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She still hears the screams.
Even when other memories shifted and faded the visions stayed crystal clear. Something about the fact it was due to the sire bond, maybe. As vividly as the first time she could hear the desperate pleas, the desperate clawing at the wall, the searing pain of a stake being driven in, the life fading from his body. Even as she forgot the exact shade of purple his eyes were or the texture of his hair when she ran her fingers through it or the smell of his cologne half-obscured with garlic and antiseptic, the flashbacks remained just as clear as the day he died. One time she had tried to ask Scott about it and he waved a dismissive hand, saying he had had so many fledglings die on him now that it all blurred together, so she never said anything about it ever again.
Shelby blinked awake, nose scrunching up slightly at the tears dried on their cheeks. They went to lift their arm to wipe at them but it was weighed down. Shelby blinked in confusion. It took them a long second to process where and when they were. The setting sun streamed golden-orange through the window blinds of their apartment, and a very content demon was purring away in his sleep on their arm. Oakhurst was hundreds of miles and years away.
As if sensing somehow she had awoken Avid yawned and slowly blinked his eyes open. He let out a happy trill before processing the tears on her face. Avid frowned.
"You okay?" he mumbled, hand drifting to her cheek.
Shelby laughed weakly and hugged him tighter, burying her face in his hair. Avid made a tiny mrrp like an annoyed cat.
"Yeah, I'm okay now. Just had a bad dream."