A soft smell of pine and a hint of rain. Oh, how badly I want him—the things I would do.

All I want in life is to touch and to be touched. But I can't. Since September 23rd, 2013, I haven’t been able to touch anyone without killing them. I don’t know how or why, but they die when the slightest brush of skin, their life would be claimed by me. The only thing I have touched for seven years is the lined leather gloves I wear on my hands every day. If only Lara hadn’t died when I gave her a hug on my birthday, then the cat, then the dog. What would my life be like? When people ask me why, I say it’s germophobia because if I told them the truth, they would think I’m a freak. I don’t know my mom or my dad; I was placed in foster care when I was a child. I’ve never been in one house for more than two months without being sent back, yet so many things are wrong, but no one knows what or why. My first house was when I was 10, and that’s when the changes started, so I guess you could say that's why. Anyway, it's time to stop daydreaming.

*Back in reality* 

I’ve always sat in this spot, and the seat in front of me is always empty. It’s because people at school think I’m weird, which I can’t blame them, but today he is there; I don’t know who he is, never seen him, but he's here, in front of me. It is honestly unexpected that no one has told him I'm weird and to stay away from me. However, something is different about him. I get a feeling around people, almost like an energy, but I don’t feel anything from him. He turned around and started talking to me.

 “Hey, I’m Cohen, I’m new, I hope it’s okay I sat here. It was empty, so I didn’t think you would mind.” I don’t mind at all; that face is the most delicious thing I’ve seen in school all day. I’m not going to say that, though. 

“ I’m Dahlia. No one sits there anyways.” 

As soon as the teacher walked in and yelled turn around, face the front, and no talking, I lost my view. But it’s okay cause I should focus on school. After class, he waited for me outside the door. I walked past him, not expecting him to follow, but he did. He did a little run with his hands in his pocket, his backpack slung over one shoulder, and his tee that clung to his shirt had sweat stains in the creases. Man, I could stare all day at those pecs.

 “ can I help you?” I asked.

“Yeah, if I’m being honest, I think you're stunning, and well, I don’t have any friends, but I was hoping you would want to hang out?” 

“I’m a freak; you shouldn’t be seen talking to me if you want to have friends at any point in your time here.”

 “ Well, you see, I’m interested in you, Dahlia.” The way he says my name. It makes me flourish. But I can’t because if I get too close….. 

“Please, a half hour after school, maybe longer, just enough to let me know you.” 

“I have homework, I can’t.” 

“Then let's do a study date.” He won't give up; maybe I'll go just to see if he stops nagging. 

“Fine. you get one hour. But no touching. Meet me at Clues Cafe at 4.”

 “YES! I promise it will be the best date you’ve ever had.” It’s the only date I’ve had. I just waved by and went to my last class of the day. 

The time came when I had to meet Cohen. I was nervous, but I wasn't going to let it stop me. He tried to hug me…

“ NO, Absolutely not, I said no touching.” in a fearful tone. He was taken aback and said he was sorry. After that, it went pretty smoothly, and when he walked me home to the outside of a set of apartment buildings where I was living with my current foster parents,

 “You don’t have to be afraid,” he said as he continued to pull off my gloves and touch my skin. Why didn’t I move? Usually, I would have pulled away but it was like I was in a trance. He touched my hands. With his bare skin. Nothing happened.

 “What? How? Why are you not dead?”

 “Demons can’t die, we have no soul, which is why you couldn’t feel a life force earlier. I’m guessing you noticed that? I’m an upper-level demon, I know all and am more powerful than a lesser demon. I was hell-raised like most demons, but I am the only demon to ever seek out a legend to see if it is true.”

“ Wait what! Demon? Life force? SOUL TAKING?!!! “What is going on Cohen?”

 “ You are very powerful Dahlia. Your bloodline is practically royalty in the underworld. Do you know why you’ve never met your parents?” I gave a pause before considering what he was saying was true.

 “ What are you talking about??? I’m human, always have been.” not even a second passed before he answered.

“Do you really believe that? Why else do you have things only demons can have? It’s because you are one Dahlia.” All I’ve ever known…It’s a lie? 

“ What does my life mean now? “ what’s gonna happen now? Like am I gonna have to start taking souls, to like you know live up to my destiny or whatever?” I ask. 

“ no it's not quite a destiny but if you don’t take souls you will fade and be sent to hell. It’s hard to explain because you are only half demon. It’s not quite take souls or you die, but it’s definitely take souls s you don’t get sick. Without taking a soul, your demon side will get sick because that’s what keeps your demon side healthy.” 

His monologue got me in my feels and kinda worried. “So why did it start when I was 10 and not when I was younger?” he gave a brief pause and gave a heavy sigh.

 “ your human side kept that dormant until your demon side matured. Demons mature within 24 hours of being born which they grow to be about 75 pounds, aka roughly around 10 years old. That's why Dahlia.” My eyes burned with rage, and tears. He must have seen that because the next thing I know his lips were on mine.  The feel of lips on mine was so surreal, something happened around us and It was like a flashbang. Once the kiss was done something started happening to my body. A transformation. My true form, not the human form but my demon self. 

It’s weird I’ve never known who I truly am, but when that kiss happened a few years ago somehow I felt …at peace. It’s strange, I was so uneasy with all this but now it makes sense, and I actually want to take souls. Cohen and I now walk topside in our human forms during the day, and at night we do our duties and take home the dark souls with us. What I’ve learned from Cohen is that all you need is the right person in life to make things make sense. What happens when our kids come topside after demon school, and what will the heavenly fire bring upon the world today if they find out that the two most powerful demons have children?