Hell examined the bloody knife for a second before stabbing it into the wood, breakingthe tablecloth for a second time, grabbing my attention, Nessie’s, too, as she trembled at my side. He’d already dismissed his parents before they’d left, feeling they deserved no more attention.
He kicked back his chair and fled behind them, but he wouldn’t head in the same direction. He’d disappear into the shadows of the house like a bogeyman, hiding in wait, ready to attack its next victim.
“Do you think my momma will be okay?” Nessie had tears now, lots of them, all trapped in her sad eyes, none of them falling. She shifted forward, moving into my lap, to avoid her brother’s heavy steps as he moved out of the room.
“Your daddy is taking her to get help. She probably needs stitches.” I worded the least scary-sounding scenario and didn’t tell her that Hell probably didn’t hit the artery that could cause her mother’s death in minutes. Though, I feared it, given her blood loss.
“He doesn’t hurt you, right?” I wondered aloud, keeping my voice quiet. Demons had powers—the ability to hear everything. I’d have had her lipread me, if I thought her capable.
“No. But he scares me. He hates Momma and Daddy.”
I nodded, another false smile on my face. “Good, and he won’t hurt you now.”
I took on the role she wanted me to. Big sister. And I encouraged her to eat, taking her back to her chair. I sat back down in mine, and I did the same, setting a good example.
Only three spoonfuls later, Hell was back.
Gravy dripped down Nessie’s already dirty face as she watched him seep into the room like an entity.
She took the deepest breath, choking on her food in the process.
I stood on shaky legs, but he came up behind me, a hand on my shoulder as he leaned in and whispered, “It’s okay. I got her.”
I let him guide me back into the seat, fearing the repercussions my refusal may have brought.
He walked over to Nessie, pushed a glass of water closer to her, and her tiny hand reached for it.
“Ah-ah. Not yet.” He slapped her back, hard enough, that she’d be bruised in seconds, and hard enough for the small chunk of food she’d choked on to spit across the table, landing closer to my bowl than hers.
“All better, Vanessa.”
Nessie didn’t move; her eyes fixed on the chunk of food that tried to grant her mercy by attempting to kill her. Her brother’s hand stayed on her back, his touch making her uncomfortable.
“Ness, you’re okay, sweetie,” I tried to coax.
Nessie’s eyes lifted to mine. A chill ran down my spine, seeing her fear in them.
“We haven’t been properly introduced, little doll.” Hell’s smile grew, hints of the boy I’d fallen in love with comforted me through the horror of experiencing the entity that had taken him over.
“I’m Hell. . . I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. The boys seem much happier with you here. Woodrow, especially. It’s nice to feel him content, for once.”
I didn’t respond. I sat silent in my chair with my hands at my side; my cutlery now sat in my unfinished bowl.
“It’s polite to respond,” he warned.
“I’m Jolie,” I said, no smile on my face; no joy in my tone.
“I know. I read the diary; he talks about you a lot. Woody did, too, despite your brief meeting.”
He was right—they did. Woodrow and his inner child talked about me a lot. It was easy to read through their inputs. Easy to find peace when their love kissed my fingertips as I flipped through the pages.
But I doubted that loving feeling with Hell.
“Maybe I should take Nessie upstairs to wash her face; I think breakfast got the better of her.”
I saw the relief cloud behind the tears in Nessie’s eyes. She wanted out. She wanted away.
Hell smiled again. It was weird to think of him—my Woodrow—as a person full of hate— as Hell. . . and what a stupid fucking name that was.
