Chapter Fifteen:Entity

As he drifted back into reality, a burning sensation streamed throughout his body. It was a feeling he had never experienced. The darkness enveloped all his sight, but the sound of a heart monitor echoed in his mind. He took a deep breath filling his lungs with air and exhaled. Slowly, his eyes fluttered opened to the blistering lights above. Soon enough, his eyes adjusted to the florescent lights. Once his eyes adapted, the man looked around his surroundings to discover he was lying in a hospital bed. Everything in the room was white, including the walls, sheets, and neighboring hospital beds. To his surprise, the room had several windows that looked out to the city. It was clearly afternoon due to the sun's position.

For moments, the man lay in confusion until previous memories floated into his mind. Garfield remembered watching the demon attack Raven, watching her struggle, his anger rising within, giving into the sensation, and opening his eyes to see Raven before falling into the darkness. A sharp pain was felt in his chest and he grabbed his bare chest in order to ease the sudden pain. While evaluating his condition, everything appeared to be normal. The only exclusions were the heart monitors and the I.V.'s attached to him. However, to his fortune, he appeared to be healthy. All the man needed was an explanation. He closed his eyes waiting for an answer.

By luck of serendipity, he felt a presence near the doorway. He cautiously opened his eyes to discover what presence he felt. The man found Raven leaning against the doorway facing sideways to the hospital bed. She held a book in her hand casually and used her other hand to support herself. He continued to stare at her for moments hoping she would sense that he was awake. Raven turned a page in her book and peered over to Garfield's bed. Her eyes met with his and she closed her book. There was relief written on her face. Although she had worry and fear mixed in her expression. However, she gave him a soft smile as she proceeded into the room. Raven walked to his side and sat in the chair next to him. She put her hands in her lap and stared at the man.

"Hey," he greeted breaking the silence.

"Hello," she simply replied. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm doing fine. Although I'm a little hot." H=He responded.

"That's normal." She muttered under her breath.

He didn't hear what she said, but didn't attempt asking her to repeat what she just said. "Where am I?" he asked.

"You're in the medical bay at headquarters." she said "We brought you here after you passed out."

"I can see that." he smiled, but it faded slowly. They sat there for moments in an awkward silence. Garfield finally got the courage to break the tense atmosphere. "What happened?"

She sighed trying to relieve herself. "We were fighting demons and I underestimated them. Cleaver, Dante, and Trent were badly injured and you killed the demons and passed out."

"Well, I know that!" he raised his voice." but I transformed into something! I brutally slaughtered those demons! I don't know what the hell came over me."

Raven's expression changed suddenly. "I do." Her smile was swiped away and her face portrayed worry. She looked down to the floor and returned her gaze. "Yes, you transformed last night and killed the demons."

"Don't you think I know that?" he said bitterly. "You know what happened don't you? Please, tell me."

She bit her lower lip and released it. "I should have told you months ago. It's just . . . I wanted to have the right time to tell you this, but it seems that I pushed it off too long. I am sorry." She looked away from him.

"Please," he begged. "Will you just tell me?" Garfield gently grabbed her hand that lay on her lap.

She looked into his eyes and could see how desperate he was. "I will keep this right-to-the point." she began, "after an investigation and the incident with the demon twins we concluded what has been going on. We believe that you have a beast entity that lives dormant inside you. It's been suppressed all of your life, until just recently."

Garfield's mouth dropped to the ground and his face went pale. He gulped. "You can't be serious?" She gave a stern serious face to answer his question. Garfield lay staring at the ceiling letting the information sink in his head.

"Are you okay?" Raven asked with concern.

Garfield only continued to stare at the ceiling filtering what was going on in his mind. "I don't know. I feel fine, but should I be worried?"

"I don't know myself." she shrugged. "There are a few things I know about beast entities. They are powerful creatures. I don't know if this will bring you comfort you, but they are known for their tactics when killing demons. They are gone, but there are rare occasions when they emerge. However once they are found, they are destroyed because of their reputation of their proficient demon slaughters. That is why Trigon ordered their demise centuries ago. He ordered all the beasts to be wiped off the earth and other dimensions. I know that there are few remaining, and you are one of them. Never thought I would see the day."

"I don't know if I feel better about this or not." he said saddened. "Why did it appear now since it's been with me all my life, and how did I get it?"

"Honestly no one knows, but I think I have an idea." she said adjusting herself in her chair. He returned his hand to his side and waited for her to continue. "I think since you began demon hunting it awoke your beast entity."

"Good explanation." he said and stared at his hands. "How do I control this?"

She raised her index finger and rested up above her lips. She leaned back in her chair. "I have an idea, but I don't know if you would like it."

Garfield adjusted himself so he was sitting upright. Desperation was written all over his face. "What is it?" he eagerly asked.

"Well, my abilities put stress on me and sometimes they are hard to control. My mother taught me meditation and it truly helps. I don't know if you would have the patience or attention span." She answered.

Garfield pondered for a moment struggling between himself. "I'll think about it." He said with a smile on his face.

"Although you don't have any injuries, would you like to take some time off?" she asked.

"I'm feeling fine. I see no point in lying around. I'll be fine. I might even take you up on your offer." he replied.

A soft smile appeared on her lips. "Let me take those monitors off of you."

She stood up and leaned over him. Her breasts were only inches away from his face and Garfield's face instantly was flushed with red. She unhooked the I.V. safely and wrapped his hand. To his realization, he was shirtless, and did not notice. She unhooked the heart monitor off of him and the monitor instantly flat-lined. He removed the white sheets and to his relief was still wearing the jeans he last remembered. Garfield stood up from the hospital bed and stretched exposing his chiseled abs. Raven looked away as she began to blush.

"I suppose I'm released Doctor Raven?" he asked playfully.

Raven turned around with her cheeks with a hint of red. "Yes you can, just relax for a while. We do not have an assignment tonight."

Garfield nodded and smiled. "Well thank you. I'm glad I know what's going on, so thanks again."

She rolled her eyes. "Stop thanking me. You can leave now."

He walked towards the door and almost bumped into Cleaver when he tried entering the medic bay. He wore a sling on his right arm. "Well hello Garfield! Glad you are feeling better." he greeted.

"Damn, you got hurt." Garfield said look at the sling.

Cleaver lifted his shoulders and shrugged. "I've had worse. Raven here will heal me a bit so I can get better. Don't worry."

"I hope you get better Cleaver." Garfield said and turned his attention to Raven. "Thanks Rae, and I'll guess I'll see you later." Raven simply nodded and he exited the medical bay. Cleaver and Raven watched as he left down the hallway.

Cleaver looked over to the woman. "Did you tell him?"

"Yes I did." she replied "and surprisingly he took it well."

"That's if you told him everything." He emphasized. Raven looked way from Cleaver and stared into the distance. Cleaver raised an eyebrow and became suspicious. "You did tell him everything, correct?" he slowly said leaning closer to the woman.

"Well, most of it and the important things."

"Of course, but did you tell him that he changes whenever he feels his life is in danger?"

"No, I neglected to tell him that. I'll tell him the next time I see him."

"Then I also think you neglected to mention that he transforms whenever he feels that his chosen mate is in danger as well."

She furrowed her eyebrow and looked over to Cleaver in sheer embarrassment. "I don't know if I would tell him that."

"If you don't, I will." Cleaver threatened.

"You wouldn't"

"Oh, I would. Don't tempt me Miss Raven."

"Then I guess you will have to wait six weeks until your arm completely heals on its own." she shot back.

Cleaver gave her a dis-concerned look. "You demon!"

"And you know it." She replied.