“Come in!” Sara said, letting the thoughts of Sal subside away to reflect on later.

Timothy walked in, seeing a mess around the suitcase of clothing, items, and shoes littered on the floor, “Hey, just thought I come to check on you.”

Sara smiled, “Aw, thanks. I assume my dad wants you to tag along since you are the only warlock here that he trusts?”

“Yeah,” replied Timothy, “Kinda nerve-racking, but exciting.”

“I know what you mean,” Sara answered as she picked up a pair of shoes, to see if she needed them.

“How do you think Michael going to transport us? Portals?”

“I don’t know,” said Sara with a frown she realized Sal had disappeared but was glad he had left. It was hard for him to be in the room with other people and no one could see him. It made Sara feel more like a psychopath.

Timothy watched her as she put the shoes back in the closet, giving a crossed look, “Sara, um. Remember you wanted help with your imaginary person?”

Sara stopped packing and looked up at him in surprise, wasn’t expecting this, “Oh…”

Timothy chuckled, rubbing his hand on his neck, “I know I could’ve asked you doing these past weeks, but been busy doing tracking spells for Michael.”

Sara stared at her window in wonder why she was hesitating to politely say yes to Timothy’s offer. Was it the reason why she had many warlocks and angels pry through her mind to get Sal out but never could?

Or was it a selfish reason to realize Sal really was the only person she shared secrets with and had a “friend” to hang out with when she was lonely or to annoy her?

But why would I want to keep him? He hurts me, draining my energy and blood from me.

Sara could make new, real friends and maybe the heroes and angels wouldn’t call her a freak anymore, “Aren’t you packing?”

Timothy said, “I finished a while ago. I was up about four and was brought in Michael’s office.”

Sara saw that Timothy sensed her hesitation and said, “Sure. Get this person out of me. He hurts me…” But he hasn’t done that in the past few weeks. “Cruel to me.” Hasn’t given you nightmares. “Annoying.” Been not around her twenty-four/seven. Sara’s hands moved before she could think and grabbed her head, wanting to bang it against the wall, “Stop twisting reality to something else!” Sal was manipulating her mind into thinking positive things about him. She didn’t know if that was her conclusion or his...didn’t know what she thought of him anymore. Her feelings hated him one moment and the next didn’t mind him.

“Sara!” Timothy rushed over to her and sat her down on the bed, “What’s wrong?”

“He’s twisting my thoughts up again or…”

“Or what?” inquired Timothy, worriedly.

Or I just want someone to blame for my good thoughts of him. No, that couldn’t be. He had to be twisting her mind. This made her despise him more.

Sara lifted her chin, “Go on, see if you rip him out of my mind and I’ll be free.”

Timothy cocked his head, muttering softly to her, placing his hand on her forehead, “Do you feel caged from him?”

Sara cast her eyes away leery. Yes and no. It felt like Sal wanted something from her but what was it? That freak answered: “I want you,” every single damn time.

“It’s complicated,” responded Sara, shyly. She didn’t have time to think about this. She needed to pack and be by her father’s side and help him. She was again, being selfish in her thoughts without thinking of others.

Sara felt her mind whirling in confusion to decide to stick to one thought and stay with it. Be constant, but her mind kept whirling in circles about what was going on with her life.

Timothy started the process, saying, “It will hurt.”

Sara had already embraced the pain, “Am I using you?” She lowered her head, feeling ashamed that everyone has helped her constantly, and Sara couldn’t return the favor.

“A person that has no right inside through mind?” finished the young warlock, “No.”

Sara closed her eyes, giving him a grateful smile. She let her mind calm down and the many thoughts vanish as she saw and thought only black. Sara wanted to ask why he didn’t think she was crazy, but as a powerful warlock, and a helper among the heroes, he must’ve heard people claiming worse things.

A couple of minutes quickly passed as Timothy tried to sense any presence. He knew Sara was in there of course, but he didn’t feel anyone else. He saw Sara sift uncomfortable as he urged his powers to dig deeper to find something or someone.

Sara knew this was a waste of time when Michael had to try to go inside her mind, claiming he felt or saw nothing. But...Sara, the look in her father’s eyes dismissive of the statement...something flickered behind those golden cautious eyes, something scared like.

She always wondered why her father dodged his statement. He didn’t lie to her but turned his response into something that felt and seemed reasonable, but painful a blunt lie through those strange eyes her father gave her.

Sara blinked open, looking at Timothy’s gem eyes. She asked, trying to see if he gave a strange look like her father did when she asked, “Anything?”

Timothy swayed his head, giving his clearly disappointed frown, and gazed at her. The young warlock put his hand by his side, “I’m sorry, no.”

Sara heard truthfulness ring in his tone and eyes of sureness that there was indeed nothing he could find. She shrugged, her shoulders slagging, hoping for some results but nothing, “It’s okay,” she said softly, bending her head down, tucking her knees to her chest, “I...was silly to think that if father can’t. You can’t, no offense.”

Timothy rested a hand on her should, she turned her coal eyes at him in a tearful way, “I understand, Sara.” He looked at her suitcase, “Do you need help packing?”

Sara wanted to now sulk in shallow that she was destined to walk alone, “I’m good, thanks.” She gave off her bright, fake smile, even evident that smile was so false and filled with pain.

Timothy sat there, uncertain if he wanted to leave her in this depressive state, but she gave him a gentle push, clearly wanting to be alone, and the young warlock didn’t feel like pushing her, “See you in an hour.”

Sara nodded but didn’t answer back and when the door closed, she flopped on her bed. Another disappointment of someone else powerful, trying to get someone that no one else could see besides her own clear eyes.

Was she truly insane?’

Even with Timothy using his magic, Sara had that old feeling of wanting Sal out and despised of how she felt towards him. The feeling was old and tiring, like a long grudge, and she wanted to let go of that grudge that hung in her towards Sal.

Sara knew that if she released that grudge, maybe she would care about him.

But wasn’t that hate already gone, replaced by...comfort? Sal was always there...usually annoying and throwing his tantrum when she didn’t give him what he wanted, but after what is said and done, they were friends.

How could they not be? He lived with her constantly during these past two years. Even when she screamed at him, tried to punch him, and cursed, Sal was there patiently.

And Sara knew this without a doubt, that was her conclusion and not Sal’s.

Sara also knew with some shame—Sal was way more with her than Michael and gave his time to be with her when Michael couldn’t, as he was saving the world—which was nothing wrong with that.

Although, Sara would never love Sal as much as she loved Michael. She didn’t even love Sal, just kinda liked him. It was nearly impossible to spend someone you hate and continue with your life, there had to be able to get rid of them, or deal with them, which Sara, couldn’t get rid of Sal, she tried. But she dealt with him. And during these weeks, he hadn’t been half bad.

“Sal?” Sara whispered out his name, “It seems that...I will be stuck with you forever. So, I want to make a deal.” The sixteen-year-old girl acknowledged that everyone had tried to get rid of Sal, which seemed impossible.

There was a few seconds of thoughtful beats and she knew Sal could hear her, just deciding if he wanted to come out. Sal appeared next to her, lying down on her cozy blankets, and faced her, “Yes?”

“You know what I’m already thinking, so spit out what you want from me and I’ll tell you my bargains. Unless someone gets you out of my fucking brain or if you leave, I guess I’m stuck with you.”

Sal purred, “And why would I want to leave you?”

Sara rolled her eyes, already regretting talking to him, “Just get to the damn point. I don’t understand why you want to be with me.”

Sal traced his finger along her arm, she didn’t even flinch or move, “How about this, Sara...you keep continuing on your life, but when you see me, don’t try to block me away. It’s upsetting to me.”

Sara again wanted to roll her eyes, “Sometimes you can be an annoying ass.”

“Hey, that’s a simple deal isn’t it?” Sal leaned closer to her, feeling her warm breath, “That’s what you wanted, was it not?”

Sara groaned, “Yeah,” she said, trying not to look at Sal in his dark glimmering eyes. “So, just don’t block you when you talk to me...even when I’m talking to someone else—and I’m not going to kill Lucifer for you.”

“I only asked once for you to tell kill Lucifer for me that dinner night,” replied Sal, resting his horns on her pillows.

Sara always wanted to touch Sal’s horns as they were looking pointy and glossy. She never had the courage, but as Sal could read her mind, he directed his horns towards her, careful not to poke her with them.

Sara tentatively took out one of her hands, letting her hand touch his harden, smooth horns, and felt the ripples on each horn layer; seeing up close the beautiful jagged look, “Thanks.” She sighed, crossing her arms, looking up to the ceiling, “Fine. So, my bargain is, no more nightmares.”

Sal frowned, even though he knew this was coming, “Sara…”

“No more damn nightmares and we can equal this damn bargain,” pressed Sara.

Sal chewed on his lips.

Sara sighed, “What are these damn nightmares you have a fixation on?”

Sal said, “That’s not important Sara.” He turned to her, “No more nightmares until you get Pitch locked up,” was his final say.

“You mean killed?” Sara said, “Come on, Sal.”

“Fine, throw in one more bargain and we can make it a deal.”

Sara pouted, knowing she couldn’t win this with Sal and his damn nightmares that made her shudder every time she thought about them. All she wanted was those nightmares to be gone, but the cold stare Sal gave her was a certainty; first, he won’t give up the nightmares for her, and second, Sara belonged to him with a possessive look that made Sara uncomfortable.

Sara sat up and went backpacking. She had a list in her mind that she would love for Sal to respond to: Stop being annoying, leave me the fuck alone, leave me, go to the hell where you belong… “So, how long do you want me not to block you out?”

“Forever?” Sal grinned cockily.

Sara puffed a sigh, “Fine, I stop blocking you from my mind from my powers, as long as you stop your nightmares.”

There was a long silence as Sara hoped that Sal would agree with that. Without those nightmares, she felt like she slept amazing, unlike the nightmares that made her sleep unsatisfying every time. Sara would be in a happier mood than she was now and not look so gaunt and sleepy all the time.

Sara did feel that Sal appeared when he pleased, and she only blocked him away using all her strength when she got pissed at him. When he knocked out Michael at Lucifer’s castle, she was too upset to even think of having him disappear for a while and...Sal, was always pushing the limits of her powers, making her so drained and exhausted because he wanted to be on her side, even though that stalker was in her, Sal wanted Sara to notice him.

Sara knew why he was so close to her but didn’t at the same time. What was the point of showing his face daily when he had all eternity until she got killed or some shit?

“Fine,” grumbled Sal finally.

Sara did feel this was probably a disadvantage to him since she hardly blocked him out, but she continued to pack, turning up the music.