One day until Grandma's surgery, I thought. I stared at her as she tried to communicate with the doctor. The doctor asked her how she was feeling and if she was ready for what was to come. He couldn't be any more thoughtful.

Grandma spoke a few sentences with me as well. But because of the medication and probably the fear of the surgery, she preferred to sleep or watch TV. She asked me multiple times if I was alright and if I ate well. I assured her that I did and that she shouldn't worry.

Everything was going well, except for the demon situation. We decided we should take care of them after Grandma's surgery. Azra said demons don't have feelings, but he's the most thoughtful demon person I've ever met. He knows how stressed I am because of the surgery, so we postponed our plan.

Both of them are guarding the building from inside and outside. They occasionally visit me or talk to me when I go home. Both of them are greatly concerned for my safety, and that tugged a string at my heart.

Yesterday, when Azra stayed in the hospital and Keliah took me home, we started a conversation as I ate fries with a burger. Can I add how delicious it was? TV was playing, some random reality show was on, and ketchup was smashed across my lips. "Spill everything," I said, chewing the food like a beast.

"And what might be that, V?" He asked with a curious voice.

"You know damn well what I'm talking about. Don't play a fool." I bickered, frowning.

Keliah cackled and ran his fingers through his long, bright hair. "It's too complicated of a topic." He confessed, looking at the floor.

I stopped eating and placed the food on the table, taking a sip of beer. "Nothing is too complicated. You only have to know a way of explaining it." I stated.

He sighed and spoke. "It happened centuries ago. Since the day he saved my ass. I was almost at the front desk meeting the devil, if not for Azra."

I nodded, thinking about the story of how the two of them met. "Azra enlightened me." I smiled.

"Ohh, that's great, then. I have much less to explain." He said, glancing at me. "So, since the day he saved me, I have always looked at him with admiration. He could've left me there but instead, he brought me to his home and cured me." His words became quiet as if he were talking to himself.

"But it's not only for that, right? You like him because he saved you?" I questioned.

There has to be much more to liking than just saving someone's life. Sure, not anyone would save you when you're drowning, but does that automatically mean that their action is enough for the development of deeper feelings?

"Azra has always been honest with me. He never liked me sticking by him; I was aware of that, but despite it, I stayed by his side until he didn't mind my presence and my weird personality. What can I say, I'm a pretty charming demon." He grinned. "Eventually, when I won his liking and together we went through all kinds of hell, I realized I stared too much at his ass."

I burst into laughter, hiding my smile. Keliah couldn't stop himself from laughing as well. I took a deep breath after a couple of seconds and spoke, "You like him for his ass?"

Keliah's brow rose. "His ass is one of the qualities I love about him." He cleared his throat. "I can't believe I confessed this to you, V. This will remain with the two of us only, or otherwise, I'll have to end your life." He said in a low voice, glaring at me with his red eyes.

The knocks at the door startled me. I looked away from the entrance door to Keliah for him to confirm it was safe for me to open it. He nodded. Then I opened the door with caution, expecting to see a stranger. Instead, I was surprised to find Rowan standing on the other side with a gloomy face. He rushed in and gave me a big hug.

I stumbled backward until my back hit the wall. Rowan held onto me like a serpent. His hands were tightly pressed around my back, and his face bore into the crook of my shoulder. After a few seconds, Rowan lifted his head, and his pupils were large. A smell of vodka emanated from his mouth.

I shoved him away, frowning. How dare he come here drunk at such an hour? "You're wasted." I seethed.

His body was moving like waves to every side, back and forth. I peered at him like he was my worst enemy. Yes, I have the right to hate him for now. He kept a secret from me. The one I should be aware of, no matter what kind of vow he made to my Grandma.

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Suddenly, he collapsed to his knees, just inches from my feet. He slowly tilted his head back to meet my gaze. "Please, please, please, I beg you. Forgive me, Vivienne. I meant to harm. I only wanted to keep the promise to your Grandma. She trusted me enough to take care of you-"

"What? Are you hearing yourself? She already put me in your care, unbelievable." I scoffed.

"No! I didn't mean it like that. She only wanted-"

"I don't care what she wanted!" I snapped. "She could've died in that park. I could've lost her if not for the people who found her. You risked her life for having me?" My forehead was never more creased than in that moment. My fists were ready to smack him in the face for any more wrong answers.

"Heavens, look who we have here on his knees." Keliah stood leaning at the threshold of the living room, his arms folded.

Rowan turned his head toward him, and I've never seen him more enraged. He rose to his feet like he was never drunk. He strolled to Keliah with a straight stance. Even though Rowan was pretty tall, his height wasn't comparable to Keliah's.

"I should've taken you the moment; I stepped my foot on Earth. You parasite." He said in a low voice.

Keliah's eyebrows rose to his hairline. After that, numerous chuckles escaped his mouth. He took one step forward toward Rowan, towering over him. He glared his crimson-red eyes at him like a beast. At that, I flinched.

"What else is burning on the tip of your tongue, you twisted angel? Spit it out!" He shouted.

Rowan didn't break eye contact. "Does she know? She surely doesn't. Because if she knew, she wouldn't be comfortable spending time with you." He whispered.

Keliah was silent for a couple of seconds, and then he sighed. "She knows of our past. Sorry to disappoint." He lifted his hands in the air.

"Does she know the reason for why you two were put in cells?" He asked with a grin.

Keliah this time didn't reply.

I walked to them, placing my hands on their chests. "You two will not fight under this roof, is it clear? If you want to rip your hair out, go outside. Kill each other there." I glared at both of them.

Keliah was the first to back off to the living room. Rowan's chest was still pressed against my palm. After I was ensured Keliah was very far away, I turned to Rowan.

In that instance, he grabbed my hand with both hands. "Vivienne, don't be alone with him. You don't know what he's done! He's dangerous." He begged me.

I detached my hands from him, hugging my chest. "And how are you any less dangerous than him? Sorry for saying this, but you're not a saint. And I do trust Keliah." I said.

I turned back to him and walked into the living room. Rowan walked right behind me. He placed his hand on my shoulder and whirled me. "No, do not trust him. How can you be okay with being with him when you know he killed humans?" He peered at me with so much anger that I didn't recognize him.

Keliah stood right behind me and yanked his hand from my shoulder. "Be careful, angel. I'm still as vicious as you describe me. I won't hold back on you if you piss me off one more time." Keliah growled.

I took a deep breath and spoke, "I'm aware of Keliah's and Azra's past. Do you think I'm supporting their choice of life? Of course not. But I cannot change them. I cannot ask them to be someone they're not. They are demons, Rowan, and you're an angel. So act like it!" I burst out.

A tear slowly rolled down his cheek, and that stung my heart. I was too exhausted and too depressed to deal with him. I only wanted my bed and Grandma to be alright. I didn't care for anything else.

"I've been going to work instead of you, so you won't lose your job. I kept my distance, as you wished. I did everything possible for you to forgive me. I begged on my knees!" He stopped for a second. "I've killed for you."

I sighed, and a lump formed in my throat. I was fighting the pool of tears. To remain strong. "Rowan..." My voice softened.

He slowly shook his head and stormed out of the living room. The door slammed shut. I crashed onto the couch, bringing my knees to my chin. I hugged my legs tightly. Keliah sat right beside me. I don't know for how long we sat there in silence, but I needed it. I needed the quietness. I stared at the wall, my face without emotion. "What have you done since you were locked up?" I asked quietly. When Keliah didn't respond, I turned my head at him.

"The past is better left buried. Trust me, Vivienne. You don't want to know." He said, and a chill spread through me. "But remember this: we are not as we were. Even if we could kill again, we wouldn't." He stood up and was about to leave when I caught his wrist, which was so slender and dark. It felt forbidden to touch him. He met my gaze; his eyes were without life.

"I'll be honest with you. I don't want to know what you two did. You're not an angel or a god. I know you're a demon, and I know that Rowan was wrong. You wouldn't hurt me." I stated, staring into his piercing eyes.

He formed a slight smile. "Yes, I would never hurt you, hot stuff. It would be a great loss to lose such a pretty face." He joked and messed up my hair.

The night was eerily calm and dark. More than any other day. We remained home and continued watching television. When a couple of hours passed by, I felt as if I was lifted and moved to my fluffy bed.

As my eyes opened for a slight moment, Keliah was sitting at the edge of my bed, staring at the wall. And I wondered if he was thinking about Azra and his unrepentant feelings towards him, or if his mind lingered on his dark past and the story he'd never reveal to me for obvious reasons.

Before my eyes completely shut, the last thought floated in my head. Would I still be willing to be in the demon's presence if I knew their highest crime? But don't we all pass daily by people who kill or torture strangers or their loved ones without consequences following?

Keliah and Azra are no angels or celestial beings, and so aren't we.