When I regained control of my consciousness, I was sitting on the asphalt next to the little girl. My sweats had been burnt into shorts and half of my shirt was gone. The skin underneath was red with welts, but my nerves were still numb from the full-body possession, so I could barely feel much of anything.

It was a deal we had made back before I knew I was a Mixed-Blood that the demon half of me could take over my body, but only when my life was at risk. Other than that, it was only allowed to see through my eyes and nag me to do terrible things. Not that the demon always did what it was told, but things worked out for the most part.

Granted, the fool thing usually accelerated my healing rate simply so that it didn't have to feel pain. I had no idea why my burn marks had yet to fade to scars. 

Maybe it was punishment for being careless.

I turned to the limp body beside me, quickly checking to make sure she was still alive. From the looks of it, other than the bruises from the beams and the shock of the situation, she was alright.

Underfed, dirty, poor, and much too small for what I assumed to be her age, but alright.

I brushed her singed blonde curls out of her face. 

"Now I'm really late for that meeting."