The Shadows Within Us

Ghosts of Vengeance

//WARNING// THIS STORY DEPICTS THEMES OF VIOLENCE, ABUSE, AND GROOMING BEHAVIOR. DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE EASILY TRIGGERED OR SENSITIVE TO THIS TYPE OF CONTENT //

If I could go anywhere at all, I would go nowhere.

Because if I was nowhere, then nobody could find me.

I'll whisper my secrets to the darkness, because I know it won't whisper back.

A place like that listens, but never speaks.

I can't even entirely imagine what it would be like.

Yet somehow, I crave it more than anything.

Have you ever wanted to be heard, but not answered?

There was a harsh thudding sound, Osiris' bedframe quaking in the wake of Eden's roughly tossed body. She squirmed, backing up as far as she could while her pupils dilated, adjusting to the darkness of the room. Her carmine orbs darted about frantically before landing upon the black, silhouetted form of a man.

Osiris stood tall and menacingly—like a shadow walker of the night. A neon pink glare beamed from his irises, bestowing a faint glowing hue upon the otherwise lightless room. The deep color seemed to crawl upwards, coating the tips of the man's hair in its vibrant glow. He was like a firefly in the pitch black of twilight.

"Don't." Eden commanded, though her voice remained soft and meek. She hid behind heavy locks of red velvet hair, turning her head to avoid the powerful gaze. He had played this game before—intoxicating her mind with his invisible aphrodisiacs. Most of the time, she would involuntarily slip into the trance, losing the ability to recall most of the events that followed. But she couldn't do this again. Not now, not ever.

Osiris clicked his tongue, the sound of his weighted footsteps growing dangerously close until he stood at her bedside. His lengthy form slowly drooped down, until he had met Eden's level. The man's eyes were still burning with an intense pink, but the fledgling girl did not look.

"Don't be immature." The demon ordered, sharp, dagger ended claws combing into her soft, wavy hair. "It's our agreement, after all...unless, you're ready to kill for your blood."

Eden sharply turned her head the opposite direction, folding her arms over her chest defiantly. She huffed, blowing a wisp of cherry hair out of her face. What a sickening contract she was bound to. The girl shivered, pulling her legs against her chest.

"I never wanted-." She began, abruptly silenced by a harsh whack to the skull.

"Don't you DARE paint me out to be the villain!" Osiris barked, grabbing a fistful of the girl's hair and tugging it forcefully. He could feel her disgust with him, overwrought with the way the girl's emotions tangled with his own. They mangled his brain, skewing his thoughts and scattering them about haphazardly. The demon could feel his strength waning; he needed control—now.

"You have your needs, and so do I." He shoved Eden's face into the comforter, pinning her head down with his large hand. "You want me to find another way, huh!?" Osiris threw himself onto the bed, the aged wooden frame threatening to give out as it creaked violently.
"You already killed your fucking mother." He swiftly moved to pin the girl's wrists instead, hovering over top of her in the full, terrifying glory of his true demonic form.

"Maybe you're right." Osiris shook his head condescendingly, a short chuckle following in quick pursuit, though it held little humor.
"And then I suppose I was wrong about you...you're such a virtuous little angel, aren't you?" He sneered sarcastically. One of his hands snatched the girl's chin, forcing her to look back into his hypnotic stare. Eden squeezed her eyes shut, warm tears rolling down the side of her face as she continued to thrash against Osiris' hold, but he was far stronger than her.