Desire

FIRST CHAPTER -DEMONIALITY-

I ran through the dark forest, my heart pounding in my chest. The black void pursued me relentlessly, threatening to swallow me whole. Clutching the bow and arrow in my trembling hands, I felt the weight of desperation. My every shot missed its mark, and panic clawed at my throat.

As I sprinted through the twisted trees, my breaths came in ragged gasps. The oppressive darkness closed in, suffocating me. I thought I was doomed until, miraculously, I stumbled upon the doorsteps of a majestic plantation home that seemed to materialize out of the shadows.

Gasping for breath, I banged on the door, the sound echoing through the eerie silence. A sense of hope washed over me as I waited, my beautiful blue Victorian-themed dress contrasting starkly with the forest's gloom. It was a strange blend of eras, a modern woman trapped in a bygone era.

Finally, the massive door creaked open, revealing a tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome figure. His jet-black hair cascaded down his shoulders, framing a strong, chiseled face adorned with a full beard and mustache. His dark grey silk shirt clung to his fit form, and his piercing grey eyes locked onto mine, making my heart skip a beat.

With a voice like velvet, he invited me inside. My trembling legs carried me to a seat in the grand foyer of the castle-like plantation home. There, I found a moment of respite from the nightmarish chase, the enigmatic man is my only companion in this surreal dream.

The dream ended there, leaving me with a sense of both wonder and unease, as if the boundaries between reality and fantasy had blurred beyond recognition. I woke up, the remnants of the dream still lingering in my mind. Shaking off the surreal encounter with the man, I started my day by taking a refreshing shower. I opted for a boho-inspired outfit, something comfortable yet chic. Flowy, earth-toned clothes adorned my frame.

Before heading out, I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and chugged it down, trying to clear my head. Then, I reached for a selection of herbs, placing them in a mesh ball. I watched as the hot water filled my favorite mug, the aroma of the herbs filling the air. It was the perfect morning ritual, a soothing cup of tea to ground me.

With my purse slung over my shoulder, I stepped out of the house, ready to embrace the day. The sun was shining, and I headed to my favorite café. Upon arrival, I scouted the place for a cozy spot to settle in. Finding a corner table by the window, I made it my own, taking out my laptop and notepad, prepared for a couple of productive hours.

As the morning sun turned into a lazy afternoon, I decided it was time to explore further. The idea of browsing through shelves of books sounded like a delightful adventure. With that in mind, I left the café behind and headed for the nearest bookstore, eager to lose myself in the world of words and stories.

Lost in the aisles of the bookstore, I wandered, my fingers trailing along the spines of countless books. It was a serene escape, the scent of paper and ink soothing my senses. However, my reverie was abruptly interrupted when a book tumbled from a shelf and smacked me on the head.

I winced, rubbing the sore spot on my forehead and looked down at the book that had fallen at my feet. Its title sent a shiver down my spine: "Demoniality: Incubi and Succubi: A Book of Demonology." It seemed oddly coincidental, considering the dream I had just awoken from.

My curiosity got the better of me, and I picked up the book, examining its cover. Its pages promised secrets and mysteries, and without fully understanding why, I decided to buy it, intrigued by the unexpected twist in my day. Little did I know what I was getting myself into, as I paid for the enigmatic tome.