I was up late at night writing like always. I was a good ways into the story too. Already named it _Castle of Criminals_. I started to think out loud like always. “Her sister knew these things because she’s snuck into the castle resulting in her-“ Bam!

My thoughts are interrupted by a bam. There’s another one, more frantic than the first. I look up for my writing, looking around my room at first. Nothing’s in sight. A third one makes my head shoot to the hall. Something definitely there. And it definitely came from the family room. I look around my room one last time making sure nothing is there, before running down the long hall, making a sharp right turned into the family room. Dark. Of course. I felt the wall for the switch, finally finding it and turning on the lights. A fourth Bam rang across the room coming from the door. Since I could finally see, I rushed to the door, cracking it slightly to look out. A girl about my age, so early 20s, was standing out there in the dark, fear written on her face. She was looking behind her into the dark woods beyond my porch. I live far away from any city, I liked my privacy. So why was this person here? She glanced at the door and back out again before realizing I cracked the door open.

“Please!” Her voice was shaky. “They’re after me! Please help me!” I opened the door a bit more. “Whos after you?” I questioned her. “H-hunters.” Her voice was quieter, but still very shaky. I not open the door more for her to come in. Her eyes lit up in a small, shaky smile appears on her face.

“Come on. You can hang here until morning, okay?” She nods and steps inside quickly not really going in much but just don’t have for me to close the door. Now, I finally get a good look at her. She’s almost as tall as me with beat up boots, unnaturally ripped jeans, a faded black shirt, black hair, red eyes, and…

“Horns?!” I exclaim when I see them. The girl jumps silently and looks down. I noticed, and calm my voice slightly, trying to put her at ease. “What kind of hunters are after you exactly?” She doesn’t look up, but she answers quietly her voice barely above a whisper. “D-demon hunters…” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Of course.” I’m mumble to myself. “I-I can leave if you want…” I look at her. She’s still looking down. “What?”

“I’m a demon. So-so I can leave if you want.” She takes a step to the door. “What? No.” I crossed my arms. The girl looked up from the door and shock. “I said you could stay until morning. So if you want to leave you can, but it won’t be because of me.” She smiles slightly. “Now if you don’t mind, I would like the name of my guest.” She nods. “I’m E-Ember.” I smile warmly. “Ember. That’s a pretty name. I’m Luna. It’s nice to meet you.” I hold out my hand for her to shake. She looks surprised, looking from my hand to my face before hesitantly shaking my hand. Our hand was hot. Way hotter than a normal persons would be. Almost enough to burn someone. It didn’t hurt so I didn’t mind much. When we pull away, I know Amber had shock all over her face.

“Uhm, whats with the surprise?” I ask her, giving a slightly slanted smile. “Well, uh,” she glances away before looking back at me. “Most complain about my temperature. They say it burns them. You… didn’t. It’s unusual.” I’m on my head and understanding. “So your whole body is that warm? That’s kind of cool.” Ember’s jaw dropped a little. “Cool?” She repeated. “You’re crazy. “ I let out a laugh. “Crazy? I don’t think so. Not yet anyway.” Thats when I notice a growing dark purple stain on her shirt. “You’re bleeding.” I point out. Ember looks down and quickly tries to hide it with her hands. I walk closer and gently remove her hot hands, lifting up her shirt a bit to reveal the wound in her side. Being the writer (and horror lover) I am, I’m used to blood and gore.

“We should get this bandaged up.” Ember that’s out of humorless laugh “You’re either crazy, weird, or both.” I meet her gaze. “How so?” I ask, curious. “Well, it’s a stab room and you didn’t even wince. Plus my blood is _purple_“ I stand up straight, matching Ember’s height. “Yeah, okay, fair. but I’m a writer. I basically deal with stuff like this every day. Maybe not in real life, but definitely in my mind using my imagination.” Before Ember can respond, I turn and walk into the bathroom, grabbing the first aid kit and a towel to use. When I walked back into the family room, Ember is still standing by the door, looking uncomfortable. I walk over to the coffee table, unloading what I need from the kit while I talk.

“You don’t have to stand the whole time, you know. I like my guests to feel comfortable.” I glanced up at Ember who’s frozen to the spot, looking uncomfortable and lost. After a minute, she speaks up her voice, unsure. “What do you want me to do?” I look up at her. “What?” “Well, no one ever has let me stay this long. I don’t want make you mad or anything so what should I do?” I stand up bandages, antiseptic, and the towel in my hands. “You’re not going to make me mad. Just sit and relax so I can clean and dress your wound yeah?”

Ember nods and heads over to the sofa, sitting down tensely. I sit down next to her on the side her wound is on, sitting the stuff down on the cushion. “Maybe you could relax for me?” I ask gently. “It might make it easier.“ Ember nods again and I see her relax slightly but not much. “Good. Now,” I pick up the bottle of antiseptic. “This might sting a bit.” I see Ember nod and close her eyes. I gently lift her shirt up to reveal the wound and spray the disinfectant on it. She hisses at the burn but stops when its over. I use the towel to to carefully wipe the wound, trying not to hurt Ember more. When I finish, I dress the wound making sure not to jostle Ember too much. When I’m done, I sit up, putting the rest of the supplies on the table next to me and lean back on the couch cushion and close my eyes.

“Thank you. I wasn’t expecting you to do all that. Especially not for me, a-a demon I open one eye and see that ember is looking away, but her voice suggests that she’s grateful and confused. “Why would you do that for me?” I close my eye again. “You’re alone, scared, and ruined in the middle of nowhere basically. At night.” I hear Ember yawn. “Good point.” there’s only silence that follows other than Ember’s loud breathing. After a few minutes. I feel Ember’s head fall on my shoulder. I open my eyes and see she’s asleep. I smile and wrap my arm around Ember shoulders, pulling her abnormally warm body closer, making her smile slightly.

I close my eyes again and lean back, almost falling asleep. It stops me from sleeping as a gunshot. A loud one. Ember jumps awake, and I jump off the sofa, rushing to the window and looking out. Another gunshot makes Ember whimper. It’s too dark for me to see much of anything at the moment. I look back at Ember who’s still on the couch, shaking. “Ember,” I start, my voice calm and level despite the situation. “Go to the kitchen. Its down the hall on the left. Stay out of sight. There’s hiding spots and, if needed, a back door outside, okay? Im not going to let anything happen to you. I promise.”

(This isnt finished! I just hit the word limit sadly. I will definitely continue the story!)