The Demon Prince's Possession

Cerberus

I was used to others trying to run from me or challenge me most of my life.

Not ask for help.

But those simple words reminded me of the same which the haunting, sugar-brown eyes uttered to me long ago.

‘Help me.’

Then, for what felt like centuries, my Angelic side pushed forth with a deep-rooted strength. I felt rejuvenated, as though a weight had lifted off my shoulders, and I could finally breathe.

No longer was I engulfed in darkness; I felt… me again.

I hurried to her side, where she lay slumped on the floor. I gently rolled her onto her back, supporting her neck with my arm, and brushed away the hair from her face.

She was breathing.

I sighed, holding her close.

Her body emanated a warmth even unusual for me. She wasn’t a Demon, she wasn’t an angel, that’s impossible, but her body was warm as though she had been concealed by something. Yet she only wore a thin black dress with hardly any weight to it.

I extended my silvery grey wings and wrapped them around her to shield her from the frost-ridden cold as we exited the cave.

Whoever this woman was, she was the reason my angelic side was able to push forward.

Maybe she reminds me of her?

I no longer want to dwell in darkness and continue being the Dark Angel that others expect me to be.

Maybe as long as this mysterious woman is around, she can help me balance both sides. Maybe, just maybe, she was the thing I needed all along. Someone I needed to save to be absolved for the unforgivable sin I committed long ago.

As I peered down, glazing my eyes over her peaceful and virtuous appearance, she uttered a single word...

“Katára.”

Grace

Our helpers were cleaning up the aftermath of the celebration; I hated the term servant.

We hadn’t seen Cerberus all day. Part of me was worried, but part of me knew he was out alone, suffering in solitude as he usually does.

That’s until we heard the doors bustle open and felt a gust of frosty night air waft through the doors.

Cerberus stood; his wings encased around him as a barrier. At first, I feared the sight of blood, not his own but someone else’s.

The last time he returned like this, he brought a man on the verge of death. If I wasn’t there and utilised my healing ability, he would have died.

Instead, his wings unfolded and retracted, revealing an unconscious woman.

“Cerberus,” Damien asked with a hint of concern and worry.

I ran forward but immediately haltered when the gold rim of his irises lessened to the point where his eyes were now completely black.

His Demon was in control.

“Cerberus, what happened?”

“She is staying. Anyone who touches her without my permission will not live to see another day,” his voice was an octave more baritone, full of caution.

His obsession with this woman was troubling. His Demon was selfish and remorseless and demanded complete submission; far from the caring type.

So why was he so protective of her?

I felt a hand snake around my waist and squeezed reassuringly. Damien was beside me, waiting in case he had to intervene. Cerberus had never attacked me or Damien before, but this was the first time his Demon had acted so… out-of-character.

“Cerberus,” Damien spoke again, using a tone only Cerberus would react to. Damien was still King and the strongest Greater Demon alive; he would always have some sway over Cerberus, no matter how little.

His grip around the woman tightened; his Demon fought dominance. His grip on the woman became so tight that she squirmed in her slumber and nestled into his chest.

He immediately peered down.

Then I saw the unthinkable…

His eyes returned to their magnetic gold. His face relaxed, and his features softened.

The Demon was gone. Just like that.

It was the first time I had seen my son in a peaceful form for so long, yet a mysterious woman managed to do it in her sleep.

“I have to help her,” he affirmed, never letting his sights leave her.

“She can take one of the guest rooms for as long as she needs,” I replied a little too quickly.

Without another word, he hurried past us and up towards the guest rooms.

I turned to Damien with wide eyes.

“Did you see that?”

I was so shell-shocked that my unblinking gaze couldn’t move from where Cerberus just stood.

“See what?” Damien asked.

“He pushed the darkness down; he controlled it, Damien. He hasn’t been able to do that since…” I blinked back tears, remembering the tortuous memories of that day years ago.

It was the day everything changed.

I turned, fully facing Damien, “Whoever this girl is, we need to keep her with him. She has a hold on him, I cannot explain, but whatever it is, it’s helping him”.

“I saw it too; I didn’t know if it was real, but are you sure?” he questioned.

“She stays here, no matter what. She may be our last chance at getting our son back.”

“You’re right,” he sighed, rubbing his hand over his face.

“I know I am,” I smiled in hope.

Cerberus

I thought I was headed towards the guest bedroom, but my feet planted outside my door. I could sense the darkness within me trying to re-surface. Part of me knew that keeping her close would keep it under control, even just for a little while.

I walked towards my bed, pulled back the covers, and carefully laid her down.

I sat beside her and watched as her chest rose and fell with each gentle breath.

I don’t know what it was about this woman, but the words ’Help me’ kept replaying in my mind.

Those two simple words that would sound so innocent to anyone else but to me meant so much more…

“Katára,” she whispered again before I felt her stir beside me.

It was gentle at first, but then her features scrunched, and her hand slowly raised to her forehead.

She sat up on her elbow, hissing in pain. I instinctively leaned forward until one deep-blue eye opened, and she shuffled backwards in fear.

“W… Where am I?” her voice was hoarse and strained.

Allegra

I remember being crushed by something solid, then slowly feeling release as it began to splinter away, as though something was gradually chipping away at whatever was holding me hostage.

Once I was fully unrestricted, my body fell to the floor with a thud.

I could barely move a muscle, let alone lift a finger.

It was cold; I knew that much, yet my body seemed lit with an inexplicable fire.

My sight was blurry initially, but it soon adjusted to my surroundings.

The small opening above me displayed the moon high and proud in the night sky. Gentle snowflakes glistened around me, settling onto the several oddly shaped rocks scattered around me in a perfect circle. I recognised the rock walls, glimmering with a thin layer of moisture and surrounded by healthy growing plants.

I was in a cave. Somewhere near running water.

I knew that much.

But how did I get here?

Just as I questioned in my thoughts, something disturbed me.

The sound of heavy footsteps approached me.

I wanted to stand and run.

But I couldn’t move a muscle.

Instead, I was made to watch as someone with raven black hair stood a distance from me.

My consciousness gave in as my sight began to blur just as my body slumped to the solid ground.

Before I passed out, I managed to slide my arm an inch or two towards them and call out, “Help me,” before darkness consumed me.

My sense of smell became non-existent.

Taste was something I couldn’t reach.

Images moved too fast for me to piece together clear pictures.

Voices spoke, but all I could make out were muffled sounds, as if I were underwater, listening as scenes unfolded before me.

Was I dreaming?

Was this a memory?

Who am I seeing?

I tried to pick my brain from what I could see but came up empty…

As though my entire existence had been wiped.

Nothing from my past…

Nothing of my present…

Just blank…

As blank as the first white sheet of snow on a new winter’s morning, untouched by nature.

My eyes were heavy, but something caught my attention enough to wake me from whatever I had just seen in my dream.

A warm arm nestled beneath me, holding me close to a warm chest. A blanket of what seemed to be silky and insulated feathers encased me.

Voices, muffled yet again, sounded around me until the one holding me spoke. I knew because I felt a deep vibration along my cheek where I was resting against their chest.

Moments later, I was placed on something soft, the softest material I had ever felt, as something else was draped over me. It wasn’t as satisfying as the feathered blanket, but it was enough to keep me warm.

Then a voice spoke.

But not just any voice.

A voice I did recognise…

My own…

Yet the words were not mine; they belonged to someone else as though I were a vessel, replicating a message or a phrase once spoken to me.

I tried to think of who.

What did that word mean?

“Katára.”

As I attempted to dig into my consciousness, I felt a rising pain simmer in my mind. Unlike any other, an excruciating migraine made me dispel any and all desire to find out the source of that definition.

I cracked an eye open, glimpsing a man I didn’t recognise and instinctively shuffled backwards until I hit something solid.

“W…Where am I?” my voice was broken as if I hadn’t used it in a long time.

“You’re at the palace,” he answered simply.

His voice was smooth and gravelly, almost relaxing to hear.

My head was still throbbing in pain; I could barely keep my squinting eyes open.

“Let me…” was all he said before large, warm hands gently stroked my forehead.

Within seconds, the discomfort vanished.

“What…” I panicked, touching the intangible pain that was once there, “How did you do that?”

I could have sworn I saw something dark glazed over his eyes; I must be seeing things.

“You don’t know who I am?” he questioned distrustfully.

“N…No… I…” I stuttered, trying to dig through my non-existent memories until I felt a tickle of pain begin to re-surface.

“Who are you?” he asked, almost accusingly.

“My name is…

“Allegra… I think.”

“You think?” his eyebrow shot up sceptically.

“I don’t know…

“That’s all I know.” I felt a solitary prickle of warmth shape my cheek as a tear unwillingly escaped.

I could sense his demeanour change, and his eyes lightened as a golden rim extended along the outside of his black eyes, turning them a reflective gold until the black was thoroughly washed away.

Cerberus

I used my empathic healing for whatever discomfort she was in. The only downside with this particular ability is that the more profound the pain, the more it feeds into my Demonic side.

I could feel the darkness push through; there was nothing I could do to stop it. That was until I witnessed a lone tear cascade down her captivating features.

My Angelic warmth pushed through, taking control once again.

I could see her eyes focus on my own as the gold rims of my iris’ enlarged, and a wave of tranquillity washed over me.

Would she cower in fear like all the rest?

Would she wish to use me for her own selfish gain like others before her?

Instead, she did the unexpected, leaning forward with curiosity swimming in her bright, sapphire eyes and cupping my cheek in her palm.

“What are you?” she spoke in barely a whisper, as though not intending for those words to escape.

I hadn’t been touched by anyone in so long, fearing what I might do to them. What my Demon might do. But with her, she touched me without hesitation. She may not know who I am, but something about this woman draws me in like a moth to a flame; something unexplainable.

Perhaps my Angel recognised Celia in her; that’s why he was so adamant about helping her. Those first words Allegra spoke were the last cries of Celia before her untimely demise.

“Something you should be afraid of,” I answered.

“No,” she replied softly, removing her palm from my face.

I wasn’t sure what was happening to me. It was absurd that one woman I knew nothing about could control me this much or make buried emotions re-surface after all these years.

“You don’t remember anything?” I replied, changing the subject.

“Everything is a blur. Where did you find me?” she asked, confusion laced her eyes.

“In a cave, deep in the forest.”

“I don’t know what happened or how I got there.”

I could see her eyes gloss over as more tears threatened to fall.

‘Mother, she’s awake. I might need your help. Allegra has no recollection of her memories.’

I used my telepathy to communicate with my mother. My mother didn’t have the gift, but I knew she had heard me.

“Thank you for your kindness, but I should be on my way,” Allegra sniffled as she pulled back the covers and stood but immediately collapsed the second her thighs lifted from the bed.

I caught her just in time, one arm under her legs and the other around her back while her arms hooked around my neck and her face was just inches from mine.

“I… I’m sorry,” she mumbled.

“I can’t just let you leave; let me help you,” I replied softly.

“Why? You don’t even know me,” was her response.

I couldn’t give her a logical explanation as to why; she wouldn’t understand; no one would.

“I…” I began but instantly stopped once she positioned her head in her hands and started crying out in pain.

I sat down, cradled her head in my hand and used my healing again to help her. My Demon was feeding off her pain, only this time, it was just enough for him to take complete control...

Allegra

Another excruciating migraine hit, but just as quickly as it came, it was gone, the same as before.

I looked up, ready to thank the man who had somehow helped me yet another time, but was greeted with sable eyes. The delicate gold entirely vanished.

I gulped, slightly tensing as he tightened his arms around me.

“You belong to me. I found you. I saved you. You are mine,” his voice was gravelly and much more profound than before. It was as though he was being possessed.

He placed me on the bed and quickly left the room, locking the door behind him.

I didn’t know what to think. One moment, this man was my saviour; the next, I became his captive.

I slowly stood, using the bedframe as a crutch until I balanced on both legs. You would think I forgot how to operate my legs by the way I was standing.

After balancing long enough to feel more secure, I scurried over to a desk against the wall, holding onto it for support, as I made my way towards a door in the bedroom.

I hobbled closer, taking one slow step at a time and opened it to reveal a lavish bathroom.

I had never seen one like it… I think.

Nothing seemed familiar.

The materials seemed too bizarre to be authentic. I smoothed my hand over the soft, black and gold tiles. In one corner of the room was a large square area surrounded by clear glass, with what looked like a small waterfall ledge above it. In the centre was a large white tub that could hold several people, decorated with a thin rim of gold.

As I took faltering steps towards the mirror, I clutched onto the edge of the sink for support. I turned on the faucet and splashed cool water on my face, hoping I would wake from this nightmare. But when I peered up, I was confronted with a woman who looked lost.

Me…

Where did I come from?

Why am I here?

What happened in that cave?

I wanted answers to my questions, but every time I searched, my head throbbed in indescribable pain. As though someone or something was blocking me from knowing or remembering the truth.

And that word… ’Katára’.

What did it have anything to do with me?

Viora

Grace asked me to find something to help equalise Cerberus’ sides long ago, but there was nothing I could do. I had tried everything; every solution or potential answer ended up useless.

Cerberus was just too powerful. He was a Hybrid, something that had never existed before, and most of all, he was the most powerful being to ever live.

Conjuring up something that could balance his good and evil was near to impossible.

I was travelling in unchartered territory, just a short distance from where I had settled in a place I had called home for the last two decades.

It was quiet, peaceful, and isolated, just as I liked.

I had my knitted basket in hand, collecting my usual concoction of natural items from the forest until something pulsed in my chest.

It was as if an arrow had cut through, leaving me kneeling on the ground, clutching my chest.

I looked to see if something had pierced me, but nothing…

Then something clicked.

I used my powers to transport me back to my little cottage tucked snugly in the thick green.

I abandoned the basket, letting it fall to the floor as I raced towards the kitchen.

I remember the spell like it was yesterday, grabbing the necessary items and grinding them together until they were thin grains of sand.

I used a dagger to slice my palm and let a few drops of blood fall into the bowl.

I watched, entranced, as a flame ignited. At first, it was a bright red and orange hue, making me think my worries were nothing but mere delusion.

I sighed in relief.

That was until the flame grew taller and fiercer, slowly twisting in the air until blue flames suffocated the glowing sunset colours.

I felt my knees buckle. I tripped backwards, holding onto a ledge for support and watching as the flames ignited healthier and fuller than before.

This can’t be.

After all these years, why now?

This confirms one thing: something I assumed would come but prayed it would not...

She had been released…