Arden had never seen a demon’s soul before. Even though Benny insisted that demon’s didn’t have a soul, there was still something that Arden could see rising up from the pentagram in the middle of room. It didn’t glow like a gold light like a human’s soul did – it burned red like fire. It twisted and writhed in the air, wind blowing furiously around it. It was trapped inside the pentagram for now. The door behind them slammed shut. Gabriel tried to pull it open, but it wouldn’t budge.

Officer Brad stepped forward, staring up at the demon in awe. He moved closer to the pentagram, not taking his eyes of the red light in front of him.

“Brad, don’t touch it!” Benny yelled over the wind, “It’s not an angel!”

“It’s beautiful,” Brad said, more to himself than anyone else, “Oh, angel Raphael, I humbly offer myself as your vessel.”

“Brad, no!” Benny and Arden yelled. But Brad had already dropped to his knees, landing inside of the pentagram and holding his arms outstretched. The red light slammed against Brad’s body, leeching inside him through his eyes, nose, mouth and ears. Brad gagged and yelled as the demon took possession over his body. His skin cracked and burned where the demon’s soul touched him, and Arden winced at the familiarity of it all. Brad’s joints popped as his arms twisted around him, before he stood like a puppet being moved by invisible strings. He turned around, his head twisting like an owl’s and his mouth curled into a cruel smile. Brad’s eyes glowed red, and Arden could feel Benny tremble.

“Hello, brother,” Crantraeth said, his voice deep and hissing. Benny swallowed a lump that appeared in Arden’s throat as he stood their ground.

“Crantraeth. It’s been … not long enough,” Benny said. Arden wanted to say something to comfort their friend, but they were scared too. They were trapped in a room with a centuries old demon that their friend had locked away. This was a very bad spot for anyone to be stuck in.

Crantraeth looked down at Brad’s body, examining the hands and touching his chest, still smiling. He clenched and stretched his fists, admiring Brad’s muscles.

“It’s been centuries since I had a body,” he said, “Did you know that’s the first thing they do to you in Hell when you’ve been imprisoned? They take away your body. Torturing the soul is much more painful.”

“I know,” Benny said. His voice was catching in their throat, “I was there when they separated you from your body. Lucifer made me watch. His way of keeping me from following in your footsteps, I supposed.”

“You definitely followed your own path,” Crantraeth said. He looked Arden up and down disdainfully, “A blind child? That’s the best vessel you could –”

Crantraeth cut himself off, seeing the burns that covered Arden’s forearms. His eyes widened.

“You’re trapped in that little meat sack?” he roared, outraged. Arden wanted to flinch, but Benny managed to keep their face even, “Lucifer went too far –”

“This wasn’t His doing,” Benny interrupted, “I got myself in this situation. This is my punishment for trying to break the rules. I’ve accepted it.”

Crantraeth frowned, “What happened to you, little brother? Before I was imprisoned you shared my beliefs that Lucifer’s rules were unjust. We deserve control over the humans, not to be trapped inside of them!” he bellowed.

“Times change,” Benny retorted, “You’re going back to your prison, Crantraeth. Even if I have to drag you back there myself.”

“You think you can manage that?”

“You’re not in the right body. Brad hasn’t touched a drop of your blood from that idol,” Benny said, pointing at the burns on his flesh. They seemed to be cracking and getting bigger. For a brief moment, Crantraeth actually looked nervous.

“You’ll burn him out and get sucked back down into your prison again. There’s no way out of this,” Benny continued. Arden felt a swell of pride towards their demon, and they felt a smile tug at the edges of their mouth.

Crantraeth looked almost amused. “What, do you think He will reward you for bringing me back? That he’ll free you from this child if you stop me?” the demon taunted.

“I don’t care about that!” Benny snapped, his psychic energy charging up under Arden’s skin, “You’re not hurting anyone on earth! Not as long as I’m still alive!”

Crantraeth narrowed his eyes. He held up one hand and the blade that was still clutched in Ted’s bloody grip flew into his hand. He pointed the blade at Misty, who was hiding behind Arden and Benny with the priest. Arden was dimly aware that Father Gabriel was muttering some prayer under his breath.

“That one has my blood in her,” Crantraeth said, “I think I’ll take her instead of this one.”

Benny pushed with all of his strength to slam Crantraeth into the wall behind him. The swirling wind finally stopped blowing. Benny strode across the room quickly, slamming Arden’s fists into Crantraeth’s face. He punched hard enough that Arden’ could feel the bones in their hands crack, but Benny blocked them from feeling the pain. This was going to be brutal, and he didn’t want Arden to get any more hurt than they had to.

Before their fist could connect with Crantraeth’s face again, the demon caught it with ease and narrowed his red eyes. He pushed Benny back and stood up, towering over them. He bared his teeth and growled. He twisted Arden’s arm until the bone started to crack, making Benny and Arden scream.

A ball of fire came flying through the air, slamming into the side of Crantraeth’s face. He let go of Arden’s arm and Benny scrambled to their feet. Misty’s hands were burning with fire and she was glaring at the demon.

“A witch, too!” Crantraeth said, amused, “Oh, you and I will have fun together.”

“In your dreams,” Misty snapped, throwing another ball of fire at the demon. Crantraeth ducked and growled. Benny looked over at the priest, who was still clinging to the gun and praying.

“Father, where’s the holy water?” Benny demanded. Gabriel’s wide eyes looked from the demon towards the closed door. Benny swore under his breath. Gabriel had left it out in the hall.

“You had one job, priest!” Arden and Benny snapped. Misty cried out and was thrown into a broken desk. The fire around his fists flickered out, and Arden could see a huge gash on her forehead. Crantraeth made her way over to her, cracking his neck. Benny picked up a desk and threw it across the room as his brother.

“Get away from her!” he yelled. Crantraeth whirled towards Benny and was on him in a second. He punched Benny in the stomach, making them double over and gasp for air.

At least his attention’s off Misty, Arden groaned quietly.

We need that holy water. Or something holy to stop him, Benny said, Didn’t Gabriel bring a crucifix or something? What kind of useless priest can’t even bless a demon away?

Arden looked back over at Misty. Gabriel was helping her stand up, nearly burning himself on the flames that were trying to come out of her hands. He did the sign of the cross again before picking her up to her feet.

I’ve got a bad idea, Arden said. Benny, who saw the thought form in Arden’s head, nodded in approval before slamming into Crantraeth, keeping his attention on them.

“Gabriel! Bless Misty!” Arden yelled as Benny threw as many punches as he could at Crantraeth’s face. The more punches they threw the less impressed and injured the demon seemed to be getting.

“What?” the priest cried, looking at Misty in confusion.

“You can bless holy water, can’t you?” they snapped, “Make some holy fire!”

Benny swung Arden’s arm, throwing a broken chair at Crantraeth. He knocked the chair away with a wave of his hand, looking irritated now. He reached down and wrapped his hands around Arden’s neck, squeezing tightly. Arden gasped for breath, glaring into Crantraeth’s burning red eyes. They could feel Benny starting to panic, throwing little things at his brother, trying desperately to get him to loosen his grip. The demon barely flinched.

“Relax, brother. Once I get into my proper body, you can have this one,” Crantraeth said, tightening his grip. Arden felt their neck crack and spots started to dance in front of their eyes. “You’ll be free of this pathetic, broken prison once the soul is gone.”

Things stopped flying through the air, and Arden started to get the control back over their limbs. Benny was getting weaker. Arden tried to claw at Crantraeth’s forearms, trying to fight for the both of them, but it was pointless. They weren’t going to survive this.

“Easy, Benetraeth. It’ll be over soon.”

Arden gasped out for breath, but was surprised when Benny’s voice managed to slip out.

“It’s Benny, you jackass,” he hissed.

The scars on Arden’s arms burned painfully as their hands gripped Crantraeth’s arms tightly. Benny dug Arden’s nails into Brad’s flesh, cutting into the skin and making the other demon bleed. Arden’s eyes widened as their burns suddenly were stained black like their eyes.

Don’t get burned again, Arden, Benny said, his voice sounding distant. Arden cried out as the black stain drained down to their hands and seeped into the cuts their nails had made. The blackness swirled into a shocked Crantraeth’s veins, and before Arden’s vision completely slipped away, they could see that Crantraeth’s red eyes turn black.

The grip around Arden’s throat left and the dropped to the floor, coughing and gasping for air. They looked around frantically, but they could only see darkness. Benny’s vision was gone and, Arden realized, for the first time since they were a kid, they were alone in their head.

“Arden! Move!” Misty shouted. Arden turned towards where he voice had come from and was shocked to see that they could still see her soul light. Even more shocking was that it was the brightest they had ever seen it. Especially in the light around her hands.

Holy fire …

“Misty, wait—!” Arden started to yell in protest. Their whole body was suddenly tugged and pulled away from Crantraeth’s feet, sliding on the floor across the room and into the wall. Nobody was near them, and nobody had touched them. Arden looked towards where they had been, shocked to see two swirling masses, one black and one red, flowing over each other in the shape a a man. It was Benny and Crantraeth, fighting each other for control over Brad’s body.

“Arden, it’s okay!” Benny called out from the black mass. It was jarring hearing his voice from outside of Arden’s head, “Misty, do it!”

Misty didn’t hesitate. Arden watched in horror as the light flowed from her hands, slamming into the two demons. There was a thud as Brad’s body was slammed back into the wall from the force of Misty’s fiery blast. The demon’s souls twisted around each other, the holy fire burning them. They both screamed in agony, the stench of burning flesh filling the air. Arden squeezed their eyes shut, not wanting to see Benny’s soul burn.

The demonic screams subsided, and Arden felt hands lightly touching their shoulder. They opened their eyes and saw Misty’s warm soul over them. They could hear her sniffling.

“I’m sorry Arden,” she whispered, her voice tight as she spoke, “I didn’t want to hurt Benny.”

Arden let her help them stand up and they looked towards where they were pretty sure the Brad’s body was lying. They couldn’t see any soul light coming from the corner, but they made their way over to where the body was anyway. They dropped to their knees and reached out, touching Brad’s arm, not recoiling at the heat radiating off his cracked, charred flesh. Tears dripped from Arden’s eyes as they tried to see any sign that Benny was still there.

The arm Arden was touching suddenly moved, and Benny’s voice groaned. The body had the faintest flicker of Benny’s black energy.

“Crantraeth’s gone, Arden,” came Benny’s voice, weak and raspy. Happy tears dripped from Arden’s eyes as they laughed. They clung to Benny’s hand tightly and nodded.

“Yeah, yeah he is, buddy,” they said, “I’m glad you’re still here.”

“Won’t be here for long,” Benny groaned, “I’m next. Shit, holy fire burns. Who knew?”

“No, no! You’ll be fine! You’ll be okay!” Arden protested, clinging to the demon’s arm. They looked towards where Misty was standing.

“Can you heal him? Do you – do you know a spell or something?” they pleaded.

“I don’t, Arden. I’m sorry,” Misty said. She was crying too now. Benny raised Brad’s other arm and rested the burned up palm on Arden’s shoulder.

“It’s alright, Misty,” Benny said, “I’m glad you’re safe.”

“No, no. There’s got to be something I can …” Arden trailed off, trying to think. They froze, an idea hitting them, “Possess me again. Get back inside me, you’ll be fine!”

“No,” Benny said, “We’ve been trying to get me out of you for years. You don’t deserve to be stuck with me forever.”

“No! I don’t want to you to go!”

“Arden, it’s too late. I’m dying, buddy. I couldn’t get back in you if I wanted too,” he explained. Benny reached up and wiped a tear off of Arden’s cheek, “It’s okay.”

Arden wiped the tears from their face and shook their head.

“I’m not ready for you to go,” they admitted, “You’re my friend.”

Maybe Arden imagined it, but they could have sworn they could hear the smile in Benny’s voice when he replied.

“You’re my friend too.”

Arden’s shoulders shook as they sobbed. The demon’s hand slipped from Arden’s shoulder and to the ground. Benny groaned one more time. His soul light was dimming, barely there anymore.

“Hey, Arden … I was right,” he said, his voice sounding weaker.

“Right about what, Benny?” Arden asked, his voice cracking through the tears.

“You do have a beautiful soul,” Benny whispered. His ragged breathing suddenly stopped. Arden put his hand on the demon’s chest. It didn’t rise and fall anymore.

Benny was gone.