☽I’m Human

It was only an hour later and I was getting a call. Yes, I have a cellphone now. Surprise, a number came in handy when getting a job. With a groan, I reached over, "Hello?" I asked, answering the phone without checking the number.

"Get down here, Mr. Rafferty." A man with a strong unstable.

"Ah-I-...Yes sir.." I put him on mute and cursed under my breath then groaned afterwards.

Are you serious... What has he done now?

"Now!" He yelled, then the phone hung up.

Drako,...what have you done already this early!?

I grouchily got out of bed, slipping on my undergarments. Ignoring the small aches and pains, I slipped on a undershirt, pants, an a pull over with golden buttons.

When I looked into the mirror, I straightened my tie, running my hands through my hair with hair gel.

I sighed, looking into my own soulless eyes. Then a smile broke on my face.

With a wink to the person looking back at me through the mirror, I started to slip on my shoes.

I grabbed my keys, wallet, phone, and started out the door to downstairs.

Here, let me introduce myself again.

I'm Darius Anan. I have my demon on a leash and working for me when I wanna sleep in. My social hobby is working at the bar along with living above it. Two years ago I worked my literal ass off to get to where I am now. The owner of the bar under my feet.

"The Golden Ledge" was the bars name.

I am no millionaire, but I am working my way up. Along with working my way up in the demon world.

I wouldn't call myself a Mafia Lord. Not even close to a businessman. I'm just Darius. The owner of "The Golden Ledge", and someone who saves people on the sidelines. No. That makes me sound too much like a hero.

I'm the villain of this story, believe it or not.

And my demon that is supposed to be on a leash is about to pummel a co-worker. And that leads us to where we are now.

I can't force Drako to be normal, it's just not in his range of..demon. We're working on it. He's got pleasure down, he's got teasing down, he's got lying down, he's even got working down. It's the communication part that gets him.

I buttoned the cuff on my sleeve. That man I was on the phone with. He's like me, but he's got his demon on a more... high strung.. leash. His name is Sato William. He's not Korean, but his parents loved these "cartoon like" shows. They cussed all the time, so I wouldn't call it a cartoon. Animation, was it?

"Darius! Help me!" Sato yelled, staring wide eyes at Drako while he held him at the collar.

"Put him down, Drako." I looked to the tall 6'4, black haired, male, snarling at someone who I considered somewhat a friend.

Sato scratched at Drako's fingers, wanting him to let him go.

"Drako!" I shouted, snapping him out of it. Drako dropped the 20 year old Sato to the ground.

"Where's your demon, Sato?" I asked, walking over to the man and giving my hand, helping him up off the floor.

"Over there.." He pointed to a blonde male sitting in the corner.

It looks like Sato's demon, Akiko, was sitting in the corner of the bar, drinking whiskey.

"Drako would have strangled you if I didn't step in. What did you do to set him off?" I asked. There was barely anyone in the bar, and the ones who were were fan-girling over how Drako had almost pummeled a "innocent" man.

"I only told him to clean the tables! You put me in charge of him today remember!?" Sato whisper shouted.

Right, communication.

Since he's still not the most powerful, Drako hates communicating until he gets there. His voice is strong to me but to others it can sound quite weak. It hits him in the self confidence point.

Drako had walked behind the bar, "Go talk to Akiko, Sato. Get things fixed with him. Let him loose or something. Keep him stuck in one place he's going to become too much human and he's gonna hurt someone when he finally breaks out of your little cage." I whispered in Sato's ear. My voice was still raspy and laced with sleep, it always helped, "Fix it!" I shoved him lightly, starting off to the back room. Everyone in the bar made slight gasps, but I left them in silence.

"What the hell was that, Solomon?!" I asked, walking into the back room(break room), shutting the door, and walking to the man standing in the corner.

Drako had his arms crossed over his chest, his head down. I could see his face muscles clench every time he gritted his teeth.

Drako growled under his breath.

"He did it again.." He said, biting his bottom lip to try and make it bleed.

"Hey, stop." I grabbed his chin and made the male face me.

"What happened. Show me." A fragile smile. A real smile. It spread to my lips when his eyes locked on mine.

I am his and he is mine. My demon.

"Okay."

We didn't have love, we had... each other. We aren't related, he was picked to be my demon out of random. So we couldn't possibly be.

I put my forehead to his, caressing his cheek.

"Don't get so worked up. It's no use to kill the already dead. Remember?" I asked. A line we started this year.

When I noticed it started to calm Drako, I started using it.

It's kept him under control so far.

"Alright.." he agreed, his tension fading away little by little.

When I shut my eyes, an image played in my mind. It was something Drako obtained recently. He could show me images. Things from his life. He's scared to use it and we've only used it on the simple things. I haven't intruded in his life unless he lets me.

The golden leathered bar seats shined in the flashback, the people smiling. I saw Drako's point of view, even his nose in between his eyes. I smiled and put my hands on Drako's shoulders, watching it play out behind my eyelid's.

"Go clean off the seats, please." Sato asked, a smile upon the brunet's face. Drako nodded and started doing his work, the blonde in the corner watching him intently. I heard Drako growl under his breath then whisper, "What, Akiko?" He asked.

Akiko waved his hand and smirked, like sitting on the sidelines was a privilege he obtained.

From there on, Drako's confidence started to take a fall. He was defending his pride when he did that to Sato. He couldn't talk to Sato so he only held him up and stared into his eyes, hoping Sato would notice and understand.

My heart thumped. "Drako, I'll get it fixed. Okay?" I said, pulling my forehead from his. Sato called right before Drako had held him up, that must have been why he sounded so godly. Or terrified.

"M'kay." He whispered and ruffled my neatly gelled hair.

I made an unamused face and fixed it back, when I turned around, I saw Drako looking at me from the door before walking out of the room. What was that about?..

I had started to build back some feelings I never had in the past. One time I thought I was curing myself of Sociopathy.. But that wouldn't work.

I sighed and finished fixing my hair, then left out of the back room into a room lit up by the sun through the two big, tall, windows in the right side of the bar.

"You need to go home for a while. I'll see if there is a way Darius will let you work here so you can have something to do." I heard Sato in the corner, talking to Akiko I presume. Drako was behind the bar.

I went to one of the tables, pushing through a small cluttered crowd that were chatting in the middle. One of the ladies looked oddly too satisfied. Maybe I should see what has that glow on her face and in her eyes.

Drako watched me from the bar counter. He's more like a bodyguard I've grown attached to.

"Hey, ladies. Anything you're craving? We have great wine." I pasted a smile.

One of the women looked at me, but it wasn't the one I needed's attention.

"What about you?" So I asked her.

She looked at me, eyes wide as if she didn't notice me.

"Oh? Uhm, white wine, please." She said, then looked back to her friend.

The three women were left alone after I left them, grabbing a man that worked for me's arm and whispering, "Blondie. Table seven. White wine" I let him go, and went to the bar, then behind it.

"You know, no one has been after us in a while.." I whispered, knowing Drako could hear me even if he was cleaning dishes.

"Maybe we are the top rank now.." I finished, pouring some bourbon into a small shot glass.

I didn't want much.

"No." Drako said, "We will never be top rank if we keep thinking like that. That's a mind set they will eat you alive with." Drako chuckled then nodded to my shot.

I quickly downed it and handed I'm the glass to him.

I'm not a light weight. At least I don't think I am.

I'm 23 and I still haven't let myself drink too much. So, I will never know at this rate.

"They are still out there. They want us to think like that." Drako said, washing the small shot glass and setting it on a rack.

"Kinda like what Akiko and Sato planned at first." I said, watching the two.

"They didn't stand a chance. Akiko's only that strong because he's feeding off of Sato's happiness. That's his type of demon. Nothing like me or a Dyerete." He sighed and put his hand on his forehead.

"Feeling starved?" I asked, "Energy not enough for ya'?" I made a terrible joke. I always do. But this time Drako didn't laugh.

"Maybe we should move cities.." I whispered, "Start somewhere else. No one is here anymore.." I pursed my lips.

"No. They won't be drawn out unless we draw them out, now.. We have to start killing people, Darius." Drako said, his fists clenching the underside of the bar.

"Okay." I said. With no complaints. I only had myself after all.

If I can protect me, I protect Drako.

That's all I need.

There was this woman who liked me a few months back. She said she understood me, but it drove me over the edge...

I murdered her in cold blood once I got in a room alone with her. I found her ID and deleted all of her accounts through her own computer using Drako. Demons don't have fingerprints. If I don't want someone to see Drako, then they can't see Drako. But if Drako doesn't want someone to see me, he can hide me. He can take over my mind if I let him. He's that strong now..

There is a secrete only I know and I'm not telling anyone about it. You wanna understand me. Prove it and read it on my face. Prove it and watch how I act. Prove it and try to help me whilst getting hurt for it. Then I'll believe it.

And no one has made me believe it. No one but Drako. He's saved me. A few times actually.

I wonder why he's a demon in the first place sometimes.. he's such a kind hearted one at that.

But I know better. Drako is something without a heart of his own. He only has his pride and his dignity these days.

The news turned on TV, catching mine and Drako's attention. I looked to his face for a split moment. I saw hope.

"I'll find someone. I promise."

We made sure to not kill anyone, not until we needed to. Too much attention from demon's and it could get me killed. Drako can get his own souls, but I have to be with him. I have to watch.

I grabbed Drako's wrist.

"Adams Marketing-" the TV spoke, and that was all I needed. I wanna make an appearance. Let's make an appearance.

If I have to hide a body like I did with the last one I will.

I don't like the thought of burying someone in the middle of nowhere again, but I will.

I will, for Drako.

"C'mon." I said, tugging his wrist.

"We got places to be." I smiled at him, pulling him behind me while he looked dumbfounded.

"Sato, I'll be back!" I shouted.

I didn't fully trust Akiko. I don't know much of his species of demon and Drako won't tell me. Maybe Akiko is the one we need to have's soul for Drako to be stronger.

But will that take much effect?..

Drako is already a powerful demon, but he isn't one to grab and eat unless we're desperate. More desperate than this.

I mean, grab and eat someone who's working for us. If we kill Akiko, we hurt Sato in a way. Sato's family left him at a young age, so he's sort of like an orphan. Like me. But, that doesn't mean anything.

"There." Drako pointed towards a woman, holding her husbands hand with a smile on her face.

"Which one?" I asked.

"Not them." He said, "Past them." He finished.

There was a boy, wearing a grey pullover and a beanie, turning into an alleyway.

I lifted an eyebrow and looked over to Drako.

"What do I.." I started then I hummed, "Let's go."

The kid looked around eighteen. Only five years younger than me.

"Darius, wait." Drako said, stopping for a moment, his breath visible in the frigid air.

"Something isn't right.." he whispered. Everyone around us seemed to disappear..

Or walk away.

Everyone was gone.

"That's not a normal demon either.." Drako whispered.

"Wait, he's a demon? I thought we were going to kill a kid to get attention, not a sou-Woah!" I was cut off, being yanked backwards and into the wall on the opposite side of the street. My back slammed against the wall. My feet made trails were they drug through the snow.

This new me..

Who is this new me..

The old me was still there..

But who is this?..

The old me wouldn't have let anything near to this happen.. Have I grown too soft?

I kept asking myself. When my back hit the wall, I heard an audible crack, and a breathless cry of pain came from my mouth.

The only thing that came to mind after that was..

"Please, don't touch Drako.."

My butt hit the ground, the cold snow freezing my skin through the suit pants.

My head must have hit the wall too. So consumed in my thoughts, I forgot.

"Awe, you don't want me to hurt your little demon bestie?" A heard a voice call, a girl.

My eyes blinked, wanting the blur to go away.

"Yes.." was all I could say, my head blaring with white noise.

"Dari-.....us..Da..Darius!" I heard Drako yell in my head. He hadn't been in my head since he obtained a real human form one and a half years ago. My eyes shot open and I looked for the voice.

"Don't move." Drako said.

"But.." I whispered.

"Don't. Move." He said sternly.

My back ached with so much pain it made the pain of the headache I had tolerable.

My head sagged, when I looked down, I didn't think I would see red drip from around my neck onto my white collar.

A small smile went to my lips, "Why are you smiling?" The woman asked, "You're demon left you. Why are you smiling?" She asked with a grin of her own. I finally saw her come around that alley corner.

That wasn't a boy.. it was a girl. Even the grey pullover was exactly the same.

"He didn't leave.." Is what I wanted to whisper back, but I didn't.

"I'm still here.." Drako whispered in my head, "Just hold on for a second." He said, his voice oddly going back to sounding like static.

Why won't he let me move?..

I wondered, after I blinked a couple more times, my vision wouldn't go back to normal.

I sighed, "What's wrong.. finally realize I wasn't lying?" She giggled and knelt beside me.

Who am I?..

"Why would I lie to you?" Drako asked, bringing me back two years ago, when he held his hand out to me that day and helped me up. The first time I actually had some form of connection with Drako.

I know who I am.

And that me hasn't changed one bit. I'm a stubborn asshole, who doesn't listen to anyone. Not even Drako.

"Don't think like that, Darius." Drako whispered in my head, "Don't get upset. I felt your pain when you hit the wall. You broke something and if you move, it's going to be worse to fix.. I can help, but I need you to listen! You most likely have internal bleeding." Drako shouted in my head. The once blaring headache seared with pain, making me cry out again.

Drako chuckled, "I haven't ever seen you like this." His voice wasn't in an echo of static. It was right beside me. He was a shadow. He took his first form so only I could see him.

My head hung low, and my body felt like it weighed more than it ever has.

"I can't... and I won't.." I started to speak, shocking the woman to my left, "let you take.." I gulped back bile and copper, "what I know.. is.. mine!" I shouted, the woman next to me, blinking in shock and moving back.

"A fighter? I've never seen one like him. Where'd you get him, Drako?" She asked.

Drako chuckled and appeared behind her, "I got him as a gift from our father." He grinned, "I was the favorite son. Great at manipulating people and demons." Drako took off the woman's beanie, revealing long red hair.

"Alicia?..." Drako asked.

"In the flesh." She grinned.

"I'm sorry, we had to meet like this.." He looked down to his hand that held the beanie.

"It's fine, it seems you have caught a fine young man.." she smiled and looked back to me, though, I couldn't tell if she was looking at me. Or around me. Maybe even across from me.

My vision blurred, I couldn't see much. Possibly a concussion.

"Well, he is a man made in hell, Alic." He chuckled and moved her hair to her shoulder.

Get up, Darius..

Get up, you bastard! Get up! Get up! Get the hell up!

I yelled at myself in my head, and finally, something broke.

Drako caressed the woman's cheek. I knew her. This is his sibling. She was the favorite daughter in hell. Or that's what Drako said. Maybe she was the favorite to him by the looks of it. But I'm tired of it.

I groaned, putting my hand in the snow to help myself stand, my back pulsated, and my breathing hitched. "Gah!" I bit my lip. A tear of pain and endurance went down my cheek. The cold froze my lungs.

Something broke again.

My care.

I fixed my cuff's on my sleeves and looked over at Drako. Keeping myself together, I had my hands in my pockets.

If this woman is a demon, and there isn't an owner around, that must mean she's all alone.

What item is she holding from her previous owner?

"Yes, he was very nice. He even proposed years back.." She whispered, showing her ring to Drako. I couldn't hear Drako if he was yelling at me through my head. Actually, after that, it all became white noise.

I looked to her sterling silver, Diamond incrusted, ring.

This was it..

It was so obvious....

Drako looked at me with horror in his eyes, or maybe that was shock. I can't tell the two apart these days.

I stepped closer, the snow crunching under my feet. Everything was frozen. My fingers. My toes. My legs. Even my heart at the moment. If I even had one that worked these days.

I stepped closer, "If you wish.." I took the button from my suit's cuff off, handing it to Drako, "You two...." I panted. Drako's eyes showing pity when he took the button, "may let me rest in peace.." I said and fell to my knees with a thumb and another pop and crack from my back. Before my eyes could go wide with pain I shut them, breathing heavily through my nose.

"What's this?" She asked, "Is the puppy wanting death? How hard have you worked him, Drako?" She asked, giggling. Drako looked over her figure in disgust.

"He's at his limit.." Drako whispered, although he didn't know. If I can't hear him in my head, he can't hear me either.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, "I kept him waiting this long.." I finished, grabbing her left hand with the ring on it. "Forgive me.." I whispered before I brung her knuckles to my lips and kissed them while my teeth nagged the main Diamond from inside the ring then quickly swallowed it.

The woman was awestruck.

My dead eyes rolled over the woman's figure with Drako's. A match made in hell. But I shall be the man who owns it. And Drako's my loyal dog who does as I say. Bow down to my level... Fiend.

She hugged Drako and hummed, "How should I kill him? Hmm, maybe I can show him my true form before-" a loud thump cut them off.

My legs gave out, and I was pressed against the wall once again.

This was the only thing reminding me...

I'm human.