Cigarettes

Free will, that was the reason why couldn't turn me into a vessel, he explained that next time he visited my room. Much like the reaper they could do anything without me agreeing to be its vessel. The Demon was already itching to kill me, but he pleaded with it as he still thought I was Antonina. Every time he left the demon would show itself and torture me to agree with it, until it gets tired. I held on with everything I had.

When i can walked around the room, trying to escape but everything was bolted shut, much like the wispy orb in the jar relentlessly, I tried to find my way out.

"It's funny that we are like on the same boat", I said to myself.

"Dear we are on the same boat", i heard a familiar voice, I looked around, no one was around, not even the demon, "here", the voice said again and i turned to the jar.

"Antonina?" I exclaimed grabbing the jar, i put in close to my chest hugging it, relieved that I was with some one i can trust, or could i?

"Bethany, I'm happy you didn't give up", she said again

"How are you here?" i responded

"They pulled my soul from Limbo, and used my memories to trap you until the mark is complete. That's why that thing was furious, they failed."

I hugged the jar tightly again, I wanted to trust her, please let me trust her, I said to myself.

"Bethany, you are so kind, you're just like Ramon, he was too kind for his own good too, but calm your heart child, I am family, and I will always be your ally", she said, can she read minds, I began to wonder, no, I needed to be careful, I can't easily just trust her. I placed down the Jar on the bed.

"I'm getting out of here", I told her, "I want to go home, I want to have a normal life away from all of this supernatural things. I just want to be with the people I care about". I ended up talking about everything I recalled and but held back things that may risk myself, I'm still not sure if I can trust her after all. In the midst of our talk the door creaked, I placed back the jar on the night stand and stared blankly at the door, it was Domingo who came in, he was carrying food. I watched him pull a chair towards the bed and placed the tray on my lap. He urged me to eat but I decided to ignore him.

"Would you prefer if that reaper sat beside your bed", he said, it irked me

"No, I would prefer my cigarettes from the day of the wedding if that's okay", I responded coldly

"Why?"

"Because I don't like you and I don't trust you, I'd rather die with a terrible asthma attack than to agree to any of your demands". I felt some courage for a moment but soon it will fade as I know the demon will show up. He frowned and glared at me, but I didn't stand down, I was broken, tired and angry. At this point I just stopped caring all together. I had a small fear that he might hurt me because I was being difficult, but to my surprise he walked towards the closet and pulled out my bag and handed them to me. Unlike the demon Domingo De Leon never was violent with me, he was calm most days and annoying on the other days but he will never lay a finger on me. His gaze was always drawn towards the glass jar before he heaved a heavy sigh. It was those moments that made me feel that his eyes searched for Antonina even if she was a wispy cloud in a jar.

"Very well kill yourself, so Nina can have your body and-

"And then she will kill you", I finished his sentence as I lit my first stick. He face darken, he was horrified with my words, "why? Did you think that she can forgive you for causing her death and the death of her father", I blew smoke towards his direction, trying to build my own confidence, "you are gravely mistaken Mr. De Leon, she may have been in love with you but now she has nothing left to lose, and will gladly kill you so she can finally have peace." I huffed on my cigarette again as I watched him stand and leave the room.

I waited to the demon to show but he didn't, I stared at my cigarette, these were the last things Ciel gave me before the wedding, it really does help with the nerves. I felt pity on myself, I was truly helpless alone but right now all I can rely on is myself - and I need to do my best to survive.

Antonina was utterly surprised on how I acted in front of Domingo De Leon, but somehow concurred with my thoughts, like myself she just wanted this to be over, and in my head I began to think of ways to do just that.