burning

Ethan easily unlocked the roof: he ripped the knob right out of the door. He shook his head and squeezed the hunk of cheap metal in his hand until it no longer resembled a doorknob, but a twisted piece of wreckage. It fell to the gravel with a chink. Ethan laughed out loud. "Come get me," he said. He walked to the edge and sat down. His bare feet scraped the brick.

Mercutio poked his head out of Ethan's pocket. His nose twitched. His whiskers gleamed in a flash of lightning. A fat drop of rain plopped on his furry head, right between his ears, and the mouse ducked back down into the safety of Ethan's pocket. Ethan laughed again.

"I know who you are," Edna said quietly from the doorway.

Ethan didn't flinch. He knew she'd been there all along. "I know."

"I know what you are." She took a step out onto the roof. Ethan heard her hand tightening on the door. She didn't want to let go but was compelled closer.

"I know," he said again.

Somewhere below, a fire was burning. Ethan could smell the smoke, feel the heat on his sensitive skin, the embers brushing against his face. A piece of paper floated up and landed on the ledge next to his hand. - boy could make out nothing of his face now, and something about the still figure there distracted him. He started to say something again but - That was all the little bit of paper said. Ethan snatched it up before the wind could carry it away again. The paper crumbled to dust in his fingers. "Come here," he said to Edna.

She came. Slowly, her feet leaving heavy impressions in the rocks. And then she was beside him. Smoke stained her skin and made it greasy. The bruise on her eye shone. He didn't say anything, but she sat down beside him, her legs dangling like his, her heels against the building and her feet against the air.

"You are not afraid," Ethan said. Edna shook her head. "No," she affirmed in a whisper.

"Burn it to the ground," he said.

Her head turned to look at him. He didn't know what she saw, but her face became closed off, far away. It wasn't fear. It wasn't amazement. There was nothing there. The fire below reflected in her eyes. "Burn it to the ground," she repeated.

Ethan smiled. Really smiled. Did she see the fangs? Did she finally feel afraid? He held his hand out to her and she took it.

"I trust you," she murmured.

Ethan laughed. "You shouldn't."