Veni

It had been seven days since Mattais arrived from her dream..was it a dream? At this point she didn’t even know anymore to be honest. She hadn’t made a fuss about his presence much anymore, the demon was starting to think that she was finally accepting her fate with him. Essence had done much research about Veni’s and demons amongst other things, there wasn’t much history of course. If she did have questions she wanted answered she asked Mattais who didn’t really seem to be bothered by her idiot mortal questions. Currently the two were sitting in her living room, Essence across the room at her second desk and Mattais laying on the couch with a book in hand from one of her many shelves.

“Sweet one?” Mattais called from across the room. Essence scrolled through her computer in her own world, the demon taking notice causing him to sigh. Rising from his seat, he placed the book on the dark wooded coffee table and made his way toward her silently. Essence oblivious to her ‘roommates’ approach, she sighed as she pushed some stray hairs from her bun out of her face. Hands crept toward her shoulders, gently taking hold of her clothed skin. “Essence?” He hummed lightly, it was almost like a rumble from deep in his chest. A shiver went down her spine as her name slipped from his tongue, her concentration slipping as he rubbed her shoulders. “What?” She asked turning her head to look at him but making no effort to stop him from massaging her tense shoulders. “You’ve been inside for days, let’s go out.” He offered pulling his hands away. Her brown eyes shifted toward the clock on the wall, 7:16 pm. He was right, she hadn’t left the house since well when she woken up seven days ago. “Fine..” she said moving from the desk and stretching.

The demon was pleased with his efforts of removing her from the computer screen. Essence got ready by stepping into some sneakers and grabbing her hoodie, she was dressed in a simple long sleeve t-shirt and jeans. It was getting cold out but unless it was snowing she didn’t really wear a full on coat, maybe that’s why she was always sick. “You’re going to get cold.” Mattais noted as he pulled a black trench coat from thin air, pulling it on his muscular frame. “Shut up, I wouldn’t be getting cold if we just stayed inside.” She said waiting by the door. “Why are you so snappy today?” He grumbled as he headed toward the her. Essence didn’t answer at first, she shrugged before she headed out into the apartment hall. Locking the door behind them, they headed out into town.

Essence didn’t last long in the cold, she started whining thirty minutes in how cold she was and how she wanted to go back home. Mattais found it amusing because he had told her so. “If I give you my coat will you stop whining like a child?” Mattais questioned. Essence nodded her head quickly with a big smile, Mattais mumbled incoherent things under his breath as he removed his coat. Tossing the coat at her she quickly put it on and sighed in content at the warmth it brought her. His scent lingering on the material making her close her eyes and do a deep intake. “Thanks.” She said opening her eyes only to find herself alone.

“Mattais..” Essence said looking around, she turned in a full circle fear sinking into her chest for some reason. Why was she worried about someone that caused her so much grief? She worried for someone that didn’t think twice about almost slicing her throat. “Mattais!” She called again her voice quivering. Was she just crazy? She had imagined it all, and now was finally having a break. Maybe just maybe the Veni had grown accustomed to the over bearing and slightly suffocating presence of the demon.

Essence trembled as a cold breeze blew through the streets, pulling the coat tighter around her body. Bringing the coat to her nose, she couldn’t have imagined him. His coat was still here and his scent still lingered around her, just where had he gone?

Without him around she felt, unsafe and uneasy? Essence knew he said he was around to protect her from demons that wanted a piece of her..that they would tear her from the inside out! The girl became paranoid as she made her way through the street to the near by book store. She collected a few new books for the demon and a small plant before heading back to her apartment. She got there quickly and locked the door behind her, she gently removed Mattais’ coat hanging it up on the hook near the before she moved the books and plant to the coffee table. The book Mattais had been reading sitting in the same place as earlier, she picked it up readying the cover. ‘Greek Mythology’, Essence smiled to herself before setting it down. She headed to her room before slowly crawling into bed covering up.

“Wherever you are. I hope you’re okay..” she whispered into the room before she closed her eyes to take a nap.

-

The demon had suddenly been summoned by Lucifer when they were out, he didn’t mean to worry the girl or cause such quick grief. Lucifer had warned Mattais that Essence belong to him only not Mattais, Lucifer didn’t care about the past the two held together which Essence had no clue about just yet. Past lives were very much real, most mortals like Essence just didn’t remember.

Mattais lingered on her bed side, watching her sleep peacefully. His warm hand reached down gently pushing stray hairs from her soft face. Essence was a light sleeper unless she had a long day like she had for the past week. She hadn’t felt his warm touch but she felt the heaviness of his presence and how suddenly safe she had felt. The young woman stirred before she then noticed his touch. “Mattais?” She mumbled tiredly her brown eyes struggling to open and make sure it was really him. “Yes sweet one, it’s me.” He spoke quietly to keep from waking her. “Go back to sleep.” The demon cooed pulling the blanket up on her body more. “Will you be here when I wake up?” Essence questioned like a small child afraid that their parent would suddenly disappear again. “Yes I’ll be here just shh.” He chuckled softly rubbing her back before he pulled away. Mattais smiled to himself as he watched her doze off again. If only she knew the impact she really had one him.