Pretty Faces and Dark Places

by Rose B Mashal

  The honey tasted as awful as the pills. I thought that maybe if I swallowed quickly I would end this and get over it faster, but I couldn’t do that, I couldn’t swallow. I started coughing crazily, spitting out the pills and the mouthful of honey that I’d sipped.

  In a split second, Andrew managed to take the glass from my hand. The next minute he was helping me to sit down on the bed and then he moved a small wet towel over my mouth.

  I took the towel from his hand with another, “Thank you,” and started wiping wherever there was honey on my hands.

  “What’s wrong?” Andrew asked with concern appearing on his handsome features, kneeling in front of me on the floor.

  “This honey doesn’t taste anything like the honey I know; it tastes awful,” I replied. Andrew looked surprised by my words.

  “It’s the very same honey that you knew in your human life,” he said, to my surprise.

  “I don’t know, Andrew. My throat closed anyway, I couldn’t swallow,” I told him.

  Andrew’s eyes grew larger at the sound of my words. He looked as if he was completely shocked by them, his mouth slightly agape as he stared at me without saying anything.

  “Are you okay?” I had to ask.

  “Yes,” was all he said before standing up. He looked away at nothing for a few moments, seemingly sad more than anything. I couldn’t help but wonder why he had changed moods so abruptly, but I couldn’t find any answer for my wondering questions. When he sighed and shook his head, I decided to let it go – it wouldn’t be the first thing that I couldn’t understand, anyway.

  “I need to go and get some sleep. I’m tired.” Andrew said, not looking my way.

  “Go? Go where? I thought this was your room!” I said with a hint of terror and worry in my voice. I didn’t want him to go. I wanted him to stay; I didn’t want to be alone. And I didn’t just think that this was his room – I knew it. The photos on the wall, in which he was in many of them told me so. The jeans and shoes that were in the closet told me so – why did he have to go? I couldn’t get it.

  “We don’t sleep in beds, Maya,” he said as a matter of fact.

  “Oh!” was my reply.

  Andrew sighed once more, and then he offered me his hand. “Come, I’ll show you.”

  We left the room with our hands tangled, and then walked into a long lobby. Every time I saw someone walking by I couldn’t help but step even closer to Andrew if that was possible, using him as a kind of shield, because any and every one scared me for some reason. I just couldn’t feel any kind of comfort whenever I saw anyone else.

  Eventually we left the lobby and stepped into a great foyer. We went through great iron gates to leave the place, and when I looked behind me, I saw that we’d been in a huge mansion that looked like the ones belonging to royal families or something. I understood that Andrew was truly some kind of royalty since he had told me that his mother was the ruler of their kind.

  After leaving the mansion, Andrew turned in front of me so that his back was facing me and then he grabbed my hands and lead me to put them over his shoulders, causing my body to be flat to his back, right in the middle of his wings. “Hold on tight, Beautiful Maya,” he said, and then I found my feet leaving the ground as Andrew spread his wings and started to fly.

  I squealed when I felt the air hitting my face, not really caring that it felt different from the air I was used to. This air wasn’t as light, it was actually thick, and the smell of dirt was evident enough to be noticed but not so much that it was uncomfortable. It felt just like when you open the window of your car while driving on a deserted road on a windy day.

  My smile grew wider when Andrew flew higher, and I tightened my hands around him, smiling even wider when I was able to hear the soft chuckle that he let out when he heard me squealing again.

  “Where are we going?” I asked, not able to help how loud my voice was. The rush of excitement inside of me was preventing me from keeping it quiet.

  “You’ll see,” Andrew said, the soft smile easily heard in his voice.

  The sky we were flying in was seriously strange; it was darker than anything I’d ever seen in my life. It was pitch black and colored with strong darkness. There was no hint of any stars in it, nothing that I’d ever seen before.

  The only thing that was stranger than anything, the only thing I couldn’t help but stare at with wonder, was the sun. It was different, much different – and not just because the sun wasn’t able to lighten the dark sky like it was supposed to – no, it was because of its colors and size.

  I didn’t know if it was the fact that I was flying in the sky on Andrew’s back that was the reason I saw the sun as this large, or if it was actually larger than the sun I used to know. However, the colors were definitely different. It was dark and bright red, like blood and fire, not golden or orange. It was more like lava than anything, and the heat that was coming from it was enough to make it fit that description.

  “Andrew!” I shouted, to which he immediately stopped heading higher, trying to look at me from over his shoulder.

  “What is it?” he asked with concern.

  “The heat, it’s too much!” I replied. My body was warming to the point it had grown to be really disturbing. I had no doubt that if Andrew got us any nearer to the sun, it would seriously harm me and burn my skin.

  Andrew quickly flew us down until I could no longer feel the heat as great as it had been, and then he stopped again. Our feet were pointing toward the ground, which was far away from us, when Andrew reached with his hand and brought me around in front of him. For a moment I was scared that I would fall, especially with his wing in the way, but I knew right away that Andrew would never risk that. He wouldn’t turn me around unless he was very sure that I would be safe. In truth, it was like his wing was helping to get me there, just like his hand was, by spreading and unfolding in a way that made it easier to move me like that. It was an incredible thing to watch.

  Now I was face to face with him, our chests flush to each other and our faces so close that our lips were almost touching. His eyes were so beautiful and held so many emotions in them as he stared into mine, while his arms tightened around my waist as he hugged me to him. The sadness I could see in his eyes was hurting my heart, and I wished I knew why he looked so sad, so I could do whatever I could to remove that look from his face. His eyes should only be happy and delighted, as my heart wanted for them to always be.

  Andrew then moved to be on his back, not saying anything to answer my silent questions about the sad look in his eyes, taking me with him to lie on top of him. His wings spread out on both sides of us so that he was hovering on his back right in the middle of the sky, his hands still hugging me to him and his eyes still watching mine with warmth and compassion.

  “This is how we sleep, Beautiful Maya,” he told me. All I did was nod my head to tell him of my understanding, though in my head I couldn’t help but be fascinated at the way we were, and wonder how much longer we would be like that. I was already afraid for the moment we would have to go down and back to the mansion, because I liked it there so much, in his arms. I loved it even, not just liked it.

  “Andrew,” I called softly to get his attention. We had been like that for a little while, my head resting on the middle of his chest where I could hear his heartbeat, wondering if that was where his heart was and not to the left side like in humans.

  “Yes, Maya?” he replied just as softly.

  “Why is the sun not lighting the sky?” I asked the question that kept roaming in my head as I searched for an answer and never found one.

  I heard Andrew as he chuckled softly and I frowned, waiting for him to answer my question instead of laughing at it.

  “Those are not a sun or sky, Beautiful Maya.”

  “They’re not?”

  “No,” he replied. “This is just an empty space, and then it’s the center of the Earth, where volcanoes are produced.”

  “Oh!” I said as I tried to underst
and what he was saying. Of course it made sense now – it was the underground world, after all. It wasn’t a sky or a sun, even if it looked like it.

  “We can’t see in the sun, Maya. This is why we surface to the upper world only at night,” Andrew explained.

  “Do you do that often?” I asked.

  “Just on certain nights until we find our mates – mostly on Halloween and when it’s the 13th of any month and a Friday. We surface in different areas and countries, through the graves made for us on Earth. One demon only gets to surface once a year through humans’ calculation of time.”

  “Oh!” I said again, trying to take in everything that he was saying. “So, you won’t come out ever again?”

  “Only on next Halloween. A new generation of us will need mates, and since there are so many this time, they will need more of us who’ve already found their mates, for guidance,” Andrew said, and then he sighed after a pause of silence, “Sleep now, My Maya.”

  At the sound of Andrew’s words I felt an undeniable surge of fear, which consumed me and filled my insides. The first and bigger thought that formed in my head was something I couldn’t stop thinking about:

  Humans were in great danger.

  Sleep wouldn’t come. No matter how hard I tried, it just wouldn’t.

  It was understandable. How could I sleep, how could my mind find any kind of rest, when my thoughts were just about to drive me crazy? How could I find any kind of comfort when my heartbeats were racing against each other, thumping hard against my ears, along with Andrew’s steady ones that I was able to hear clearly as I lay on top of him in the sky.

  The thought of how humans were in danger was enough to keep me fully alert; not only that, no, I felt as if my blood was boiling inside of me. The need to run and just – do something was so great that I felt every inch of my body aching. Though I had no idea what to do or where to go, I just couldn’t help the need inside of me.

  The need to help, to protect, to save.

  I turned my head to the other side over Andrew’s chest, sighing. His skin felt so soft and incredibly warm, but it was hard like marble, tight and all muscles. I wanted to stay there forever, over his chest, enjoying his warmth and the sound of his even breaths and heartbeats. But the thoughts in my head were blocking me from truly getting lost in the feel of his arms. He hugged me to his body protectively, his wings spread on either side on us, looking larger than I’d ever seen them before, yet utterly beautiful and amazingly strong.

  I wanted to reach out and touch them, but I didn’t want to disturb Andrew even more than I already was, so I refrained.

  With another sigh, I closed my eyes in another attempt to get some sleep – not that I wanted it or felt the need to sleep. No. I just wanted to pass the time until Andrew awakened.

  When I closed my eyes, I tried to rest my mind. I tried not to think of this new need to do something to prevent Andrew’s kind from hurting humans any more. It was really hard. Almost impossible.

  I thought about Sophie, and what Mathew had said. He had said that the secret to growing black wings was to hate. I couldn’t imagine Sophie possibly hating anyone, or anything. She was the most pure and loving person I knew – how could she hate so much that it’d help her become a demon? It was beyond my understanding.

  My thoughts of Sophie and how loving she was made me think of my mother, how she was as loving and kind, and how good it felt to see her in that dream I’d had the other night.

  I smiled lightly, and right then, something changed behind my closed lids. Darkness changed to light, bright like the sunshine and sparkling stars, and when the light was gone – I again found myself in the same place I’d seen in my dream. I found myself walking in green, wide lands, this time with the knowledge of where I should go. This time I knew whom I would find, and when I found her – I smiled brightly, and called, “Mom!”

  Something felt strange. I opened my eyes and everything was gone, darkness was present again, and Andrew’s steady heartbeats rang softly in my ear. I couldn’t understand what that was. I wasn’t asleep. I knew I hadn’t fallen asleep, I was fully awake. But how could I see those things so clearly? It wasn’t just thoughts – that much I was very aware of.

  I closed my eyes again, thinking of my mother just like I’d done a minute ago, and there I was again, among bright lights and then green lands, and at the end there was my mother.

  This time I was very sure I wasn’t asleep, because though I could feel my legs walking, and I could see with my own eyes as the form of my mother neared as I walked toward her, I was still able to hear Andrew’s heartbeats and breaths. I was still able to feel his hard chest and the warmth his body had always offered my own.

  Those facts made me realize one thing – what I was seeing was like a vision, though I had no clue if visions played out that way. It was me seeing this, not another person, and I was even in the same clothes. When my mother turned and looked me in the eyes, I knew that it was something other than a vision, because she could see me, as well.

  I couldn’t help the words that came out of my mouth, “What is this, Mom?” My mother had always answered my curious questions as a child. She’d always known the right thing to say. It was second nature to me to ask her, even though I knew that my mother was long gone and what was happening was insane for the mind to process – but I didn’t care. I was confused and I wanted my mother’s wisdom. I knew she had the answer.

  “It’s your destiny, Sweetheart,” she replied warmly.

  “What do you mean? What’s my destiny?”

  “You will figure it out soon, honey. Very soon.” She smiled.

  “How can I see you? Is this a vision?” I asked, not able to wait until I figured it out myself like she said; I needed answers. Needed them. Anything. And I needed it now. Just anything to make me understand. Those questions were very disturbing, and I couldn’t bear it anymore.

  “No, Maya. Not a vision. You wanted to see me, so your soul traveled to where I am. Your spirit is with me. You can do that to visit anyone, even the dead. You just need to be careful whom you want to see, and you need to want it badly enough for it to really work,” Mom explained.

  I frowned; this was confusing. I couldn’t understand, though I wanted to so much. How could I see my mother? How could I travel or transport, or whatever that way? I was nothing, not even a human. Andrew said I’d already changed so I would be able to live in his world. Heck, I wasn’t even a demon; I wasn’t able to grow the black wings I needed. I had no powers, nothing, I couldn’t even cry or eat, or sleep.

  I wanted to scream; I was highly distrustful of my mind. With an ache that I’d grown to know very well in my upper back – I opened my eyes, moaning.

  “Andrew,” I breathed out, waking him up.

  “What’s wrong?” he sounded worried.

  “Wings. Again,” was all I uttered.

  Andrew held me tightly to him, moving us so our feet were facing the ground beneath us. It was like we were standing, but we were still flying. Andrew’s fluttering wings were keeping us in the air as he held me in his arms while I went through the pain of growing new wings. He hushed me every time I moaned, soothing me with encouraging words of ‘It’s going to be okay,’ when I screamed out loud that ‘I can’t take it anymore,’ then smoothed my hair every time I groaned.

  When it was over, I pulled away slightly to look into his eyes. They weren’t thrilled, but also, they weren’t blank – I could read sadness filling his eyes.

  “Please tell me they’re black,” I said, my words coming out in a plea. When he offered me a small, soft smile, I knew they weren’t. “Oh no!” I gushed. “What are we going to do?”

  I couldn’t imagine going through his family cutting my wings off once again, I just couldn’t. It was too painful; I would die if they did. And to be honest, I didn’t think death would be so bad. It wouldn’t be as painful as them cutting my wings off.

  I wondered if Andrew would do it himself, but I knew he woul
dn’t. Because … just because. I knew he wouldn’t, and that was all. At least, he didn’t get all angry with me for my new white wings. His eyes didn’t turn all black, and his teeth were the same, no fangs. He just looked so sad, and it hurt my heart.

  “We can’t go back,” Andrew said. His hands tightened around me, and the next thing I knew, we were flying again, this time faster than ever.

  “Where are we going?” I yelled my question so he would hear me. Even though I was facing him, the swooshing of the air would cover my voice and lower it.

  “Far away, where nobody can find you,” was all he said, and I didn’t ask any further questions.

  We landed in a green land that was almost the same as I’d seen in my dreams of my mother. This one was even wider, full of bright green grass and a few purple flowers all around. It was beautiful. Utterly fascinating. The cool breeze I could feel was enough to make me smile. I only wished the sky was bright and not dark, it would’ve been perfect then.

  I turned around and looked at Andrew, who had a look in his eyes that told of absolute sadness and stress. I wished with all of my heart that I could just wipe it away from his beautiful face.

  “Andrew?” I called to get his attention. When he looked up at me with those bright green eyes of his, he tried to smile but couldn’t, so I asked, “What are we going to do here?”

  “I’m going to go bring things to settle in here, clothes and such,” he replied.

  “Why can’t we go back to your home?” I asked – not like I had any need in me to go back there, but I still wondered.

  “We just can’t. You grew white wings. They won’t give you any more chances – they’ll kill you,” Andrew said with a hint of anger and maybe even disgust in his voice.

  I gasped. “Kill me? Why? What did I do?”

  “Your kind is dangerous to our kind,” he said simply.

  “My kind?” I frowned. “What do you mean ‘my kind’? Humans?” I couldn’t understand; they were the dangerous kind to humans, not the other way around.