The Marionette

Chapter Nine - The Plan

Chapter Nine - The Plan

"I don't understand anything you just said. What does all that mean?"

She looked at me strangely before she replied, "It means that you will try and find what you are searching for, but in the end, it will result in a loss and then the loss will fill you with grief and pain and ultimately lead you straight into the hands of him."

"Him? Vladimir? What is he? You still haven't told me anything really."

"He is neither alive nor dead. He isn't of this veil. He is the result of a resurrection gone wrong. He is a Ghoul who feeds on the souls of the living. He has been here, in our world, for quite some time. He stores parts of the souls of his victims in something he keeps close to him, which means, they are trapped until released. Even when - or if - they are released, they will still be a part of him because he has been feeding on them for quite some time. He never takes the soul in a day or a week, the time limit is much longer I am afraid. He likes to take his time, condition his victim to his liking. With you, physical attraction.

Using your attraction for him against you, he embeds in your mind, your memories; your soul is becoming his. He controls everything you are doing. The headaches are a result of the feeding. He is literally sucking your life essence from you and that is killing you very, very, slowly. I honestly feel sorry for you. This Ghoul, he is hard to get rid of. It will take a lot of patience on your end and you must be willing to sacrifice anything to get the job done. Do you think that is something you can do? Even if it's the lives of loved ones? Are you willing to go to lengths you never thought possible, let alone, actually do? Because what I'm going to give you is a very old, very dark magic. The only way to fight dark magic gone awry is with dark magic."

"Wait... you're saying that Vladimir is a result of a resurrection gone wrong? Meaning, someone tried to raise a corpse back from the dead?"

Madam Jacara nodded in agreement.

"How does one even do that? How is raising someone back from the dead possible?"

"With dark magic you can do almost anything that surpasses the natural order of things; but it always comes with a price. When the resurrection went bad, Vladimir was released as a consequence of using that kind of supernatural magic. No matter if it goes awry or it works, a price is to be paid. It won't always be a Ghoul that is unleashed on the earth. There are worse things out there in the dark walking among us, passing as humans than a soul sucker."

"You said he is in my mind and can control what I do? The headaches are a result of his feeding, and that's when he slips in my mind? Is that why I'm forgetting things, and don't remember doing things that I was said to have done?"

"Yes. After the first few visits, taking bits of your soul, he can then and only then, be able to insert himself in. With the dark magic that was used for the resurrection, some of it penetrates through the veil and into the Ghoul. That allows him to place blocks in your memories and get a better control on what you do and say. He can also intensify your attraction toward him. Use any means necessary so long as he gets his feeding."

I frowned and listened intently, "Why doesn't he just find someone else to feed on?"

"Once he starts, as I said, like a parasite, or a leech, he doesn't let go. Once he gets that first taste of the purity of the soul that person will be his priority, his target. He even separates the victim from their loved ones, friends, anyone he perceives a threat or in his way. He will even go to the lengths of saving them if they are in trouble, so long as he can finish what he started. He will never let you go."

I rubbed my face feeling utterly hopeless. Great. Just freaking fantastic. At least I knew why I couldn't remember last month and parts of this one. Her questions provoked a feeling deep in the pit of my stomach. I couldn't tell if it was fear or the start of acceptance. What the hell was wrong with me? I couldn't agree to her terms. I couldn't sacrifice anyone that I didn't know, let alone, loved ones and friends. Does that mean I will never be rid of Vladimir then?