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Miss Joy Corthesy
Miss Joy Corthesy
QSI International School, Phuket
Age: 17
“Dear Satan, I’m coming back…”
“…and they lived happily ever after,” her voice caressed her child’s ear like a soft lullaby, crooning him to sleep.
A serene smile settling upon her lips, she slowly turned off the dim nightlight, kissing the boy’s forehead before leaving the bedroom, stepping over various dinosaur toys and gracefully dodging the sleeping dog by the door.
Turning around, she took one last look at the little boy under his Star Wars covers, the rise and fall of his chest matching her own.
His light blonde hair and light skin almost seemed to glow in the dark… a reminder of who he really was to her and her kind. To them, he was important, she knew that. To her, he was more, for the maternal feelings she felt for the child seemed to seep into her pores.
Stepping out the door and into the hallway, the woman sniffed the air to smell a scent that turned her smile into a scowl.
Her lips pursed, she leaned against the wall of her hallway, taking deep, slow breaths, ignoring the familiar smell lingering in the air.
The dog, awoken, peered at her through the creek of the door. The woman shot it a glare, letting a low growl escape her lips. Fear swept through the dog, making it whimper in the darkness of the boy’s bedroom.
Untangling her dark hair from her bun, a waterfall of black curls cascaded down her back. Slowly, she made her way down the stairs of her suburban home, not making the slightest sound.
She stood stock still in her cozy living room to find a man with stubble on his hollow cheeks and a long wooden stick in his right hand. He looked up at her, the bright green of his eyes catching her off guard.
“Good evening, Sheba.
Never a pleasure to see you,” the man murmured, bowing his head in her direction. The woman smiled at the compliment, “Likewise, Rufus.”
The way she pronounced his name made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Ignoring the chills sent through his body, Rufus built the courage to look straight at her, the grip on his stick tightening. How they chose this woman to look after the boy, he’ll never understand.
Sheba kept on looking at Rufus, the scent of his fear sending her heart palpitating in her chest. Even though she gave up on her past, some habits were hard to get rid of. His fear, though not as strong as she would’ve liked it, reminded of whom, or rather what, she was before.
Even though the reason she had given up all of it was sleeping soundly upstairs, she couldn’t help but feel that a little part of her, as microscopic as it may be, was missing.
Knowing that exchanging pleasantries was not why Rufus had come to see her, Sheba looked at him pointedly, waiting for him to say whatever he came to say.
Rufus hesitated, “Sheba, there’s been a… a change of plans.”
Her spine straightening, Sheba stayed silent, her gaze unmoving.
“I’ve been in contact with Lucius recently,” at the thought of him, Rufus squirmed uncomfortably in his seat. The thought of the devil made him uncomfortable, “and…”
Sheba had never seen Rufus struggle for words as he was doing at that precise moment. He had always been an articulate diplomat, an angel with the sharp mind of a lawyer. Rufus swallowed hard, his heart squeezed by grief at the thought of the recent burial of his father. Not knowing how else to say it, Rufus said, “Randolph has… well, he’s dead, Sheba.”
Her breathing stopped, and for a second, her heart skipped a beat. Sheba grabbed the wooden table next to her, feeling herself grow hot with anger. Though she suspected the answer already, Sheba asked through clenched teeth, “How?”
Rufus ignored the question, not wanting to think about the events himself, “It doesn’t matter how. What matters is that Lucius wants the boy. He doesn’t trust him with you.”
The wooden table began to hiss under Sheba’s hand, making her release her grip and hide her scorched hand behind her back.
On the table was a black hand print, and the smell of burnt wood slowly filled the room.
Her eyes the color of flames, Sheba looked up, “Rufus, you know as well as I do Adam is too young for that.”
Rufus nodded, “I know, but that’s not relevant. We were just here to make sure neither your side nor mine would take him.
We agreed that if Randolph were to be incapable of taking care of him, Lucius would-”
“- destroy him,” she finished. “I am well aware of what was agreed, Rufus. But pardon me if I don’t want my ten-year old in the hands of the Devil!”
“Ten years…” Rufus muttered in awe.
Overcome with anger and sadness, Sheba couldn’t seem to stop the stream of words coming out her mouth, “Yes, Rufus, ten years! Ten years I’ve been looking after Adam with your father. Ten years since the angels and demons realized the fact that he could see us, though no other human could.
For ten years, this human child has had Randolph as a Guardian Angel and me as his Demon Watcher. For ten years, I’ve made sure Lucius wouldn’t touch a hair on his head. Now I’m just supposed to hand him over?”
Rufus was astonished at Sheba’s reaction. She had always been so heartless in front of him, so cocky, so… demonic. Now, with her coal black eyes and hot tears running down her face, Sheba looked… well, she looked like a mother whose child had been torn away from her.
Sheba shook her head, the sadness of Randolph’s death seeping into her mind. She had gotten used to him… a grandfather for Adam.
He had been a real father to Sheba, one she had been forbidden to have, simply because she was a demon.
Needless to say, Sheba had been succumbed by Randolph over the past ten years, and had, she was ashamed to admit, turned to good side.
“Sheba…”
The word, soft and tender, made Sheba look up to see Rufus standing in front of her. Sheba, however, remained unmoved by the gentle tone in his voice.
“Lucius doesn’t trust me, Rufus. He doesn’t think I’m demonic anymore.” she stated, her eyes hard.
“I know, Sheba.”
“We have to change that…”
It was Rufus’ turn to become cold. Had he just heard her right?
“Sheba, you can’t cause mayhem just because…”
“Yes, I can actually,” she flashed him a determined smile, “It’s in my blood.”
The way she saw it, the only way to get Lucius out of Adam’s life would be to get Rufus as Adam’s guardian angel.
The only way to do that was to convince Lucius that there already was a demon to look after Adam.
All Sheba had to do was prove herself to the Devil, and if she was born to do it, it shouldn’t be too difficult. After all, how hard would it be for Sheba to convince Lucius that she should… go to hell?
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