Seduce Me ~ The Path To Forgiveness

Path Four, Step Five: A Curious Encounter

I shriek as pain flares in my side, the throbbing ache in the tenderized flesh lingering as the seconds pass, and I'm left reeling as my glazed eyes stare blankly at the grass surrounding me.

"There she is!" A familiar voice cackles, the sound enough to bring me out of my stupor. I raise my head, attempting to move my arms only to discover them bound and numb behind me, to find myself just past the treeline in my backyard, the double doors flying open as my cry draws the demons outside.

James holds Sam firmly by the shoulder, not daring to come any closer than the edge of the porch, and they all seem relieved to see me, relatively, safe.

"And there you are! Finally, it's a party!" I chance a glance behind me as the devil rambles, creatures fond of their voices.

"Let her go, Malix. She has nothing to do with this." James orders as my eyes skim over the assembled group, seven in all, when they pause on the lone female. The grin on her face is wide as she stares, terror spiking in my chest as I recognize her immediately.

"You really think I care?" Malix snorts back but I'm no longer paying attention, my gaze transfixed.

"Eris." I gasp, throat dry, and she begins to laugh, a sound of pure joy, as she grips my hair and forces me to my feet.

"How fucking lucky am I!" She wraps her arms around me, pressing herself tightly against my back, her pointed nails digging purposefully into my bruised abdomen. I open my mouth to scream but she's already a step ahead, my warning strangled as she forces a thick strip of cloth between my lips, fastening it firmly to my head. She grips the back of my head, forcing my gaze up to Sam whose self control hangs by a thin strand based on the rage steadily building in his eyes.

"And Malix tells me you have a boyfriend. I think it's time I returned the favor, don't you?"

My gaze bores into the eldest demon as I fall eerily still, hoping my look will dissuade him from allowing this fight to happen because, despite any promises they might make, I know my fate is sealed at the hands of these monsters. While the others look to James as he calculates the very slim odds of survival, ever the realist, Sam strains against his brothers hold, jaw set and muscles tight.

"This is between me and him." Malix shouts, pointing a clawed finger to Sam. "Look at him, he wants to do this just as bad so how bout this. Let him go, I'll let her go. He wins, they walk away. I win.. well, you won't have to worry about him causing you trouble any more."

Sam eyes are sharp as they snap to James, his voice dangerously low as he snarls through clenched teeth. "Let go of me."

I begin to struggle once more as James' hold on Sam begins to falter when something suddenly occurs to me, turning to Damien as I admonish myself for having forgotten.

'Don't come any closer, they'll kill us all.'

He places a hand on James' shoulder, James' grip on Sam tightening as he turns to Damien with a questioning look but Damiens gaze never breaks from mine.

Though I dread the thought of allowing the visions to take control, the unnatural magic leaving me reeling with an aching hunger I struggle to suppress, I allow time to slow as the coming events play out in my mind.

'"Soooooo, what's it gonna be boys?" Malix cackles as he grabs my arm and jerks me forward, gritting my teeth under his crushing grip and the tearing of my hair as I'm forced to stumble away from the woman who is reluctant to release her hold. "Sure we could find allllll kinds of fun things to do together."

"Looks like she's already broken in, wonder how long she'll last." The woman chuckles, dragging a tipped nail viciously along the searing brand on my shoulder.