Chapter 2 - Mystery Girl
Mystery girl's POV
London's poisoned air creeps into my lungs like a killer in the night and stabs at the already terrified pain in my chest. A hand wraps around my heart and squeezes it as hard as possible, other hands twisting my stomach into knot after knot. I catch myself on a roof and try to breath but everything is just a blur of panic.
I failed. I've never failed. I'm never supposed to fail. It's the demons fault. It's all the demons fault. If he hadn't been there the Earl would be dead and I would be safe. I would be fine. But it's not. He stopped me and now the Earl is alive and I'm here, unable to move. Unable to breath. When I try to it just comes out in quick short breaths that makes my head dizzy and panic worse.
Calm, be calm. I try to take in a long, deep breath but all I can see is him and I all I can hear is me, screaming. No, it's ok. He might not be there. He shouldn't be there, not yet. Just go, rest and kill the boy tonight. Kill the demon and then the boy and you'll be fine.
Jumping off the roof, I land heavier than I had anticipated, feet thumping louder than I want. My door is right there, screaming at me. Telling me to run. I should run. Just run and leave him. He won't ever find me.
But he will. He will always find you. You tried that once before, remember? I rub the scar on my stomach. Yes I have, and he found me and I regretted it. I approach the door, hand shaking as I reach for the knob. If it's locked I'm safe if it's not-
It opens.
The fear blossoms from my chest and spikes down all my limbs, like tiny hot needles being dragged along my nerves. I'm shaking. I know what's going to happen and I can't out run it.
Inside is as dirty as it's always been with rubbish littered everywhere. Everything from papers to old bottles left by homeless drunkards. This place used to bustle with homeless people who cried and screamed from hunger pains. They used to sleep here, but then Master and I came and they all died. By my hands of course. I killed them all. Their screams still echo in the walls. Smashed bottles still sit on the floor from when they'd attempted to defend themselves.
The door to my room is ajar. I know he's in there, I can smell him, hear his heart beat. He's in there and he's waiting. I can't keep him waiting. I step into the room. "Ah, Willow." He smiles, eyes lighting up as they fall on me and mine shoot to the ground. "How'd it go?" I open my mouth but close it again.
The change in him is terrifying. He studies me. Studies my fear and his smile drops and his eyes grow dark. "You're afraid." He points out. "That means you failed." He stands and walks towards me. I don't flinch. I don't move. If I do it makes things worse. "Explain." He orders.
"Th-there was a problem." I blurt out. "H-He wasn't unprotected. His servants-" he moves and I don't move as his fingers snatch my neck and throw me against the wall, the wood creaking under the force.
"Servants?" He spits. "You were beaten by servants!?" His grip tightens, making it harder to explain.
"Yo-You don't understa-" his fingers tighten more and I choke on the words.
"I don't understand? What don't I understand!?" He yells. "That you're an incapable fool who can't handle a few servants!? You should have killed them on the spot, all of them!" He throws me to the ground.
"They were skilled." I try. "They had guns and one of them was strong-" His boot slams into my ribs and my body rolls across the room, the pain nothing but a faint throb. The rest is yet to come.
"Guns and strength? My training was beaten by guns and strength! You are stronger!" He yells. "You are faster and you can beat anything!"
"One of them was a demon!" It comes out louder than I want, almost a yell but I'm desperate to get through to him.
"It doesn't matter!" He yells but then the words register and he pauses. "A demon?" I nod. "The Earl has a demon?" I nod again. "Well, I hadn't thought of that. Who knew such a tiny brat could summon a demon." His hand goes to his chin. "Stand." He orders. I do. "This demon, did you see his contract symbol?" I shake my head. "Did you see one on the Earl?" Another shake. "Hmm… maybe that's why he wears an eye patch. That's a strong contract then." He looks to me and I look down. "If it really is a demon, then we have some training to do." I screw my eyes shut, swallowing the lump. "Come on." I follow.