Demonic Angel (A Touch Of Magic) (2 page)

              “Why are you asking me?” I laugh. “Your home now too Tess. Come on, let me lock up.”

We head into the kitchen where I lock up the back-door and turn off the lights and then I lock the front door before we go upstairs. I half expect Tessa to go into the spare room but instead she follows me into mine. I check on Aeron who is still sound asleep and then get ready for bed. Once in bed, I pull my quilt over me and I feel Tessa do the same.

“Night Cally. Thank you for being there for me.”

“Always will be Tess. Night.” I squeeze her shoulder briefly and then close my eyes. It isn't long before sleep takes over.

TWO

The downside of babysitting a two year old? Early wake-up calls. Aeron knows how to climb out of his cot and so to wake me up, he jumps all over me at 6:50am. Usually I wouldn't care but it is Saturday morning and Tessa and I didn't go to bed until almost two in the morning. I don't function well on less than eight hours sleep. I am grouchy and unsociable.

I leave Tessa in bed and take Aeron downstairs to make him breakfast. Walking into the kitchen, I come to a halt. The back door is wide open. I could have sworn I locked it last night. In fact, I know I did. I know it isn't Ana because her bedroom door was wide open when I passed it and she was still snoring away in bed. Maybe my dad is home? No, he isn't due back until later tonight. With the frown still on my face, I close the door and bolt it. I turn back to Aeron who is looking at me in confusion and plaster on a smile.

“Right Aeron, what you want for breakfast?” I ask him cheerfully as I pick him up and smother him in kisses. He squirms in my arms until I release him.

              “Cheewios.” Aww. He still knows how to make me a puddle of goo with his cuteness. I go about making him his 'Cheewios' and then sit him at the kitchen table. I make myself and Tessa a cup of tea and then prepare Ana's breakfast too. Ana has the same breakfast everyday. Golden Nuggets. I was sure she would be bored of them by now considering she has eaten nothing but them in the mornings for two years straight but no, she requests them every time myself or dad goes shopping. I personally think they are gross and would rather stick to my fruit smoothies. Today, banana and strawberry with some vanilla flavoured natural yoghurt.

              I have just poured my now made up smoothie in to a glass when Tessa walks into the kitchen looking ten times better than she did when she turned up yesterday. There is colour back in her cheeks, the rings under her eyes have faded and she is wearing a bright smile. It melts my heart when I see her like this.

              “Morning!” She sings and takes a small sip of her tea. “Mmm. You know exactly how I have my tea.” She smiles.

“Of course I do. That is what eighteen years of friendship entails babe.” I grin and then take a seat at the kitchen table next to where she has just sat. “How are you feeling today?”

              “I am good. Really good actually. I haven't slept that well in like forever. Thank you for letting me stay here Cal. I wouldn't know what I would do without you.” She looks down at her cup and although she isn't looking at me, I know she is hiding the tears that have just formed in her eyes. “On a lighter note, I want to do something new with my nails and you have the best nail varnish collection ever sooo...” I smirk at her request.

              “You know where it is. Pick me a colour out. Nothing pink though. I would rather make my self throw up.” Tessa laughs as she jumps up from her seat and runs out of the room. Ana wanders in seconds after Tessa leaves. “Breakfast is on the table.” I tell her. She sleepily makes her way over to me and sits down where Tessa was just sat. She pours the milk into her cereal and then digs in making happy eating noises as she does so.

Tessa bounds in the room carrying three pots of nail varnish. An electric blue, a midnight purple and a light pink. I hope that pink is
not
for me. Seeing my unimpressed face, Tessa jumps in.

              “This isn't for you, don't worry. It is for Analeese. I thought that she might want to join us when we paint our nails?” She looks over at my still half asleep sister and gives her a pleading smile. Ana grins up at her.

“Really? You want me to join in with you while you do girly things?”

              “Yeah sure, why not?” I smile at her. “You are a girl too. I would much rather you look like one instead of a
boy.”
I scrunch my nose and see in the corner of my eye that Tessa is doing the same.

              “Okay. Let me go and get dressed.” She finishes off her cereal in one large bite that makes my eyes widen and then she runs out of the room and up the stairs.

“Wow. She's an eager beaver ain’t' she.” Tessa chuckles.

              “Yeah, I don't really do anything with her anymore. I think she was a bit jealous last night when I left her alone watching that film while I sat in the garden with you.” I bite my lip.

“She will get over it Cal. She's six. She is too young to hold a grudge.” Oh how I wish that were true.

                                                                                    ***

The three of us are sat in the garden with some music playing lightly in the background, painting our nails and listening to Ana tell us how much she enjoys playing with Jamie while Aeron plays with his toy cars and race tracks merely six feet in front of me. The sun is shining brightly for nine fifteen in the morning and for English weather, it is really warm for this time of the morning. It's nice to be able to wear my yellow bikini (and denim shorts) this early of the day. Tessa borrowed one of my black and white bikinis with a white skirt. She may be curvier than I am but we can still fit into the same clothes. It may be a squeeze for Tessa in the chest department though it doesn't look like she cares right now. Even my tomboy sister has girlied it up this morning by wearing a pretty pink and white floral top and pink denim shorts and has her white flowery sandals on. Mum would be so proud; I know I am.

              “Ana,” Tessa sings. “You totally fancy Jamie.”

“I do not fancy Jamie. That is gross!” Ana moans with a face that looks utterly disgusted. I stifle a laugh. “He has freckles!”

“Hey! Nothing wrong with freckles missy.” Tessa calls out pointing to her own freckles and causing Ana to turn bright red. I am trying so hard not to laugh right now.

              “I- I didn't mean you. Just him. You look pretty with them
he
looks like a dalmatian. He is just my friend. I don't like boys. I swear.” That's it... I laugh. “Don't know why you are laughing Cally. Haven't seen a boy ask you to come out and play.” I stop laughing and gape at her while she crosses her arms across her chest and squints her eyes at me.

              “Hey now! Don't bring me into this, love. I only laughed.”

“Actually, she has a point Cal. When
was
the last time you went out on a date?” A date? I don't think I have ever been on a date before. That sounds really depressing considering I am nineteen and going to be starting university in two months. Not even in college did I even look at a guy twice. That is depressing. Maybe I am gay. I look at Tessa wearing my revealing bikini and think again. Nope, definitely not gay.

“Um. I haven't.” I look down at my electric blue nails and avoid any eye contact from the two girls in front of me. Tessa gasps.

              “I am not having that. I am going to set you up with one of Mike's friends. I know just the one as well. Rob! He is attractive and has a smile to make any girl weak at the knees. Yeah, I am going to ring Mike right now.” She picks up her phone from the grass and taps the screen a few times.

              “Tessa, no. Please don't. I am not interested in
Rob.
I don't need a man in my life. When one comes along that I like, then I will handle it my own way. Not yours.” Tessa pouts at me and I bite my lip to stop from smiling at her. “Besides, the only boys I need in my life are my dad and this beautiful boy right here.” I motion to Aeron and he looks over at me and gives me a toothy grin; I smile back.

“No Cal. You need a man. Not a boy. One that will kiss you and make your knees cave in. One that looks at you and gives you butterflies every single time. One that all he has to do is say your name and you feel like putty in his hands.” I frown at her and then look over at Ana who appears utterly repulsed by that image. I snort. Oh to be six again.

              “Do you feel like that with Mike?” I ask my best friend, raising an eyebrow. Tessa looks away from my accusing eye and starts looking off into the distance.

              “Yes. No. I don't know. It's confusing. When I met him, yeah, sure, he made me feel like I was the most special girl in the world. Then we finished college and he became distant and then all this stuff with my dad happened and we barely spend any time together anymore.” I watch as she closes her eyes and sighs.

I feel so bad for her. Tessa had it all. Perfect family. Perfect boyfriend. Perfect grades at school. She passed her first year at college with flying colours but her second year? Yeah, not so great. She just barely got the grades for her to start Uni in September. Her 'perfect' family drama ended up disrupting her from her work. Tessa has always wanted to be a social worker. I think that dream still stands. If anything, I think she wants to do it even more considering what she has been through herself.

Aeron ends the conversation by running over to me and jumping onto my lap. I am mentally grateful that my nails are dry now because otherwise they would be a mess.

              “Cally. Juice.” He chimes in his overly adorable voice. I look down at my phone for the time and see it is nearly ten am. Where the hell is Jaxon? He was supposed to be here an hour ago. Hiding my disdain, I lead Aeron into the house and make him up some juice in his
Dinosaur Train
cup and pass it to him. We head back into the garden and I pull my phone out again and dial up Jaxon's number. It rings three times before his deep voice booms through the earpiece.

“Yeah?”

“Hi Jaxon, it's Calissa.” I think I hear him groan. “You were meant to pick up Aeron?” Why the hell am I so nervous?? I look over at Tessa who looks intrigued by the fact I am on the phone to my sworn enemy. Okay not exactly an enemy but he might as well be considering the amount of dirty looks we pass each other.

“Oh yeah. Forgot about that. Yeah be there in a bit.”

“How long is a bit? Because I have to-” He hung up on me? I look at the phone and gape at Tessa who looks confused. “He hung up on me.” I say bluntly.

              “Hahaha! He so wants you.” I scrunch up my nose and my lips twist down in disgust. “Aeron? Do you think Jaxon and Cally should get married?” She coos to the toddler who simply looks at her and blinks.

“Doggy.” He says.

              “See Tess, he is only interested in doggy's.”

“Yeah well, he is only two. Give it a year or so and he will sooo take my side.” I shake my head and lean back onto my elbows in the grass. Tessa follows suit.

              “Doggy. Cally. Doggy.”

“Yes darling. Doggy.” I close my eyes, soaking in the sun and casually play with Aeron's hair. A shadow hovers over my face blocking out the sun. “Ana. You are blocking my sun babe.” Wetness drips down my forehead and slithers down into my hairline. I hear a quiet squeak from somewhere and assume it is Ana messing around.

“Ew! Ana what the hell was that?” I open my eyes and squint to make out the figure that is clearly not my sister. “OH MY GOD!” I scream. I push the creature away from me and feel a slight burn on my palms but instead of dwelling on it, I grab Aeron and jump up. “Tessa!! Get Ana!” I yell to my friend who is already carrying my little sister into the house. I run towards the house and feel the creature fresh on my heels.

              “Woof woof!” Aeron squeals in laughter. I get into the house and slam the back door shut behind me and causing the
thing
to smash into it. I squeak as I jump back; clutching onto Aeron for dear life. My heart is beating so hard I am sure it will explode right out of my chest. Aeron seems completely not bothered by the entire situation. He is laughing and I study him. His usually blue eyes are a misty grey and his entire face looks creepy. Almost demonic. My eyes widen in horror and it takes everything I have
not
to drop him.

I wait out in the kitchen for the
thing
to leave and when I am sure it does. I walk into the living room and place Aeron on the sofa next to a shaken up Ana and Tessa. I pull out my phone and redial Jaxon's number. It rings slightly longer than it did before and then he answers.

“What Calissa?” He snaps. I bite my tongue to stop myself from giving him a piece of my mind.

“Get here now!” I snarl down the phone.

“I said I am on my way. Don't rush me woman.” He growls back.

“Don't you woman me! You never said you were on your way. You said you will be here in a
bit
!
” I leave the room so Aeron isn't freaked out by my shouting. “Some creature just attacked us! It is unsafe for your brother to be here.”

“Oh don't worry I am sure he will be fine- wait what creature?” He sounds genuinely curious.

“I don't know. I think it was a dog but it didn't really look like one. It was snarling and drooling and I am almost certain it had red eyes.” I am shaking at the thought. “I – I think it had horns. It could have been a boar.” I mumble the last bit mainly to myself. A boar though? In this little village? Never been heard of before. Come to think of it. Boars aren't like that.

“A boar Cally?”
Cally?
He has never called me Cally before. Always Calissa.