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That Friday, like so many before, Nathan locked the guest doors, reminded Abaddon to not destroy the hotel, and went out drinking.
For anyone who didn't know half of it, leaving a child that small alone to go drinking was madness. But Abaddon could do well alone, maybe better than Nathan himself.
It had been a couple weeks since he found the boy stuck in a hole in the forest.
He was peculiar, almost unsettlingly so. As though he belonged to a different era entirely. The antique clothing altogether with weird customs, dialect and eating habits made him somewhat worried.
Where were his parents? What was he doing in the forest? Where did he come from?
Those questions haunted him at night, until the day the so-called ‘boy’ finally felt safe enough to speak. Revealing his true nature and his name, Abaddon.
Though not many months had passed since he'd acquired it, Nathan got used to being in a haunted place, with unexplained events, souls roaming around, creepy creatures, it didn't take him too long to understand what he was dealing with there. Or who.
What should have made him scared, did the complete opposite. Nathan felt comforted, excited by the situation even. He loved kids, thought about being a father himself sometimes. And despite Abaddon not being exactly a child, he could get used to the new life, could call him his ward if anyone asked.
After many hours out, more inebriated than he cared to admit, he came back. Not too worried about driving anyway, he was young, healthy, lively... He was convinced he wouldn’t meet his end in such a manner. And not too wrong, he arrived safely at where he called home.
Nathan couldn't exactly remember if he saw any ghosts on the way in; just sure Abaddon didn't appear to greet him. It was...usual, he liked some time alone anyway, but it still worried his drunk heart.
He went to rest on his armchair right away, TV on his favorite show, worries away. It didn't take too long for him to doze off like he always did.
When Nathan slowly opened his eyes there was nothing but darkness. Maybe the low light of other rooms reached that far but that was it.
Had he woken before dawn? What about the TV?
Lazily, he brought himself to stand up, slumping towards the old, flickering television. Looking behind it he could see it was unplugged. How come? It didn't matter; he was already there so might as well fix it. So he did. The TV static stayed for a second before Con Air was back on.
A growl. Wet, tearing sounds.
He froze. Unsure if he wanted to look. It sounded grotesque, wild like a jaguar growling, followed by the snapping sounds.
Nathan's breath stopped, he swallowed hard, and after some seconds of his mind racing the sound hit his ears again. He instinctively turned towards it, inhaling air subconsciously in a way to look bigger.
"Who's there?!" He tried his best to not sound scared. Posture straight, shoulders up. The glow from the screen made it hard to see the dark corner, if it had something to see there.
Squinting his eyes at the darkness he could see a small figure. Hunched in a weird position, neck turned towards the man like an owl, it stared back. Eyes reflecting the TV glow like a wild cougar caught by a camera. Forcing his eyes further he caught sight of familiar brown hair.
Was it really him? Was he still drunk? What if...the Abaddon he knew for two simple weeks was gone? Taken by the unavoidable hellish nature. He could still try at least.
"You okay in there bud?" Nathan lowered his guard. Abaddon just turned back to the corner with a grunt, so...was that the noise?
When the gnawing sounds came back Nathan stepped closer and the floor creaked to further induce his anxiety, his head looking around to try and see what the demon was up to. The closer he got, the stronger the coppery smell was, was that...
"Abaddon?"
When he turned back again he could see it, smeared all over his mouth, hands and clothes, almost like a baby trying to eat by itself. Blood, a lot of blood. Nathan looked at the floor, trying to make sure it wasn't a potential guest.
Thank heavens Abaddon wasn't getting him arrested that day.
Lying on the floor was a deer, open like something massive had caught it. Organs resting on Abaddon's little hands. Nathan wasn't sure due to the poor lighting, but he could swear the animal was scratched all over and, still breathing. The boy didn't stop for a second, teeth pulling at the fresh meat and snapping it.
"Jesus Christ, kid- where did you get that?!"
"The creature crossed the fence. I took it as an offering." Abaddon said in his common monotone voice, trying to wipe the blood off his face with his arm but no sucess, he just smeared it further.
"Of course you did...God, I forgot to feed you, didn't I?" he smiled awkwardly, but the demon didn't feel like talking at all. "Let's get you cleaned up, huh? Then I'll fix you some Froot Loops."
Abaddon stopped for a moment, as if thoughtful. Deer forgotten and now lifeless on the floor.
"I'll accept the bargain."
"Great! Um- come'ere" scoffing, Nathan picked him up, hands scooping him under the arms like a cat as Abaddon let him. His hands were still sticky when they brushed against Nathan’s shirt. The kid's disheveled hair and his apathetic face made him look almost innocent.
It was clear the night would be a long, long one.