Here he was again. Face to face with the corridor leading to the demon, a bucket of water and a brush in his hand. The air felt thicker today. Whether it was his own lungs protesting in fear, or the humid air from the rains yesterday he couldn’t be certain. One shaky step after the next, he progressed. The sounds of his footsteps deafening in his ears. His mind desperately tries to avoid the images of the man in his head. Yet it was useless. Trying to avoid thinking about it, just made him think about it more. Today, he will face his fears and is determined to put them to rest. Just a couple more steps and he would be there, he could see the turn in the corridor. He stopped.
He listened.
Nothing.
Arden continued with a deep, labored breath before turning the corner and peering into the cell. It was slightly brighter here today due to the sun’s rays peeking through the small window at the top of the room. But, even that light could not illuminate the room enough to see into the back of the cell. He set the lantern down and went to inspect the torch. It was still soaked from the day before, and there was no hope of re-lighting it today. He sighed. He should have brought a fresh one. The rustle of cloth from behind him froze him in his musings.
“You’re back.” The voice was deep yet playful. “People never come back.”
Arden turned around, trying to put on a brave facade. The prisoner was standing now, his hands draped through the bars. His eyes were exactly as he imagined. The unsettling feeling that he was in fact being watched all this time grew in his stomach. His eyes flickered away from the prisoner’s eyes, “Um. Hello. I’m here to clean the floors.”
The demon chuckled. It was a warm laugh, but something was odd about the way he spoke. While Arden’s voice bounced off the walls, the demon’s did not. It was as if he was speaking directly to him, and no one else could possibly hear it. Impossible, he thought. Although if he is truly a demon, it might not be as absurd as he thinks.
“You know, I’m truly flattered that you can’t stop thinking about me, I must have made quite the impression on you.” a blush crept up Arden’s neck and saturated his face. His grip tightened on the brush.
“Get out of my head, demon,” he spat. Praying that the low light conditions of the room were enough to conceal his flushed cheeks.
A boisterous laugh this time, accompanied by a smile. It was a lazy, cocky smile that only served to deepen Arden’s blush. “Why should I?”
That was his response? A flash of rage pulsed through his body, but he didn't dare answer right away. Because it was intrusive? Because it made him uncomfortable? Because you’re a demon. But the demon hadn’t done anything to him. Just stared at him in his thoughts. Could he even read his thoughts? Or could he only sense that he was thinking of him? The questions consumed him as he stood frozen in front of him.
“Relax, I’ll leave you be. You came back after all. I don’t have to frequent your mind if I get to see you again.”
“Again? You were asleep yesterday.``He realized too late that he had spoken this question aloud, but it only served to make the demon chuckle again.
“Was I?” Was he? Arden didn’t know for sure. But, he couldn't allow the demon to distract him, he was here to do his job and leave. With a scoff, Arden hunkered down on the floor, and began to scrub. He felt the demon’s eyes boring into him as he worked. Arden refused to make eye contact, he would do his job and leave. That was his intention anyways.
Arden heard the prisoner move, but his stare remained glued to the brush. The light was too dim to see much, but he could not risk being sucked into his gaze like he was in his dream.
The demon cleared his throat. Arden froze, but looked at the water on the floor to view the stranger instead of meeting his eyes directly, hoping to remain safe.
That was a mistake. There was no reflection in the water, only darkness with two piercing eyes threatening to consume him. He couldn’t break the stare, just as before, if not worse. He cursed himself, feeling his body go rigid, and the cold shackles of terror binding him to the spot. This time however he felt as if he was being pulled forward, into the abyss in front of him.
“Breathe and look at me.” he heard the voice say behind him, although he no longer knew who was speaking to him, or where he was. All he knew was void.
BANG.
That did it. Arden fell forward, his face slamming into the unforgiving cobblestone. He was disoriented and shaking. Not sure what to look at, or how to breathe. All he could do was sit there shaking, his face pressed to the ground.
“Hey, look at me.” In the state he was in, he couldn’t refuse. His body did it automatically. Their eyes met, but it wasn’t frightening. It wasn’t the unblinking stare from his vision, he just looked like a man. “Don’t stare at my reflection too long, you’ll go mad. And I rather enjoy your company thus far.”
Arden took the time to properly study the man’s face now. It was still as sharp as he remembered, but now that he was awake, it didn’t seem as harsh. He was quite handsome in fact. Nope, he pushed those feelings deep down and refused to think of them again.
“Thank you,” Arden said, his blush coming back, slowly righting himself from such an embarrassing position. “For saving me.”
The prisoner’s face flashed with an emotion Arden couldn’t quite place. Was it fondness? Surprise? It didn’t seem to be a negative feeling so he smiled gently at him. “My name is Erebus.” His hand was outstretched in greeting.
“Arden.” he offered, hoping that a demon knowing his name wasn’t dangerous, but he refused to take his hand
“You have magic within you.”
What? Magic? He had hoped, of course, that he might be able to cast spells and learn from the castle sorcerer, but it was a very difficult skill to learn. The silence grew thick between them as Arden pondered Erebus’s words. Why should he believe a demon?
Erebus spoke again, “ Our magic is very similar in nature, that is why you are so affected by me.” More questions swam in his head. Affected by a demon seemed like a terrible thing. What if he was taken advantage of? Used against his will. He shuddered at the thought.
“You are a paranoid one aren’t you.” His smile was akin to fondness. He backed away from the bars and went to sit down on his cot. “I can see your internal struggle, it’s written all over your face.”
The blush was back, full force. He felt it in his shoulders and in his chest. He wanted to deny it, label it as caution, not paranoia. But he took too long again, and knew that if he spoke now, it would only confirm the demon’s words. So instead he asked, “Are you going to hurt me?”
Erebus’s head snapped back to him with confusion. “Hurt you? I’m behind bars.” He gestured dramatically, as if to prove his point. “What do you expect me to do exactly?” He wasn’t mad, more amused by the question.But his phrasing was unnerving. It sounded like he was implying that if he were not behind bars, he would indeed hurt him.
“Well you can invade my thoughts for one.” Arden stated, trying to act calm despite his racing heart. Erebus laughed. Laughed louder than before, authentic amusement filling the room. It made Arden squirm with something near embarrassment.
“That was all you, my friend.” Friend? Also what did he mean that it was all him?
“Pardon?” Arden was standing now, absorbed in the conversation.
“By focusing on me with your mind, you called to me, and I answered. It is unusual to be called on by someone after all this time, but I have to admit, it is quite flattering. How could I possibly ignore your summons?” Erebus ran his hand through his hair, combing out knots and styling it to one side. “I cannot do anything to you, but our magics are similar and it makes your calls quite loud, so if you wouldn’t mind, please stop. I need my sleep.” He winked at him.
Arden opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. He struggled to form words, but anger and embarrassment consumed him and led to nothing but sputtering. “I- wait a minute! What do you mean we are similar? I am nothing like you!” He managed to get out after a minute of struggling. “I would never call to a demon!” he spat.
Erebus’s hands raised in a defensive manner. “I have said my piece. Do with it as you will.”
Arden stared at him, mouth clenched with fury. That’s all the demon was going to say? And he dares to say it with such a cocky smile? Demons truly are evil, manipulative creatures. Arden grabbed the brush and pale, almost forgetting the lantern before storming out of the room.
“See you later, Arden.” Erebus called, his voice still not producing an echo in the dank chamber.
Comments (0)
See all