Trusting the Devil

Chapter 9: Sage

Sage

I woke up in the cold, brisk night. I frantically touched my pajamas, willing my heart rate to stabilize back to being non-existent. I was sweating. I was freezing and I was hungry. I needed blood. I hadn't had a proper meal since my turning, about two weeks and a half ago. Logan was the person who had fed me and hadn't had time to do so with everything going on since. I didn't know where the blood bags were, but I guessed there would be some in the kitchen–aka, the place where Royals didn't usually go to. The servants didn't have any orders either on my food, but I knew this wasn't their fault. A sickening feeling in my stomach made me stumble back in the bed and in a fetal position. The craving was getting even more intense. Beads formed along my forehead as I tried to set aside this burning desire to drink the delicious, warm, and– No, I needed to be in control.

A little sip won't hurt.

This voice again. Black magic. Why was it here? Why did it want me to slip up and become an uncontrollable monster? I needed to resist.

After a couple of minutes of laying there, on my king-sized bed, wrapped with all the blankets that I could find, I started shaking. The seconds turned into minutes with my effort to make the shacking subside. When it became bearable to live, I dared to open my eyes. My magic was swarming above me. The bright yellow fire was warming me now. I accepted it, and I immediately felt safe, and secure, but the starvation was only growing stronger.

"Sage, you have to drink blood, it's our only source of nutrition."

Who is it?

"Hello, Sage, I'm Helia, your phoenix. I'm inside of you. I'm the voice of good, love, power, and resurrection. I'm proud of you for recognizing the black magic."

Oh my goodness, Choufu didn't tell me about you.

I couldn't believe it. I had a phoenix in my deepest mind. I closed my eyes as I let my magic show me my creature. She was as bright as the sun and as beautiful as the moon. Bright yet dull. Happy to help yet sadness consumed her. I could feel her emotions. We were one. Brave yet scared. Surrounded by people yet lonely.

"There are a lot of things this man doesn't know."

How long have you been living?

"Eighteen years."

But, that means–

"Yes, I was born with you and I will die with you. We are two bodies with the same fraction of a soul. Unfortunately, I know so little about everything that is happening to you. All I know is that this black magic is bad and that there is a woman in our kingdom who is waiting for you to give you answers."

And why do you know this?

"Beats me."

And you said two bodies and one soul. How is that possible? You don't have a body, you're a Force of Nature.

"No, darling. I'm pretty sure I can come out of your body."

That's cool!

"I know! We can fly together too!"

Do you know why I have this mark on my hand?

"That I know, because I did it. I was eager to help you since it was the first time you officially used me–"

Wait, so without you I have no powers?

"No, you do. It's just for more powerful spells, such as healing, you would need my help. So, I introduced myself with this tattoo and now, you finally opened up to me so we could talk."

Wait, I didn't open myself to anything.

"You did. When you are in grave danger, this part of your mind opens up in fear that you might die. It's in your subconscious. Now, for example, you are slowly decomposing. You need the blood, Sage. Come on. I need you to get up and go down these beautiful glass stairs to the kitchen and open up the fridge, get a bag of blood, preferably O-positive, it's Logan's favorite–"