Tossing her book to the side with a long sigh, Rory pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger. Several books with varying states of wear circled her on her small plaid blanket. While most were written on astronumerology and the different zodiac signs, a couple were self-help books with a focus on controlling one’s anger and emotions.
Rory had all but memorized the books, but she still forced herself to read them every few days. She spent all day locked inside of her sound-proofed room, refusing to socialize with the other girls in the house. It wasn’t anything personal; she enjoyed their company on any given day, but sometimes she felt the demonic pulses within her core more strongly than others.
Today was one of those days.
Rory’s blood felt hotter than usual; she felt it race through her veins and was aware of her increased heart-rate. She felt as if something slimy and dark was writhing inside of her skin, like tar. It wanted to escape, to slip outside of her skin and stretch out. She wondered what would happen if she indulged. Would she ever be able to tap back into her humanity? Would she wreak havoc on the house and her new friends?
Rory shuddered and headed to her window. A wave of her hand raised the window and allowed the cool night air to filter into her room. She had claimed the attic of the house so that she was further away from the other inhabitants, but also for this very reason. If she needed an escape, it was right there waiting for her.
She crouched and slipped through the window, but there was no balcony waiting for her below. Instead, she hovered just outside of the window and drifted to the apex of the roof. The breeze played with the ends of her shorn hair and she let out a sigh of relief as she sat on the top of the roof. She closed her eyes for a moment and tried to remember her mother.
It had been decades, and the woman’s face was fading from her memory, but Rory remembered her dark hair and green eyes. Her mother had been kind, had she not? Did she sing or dance?
Who was she? Rory thought to herself.
She opened her eyes and let her gaze drift to the stars above. The house was, thankfully, on the outskirts of town so they were free to twinkle and shine without being impaired by the city-lights. A small smile formed on her lips.
Even if there was nothing else on this plane worth living for, the stars were beautiful.