• Clattering noises surround me, muffled voices. It's pitchblack all around, an endless night. Where am I? I remember running...shades....mark...Mark! I strain to wake, I feel my wing twitch, that's all. As I lay limp I see the events beforehand twist and twirl around in my head. The running, the transformation, the fall,... ouch! My broken wing, that for some reason I can feel, recieved a sharp pierce. "There, that should do it." I heard a cheerful female announce.
    I tried to refocus on the pictures in my head, but found it impossible. They zoomed in and out, darting among other thoughts that were stored away. One of which was of my vortexing. What's vortexing? It's our way of creating other demons, no, I don't mean biting or giving birth. For one, our teeth have too much venom for any human to handle. For another, birth is just not painless enough. Instead of another demon, we would probably give birth to a human. No, the way we change another is by a kiss, one, single kiss. But not everyone survives it, so I don't recommend going up to any demon you find and asking for a smootch.
    I noticed a dim buzz in my head and couldn't move any of my body. I struggled against the fogginess, but i could feel that it was going to win. I felt my body go numb, and my mind and heart slowed down. I still couldn't open my eyes or move yet. "Oopsies, I gave her a little too much. She might wake, but at least she won't be in pain, the poor dear." The same cheery voice rang around me.
    I snapped back into focus and could feel my mind clear instantly. "Karma, please be more careful. You could've killed her with that dose." I knew the voice immediately, the figure who picked me up after the attack. My heart started to flutter and I hyperventilated with panic. I must be in danger, he couldn't be a human. "Karma! What's wrong with her?" he nearly shouted, making my delicate ears throb.
    "I don't know! The dose might still be too much! Oh dear, oh dear! What have I done?" the overly-cheerful voice became strained with panic.
    "Obviously, you did something!" he hissed, "Take her off the meds. Quickly! We don't want her to die!" So that was it. They were going to keep me alive so they could see how we tick. I groaned, and it was surprisingly loud. "Now she's waking. You know what will happen if she does." It was silent until the woman spoke.
    "We won't be able to stop her from running out there." She whispered.
    "Exactly," he replied, "We can't let her go."
    My heart quickened until a loud, sharp beeping started to sound next to me. "Oh my! She's really acting up. Whatever is the matter with her?" I could feel cold, smooth hands touch me gently between the ears and wings. "Poor soul, I think she can hear us. I guess I would be as frightened as a jackrabbit as well!" I start to calm down as the gentle hands rubbed between my wingblades in circles.
    I heard a sigh and the gruff voice whispered from above me "What should we tell her? We can't have her run, but we are bound by the rules."
    All was quiet and I could hear foggy breaths near me. My heart slowed until it was at an almost standstill speed. "We could make her one of us..." a low hissing slithered into my ear and I involuntarily shuddered, "At least this one has senses."
    "Good heavens! I didn't see you there!" the gentle voice squeaked.
    "Of course you didn't, you are incapable of doing so....you were one of the pitiful ones that didn't change well." the hissing retorted. All was silent again, and I was sure that I was figeting slightly.
    "She can hear us." the gravelly voice stated.
    "So she can...Noctell, what Are you going to tell her? Like you said, we are bound. And she cannot run. I did suggest that one alternative..." the newcomer pondered.
    "No, abosolutely not! We don't know how it would affect her, being a demon and all. It wouldn't be right, to strip her of her life. She would be an outcast!" the rough voice shouted.
    "You mean, she would be like you." the low voice stated. All was silent. I grew restless and let all of my energy burst into the focus of opening my eyes. They flew open and I grew lightheaded at the force. The room was dimly lit and barely any brighter than my eyelids had been. I moaned from my growing headache and felt all eyes turn towards me. By now I had already propped myself up on my elbows.
    "I thought you had dosed her!" the gruff voice growled. I looked over in his direction but he had stepped back into shadows. I was still dizzy and my senses had been dulled by their 'dose'.
    "I did." she hissed back. I snapped my head towards her and caught a glimpse of red hair before she dived into the shadows as well.
    "She has a lot of strength," one speculated. I turned my gaze towards him. "And sharp senses." he continued, "She would be perfectly ready for the change." I could feel something glower next to me. "Or not..." he prompted. He was hidden among the shadows as well and I could only see his outline.
    "No." the man behind me simply stated. I turned around quickly and caught his gaze. His hazel eyes held mine in place and my body went stiff. All I could see was his face and shoulders, the rest of him was a shadowy outline. He looked beyond me, letting my eyes drop, "Raze, go tell him of the situation." I could pick up the spite in his tone. Obviously, so could 'Raze', because when he exited he looked like a shrunken shadow. I looked back at 'Noctell' and speculated what he was wearing as he turned to talk to the female. Both of them had their backs turned to me. He was wearing a trenchcoat and boots, both were dark brown. That was all I could see from my point of view. The lady looked no older than 14 years of age. Her hair was long and curly, I could almost taste the strawberry color. I looked down at myself to find that only me left pant-leg had been taken off to look at my ankle. My wing had been held up in a cloth-sack of some kind.I looked to my right to see that my broken wing was held in the same type of mechinism.
    I stared blankly at my outfit that I always wore as a reminder of who I was. My blouse was white and pure with spagetti straps, and was only covering my breasts and back. My belly-button was covered by a small silver silk belt that was tied at a bow. I wore light grey sleeves that hung on straps from below the shoulders. My light purple skirt flowed and carressed my legs, which were in net stockings. Although the one on my broken ankle had been taken off for study. I looked about myself and could see my hair sprawled out around me, exposing my bare neck. I was furious to notice that someone had taken my protection necklace off. But I would find out later, right now I was happy to be alive.
    I almost forgot to tell you what my clothes represent. hmmm, i'm sure you have emperors and empresses? or something like it perhaps. We have a group of females, Sceline, that's what it is called. The Sceline are the demons that our creator is allowed to court, to continue his eternal youth. We are the most important and the most dangerous of the demons. But after all of the deaths that the DH have caused, there's not many of us that aren't Sceline. One thing that sucks, though, is that once courted with our creator, we die within the decade. That's why our creator must court every 50 years.
    I close my eyes, content with being able to use them willingly and not being drugged. Though I was parched with thirst, I had been out hunting at the moment when the shades spotted me. I turned my left ear towards 'Noctell' and 'Karma' to hear if they were going to approach. They were still murmering at the moment, but my ear pricked when I heard 'Noctell' mutter "Deathstar...". That was the name of our creator. How did they know of him? Only demons know of his presence and whereabouts. I tilted my ear to focus on their conversation. Noctell was still talking, it seemed like Karma was just recieving his message for the moment, "He must know of this. I don't think he would be too happy knowing that one of his precious Sceline had been spotted by the Shades." Another blow, he knows of us too.
    I fully turned my head and opened my eyes. Suddenly he was in my face with his and I jumped back, hissing with anger at having my space penetrated. "It's not a good idea to listen in to someone's conversations, especially when that someone saved your life." I darted into the shadows behind me, my eyes turned red when I was irritated and i'm sure they glowed and gave away my position. He chuckled, "I'm not here to have you spit venom at me." His hazel eyes locked with mine, "I'm here to make sure my kind don't find you."
    I was confused. My eyes dimmed as curiousity got the best of me, "Why? You and I are enemies. Our kinds have fought for centuries."
    He spoke with a soft voice, like he was trying to calm a frightened child. I'm absolutely sure my eyes still sparkled red at this, "Come out here, where we can both see each other. And I'll tell you the history of 'our kinds'.