A Demon Made Me Do It(29)

Humans couldn’t exist without us. They wouldn’t want to exist without us, for there cannot be light without darkness, pleasure without pain, joy without sorrow, and love without hate. It simply cannot happen. The balance of celestial energy is essential for any existence to survive and flourish. Without it, the universe dies.

I, for one, take this responsibility seriously.

The woman screams through her sobs, retreating to the corner of her darkened bedroom. She’s trying to get away, but there’s no escaping me. Covering her face with her hands, she tries in vain to block out the horrifying images of her worst nightmares. But there’s no stopping these scenes of eternal torment I’m inflicting upon her.

I swish back and forth on a cherry rocking chair, watching her squirm and moan. Her pain gives me pleasure, for it tells me I’m doing my job effectively. It was clever of me to suggest she put this chair in here; it’s so much nicer when I have a comfortable place to enjoy the show.

“Stop, stop it…you’re not real. You’re not real…” the woman gasps. Rocking back and forth, I twirl a lock of hair around my finger and hit her with another vision. It’s Tatiana’s duty to find me humans who have violated Natural Law. Then, it’s up to me to deliver a suitable punishment. Lately, I’ve been favoring psychic torture over the physical; it just seems to be much more effective. It’s amazing how dark the human mind can be, so I let them choose their own punishment by living out their own worst nightmares. It’s poetic, really. And amusing to see what they subconsciously pick.

She curls up, convulsing as if she’s been electrocuted. She presses her face in the corner, weeping, head in her hands, trying to hide from the terror seeping through her mind. On the other side of the room, under the protection of a simple sleeping spell, her husband snores soundly, blissfully unaware of the torture his wife is enduring. Just as he’s unaware that his two infants didn’t die of SIDS like everyone thought, but had their tiny lives snuffed out by a selfish and uncaring mother—the same mother who now cowers in a corner screaming at ghosts, unable to escape the sounds of her babies crying out for her.

“Here you are.” The masculine voice causes me to jump.

“Bones, what are you doing here?” I ask, annoyed. “You scared me half to death!”

He sits on the corner of the bed and glances at the screeching woman. “Kind of like that?” he asks with a raised eyebrow. I roll my eyes.

“What are you doing here?” I repeat.

He doesn’t answer me right away. Instead he watches the woman writhe and moan on the floor. “I followed your scent. What’d she do?”

“Double infanticide.”

He shakes his head slowly. “Shame. She looks real nice.”

My chest feels heavy as I gaze at Bones’ strong profile. Even here, in the dimly lit room, I can see he’s not happy. I know it’s my fault. But there’s nothing I can do about it.

The husband snores and rolls over in the bed. The woman screams again. I wish Bones would leave me alone so I can enjoy the symphony of torment, but obviously he wants to talk.

“Silentium.” I swish my hand in the direction of the woman, instantly muting her cries. “What’s up?”

He stands up and paces around the room for a moment before leaning against a far wall, hidden in shadows.

“I was worried about you. You never showed up at Old Lady Sullivan’s last night, and tonight you didn’t stop at the Bar. What’s going on?”

It’s true. After slaying the Parastes, I’d blown off my tormenting duties in favor of the sanctuary of my secret spot; a secluded place high in the hills overlooking the valley. A place I go when I need to be alone and think. I can see clear out to the Lake of Adonni and listen to the Sirens sing their enchanting melodies. Their soothing songs help me to relax.

I didn’t want to see Bones last night, and I was hoping to avoid him tonight. It’s why I’d taken my drinks from the emergency stash Tatiana keeps in her room instead of going to the Bar.

“Sorry, I just wanted to be alone. I didn’t think we had some sort of special date or anything…” My voice sounds snappier than I intend, and I feel him wince in the darkness.

“Okay. I understand. I’m just glad you’re all right. I was sorta worried about you is all...There’s been some talk of some funny business around here, and I was concerned when I didn’t see you. But I guess you have your reasons and you seem to be fine.” His voice is tender. Sweet.

Damn him.

“I am fine.” If you’re not counting the knots in my stomach or the sickness in my chest.