Okay this one is.. well late, obviously. But it's a bit different in a sense. Not all Niff. Has some demon!Harmony in the beginning. It is a rp, so there are more than two characters. :D Very angsty this chapter.
so Enjoy. (:
Chapter 24
Harmony's students were driving her crazy. Things were going so well and then.. this. This latest test she'd been graded had been a disaster, and she was pissed. They'd seemed to understand the concept so well in class, but in the test well.. only four people had gotten at least a B. Only one had gotten an A. She was so livid that works couldn't even describe it. She handed the papers out, silently. The class was silent because they knew better than to cross her when she was in a mood like this. She passed the paper to one Jeff Sterling, who had somehow managed to get a high C. She was impressed at that, and it was the only good thing to come from this test. When she was done, she went to the front of the room and stood.
Jeff sighed and slouched at his desk. He knew he wasn't one of those who got the B's. He got his paper and at least passed it.
"I'm disappointed," Harmony said, hiding her anger as best as she could. She was trying not to lose control, but there was only so much longer that she could handle it. "Actually, I'm not. I'm furious. This was an easy test. There. Is. No. Reason. That. Everyone. Could. Not. Make. An. A. Or at least passed." She snorted, closing her eyes for a brief second to control herself. She failed, she realized, turning away. Her eyes had switched colors, and she blinked quickly to hide it. Hopefully, no one saw.
Once he found out about the demons, Jeff couldn't keep his eyes from watching people's faces. He was paranoid about everyone. He furrowed his eyebrows and saw it. He did. Her eyes. His own French teacher.
He was surprised at first, and then slightly angry. Nick was right, they were all over the place. The bell rang, and he gathered his books slowly. What came over him to acknowledge it was crazy, but he waited for about everyone to leave before making his way to the first desk by hers and leaned against it, waiting for her to notice him.
"Oui, Monsieur Sterling?" Harmony asked, looking over the papers for her Freshman class. They were at least acceptable. Better than her French three. She looked up at the young human. Janine had told her everything, and if she knew how to be afraid she would be. He couldn't have seen her. Seeing as the Headmaster was a demon, very well couldn't use fear to threaten to stay on if he ratted on her. "What can I help you with today?" She asked, calmly.
Jeff narrowed his eyes. He actually kind of froze up. What the hell am I going to say? Oh I saw you, you're a demon. Then what? Oh I want straight A's or else I'll tell?
"I uh, I saw that you were really angry today," he said. It was really a dumb thing to say. This was a bad idea, I'll just make something up, and leave. Then again, there would be no other time to bring that up. But what would I say? And why should she know that I know?
"Oh?" Harmony asked, raising an eyebrow at her student. She stood up, beginning to erase her board. "I told you students that I expected nothing best from you all the time. And I meant it, Monsieur Sterling. I meant it as much then than I do now." She sighed, turning around. "You've never come to check on my temper before, Monsieur Sterling. What do you want? And if it's extra credit, you should know better than to ask."
He just furrowed his eyebrows. "Why are you even in Westerville? Want to pick off some teenage boys?" he asked, and folding his arms over his chest. She was probably here just to look for something to eat. He knew almost everyone in this school and wasn't going to stand for it.
Harmony stared at him for a second, her eyes turning pitch, soul-less black in a heartbeat. "So you found me out, eh?" She asked, smiling. There was no humor in it, no warmth. Only cruel humor. So what if the human had found out? Who would believe him? "For the information, I'm in Westerville because my traveling companion in Lima fell in love with a human," She sneered, "And yes, I'd love a snack while I'm here. Though I'm not finding any."
Jeff had kept a straight face. If she was just here to eat someone, he wanted her to leave. "Well you're not going to find anything, so you might as well leave," Jeff said. He had built up the courage and tried to sound threatening. He wasn't really sure if it would work, because she was actually kind of scary with the eyes. The last time he saw them he was high on medication, and completely terrified in a dark closet. He wanted to ask Nick to show him, but he hadn't thought of the right way to put it.
"Oh, are you scared?" Harmony mocked, her smile widening. She walked to the boy, and pushed him into a desk. "Let me tell you something, Monsieur Sterling. Humans are just food to me. They don't matter. You don't matter. Most of us are like that. You'd best remember that." She laughed, cruelly, before walking to the door and locking it. She had no intentions to eat right now, and she didn't feel like dealing with Duval, but she might as well have fun. "And pure souls are the sweetest." She purred, "You smell delicious."
Jeff had left his back pack on the desk and backed up a little bit. Oh god, this was a terrible idea. Nick warned him that not all demons were nice like him. He wished nick was there to help him. He'd made a terrible mistake, and now he'd have to pay for it.
"N-no. I don't - don't think you'll do anything," Jeff said. He didn't even believe himself, what makes it seem like she would? He bit his lip. He already had a cast on his arm, he didn't need to have a missing soul to go with it. "Nick will know. He'll know it was you," he said.
"Do you really think I care?" Harmony replied, taking a few steps forward. "I can't die. What's he going to do to me?" She asked, smiling innocent. "I like hell. Banishing me there would do no good." She laughed, very amused at the boys fear. It was so intoxicating. "Besides, he should know that I don't deal with stupidity. And that's exactly what you were for coming to talk to me. You're better off gone, I'd say."
Jeff didn't know what to say. His throat probably wouldn't let him anyway. His mouth was dry, and he let out a shaky breath. She can't just kill him? Someone would be bound to find out. Dalton had security camera's right? He was so stupid for saying that. He was stupid for staying in her classroom alone. Oh my god, oh my god.
He glanced around the room, for some sort of object or door or something. This was worse than the time Janine had trapped him in the closet, because she had told him she wasn't going to hurt him. He could feel his heart pounding, and he was almost back up against the wall. Oh my god, what if she drew out his death and tortured him? Did demons do that sort of thing? He had hoped not.
Harmony smiled, exaggerating her breaths. She was enjoying herself, she hadn't had this much fun in a long, long time. She'd have to quit soon- she could get the boy out of his class and this was her planning, but she could expect an angry Nick Duval sooner or later. That's typically what happened when Harmony got to have fun. Oh well. Milk it for what it's worth, she decided. "You know that, right, Jeff?" She asked when he wouldn't speak. "You're stupid for doing this." She said, waiting for a response. "ANSWER ME." She snapped.
Jeff flinched when she yelled at him. "God, yeah. Yeah," he stuttered. He didn't want to come off as this childish scared little teenager, but oh god she was scary. He was allowed to be scared when he was about to die right? Right? Might as well just accept the fact that he wouldn't be leaving this room breathing. If there were demons, there had to be a god out there. He should help him out of this. Praying was an option, but he didn't think it'd do him any good. Where was Nick when you needed him?
"God?" Harmony snorted, laughing. She shook her head. "Honey, he won't help you now." She smiled."You're lucky I'm in a forgiving mood today, Jeffy," She teased. "Next time you won't make it out with your life. But today I'm only giving you detention soon. Because I just want to spend so much time with you." She grinned evilly. "Tell anyone about this, and I will not hesitate to kill you." She wasn't an idiot, she was sure the stupid human would tell Nick, but what would he do? Really.
Jeff let out a shaky breath. Oh my god he was going to live. Maybe. He had a freaking detention with her now. It's not like he could skip it. He had class with her again the day after tomorrow. He just needed to go find Nick. Wait if she said she next time he wouldn't make it out, does she mean his detention? He wasn't going to just walk into his death.
"Relax, darling," Harmony cooed, "You're safe with me." She loved the mocking tone that managed to come out, it added a nice touch. "You're going to get some tutoring. Or help me grade. Clean. We'll figure it out then, won't we, little Sterling?" She asked, laughing as she finished. "You're excused. I'll email your next teacher."
Jeff didn't say anything, but scooped up his back pack quickly and headed for the door, but keeping his back away from her, in case of her creeping up on him. He was probably going to be scared to go into her class now. Nick? Where was he. As soon as he got into the hallway he pulled out his phone and called him, scrambling to get back to his dorm. He didn't care about his next class, he was too freaked out to sit down anyway.
Jeff had scrambled out of Harmony's class, and into the hallway, almost tripping in the process of getting to his dorm. His phone had been ringing and Nick didn't answer right away. Was he in class? Did he even go to class? Nick told him he was over a hundred years old, so he obviously knew all this stuff. He hung up and dialed again.
Nick wasn't going anywhere in particular. He just wanted to get some air, to think about things. So much had happened in such a short amount of time. He wasn't sure how this much had happened so quickly. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear his phone ringing.
After a moment, he decided he should just go back to the dorm room, and try to find something to occupy his time. Maybe get some homework done. He finally realized his phone was ringing, quickly pulling it out and answering before he even had a chance to check who it was, "Hello?"
Jeff huffed out in a breathless sort of tone, "Where are you?" He was trying not to run, but he was just freaked out, and paranoid, looking over his shoulder every five seconds. He was relieved once he got inside the dorm building, and jogged up the stairs, not caring how loud he was.
Nick frowned at the tone of Jeff's voice. Something was wrong. That much was obvious. "I'm on my way back to our dorm. Why? What's wrong?"
He sped up his pace, wanting to get there faster, hoping Jeff was already there and everything was okay. Maybe he had gotten hurt again. God, Nick hoped not. Jeff had been hurt more than enough recently. Jeff panted and slammed the door shut behind him. Nick would be there in a minute.
"I almost died, now I'm at the dorm I'll tell you when you get here," Jeff huffed, and hung up the phone. He started pacing in the small room, and waited. It obviously didn't take Nick that long, because he knew he freaked him out.
Nick's eyes went wide at Jeff's words. He was going to ask him what he was talking about but he had already hung up. Quickly, he rushed back to their dorm, knowing that whatever was going on, Jeff definitely needed him, though he couldn't be sure of just what had happened.
Walking into the room, he bit his lip nervously, crossing his arms over his chest, "Are you going to tell me what happened now?"
"Did you know our French teacher was a demon? Can you guys like sense each other? She tried to kill me!" Jeff exclaimed. He was coming close to hyperventilating. "And I have a freaking detention with her! I have to see her again! And she said, 'oh well you're lucky this time. Next time you won't be'," He imitated the girl voice, and threw his hands up, exaggerating as well. "What does that mean? Will I die at detention? Oh my god I am freaking out," Jeff frantically muttered.
"You have French with Harmony, right? I knew she was a demon. It's kind of hard to miss." His eyes grew wide as Jeff spoke. What the hell happened while he was gone? He hadn't been gone that long, had he? It didn't seem like that long.
Nick quickly made his way to Jeff, putting his hands on his shoulders in what he hoped was a reassuring way. He made sure Jeff was looking in his eyes, speaking softly, "Just breathe, okay? I need you to tell me exactly what happened."
Jeff stopped pacing when Nick put his hands on his shoulders. He visibly relaxed, but was still freaking out. He took a deep breath and continued, "Yeah Harmony. Ever since you told me, I've been just watching out for it, and I just said something about it, and she like almost attacked me. I guess it was my own fault, because I provoked her, but still. Why would she be teaching in a high school? She's going to kill some of my friends!" He started almost yelling again at the end of that, and walked away again. He couldn't sit still. He was worked up from that and just wanted to run around and scream.
Nick sighed softly. He wished he hadn't put Jeff on guard like this. Maybe none of this wouldn't have happened. He groaned in frustration. Why did she do this? "I told her not to touch you when she first came here. I said that you were claimed." He ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head, "It's okay, Jeff. I won't let her hurt you. Just…bring some holy water, or something to your detention. If she tries anything, you can use that. I can't get you out of it, but I promise I'm going to talk to her."
Jeff narrowed his eyes, "You claimed me now?" That made him almost forget about the whole incident.
Nick froze. Had he really just said that out loud? "I uh…um…I just…I didn't want anyone else to try to take you. So yeah, I guess I did."
"And where the hell am I supposed to get holy water from by tomorrow?" he was super stressed out by this whole thing. Being attacked twice in a week. By two girls. Jeff ran a hand through his hair and turned towards the window. It made him wonder if this danger was worth it again, but it always came back to yes. Of course it was.
He just watched Jeff for a moment. It was obvious he was scared. Nick just wished he could find a way to get that fear to go away, "You need water, and a rosary. Do you have a rosary? Or know anyone with one? You just put the rosary in the water and say a prayer. It blesses the water, and turns it into holy water." He shrugged, "Just keep it away from me."
Jeff had let the claiming part go for now, but he'd definitely bring it up again where he knows he won't scream at Nick. He sighed.
"I don't have a rosary. I'm not really religious, I mean yeah god is great, but I don't pray or anything," Jeff said. He was calming down but that didn't stop the nervous feeling. "And how would I even know if it worked? I wouldn't ask you to touch it or anything," he groaned and plopped down on his bed.
"I can touch it if you want. If that'll make sure you're safe, I'll do it." Nick shrugged. It wouldn't hurt that much if he just touched it for a moment, right? Sure, it was a burning pain, but he was willing to do it to make sure Jeff would be okay. "Do you know anyone that would have a rosary? Anyone at all? There's got to be someone in the school who could lend you one just for a moment." Nick sat beside Jeff, threading their fingers together, "It's okay. I won't let her hurt you."
"No I don't want you to do that, I know it will hurt you," Jeff said. He groaned and leaned his head on Nick's shoulder and stayed silent for a minute. "I honestly don't know. I can't really think right now," he said. He let out a big breath of air.
"I don't care if it hurts me, I just want to know that you're safe." Nick sighed softly, his arm wrapping instinctively around Jeff's waist as he leaned against his shoulder, hoping it would be of some comfort.
He pulled Jeff closer, pressing a kiss to the top of his head, "Just relax, okay? It's over now. She's not here, I am. You're safe. I wouldn't ever let her hurt you. We'll just have to figure this one out together."
"I don't want you to hurt yourself because of me. I'm such a burden to you now," Jeff sighed, and wrapped an arm around him, when Nick pulled him closer.
"Thank you. I feel better with you," he whispered. It was nice just being in his arms. In fact, he felt a lot better.
"Hey. You're not a burden. You were never a burden." Nick wrapped his arms tightly around Jeff, trying to reassure him as he rested his head on his shoulder, "Before you knew, they were still there. Harmony had been here almost as long as I have. She never hurt you, though. You know why?" Nick kissed Jeff's cheek, "Firstly, because I warned her not to. But also because she didn't want to hurt you in the first place. She said you weren't worth it, which is stupid, really, because you're kind of perfect, but I wasn't about to complain."
"Yeah, keep saying that. I am most definitely not perfect," Jeff scoffed. He was silent for a minute after that. "She wanted to. I could just tell," he whispered, shuddering, and remember the look she gave him.
Nick rolled his eyes, "You're the most perfect guy I've ever met, and I've met a lot of people." He watched Jeff curiously, trying to figure out exactly what he was thinking.
When he spoke again, Nick held him a little tighter, kissing the top of Jeff's head, "She won't hurt you. I won't let her."