Under His Spell

27. Witches And Magicians

The Hidden Truth

The air in the small living room felt thick with tension as Eno faced Den, whose charm was beginning to fade, revealing the darker edges of his personality. Eno could feel his heart pounding, echoing in his ears like a drum as he stood firm, resolved to confront the truth.

"You look worn out," Eno urged, his voice steady despite the knot in his stomach. "Tired of your own tricks? Must be heavy carrying all the weight of dark magic."

Den's expression shifted, the glimmer of amusement replaced by something far more serious. "You really want to know what dark magic is, don't you?" He took a step back, his eyes narrowing, and a twisted smile crept onto his lips. "Then come with me."

With a flourish, Den turned and led Eno down a narrow hallway that felt darker than the rest of the house. The walls seemed to close in around them, and Eno hesitated, a sense of dread crawling up his spine. "Where are we going?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

"To my special place," Den replied, his tone now laced with an eerie excitement. "A place where all my secrets are kept. After all, what's a magician without his tricks?"

He stopped in front of a door that looked like it hadn't been opened in years. The wood was worn and splintered, and an odd, musty odor seeped through the cracks. With a flourish of his hand, Den opened the door, revealing a dark room illuminated only by a single flickering light bulb hanging from the ceiling.

As Eno stepped inside, his stomach turned. The walls were lined with shelves that held various jars and containers, each filled with strange objects. Teeth. Bones—small, white, and delicate—were carefully arranged in macabre displays, while strands of hair hung from the ceiling like twisted trophies. There were trinkets that seemed to glimmer with a strange energy, and items that looked unsettlingly human.

"In magic, nothing ever disappears," Den said, his voice echoing in the dim light. "It only goes somewhere a magician knows—a secret to every magical trick." He stepped further into the room, gesturing to the items with a proud grin. "Everything has a purpose, Eno. Everything has its place."

Eno's breath hitched in his throat as he took in the grotesque scene before him. "Den, what is this?" he whispered, feeling the walls close in around him. The room was an altar of horrors, a shrine to whatever twisted magic Den had conjured in his mind.

Den turned to face him, his expression shifting to one of mock sincerity. "So, Eno, will you have to be another object I should hide?" he asked, his tone deceptively light, but his eyes glinted with something far more sinister.

"Hide?" Eno echoed, his voice trembling.

"It's all part of the act!" Den interrupted, his voice rising. "People don't appreciate true magic. They only see the illusions. But in here, I can create whatever I want. I can keep what's mine safe. And that includes you."

Eno stepped back, the reality of Den's words sinking in like a heavy stone in his chest. "You murdered people...!" he exclaimed, anger boiling up inside him.

Den's expression darkened, his playful facade slipping entirely. "You don't understand, Eno. You're special. You're the only one who sees the magic as it is. You're the only one who can appreciate it."

"Appreciate what? Bones and hair?" Eno shot back, the desperation in his voice rising. "You're sick!"

Den stepped closer, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "You think you can just walk away from this? You think I'll let you leave? No, no, no. I can't let you go, Eno. Not after everything we've shared. You belong to me now, like all the others."

"Others?" Eno gasped, the implications of Den's words sending a chill down his spine. "You've done this before? You've actually hurt people? Detective Ret was right!"

Den's smile returned, but it was twisted and chilling. "It's all part of the performance. Everyone is a player in the grand show of life, and I'm the master of ceremonies. But don't worry, Eno. I promise to keep you safe. I'll make sure you're never forgotten."

Eno's mind raced, adrenaline surging through him as he realized how deep into darkness he had fallen. "I won't let you do this to me," he said, his voice trembling but resolute. "I will find a way out of here!"

Den's smile widened, a look of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Oh, Eno. You're so dramatic. But remember, I have the strongest magic here. I have the strongest power between you and I. You can't escape what's already been set in motion."

With a sudden surge of determination, Eno lunged toward the door, but Den was faster, grabbing his arm with a grip that felt like iron. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

"Let me go!" Eno shouted, struggling against Den's hold, but the magician only pulled him closer, their faces inches apart. The heat of Den's breath against his skin sent shivers down Eno's spine.

"Eno, listen to me," Den said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You don't want to leave. You're a part of something bigger now. Together, we can create the greatest illusion the world has ever seen okay? I have no intention of physically harming you so just stay. You are bound to me by that ring and..."

"If I could get it out of me I would!" Eno shouted, panic rising in his chest. "You're not a magician; you're an evil incarnate!"

Den's expression darkened, the playful charm vanishing. "You think you can just reject this? You think you can walk away from us after everything?" His grip tightened, and Eno felt the darkness closing in around him. "There is three of us in this room, and two of me you are bound to."

"What are you talking about?" Eno seemed confused but shook his head, warding off any illusion or spell cast on him. "I will expose you."

Den's laughter echoed through the room, chilling and mocking. "Expose me? You think anyone would believe you? You're trapped in my world now, Eno. I've made sure of it."

With a sudden surge of adrenaline, Eno broke free from Den's grasp and sprinted toward the door, heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't allow himself to be a victim of Den's twisted magic any longer. He needed to escape this nightmare.

As he reached for the doorknob, Den's voice rang out behind him, heavy with menace. "You can run, Eno, but you can't hide. I will always find you. This is just the beginning of my greatest trick yet."

With that, Eno swung the door open and bolted into the hallway, fueled by sheer desperation. He could hear Den's laughter echoing behind him, taunting and triumphant.

But Eno was determined. He would break free from the illusion, uncover the truth, and escape the twisted magic that had ensnared him for far too long. He would fight to reclaim his life, no matter the cost.

Even so, despite his resolve to depart from this facade, why did it feel like he had run away before, not once but many times...

"Even my words sound familiar..."