looking at him fully as I soak in his appearance. I tilt my head as I look at him. He looks at me his eyes soft as they glow a bright yellow in the dim light.

He looks…..I inhale sharply as I look away, beautiful…. “Not sure,” I mumble.

He sighs as he looks at me “demon”

I blink and look at him.

“I'm a downworlder,” he says to me his head tilting.

I nod slowly.

“Elemental demon,” he says slowly.

I nod again as I tilt my head, he nods before turning and entering the house.

I bite my lip before I follow him. The house is dark as we enter, as we enter the temperature drops.

I inhale sharply before I blink, okay, this is new. Way new. He walks in calmly unfazed by the temperature.

I follow him before I tuck my hair behind my ear. He flips a switch on the wall as the lights flicker before turning on. I see the house is one room a bed in the corner and a small kitchen to my left. I blink rapidly as I rub my eyes, feeling the cold air hit my cuts as I hiss slightly. He turns looking at me his face blank.

I blink and look up at him, tall. Very tall. I think as I tilt my head. He tilts his head as he sniffs the air.

I look away and down, looking at the door.

“Go get yourself cleaned up.” I hear him say as he walks over to the bed.

I blink then bite my lip. He looks at me as he raises an eyebrow.

“B-bathroom?” I ask. He points to the kitchen sink. “There is a clean washrag beside the sink,” he says “and a medkit above the counter.”

I nod as I head over slowly.

After I clean my cuts, I tilt my head; hearing it crack as I flinch. I wrap my arm before I lean against the sink. I see Dravon still laying on the bed. I tilt my head before slowly walking over to him.

He tilts his head looking at me. I tilt my head to the other side, watching him. He raises an eyebrow as he looks at me. I look away, “Sorry,”

He gets up and stands in front of me. I tense slightly and glance up at him. He looks at me before walking past.

What was that? I think as I turn, watching him. He keeps walking as he walks to the fridge opening it as he looks inside. I watch him, tilting my head.

“What?” he asks as he goes through the fridge.

“N-nothing,” I say as I look down, “sorry,”

“Stop apologizing,” he says his voice rough. I jump, “Sor- I-I mean, alright,”

He looks at me closing the fridge as he nods. I bite my lip and look down before I pull my hair up; feeling the cold air bite at my neck as I shudder slightly. He walks over to the bed grabbing the blanket on top of it before coming over to me putting it around me.

I blink before looking up at him. He looks at me “gets some sleep, long day tomorrow”

I blink again, confusion washing over me. He points to the bed. I hum softly before heading over to it.