Chapter 4

Charlie hadn't planned on doing this at all. He knew how stupid he sounded, but he was willing to take the risk if it meant protecting this lady he hadn't even met properly.

"But she's human," Hiva stated, "and a demon cannot marry a human."

"I intend to transform her myself before we get married. This will be at the next red moon, then we can perform another ritual during which she will be in attendance. Lucifer will accept the transformation of a new demon soul in exchange for doing the ritual late."

"Hmmm I see," replied Hiva, "and what if she is not converted during the next red moon? It would mean that you were only lying to protect this mortal."

"If she is not converted by that time, then you can sacrifice her," Charlie assured him.

Hiva then turned to Lucy and asked, "When is the next red moon?"

"About three months away Sire."

"Very well then. I will agree to spare her life until the next red moon, and if she is not one of us by then, I will hunt her down and and kill her myself."

Charlie turned to Stacy, whose look only held that of confusion. He felt bad to be making such a decision regarding her life, but it was to save it, after all.

"Agreed."

Since the ritual had been disrupted, the elder felt no need to continue. It would only be a waste of time. He turned to face the rest of the demons awaiting his command.

"Let's head back to the clan and deliver the message to Luther when he arrives. I am sure that he would be pleased to know that his son has finally found a bride after such a long time."

"Yes Sire," Lucy answered.

"Return her," Hiva told charlie as he shifted to his human form, leaving only his wings. The other demons did the same. He then opened a portal and they all flew into it, leaving only Stacy, Charlie, and Devine on the empty ritual ground.

"Nice try blockhead, thought you said mom wanted to see me."

"She did, I only lied about the part that she was coming."

"Real smart. Now look at the mess you've caused."

"Hey, I'm not the dummy who left the portal open."

"Whatever, I don't have time to be dealing with your shit right now, I have to take her home."

"You'll bring her to dad's birthday party, won't you? I'm sure mom would love to meet her if she's really your bride, that is." Devine winked as he flapped his wings, flew away into the portal, and headed back to the underworld.

Now that the both of them were left alone, Charlie turned to Stacy, who was already beginning to doubt her sanity, and tried to speak to her, "Are you OK?"

"Yes," she replied, still wishing for this whole nightmare to end. Why hasn't she woken up yet?

"What's your name?" he asked her.

"It's Stacy."

"Well Stacy, I'm Charlie. You look tired, let me help you," he held his hand out to her, she eyed him for a second before taking it and then stood up. Before she knew it, he rose his right hand and covered her two eyes, casting her into a deep sleep. He caught her before she dropped to the ground, lifting her as he released his wings, opened a new portal using his demon powers, and then flew her home.

***

Stacy woke up with a pounding headache. She got up from bed to head towards her cabinet to check for a bottle of aspirin she could find anywhere, until she noticed that she wasn't in her apartment. No, this place was way better looking than where she lived.

She checked to see if anyone was around but found out that she was alone. She tried to recall the events of last night. She was still wearing that same red dress when she woke up. She remembered the break-up and also remembered having the worst nightmare ever. But how she winded up in this place after everything, she had no clue.

At that moment, Charlie entered the room with a bag containing several items. He handed them over to her. She emptied it and saw that he had bought her some new clothes, a pair of sandals, and a toothbrush.

His face looked so familiar, and strangely some how, she knew his name, but she just couldn't place where she met him before.

"Thank you for this." She referred to the stuff he bought her. "I'm sorry, I really can't recall how I came here last night."

"It's the aftereffect of the sleep net, your memory will be fully restored after a few hours," he explained.

"Sleep net?" Stacy looked puzzled

"I made you fall asleep after the charade you caused last night."

She shook her head, "I'm sorry, I don't remember any of that."

"Oh, you will soon," he replied. "All you need to know for now is that your life is in danger, and if you are not reborn as a demon during the next red moon, then you are as good as dead."

She turned away from him, ignoring the crazy talk.

"Where's my stuff? I need to go home, or I'll be late for work,"

"But it's a Saturday."

"I know, I work extra shifts just to keep up with my rent."

"Well, if by stuff you mean your earrings and your shoes, then they're on the bedside table." He said after her.

Stacy didn't want to stay any few seconds longer in this mad man's house, but she didn't have a choice. If she went home to prepare now, she would be late for her shift. Since he had already bought her a fresh change of clothes, there was no point in going home.

She then went upstairs, brushed her teeth, took a shower, wore the clothes, got her things, came down, and thanked Charlie.

"If you remember anything let me know," he told her and she nodded.

Upon leaving the house, she remembered that she didn't have any money to take a cab.

Shit.

She must have dropped her phone and purse somewhere yesterday, but her memory was still kind of blurry. She didn't feel comfortable asking Charlie for money. Asides the good he'd just done for her, she felt he was already in a pitiable mental situation. Thankfully his house wasn't far from her workplace so she would just walk there instead.

Some hours had passed and like Charlie said, she slowly begun to recall what had happened the previous night. Her heart sank as she remembered everything.

The abandoned house which contained the portal.

The strange looking people with horns and wings.

Charlie wasn't insane. The horrible nightm are she thought she had turned out to be a reality.