Gloom

Chapter 9

"I-I can try."

A slight laugh, deep and somber, escaped her lips.

-Are you sure?

At that moment, the only bulb that illuminated the room began to flicker. I swallowed air hastily. Dread invaded me like a current of ice that made my body tremble.

Between the brief changes in light and total blackness, I was able to visualize the gray twinkle in his eyes between the two times. No matter what, those orbs seemed unfazed, able to see me even in pitch darkness. His tall figure, along with his great wings, looked like a huge shadow so implausible and terrifying that my heart squeezed violently.

If he dared to leave me in the dark, I wouldn't succeed in threatening him with the rosary. I couldn't try to defend myself from him if I didn't see anything. I was going to become too easy prey.

More than it already was.

-Stop! I exclaimed.

A gasp left me at that moment, when the light in the room finally returned to normal, letting me see that he had gotten quite close. I backed away immediately, doing my best to put as much distance between us as possible.

Another mischievous laugh tore from him, and the panic in me joined with sudden courage.

I looked at the demon for several seconds, with all the misgivings I was able to convey, before slowly lowering my hand with the rosary. A hint of victory suffused his angular features.

I dug my nails into my palms, and took a deep breath.

"What if I don't want to make the pact?" I asked.

His lips parted in a careless gesture.

—You will continue to distrust me, as I do everything you say.

"What if I don't want any of this?" I waved my hand to try to address the situation. What if I want you to go away?

Narrowed his eyes.

"I'm not going to leave," he assured with a surly timbre. I'll just keep hounding you to try and figure it out on my own. The stubborn determination in her expression wavered. But I admit that, with your help, it may be easier... And, besides, if you don't agree, I may be forced to use other methods.

I looked at him blankly.

-What are you taking about?

"Well," he said, letting out a mock-regret sigh, "you have a beautiful family...

My heart gave a violent turn as his words settled in my mind.

"Y-you can't," I muttered. You would not dare.

"Do you want to test me?"

A noxious feeling settled in the center of my chest and I gritted my teeth, appreciating a random, unrecognizable rage.

"You're a…" I mumbled, but my damn cowardice, because of the reaction he might have, didn't let me finish speaking.

He was threatening me.

I bit my bottom lip. He was not going to leave me alone for any reason. And I definitely couldn't let him get anywhere near my family. A pang of resignation coursed through me, as I wondered what the fuck did I do to make this happen to me now.

"How is... that about the pact?" I asked, fixing my eyes on him, who was again outlining a half smile.

“A blood pact. Only then can we trust each other's word.

A pact... of  blood ?  I shuddered as I felt my stomach turn.

-Because? I wanted to know. What if I lie to you or something?

"You won't be able to do it."

-But why?

He exhaled exasperatedly, as if my questions were wearing him out.

—Because you will feel pain until you comply with the agreement.

"I don't want to," I replied immediately.

"Amy…" She ran her hands over her face and hair, trying to relax. Reflexive to the anger that seemed to build inside him, I clenched the rosary tightly. Think about it, why would you lie to me?

“I don't know,” I admitted, “but I don't know if I want to be 100 percent honest with you. And what will happen to you?

-The same. He shrugged, like it wasn't a big deal. But you're being honest now, and there's no problem, right? So why not do it?

I frowned.

"I don't want anything to happen to me if I don't keep the pact to the letter."

—Amy, I only ask you sincerity, that you do not hide relevant information from me. It's nothing from the other world. Her," he sighed again. Look, I'll tell you what: think about it for tonight. I'll come back tomorrow and you'll give me the answer.

Something very close to relief washed over me completely. I was never good at thinking under pressure.

-Good. "That was all I said.

But think about it, okay? Keep in mind that I am not asking too much of you. And you can get as much information as you want, about anything you want, not just about demons.

I looked down and nodded, curiosity prickling me and, at the same time, with an immeasurable need to know absolutely nothing that had to do with him. Not with what he was.

" Good  ," he repeated, without the slightest hint of kindness.

And then, without saying anything else, the tall figure of the demon turned into black smoke and vanished into thin air. I blinked and shook my head, trying to get used to the image of him disappearing before my eyes.

I let out the oxygen I didn't know I was holding. Suddenly, I felt so weak that I thought I could faint at any moment.

I was stunned. I was afraid and at the same time there was another feeling, something that made my heart not stop pounding against my ribs, as if it wanted to open a hole to get out. Something that was completely unknown to me.

The mixture of pure terror and that "something" had my head in terrifying chaos.

I didn't get it. Shouldn't she be crying right now? Wasn't I supposed to be so horrified that I ran out of this house as soon as he left? Yes, that's exactly what I should have done. Running away, screaming, telling someone, or whatever… instead of doing this stupid thing.

Without thinking, I had just stepped into his game. And I didn't want this. She didn't want to see him again or talk to him again, much less wanted to consider his damn proposal. But hadn't he done the right thing? Wasn't this the best way to keep him away from my family, having the enemy close? Or had he made a terrible mistake?

What happened tonight was, without a doubt, the biggest and most dangerous idiocy I had ever done in my life, and I knew it very well. I was aware that sooner or later this would bring consequences for me, because nothing good could come from  something  like him.

I moved mechanically through the house, as if my brain had disconnected from my body. When I was lying on my bed—still alone—I still couldn't get my heartbeat up to normal speed.

I had to close my eyes and do breathing exercises repeatedly to make sleep come for me, and give me the illusion that none of this had happened, that I hadn't been stupid enough to get involved with a demon. That I didn't really dare to summon, have a conversation and, apparently, meet again to see a being that was not human.

A being that was, nothing more and nothing less, the very embodiment of evil.