In My Mind

The arrow whined as it was freed from my grip. It twisted and spun until it was plunged into the deer’s chest, my aim deadly accurate. The deer turned to me, its black eyes shone as if begging me to save it, but the deed was already done - this was a sport after all. 

I turned to realise that my royal guards were nowhere to be found. Where were they? I thought. They have to be around somewhere, don't they? The absence of hooves or shouting in the distance made me think otherwise and panic filled my thoughts: What if I couldn’t get back? What if they wouldn’t come back for me. I couldn’t see them anywhere. Where were they? I only wanted to go out hunting today, not to get lost!

A short hissing sound distracted me from my train of thought and I turned to see the deer, now limp on its side, convulsing. Its legs were now strewn horizontally in the air, jerking around, unlike anything I had ever seen. My eyes widened as I saw the skin of the deer rip open to reveal a swirling black cloud. 

My horse whinnied and threw me off of its back, and I landed on the ground with a thump. I stood up, not wanting to leave the eerie smog where I could not see it, and turned to once again face it.

This time there was no smog, only a bloody, gaping hole in the deer’s chest. Which was now filled with an inky black substance, that was oozing out of the hole. I stumbled backwards at what I saw next - a man-shaped figure but made entirely of the thick black smog that was protruding from the deer. The edges of the figure were blurred, fading outwards from opaque black to a transparent, hazy grey. Two beaming, completely white, eyes stared at me, as though it could see right into my soul if it wanted. 

I opened my mouth to scream, but no sound would allow itself out. Am I just hallucinating or is this real? I asked myself. An evil smirk enticing death spread across the demon’s face and its slender hands revealed curving, sharp, talons - five on each hand. I pinched my arm and closed my eyes to make sure this was just a dream, but I opened my eyes and found myself in the same location as before, the demonic creature still standing in front of me. 

The demon stepped closer to me, its shadows dancing among the brush. I stepped backwards, not waning it any closer than it already was. 

“Now, princess, you are mine.” The word ‘princess’ was cringed at like a piece of bitter lemon. It spoke the common tongue, but it was spoken unlike any other, its voice husky and very masculine. He coiled his hand, gesturing for me to come closer, but I would not yield. His expression changed from one of mockery or satisfaction to one of resentment and hurt. 

“Alright then, if you will not yield, I will make you,” he hissed. His finger curved once more, and my body gave a sudden jolt. My body was now out of my command, unwillingly dragging itself along the floor, closer to the demonic man that was now standing over me. 

Two of his long silver talons gripped my chin and cocked it upwards so I would meet his eyes. I struggled to release myself from his grasp as his hot breath pricked my skin. 

“You obey me now and that is that, Wynne Demotrosa.” I was sure that if I could have seen myself I would have been as white as a ghost.

 He knew my name, how did he know my name? Thoughts swarmed in my head, and every warning sign evident told me to leave. My chin was released so hard I started bleeding from where his sharp talons skimmed my neck. 

He lowered himself so he was eye level with me and whispered, “Or else.” He laughed manically and smirked once again. That in itself was enough to make my blood run cold.

I stood, once again removing myself slightly from the demon’s presence. His eyes followed my trail of movements and I shuddered, feeling the weight of his eyes rake over my body. 

I locked eyes with the demon and spoke confidently but calmly, “No.”

He snapped and his once white eyes now turned red with fury. The trees seemed to close in on his command, now forming a towering dome that blocked out the majority of the light. He growled and a silver set of teeth sprang into place, similar to his talons. 

This is it, I thought, this is how I am going to die.

I fumbled for my dagger, hidden in the folds of my dress, and pulled it out. My hand shook at the thought that I would have to kill someone - or something, with it. 

“Silly mortal,” he chuckled, “you cannot kill me with one measly dagger. I possess magic beyond this realm, magic that no mortal weapon could face.” His mouth curved upright in a vile grin and he stepped forwards once more. His finger gestured for me to kneel and my body obeyed, but not out of my command. 

“For disobeying me, mortal, you will now relive your worst memory,” he laughed wickedly, and tapped me once with his talon, causing my eyes to close. 

I stood up from the floor, opening my eyes, and realised this wasn’t the forest anymore. I looked around and realised this was my childhood home, where I grew up. The ornate paintings lay askew and I remembered what day it was.

“No,” I said, my voice breaking. 

“You can’t do this to me,” I cried out.

A voice answered me in response. One masculine and husky.

“Oh princess, I can.” He chuckled once more, the sound reverberating throughout my head.

I wouldn’t move further for I knew what I would find, but once again the demon controlled my body, unwillingly moving me towards that room. 

Tears clouded my vision, stinging my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. My body was violently tugged into the hall and then into the first room. I squeezed my eyes shut, but they pried open with an invisible force, which was what I could only assume, was the demon. 

I wasn’t ready for the horror I was about to experience, even if I had previously. 

My parents lay as lifeless and bloody as I remember, their blood now seeping into the mattress. Two slits lay across each of their throats, and their stiff bodies lay atop the covers, my mothers auburn hair spread out messily, just like she was sleeping.

I threw up, not caring that it got on my dress and on the floor. 

I turned, silently crying as tears streamed down my face, and faced the wall, obeying myself to look away. I could feel the demon’s power trying to pry me from my current stance, but I would not falter. The tears slowed and I willed my body to disobey the demon. 

“No!,” I screamed at him through my mind. 

“NO!” 

My body jolted and I landed back in the forest, my body slumped against the pine needles that littered the floor. 

“What was that mortal?” he growled. 

“No!” I wailed, my voice ringing out amongst the trees, causing birds to call out and fly away. 

A flash flew through the air and within seconds the demon man had dissolved into nothingness, black sparks flickering through the trees. I realised it was a dagger and my tears came to a stop. He was gone, he was actually gone!

I sagged my body to the floor with relief and suddenly my eyelids grew heavy once more and I drifted into unconsciousness. 

~

1 month later;

 A shadowy figure stood in the distance, a grin enticing death spread upon its face. A grin I would know beyond life and death. And I chose to smirk back.