by Piper Stone
My thoughts drifted to the mystery man, unable to get his words out of my mind. Haunting. Evil. I bit back a nervous laugh, trying to keep my shit together.
Jenny lifted a single eyebrow, making certain that I was following along. I hadn’t told her about my spill or about being fired. I was far too embarrassed. At least I had tonight as a distraction. And it was cheap, everyone else supplying the beer and wine. She was the ultimate expert in Goth literature and games, promising something special and far removed from our usual séances that we enjoyed every Friday night.
Thick pillar candles had been placed in strategic areas around our dorm room, their flickering flames casting an eerie glow throughout the cluttered space. We were huddled in a circle on the floor, staring down at the latest ‘toy’ Jenny had provided, bringing the game with her after winter break. A Ouija board. The cracked cardboard and scuffed wooden planchette had obviously had many fact seekers longing for information. Maybe contacting their loved ones.
“You mean the devil, right?” Mark asked as he smacked Carter on the shoulder.
“Shush!” Jenny admonished, throwing out her arm. She issued a nasty glare in their direction.
I’d been surprised when she and I had developed a friendship considering our entirely different backgrounds. Her father had more money than God, the prince of Southern California real estate, even though you’d never know it given her distrust of all monetary goods. My father was a little more than a common crook in my mind, taking money from innocent people who believed in his babble. My arrival at Harvard on a wing and a prayer, and against my father’s wishes. My money. Hard-earned money. I’d accepted extra hours, sometimes working seventy-hour weeks in order to save every cent I earned. I snorted at the thought. Without scholarships and a shit load of student loans, I could have never set foot in such an esteemed establishment.
She was a junior and I was still a freshman, lucky as hell to get the room with her at all.
But Jenny and I were thick as thieves, as my mother would say, her fuchsia hair in direct contrast with my mousy brown strings. I kept her grounded. She kept me alive.
After all, I was a nobody.
“I feel the prince, his guard dogs surrounding him, protecting him from the light,” Jenny whispered, her lower lip quivering. “He’s coming. He’s... coming.” She was always dramatic, something I adored about her.
“Guard dogs? What. The. Fuck?” Carter asked. He grabbed his beer, taking several overtly loud gulps.
This time, I issued the harsh glare, one filled with utter venom.
“Jesus. Fine. Bring on the prince of darkness,” Carter muttered under his breath. “I’ll kick his motherfuckin’ ass.”
“Nice...” Mark chortled.
“Shut up! Okay?” Ashley belted out, shocking all of us.
The candles flickered violently.
“Jesus. Never knew you had it in you, Ash,” Carter teased.
“You need to take this seriously,” Jenny admonished. “He. Is. Coming.”
I shivered from the way she said the words, an odd feeling pooling in the pit of my stomach. I could almost feel him in the room, sensuous and beguiling in nature, his blatant disregard at anything good or holy desirable. I bit back a caustic laugh. What would Daddy dearest have to say about my piss poor attitude?
The candles continued flickering, shooting back and forth in a violent manner until finally two then three were snuffed out.
Then four...
I heard Kallie’s ragged breathing, noticing the way she nibbled on her bottom lip with enough force a drop of blood oozed from the self-inflicted wound. Shuddering, I concentrated on the single bead of perspiration trickling down her plump cheek for no other reason than I didn’t want to look at the heart-shaped wooden piece positioned smack in the middle of the game board.
“What do we do now?” Ashley managed.
I could swear her eyes were dilated, completely unfocused as she stared off into nothing.
But the darkness...
“We ask him a question,” Jenny answered. She gingerly placed the tips of her fingers on the planchette. “I’ll go first.”
I huddled closer, more out of curiosity than anything. I’d never played the game. My father would never have allowed evil temptation belonging to devil worshipers and heretics in our house.
“Are you with us, Prince?” Jenny asked.
“Did her voice just echo?” Kallie asked. “Jesus. I can feel him too.”
“Naw. You’ve been watching too many slasher flicks.” As soon as Mark laughed, a thunderous boom occurred in the room. “Shit!” He jerked halfway up, spilling his beer.
Carter burst into laughter. “A book dropped off the desk, you moron. Jesus Christ.”
I noticed Jenny’s breathing was irregular, her mouth twisting in an unnatural manner.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, touching her arm. Her skin was like ice.
“Nothing. Quiet. Please.”
We all sat back but I wasn’t the only one shaking.
“Are. You. Here?” Jenny asked again.
There was no advance warning, no howling wolves or barking dogs as the planchette shot to the edge of the board, hovering for at least three seconds then rocketing back to the big letters: YES.
“I don’t like this,” Ashley managed.
“And it’s fuckin’ cold in here!” Mark snapped.
“It’s a damn game. You did that on purpose,” Carter hissed.
Jenny lifted her head, shaking it very slowly. She adjusted the piece and clenched her fingers before beginning again. “Who are you?”
A full minute ticked by.
“I feel him. He’s... He’s still here.” Jenny was never frightened of anything, but even in the dim lighting, I could see just how ghostly her complexion seemed.
“Who are you?” I asked, leaning closer in. My eyes caught the closest candle and I was immediately drawn to the beautiful flame, the gorgeous ice blue hue dancing in the breeze, twisting and turning in a sensuous dance. Mesmerized, I tilted my head as the flicker sparked embers floating into the air.
Ashley gripped my arm, her fingers digging into my skin. “It’s moving again.”
I found it difficult to pull my eyes away.
“What in the hell is it spelling?” Kallie asked. “L. U. C.”
“Ain’t nobody there. Jesus Christ. This is bullshit!” Mark’s outburst seemed completely lost in the sizzling of the candle.
“Lucifer. That’s what it says,” Jenny whispered.
I heard the sound of the planchette moving again and held my breath.
“Wait. Lucifer’s spawn,” Jenny added.
“Spawn? What does that mean?” Kallie laughed nervously.
“Like the prince of darkness has a family,” Carter chortled. “Oh, wait. That would make him the king of darkness. Right?”
The candles flickered, another chilling breeze forcing me to shiver. Everything in the room seemed eerie, shadows morphing. Undulating. I suddenly couldn’t breathe, the feeling of utter suffocation terrifying.
“There are ancient beliefs that Lucifer had three sons, all by a human woman. One day, they are destined to rule over Earth,” Jenny stated as if reading from a book. “Their arrival would mean the End of Days.”
“This shit is just too fuckin’ creepy,” Mark snapped.
“I’m with you, dude,” Carter muttered.
“Just shut up. This is interesting.” Ashley’s voice was suddenly shrill.
I looked up, locking eyes with Jenny’s. She was petrified, tears forming in her eyes. “What do you want?” The question slipped past my lips.
“Your soul,” Carter snickered.
There were no creaks or thumps, no horrific wind or howling beasts. There was nothing but utter quiet with a hint of white noise coming from some unknown source.
Jenny whimpered when the planchette moved again. She muttered the letters as soon as they flashed under the cheap plastic circle. “S... A... D... I... E.
Fuck. He wants you.”
I laughed even as goosebumps curled down the length of my arms. I could almost feel his hands crawling all over my naked body. Touching me. My breasts, pinching my nipples until they ached with need. My pussy, his callused fingers spreading me wide open. My asshole, his tongue sliding in and out.
I sensed his hot breath cascading along my neck, drinking in my essence as his massive body loomed over mine. Seducing me.
Fucking me.
Owning me.
I heard his velveteen voice as his tongue lapped at my ear just seconds before he shackled me down, chaining me to hard, cold steel.
I knew this was true, ugly fate ready to consume my very soul, but not before devouring every inch.
Destiny.
Damnation.
Desire.
He was coming to claim what already belonged to him.
Chapter Seven
Sadie
“I brought you Starbucks. Your favorite.”
I couldn’t help but smile as Jenny shoved the cup into my hand. I wasn’t one of the campus kittens who could afford seven-dollar cups of coffee, but she certainly was. I was lucky I had a meal plan included with my tuition. “You’re fabulous, darling.”
“But of course I am.” Jenny licked her lips, feigning haughtiness. Then her expression shifted, the same concerned look as the night before covering her face. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t.” The simple fact was the Ouija board had terrified me, leaving me awake the majority of the night. There was no reason to be frightened of a childish game, except I still felt his aura. What little I’d slept had been plagued with carnal dreams, so heinous and kinky that I couldn’t tell anyone, including my best friend.
“I didn’t know that would really work. My uncle gave it to me. He said the game has been in the family for years and I had the family gift, able to bring spirits into the light. Releasing them to find salvation or maybe retribution. I was only half listening to him.” She shrugged as she fell in beside me. “My uncle is a freak. Used to be a crackhead,” she said, laughing. “I just wanted some fun. Ya know? I mean before we start class again.”
“That was cool. I enjoyed it.” I glanced at the massive stone library, the pillars more ominous than usual. I longed for some time alone. Besides, I had one last class to register for. One more semester before finding some big-time job making lots of money in the summer. Maybe I’d stay around here, find a local job, even secure a little apartment somewhere. Uh-huh. A girl could dream. However, Monday was looming, my scholarship predicated on taking a full load every semester.
“Yeah.” She sighed, chomping on her gum as she maintained my pace. “You know, I believe in the devil and the devil’s spawn.”
“Well, if there’s God then there is the darker side. I’m not certain about his spawn, but...” I kept walking, determined to figure out how I could get another job. “The End of Days. That’s terrifying.”
She remained quiet for a few seconds. “The signs are all pointing toward that happening soon.”
“The signs. You sound like my father now,” I hissed under my breath.
“Are you ever going to tell me what happened to you, back in Georgia I mean?”
The last thing I wanted to do was tell her I’d gone temporarily insane because my father tried to perform an exorcism. “Just some shit with my parents.”
“You can’t keep that kind of crap bottled inside of you. I should know.”
The expression on her face reminded me of the one from the night before. “Something you need to tell me, girlfriend?”
“Not a thing,” she said, her smile returning. Why did I have the feeling the game had affected her more than she wanted me to know? “So,” she continued, “did something happen to you last night? You seemed very... upset when you came in.”
Biting back a groan, I shook my head. “I slipped on the ice coming in, but nothing more than that.”
“Uh-huh. You’re a terrible liar. You were home way too early from that job you wanted so badly,” she said, giving me a mischievous grin. “So, did you figure out that class yet?”
I snorted, taking a sip of coffee and savoring the cinnamon as well as the warmth. I hadn’t been able to rid the paralyzing shivers since the night before. Even telling her I’d lost my job wasn’t something I wanted to tackle just yet.
“Well, there’s always demonology.”
I wasn’t certain whether her comment was meant as a tease or not. “Demon what?”
“Believe it or not. Hot course. I tried for two semesters before I could get in. Just imagine, we could actually be in a class together. The mischief we’d create!” She laughed.
I’d never known her to have any kind of interest in the occult before the Ouija board. “Since when did you gather such an interest in demons?”
She wrinkled her nose and darted a sheepish look in my direction. “Just a few dreams I’ve been having for the past year or so.”
“Is that why you suggested the game?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. I think the class might give me some answers anyway. They could make you feel better about your dad. They talk about heaven and hell. You never know what you might learn.”
Nothing would make me feel any better. The stairs loomed in front of me, the crumbling concrete a product of the harsh winters and the fact a good portion of the university was ancient. I shivered and tugged on the collar of my coat. “I’ll think about it.”
“O-kay, but you could be missing out. Hot teacher. Sizzling topics. Could lead to awesome and very long nights.” Her wink made me roll my eyes.
“Don’t start with me.” A series of prickling sensations shifted down from my neck to my arms, forcing me to clench my fists. My mouth was dry, yet I sucked in air, my body swaying. I shifted just enough to be able to scan the perimeter, searching for the source. A man. He was still at a distance, walking toward the library. So familiar. So...
As he moved closer, he turned his head in my direction. Dear God, his eyes were piercing, even from this great distance. He was mesmerizing in his actions, fluid as he headed toward the stairs. Every move was sensuous, inviting and I could swear we knew each other. He was tall and muscular in all the right places, his dark hair scraping his long leather coat.
“Who’s starting anything?” Throwing her arms into the air, she backed away, following my gaze briefly. “Are you okay?”
“I’m... fine.” The answer seemed to stick in my throat. I forced my attention away, giving her a smile.
“We’re meeting at Merlot’s tonight for a drink. Be there, babe, or else.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I waved her off, taking a deep breath before heading inside. Why hadn’t I just been truthful with her? I couldn’t afford gas for the POS that was still broken down on the side of the road let alone a night out at a bar. At least one local garage had insisted they’d tow the car away, figuring out what was wrong before springtime came. And I refused to borrow money from her, no matter how rich she was or how many times she’d offered. I was intent on doing this all by myself.
When I turned back, he’d disappeared. How in the hell had he gotten into the building that quickly? I was still on edge from the stupid game. Nothing more.
Demonology. That would certainly fit right in with my mood as of late. Maybe an entire class could be devoted to mastering the Ouija board, something I obviously sucked at.
Truth was, the occult had always been fascinating to me, no doubt since my father’s version was jaded on several levels. One of the first books I’d read had been The Exorcist, hiding under the covers after my parents had fallen asleep. I hadn’t slept for two solid weeks after finishing it.
I headed straight for my usual area, an alcove few students seemed to know about, cozy and away from the hubbub. After dropping my things and yanking off my coat, I pulled out my laptop and plopped down. I had to make a choice on a class, or I’d be lucky to get into Basket Weaving 101.
My
luck was just as shitty as the night before. Every single class that even remotely interested me was full, with a waiting list. I refused fencing, although I’d love to give the greasy bastard pizza joint owner a jab or two for firing me. Fuck him. My finger hovered over the trackpad, debating what in the hell to do. If I told my advisor I’d been a dumbass, he’d be required to report my inadequacies and that would filter down eventually, potentially preventing me from being able to afford another year.
Maybe the devil was guiding me in disguise. I found the class online after only two minutes and sat back. One. Spot. Left.
This was far too ironic. I read the bio on the professor and he certainly was well respected. Dr. Jonas Cavanaugh. Well educated and highly respected. And he was pretty tasty to the eye, in a boyish charm kind of way. Why did I see Jenny with an entire motorcycle club instead? Laughing, I clicked and waited, nearly knocking my coffee over after obtaining the single remaining spot. I breathed a sigh of relief, closing my eyes and giving thanks. At least one of my problems had been solved.
Time for giddiness was over. I was way behind schedule, every professor requiring reading prior to the first day of class. I couldn’t imagine the types of books that were on the list for this particular class. Ten. There were exactly ten. There was no way I could afford that many. At least five were online, two that I’d have to purchase and the other three might be found in the library. If not, I’d beg on the streets for an Amazon gift card. Alms for the poor girl? Sighing, I rolled my eyes. Might as well start by checking the library.
I was lucky, finding one of the books, the title searing into my brain the moment I touched it. Demon Spawn. Jesus Christ. What in the hell was this class about? I flipped through the pages, trying to control my breathing.
