Demonic Bonds by Claire M (best book club books .txt) 📖

Demonic Bonds

Chapter 1 - A Demon in My Attic?

I looked at the clock beside me as I sank down onto my bed. It was midnight. One minute past to be exact. It's usually around this time when-*Creak...!*

I jumped, my heart pounding against my chest. I didn't know why I was so surprised. I was so used to this every night.

I held a shaky hand to my chest and looked to the ceiling. My eyelids felt heavy and I was so tired. I flopped back down into bed and pulled the covers over my head.

Creak!

I buried my head under the pillows.

Bang!

I gave up. I'd had enough of it. I kicked off the duvet, accidentally sending it flying over the end. I was feeling pretty annoyed and jumped out of bed, rubbing my eyes. I was sick of being woken up every night by whatever it was up there and grabbed my baseball bat from under my bed. Don't worry, I never use it; it's just there for times like these.

Opening my door as quietly as it could manage,-which wasn't very quiet since I forgot to move the door stopper causing it to scrape against the floor-I felt my way to the bathroom entrance. I really should have turned on my bedside lamp. It would have made this so much easier...

But anyway, my eyes had adjusted slightly to the darkness now and I was gripping onto my baseball bat as if for dear life. I looked up to the attic entrance to find it open.

I swear I jumped at least a foot in the air when I heard a footstep at the stairs. My head jerked back down to the staircase and I slammed a hand on the landing light switch which had actually just been on the wall to the right of me the whole time.

The light blinded me for a split second. Nothing there... I sighed and jumped up to grab the latch on the ceiling for the attic steps. They folded down and I slowly walked up, as in, really slowly. I reached the top and a shuffling sound sent chills down my spine. I swallowed, my heart still pounding. Jeez I'm such a wuss...

Looking round through the darkness reminded me of when I moved here. I'd got to the top and seen the spooky look of it-dust, cobwebs and darkness. It was enough to keep me away from it. Until now.

I felt my way along the walls, cringing as I touched an icky cobweb. I found a switch and pressed it hoping it was a light. I don't know what else it could be but still, I was right.

It flickered on, the bulb swinging slightly. I felt somewhat better now that the room wasn't in total darkness. If the room was empty and I was sure nothing was there, I would've gone back downstairs. But it wasn't and I didn't. I have no idea why I tiptoed since who or whatever was here most likely knew I was here anyway. Maybe they were hiding behind a box and were planning on jumping out and cutting me into little pieces like they do in the movies. Oh, that really helps when I'm here alone in a creepy old attic...I cringed at the thought.

Peeking round the corner of two stacked boxes, I screamed so loud I almost lost my voice as something pounced at me.

Strangely I felt a little better now that I'd let out my fears in one big shriek.

My baseball bat was already rolling away from me and down the attic steps.

The thing that pounced at me turned out to actually be a guy, or a monster? His hair was birds nest messy and jet black. His eyes were black too, as in full black. Apart from a deep blood red, cat-like pupil in each eye.

Anyway, I had about five seconds to process all this before I lost my footing and fell back, the demon-cat-monster-guy gripping my shoulders so tightly with his long nails they bled.

Then my head cracked against the wooden floor and I was knocked into nothingness.

So, while I lay unconscious probably about to be eaten by the demon-cat-monster-guy, I'll tell you a brief description about myself while I have the chance. My name is Lexie Evenson. I'm 18 years old and living alone (or so I thought) at my new two bedroom house which I moved into just the other week. My parents are living elsewhere. I started hearing the noises in the attic last week, and-oh. Sorry to cut but it seems I'm awake again.

The first thing I felt when I woke up was a searing pain from the back of my head. I put a hand to where it hurt. It felt wet. Blood? I opened an eye and everything came back to me.

I shot upright, only to fall forward onto my hand.

"Be careful! You took quite a hit to your head!" Someone put a hand on my shoulder to help support me. It was a guy's voice. And that bit came back to me too.

I shot against the wall. "Of course...you would be afraid of me..." I looked up. Under all the tangled hair, I saw a sad expression on his face. He looked somehow...alone...

"I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I was a little startled." He said quietly but loud enough for me to hear. He picked up a red cloth off of the floor-wait, was it a cloth? He rinsed it out into a bowl, then I realised it was a flannel. And it was covered in blood. My blood. Did I seriously bleed that much? I looked at my shoulders, at the torn material which once covered my shoulders and there were plasters on the cuts.

"A-are you okay?" I finally spoke. Out of all the things to say, I said that? He looked up. His eyes still seemed to be hidden by his hair, but his mouth was open, then it turned up a little at the sides.

"You're asking me that?" A small giggle like breath escaped his lips. "I guess. Um...thanks." My heart still seemed to be pounding. He smiled. "Um, w-what are you?" My voice shook. His mouth turned straight again and he turned his head away, as if he was afraid to tell me.

"I'm..." He mumbled, but spoke up. "I'm a demon." I swallowed. Oh-kay then. So no demon-cat-monster-guy hybrid then? Well, at least I was right about the demon part.

He looked sad again, and like he was waiting for me to run away screaming or something.

"I see." He looked up, somewhat shocked at my reaction. And I managed to see his eyes through a gap in his long hair. They were beautiful, a deep chocolate like brown. Sort of mystical too.

"So...who are you?" I broke the silence. "My names Rufus Kichiki. (Pronounced: Keech-kee)I'm not too sure how old I am but I'd say I'm about nineteen. I was born here and lived here with my family until one day they left without me while I slept in the attic. I think I was asleep for a few days while they left. We demons can do that-sleep for days." I nodded trying to look like I understood. And I did. Sort of.

"I'm Lexie Evenson. I'm 18 and I moved here just a few weeks ago" "I know." Rufus smiled then looked at my creeped out expression. "No, no, no," He shook his hands innocently. "I just know that you moved here a few weeks ago. Don't worry; I only ever came out of here at night so you didn't find out about me. I looked out of the window occasionally to look at the outside. I guess I failed at being quiet." I smiled, sort of giggling. "So...you're not afraid of me?" He looked me in the eyes and it unnerved me. I looked away for a second but I had look back to reply. "I'm not." I smiled as kindly as I could. I didn't want to look like I was lying. He already seemed so sad.

Wait. Take that last sentence back. "I'm glad!" A grin spread across his mouth and he jumped at me, hugging me. What the-? "I like you! You're my new best friend!" Then he let go. "But...You'll kick me out won't you. You won't want a scary demon-guy staying in your home-" I could see it in his eyes. He was imagining me kicking him out of the front door and yelling at him to stay away. I felt like laughing at him for thinking such things. I couldn't do that. Even if I had just met him.

"Don't be stupid, you can stay. I'm not that mean." His face lit up into a big grin and he hugged me. Again. I sighed, smiling. Somehow I didn't feel scared of him anymore.

And then he pulled back again. He looked at his hand and then at my head. "You're bleeding again." And sure enough, when I felt my wound, my head was bleeding again. "Ah." It ached. Suddenly Rufus turned my head away and held the flannel against the wound.

"Shouldn't you go to the hospital?" He rinsed out the flannel again and re-dampened it.

"I'll be fine, and you don't have to do that, I'll do it-" I said, wincing at the pain. It really did hurt. "It's the least I can do since I caused this. And plus, I can see the wound." He smiled. "Thanks." I smiled back at him and realized if anyone was to see him in this state they'd freak. Like I did. Maybe more. I really should take him to the hairdressers soon. And get him some new clothes...I looked down at his ragged and torn t-shirt and jeans. They looked too small for him too.

I don't know why but I wanted to help him. I felt I had to and take care of him.

I also realized that he didn't smell. And that he was clean. Oh god...Had he been using my bathroom?

I yawned. Out of everything that had happened I was still exhausted. I closed my eyes. It won't hurt just to rest my eyes for a few minutes...