Chapter 11

"So," said Sauli, looking up at Adam with suspense, "what happened? What did Set say to Hasani?" Adam sighed and looked up at the solitary star that shimmed next to the moon.

"He promised him he'd never have to look at the beast in the mirror ever again...All he would have to do is...is feast on mortal flesh..." Sauli gasped and gagged a little.

"That's disgusting! And he did it?" Adam nodded.

"Yes," he said sadly, "yes he did..."

"I can't kill anyone," said Hasani, "I-I've never hurt anyone in my life! I couldn't possibly take a life away..." Set grabbed Hasani's hand and raised it up for him to see.

"You must," he growled assertively, "for if you don't..." Hasani's hand began to age rapidly, his skin wrinkling and turning to dust, leaving nothing but bone remaining. Hasani screamed and pulled his hand away in terror. "...you will be nothing but dust." Hasani panted and gulped, still in shock.

"I-I," he stuttered, "I understand." Set smiled devilishly with a chuckle.

"Excellent. Now go and feed, my child." Before Hasani could leave, Set placed his hand on his shoulder. "I almost forgot," he said, "any mortal on earth will bow to your whim at the sound of your singing."

"My...my singing?" Said Hasani, putting a hand to his Adam's apple. "But how can I sing with a voice like this?"

"It will go away along with the rest of your ugly features once you feed. You must feed if you wish to be beautiful, understand?" Hasani looked down and closed his eyes, hesitant and unsure if he should even go through with all this. Perhaps it would be better if he just died...Then, Jibade's voice echoed through his mind.

"Help! Hideous demon! Monster!" Hasani opened his yellow red eyes, which were glowing in fury and pain.

"I understand," he snarled. Set smiled and patted Hasani's head.

"Feed, my son. Feed."

"Set vanished into thin air after that," said Adam, finishing the story, "and Hasani...well...he fed. He feasted upon all the guards, all the servants, and even some of the slaves. And with each feed, he began to look more and more like his old self, some might even say he looked better than before."

"What about Jibade?" Asked Sauli. "Did Hasani kill Jibade?" Adam closed his eyes and Sauli could swear that he saw a small tear leak down his cheek.

"No," said Adam, opening his eyes, "no he didn't. He fled from Egypt and never returned. They say he still roams the earth, looking for new victims to kill and feast upon for their youth and beauty." Sauli looked up at the star and tilted his head a little.

"Huh," he said, "who would have thought such a little star would have such an interesting story around it." Sauli turned and looked at Adam.

"Yeah..." said Adam, looking down, "who knew..."

"That was a really sad story, Adam."

"Well, what did you expect?" Said Adam, slightly angry. "He sacrificed his appearance for the one he loved. It's not glamorous, it's not beautiful, and it certainly doesn't bring a happy ending like it does in movies and stories. It just simply is and that's that."

"But it could've been a happy ending." Adam rolled his eyes and looked at Sauli with a condescending look.

"Oh yeah?" He said sarcastically.

"Yeah!" Said Sauli, sure of himself. "Jibade could've stayed with Hasani."

"No he couldn't of," said Adam, "Hasani was disgusting. He wasn't beautiful anymore like Jibade remembered him to be."

"So?" Said Sauli. "If he really loved him, he would've stayed."

"How can you say that?" Asked Adam, now more interested than angry. "If you were Jibade and you saw Hasani I bet you would've ran too." Sauli shook his head with a smile.

"No I wouldn't of."

"Well..." said Adam, now confused beyond belief, "w-why would you stay? There was nothing left of him to love." Sauli laughed a little and shook his head in disbelief.

"I thought you were shallow, but this is ridiculous."

"What?" Said Adam, now annoyed, "What are you talking about? He was a monster! I would've ran!"

"That's because you don't see beauty on the inside." Adam huffed and turned away.

"That's because there isn't beauty on the inside."

"Don't say things like that, Adam," said Sauli, "That's not true." Adam sighed and looked down.

"Whatever," he said, "like it even matters. This is a stupid argument."

"I didn't think we were arguing," said Sauli as he put his hand on Adam's. "We're just having a discussion." Adam blushed lightly at Sauli's touch and turned away so that Sauli wouldn't catch him blushing. Sauli gently placed his hand on Adam's cheek and turned his face back toward him. "Adam," he said, "you know what I think?"

"What?" Replied Adam. Sauli smiled, his white teeth glistening in the moonlight.

"I think Jibade shouldn't of been so afraid of Hasani. Underneath all those scary features, the man he loved was still there. Hasani still loved him and he still was the same person on the inside, that should've meant so much more than just how he looked. Jibade should've been grateful, I know I would've been." Adam gasped lightly and looked at Sauli in his sparkling crystal eyes.

"Really?" He said smiling a little, holding Sauli's hands, making him blush red. "You...you really think that? The outside doesn't matter?" Sauli giggled nervously as Adam ran his index finger up his neck. He gulped and nodded quickly.

"Hehe...o-of course. And...you should too...because I know you're beautiful underneath." Memories of screams, blood, bones, and a monster flashed before Adam's eyes causing his smile to vanish in an instant. He yelped and started breathing fast in fear and surprise. "Adam?" Said Sauli with concern. "Are you okay?"

"I..." said Adam as he rose to his feet, "I need to go. Take me home, please. Just take me home."

"Tell me what's wrong," said Sauli as he grabbed Adam's hand. Adam pulled his hand away violently.

"I'm fine!" He said, a little louder than he wanted to. "Just forget it, I'll walk. I need something to eat anyway." Adam started to walk away, but Sauli followed.

"T-Then...then I'll take you to dinner! Please, just wait."

"Ugh!" Said Adam in frustration. "You sound like Tommy. I don't want you to do anything for me, okay? Just leave me alone."

"But..." said Sauli, "I-I thought we had fun tonight..." Adam wanted so badly to turn around and look at Sauli, wrap his arms around him and hug him tightly, tell him how much fun he had, but instead...

"Sauli," he said softly, "I'll talk to you later, alright? Go home to Mika, he probably misses you...I don't know when I'll be back, so just leave the door unlocked."

"But-"

"See you later..." Adam walked away, leaving Sauli standing alone in confusion. Once he was sure that Sauli couldn't see him anymore, he ran ahead as fast as he could and into a nearby alleyway. He put his face in his hands and grunted. "What is happening to me?" He said to himself. "Don't feel, focus!" No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get Sauli out of his head. He clenched his fists in anger, frustrated with himself and with his situation. Then, he stopped for a moment, Sauli's words echoing in his head.

"I know you're beautiful underneath."

Adam looked down and picked up a piece of broken glass from the ground, staring at his reflection.

"Underneath..." he said to himself. Adam closed his eyes and slowly, he let his demonic features out. He could feel his disguise being broken, but refused to open his eyes until his transformation was complete. He opened his eyes and looked at his beastly reflection, staring at it with uncertainty. Then, he heard Jibade's screams.

"Monster! Hideous Demon!"

He saw Jibade staring at him with fear, then, a flash of light and Jibade changed into Sauli. Adam gasped and dropped the piece of glass, which shattered on contact with the floor.

"Hey!" Called someone from an apartment window. "Who's out there?!" Adam ran into the shadows and metamorphosed back into his mortal form.

"What were you thinking?" He thought to himself. "Sauli would never think of you that way if he knew...He wouldn't be so nice...Now stop thinking like a god damn mortal and get something to eat before you starve!" Adam looked left and right, ready to leave the alley, but then a man came out with a flashlight.

"I got a bat!" The man cried. "And I'm not afraid to use it, you ruffian!" Adam smirked and slunk into the shadows, his eyes glowing red yellow.

"Just what the doctor ordered."