When he heard voices approaching the door, Itzal stood and stretched out his aching limbs. He and Sunshine had been sitting in the corridor for a while now, and he didn’t think he could face seeing the witches, or Secondo, if they were about to leave the study. Sunshine got up too and offered him a tentative smile.
“Do you want to go back upstairs?” she asked.
He met her gaze and nodded. Together, they turned and made their way back to the ghoul lairs.
“Thanks for coming with me,” he said quietly. “I’m sorry you had to hear all that. I didn’t think they’d want the full story. I didn’t mean to upset you. It was just...too fresh, and I couldn’t...”
She stopped him with a gentle shake of her head.
“Please don’t apologise for that. I knew you’d been through a lot, but hearing the details, it was a shock. All I wanted to do was to hug you and tell you it would be okay, but I know that’s not what you needed. I was just angry because I didn’t know how to help you.”
Itzal gave her a sideways glance, putting his hands in his jeans pockets.
“Just being here helped,” he said, voice thick. “Secondo taking the memory... it made everything too vivid. I wasn’t ready for it to feel that real. It brought everything back. So yeah. Thanks for being there. Again.”
She smiled, trying to lighten the moment.
“Well, you know, I didn’t have anything better to do, so...” She giggled and shrugged. “Oh! Movie night is tonight, not tomorrow. Cirrus texted earlier. There’s a summoning tomorrow, so some of us are needed for that.” She slowed as the thought clicked. “Oh. It’s your mother’s summoning, isn’t it?”
Itzal had lost track of time and hadn’t realised either. A humourless chuckle escaped him as he considered what that meant.
“I don’t know how it’ll go. I don’t know how she’ll be. What if she blames me? I’m the reason she’s losing her partner.”
Sunshine scowled.
“Itzal, will you stop? She’s not going to blame you for any of this. Your sire is getting exactly what he deserves. I only wish it was me carrying out the sentence. I wouldn’t even hesitate.”
He sighed, and they walked on in silence.
When they reached the lairs, Itzal felt exhaustion wash over him. Bone-deep tiredness. Aether, Dew, Rain, and Cumulus were in the kitchen eating. They offered him and Sunshine some, and she accepted, but he made a quick excuse and slipped off to his room. Cumulus gave Sunshine a questioning glance, but she only shook her head sadly.
Itzal undressed, climbed into bed, and curled up in the centre of the mattress, wrapping the covers tightly around himself. He prayed for a dreamless sleep, but it wasn’t meant to be. He drifted off quickly, and the dreams came not long after.
In the first, he was back in the small town where he’d grown up, heading towards the Academy through the crowded streets. But as he walked, the sky grew darker, like a thunderstorm was settling in overhead. The air thickened with dread. By the time he reached the avenue leading to the Academy, it was like walking through the night. The once-busy town was deserted, every window and alley filled with glowing red eyes watching him.
Relief surged when he reached the Academy steps. Until he looked up.
Santos stood at the top.
His red ceremonial robes billowed in the rising wind, his smirk like a knife to Itzal’s gut. He tried to run, but nothing happened. Paralysis gripped him. That old, familiar fear of having his will snatched away flooded him, dragging him back to the first night on Earth. The night Santos had taken control.
The dream cracked apart, but Itzal didn’t wake.
The scene shifted.
Now, he was in his bed at the Abbey. The room was dark and still. He turned his head to the side, expecting to see Sunshine sleeping beside him, but the figure next to him was wrong. Pale hair spilled over the pillow and his heart stuttered.
Not Sunshine.
Her.
Santos’ blonde witch.
He scrambled back, covers tangling around his legs. She turned toward him with a slow, poisonous smile. Those perfect red lips parting in a wolfish smile. Itzal fell, ass hitting the floor with a thud.
When he dared to look up, the bed was empty.
He was awake.
He sucked in a breath and tried to calm his racing heart. It was just a dream. Nothing more. He flicked on the light and scanned the room. No one. He even checked the bathroom. Still alone. But the scent of her lingered; sulphur and blood.
He shivered, pulled on jeans and a hoodie, and splashed water on his face. The clock read 10:30 PM. Wide awake now, he decided to go for a walk to calm his nerves, hoping the Abbey would be quiet at this hour.
As he stepped into the hallway, the faint sound of rustling came from the kitchen. Rain was rummaging in a cupboard.
“Oh hey,” he said. “Feeling better? Sunshine told us you had a headache.”
Itzal silently thanked her for the white lie.
“Yeah, better. Just had a bad dream. Thought a walk might help.”
“Cool. I’m trying to find the Jolly Ranchers. Dew insisted on them for the movie, but wouldn’t get up to grab them.” Rain rolled his eyes. “So I volunteered. They’ve disappeared, though.” He paused and met Itzal’s eyes, but then dipped his gaze. This was the most Itzal thought he’d ever heard the timid water ghoul say. “You wanna watch the rest of the movie? We’re doing X-Men.”
“Umm...okay. Sure.”
At least he wouldn’t have to talk much. The dark room sounded like exactly what he needed.
They walked down to the small cinema room. The giant screen played the film, and the others were already curled up on beanbags, snacks in hand.
Sunshine turned, her violet eyes flashing as she grinned and jumped up.
“You came!” she beamed, grabbing his hand and pulling him over to one of the large sofas. The others offered warm greetings before turning back to the movie.
“I’m so glad you made it. Want some popcorn?”
“Thanks,” he said softly.
She returned moments later with a bowl and a couple of drinks. She nestled beside him, checking silently if the closeness was okay. He nodded, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. The contact calmed him more than he expected.
As the movie played on, he focused on breathing. On letting the noise and the company dull the pain. The dreams still haunted him, and he knew Santos was testing the wards, reaching through to infect his sleep.
Secondo’s plan echoed in his mind. He’d have to talk to Sunshine about it tomorrow. He wasn’t sure how she’d react, but he needed her to know. He didn’t want to keep any secrets from her.
For now, her fingers gently traced patterns on his chest, anchoring him in the here and now.
Eventually, peace overtook him.
And for the first time in what felt like forever, Itzal slept without dreams.
YOU ARE READING
Nameless Ghoul
ParanormaleA ghoul is summoned illegally and enslaved by a rogue sect of the Clergy. For the past twenty years, an evil Satanic sorcerer has held Itzal captive. He took control of his will, subjecting him to unimaginable horrors, and forced him to commit acts...
