As I had expected, Tarask emerged from the darkness once again to show himself to me.

“I thought it would be more appropriate to talk from face to face, pitiful thing. Honestly, what are you thinking? Let’s be clear.” He raised his blade against me, holding its tip right to my throat. “If I wanted to take over your body, I would have done so already. There is nothing I would prefer more than to search myself without the need of you or your kind. But I cannot.” 

“And why should I believe you? Who’s telling me you aren’t lying to myself to calm my nerves until I’m where you want me to be?” I couldn’t believe him. I mustn’t let myself get carried away. He was a beast willing to kill humans. He would kill me without batting an eye if he needed to. 

“None. Who should tell you something like this, pitiful thing?” He frowned, pulled the sword back and sled it into the sheath on his belt. “If I could simply prove it, I would. But there is no way to prove you’re without a certain intent. None which you’d understand at least.” 

“What’s that supposed to mean? Another insult?” I wasn’t in the mood to take any more verbal abuses. “Spit it out already!”

“What I’m trying to tell you, is, that I cannot prove to you, that I’m without any plans to take over your body. All I can assure you, is, that it’s simply impossible. Remember how your body reacted when I used my powers to defeat the lizard? If you can barely withstand a single use, how is your body supposed to hold myself efficiently?” 

“Is that the reason you’re changing me? So, you can enter me without problems? Creating your new perfect vessel?” I was sure I was right. After everything that had happened, it had to be the truth. A truth that shook me more than I wanted to admit. 

“Yes and no.” He sighed and shook his head. “Yes, I am trying to change you. But not to take over your body. It would take far too much time to reach this goal. I don’t have that time, pitiful thing. I don’t.” 

“Would you finally stop calling me that? First, I am not a thing. Second, I am not pitiful! I have a damn name and it’s Duncan. Try to remember it, will you?” I was furious, and I had no intention of backing down in this fight. He may be a demon, he may be on his way to devour me, but I wouldn’t take it lying down. 

“Fine.” He growled, but didn’t push the matter. “Duncan. Would you gracefully shut up for a second, so I can try to explain it in a way your simple human brain can grasp it?” 

“Maybe. If you finally stopped insulting me. What’s your damn problem with humans anyway?”

He didn’t bother to answer that question. Not that I expected an honest answer. He looked down on my kind, that much was obvious. There probably wasn’t another reason than him being the more powerful entity anyway.

“As I was trying to explain – I don’t have the luxury to wait until your body reaches a point where I could simply use it. But I need to get you to a point where I can use my powers without risking your death. Is that so hard to understand? I would gain nothing from losing you. Even worse. It would end up killing me as well.” 

“Wait, what? What do you mean, it would kill you as well?” That was news to me. So if I were to die, he would die with me? Was that the truth, or was he trying to lure me in? 

“As I tried to explain to you, I am not dead. Not now. But losing one's body without dying is an extremely difficult procedure. Not a miracle that just happens twice. If someone were to kill you now, we would both be doomed. So, if you are stupid enough to fight a rapist head-on instead of simply killing him safely, you are risking me as much as yourself.” He let out a deep sigh. For the first time since we had met, he seemed tired to me. Was that another trick? I wasn’t so convinced about it anymore.

“So, you were furious because I endangered us both?”

“Exactly.” He scratched his neck, monitoring me. “I get it, it is hard to understand for you, pi- Duncan.” He cleared his throat and step forward, pressing his hands against my shoulders. “But please understand, that from now on, my life is entwined with yours as much as I hate the fact. I had no choice. You were the only option to gain access where I needed it when I needed it.” 

I wasn’t comfortable with the strange body contact, but I didn’t brush him off. At least not for now. I was too focused on his words, trying to understand their meaning. “Ok, fine. Let’s say I might believe that claim. What now? Will you force me drink blood all the time? Will you force me to kill whenever you feel like it?” 

“I won’t.” He said it with so much conviction that I felt even more suspicious. Was he trying to appease me, so I wouldn’t hinder his plans any further? Was it the truth? “Duncan, I need you alive. I hate the fact, but I have no other choice. I am not out to kill humanity, nor do I have any interest in leaving a bloody trail. But if it’s me or them. I will not hesitate, and I expect you to do the same.” 

I still felt as if he tried to convince me too hard. How was I supposed to trust him after all that happened? He still was unwilling to tell me anything about him and his aims. I needed to be careful. If I let my guard down just a single bit, he might find a chance to rid himself of me. 

“I understand that you’re still wary. But I have my reasons to keep my silence, and I won’t change that. Your consent is not that important to me, and I won’t pretend it to be. I just hope you’ll realize that I am not out to devour you in time.” 

I wasn’t so sure about that.