Nameless Ghoul

Eisheth

They grabbed a bottle of juice each from the fridge in the small kitchen adjacent to the chapel. Itzal was nervous; if Secondo was feeling stressed, this mustn’t be good. It was past midnight now and all he really wanted to do was to go upstairs and bury himself under a blanket with Sunshine. Instead, he was about to walk into the chapel of ritual to encounter whatever had rattled the usually unflappable ex Papa.

“Want me to come with you?” asked Omega.

He could use a friendly face with him, so he nodded and gently knocked on the chapel door. Fire opened the door a crack and the smell of sulphur wafted out to them. Itzal and Omega both cursed in unison.

Fire opened the door enough to let them through, and they stopped short as he closed it behind them.

Secondo, Shay, Earth, Air, Quinn and the witches gathered before a summoning circle on the stone floor of the chapel, in front of the large sacrificial altar.

Held in the circle was a tall, curvy, and terrifyingly beautiful demon. She was easily seven feet tall and her skin was grey with delicate swirling black tattoo-like markings. Waves of long, black hair fell around her shoulders, laced with feathers like a raven’s wing. It caught the candlelight with an iridescent sheen, like oil floating on a puddle. Eisheth’s bronze coloured, ram-like horns curled perfectly back into her hair. 

Her jet-black eyes locked straight onto Itzal’s dual coloured ones in an unnerving stare as soon as she registered him. Her plump, blood-red lips curved into a sultry smile, revealing a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. She licked them with a black, forked tongue.

Itzal could not tear his gaze away from her and felt compelled to walk towards her and stand with the others.

“Santos was so rude to not formally introduce us all those weeks ago. He is so base. And you are in a less.... compromising position today, it seems,” she purred.

Her accent was so thick that the words flowed into one another.

Itzal felt his cheeks burn with shame and was thankful that the chapel was quite dark. The last time he had seen her, he had lain on the altar at Santos’ church beneath the blonde witch with his life blood dripping from his cut wrists.

“Although I already know you by your nature. We are kindred spirits, you and I. They call me the Princess of Whoredom, and I always recognise one of my own.” Itzal felt all the eyes in the room on him, and he felt a spike of anger and humiliation at her words. He clenched his fists and his lip curled to reveal his fangs. She laughed a sensual laugh, the sound both pleasant and painful at the same time. “Oh, such a sensitive disposition. I do not mean to insult you, Buer, I am merely stating facts. Although...” She cocked her head and looked him up and down, breathing deep as if she was scenting him. “A whore no more, it seems! Most interesting. Santos has reneged on his bargain. How unfortunate.”

Itzal could feel himself trembling with both fear and anger. He knew the demon could not break the circle, but he could feel her immense power and didn't want to think about what would happen if she did break loose.

Eisheth swung her eyes to Secondo.

“You may ask your questions now. I wanted to check on my investment, and it appears I have been deceived. It is always much more pleasant dealing with the Clergy. They show me the proper respect I am due. Eventually. Although it has been a few centuries since I was called upon now.”

All eyes were on the demon again, and Itzal breathed a small sigh of relief. He jumped as he felt Omega place a hand on his shoulder and send him some calming energy. He could feel the apprehension of the others in the room. No wonder Secondo was stressed if she had been making demands from the moment he summoned her.