8 The Hunger

Jared came awake suddenly, feeling groggy and out of sorts as he usually was after Azazel had made an appearance. He rubbed his eyes and looked down to find Emily asleep, her head rested on his lap, curls fanned out behind her. His lips turned downward into a frown as he considered what that meant. He hadn't been in control for a few hours it seemed, and yet she had gotten closer to them. He shook his head and sighed, stroking her cheek slowly until her eyes began to flutter open. She gazed up at him and he smiled at her beauty. She returned the smile warmly and breathed out, "Azazel" with such a happy sigh that Jared felt his chest ache with jealousy.

"No." He stood, pushing her up off of him carelessly, "I am not your sweet Azazel" His words stung with bitter hate and he refused to look at her.

"I apologize Jared....I didn't know. We were just..."

"Please, spare me! I rather not know what you were doing, thanks. You don't know what you've gotten yourself into Emily, he isn't safe, he isn't..."

"Human?" she interrupted coldly, "I'm we'll aware now. He told me everything, unlike you who just ran and hid".

"I was protecting you!!" He was fuming now and his words were like venom, "So he just casually tells you he's a demon and you're just fine with that?? Are you stupid!? Fucking hell, Emily! I expected you would be smarter than that but I guess cuddling up with a demon is completely normal is it??"

She crossed her arms over her chest defiantly, "He isn't bad, and I don't understand why you are acting as if he is. So he isn't human, does it matter? He still has feelings, Jared, something I am starting to think you lack. I know you resent him for being bound to you, but that isn't his fault and you can't blame him!"

Jared was taken back by her assertive tone and he took a moment to think through what she said before speaking,

"You dont think he's bad, Emily? That hurting people isn't bad? That bloodshed isn't bad? " Emily stared back, lips pressed tight as she considered his words, not understanding. Jared saw the confusion in her eyes, "Or is it maybe that he didn't actually tell you everything? About how demons need to feed to stay strong?" He saw her expression change, brow furrowing at this new information. "Yeah, that's what I thought. He didn't really tell you about himself at all. Just the nice little foundation to build his bullshit story on. I can't keep you safe if you choose to hang around him, Em. And at this point I dont know if its even worth the struggle. All you care about is finding answers and having some excitement in your life, AND you have basically NO friends. You know what that means?" He was standing in her face now, arms outstretched as he waited for her answer, face crimson with fury. He finally dropped his hands to his sides to continue, a finger now pointed at her "It means you're an easy victim, Em, THAT'S what it means." He slammed his hand against the tree and turned away from her.

Emily stood, body quivering as he paced around in front of her, muttering to himself. She swallowed down hard, scared to speak or upset him further and spoke in a small, timid voice, "You...think he would hurt me? Really? He said he loved me.." her head dropped in defeat and tears began to form in her eyes. "He protected me, Jared!!" She clenched her fists and stomped as she screamed, "I belong to Azazel!!!"

She stood there, breathing quickly from her outrage, tears steaming down her face. She didn't know why she had said she belonged to him, the words had just risen up out of her like a phoenix desperate for escape, and it had left a burning ache in her chest. She fell to her knees, sobbing softly now with her eyes shut, wishing Jared would just leave. Az made her feel complete, and Jared has just tried to rip that all away from her. Az wouldn't hurt her and she wasn't going to let him make her doubt that! Her hands twisted into fists and she prepared to start screaming at him again, "I will de..." As she looked up to make her verbal attack, she noticed the calm, humoured expression on his face, and the metallic eyes shimmering as he smirked down at her.

"I believe you called me?" His voice a low growl that made her heart jump, and she leapt up and ran to him.

"Az...Az. .I dont know what..." She struggled to catch her breath from her panic followed by sudden relief" ....I dont know what he meant, what was he saying, what did he mean? Do you...actually feed on..people? Like...LIVE people!? AZ! "

"You know, for a shy girl you can ramble really well, " he teased her playfully, pressing a finger to the tip of her nose gently, "Boop". He laughed and she sighed, but chuckled slightly. "That's better" He smiled, "Don't stress. It makes your heart race and your temperature rise, and TRUST me, there are way more exciting ways to be doing that" He winked at her and stroked her bottom lip, his face became serious once more, "You know, normally I would just lie to get my way, but I feel like I can't hide the truth from you. I mean I'm bound to you and all, I chose you, and lying will only come back to haunt me. So...yes. I feed on people. Well, okay, people souls." He shrugged casually.

Emily all of a sudden felt dizzy and she clutched his arms to steady herself, but he calmly stroked her back and continued, "But you see my dear, I only punish those that deserve it, and I think you would find my victims are all very...bottom of the barrel."

Emily stood rigidly, She wasn't sure how she felt about that, knowing that the man holding her had...killed people. Her stomach began to turn with the thought, but she tried to calm herself. "Ok...Alright, yeah, okay" She nodded saying this as if only just now taking it all in, "So...like, bad guys? You eat bad guys? Do you...I mean do you cook them? Or just...." she gagged, shaking badly now, she pulled from him and sat with her head between her knees.

"Emily" His voice was soothing and immediately she felt her body relax a little. "I told you, its souls I eat. So no meat eating madness or blood parties, please don't vomit on our lovely forest floor" He chuckled.

"How about I take you with me next time, hm? That way you can just see what I mean. And," He knelt down beside her and spoke lovingly into her ear, "so there are no secrets".

Emily was still dazed, but she nodded to him, staring blankly. " OK Az...I will go. I trust you"