The Demon's Mate

Prologue

" Have you shut the door? " Mama asks, as I approach her.

As my feet waddle in her direction, an uneasy feeling settles down at the bottom of my heart. Mama has always been a source of comfort, the woman I go to for safety.

But today feels foreign. Today feels cursed. She, too, seems to be exceptionally close to the fireplace. But I push the thought away. Maybe she's just feeling chilly.

Though I don't remember her being sick. And I can't make any judgment as her face is towards the ever-glowing ball of fire. Her back is all I can gaze at.

Never in my life did I imagine I'd be running around at four am, trying to keep Him out. But this is for our safety, we have to keep him out at all costs.

" The main gate? " She further probes.

" And the windows? " She asks, all of a sudden. Not giving me the chance to answer her first question.

Her voice is oddly strange, a little cracked.

" Everything is sealed. " I assure her.

She asked me to latch shut each point of the entrance so that He can not get in.

" How long until help arrives from the church? " I can't help but ask, as they are my only hope.

And if they don't reach here on time, dire things will happen. I know it.

Mama doesn't answer, she continues to gaze at the fire. Like it's the most captivating thing ever. Her body stays put, like it's ice cold, yearning to be one with the scorching heat of the fire.

" They're coming, right mama? " I ask, as my apprehension grows.

What if they abandoned us? What if they're not fervid enough to fight him? How will we deal with him, all alone?

With no one to save us, that demon will take what he wants.

Me.

" How will they? " Mama asks in a sickly sweet voice.

" Mama? " Cassie, asks. Inching closer to her.

Though as fearful as I am, I decide to take a step back.

" Yo...you called them. Right? " Cassie repeats my question.

Her voice holds a certain urgency to it.

" Maybe. " She replies in a crooked tone.

" Maybe not? " She mutters.

" They can't get in. "

" And He's already in. "

She repeats those two phrases again and again, refusing to make eye contact with us. Her words seem scripted, and she lacks control over them.

It is only then do I notice that her feet are towards us, yet her head faces the other direction. She's possessed. The creature whose mere existence I have feared now stands in front of me, possessing my mother's body.

My heart seems to accelerate as I gasp for air. The realization gives rise to another wave of fear, that crashes into me, again and again, making everything else go numb.

"Something is wrong with her. " Cassie states, brave enough to put my thoughts into words.

" I'm scared. " I whisper, grabbing the handle of the door.

Ready to barge it open and make a run for my life.

" You should be. " A voice booms as our eyes land on Mother's frame. Her head is rotated to a complete 180 degrees as her hollow black eyes stare into mine.

Those aren't her eyes. Those are His. The demon that is ready to claim me as his.

" Ha...hazel. " Cassie's calls, getting my attention.

" Run. " She screams, as the demon lunges forward, but Cassie blocks his way, becoming a human shield for my sake.

Overtaken by an immense fear, I do not bother looking back. My act seems selfish, but I know for sure that if I look back, my heart will cease due to excessive fear.

After all, it's not them he wants. It's Me.

I scurry back to my room, locking the door shut, and get under my bed.

To my dismay, soon enough, my door unlocks on its own, and in walks the devil himself.

I can see his feet hitting against the cold tiles. Resonating in my room. The voice echoes deep in my heart, and I will remember it for eternity.

" Come out. " He calls in a sickly sweet voice. Like he intends no harm. And all he wants is to see me.

But I know that this is a facade he has put on and as soon as he gets his hands on me, I will meet his true monstrosity.

" Come out, come out wherever you are, my little mouse" He rasps out, pacing around in my room.

" You can run, but you can't hide. " He sings.

" I'll always find you. " He whispers, and that is a promise and a threat at the very same time.

" And once I do. " He murmurs, leaving my room.

Before I can let out a breath of relief, I hear Mama's voice.

" Ahhhhh. " She screams in pain, a vail ever so pained.

" Noooo. " I shriek, running towards her.

I can't let anything happen to her, at least not because of me.

Though when I reach the corridor, I see no such sight. I spot neither Cassie nor Mama. It hits me then, this is a trap. He wanted me out of my safe spot. And he's got me where he wanted.

" I've got you now, mate." A sickly sweet voice murmurs in my ear as he approaches me.

I can feel his arms wrap around my frame as he traps me in his embrace. I can feel him behind me, as his breath fans my neck.

A lone tear cascades down my eyes as he licks my neck, letting his saliva coat my skin.

" You smell like Lillies. " He mentions catching me off guard. His tone holds a gentle touch to it.

He passes on the compliment like a lover would, but we are far away from that. He's the reason for my nightmares and I am his obsession.

" I have spent an eternity looking for you. " He snickers, and I sense a hint of bitterness in it now.

Like he finds me the sole reason for his longing, and now I shall pay the price.

" But it ends now. " He declares, and just like that, he sinks his canines in me.

His teeth dig deep in, as his tongue latches onto my skin.

" Ahhhhh. " I scream in pain, as his teeth continue to sink deeper.

Puncturing the skin of my neck and withdrawing blood. Only when he is satisfied does he withdraw his canines.

His arms remain latched around my meek frame, as he holds me captive. And I can't move an inch, not without his permission.

He continues to lick the area around my neck. Nibbling here and there while licking off the blood. He does so with utter pleasure.

My screams of torment provide solace to the demon, as he relishes marking me as his.

From afar, I can see Cassies approaching. She must have heard my screams!

" Not now. " The demon growls. He lifts one hand of his, and Cassie's frame goes flying away. It bangs against the wall and she falls into a state of unconsciousness.

" Do you know what this is, Hazel? " I hear his voice from behind me, very close to my earlobe.

" It's not a mark, dear mate. " He elaborates, his tone still holds a dark aura to it.

" It's a promise. " He tells me.

" One day, I will take you with me. " He rasps in my ear, his nose playing with my ear lobe as it switches between sniffing and biting.

I can only shed silent tears as any other sort of movement will enrage the monster who has imprisoned me in his hold.

I can't help but fear the peril in his words. If he decides to take me with him, then no one has the ability to halt him.

Even with all the precautions, he still got in. And where is the help? Nobody knows.

" And there will be no saving you, Hazel. " He whispers, biting me harshly once more as he promises me an eternity of torment.

" You will have to pay for the longing I have suffered. " He tells me, holding a grudge against me for things beyond my control.

" For taking away what is rightfully mine. " He states, putting his claim on me once more.

I wince in pain, trying to comprehend the meaning behind his words.

" But don't you worry, sweet little thing. "

" You will have an eternity to make it up to me. " He whispers in my ear. Finding me as the sole culprit for his longings. Deeming me fit for whatever punishment his heart desires.

With the idea of crime, comes the idea of punishment. Something that he seems to be promising me. And the intensity of his pledge is what frightens me the most.

Deciding to show me a glimpse of my awaiting doom, he lets out his long tongue, letting it slide against my neck, settling on his very own mark. This time I feel a tinge of sharpness. His tongue seems to be piercing into my skin with tiny needle-like scales, digging into several parts of my neck.

His hand seems to inch down to my thigh, where he digs his razor-sharp nails into the flesh of my skin.

" It will be sweet pleasure, little one. " The demon decides to elaborate, letting me in on his sinful thoughts.

To prove his point, he slides his hand against my skin. Inching closer, until his arm nudges the hem of my night dress.

Though he decides to stop right there.

" And that's my promise, dear mate. " He states.

" Don't cry. " He murmurs, as a droplet of my tears manages to strike against his arm that is keeping me caged within his embrace.

The tiny little droplet manages to divert his attention as he takes in my sobbing state, as I'm shivering within his hold. Though the profound sympathy proves to be a facade, he soon reveals his true intentions.

" At least not yet. I haven't even started. " He snickers, grinning as he once again manages to instill a new wave of fear in me. With the final warning, the monster takes his leave. Letting me go as I plunge to the ground.

I look back to see that he has vanished into thin air, but not without letting the sword of impending doom hang above my head.

What am I to be more afraid of? His Mark or His Promise?