The sound of a door slamming shut, alerted the sleeping big, black cat stretched out on the windowsill.

"There he goes again," he purred, one eye lazily following the hooded figure stroll down the alleyway.

Raven shifted away from her painting easel to snatch a glimpse of her father's new apprentice, before he disappeared.
"I wonder where he goes each night," she murmured.

"Probably to the bar," Grimalkin suggested, stretching his bulky form further along the windowsill.

"Perhaps," Raven agreed thoughtfully, moving back to the easel. "I find him rather odd."

The cat chuckled.
"Aye, he is rather bizarre, but then so are all humans."

A black bird joined the cat on the windowsill, squawking a greeting.

"Ah, dinner time," Grimalkin announced, sitting up.

"I don't like the way you abuse Eva."

"Abuse?" The cat feigned hurt, "she knows the best places to hunt and she enjoys it too. It is what you would call a camaraderie."

"Well, I don't like it. Why don't you just go back to hell?" Raven suddenly snapped.

"Moi?"

"I don't see any other big, fat, demon cat? Do you?"

The black bird on the windowsill gave several shrill squawks. Grimalkin hissed at the bird, slightly perturbed at the sudden change of atmosphere.
"Why are you in such a mood today?'

"Perhaps it's because you have overstayed your welcome," Raven retorted.

Grimalkin's eyes narrowed, studying the girl viciously stabbing her canvas with a paint brush. For the past few days, the half-dryad's anger has been quick to trigger at the slightest note of annoyance. And this new stranger that has inserted himself into the cozy life Grimalkin has carved out for himself with Raven, was an annoyance he could do without.
"Should I follow our mysterious friend, would that please you?"

"I don't really care what you do."

Grimalkin sighed heavily before jumping off the windowsill onto the small balcony.
"Come, Eva. Let us see what nightly adventures await us. Your mistress needs alone time."

The black raven squawked, raising her wings and dived into the night air.

Raven closed her eyes, her ears listening to paws and wings fading into the nightly sounds. Once silence enveloped her and she was alone, she dropped the paint brush and sat down on the edge of her bed.

She had not meant to snap at Grimalkin. Despite their unorthodox relationship, she has grown accustomed to his presence and actually dreaded the day he would tire of her and return to his domain. It was her father's apprentice that had her on edge. From his sudden appearance, to his nightly outings and the small trinket boxes he frequently brought back with him.

At first she had not really paid attention, since dealing with a demon cat had taken priority, especially keeping the huge feline a secret from her father. Not everyone had the unfortunate luck to be blessed with a demon from hell wanting their company.

She still could not believe how it had actually happened.

Raven frowned, but Grimalkin was not the problem at present. It was the knowing glances and the sly smirks that were thrown in her direction every time she would enter her father's workshop or pass by. It was her nervousness, rather than being uncomfortable. A stirring would erupt in her stomach every time their eyes would lock, even if only for a second.

She was embarrassed she could not remember his name.

Her father had introduced him the first day he had started working here but it must have been the shock of her father's declaration that he would be living here too. In the attic, to be precise.

She shivered. The damp and murky attic. The small space tucked away in the roof used to be her haven, reminding her of the dark forest she used to frequent as a child.

The soft knock on her bedroom door startled her. She could have sworn her father had said he was retiring early tonight. She took a deep breath before getting up and opening the door.

Her eyes widened, shocked to find the familiar hooded figure standing in the hallway, "why are you-I mean-can I help you-with-uh-something?"

"It's time," the apprentice smirked.

Raven blinked. "What?"

The apprentice glided into the room, his arms crammed with small, silver and copper trinket boxes, seemingly oblivious to her confusion. His deliberate brush against her did not go unnoticed and Raven pushed down the bubbling stirrings of excitement in her chest.

He was definitely the root of her demeanor shifts.

He squatted down in the center of the room and dropped the containers into a pile in front of him.
"I had finally found the last one, couldn't believe my luck. After all this time of searching and waiting," he mumbled, positioning each container carefully into a circle around him.

If she wasn't so fascinated in what he was doing, she most certainly would have bolted from the room. She should have. But she could not deny the inexplicable pull towards him.

"You don't remember me, do you?" He queried softly when she knelt down next to him.

"I-" she pulled on her lip, her cheeks flushing.

"I don't mean my name," he turned to her, his brown eyes glinting. "I had thought, hoped, with time, you would remember."

He arched a perfectly shaped brow and pushed back the hood of his top, revealing a messy golden brown crop. "I would have given it more time, but when I found the last key-" he paused, his lips curling into a wicked smile. "I just can't wait anymore."

She should have run.

He reached for her hands, his long fingers entangling with hers, pulling her to him.

"Raven." The whisper on his breath held her tranced, his hands flattening hers over his chest, holding them there for a moment, before releasing them to cup her face.

She realized, too late, what his intentions were. His mouth covered hers, swallowing her cry of surprise. A strong hand buried itself in her long black curls, the other found its way to the small of her back, keeping her firmly against him.

For a moment she remained still, her body stiff, fighting against the swirl of butterflies erupting deep within her. This seemed familiar, this stranger, this kiss, everything. His kiss deepened and she willingly parted her lips.

The boxes all popped open, illuminating the room with a rainbow of colors.

His fingers against her skull jerked, his hand on her back pressing harder. His kiss hardened, containing a sudden urgency, dampening her excitement. She started to push against him.

"Don't fight me, Raven," he breathed into her mouth.

Her hands curled into fists, but the fight was lost as he continued his invasion of her mouth. His lips drew any and all resistance from her. Her hands snaked up around his neck and he groaned in satisfaction.

"What in the seven fires of hell is going on here?" A roar thundered in through the window and an invisible force tore them apart. Both being flung in opposite directions of the room. Several trinket boxes were disrupted and the rainbow disappeared.

Grimalkin positioned himself protectively in-between Raven and the apprentice, who both were now on their feet.

"Grim-" Raven began, but his growl stopped her.

"You have no idea what you have just done, demon," the apprentice snarled and with a swift movement he sprinted across the room, jumped out the window and disappeared into the dark of the alleyway below.

"Are you hurt? Did he hurt you?" Grimalkin turned to her, his large yellow eyes scanning her.

Raven shook her head, a trembling hand touching her lips.

"I remember."

"What?"

"I remember everything." 

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Theboilingcauldron Prompt:
Ever since a neighbor (or coworker, classmate, etc) first appeared, some interestingly eerie things have been happening. You think nothing of it until they come knocking at your door at twilight holding a few weird items. "It's time," they say, smirking.

Word count: 1284

Resources used:
Canva - Ai Image
Pinterest - Images