Ritual in Flight

Chatper 5

Omega.

:Where the hell am I? This place isn't even on the map it's so remote! They should have sent clergy members instead. SERIOUSLY! What can 5 ghouls and 1 pope achieve alone that they couldn't in pairs? At least they could have come with us!: Omega pondered to himself as he made his way into the damp woods. It was still light out, the was thankful for that, he couldn't imagine how hard it would be to navigate at night. He made his was to the only clearing he had come across :Well this looks like it but who really knows: As he began to set up his tent and gather firewood, he could feel an odd sense that something was watching. Maybe someone? He tried to shake it. Merely telling himself that it was just his nerves.

:I wonder how long it will be before her next ritual? I do not think i should be here, alone, for too long. I may be a ghoul, but demons will still haunt me if they feel the desire to do so....please be quick..:

He lit the fire and snuggled close to it. The eerie sense of another had finally disappeared and now he left truly alone. Only sounds of the night and the crackling, burning wood to distract him from his endless worry. He zoned into the dancing flames and let everything disappear for a moment. Just a moment. Then the feeling of presence washed over him, like a warm hand sliding down his back, barely touching but close enough to feel the heat. Omega turned his head slowly, hoping to actually see someone or something.

Nothing. Just the blackness of the night and him. He knew now, it was truly the demon. The one what plagued his mind and heart. The one he couldn't quiet nor stop. The one inside himself. He turned back to the fire, hoping to get lost in its wonderful movements again

*You've ignored me too long. You cant shut me away, ya know!* the familiar tune rang through Omega. He never let his gaze break from the blaze in front of him. *She won't show, ever. You're never going to find her. And even if you could, she will reject a pathetic ghoul like you*

Before he could react, a face took form in the fire. A twisted face, scarred and broken. It smilked the most flesh piercing, dark smile that caused omega to lose his breath. The face grew larger and into a more body form. It stood in the pit and stared directly through omegas into the depths of his being. Without speaking, he could hear all the paint words it want him to hear

*Pathetic, lonely ghoul. You shall fail as you have always failed. With music, with humans, with your beloved and now with this creature of flight! YOU WILL FAIL!* The demon trailed off into a roar of maniacal laughter that shook Omega to his core. He had always heard this tune from within. Always a slave to its words. Tonight was the first time he has seen its true face, no longer hidden behind his own, but face to face.

*Ugly ghoul, no one there loves you, no one misses you. They all know that you will fail and they blame you and you alone for destroying their ritual!* the demon shouted at him. The flames seemed to grow and brighten with each word. Omega had dealt with this demon silently, from within, but as it stood there in front of him, he could no longer be reserved in his dealing.

"Demon! You sing words of lies and disgusting false reality!" Omega shouted in the night. "You have always killed me from inside, how dare you come to form this way!" he could no longer contain his rage towards the unnamed demon. He stood up, as close as he could to the demons face and continued. "You have no place out here! You are not of this reality! You do not belong! You are the only thing that is pathetic and unwanted! You do not deserve the burning wonder form you have chosen and you do not deserve to haunt my any longer!" As Omega was about to pour his cup of water on the demon manipulated fire form, it reached out quickly and slashed Omegas face.

Blood and burned flesh was all Omega could sense now. Before he could dump the cup onto the sire, it was gone. The demon had left and the world was silent..

Omega didn't move. Stuck in place by the mixture of fear and confusion. The blood dripping down from his lip pulling him from the daze, he reached up to wipe it away and felt the horrendous sting of pain from where the demon has lashed out. His face. The demon had marked him so he will forever know he is there. His face, so he will see it and everyone else too...

Omega let a tear fall and threw himself down on the cold, unforgiving ground. The demon  scarred him for life with the constant reminder of his true identity. Now Omega could never remove his mask, he could never be loved, he could never be happy...The demon played dirty...

:What a rotten asshole: he though, dragging himself to a seated position.:What a dirty rotten cowardly fuck all to do this when he knew i could win: He cleaned his wound and retired to his tent. Slipping into the soft, comforting sleeping bad, he forced his mind to think of happier thoughts, begging to feel the positive emotions take him in and have good dreams. He thought of the first ritual, the fun they had performing. He remembered how the clergy praised him and his brothers as musical geniuses. He could see the cake the sisters had made, celebrating their first successful tour. All the drunken shenanigans that ensued while in the different cities. Then he though back to the first time he had to fly. How he unknowingly grasped Papas arm and held tight. How Papa didn't remove it and tried to comfort him the entire way. Omega smiled at the reminiscing. He could almost feel Papas hand in his own, see his face behind his eyelids. He could hear Papas voice calling to him....but...it wasn't his..

*Oh dear omega, you cannot win against me* The demon snickered out. The once beautiful fave Omega longed for turned slowly into a distorted skeletal figure of rotting flesh.

Omega shot up from his sleep, still dark outside, he rubbed his head. The demon still laughing and twisting images and emotions inside.

*You will forever belong in my shackles of scare, Omega. Forever. So you might as well give up on happiness. I will destroy them all, every thought.* the demon spoke. Omega could feel its hands and claws running through him. He did not know how much more he could take.

"If i give up these happy thought, will you cease?" Omega stuttered out, hoping to return to sleep.

*You give them up willingly and i will disappear...for a while at least* it responded. The idea was tempting, give up the thoughts to rid himself of the demon, if only until he can find away to free himself of it..

" Okay..I...I will give them up...Please just,.. just let me be, demon. You wont take my life , I know you won't. But if you don't disappear, you will force me." Omega couldn't bear the words he was speaking. However true, he hated them. He hated the demon, he loathed how he had been tortured to come to this point.

*You aren't wrong. I could not want to kill you, it would mean my own end. Put away your happiness and I shall take a vacation of sorts. But! Omega, my love, I will always be there* it whispered and faded away. Omega could feel a small weight release from within.

:How am i going to keep happiness away..when i desire it the most..:

He tired to lay down and fall back asleep. His mind focused solely on getting through this venture without further issue. Focus on the goal and not happiness. Might be the only way to stay sane.. for now...