“I think she’s waking up already,” Tiffany said, sitting closely by Zoey’s side.
“What in the world made her black out?” Benroy rolled his eyes, uninterested.
“You don’t try to see things from other’s perspectives, do you?” Tiffany frowned her face.
“Why should I? I am not a human anyways,” Benroy shrugs his shoulder.
“Tsk, you’re so self-centered. I wonder who made you a guardian,” Tiffany shook her head.
“Huh, that is not for you to wonder about.”
“Yeah, you…”
“Do you always want to have the last word?” Chephirah interrupted after getting tired of watching them argue.
As she wanted to reply, Zoey yawned lazily and then opened her eyes.
“Tiffy,” she called out.
“It wasn’t a dream?!” She sat up as then glanced at Benroy who stood before her and then Chephirah who stood behind her with her hands akimbo.
“It wasn’t,” Tiffany chuckled.
Well, all this while, Aiden sat across them, watching what was happening with his heart in his mouth.
“Am I going to die today?” Zoey frowned.
” No, why would you think that? ”
“Are they not the grim reaper?”
“I thought we introduced ourselves right before you fainted. I am the lion spirit and he is the mountain guardian,” Chephirah walked out of where she stood and stopped in front of her.
She looked around, fixed her gaze on a small couch across the big living room, and then waved her hand at it.
“Fûck,” Zoey widened her eyes as she saw the couch appear to where the beautiful woman was.
“Don’t get startled, kid. We are not here to harm you.” Chephirah smiled as she settled on the chair gently.
“Are you planning on staying there till we leave?” Chephirah turned to look at Aiden and the next second, the couch he was sitting on, including him left its position and appeared right beside Chephirah which made Aiden gasp in fear and clutch his hand tightly on his chest.
“Must you use your powers on them? You can see they are scared,” Tiffany protested, Zoey already clung to Tiffany.
“Let’s begin our discussion, we need to leave very soon,” Chephirah ignored.
Benroy walked towards a stool and carried it to where the rest sat, his powers are not extended everywhere. He can only use them in the mountain and everyplace the mountain energies are.
“Let’s skip the introduction part since you know who we are already, Zoey, Aiden,” Chephirah smiled.
Zoey and Aiden sighed.
It would be weird if these powerful people do not know their names.
“You both must have known that Tiffany is different from you guys, but trust me, she’s a human,” Chephirah started.
“The thing is, approximately eighteen years ago in the mountain of Sabalem, a demon that was trapped in a tree got released and then it got trapped into the newborn baby there in the forest,” Chephirah said as she watched the expression on faces of the kids.
“Why was my mum in the mountain?” Tiffany asked.
“Child, you need to find that out yourself. You are getting closer to those persons who were the root of everything,” Chephirah said.
“Who released the demon?” Tiffany shook her head.
“You will come across the answers yourself,” Chephirah answered.
“Then why are you here? I know all these shîts you’re talking about, shouldn’t you say something I don’t know?” Tiffany frowned.
“We’re here to talk to your friend who seems like they were not going to leave even if they see you in your worst,” Benroy said.
“Fûck that!” Tiffany snapped.
“Aiden, Zoey, you two are good people, very good people, too good and courageous for your age. Most kids would have run away when they see what her eyes became. It takes inner strength to stay by her, especially someone very rude and arrogant like her…”
” And now I am rude and arrogant?” Tiffany interrupted Chephirah.
“One day, she will turn into something monstrous, something very hideous and scary, I hope…
“Why? Shouldn’t you get rid of the demon? Why must she turn into something scary?” Aiden asked.
“She needs to know how to control the demon before we get rid of it, else… She will dîe,” Chephirah shook her head.
“The demon must be unleashed before she can even learn to control it,” Benroy added.
“What happens when the demon gets unleashed?” Zoey asked.
“She could kîll someone,” Chephirah exhaled.
“Fûck!” Tiffany hissed with teary eyes, pushed Zoey off her gently and stood up from the chair, and walked away from them.
She strolled to the window and stood there, letting the tears fall from her eyes.
“Guys, I know it is hard, but would you stay by her? We’ll be there when it happens also, we’ll make sure the demon stays in check and make her not kill any human, but… Would you keep staying by her side when things happen?” Chephirah bore her eyes into Aiden.
“I… I’m not leaving my girlfriend because of anything. Tiffany will never take any life. I don’t care what is in her, but I have faith in her. I’ll never leave her side,” Aiden promised.
“Same here. Tiffany is the only close friend I have. She’s the only person I’ve kept a long relationship with. I love her and I promise never to leave her side,” Zoey promised with teary eyes.
“With that said, Tiffany is in danger,” Benroy announced.
“What?!” Tiffany turned to look at them.
“There’s a Tiger spirit who hates Akilang with passion and…”
“Who is Akilang?” Aiden asked.
“The demon inside Tiffany, its name is Akilang,” Benroy answered.
“Nine hundred years ago, when Akilang first turned into a demon, he killed all of the animals that were under Tiger spirit,” Chephirah explained.
“And how is that my concern? Why should I be in danger because of that?!” Tiffany yelled, crying.
“Akilang is inside you. Tiger spirit is returning to New York and once she senses Akilang’s energy, she would come looking for you. She could kîll you if she finds you!” Chephirah answered.
“I… Why should I dîe because of that? I am tired! Why should I be the one to… Why… I don’t know!” Tiffany fell to her knees, crying profusely.
Aiden stood from her seat, rushed to where the lady was, knelt beside her, and pulled her to his chest.
“It’s fine…” he whispered to her ear, caressing her ear.
“Listen, guys, help her to stay from trouble, make sure she never gets angry. I don’t know when her eyes will return to normal, but, if she gets angry in front of others, things could happen, her eyes could suddenly turn red in front of them or whatever. She would never listen to me if I tell her to stay away from trouble, and I hope she listens to you,” Chephirah said and stood up from her seat.
“We’ll get going. I hope things go well,” She added.
As Chephirah and Benroy vanished without another word, the chairs they had taken returned to their normal position.
“I am screwed! Why the fûck must this happen to me,” Tiffany cried out, Aiden petting her.
Zoey remained where she was sitting, crying.
The thought that her friend had gone through so much and was still going through more pierced her heart.
No matter what happens, she prayed to the almighty to give her the strength to be able to stay by her poor friend who meant no harm.
==
The senator’s residence.
The senator sat stood by the window in his office, his hands pocketed in his pockets, and watched what was happening outside with less interest till he heard a soft knock on his door.
He turned slowly as the door opened and his informant, Ryan entered swiftly and locked the door behind him.
Everything must be done with caution, his boss was a senator and any single mistake could lead to his impeachment.
Huh, he still wonders how his boss was going to take the girl in once he finds her.
It’s really going to be chaotic.
“Did you find anything new?” He asked Ryan as he walked towards his seat.
“Yes sir, I got a picture of her when she was fourteen, I learned she lived with those couples and their children for five years before they sent her packing,” Ryan explained.
“Why did they do that?”
“The woman said that since Tiffany had been living in the house with them, they’ve never allowed her to do anything in the kitchen like cooking or anything related except for house chores and stuff. It was on the birthday of their son who was turning ten years old and the girl was playing with the knife that was used to cut the cake when it pierced her hand. According to them, it was a very deep wound and her husband rushed in to get the first aid kit while she stood by her. She said she thought she was seeing things as she saw the wound close up. Everyone who had come to celebrate their son’s birthday was started and said they have been raising a monster. To cut the long story short, they had her leave the house the next morning even though her husband was strongly against it. He said the girl had never hurt them, if at all, he could say she had the Angel of wealth hovering over her for as soon as she had stepped foot in their house, things change for the better, and ever since she had left, they felt her presence. They went looking for her for a few months and gave up when they didn’t see her,” Ryan ended.
“This is…” the senator looked away and laughed.
“Here are the pictures that the husband had insisted on keeping while his wife wanted them to burn it,” he removed a folder from his chest, underneath his suit and brought out pictures that had Tiffany in them.
“She looked more beautiful and mature here, don’t you think?” the senator smiled as he stared at the picture.
“I admit. I can imagine how grown and beautiful she is now,” Ryan chucked.
“She is so beautiful,” the senator admired.
“But where in the world is she now? What the hell is she doing now? Is she in school like other kids? I hope she’s no longer suffering,” he shook his head.
“I believe we’ll find her soon. Very soon, ” Ryan nods his head.
“By the way sir, when are you going to visit madam? You haven’t gone there for almost a week,” Ryan asked.
“I’ll go today. That reminds me, what are those kids up to these days?”
“They are totally out of trouble, trust me,” Ryan answered.
“Alright then.”
Ryan observed a deep bow and walked out of the office, leaving his boss who was still admiring the picture of his daughter.
==
Aiden’s residence.
After Aiden had just finished a tiring job of consoling the ladies, especially Tiffany, he walked Tiffany to the couch and made her sit there.
“So, ladies, shall we eat?” He wore a cheerful smile.
“Do you have anything we can eat here?” Zoey rolled her eyes.
He doubts if the guy can do any cooking, oh, maybe he could try making noodles.
“You might not know, but I could be a chef. I just finished cooking before you arrived. I made dumpling soup!”
“Huh? Just tell me you order it, how can you prepare that? ” Zoey rolled her eyes, staring at Tiffany who wasn’t saying anything.
“Ask my baby. She’s a witness, she saw me cook, right, babe?” He nudged Tiffany.
“Huh, yeah,” Tiffany nodded her head.
“So, in short, you are trying to say that you are a good cook? Just confess that Tiffany made the food,” Zoey hissed.
“Who? Me?” Tiffany chuckled slightly.
“Yeah.”
“Huh, you know that I don’t know how to cook,” Tiffany rolled her eyes.
“Ah,” Zoey rolled her eyes.
“Huh?” Aiden pressed his lips together.
“You can always do the cooking, right? I can’t cook. I wasn’t taught how to do that and I don’t even have the luxury to exercise it. The only thing I can make is Sandwich,” Tiffany shrug her shoulder.
“Why?” Aiden asked.
“I’ll tell you everything about it later, okay? At the mention of food earlier, I remember how famished I was. Can we eat already?” Tiffany pouted.
“Yeah, sure,” Aiden laughed, at least they had managed to get the lady to talk.
“I’ll go microwave it, I’m coming,” Aiden stood up.
“Are you okay now?” Zoey asked Tiffany after she watched Aiden out of sight.
“I guess I am, I have you two around anyways,” Tiffany shrugged her shoulder.
“Did you kiss Aiden first for real?” Zoey leaned forward.
“Bîtch, I knew you were not going to let that slide!” Tiffany burst into laughter.
“Yeah, so tell me,” Zoey laughed.
“Well, I did and that…”
“Fûckkkkk! You’re now a baddie! Was that your first kiss?”
“Erm…” Tiffany coughed and Zoey laughed as she saw her cheeks and ear getting red.
“So, when you kissed him and then tried to pull away, he pulled you back with your waist and deepen the kiss, right?”
“Fûck, how do you know that?” Tiffany clapped her hands together.
“Bîtch, that is how most first kisses happen!” Zoey screamed.
“Trust me, the kiss was… Fûck, before the demon in me, decided to play tricks on me,” Tiffany shook her head.
“Oh, my baby is a demon slayer,” Zoey shook her hand and Tiffany burst into laughter.
“Only demon slayer? Girl, I deserve more titles! “Tiffany laughed.
How funny they were both laughing at things that hurt her the most.
Huh, she sure has the craziest friend.
“Lucifer?” Zoey tilted her head.
“Yeah, bîtch!” Tiffany laughed.
“Girls, move to the dining, I’ll set the table!” Aiden shouted.
“Tsk, your boyfriend better be a good cook. Else…” Zoey shook her head.
“I bet Declan can’t prepare noodles,” Tiffany rolled her eyes.
“Stop there, Declan is a very good cook. Know that and know peace,” Zoey snapped her fingers.
“Oh, I can see love in the air already,” Tiffany nodded her head sarcastically.
“Bîtch, there’s no love anywhere at all,” Zoey hissed.
“Well, there is,” Tiffany stuck her tongue at her.
“I said there is not!” Zoey snapped.
“Huh, I can see a big love in the air,” Tiffany laughed.
“I hàte you!” Zoey hit her feet on the floor and stormed away.
“I love you too, bîtch!” Tiffany laughed out loud.
“I hate you much more!” Zoey shouted from where she was.
“I love you more than you can ever imagine!” Tiffany laughed.
“Babe, I should be the only one you should love more than anything, you know right? ” Aiden walked out of the kitchen with a tray that had two plates of dumpling soup in it.
“Oh, here comes the jealous boyfriend,” Zoey rolled her eyes and settled on the chair in the dining.
*