One moment, I was ready to disappear with my incubus boyfriend, and the next moment, evil forces dragged him away from me and hid him somewhere in the shadows. I did not move or scream as utter shock had delayed my reaction. My brain was still in denial and working hard to process the situation. “Desmond.” With a feeble and shaky voice, I called his name and stretched my hand towards where he was taken.“Where is he?” I snarled at Madame Long. Helpless by the matters of the heart, I had again switched sides after promising not to do that. “Again, with the sympathy, weakling?” The old witch huffed. “It’s embarrassing how easily you can get manipulated by an incubus.”“You had no right to command an attack on him after he and I had resolved the issue!” I roared.She moved back her neck and squinted her eyes. “Silly Billy weakling. Do you think him setting your contract on fire, insulting us, and offering you to live with him forever in some uninhabitable place where you would have to s
My chest muscles constricted, and my breathing became irregular. The candlelight had revealed something so disturbing and sinister. I prayed my vision was only tricking me because the thing before me, I believed, was the Devil himself in the flesh.Surrounded by shattered glass and fragments of wooden mirror frames stood an unconfined demon. All of it was visible to me, and it was just as real as me. Its black slit pupils enclosed by striking gold irises were looking directly into my eyes. I moved my gaze up and down its body, trying to make sense of what was before me. Its appearance differed from the ones trapped in the mirror. Attached to its bald head were two distinct goat-like horns. And a long tail hung from its bottom. The shape of his body was in between a human and an otherworldly being, leaning more towards the former. Its skin was vantablack: the darkest shade of black. If I were not mistaken, Satan was depicted like that in movies, and also religious people had a simila
In the past, I had never been the person who could make quick decisions under high pressure; now, my situation was no less than a horror movie. The battle of my heart was still ongoing. At that rate, I knew the war between the white witches and spirits would have a victor without my interference. What I truly wished for was a truce and peace. However, all of them were in the mood for bloodshed.Spirit screeches reverberated around the room. I didn’t know whether they belonged to my incubus boyfriend or someone else, but the guilt of indecision and not helping him was consuming me. Desmond could leave me forever. I was aware of that. Muffling my panicked crying with a hand, I lowered myself onto my knees, anticipating the fight to take a darker turn. Madame Long continued to blow powders and ashes into the air. Some of it got inside my throat and had me coughing badly on my fours. After recovering from the effects of a clogged throat, I stood up to find something rather disturbing.
I distinctly remembered the first time I had stared into Desmond’s radiating gold eyes. His siren glow had spoken to me. It had promised me troubles and sexual paradise. With a single look, he had the good girl in me completely trapped and hypnotized. I was at his mercy and guilty of submitting to his alluring charms. To remove blame from myself, I had always accused him of controlling my mind, but in reality, the intense kiss and everything else that followed was a conscious choice. To summarize it in simple words, I would say that an incubus’s sensuality is irresistible. How can one not give in when you’re starving and the most flavorful, visually appealing, and aromatic snack is right before you?It was all in the past, as currently, I was being challenged with a new undesirable reality.What would you do if your sexy boyfriend turned into the beast of your nightmares and killed your friends? The correct answer would be to hit him in the face and get the hell out of there because
I put my fingers underneath Elaine’s nose. Relief washed over me when I felt her warm breath against my skin. She was alive, and so was Madame Long. Desmond had moved their unconscious bodies to the master bedroom as I was too afraid to enter the attic again. My eyes looked fixedly at their stomachs. The gory scene of blood oozing out of open dagger wounds kept replaying in my brain. It was now all in my head as their clothes were spotless, just like Mason’s. How did Desmond do that? I had never been in the presence of someone who displayed such violence while also showing some remorse for their actions. It felt as if I was looking at the craft of a talented, neat criminal. Should I be impressed or repulsed by it?“See, I told you they are alive,” said Desmond unabashedly. “You were worried about nothing.”I gave him a pissed side-eye glare. “You must be kidding me! It’s not normal, Desmond. You shouldn’t act as if nothing’s wrong. It’s sickening to see how none of this affects you.
Alistair wore a beaming smile that stretched from ear to ear. It accentuated the smile lines around his mouth and eyes. His excitement at seeing us was a bit peculiar. I turned to Desmond and found the polar opposite expression on his face. The hostility he felt for the spirit before us was incontrovertible.“Hi, Alistair_” I began.“We don’t have time for niceties, so let’s cut to the chase,” Desmond cut me off. He advanced toward the spirit with an alpha male demeanor. Before I had the chance to tell him to calm down, he forcefully grabbed Alistair's collar.“Desmond! You’re already misbehaving. Let go of him. Have you completely dropped basic manners and adopted the ways of gangsters now?” I rebuked him.Immediately, he let go of his collar, but his aggressive energy didn’t reduce.Alistair brushed his clothes. His wide smile had reduced to a subtle one. “Although I don’t know what I have done to deserve this rough treatment, it’s alright, Cassidy,” he said.“Uh, I, I, I_” I stamm
Who was pulling me back? Since it happened so fast, everything was a haze. All I knew was that it wasn’t Desmond because I could see where his hands were. Also, the speed and intensity of the force made it evident that my abductor was a supernatural being.Once it stopped, my surroundings completely changed. I looked around and found the cemetery gate. It had dragged me just outside the graveyard. Who was it? My internal fears deemed it to be the disturbance by my aunt’s demon underlings. The being responsible for it boldly revealed itself to me. Anxiety exited my body when I saw the person was Alistair. “Thank God it’s you! My heart was about to explode out of my chest when I felt hands around me,” I said, heaving a sigh of relief. “Why did you come back? After how badly Desmond treated you, I thought you would never return.”Alistair tousled his hair regretfully. “Again, my stupid conscience didn’t allow me to leave you in the lurch. I had to come to save you from that toxic monste
I knew it was over when Desmond put his arms around my waist. How could I protect myself from the clutches of a demon? Pushing and struggling, I made a rough landing. To my good fortune, my hands instantly saved my face from hitting the cold stone floor. Where was I? I didn’t have a good feeling about the stone bricks. They looked old and vintage.“Cass, are you okay?” Desmond grabbed my arm, supporting me to get up. Once I got back on my feet, my jaw hit the ground. The walls, just like the floor, were made of stone bricks. My head moved up to find a sky-high ceiling and an oval wooden rustic iron chandelier with candles hung in the middle. It appeared to be the interior of a medieval castle hall. “Baby, forgive me for letting you fall. You were struggling so much that you accidentally slipped out_” Desmond began.“Shut the fuck up!” I said, fazed by my surroundings. “Where are we?”“We needed a quiet and empty place to talk, so I brought us to an abandoned castle,” Desmond replied
Two months had gone by since the war at Voocrod. With Jane and Benedict out of our lives, things were back to normal, mostly. The loss of our father was irrevocable, but we were grateful to have each other. Mom’s emotions had gotten under control, and she was slowly returning to her old self. Desmond was now her favorite person in the world. She could barely have a family dinner without him. It made me so happy to see their unique bond.Mia was doing well, too. Her scars had healed, and she had met a wonderful guy a month ago. Things were going pretty well. Her new boyfriend, Jack, had become Mom’s second favorite, so we expected a lot from that relationship.Derrick’s life had changed drastically as well. He now believed in magic and demons and supported my relationship with Desmond. What shocked us the most was when he and Becky announced they were officially dating. Good for Becky! She was a sweetheart who had always done so much to help me and my family. I couldn’t wait to have h
“Help, help!” I threw my fists at the window panically. In the building’s empty parking lot, there was no one to hear my distress-filled screams. I tried the door handle again, but it wouldn’t budge.Benedict’s demons had me cornered. Nothing was off limits for them. The fact that Alistair was on the enemy’s side was a greater shock than finding Desmond’s truth. I believed Xolmon because he acted so normal. I should have known better. Why did I agree to meet him, knowing very well that demons could look and behave normally?“Save the screaming for when we torture you, girl,” Hepzibah, the demoness, taunted. Her sharp claws gripped my shoulders, pulling me out of my seat. I struggled and shrieked. Even though it was pointless, I called Desmond’s name. The monster of my nightmares had caught me. Who would save me now? He was the only one I trusted after God.As I was kicking my feet, everything became a blur. I could hear the demons snickering at me. It all faded slowly. I had passed ou
My heart throbbed with the clock’s second needle. It was around midnight. Desmond had left fifteen minutes ago for Voocrod, leaving me and my family at Becky’s apartment. The much-awaited final war had begun. I had begged him to take me with him, but he said it was too dangerous. “Humans suffer the most during spirit wars, Cass,” Desmond had said. “Fiends will not hesitate to spill innocent blood. Violence is entertainment for them. What I fear the most is them taking you hostage to hurt me. Your love is my strength and my weakness. It doesn’t matter how close we are to winning the war. I would drop everything and sacrifice myself to save you.”Now, I was forced to wait without updates. Desmond wasn’t the only one who cared. I cared about his safety, too. Resting on Becky’s couch, I prayed to God for our victory and to bring my demon back to me unharmed.Becky wasn’t there because she had to leave to see her grandmother because of a medical emergency. My friend, however, was kind en
The water rapidly hit the rocks in a narrow stream. I watched it continuously flow. Nature is truly a miracle and the best way to refresh your mind. However, nothing can ease the anxiety of a current challenge. I couldn’t stop thinking about what Ophelia had said about not seeing a trapped child there. The war that was soon to come entailed death and imprisonment. What would I choose for my aunt when I wasn’t sure about her sins? Punishing an innocent would eat me up alive. There had to be a solution.“There is, Cass,” Desmond spoke. For the past five minutes, gushing water was the only sound around us. “I brought you here to clear your mind. Don’t punish yourself because of Jane.”With a lowered head, I walked up to Desmond. “I am sorry. Don’t you find this extremely troubling?”“No.” Desmond shook his head. “Because the solution is obvious.”“Which is what?” I said, desperate for anything.“Jane hasn’t given us any proof of her innocence. We don’t trust anyone,” Desmond began. I wa
I put a hand over my eyes, knowing very well that I could only conceal my face and not my thoughts from the two demons around me. How could I control my thoughts? For us humans, our minds and social media are the only two places to criticize safely.It was so unfair to have that taken away from you. I wished for the ground beneath to swallow me to save everyone from further embarrassment.“But I didn’t say anything, mother,” said Desmond. He must be trying to divert her attention from me. My boyfriend was very forgiving of my insulting thoughts. Was his mother the same?The lady opened her eyes to reveal the most striking golden eyes. The color was similar to Desmond’s siren irises, but they lacked the glow and appeared more natural. Her overall look reminded me of Rose from Titanic. She had red hair with the fairest skin and an elegant fashion sense.“You know I have a gift for this. You were about to introduce this beautiful human girl to me as your partner,” she spoke with a toothy
It was finally happening. Desmond’s tongue was so deep in my mouth that I could feel us becoming one. I didn’t want it to end. My mind couldn’t help but compare the kiss to the one I had shared with Charles. Kissing Charles was slobbery and warm. Whereas kissing Desmond was discovering infinite pleasures within your mouth while losing all control and touch with your surroundings. My feelings for my demon were just as massive as the difference between the two make-out sessions, which amplified the bliss even more.I liked how one of Desmond’s hands was still on my boob. He had already helped me explore the pleasures of my body in countless ways. Yet, I still wanted more. Not even an eternity locked and lost in his body could quench my thirst for him. I was addicted to him.Desmond’s hands traveled around my body, searching for more to grab and feel. With the same intention, I unzipped his jacket and slipped my hands underneath his shirt, feeling his soft skin and ripped body.“Cass, s
My eyes dropped to Desmond’s mouth, desperately waiting for a yes to come out of there. We had been apart for far too long, and only a few days away from him had felt like a million years of torture.All of Desmond’s lies and mistakes were forgiven and forgotten. His unusual appearance and true self became a part of me. Nothing mattered in that moment. My aching heart only sought solace in the man before me. He was the one. He had always been the one. The moment he walked into my life, no other man interested me. My knight in shining armor was perfect. His horns, wings, and tail were a bonus, not an unholy defect or curse. I wholeheartedly accepted and loved him exactly the way he was.Desmond was testing my patience with his silence. Deliberately, I filled my mind with passionate thoughts, letting him know how every inch of me longed for him. I could see the result of my experiment in his eyes. They looked back at me with amazement and a yearning more intense than mine.“Are you su
Standing close to the guest room window, I felt the chilly city air fan my face. Without a blanket over my shoulders, I would freeze to death. I watched the sparkling city lights and the never-ending sounds. It was two in the morning, and the streets were full of life. I would have found the scene enjoyable if my mind wasn’t troubled by a hundred different emotions.Thanks to Becky for having a three-bedroom apartment so I could have a separate guest room. That day’s events were bizarre and too overwhelming. My mind was all over the place, and I needed time to rearrange my thoughts and think of my next step.“Can I come inside?” Desmond knocked at the ajar door.“Yes, please,” I said, repositioning my blanket more fashionably. The most dominant thoughts in my mind were about Desmond. There was so much that needed to be said.Desmond walked inside, closing the door behind him. My eyes remained glued to the window. I could hear him slowly approaching me. There was tension and hesitation
Panic took over me when I heard footfalls for the third time. The first two times, it was Becky, but the steps felt heavier that time. I huffed and closed my hands into tight fists, almost piercing my skin with my sharp nails.“Cass, we’re back,” Desmond’s voice confirmed my fear.I turned around with partially opened eyes, prepared to face the wrath of my mother. Mom was unconscious in Desmond’s arms, and Becky was shocked beyond words.“Oh my God!” Becky’s jaw was almost touching the floor, and her eyes were twitching in a concerning way. “Am I magic now? Do the rules of the real world apply to me anymore, or am I now a boundless spirit floating in this never-ending universe we call life?”“None of that. You flew here at an extraordinary speed with me. The rules remain the same.” Desmond burst Becky’s bubble.Becky stared at Desmond like he was an alien or an unbelievable illusion. “I still can’t believe you are real. Cassidy must be hallucinating. He can’t be that good-looking and