Ewan had been a cool demon. A popular demon, more. A demon that other demons went to for fashion advice, torture advice, even dating advice.
Not that Ewan had a romantic relationship with anyone in Hell, but he had been knowledgeable enough on demons and people, in general, to figure out how to get them together.
A lot of demons looked up to him - that's what he knew. And that's how he'd liked it.
Now, though, he'd been demoted to 'outcast' because of Ben and he didn't really know what to do. Rain still hung on him in a strangely comforting manner, but she only talked about herself and, of course, didn't know he wasn't actually Stirling. Ezra had been ignoring him all during sixth period and he assumed it was because Ben told him what he'd done.
Which was why Ewan had told Gabrielle to get directions from Ben. After he'd seen the two talking outside, and how he'd seen Ben eyeing her like some sort of top-shelf alcohol, Ewan got the gist that he liked her. And after noticing how pure of energy she gave off, he'd decided it would be a beautiful idea to set them up.
More than beautiful - brilliant.
It was both an apology and a helping hand. Maybe Gabrielle could help push Ben to do good things and then finally they could get to work on the Enchantment. It had only been a day but he felt like time was moving at a snail's pace here, and Ewan had a basketball game the next day that he truly didn't want to attend. It was just taking up time
Ewan sat on the steps of the school, waiting for Jamie to pick him up. He'd have to wait until tomorrow, probably, to talk to Ben again. After Ben realized what Ewan had done for him, he'd come back and say it was dumb of him to not take Ewan's advice in the first place and all that.
And maybe, just maybe, Ewan would apologize.
A figure sat beside him, and he turned to find Ezra. How the sightless boy had found him was beyond him, but he didn't question it.
Ewan scoffed, narrowing his eyes. "Come to take a jab at me, hm?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
The other looked up to the sky, hands clasped in front of him. He really did seem to manage well for being visually impaired. Ewan just remembered killing those that couldn't function properly, as they were a weak link that didn't matter to society as a whole. Ewan didn't particularly like doing any of it, and it was nice to see that times had changed.
"I don't have the accuracy for that," Ezra said, "but nope. I'm here to ask if you, uh..." He sniffed awkwardly, rubbing his hands together. "If you put a spell on Gabrielle. You know, to get her to... to talk to him."
Ewan leaned back. "Did I what?"
"You know... control her mind." Ezra clicked his tongue, shifting awkwardly. "Or something."
A scoff came from Ewan, and he shook his head. "I can't control minds. I could've... changed her emotions regarding Ben, but... I didn't have to. She wanted to talk to him, she just needed an excuse to do it when June and Rain weren't there. Why?"
"Nobody really likes Ben," Ezra blurted. "I do. Of course, I do. You know. Except I just figured Rain and June would've told her... everything, and she seems... well, she seems like a very scared person. But I don't really know her. I've listened to her, like... once..."
"They did," Ewan confirmed. He nodded a few times. "Yeah, they made sure to fill her in on every detail, including what he'd done to Charlie's face and whatever he did to some girl Jennifer."
Ezra sucked in a breath through his teeth before shaking his head. "He said you almost killed him because you found out."
"Yes," Ewan said. "Yes, I did." He went quiet for a second, then mumbled, "I just... It's weird that he's a mortal - he's eighteen, I think - and he's killed someone. And he hurts people because they, what, they lie? It sounds psychotic. I mean, I know what you're thinking. I'm a demon, right, so I've got no right to handle it-"
"Also your accent is... outrageously distracting-"
"- the way I did, but we're doing the Lord's work. I told him that, too. And so what that he's... the dark, mysterious type that every guy likes, and so what he's got those lovely blue eyes with the bloody... gold specks in them, so what, you know, he's still done some awful things. Objectively, I don't think I actually care. He's going to Hell one way or the other. Whatever. But he didn't even bloody tell me he's done all of that - and why would he, right? I've possessed the body of the classmate he's killed. But-"
"Ben doesn't know how else to handle them," Ezra interrupted. He had a gentle, knowing smile on his lips that spoke of unsaid irritation. It made Ewan feel remotely guilty.
"Who?"
"The liars," he continued. The other kept his white gaze rested on the sky, sightless and oblivious to the blinding sun. "He knows - I don't know how, but he's got this sick ability to just tell whenever someone's lying. And he doesn't know how else to deal with them but to beat them up."
Ewan clicked his tongue, looking out at the parking lot. Slowly, he set his elbows on the steps behind him and leaned back. It just sounded like Ben had a demon on his shoulder, which was, of course, impossible. But that was what it sounded like.
It sounded like he had demonic tendencies, more like. Because it was probably normal to want to deal with liars. Then again, there was no way Ben could actually know if someone was lying. Unless technology had advanced that much, but otherwise... Well, there was just no way.
"It was nice of you to get Gabrielle to talk to him," Ezra continued casually. "He hasn't had a crush in... years. He's usually too... I don't know, hidden behind his wall of protection to really let things happen."
"That sounded like a condom metaphor," Ewan noted, casting Ezra a sly grin.
"What? No. I-"
Ewan snickered, looking at Ezra as he stuttered for words. The other boy went silent, blushing and looking frustrated.
"Sorry," Ewan apologized. "But yeah, I've noticed." He went quiet, then clicked his tongue, raising an eyebrow at the other. "And what about you, Ezra? What's your reason for being friends with the school bully?"
"Ben's my friend," said Ezra simply, shrugging.
"Usually people have more than one friend, Ezra," teased Ewan.
"I don't need anyone else," Ezra began. "But... Ben and I have this super deep kinda bond thing. It's like we're on the same wavelength all the time so it's easy to talk to him - he listens really well, too. Crazy well. Like, better than my parents. And when he talks about things he likes, his voice kinda... gets a little louder. He's always whispering because my ears are sensitive, but when he's happy? He doesn't even think. And he's got this kinda... way about him that just makes you smile a lot." He smiled sheepishly, shrugging. "Well, it makes me smile a lot, at least."
Ewan went silent for a second. "It makes me smile, too," he mumbled.
The other grinned. "I know. I hear it when you talk about him."
Ewan huffed. "And I've gone and ruined things... I shouldn't have gotten mad. I mean, I wouldn't want to tell anyone either." Then he shook his head. Something just didn't feel right. "And he didn't have any friends before? You know, before his... his mother died?"
"Well, yeah. He had lots of friends. But when his mom died, a lot of them couldn't really - they just didn't know how to help." Ezra sighed again, running his thumb over his palm as he spoke. "It's dumb how people leave when things get hard. Friendship isn't supposed to be like that. You're supposed to just - " he licked his lips, eyes squinted in concentration as he thought - "work."
Ewan stared at Ezra quietly. It was crazy how close they were.
Hell hadn't been like that. His relationship with Aliyah was the only thing remotely similar, but that wasn't even as powerful as Ezra's bond with Ben. Because when they talked about each other, they talked about the things that were obvious. They talked about looks, about personalities, about the basics. They didn't think about voice octaves or listening skills.
Maybe it was because Aliyah didn't have a soul, or maybe it was because Ezra felt as though he'd lost his.
It didn't make sense how something so mundane could be so powerful, though. He didn't think he'd be able to work that out.
"So wh-"
Ewan felt his throat clench and he gasped, clutching at his neck. It got harder to breathe, harder to think because of a headache.
He knew this feeling. It was something similar to the one he'd felt last night, but this one was less intense and the only thing in his head was directions.
Get up, it said. That's all it said but it was such an urgent message in his head that he could barely think about anything else.
"Ben's in trouble," he choked out. Because that's all this could mean. There was no other solution.
"E-Ewan?" Ezra asked. His voice cracked. "Ewan, what's happening to Ben? What's going on?"
Ewan pushed himself to his feet. The ground plunged him into its cracks and crevices, but he blinked and he was on the surface again.
"Wings," he managed to think. "I have wings."
He had to use them. They were the only way he could get to Ben in time to help him. Because although Ewan wasn't in that much pain, Ben was in far more if Ewan's hunch was right. And he had to help.
The Devil had said his wings would hurt, but nothing was worse than the pain Ben was most likely experiencing. He assumed the body had them stashed inside and opening them would involve tearing open the flesh on his back and setting them free, but it was worth it if he could just get them out, get them working.
He tried. He screamed trying to get wings to erupt from his back. Clutching at the Enchantment, Ewan yelled. Tears even came to his eyes but there was nothing. Nothing was in his back and nothing was going to be erupting from his back.
"My body," he slurred. "My body has the damn... wings in it..."
"That is your - oh," Ezra swallowed nervously. The realization that this was not, in fact, Ewan's body crossed his mind. "S-So what do we do? How can we-"
Ezra looked terrified as a silver van pulled up. There was Jamie, who rushed out of the car and ran to his brother, practically collapsing to his knees in front of Ewan.
Ewan grabbed his shoulders. "I need you to drive me somewhere," he said quickly, making intense eye contact. "Jamie, please."
The taller boy hesitated, glancing at Ezra, who only looked confused and terrified with a hint of determination. Determined, probably, to help his friend.
Ewan was, too.
Jamie soon nodded, grabbing Ezra's arm in one hand and Ewan's arm in the other, shoving both of them into the back of the car. It took him little time to get to the driver's side, and he gunned it. Ignorant to the severity of the situation but going with it nonetheless.
As they drove, Ewan pointed out where to go. It was hard to speak as his throat felt like it was being filled with flames, but he knew Ben was going through worse. He didn't know how or why or even what was going on, but he did know Ben was having a panic attack. That's all he knew.
The closer they got to Ben, the easier the pain got, until Ewan felt fine pulling into a driveway of an apartment building. There was only a feeling of faint numbness surrounding his body instead. Ewan lurched himself out of the car, racing in and finding a door.
It felt right, he couldn't explain it. Ewan raised a hand and clenched his fist and the door caved in on itself effortlessly. He didn't know where he was - where Ben was, rather, but he had to get inside.
Stepping past the broken door, he stepped in, panting.
He found Gabrielle kneeling in front of Ben, who was sitting against the couch, wheezing and trembling. She whipped her head around and her eyes widened when she found Ewan.
Her French accent began to explain. "I-I did mean to-"
"What have you done?" hissed Ewan, lifting a hand and levitating her with extreme force across the room. He heard her back slam against the wall and he knew it wasn't enough. He took two strides towards her and slammed a fire-engulfed fist into her chest.
She screamed in pain but it wasn't enough. The pain in his hand wasn't enough, either.
He raised his fist again but he was halted by the realization that she was no longer there. Panting, he glanced around until he found her on the other side of the room, holding a cross on a necklace. He tensed up but didn't move, panting heavily.
"I'm not here to hurt you," she said soothingly. Her French accent was gone, though, replaced with a firm American accent. "Either of you. Please, Ewan, calm down."
This brought him pause. Hearing his real name spill from the mortal's lips.
Soon, though, he brought his gaze down to Ben, who was curled up against the couch, covering his head. Not caring about how close he got to the cross, Ewan knelt by the other, ignoring the lethargy coming over him.
"Ben," he said softly, grabbing the other's shoulders.
Ben uncovered his head and glanced up, looking at him quietly. He looked like a child. Like the world could swallow him.
The two shared a gaze before Ben licked his lips and breathed, "You're here. How did you..."
"I definitely think we're connected," Ewan said breathily. Gradually, he shook his head. He had to apologize. He just had to. "I'm... I'm sorry. I'm sorry for trying to kill you. That was... rude, and-"
"It's okay," Ben said softly. He swallowed weakly, nodding. "I forgive you."
Warmth spread in Ewan's chest and he wondered if it was figuratively or literally until he looked down.
The breath got knocked out of him. Pulling the silver Enchantment from around his neck, he found the first column had been filled - a sort of pastel red, rather than Hell's neon.
They'd done it. Done one, at least. Completed one column.
"Did you do something?" asked Ben.
"No," Ewan breathed. He chuckled, setting his head back, slowly regaining his breath. "You. You did something."
Gabrielle cleared her throat. "You completed a column," she said in a more firm voice than Ewan thought possible.
Ewan lifted his head, glancing up to her. "How- How do you know... anything?"
"She's... p-possessed. By an angel," stuttered Ben. He glanced over at Ewan, and the two shared a gaze for a while until Ben chuckled weakly, muscles relaxing visibly. "She's possessed by a freaking angel," he repeated.
Ten minutes later, they'd pulled up two chairs for Ezra and Jamie. Although it was against Ewan's better judgment, Jamie insisted on staying and figuring out 'what the Hell was going on'.
Ewan sat with Ben on the couch. They were closer than before - physically, actually. Their knees were touching and for some reason it sparked joy in Ewan, knowing Ben wasn't as mad at him as he'd thought.
An ice pack was in Ewan's hand, pressed against his burns. It felt like his hand was on fire now that the adrenaline was gone.
In front of them stood Gabrielle. She had changed her clothes into overall jean shorts and a pastel pink shirt since her old one was... absolutely scorched. And she looked scared. Her gaze flitted between all of them, then she sighed shakily and ran a hand through her magenta hair, gaze landing on the floor.
"I'm just saying," Ewan said to Gabrielle before anyone else could speak, "it seems like you've avoided a lot of future conflicts."
Gabrielle smiled wryly. Even her smile seemed to tremble as her eyes danced around, but soon and quite abruptly, she took on a far more firm look. One that spoke confidence rather than fear, one that asserted more dominance than thought possible in the tiny girl.
"My name is Elizabeth and I'm an angel made by God himself. I possessed Gabrielle two days ago because it was my ninth chasm. My mission." She pulled the Heavenly Enchantment from her shirt, letting it lay flat on her chest. "Gabrielle ran away from home a month ago. I've been tasked with making her life a little better as well as making sure the demon," Elizabeth looked at Ewan pointedly, "does his job."
"Demon?" asked Jamie, looking over at who he thought was his little brother.
"It's complicated," mumbled Ewan. He glanced back up at the... angel-human. "Now, how did you possess the living? It's a fancy trick."
Gabrielle - or, Elizabeth, rather, narrowed her eyes. "Unlike demons, angels can only possess the living. Even then, we co-exist. And it has to be consensual." Elizabeth crossed her arms. "Guess you can't get consent from the dead, though, can you?"
"The dead?" choked Jamie.
Gazes turned to him. Guilty gazes. Ewan cleared his throat and glanced over at Jamie. He blurted out, "Heart attack."
"Stirling had a heart attack?"
"It was clean and fast, though, so it's-"
"I did it," said Ben. Silence followed and in the absence of noise Ben stood up, putting his hands in his pockets. "The scars he came home with were from me. I... choked him. Until he... d-died. I didn't mean to, I-I swear, he just-"
In seconds, Jamie had traveled across the room and delivered a gross-sounding blow to Ben's face, causing the boy to collapse to the ground. Ewan pounced to his feet, standing between them.
Elizabeth did too, putting a hand on Jamie's chest and gently pushing him back. He stumbled back, eyes welling with tears. His gaze was absent yet somehow filled with rage as he looked only at Ben.
"You killed him," Jamie confirmed in a trembling voice. "You killed my brother."
Ben put his sleeve against his nose and pulled it back splattered with red.
Ewan couldn't help but get defensive, wanting to punch Jamie right back, but he only helped Ben up. The boy glanced between the three of them.
"I deserve it," he whispered. "It's fine."
"Damn right you deserve it!" hissed Jamie. He lunged again, only to be stopped by Gabrielle, who gripped his shoulders tightly. Tightly enough, strangely, to stop him. Almost as if she was stronger than normal.
"Angel's get powers?" asked Ewan, still standing defensively in front of Ben. "Why would they need powers if they don't need to torture anyone?"
"We help each other," hissed Elizabeth. "And we get sent to the Surface a lot. But human life's dampen our powers." Everyone was silent, and she huffed. "Meaning you guys could help me restrain him. Ben, please step back."
Ben did as told, stumbling back until he hit the counter separating the kitchen and living room. Quickly, Ewan walked towards Jamie, hesitating before using levitation to keep him still. Ezra stepped over to Ben, reaching out and grabbing his arm.
Elizabeth lifted a hand, releasing her hold on him, and rested it against Jamie's forehead. After closing her eyes, she took a few deep breaths. Just as quickly, he collapsed. Asleep.
"He'll be asleep until I wake him," said Elizabeth, looking down at Jamie's sleeping form. "I can't erase his memory, though..."
It was Ewan's turn to have all eyes on him. He sucked in a sharp breath and glanced around before sighing. "Fine. I'll-" He clicked his tongue, doing emotionless jazz hands- "change the poor boy's emotions." Responding to a glare from Elizabeth, he rolled his eyes. "I'm kidding."
"Don't," said Ben. He took a step forward. "He has a right to know."
"His parents don't," Elizabeth said, crossing her arms. "And you can't just... let mortals in on this. It's a shame the blond knows about this, but we can't take any more collateral damage. The mortal forgets."
Ben was rendered silent for a second before he shook his head. "No. This isn't your call."
"And why is it yours?"
"Because I'm the one that killed Stirling," hissed Ben. His fists were clenched and he looked tired and scared and angry all at once. Everything looked worse because of the blood dripping from his nose.
It broke Ewan's heart.
The room fell under a silent spell. It stayed that way for a second while Ben simply glared at Elizabeth in exasperation, and Ewan could only gaze at him in silent remorse. How could such a pitiful, guilty boy be a killer?
"We'll deal with Stirling when the time comes," Elizabeth said with finality. Her gaze flicked to Ben, seething with irritation. Mixed in was a little bit of remorse. "For now, just... go as you would. Completing the Enchantment's columns."
"You can't decide-"
"Ben," Elizabeth said firmly, narrowing her eyes, "I'm an angel. I have been enhanced so that I'm far stronger and faster than you. Please don't argue with me."
Ben opened his mouth to retort, and Ewan had every intention on taking on Elizabeth with him - it would be a badass duo, probably - but he soon nodded.
Ewan didn't like the idea of doing this to Ben, even if he agreed to it. Didn't like the idea of doing anything an angel suggested, really. But if Ben was agreeing to it, he ought to. He sighed quietly and glanced at Elizabeth. "So that's it, then? You're just here to... help us achieve the columns?"
"Basically." She looked over at Ben, whose face showed confusion and irritation now. Her gaze softened again. It was almost impossible to glare at Ben... except when you'd just found out he's a killer and an assaulter, of course.
"So she lied," Ben said slowly. "She lied about everything."
Elizabeth sighed. "No. She... she told you the truth. About everything, Ben."
"Did you make her get close to me, though?" whispered Ben, looking hurt. "Who... Who is Gabrielle?"
The angel-human went quiet before she sighed quietly. "I did. I made her get close to you. But that was only because I needed to know if you needed help or not."
"So you made her flirt with me?" accused Ben.
"I didn't. No - Ben, Gabrielle feels connected with you. She was the one that decided to tell you she was possessed. She was the one that told you what I was telling her. I didn't... want her to."
"Want her to tell me that my dad didn't actually kill my mom?" growled Ben. "Don't you think I have the right to know that? How do you know that?"
"I just do, Ben. It's a hunch. Just like you have a hunch that he killed her, I have a hunch that he didn't. No one told me."
Ben opened his mouth to snap a reply but was stopped by Ewan clearing his throat and stepping between the two. "Okay. Alright. That's enough, right? How about - Gabrielle, Elizabeth, whoever, come help me take Jamie home."
Elizabeth looked at Ben quietly before putting a hand on his shoulder. "It was never my intention to hurt you. Gabrielle does have... strong feelings for you, Ben. Feelings I or any divine being can't recreate or motivate." She then nodded to Ewan, who levitated Jamie into the air, outside.
Leaving Ezra and Ben in the apartment.