Blue Demon, Part 2

"Oh, hello, Abigail!" A cheerful looking woman with a fat cross from her neck exclaims as she walks up to my mom, who's busy pushing the stroller carrying my kid sister, a barely two year old Gabby, that a four year old is holding onto.

"Ah, it's been a while!" My mom says to the woman who seems to be an acquaintance of hers.

"It has been! I used to always see you at the Church without that husband of yours, but you've stopped going ever since your son was born…" she replies as she motions to me.

"Oh…hah hah! I just don't have much time for Church with these two!" My mom nervously laughs.

"Come to think of it, you're not wearing your cross either, huh…?" The woman asks as she gingerly touches her own. "Is everything alright?"

"Of course it is!" My mom replies with a tired smile that shows her age.

That's right. When I was first born, my mom was an avid Church goer. She would always take me, but my father -not her husband- never went. I always felt tense in Church, for some reason, like I didn't belong there, and I would always throw hissy fits and freak out when threatened with going. By the time Abby was born, my mom had stopped going to Church entirely and ditched all crosses and religious symbols in our home.

At the time, I never thought much about it.

But now I'm starting to piece things together.

My mom stopped going to Church…because she birthed a demon.

***

"A…memory…? Why am I remembering this now…?"

I let out a groan as my eyes slowly flutter open. "What…happened?" I ask. I'm covered in blood, both mine and Daniel's. An unnatural blue blood, not a droplet of red to be seen. "All I remember is going unconscious and then-" I begin to say, but Daniel cuts me off.

"You won," Daniel interrupts.

"I…didn't kill you…" I replied softly.

"You were going to?" Daniel asks.

"I…I was watching everything, like a first person video game. I wasn't in control of my body, but…it looked like I was about to…" I softly answer.

"That was your demon instincts taking off your body. Happened to me when I first unlocked my half demon and tried to kill my dad, too," Daniel explains. "You'll learn how to control it after a while."

My eyes widened. "My…half demon form?" I repeat.

Daniel gloomily nods. "Almost fifteen years ago now, an unknown demon had a child with a human. That child is you," Daniel answers. "While I don't know who our father is, I do know this: You, Luis Tramontana, have the blood of both a human and a demon running through your veins."

I'm silent.

"YOU'RE JOKING, RIGHT?! ME, A DEMON?!" I shout.

This time, Daniel is silent.

"YOU'RE JOKING, RIGHT?!" I repeat.

"I'm not joking," Daniel answers.

My heart begins throbbing. "Me a demon? No, you've got it all wrong, I'm a human, a human!" I desperately cry.

"That power that you used...that was the power of no human. At least, no full human," Daniel replies.

A million thoughts begin racing through my head at once.

So this entire time…when Nick, or Slayer Mezame, or WHOEVER said that I have the potential to become strong, or that my Cursed Power feels abnormally ominous…this is what they meant?!

 This cursed secret…is the only reason why Nick ever reached out to me.

Why was I ever more than just another kid he saved.

Is my mom a demon, or my dad? Does that make Gabby a half demon or does she have powers? Will my friends...will they still accept me? Mikey...will he want to kill me?!

As if reading my mind, Daniel says: "Luckily your friends don't see you fight. I'll keep your demon half secret…for now."

"No way, I have to tell them! I can't live with a lie as big as this one!" I cry.

"You can't. If the Slayer Organization finds out…they'll kill you," Daniel apathetically replies.

 "Why are you telling me all of this, are you not planning on reaping My soul any more?" I frantically ask Daniel, who lets out a sigh.

"You reminded me of the words of my mother, Luis Tramontana," he says. "The words that I had long since forgotten, as I allowed myself to be blinded by hatred and revenge. She told me that I don't need to become strong. I don't need to become the Demon King, a Pro Slayer, any of that. But most importantly… She told me that I can be a friend. My mother…she wouldn't want me to kill innocent people for the sake of my revenge. You, your loved one's, anyone. That would hurt her more than my father ever has. You're right, I was being selfish. My revenge wasn't for my mother's sake…it was for my sake. I'm still going to continue down this path of revenge and I still vow to kill my father, but you know, maybe I shouldn't do it alone. Maybe I should try to accomplish goals...with the help of others."

My eyes widened.

"So Luis…" Daniel continues, before turning away and blushing. "Would you please…help me kill my father?"

"W…WHAT?!" I stammar.

"It's okay if you say no! I've never had a friend before so I apologize if that came out too forward. I just figured that we bonded a little over being half demons and wanting to get strong to help mothers and that maybe we can get strong together and-" Daniel frantically begins to cry, but this time, I cut him off.

FRIENDS?! Friends with the guy who tried to kill me?! Who threatened to kill my friends and family?! The guy who I just told I despise?! How can I ever be friends with a guy like that?!

Well I guess that's because I was looking for friends too.

All alone, after the death of Randy, I became depressed, and sealed myself off from the world, refusing to make any connections.

But then I met Nick, and my whole world changed. I made friends, and for the first time in my life, I was happy, truly happy. I made connections, and people who I cared about and wanted to protect.

If I had Nick to reach out to me when I was younger, I'm sure that my life would be way different than it is now.

Daniel was a scared, depressed little boy like me, blinded by anger, too scared to face the world.

He just needed someone like Nick, too.

And maybe…I can be that for him?

"I'll be your friend."

This time, Daniel's eyes widened.

"Oh crap! Speaking of which, I need to go find my friends! They're probably so worried about me, Gabby too!" I cry.

"I should get going too," Daniel replies as he struggles to stand up. Daniel then bends over, helping me to stand up as well.

"What will you do now?" I ask.

"I'll leave town, I'll go train. I've caused a scene, it's too dangerous for me to stay here anymore. I'm going to go around, slaying demons. And when I get stronger, I'll come see you again, Luis Tramonatana," Daniel answers.

"And together…I'll help you slay your dad!" I smirk.

Daniel nods as a small smile spreads across his lips. The first one that I've ever seen from him. "Right," he replies.

I look up to the orange, purple sky, shielding my eyes from the setting sun.

"You better go," Daniel says to me.

"Yeah…" I reply as I look down from the sky, and turn back to face Daniel. "See you soon!" I say.

Daniel smiles and nods. "Goodbye for now, Luis," Daniel says then turns around…slinking deep into the dark forest ahead.

And now, I'm left alone.

That day, I made the most unlikely friend that I can ever make.

And learned something new about myself that I never could have dreamed of.

***

"Luis!" My friends cry as I limb over to the,

"Where the heck were you?!" Grover exclaims.

"We were so worried!" Jamie cries.

"What happened to your stalker?" Austin asks.

Mikey says nothing, he just glares at me. Which isn't that abnormal at all, but Mikey's glares are extra intense, this time.

He knows something…doesn't he?

"Woah, so all of you guys came looking for me?" I ask.

"Yup! Gabbu came and explained to us about your little stalker situation!" Grover answers.

Mikey is silent, he just keeps glaring at me.

"Speaking of your stalker, where is he?" Austin asks.

"Oh, uh…" I begin to sweat. Mikey glares at me. "He...took off running into the forest. Yeah...I beat him up so badly that he wanted to get away!" I lie

 "Why did he even kidnap you?" Austin asks.

"He was a demon hunter maniac like Mikey who claimed that eating would kill me and take my power. Didn't even give me a name or anything, how rude!" I answer.

What a goddamn lie.