Chapter 5
The next morning was a blur of dizziness and worried looks.
Asmodeus pretended that none of it was serious.
“William, did you get any glowing plants for the garden?”
“Excuse me? No, I didn't, young master. Why would you ask?”
“No? Then was I dreaming yesterday?”
“Young master, are you alright? Do you need anything?”
“No, I'm fine. I guess I had a very vivid dream.”
Asmodeus had just entered the dining room, glowing from his two-hour-long bath.
“Asmo, have your breakfast quickly. We have to go to the dermatologist at 11 a.m.”
“What am I getting if I come?”
“A report explaining your paleness.”
“I don't wanna go.”
“And ice cream.”
“I'll be ready by 10.”
“15 minutes?”
“Yep.”
“I doubt it.”
“Oh.”
A tired sigh escaped Cassandra while Asmodeus spent most of the breakfast trying to save it from Lucy.
—
Racks lined the walls of the dressing room, each packed with clothes he rarely wore.
Asmodeus had a very important decision in front of him: what to wear?
“Young master, please hurry up.”
“Wait William, I gotta decide the exact shade of black.”
“The shade young master?”
“Well, Mom said different shades of same colour can make a person look different.”
“I see. Please make it quick.”
“Sure… Let's see, I'm looking like a ghost in this charcoal one.”
He tossed it over his shoulder toward the hanger. Thankfully, William caught it before it fell to the ground.
“Raven black isn't good.”
“Young master…”
“Damn the matte.”
“Young master, there's only 40 minutes left.”
“You know what? This works.”
Asmodeus came out with a navy blue hoodie.
“Young master, that is a completely different colour.”
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
“Yes but I don't look like a ghost. And that is a win, William.”
"I see, now please hurry up. Madam is waiting."
"Sure but..." Asmodeus ran towards the mirror again.
“YOUNG MASTER!”
“Alright, alright.”
“Oh Asmo, shall we get going?”
“Okay!”
The sound of the engine starting was familiar, yet Asmodeus felt it to be too loud.
"What's wrong sweetie?"
"The engine is loud."
"But it has always been this way though."
“Let's go in Lucy’s car, I don't like this sound. That one’s much quieter.”
“Well if you don't like it, let's switch the car.”
“David, let's take the other one. Come on William.”
Once they were in the car Asmodeus put his headphones on. It wasn't playing anything but was cancelling the noise for him.
The traffic was as bad as always and Asmodeus was just staring out the window, saddened by the no screens rule.
“Strange… Mama, see that kid there? Why is he so… agitated? Scratching others and all?”
“That's impossible to know. Why do you ask?”
“I don't know.”
Cassandra gave him a confused look and just left it at that. But it was different for Asmodeus.
‘Something's wrong over there. That kid is absolutely draped in something. I just can't see it.’
‘Wait what if it’s because of the glasses and I wasn't dreaming yesterday?’
‘No. No it's not because of the glasses. And I guess I was dreaming.’
Before Asmodeus could do any more experiments, the light turned green and the car drove off.
Asmodeus had to reluctantly let it go.
---
William had already taken the appointment and both mother and son went right in.
“Dr. Anna?” Cassandra asked the red haired young doctor.
“Yes. Please come in. And are you Asmodeus?
Asmodeus nodded. Squinting his eyes at the brightly lit hospital.
‘Why is everything so bright here? Are my eyes wrong or the brightness was turned up by someone?’
"You are quite pale." Anna said, snapping Asmodeus out of his thread of questions.
Anna pulled Asmodeus’ lower eyelids. Asmodeus tried to back off instinctively.
"Stay still."
"It's auto." He protested.
"Your hands."
Asmodeus didn't complain this time…
‘I hate this human.’
Externally at least.
"Hm... they're pale as well. Is this recent?"
"He's been this way since yesterday. And he's been fainting, though I don't know if they are related."
"Oh, they are definitely related. It could be anemia. I recommend going to primary care or a practitioner or a hematologist."
"I see. Thank you doctor. Say thanks Asmo."
"...Thanks, Doc." Asmodeus’ face on the other hand, told another story.
---
In the car, William called Henry for an urgent appointment.
“I hate that human.”
“Asmo, you just met her.”
“I still hate her.”
Cassandra sighed at her son's comments.
“Also, why call others humans when you’re the same.”
“Cause I can't remember the names.”
“I blame your dad for this.”
“Yay, I'm not blamed.”
A call distracted Cassandra. And William became the new victim.
“William, why’s the car so loud?”
“Young master, it's really quiet. Even Lucy finds it comfortable.”
“No, she finds it tolerable. Anyway tell me why…”
William suffered with all his strength while urging David to drive faster.
Thankfully, they arrived quickly.
In Henry’s hospital, Asmodeus scrunched his nose at the smell, hifting uncomfortably in his seat.
'Damn, this smell is stronger than the previous hospital's. It needs better cleaning.’
The hospital lights and white coats stung his eyes. He removed his glasses, handing it to William.
"Mom, can we just go back?"
"Kid, you've been fainting since yesterday. I'm not letting you go without getting you a checkup."
Asmodeus sank deeper into his seat in defeat, puffing his cheek as usual. But his thoughts shifted quickly.
His eyes fell on the ring again.
'Why is this ring glowing so red? And why can't anyone see it?' Asmodeus continued to fiddle with the ring.
‘Am I really going crazy? Is this what dad warned me about when he said phone has side effects?’
"Mrs. White? Please come in." A nurse called.
Henry smelled strongly of antiseptic and coffee while ripping through files.
'Ah! Now even people smell? At least it isn't that bad.'
“Are you Dr… Hen or a moving painting?”
"I'm Dr. Henry, kid. Neither hen nor painting. And put your glasses on next time."
"I'm an adult." Asmodeus protested, getting a chuckle out of both Cassandra and Henry.
"Anyway, what seems to be the problem? Did you go to Dr. Anna?"
"We did and she said something about anemia, though she wasn't sure."
"Let's do another check-up. Well show me your eyes adult."
“Damn you!” Asmodeus complied nonetheless.
"It could be that. But I recommend getting blood tests for clearer diagnosis."
"I see..." Cassandra was worried and so was Asmodeus. But for a different reason…
"Are injections included?"
"They are, but you're an adult right, why is it—"
Asmodeus was hiding behind Cassandra, visibly shivering.
"It's not gonna hurt, I promise, Mr. Adult." Henry's grin wasn't convincing to Asmodeus.
'I hate this hen… human too.' Asmodeus clearly had it written over his face.
"Calm down Asmo, it'd be fine." Cassandra patted Asmodeus' head with practiced ease. It comforted Asmodeus but not for long.
"Can I run away?"
"Absolutely not." "No."
"Damn.”
“Now please go to the lab on the first floor.”
“Is there a fire exit there?”
“Yes, there is. And you may not use it as injections exit.”
“How did you know, Dr. Hen?”
“I just do and it's Henry not hen.”
“Asmo why do you always forget his name?”
“I don't know either.”
The problem was that Asmodeus genuinely didn't know.
Henry had put an order for complete blood count and handed Cassandra a note.
"Again the pathology is on the first floor, not outside the hospital. All the best, adult."
Henry's cheerful wish was met with Asmodeus' glare.
'Wait did that kid have vertical pupils. That's not possible. I need coffee.'
---
The entire walk Asmodeus calculated all possible escape routes only to be pulled by Cassandra.
'Oh my, people move slower please. These footsteps are ringing my ears. And my headache keeps increasing.'
"Ma... the lights are too bright here..." Asmodeus complained while rubbing his eyes.
"But I can't ask them to reduce them sweetie. Is it too bad?"
"It is."
---
In the pathology, Asmodeus hid his face in Cassandra's arms while a nurse tied a tourniquet.
"Form a fist."
"To hit the needle?"
"...please don't do that."
"Relax your hand."
"I'm relaxed." Asmodeus mumbled.
"You’re visibly shaking."
"That's the most I can relax."
The nurse would try to find the vein only for Asmodeus to move his arm.
“Sir, please hold your arm still.”
“Can you guys not use a blade or something instead of damn needles?”
“No we can't. Now please relax and let me find a vein.”
The moment the needle touched—
“ARHHHH!”
“It doesn’t hurt that much sir.”
“There, there, Asmo it's over.” Cassandra continued to pat Asmodeus’ head.
“That's it, it's over. Keep this cotton on for a while till the bleeding stops.”
“Take extra blood if you want. Don't poke me again.”
“That is not how it works sir. We'll inform you once the results are out.”
“You keep reminding me your dad had a hand in raising you.”
“Does that mean I look like an old man?”
“I don't have any words anymore.”
Asmodeus had just one thought throughout the ride home,
'Why did the blood smell tasty?’