Satan's Son

by Simone Elise

  “His mind was cloudy, like foggy or something. Is that what they are all like?” I asked.

  “No, that was because of the substances in his body. It’s harder to focus on memories when the person is under the influence, which is why not many are saved.”

  “Why was I able save him?” I felt the stupid smile wash across my face as I remembered why. “Oh, right. I knew him.”

  “Yep.” Ethan twirled something in his fingers: “He was lucky to have you. Another guider wouldn’t have saved him.”

  “Lucky I listened to you then.” I smiled a very small smile at him as we came to a stop.

  “Are you saying thank you?” He smirked.

  “No.” I crossed my arms. “Stating a fact, nothing else.”

  “Right.” He rolled his eyes. “Where’s your key?”

  “Key?” I frowned.

  “The key. You would have gotten it when you were given a room. It opens your door.” Ethan spoke slowly, as if he was speaking to a child.

  “Oh, that. Back in the room, I guess.” I shrugged my shoulders. Why would a bedroom key matter at this moment? Personally, I didn’t care if someone stole everything I had. Which was nothing.

  “Newbies know nothing,” Ethan muttered under his breath: “This is why I don’t deal with newcomers. Frustrating.”

  “It’s a bedroom key, Ethan. Get a grip!”

  “No, it’s your key.” Ethan’s expression tightened, and he let out a heavy sigh, as though trying to calm himself.

  “I know it’s my key. It unlocks the matchbox for me. But if you really want it—”

  “Shut up!” He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. “The key gets you back into Hell.”

  “Wow, sounds like a key I have always wanted!”

  “Without it, you can’t get back into Hell.” He grunted. “Which means I have to go back and get it for you.”

  “Why can’t I use yours?”

  Ethan’s eyes snapped open, and he shook his head. “I’m Satan’s son. I don’t need a key to get back into Hell. I can pass through the worlds without it.”

  “Well, aren’t we lucky, Mr. I-don’t-need-a-key!” I walked past him and sat down on a bench. “Looks like I am stuck here then.”

  “No, looks like you have, yet again, made more work for me.” Ethan glared at me. “I really dislike you.”

  “Care factor zero.” I yawned and covered my mouth.

  “You know,” he pointed a finger at me, “you’re making my life difficult.”

  “How?”

  “If you had been at home when your fa—” His mouth snapped shut, and he cut his own words off. “Don’t worry about it.”

  I frowned. “Keeping something from me?”

  “Shut up,” he snapped. “Stay here and I’ll go get the key. Do. Not. Move.”

  “Wait, Ethan?”

  “What?”

  “What is Heaven like?”

  He inhaled sharply and exhaled slowly. “If you do your job as a guider right, come retrial you can experience it for yourself. Now stay here.”

  “You should have told me.” I crossed my arms smugly. “You knew I didn’t know the importance of the key. You are only pissed off because it’s your own mess-up.”

  “I’m not an instructor!” He waved his hands in the air: “I’m Sat—”

  “Satan’s son, I know.” I arched both eyebrows. “Which only makes me wonder why you’re my instructor.”

  “No more questions.” He closed his eyes. “Do not move. And if you do, you will regret it.”

  “Blackmail, nothing works better.” I watched him slowly fade and disappear into the night air.

  I was alone sitting on a park bench. Dead. Invisible to the human eye. I jumped to my feet and began to walk up the deserted road. I’d already been sentenced to Hell, so what more could Ethan do to me?

  Chapter 3

  “I told you not to leave.” Ethan grabbed my arm tightly and began to drag me through the busy city center.

  “Of course, you would be here!” He kept a tight grip on my arm. “Hours, hours, I have been looking for you!”

  “It’s not my fault you don’t have the ability to track me,” I exclaimed as I dragged my feet, not wanting to go anywhere he was planning on taking me.

  “I had to call in a favor to get your jobs covered!” Ethan stopped and spun around to stare me in the eye. “Do you have any idea how much trouble you have caused?”

  I shrugged. “Like it matters anyway. Come on, Ethan, get over it.”

  “Get over it!” His jaw clenched, and his eyes became slitted. “If I hadn’t gotten someone to cover your ass, you would have killed at least three people! Don’t you get it? Your time isn’t yours anymore!”

  My mouth fell open. “I just wanted to wander around…”

  Guilt overcame me. I hadn’t really thought about the consequences of my actions. Being invisible was just too tempting.

  “You aren’t allowed to wander around! Bloody hell!” Ethan yelled at me.

  ***

  “Ethan, I’m sorry.” I seductively blew across his ear while standing behind him. “Come on, you can’t be mad at me forever.”

  Ethan grunted and crossed his arms, sitting on the bench. Sighing slowly, I walked around and sat next to him. Not only did he make me jog in heels to keep up with him, but he had then decided that he would sit here, not telling me why.

  “Okay, fine, you have proven your point. What do I do now?” I tapped the bench with one finger, waiting for him to get off his high horse.

  “You know storming away and ignoring me isn’t a very mature thing to do,” I said lightly.

  Ethan twisted and gave me a pointed look but didn’t say anything. But I had a feeling I could hear every insult he wanted to hurl at me.

  “What, no comeback, Ethan? Fine, be mute!” I turned around and stared across the park. “Like it bothers me. Always preferred to have conversations with myself anyway.”

  It really did bother me though. Ethan may not be the best source of conversation but he was all I had.

  “Did you know that when I was little I used to play here?” I struck up a conversation anyway, not caring if he didn’t reply. Well, I cared a bit. I sort of hoped my babbling would pull him out of this. “I fell off that slide.” I pointed to the long, faded brown slide.

  “Dad told me I was too small to go on it, so I made it my mission.” I crossed my legs. “Boy, did I get some ‘I told you so’ comments.”

  Ethan grunted again, and I heard him grinding his teeth.

  “Then when I was ten, this was like a month after that, I fell from that tree.” I pointed to the tall tree next to it. “Again, I wasn’t meant to be climbing it.”

  Ethan scoffed, and I had a feeling he was biting his tongue.

  “Broke my other arm. Trust me; two broken arms can really make things hard.”

  “You were lucky they were only broken arms,” Ethan snapped. “Do you ever listen to anyone? Have you ever considered… ‘hey, maybe I should actually listen to what people are telling me?’ I swear you made it your mission to make my life hell! ‘Addison, don’t go on that boat without a life jacket.’ Do you listen? No! Do you put that life jacket on? Of course not!”

  “How do you know that?” I turned around sharply, interrupting his rant. “I didn’t tell you that.”

  Ethan’s lips formed a tight line.

  “What, cat got your tongue?” I poked his arm. “Spill it. How did you know that about me?”

  “I just know stuff,” he snapped.

  “Liar.”

  “Just shut up,” Ethan cried. “You’re annoying me.”

  “Then get someone else to show me around, and I won’t be ‘making your life hell’ anymore.”

  “It’s not that easy,” Ethan explained. “You’re my problem.”

  “As you keep reminding me.” I sighed. “I wish they’d give me someone else.”

  “Wishing doesn’t get you anywhere.”


  “Does praying?” I glanced sideways at Ethan but he didn’t reply.

  Chapter 4

  “Ethan, Ethan, Ethan, Ethan, Ethan, Ethan.” I swung my feet over the edge of the bench, tapping them in beat with his name. “Ethan, Ethan, Ethan.”

  Shut up!” He spun around and glared at me. “Say my name one more time, and I swear I will make you regret it.”

  “Do it,” I egged him on. “I dare you.”

  Ethan’s hands were curled into tight fists at his side. I knew he didn’t have it in him to actually stand up to me. For some reason, Ethan would let it go, even though it looked as if it physically pained him.

  Grinning widely at him, I wanted to see how far I could push him before he snapped. He muttered something under his breath, turned his back to me once more, and we continued to walk down the busy street. I actually made an effort not to walk through people. Ethan didn’t.

  “Ethan, do you have pets?” I knew he could hear me; he was ignoring me on purpose. For some reason, he thought ignoring me would make me stop annoying him. Boy, was he wrong! I was bored, and he was the only source of entertainment I had. So, doing what any bored but sane person would do, I conversed with myself.

  “You take me as the sort of man who would have a turtle?”

  “Do you, Ethan? Do you own a turtle?”

  Silence.

  “I had a pet once. I lost it. Who knew hermit crabs could run away?”

  I sidestepped another two people and my heels clicked a little louder as I attempted to keep up with Ethan’s fast pace.

  “Maybe you’re more of a mouse man? Are you hot for mice?”

  Again, nothing. Okay, fine. I would have to take it up a few notches. I wanted a reaction out of him.

  “So, Ethan, how long has it been?”

  Nothing again.

  “You know, you’re actually the first gay man I have known.”

  My voice was honest, and the humor was hidden. I even kept my face straight; my own acting skills surprised me. He stopped abruptly, and a dull squeal of pain escaped my lips as I went flying into Ethan’s toned back. Tears welled up in my eyes as I cupped my nose. Damn, that hurt!

  “What did you say?” Ethan spun around, ignoring the fact that I had just slammed into his back. Bloody hell, who has a back that toned? It was like slamming into a concrete wall!

  “I said, you are the first gay guy I have met.” My voice was slightly muffled as I cupped my nose.

  “You think…” Ethan took a step back. “You think I’m gay?”

  Slowly, I moved my hands down from my face, my look blank. Exhaling slowly, I pretended to study him. I ran my eyes up and down his body before I looked him squarely in the eye.

  “No, but I got you to answer me.” My lips twitched into a full-on grin. and his face dropped in annoyance, his lips pinching together. “So much for not speaking.”

  I poked him in the chest, and he continued to stare at me as if I was the most annoying person breathing. Or not breathing, in this case.

  “I really dislike you.” He gritted his teeth.

  “So why do you dream of me?” I placed a hand on my hip. Ethan’s personal space was dangerously close.

  His face showed true terror. “What did you just say?”

  I couldn’t help but frown at his weird reaction. “I said, so why do you dream of me?” I slowed my words and watched him closely. He looked as if I had just slapped him with a cold fish!

  “I don’t dream of you!” he finally choked out, but by his delayed response, I knew he was lying, which only confused me more.

  “You actually do, don’t you?” My teasing grin dropped. “How? We have only known each other for a little while. Hell, I haven’t even slept with you yet.”

  Ethan shook his head, and his face twisted with anger. He looked hurt and embarrassed, but I couldn’t understand why.

  “That’s it. I’m done,” he said.

  I opened my mouth to reply, but he disappeared completely. Spinning around, I was surrounded by humans. Ethan had left me here, and I wasn’t even sure where ‘here’ was. Why had he gotten so upset?

  Ethan

  I slammed my bedroom door and picked up the first thing in my way and hurled it across the room. Why? Why in all that was holy had I gotten her? I threw myself backward on my bed and glared up at the ceiling.

  I wasn’t sure what was worse, knowing that I had caused her death or having had a crush on her for years. Ever since I’d first saved her, I hadn’t been able to get her out of my head. My dad called me a fool in love, while others just thought it was weird that I was willingly protecting a human on earth.

  Although I had backed off over the years, I only stepped in when she was going to hurt herself, which was close to all the time. I had never seen anyone so attracted to dangerous situations.

  Groaning, I ran my fingers through my hair and placed my hands behind my head. It was my fault she was here. I shouldn’t have…

  I groaned again. She wasn’t meant to be here.

  But when her eyes locked with mine for the first time in the alley, I froze. I hadn’t even realized she’d turned away and walked into the street until I heard her body connect with the metal of the car. A sharp, blunt force pushed through my body when I heard that noise. I thought I had lost her. I was certain that I would never see her again, because a beautiful soul like hers wouldn’t come down here, so I’d been shocked when I called her name up for judgment.

  The surprise quickly wore off as soon as her mouth opened. I didn’t know why she had made it her mission to annoy the hell out of me since she got here. To top that, I was doomed to guide her, because it was my mistake she was here in the first place. Dad was determined for me to right the wrong.

  I gritted my teeth. I was more pissed off that she made light of my knowing her. I’d once dreamed of having a conversation with her, but that was impossible now.

  Addison, I killed you, but I think I’m secretly in love with you. I groaned, falling back into bed, and thoughts of what she would be getting up to without me entered my mind. I had to go back to her. She wouldn’t know how to get back here. She spent all her time talking and not listening.

  Standing, I decided I’d better go find her before she got herself in trouble. Closing my eyes, I centered myself on where I last left her.

  Addison

  I hated high heels. I didn’t even know how long I’d walked but I was over it. Not the actual walking on heels bit, but the noise. I was bloody sick of the click, click, click!

  I stopped dead in the middle of the street. Who knows where I was? Some rural town. Not one person was out, and I wasn’t cool with the whole haunting people thing. I took a long step, minimizing the clicking.

  “What in God’s name are you doing now?”

  I spun around, looking ridiculous, and found a smug Ethan.

  “Nothing.” I put my feet together, no longer looking as if I was doing the splits.

  “Clearly,” he said, walking toward me. “Picked your dummy back up then, did we?”

  I walked beside him. “You know it’s not nice to leave a girl behind.”

  “Clearly, you managed.”

  “Believe me, it was close! Honestly, Ethan, I don’t know how I survived without you.”

  Ethan shot me a dry expression, not picking up on my joke. Did this dude even have a sense of humor? I was beginning to think he was as exciting as a white crayon.

  “Okay, hold up.” I reached out, placing my hand on his arm and stopping him. His expression was still dry, but I saw his surprised look. His gaze darted to my hand, as I firmly gripped his arm.

  Taking a step closer to him, I said, “I’m sorry I picked on your sexuality; it was a low blow.”

  I dropped the serious expression and grinned.

  Ethan pulled away from me. “I’m not gay!” Letting out an annoyed grunt, he took off again. “I’m not talking to you. And don’t you dare start singing again.”

  “You know, Ethan, we
really have to get you a sense of humor.” I noticed his broad back as he walked away from me, and once more the night did a full circle.

  Respecting Ethan’s request, I didn’t sing. Instead, I started humming.

  Chapter 5

  “Addison, if I have to tell you one more time…” Ethan gritted his teeth as I jumped out from behind a tree again. I giggled freely at his furious face.

  “Boo!”

  “For the last time, you aren’t scaring me!” Ethan finally snapped, throwing his hands in the air, all his built-up anger finally spilling out.

  “Okay. Fine, I’ll stop.” Why we were walking in a forest, I didn’t know. But since we had been walking forever, I decided to play the good old peek-a-boo game. Of course, Ethan wouldn’t play, but I played regardless.

  “Where are we going, anyway? My feet hurt.” I groaned.

  “You’re lying; you can’t feel pain,” Ethan snapped over his shoulder.

  “Okay, that’s it!” I reached out, gripping his shoulder and pulling him to a stop. “What’s the deal?”

  “Deal?” Ethan looked at me as if I was stupid. I tended to get that expression a lot.

  “Your shitty mood. What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” He attempted to pull out of my grasp, but I was clingy when I wanted to be. “Let go!”

  “Dude, you need to let go of this built-up anger. You know stress leads to disease.”

  “Really? You really thought that line would work? I’m immortal,” Ethan huffed.

  “Maybe you should take up boxing,” I offered. “Or karate. Then you get to wear those awesome white pajamas and pretend to be a ninja!”

  Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose. “You are giving me a headache.”

  “You’re lying. We don’t feel pain.” I threw his line back in his face, and then let go of his shoulder. “Where is that noise coming from?” I asked, actually interested in the sound because it had just been me, the crickets, and Ethan for the last hour or more.

  “Addison, don’t run off,” Ethan ordered behind me.

  I didn’t listen and instead increased my pace. I didn’t need to look back to see his expression; I knew he would be angry.