Demons Run

Demons Run (3) Bacon Burgers and Murder

Demons Run (3)

The next morning I woke up alone. Very weak daylight was peeking through the crack in the curtains. Had it not been for the clock by my head stating that it was noon, I would have thought it was still fairly early in the morning. Upon further investigation, Roman was nowhere to be seen. I looked around the room with one quick sweep of the eyes before brushing my hair out of my face and getting out of bed.

     There was a change of clothes sitting on the desk. I took them to the bathroom with me and was surprised when they fit me perfectly. Roman had left me a pair of denim shorts, and a thin, red long-sleeved shirt.

     After dressing and running a brush through my hair, I entered the room again. Still no sign of Roman, no note, no nothing. I had a couple of dollars and was thirsty, so I decided to go looking for a vending machine.

     I opened the door to the hotel room and ventured off down the stairs. Suddenly I was thankful for the long-sleeves; there was a chilly wind that seemed to pick up even more as I walked through the breezeway. It looked like there was a chance for rain. Glancing toward the parking lot, I saw the Sierra Grande was still parked in its spot from the night before. He couldn't be far.

     The further I walked, the more weird I felt. I didn't feel weird about being miles away from my home with a demon who looks like an angel. I felt weird that I was comfortable with my situation.

     A Coke machine was at the end of the corridor. I walked over to it and pulled the two or three dollars out of my pocket; the vending machine rejected my first bill, and I let out a soft curse. I kept trying to push the bill into the machine, but it wouldn't take. I slammed my fist against the flimsy plastic and a bottle of Sunkist dropped into the slot. I was going for a Sprite, but that'll do.

     I was bending to grab the fizzy orange drink when I was snatched up by a pair of strong arms and a hand flew over my mouth, dragging me backwards. I screamed but it was no use. I was slammed into the brick wall next to the Pepsi machine and the attacker's forearm was on my throat. When I looked up, I saw Roman's furious silver eyes.

     "Dead." He said simply; the word was spit with vehemence. He was too close to my face for comfort. "If I had been another demon, you would be dead. Not all of them play with their food like Ornias does."

     My heart pounded and I was shaking all over. "I just wanted a drin--"

     "You wait for me." He said sternly, "I will always come back. I will never stay gone long, because I know that'll provide a chance for another demon to come in and hurt you, and that's the last thing that I'm gonna let happen. If I leave a hotel room, you stay in that hotel room. I don't care if you like me, but I need you. And as much as you hate to think, you need me too."

     "Okay." I said, swallowing. I was about to let the conversation go, when I was struck by curiosity. "Where were you, anyway?"

     "I was checking us out. Time to hit the road again." He said. Something about his too-quick answer told me that wasn't all he was doing. I had no reason to think he'd lie to me, other than the fact he was a demon, but it was... well, intuition.

*

We left the hotel a few minutes later and were back on the main road with other vehicles.

     "The clothes fit?" Roman asked, glancing over at me. I absently looked down at the outfit before shaking my head yes.

     "Yeah, perfectly." I said, "When did you get them? How'd you even know my size?"

     "When I brought you home last week and was cleaning you up. I saw your measurements." He said with a smirk, "I made a quick stop a few days later to get some clothes your size. Figured you'd need them for our trip. You're lucky I'm merciful and didn't buy really slutty clothes."