Caught

I hear a voice before I wake. It is an angry voice, filled with adrenaline and aggression, and familiar. So familiar. My eyes pop open as I recognize him. Minias. Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck…Why the fuck is Minias here? I squint, trying to see anything, but all around me is black. I have no choice but to listen to Minias, hoping to get an idea of where I am, and why. His words send shivers down my spine.

“Evelyn Dawn Valmont is mine! It is her blood inside of me and I therefore claim her. You filthy urchins have no right to sell her any more than I can sell you!”

I felt nauseous. I was Minias’? And if I wasn’t, I’d be SOLD?! To a demon? I tried to clutch my stomach, it hurt so badly, but my arms were trapped. I tried to look around, but my neck was bound. All around me was darkness. My eyes ran wildly in any direction, seeing nothing. I started to panic. My chest burned from trying to hold back my tears. I tried to teleport, and couldn’t. Again and again I tried to tap into a line and escape, each attempt sending me into further hyperventilation. I heard Minias speak again.

“Shut up you despicable creature. She is awake.” his voice took on an amused tone “And she is trying to escape.” I heard two sets of footsteps approach, one standing directly in front of me. Minias murmured a word in Latin I did not recognize, and suddenly I was released. Light shone in from all direction, and I collapsed on the floor, at Minias’ feet. Both hands pressed against the concrete floor, I slowly look up. Minias’ face wore a smirk that sent fear to my core.

“Good morning, Evelyn. How…nice of you to join us”. He looked down at me, his voice slightly singsong. Surprisingly, he reached down with one hand, grabbing me by my forearm, pulling me up quickly to my feet. “You will prove to this”, he sneered “gentleman that I am your maker and you will therefore not be sold in demon court”.

My voice trembled. “My maker? You turned me into a demon, Minias? You son of a bitch, you were only supposed to give me back my mortality!” I balled my fists up, punching at his face, but he dodged it stealthily, looking bored. He simply shook his head. “You cannot turn a witch into a demon, Evelyn. You are not a demon. I am your maker, as it is my blood inside you, but it is your witch’s body you possess, and therefore, you are a witch.” His words were contemptuous, he practically spat them out at me.

“I’m not a demon?” Relief washed over me, but it was brief. My stomach knotted up as his words sunk in. “But I am bound to you…aren’t I?” His nod was slow, deliberate, and full of meaning. “Yes, you are. Do not mistake me, I had no intention of creating a...” he paused and thought, then continued, “child. I was only aware of the connection myself when I could sense you search out a line, so close. I arrived in time to see this” he jerked his thumb to the other demon in the room “neanderthal attempt to bring you to court to sell you. And you do not want to be a demon’s familiar, now do you, dear? I suggest you prove our connection and he can be on his merry way.”

I looked at the other demon, his face still hidden behind the cloak, who had yet to speak. My eyes went back to Minias’, terrified. “How do I prove it?” His eye roll was patronizing. He stepped closer, taking my hand, murmuring more unknown Latin. I felt his hand draw the warmth from mine as he spoke, our heat transferring to our fingertips. A burst of light from our hands made me gasp loudly. After a moment, the cloaked demon snarled, then nodded, abruptly turning his back and walked out of the room, leaving me alone with Minias.