Chapter Three

Harsh Reality

         Rolling over to face Azazel, Akatora opens her eyes to find him not there. She shoots up.

 

          "Azazel?" She calls, her voice thick with worry. She hears a knock on ther balcony door and looks in that direction. Akatora lets out a sigh of relief when she sees Azazel standing out there. He looks at her, smiles, then turns back to look at the sky.

 

        "The sunrise is about to happen, come out and watch it with me." He says. Akatora gets up to join him and lets him put his arms around her waist. She rests her head on his chest as the first golden rays appear. The watch as the weak sun travesl in the sky, making the sky turn pink to blue. The sound of running feet tells Akatora that Bells is awake. Akatora curses, if Bells is awake, Akatora's twin sister Neaveh is also awake. "What is it?" Azazel asks looking around.

 

        "You have to hide. NOW> Neveah and Bella are coming!" she says quickly. Azazel curses in anser and tries to fade. "Azazel don't! You're to weak! it will hurt way to much!" Akatora Whispers urgently. Azazel doesnt hear her and semi fades. He slams back together with a moan of pain and falls down.

 

         "DAMNIT!" He screams through clenched teeth.

 

           "Shh be quiet!" Hisses Akatora, Helping him up. She listens for footsteps and hears Neveah coming to her room. Akatora pushes Azazel into her room and point to her semi walk in closet. Azazel nods and runs into it just as Neveah comes in.

 

            "Hey sis ready for the last week of School?" She asks. Akatora give her a sweet smile and nods.

 

         "Absolutly, just trying to figure out what to wear." She says.

 

          "I'll help you." Neveah walks over to the dresser and opens a few drawers. She pulls out a light blue mini skirt along with a black tank top that has light blue roses on it. "I saw the sweatshirt that matches this top in your closet. I'll get it for you." Neveah offers, heading toward the closet. Akatora tries to think of something to say to stop her twin sister from opening the closet. Luck is on her side for at that moment Bella comes running in

 

         "MOMMY MOMMY I spilt my ceral on the foor!" she waits. Neveah rushes dow the stairs, picking up Bella in her arms.

 

            "Sorry Akatora you'll have to find it yourself!" She calls over her shoulder. Counting to twenty Akatora listens to be sure Neveah was down stairs. Letting out the huge breath she was holding she opens the closet door.

 

        "It's safe you can come out now." She whispers. She steps back as Azazel comes out, and hands her the black sweatshirt. Akatora takes it and laughs as he gives her a huge grin. She punches him lightly on the arm, grabs the rest of the outfit, and heads for the door.

 

       "Where are you going?"Azazel asks.

 

        "To the bathroom to shower and change. Hide in the closet if Bella or Neveah come back." She tells him. She leaves the room and heads for the bathroom. She leans against the closed door, sighs and smiles. She STILL couldnt believe Azazel was alive!

 

        Azazel watches as Akatora leaves. Once she is gone he lets out a moan of agony. He was trying to look like he wasnt in pain when she was around, but now that she wasnt he lets his gaurd down. He slowly eases down on her bed. Trying to fade had been excruciating. But that isnt the worst part. Azazel's heart is still wounded from the death blow he had recieved. He takes a slow deep breath and immediately regrets it, pain lances through his veins and squeezes his heart. He curses and punches the bed. His temper is slowly building and he gets up to look in the mirror. Sure enough his eyes were barely turning a light pink. Azazel sighs and falls back onto the bed hopelessly. What good was he now, if he was so weak he coulsnt even fade? Plus he was mortal now. He thinks to himself.

 

     Footsteps coming down the hall forces him to hide in the closet. He hides behind a slinky purple dress as the bedroom door opens. Azazel smiles when he hears Bella rummaging through the lower drawers of the dresser. He laughs quietly listening to Bella sing some kiddie tv show theme song. His laugh is cut short when he hears the three year old trying to open the closet door. Azazel sighs in relief at the sound of the bedrooms door opening.

 

     "Bella honey, please get out of aunty's room so I can get ready." Akatora's sweet voices coos to her neice. A minute later Akatora taps on the door indicating it is safe to come out. Azazel takes the purple dress and emerges from the closet.

 

     "I remember this dress, you were wearing it that day at Club Midnight when we first met." He whispers as the memory flickers to his mind. Club midnight was the hottest under 21 club around, Akatora use to work as a juicebar tender.

 

    "Speaking of Midnight, I'm working there again, they gave me my old job back." She says. Azazel puts the dress back and sits down on the bed, and watches as Akatora finishes getting ready. She puts a blight blue bow that matches her skirt in her long black hair, light blue eye shadow on her eyelids and a clear gloss on her lips. the eye shadow makes her sea blue eyes stand out and her outfit shows off her curves. Azazel looks her over and isnt ashame to let his eyes linger. Akatora smiles. She walks over to him and sits on his lap, his arms wrapping prtectivly around her. She rests her head on his chest. "I have to go to school now. I'll see you later ok?" She whispers. She gives him a kiss and is surprised by the need she feels racing through her as their lips meet. Unwillingly she tears herself away from his embrace and leaves the room. She rushes down the stairs calling out goodbyes to her family and is out the door as Hazel honks the horn.