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Harlow

Wednesday Night

Roof of Dark Haven

E very time my eyes closed, my dreams were filled with blue fire and demons. The fucked-up part was that it wasn’t terrifying, just confusing… and strangely familiar.

No one should be as comfortable as I was with the idea of demons. Then again, not many lived with the hallucinations I did.

With them haunting most of my waking moments, demons didn’t feel too far-fetched.

I drifted off for yet another short burst of sleep with thoughts of Drake to distract me from the nightmares. My sleep-deprived mind conjured up images of him fucking me with his tail and knotting me ruthlessly. I liked that he fucked me without reservation, that he was exactly what he seemed to be.

At some point, I’d finally given into exhaustion again and when I woke up, my body ached. When I went to adjust, something cold hit my face. A shiver racked through me as I opened my eyes to see the open sky above me and rain drenching my clothes.

“What the hell?” I gasped, looking around as panic hit me full force. I didn’t sleepwalk… so how the fuck did I end up on a roof? I recognized it by the stone gargoyles that overlooked what I knew was the courtyard below. “Monty?”

It was more instinct than anything that had me calling out. But he didn’t come, and I was forced to face the fact that he was likely furious with me.

What happened was real, and he was a demon that watched me fuck another man.

Or another demon, I suppose.

How did my life get so damn complicated?

Still there was truth in the fact he could have told me he was real, that he was different from the rest. That I hadn’t conjured the strange and intoxicating scent that followed him. That we were mates despite being very different… species?

That thought caused a bubble of laughter to burst from me. Even as rain soaked me through.

A crack of lightning had me scrambling from the open middle of the roof, hiding beside a stone gargoyle as I tried to remember how the fuck I got up here.

“Monty? Please!” I begged again around a sob. For a brief moment, I felt him, then he was gone again just as swiftly. “No.”

At this point the tears tracked down my cheeks along with the raindrops. Nothing was funny about this now.

Despair and fear were pulsing in my chest so overwhelming it was hard to breathe.

The stone wings of the gargoyle I was cowering behind gave enough cover that I was no longer getting drenched, though some of the raindrops still reached me. I’d have to wait for it to slow down before I could even begin to make my way back inside. The flat roof had puddles forming already and I knew it wouldn’t be a safe trek. The protective tarp that was peeking through looked slick as hell.

A full moon was shining above, illuminating the puddles of rainwater on the roof and casting my stone protector in a strange light. They reflected in the rippling water, distorting them so it looked like they were coming to life, wings rippling as if they were flying.

“Thanks for keeping me somewhat dry,” I remarked to it, feeling a bit silly for talking to a fucking statue. But for some reason, I felt it was warranted.

That same stirring feeling in my chest resurfaced, mimicking my day in the courtyard when I had first glanced up at them. As if something was tethering me to this spot and the gargoyle next to me.

A flash of lightning illuminated the roof even more, and I spotted the door on the other side. Glancing up at the sky, I decided it was now or never, the rain unrelenting so far.

“Don’t get struck by lightning,” I warned both my gargoyle and me before I crawled out from underneath him and bolted across the roof. My bare feet slid on the wet stone, and a loud roar of thunder had me letting out a completely undignified scream.

In the next flash of light, I thought I saw a figure looming behind me, wings outstretched and as big as my demon friend.

As I threw open the door, I turned, expecting to see the gargoyle come to life but he stood as still as ever, watching over the courtyard in his perpetual stare. I shivered again, though this time not from the cold rain but from the thought of statues coming to life.

That was crazy, even for me.

My hands clung to the banister as I wound my way down the long staircase to the floors below so I didn’t slip and fall to my death. The wails of terrified patients were at full blast as I walked past the door to the sixth floor, and I tried to think if anyone ever said who was up here.

A particular mournful wail had me stopping in my tracks, and before I knew it, my fingers were wrapping around the knob and I was entering the floor.

Curiosity won again.

No nurses were in sight, and the hall light was completely off, no backup lights glowing softly in the absence of the usual light. Even on the third floor we had backup lights so the night nurse could keep watch.

Why was this floor different?

My ragged breathing and rapid heartbeat were almost deafening, drowning out the cries for a moment. Shadows moved in as I crouched down and tried to use breathing techniques I’d learned long ago.

The same figure from the cafeteria appeared at the end of the hall. Its footsteps were slow as it moved toward me with a strange ambling gait. I scrambled backward, clamping a hand over my mouth so I didn’t scream. The last thing I needed was to find myself in more trouble than I was likely already in for being out of bed.

Nurse Drew was going to murder me herself when I reached the third floor, of that I had no doubt.

The creature blinked out of existence before appearing again a few feet closer. I whimpered against my hand and closed my eyes, opening them after a few deep breaths and letting my guard down since he was gone.

My tried-and-true method of getting my hallucinations under control worked again.

I started to stand on shaky legs before the creature reappeared in a full run, racing toward me, so I slammed my hand over my mouth again as I bit back a scream.

Despite bracing for impact, nothing came.

When I opened my eyes, there was nothing, and I refused to look behind me as I stood. He didn’t appear again so I stepped forward.

Now that I was firmly back in my version of reality, the noise from the floor intensified.

Screams, sobs, and a few unhinged peals of laughter filled the air. My hands clutched at my ears as panic surged in me, but I couldn’t let my guard down or I’d be joining them.

Drake had warned me there were demons here, and I had no doubt they were lurking on this floor at this very moment.

Just like that night on the third floor, the demons moved beyond the windows. It was as if they were pacing inside, taunting the patients.

But it wasn’t my fight. Not tonight.

I forged ahead until I heard her . The woman whose wail had tugged me into this hellhole in the first place. There was just something about her voice that beckoned me forward.

A shattered voice begging for help that wasn’t coming.

The first door on the right was open enough I could see inside, a form huddled in the corner as a demon taunted it.

“You’re not good enough. You were nothing more than a useless fuck toy. Now he’s stuck here, forced to walk the halls he hates and there’s nothing you can do. You’re too weak to change this hell.”

A cold cackle had her calling out again, and my heart shattered at the torment she was experiencing.

“Get away from her!” I yelled. The demon turned on crooked legs, and his smile widened at the sight of me. It stretched to his ears and showcased a double row of jagged fangs. He was nothing like Drake, something I was extremely happy about.

“Have you come to join her?” As he turned his attention on me, a strange pressure filled my head, as if fingers were digging through my brain, searching for something. “Or would you rather have another visit from your dear old dad? I hear he could use some money and you’ll get the highest bid.”

A fracture cracked through my chest as the room faded and he conjured an image of that night.

My room was shadowed in darkness, the doorknob creaking as the door pushed open. My father’s whispered apology had me curling in on myself. Never did I want to be here again, and I was aware enough to know it wasn’t real, but that didn’t change every feeling it dredged up.

Hands tugged at my nightgown, my small body retreating into the corner as my limbs convulsed.

“Fuck you! Stop this!” I growled as I fought against the unseen vise holding me in its clutches. “Monty!”

The memory was ripped away so violently that my head pounded. The demon shrank away from me and the patient. I didn’t think, instinct sending me forward until I had the poor woman wrapped in my arms. She clung to my shirt and sobbed hard, the unruly, black hair curtaining her face away from me.

The icy feeling filled the air, and it was like I was being tucked under a security blanket.

My protector was here.

An unruly, grateful sob escaped me as I waited for him to tear this demon apart and redeem himself. At least a fraction.

“She. Is. Mine.” Monty’s voice had my head whipping around, but his focus wasn’t on me but our demon attacker.

“Commander, p-please. I d-d-didn’t know!” he pleaded but Monty pounced, both of them flickering out of existence with one last pained screech coming from the smaller demon.

“They’re gone,” I promised softly as I rocked the woman. She didn’t seem to mind that I was soaked, pulling me close when I tried to back away. “Does he come for you often?”

“Every night,” she whispered in an exhausted tone. “My boy. I failed him.”

That was all she got out before sleep overtook her. I settled her on her bed, covering her up and hoping I didn’t make her sick from the wet and cold. My hugs came with a price tonight.

I started to leave but the demons were raging outside, and I was afraid they’d come for her again. I had no reason to care about her, but the way she’d wanted to protect her son spoke to the broken child in me.

I couldn’t leave her now.

Closing the door, I dropped to the floor next to it, keeping silent vigil over the woman who didn’t deserve the hand she’d been dealt.

Now that my eyes were opened and I knew this wasn’t in my head, I couldn’t just leave her.

The demons were very real, I’d just witnessed their powers in action. It wasn’t an easy reality to accept, but how could I refute it now?

The woman was restless in sleep, and I went to her whenever she cried out. My presence seemed to calm her, and the more I studied her, the more familiar she seemed. Yet I couldn’t place her for the life of me. It wasn’t like I knew many people in this area, I’d run here and kept to myself when I was free.

The cries outside this room continued for hours as I shivered on the cold, stone floor. When they finally quieted and the darkness started to fade, morning light filtered in through the window.

I slipped out, knowing it was now or stay and get caught. The demons in the hall ignored me as I passed. They were fleeing in the opposite direction as if their asses were on fire.

Their reign of terror was ending for another night, the day approaching swiftly.

The stairs were less treacherous now that I was mostly dry, and I wound my way down them toward my own room.

The third-floor stairwell was right outside the nurses’ station, and I opened the door, peering through the crack as I did so, praying to whatever gods were listening that it wouldn’t alert the staff.

The night nurse was asleep at the desk, and I crept past, grateful for that one small miracle in a night full of hellish nightmares.

Though, the thought she’d been knocked out by a demon did occur to me.

My hand rested on my doorknob but I couldn’t get my fingers to cooperate in order to open it. After this night, I needed rest and safety, and there was only one person, or two rather, that could offer that.

Before I could overthink it, I slipped down the hall to Hiro’s room. I pushed it open and let out a relieved breath at the lack of a demon intruder. I knocked softly and he blinked his eyes open, confusion coloring his expression before panic took over at the sight of me covered in dirt and wearing damp clothes. Not to mention the dark circles that likely stood out on my pale face.

“Harlow, what happened?”

I shook my head and tears started to fall. There was no stopping them now that he was with me.

“Can I stay with you, Hiro?” I pleaded.

He didn’t hesitate to scramble out of bed and grab me a pair of boxers and a shirt, handing them over and closing his door. He turned his back while I slid into dry clothes. They smelled like a mixture of the two men, Roman and Hiro, both my mates. Just the scent of their mixed smoky sweetness brought a peace I wasn’t used to.

It also brought a yawn.

“It’s safe.”

He turned and held out a hand for me. I didn’t even hesitate to put mine in his and let him pull me into his bed. The sweet man didn’t demand answers from me like Drake or Monty would have, or hell, even Roman. Instead, he snuggled me closer and sang a soft, sweet song as he rubbed feeling back into my ice-cold arms. Goose bumps lined my skin, and each stroke of his warm hands had them fading.

For the first time in my life, I felt truly cared for. Beyond that, just being here with Hiro was nice. He was easily becoming a safe space for me.

Exhaustion started to pull me under, and I dreaded sleep after a night like I’d had. Yet Hiro’s touch and warmth was enough to lull me into that darkness anyway.

I was safe, at least for now.

Hiro

Early Thursday Morning

Hiro’s Room

Harlow finally stopped shaking but sleep was the furthest thing from my mind. She’d shown up like a fallen angel, beautiful despite being soaked and covered in dirt as if she’d fallen from the heavens like the rain.

She didn’t seem in the mood to talk, and to my surprise, I didn’t feel Roman take over.

For once I was the protector, holding her like she needed and warming her when she couldn’t warm herself.

It felt amazing.

I was enough for her and that thought filled me with a pride I wasn’t used to feeling.

Yet my mind couldn’t stop conjuring different scenarios that had left her in this state. What had happened to cover her in water and dirt in the early morning?

The sun was just coming up through the barred window of my room. If I had to wager a guess, it was just past five in the morning.

For a brief moment, I wondered if Nurse Drew would find us here, but I pushed it away, shocked at my lack of care.

All that mattered now was Harlow and that she needed me. I was rarely needed by anyone, and it felt nice.

Holding my mate felt even better. One day we’d have to address it, but for now, this was enough.

Out of everyone in her life right now, she came to me when she was in trouble. She knew she needed me. It was strange to find the good in such a startling situation, to not run from it, but I knew I could never run from her.

Harlow was different, and I wanted to protect her with everything I had. Which in reality wasn’t much, but for her, it seemed to be enough.

That was what mattered.

Fuck, she smelled so good. Under the rain and dirt that clung to her was that crisp scent of snow, ice, and berries.

As she breathed evenly beside me, I reached for the journal that rested by my bed, flipping it open and propping it on my bed behind her as I curled around her, writing to Roman about the incident.

He needed to know this, but I would have shared even if he didn’t. We journaled every day we spent as ourselves, keeping it detailed so we missed nothing.

Including our thoughts on Harlow.

He’d told me how she felt, that she worried and downplayed her worth. Even admitted to kissing her on the forehead.

I was jealous of his cool confidence until now.

It was always obvious why Roman handled some situations and I handled others. He was stronger, always had been. I couldn’t imagine life without him, and even the thought had my chest aching.

Sure, life with DID wasn’t easy, but the thought of life alone in my body felt wrong.

I had newfound confidence welling inside me. Not only did she want me, but it was obvious that she needed me for my gentleness and Roman for his own brand of honesty and compassion.

He’d mentioned her and Drake, and that was a whole other complication. I didn’t mind the thought of her finding solace in us all, if they made her happy then I would never deny her that, but with Drake, there was more involved.

He had always intrigued and terrified me. His fierceness was sexy, and I had never admitted to anyone, even Roman, my attraction to the other man.

Or the fact we were scent-matched. Clearly Roman and Drake weren’t, just us, something I felt was wrong before now.

But maybe it isn’t.

She was showing me that being part of a whole with Roman was a good thing. That we complemented each other.

Anytime I got comfortable around Drake, considered the fact we were mates, his anger would flare and it would shut me right down.

I thought fate was wrong. Until everything changed between us.

It started with a dream.

One that involved his mouth on me, dominating me with his sharp tone and a hunger only Drake could produce. He’d whispered dirty words in my ear as he took me from behind. It was so vivid, so real, that I never was able to truly shake it.

When I was awake, my inner demons won. Reminders of Vane creeping back in. I hated that it was an equally powerful memory. I’d only endured moments of it before I shut down and Roman took over.

Yet those few moments had stuck with me, haunting me incessantly with no end in sight.

Roman could save me from a lot, but not the demons that lived in my own mind.

I finished my note and tossed it aside, finally snuggling back into her. She let out a soft breath and whispered my name. There was a fear there as she sought me out but she wasn’t fully awake.

“I’m here,” I whispered, brushing her hair out of her face and settling her into my side. She sighed and breathed in deeply before slipping back under. “I’ve got you.”

For now, at least.