"I'm feeling nauseous," I said to Tituba.

"Easy now, you need to rest a bit."

"Good morning, my child," said George Sibley as he approached.

"Good morning, Mr. Sibley," I said, glancing quickly.

"My wife is having a gathering with some friends this afternoon. Why don't you come visit me?"

"Forgive me, my lord, but the young master is not yet ready for... another meeting," Tituba finally said.

"Take care of him, Tituba," he said impatiently. "I don't want to wait any longer than I already have to have him again," he added, caressing my face before continuing on his way.

We walked along the poorly lit road by the torch Tituba carried. My body was ice-cold and trembling slightly. Despite Tituba's care, my body had not healed, though my strength had increased along with my hatred for old Sibley. Rage consumed me, and amid one of my outbursts came the proposal.

---

"Do you really want revenge on him?"

"I want to destroy that old man's life."

"I know how you can do it," she said, handing me a cup of tea mixed with various herbs.

"And what do I have to do?"

"Are you truly willing to pay the price? No matter what it may be?"

"I am."

---

With each step I took in the forest, I felt something growing inside me. The palms of my hands were sweating.

"Calm down, young master," she said.

"I don't want to do this anymore, Tituba," I pleaded. "Please, let's go back."

"You needn't fear this forest; it will take care of you."

"Please, Tituba."

We stopped upon reaching a clearing in the middle of the forest. We approached the enormous stone wall near an old tree with a twisted trunk and branches that curved like horns, devoid of life. Tituba sat me near the stone and gathered some twigs, bundling them together. She took the torch and set the twigs alight.

"Here, young master," she said, pulling me.

My back felt the cold ground, the dry leaves crackling as my body's weight met the earth. The heat from the fire warmed my skin on that cold night. Tituba began to remove my clothes; my body was completely naked. She took a vial of oil from her bag, closed her eyes, and concentrated.

"Let's begin. Calm yourself, young master."

She took some oil, rubbed it on her own lips, and then her fingers touched mine. Her fingers descended along my neck and chest in a straight line. Desperation began to overtake me.

"No. I don't want to do this anymore. Please, Tituba," I begged through my tears.

Her fingers continued downward, passing over my phallus and proceeding toward the middle of my buttocks. Then my body became numb, a mixture of anesthetic took over while I saw John looking at me as I screamed his name, begging for help. But his face became distorted and turned black, sharp, protruding teeth smiling at me as I cried for help.

My body was in John's arms; he looked at me with affection as he approached my face. My hands automatically held his face, and without saying a single word, my lips expressed the purest of feelings. Then his lips touched mine. The red eyes of the beast were on mine with that demonic smile. I felt something rising up my legs and beginning to fill me.

"Tell him what you want!"

"Please!" I begged.

"Say that you want it."

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" I screamed.

Then there was no more sound. Tituba looked at me triumphantly. There was no more pain in my body; I couldn't believe what was happening. Tears broke their containment as the young brown-skinned woman's arms comforted me.

"Calm down. Thanks to your sacrifice, the world will be yours. All yours."

SEVEN YEARS LATER

The flames from the fireplace warmed my skin. I never made a point of looking at my face, but after that day, I was tempted to admire myself. My brown skin contrasted with my light brown eyes, which had a new sparkle. My body seemed to have gained more volume, whereas before I felt ashamed to show it even to John, for being more slender than normal.

My muscles had gained new proportions, my form had become defined, and somehow the innocence in my face had disappeared, along with the pain on that cold night. My clothes had taken on a more refined tone, and my social status had changed a few years ago. Of course, nothing was clear, but being "adopted" by Sibley has its advantages. Now my surname had another value, and I had what I never thought I would have.

Mr. Sibley was seated near me in his wheelchair. His heavy, abundant body, like that of a pig for slaughter, was an ornament to my room. His eyes were wide and looking at me while thick saliva dripped from his mouth onto the bib on his chest. Sibley could no longer walk, talk, or express any emotion.

"Marcos," Isaac approached me.

"Hello, Isaac. What news of the world do you bring me today?"

"I saw a very dirty man today..." he said.

"Alberto," I interrupted, calling a tall, strong young man who assisted me with domestic matters with George. He appeared in the room, positioning himself beside my lover. "Take Mr. Sibley to his room, prepare his bath. It's time for his hygiene."

Alberto takes George in his arms and climbs the stairs. I look at Isaac and indicate that he can sit on the sofa. Isaac, like me, had changed over time. His hair had grown straight and black; its strands shimmered even in the dim light and covered the mark on his forehead. Isaac was one of the few people I conversed with in that town. He was a messenger for me when I needed one.

"Sorry, Isaac, please continue."

"It's all right, Master Sibley."

"You know you don't need to call me that, Isaac," I say, giving him a smile.

"You are so condescending with me."

"Don't see me as your master," I say, taking his hand and squeezing it. "I am your friend, Isaac, and always will be."

"I am grateful for that, young master."

"So, what were you going to tell me?" I ask, leaning back in my armchair.

"I think I saw a ghost in town today."

"A ghost?"

"Yes, I thought he was dead."

"And who might that be?"

"John Aurus."

For an instant, my heart races, my hands stop moving, my eyes focus on the flames of the fireplace.

"Is everything all right, young master?"

"Of course," I say, looking at Isaac with a half-smile. "Isaac, I need to rest now. Here is your payment." I hand him a small cloth package with its opening tied by a leather strap, coins inside.

"Thank you, young master," he says, taking the package, bowing slightly, and leaving the room.

I stand and walk to the living room window. I can see the illuminated living room of the Aurus house. I walk to the stairs and head toward the second floor of the house. I enter the room where my beloved lover lies, ready to sleep. His eyes follow me cautiously. I turn my back to him and begin to remove my clothes, one piece at a time, when Tituba enters the room.

"Young master, you know you should close the door when you enter," she says, reprimanding me.

"As always, taking care of me, Tituba," I say with a smile. "I believe you already know the latest news from this infernal city."

"John has returned."

"Yes."

"And what will you do?"

"I won't do anything. There's nothing I want to say to him."

"Do you no longer feel anything for him?"

"No," I say, looking at the wall while my hand touches the necklace I made with half the coin he gave me years ago. "He is dead, as he should have been at least."

"Excellent. You know today is a special day, don't you, young master?"

"I do. There is nothing I desire more."

"And Mr. Sibley?"

"I'll keep him quiet," I said, smiling. "One of my many joys, isn't it, my love?"

The torchlight illuminated the path in the forest, different from that night where I wished to erase all the pain and achieve vengeance against that fat old man. Tonight's plans were different. The path remained the same after so many years, and along the way, we gathered some twigs for the ritual to be performed.

The flames were high when I spread a black cloth on the ground. I lay down on it, waiting for Tituba to begin the ritual. There was no fear, only expectation. She burned herbs in an earthen vessel, took the vial with the oil, and closed her eyes, reopening them completely filled with darkness. Her fingers passed over my lips, moistened by the viscous liquid, and in a fraction of a second, I was in his presence.

He looked at me with the same smile as that night, but this time there was no fear. He approached me and touched my face; his mouth came close to mine, and our lips touched. My body touched the ground as his mouth descended down my body, and then I felt his hot tongue envelop my rigid member. Looking at his face, I bit my lower lip in surprise at the vision of John Aurus naked before me.

There was no way to contain the moans of pleasure; his mouth moved quickly along the length of my phallus. His tongue descended until it found the middle of my buttocks, and a new wave of pleasure flooded me until, without delay, he positioned himself between my legs and began to enter me. Slowly and between kisses, I felt his entire organ penetrate me, making me moan loudly. His movements were initially slow but firm, and the more I exhaled desire for more, the more he increased the frequency of his hips' back and forth, until, without touching my body, I spilled the white nectar of sin onto my belly at the same time that I felt him flood me. I was completely surrendered to sin.