Oh my God. He's passed out on the floor and I don't think I can pull him out of here and he's also completely naked. What in the world am I going to do?
I crouch down next to him and attempt to take his pulse but I can't find it. I could just turn him onto his back and listen to his heart but that would involve exposing his.. Um... His you know.
"Magdalene?" His eyes flutter open and he slowly props himself up on his forearms.
Thank you God.
"Um, hi," I answer.
"Are you okay?" He asks, wincing as he slowly moves into a seated position.
I direct my eyes at a spot behind him, blushing deep red with embarrassment at seeing him nude. "I-I'm fine. Are you alright? And, I'm not trying to be rude, but who are you and what happened to my cat?"
He laughs, a low melodic sound that makes the hair on the back of my arms stand up.
"I'm good. Great, actually. And I happen to be your cat."
My mouth drops open.
"I'm kinda like your guardian angel if that's what you want to call it," he grins at me as I look away quickly.
"If you're an angel, how were you summoned by a pentagram and why were you in my cat?" I ask, trying to keep the shake out of my voice.
"The correct term is reformed fallen angel actually," he rubs his hand through his hair. "And, because I was a fallen angel at one time and spent a few thousand years ruling over hell, demonic summons still work on me. I wasn't in your cat, I was your cat. There's a difference. I am, well, was in the reincarnation cycle. I was going to work my way up from a life as a house cat to a life where I can work off the things I did when I fell from grace."
"So what you're trying to tell me is," I say slowly. "That a former demon has been living in my cat and now you're out and I'm not going to get my cat back."
He looks at my frustratedly. "I wasn't in your cat. I was your cat. There's a difference. And we need to leave."
"I don't know if I'm comfortable going anywhere with you," I answer, scowling. "I don't think it's in the best interest of my immortal soul to be hanging out with former demons who don't even have the decency to wear pants."
He laughs loudly, the sound ringing through the church. I continue scowling as he finally gets back a hold of himself.
"I forgot what it's like to be around conservative types," he grins, standing up.
I avert my eyes blushing and hear a small pop. I look back to find him fully clothed in a ripped graphic tee shirt, black skinny jeans, black boots and a leather jacket.
"Better?" He raises an eyebrow.
I nod. "I still don't think I should be going anywhere with you." I say. "You said you ruled over hell. Doesn't that make you a greater demon or something?"
"No, actually. Greater demons are much less friendly and all around, much more disgusting and angry. I was second in command of the satanic army so I did know greater demons. When we lost the war for heaven, I gave myself up willingly to hopefully make amends for what I'd done. I served my time and am now am proving myself as a worthy angel. Now can we please get out of here? I don't think you can see them, but there are demons all over this church and I can only keep so many of them from attaching themselves to you.
"Wait, what!" There are demons attaching themselves to me? No, no, no, no. I stand up quickly and sprint toward the door, giving no thought to fallen angel boy or anything else. My biggest fear is being possessed by a demon and it will not be happening today.
I burst out of the church and back into the forest, not stopping to look back. A root catches my foot and I fall directly into my face, scraping up my cheeks and bloodying my nose.
"Mags! Are you okay?" Angel boy runs up and crouches by my side as I slowly attempt to stand up. "Shit, let me help you." He scoops me off my feet and then takes off running through the trees.
"My house is the other way," I say, gritting my teeth as his jarring footsteps bounce me up and down.
"I know that," he says cooly, "but I can't heal you there."
"What do you need to heal me from?"
"Your messed up face for one," he says. "And theres a demon that's attached itself to your back."
My eyes widen and I start to tremble.
"Don't worry," he adds quickly. "It isn't possessing you. It's trying though. We just need to find somewhere in these damn woods that isn't infected with demonic energy so it can't fight back."
He continues talking but I ignore him. There's a demon on my back that is trying to possess me. It's on me. It's going to get me. I'm going to die.
"Magdalene, you have to listen to me," Angel boy's voice jerks me back to reality. "The more frightened you are, the easier it is for it to get inside you and take you over. It's attracted to the innocence in your soul and the fear surrounding that is only making it want you more. Calm down. I'll keep you safe as long as you work with me. Please Mags, you have to trust me."
His eyes are a luminous shade of blue and I focus on them, trying to slow my breathing and stop the tightening in my chest. "O-okay."
"Good," he says, coming to a stop. "We're on clear ground now so this should be easy."
He sets me down on the ground and begins to draw a circle around me with a large stick. I stand up sharply and move away from him.
"That isn't how you do it. That's black magic! I thought you said you were an angel! Shouldn't you be doing this in the name of God and Jesus his holy son? Or were you lying about not being a greater demon? Am I your sacrifice to the devil? Why are you doing this?" My hands tremble.
"Look," he says, glaring at me. "There isn't only one way and I'm not going into detail with you over why I'm doing this like I'm doing it, but I've met demons and I know how to get rid of them now if you would be so kind as to sit your ass back down in the circle, I could get it off you. Actually, it's pretty close to being inside you so if you want to deal with that on your own, please, be my guest."
I glare at him but step back into the circle and sit down, arms crossed over my chest.
He resumes drawing the circle and then marking off sections of the outside with runes I've never seen. He finishes and moves to stand directly in front of me.
"Stay perfectly still," he instructs and then begins chanting in a guttural language I don't understand. He lifts his arms into the air and as he does, a pair of black wings unfurl from behind him.
My vision begins to blur as his words increase their speed and I swear I hear a soft, serpent like voice calling my name from somewhere behind me. My eyes flick to the side but stop as I remember Angel boy's command to sit still. Just turning my head wouldn't hurt though would it?
I slowly turn my head and almost scream as I catch a glimpse of the most horrifying thing I've ever seen. Skin rotting and falling off the bones. Fingers like talons clutching my shoulders. Teeth like hundreds or razors bared in a sickly sweet smile and eyes like... Like my mother's. Soft blue grey and comforting. Eyes I've always trusted. I stare into my mother's eyes thinking about how much I love her and how I should spend more time with her when Angel boy launches himself over me and my mother's eyes are gone.
I stare in horror as Angel boy and the demon grapple for the upper hand. Angel boy is still chanting frantically and the demon is snarling words back in the same language. Suddenly Angel boy is holding a dagger, which appeared out of nowhere, and plunges it into the demon's chest yelling a phrase in the language as the demon dissolves into the ground and the dagger fades out of sight.
"Why the hell did you turn around?" He growls, his eyes boring into mine. "It was almost gone but you let it take back control of your mind and gave it a physical form. It was sucking your soul out through your eyes! You could have died!"
I fidget, looking down at my hands which I now notice are caked in mud. "I'm sorry."
"Good," he answers quietly. His hands are balled up in his lap and his jaw is clenched tightly shut.
"Thanks for saving me. Again,"
"It's part of my job," he extends his hand to me. "We have to go home."
I take his hand and he helps me to my feet. I move to take a step but my legs wobble and I almost fall over. Angel boy catches me and, grumbling under his breath, swings me up into his arms.
"I guess I'll just carry you home then," he sighs and strides towards the house.
The steady rhythm of his footsteps quickly lulls me to sleep.