Dreamer

10.

My breath hangs, while my pupils dilate as I register the words of Articus in front of me. My body stays still, as my throat becomes dry while sweat begins to fill my forehead.

"Wha... What.... Are you saying?" My voice comes out as a stutter.

"You're my heir Atheena." Articus repeats again when in all honesty I understand what he said the first time, but choose to be in denial.

"No... No... No... I've had enough... I am not your heir, I am nobody's heir and don't think because of the little story you told me would affect me to choose a demon like you." I tell Articus emerging all the strength it is I can muster.

At my statement, Articus laugh menacingly, making more fear creep up my spine. "There is nothing you or any of the Holy world can do about it." Articus stares at me. " I have imprinted my mark on you Atheena, and not even the strongest of warlock can break it, so you're helpless and it's better you stop resisting and let the power in."

"I don't believe you, you lie! I would never let you get a hold or me or your dark power. I am not your puppet or anyone's puppet. I have my own life to live, so you all should stop dictating what I have to do. I'm a human being for heaven's sake!" My voice comes wry and dry, but filled with pain and agony in them.

"Don't you get it Atheena? You are no longer a mundane, you have become something far and bigger than that, and you know so, but you keep restraining yourself from such power, don't you feel it, don't you remember?" Articus voice loud as within a blink of an eye he's standing less than an inch from me, as my heart races while staring at his orbs.

"Don't you remember?" He speaks again.

"No.." my voice comes shaky. "No... I don't remember anything.... " I nod my head negatively as tears of fear begins strolling down.

"Don't you remember when we first met? Two years ago?" He asks me but I only nod my head negatively as more tears stroll out.

"No.... No please... I don't... Don't remember anything!" My voice shakes and my body trembles with the immense fear in my body that I have never felt before in my life.

Articus sees my fear as I notice him take steps back away from me.  "Why don't you remember?" He speaks again.

"Remember what?" I ask him with my whole body fatigued.

"Remember this." Articus takes my hand in a second, as at the touch of his hand with mine I'm drifted to somewhere diverse from where I am earlier.

My eyes scanning my environment, as Deja Vu hits me instantly seeing myself covered in armor on a battlefield.  The same events playing in my head as I find myself repeating a dream I seemed to have forgotten, but comes refreshing again in my head as I s*******r and slay demons.

At the end of it all, as my sword hits the ground and the earth opens, swallowing and dragging each of them inside it, my gazes raises up amidst my weakness and sight his gaze one more time.

As if time seems to stop at this moment, with my gaze lingering on his, while his red eyes shines through mine and that's when I realise, Articus has marked me ever since.

I feel a surge pulling me back to where I stand with Articus in reality, as his hands leave my skin, while with every breath I take, I take with confusion and fear.

If he had known me ever since, why didn't he take me then, why now?

"Why? Why now?" My voice lacing with anger. "Why did you wait this long!" The strength in my body slowly finding ways to my vocals, but that doesn't seem to move Articus.

"That Is a story for another day, my heir." He tells me with his recurring menacing smile. "As for now, you have to make a choice Atheena. Side with me and I would show you what power feels like.

You wouldn't need to kneel to no man,  rather they would kneel to you. You would have the power to punish those who have looked down on you, who have made you feel less and weak that you're not. You would rule beside me and we would show the world, what it means to trespass on us.

Side with me Atheena, and I would give you the world at your feet. No one would push you to the side ever again." With every word that comes out of Articus mouth, I feel the power and strength that fills them.

My body raising with goosebumps due to his words of power and also fear that, I may succumb to his proposal.

I can't.

I can't accept this.

I can't.

No.

"No, no.... I don't want any of it that you're offering, neither do I want anything to do with the holy world." I tell him feigning my confidence.

Articus gives me a stern look, along with another that I can't quite decipher. "So you prefer to be hit and bullied by your fellow humans than accept the freedom it is I'm offering you?" Articus asks again.

"Yes." I answer not even sure of my own words, but it feels right to say.

My wish was always to let the voices, bullies and everything end once and for all, to show those who think I am nothing but a weakling see how I go farther than they expect, and here it is Articus offering it to me.

But I can't.  I can't take it even if every cell in my body aches for relieve, I know it would be wrong to accept such, because I'd be signing my life to the devil.

"Then let me tell you Atheena, I would not let you go, even if you accept my offer or not." Articus tells me as my eyes go wide.

"You have been marked by the one and only Articus, the demon king, ruler of the demon world and whatever I say is final. You Atheena, would be my heir, and not even you would have the chance to reject."  He continues as my breath heaves and my hair raises.

"I gave you a chance Atheena, and I wanted you to comply willingly, now I would have to bring it out of you." Articus voice deep and hard as unknowingly, tears pours out of my eyes with no words supplying out of my lips.

"No... I... "

"Till we meet again Atheena, and I believe that would be very soon." Articus cuts me off as with that he disappears in front of me, and I'm thrown back to my room which I slept off in, with sweat filling my whole body.

What have I gotten myself into?

----------------

My hand on the pen I'm holding trembles tremendously on the sheet below it, as tears fall off my eye.

Dear mother,

I want you to know that I write this to you, with pain in my heart and tears in my eyes.

I know that all I have caused you is nothing but pain and worry, which is why I have made this decision to leave for good, because I fear what is about to come would not only lead to my destruction, but for everyone I care about.

I love you mother, and even though it could never be like old times, I still cherish you and would protect you till my last breath.

It's best if you don't know where I'm going, so as to not find me there, yet again, you may have the intentions of doing that, but it's okay.

I wish I could tell you everything, to explain to you what I'm going through, but you wouldn't understand any bit of it as father would, if he was alive, because he is the main origin of it all.

Take care of yourself mother, and when I know you're safe from me, I'll pay a visit but as of now, this is what is best for everyone.

             Yours - Atheena.

My sob comes out higher out of my lips, as I drop the pen and muster the courage to fold the letter and drop it by the counter. I pick up the only bag I packed, which I know won't be enough for me but would be easier to travel with to God knows where.

I stare back at the house in which I grew up in with memories of good and bad flashing through my eyes, as more tears only cascade down.

This is what is best.

I have to protect them all.

With one last look, I shut the door and walk away from my home for good.