Page 7 of Possess Us
I lie on my back, my hand above me and still chained, and I watch them. My friends. My monsters in the dark.
My demons.
They are the ones bound to Nate, Kai and Tyler. They are just as trapped as I am, forced to serve. Forced to supply power.
It’s the one thing we have in common. All of us are slaves.
They never answer my questions. Not without a riddle or a lie. But that is what demons do. They lie and deceive. I have seen them so clearly for months. But I have felt them my whole life. As a conduit, I have always had one foot in Hell, which is why I think the shadows and monsters have haunted me for my entire life.
I’m a bridge for them. A light in the dark.
One of them purrs and shifts, moving itself down the length of my body. Along my chest. Down to my stomach. Past my legs and tickling my feet.
The other lingers in the far corner, high in the ceiling as always.
But the one which speaks to me comes close, stopping an inch from my face.
Hello, Little Soul.
It’s a deep rumble of a voice. Otherworldly and soul-quivering.
‘Hello, Nightmare,’ I smile. ‘I’ve missed you. Where have you been?’
He and the others haven’t appeared to me in over a month. It’s strange to miss an apparition. In this case, three.
It is all Hallows’ Eve. Of course we came,he whispers back.
‘It’s Halloween?’ I ask. I had no idea.
You are burning again. Your wrist.
‘I am.’
Does it hurt?
‘Yes.’
It sinks closer.Do you like that it hurts? The truth now.
I shrug. ‘Sometimes.’ I glance at my wrist. The skin is blistered. My fingers are as bloodless as I have ever seen. I manage to twitch them, so that’s something, I suppose.
The dark shadow in the corner never speaks and rarely comes close. It slowly lowers and smothers my hand. It’s cold and tingling. A welcome relief from the heat. My eyes close, and I let out a little moan, relishing in the loss of the constant pain.
‘Thank you.’ My head lolls to the side, and my eyes close again. ‘Thank you… that feels so much better.’
The pull of sleep, or unconsciousness perhaps, is strong. I feel myself sinking into the blissful nothingness that often comes when I’m too exhausted and tortured to keep myself awake.
We have an offer for you.
I force my eyes open. Nightmare is right there and is all I can see. The ethereal mist, coiling and swarming. I feel his touch beneath my chin. I blink slowly. It’s taking all I have to stay awake.
‘Deals with demons never end well for the human.’
The Brotherhood would disagree. They enjoy wealth aplenty. Youth. Freedoms you can only dream of.
‘In exchange for their souls.’
Your soul belongs to us and always has. It doesn’t matter what you do. Where you go. How good you are. We have watched you all your life and have decided to keep you long after you are dead. At least this way, you will get something worth having before eternity, and us, claim you.
