Jeff and the Succubus [ON HIATUS]

Chapter 9 - Problems and Complications

Third-Person P.O.V

Candie, frozen in place due to anger and embarrassment, glared at the insane killer before her. Between them, the dead body of a hooded man, whose identity remained unknown. A couple feet away, Ms. Scarecrow, other than her ragged, labored breaths, has gone quiet to pay attention to the drama of which was itching to unfold before her. The tension in the air grew thicker as the two stood, waiting for the other to make their move. It'd be impossible to believe that just that morning, they were bickering on the bedroom floor like children.

"I didn't need your help, Jeffrey." Candie growled, earning a sneer from the killer.

"Be grateful, bitch. Not everyone gets it." He growled back.

"I didn't want it." The demon repeated herself more sternly. "I told you and Slenderman I wanted out of whatever 'bonding' you thought was forming between us."

"Well, sweetcheeks, he wants to believe otherwise," The killer started at the demon with quick swift steps, snatched his trusty kitchen blade from the body's skull and stepped over it without missing a beat, and stopped when he was chest to chest with the demon. "and as his proxy, whether I want to or not, it's my job to carry out his orders." As he finished his sentence, figures stepped from behind the trees around him. Ms. Scarecrow was also surrounded, being snatched from the ground by a being with a blue mask, dark sludge leaking from its empty eye sockets, and BEN, completely decapitating her. As a scarecrow, she was merely unconscious, and will awaken once her head is reattached.

Candie glanced around her at the beings emerging from the darkness. A being in a yellow hoody whose face was a simple red sad face glowing through the shadows of his hood, a boy whose scarf covered the lower half of his face and wore large goggles, an axe on his shoulder, a little brown haired girl clutching a bloodied teddy bear, and the one Candie came to know as Masky. The demon assumed a defensive pose, her claws out and ready as her tail thrashed behind her. Jeff followed suit, still face to face with the succubus.

The two let out deep growls at each other. Candie attempted to strategize her escape, something she never even knew she was capable of, having never had to think that hard before. The many proxies of Slenderman surrounding the two closed in to prevent her escape, anticipating her thoughts, much to her disdain. It grew still in the clearing, everyone awaiting the others move. Slowly, a smile crept onto Candie's face, her lips curling up evilly.

"Gee, Jeff," His eye twitched a bit, showing her she had his full undivided attention. "I was actually starting to like you." Before anyone could react, Candie's eyes turned bright red as she pounced on Jeff, slashing at the killers already scarred face. The killer was faster than she thought, and attempted to pull away, causing her claws to rip through his jacket, tee, and his first two layers of skin. Jeff yelled out in pain and struck out at the demon on top of him, creating a deep gash from the bottom of her jaw to the top of her cheek. She screeched in pain and pushed off of him to take off into the sky, though, before she could get far, Jeff grabbed her tail and snatched her down.

"What are y'all standing around for?! Help me!" He yelled into their surroundings. The beings jolted, then sprang into action. Candie never had to fight off so many people at once and the struggle she was enduring was great. She fought with all her might, but she hadn't fed before hand, and every punch, kick, slash, and stab was slowly breaking her down. She began to give up, falling to the ground to simply whimper in pain.

"STOP!" The deep voice echoed throughout the clearing and all at once the beating stopped. "I only wanted her weakened, not dead, you idiots!" The proxies simultaneously stepped back, all except Jeff who stood over the succubus' shuddering form. Slenderman briskly came forth from the shadows, seemingly not using his legs at all, with a crazed Nikki in tow. She was wrapped in his tentacles, covered in black from the neck down, snarling and thrashing to get free. After Candie's uncontrollable breakdown, Roxanne transported them to a safer location, before exploding with rage over Nikki's naivety and stupidity in attempting to confront Candie's shifting form, well aware of the danger she woud be getting herself into if she were to be in the same room of the demon breaking free. In her rage, Roxanne took over Nikki's body and went on a rampage, where Slender found her slaughtering a woman just outside his domain.

"Ni..k-ki.." Candie groaned in pain as she tried to roll over to see her precious human more clearly. She winced as Jeff knelt down next to her, pressing her eyes shut. She had never felt such fear before. Yes, she'd lost many fights being cocky, believing that she could go without a feeding, but to fear for her well-being was a whole other story. As a demon, she always figured nothing any human could ever do will kill her, and any supernatural being able to do such a thing, she would never meet. But now, as she lay defenseless and beaten, tears welling up in her eyes, she felt as though this could be the end. She shook violently with the pure thought of after all the decades of walking this realm free of any doubt that she will ever die, she would finally be meeting her demise. She flinched as she felt the killer cradle her head, bringing it to his chest, and slipped his arm under her legs, picking her up bridal style.

Her eyes shot open, wincing from the bright light that was once covered by the trees. She hadn't even known what time of day it was, what with the manipulation Slender had over the area, but the sun showed brightly through the branches and leaves, giving everything a heavenly glow. Her eyes drifted to Jeff, whom she was sure was bent on killing her, carrying her away from the scene. His jaw was clenched, obviously still steaming about the whole ordeal. The way he tilted his head down hid his eyes behind his bangs, even from her view from his chest, and his heartbeat was racing. Glancing around them, she saw the other proxies were following, shameful looks on their faces. Even the young, bloodied girl clutched her teddy closer to her with her one arm as the other wrapped around Slender's neck; at some point she had caught a ride on his back. The tension in the air was thick and heavy, and the silence only made it worse. It also seemed at some point Slender wrapped a large tentacle around Nikki's snarling mouth, but she had tuckered herself out and fell asleep in his appendages.

"...Jeff?" Candie mumbled.

"Shh," Jeff grumbled in reply.

"But-"

"Shut up!" He whisper-yelled. "You've caused enough trouble. Just. Shut. Up." Candie's heart clenched in pain as the bitter words slipped through Jeff's teeth. She may have been cocky, aloof, and super confident in herself, but the words stung in a way she never really felt before. Tears stung her eyes, which she fought away for the pure sake of her image. Candie was a vicious demon, all succubi were, but his words struck a tender spot inside of her. Her humanity from her past, long forgotten by this point, was returning and the thought of causing these monsters - these people - such turmoil, it really struck a nerve.

"I'm sorry..." A phrase Candie was certain was nowhere in her vocabulary, slipped from her lips, quiet as a church mouse, as a single blood tear escaped and slid down her cheek. With one last inaudible 'I'm sorry', Candie's heavy lids shut as she drifted to sleep.

So much turmoil. So much grief. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen, this wasn't what neither Candie, Jeff, nor Slenderman intended, but the presence of another otherworldly being has been revealed to the Underworld. This strong demon has finally crumbled and shown her true side, and it's up to Slender and his proxies to help get Candie and Nikki out of there while they still can. It's the best option for them all. Isn't it...?