Haunteds

Chapter 32

Suddenly, Daniel disappeared. In fact, the whole room vanished. It was only darkness, everywhere I look. But I could still see my hands. And see through my hands! There was a faint glow all over my body. And I was floating.

I was no longer in pain. My mind clear. I tried touching my neck, feeling for holes but there was nothing.

Virgo.

The voice said inside my head, like an echo.

"Who are you?" I shouted at the darkness.

You called for me.

"Herack Mea, Azgarmoth..." Suddenly, the translation came to me. "Hear me, Azgarmoth. I—I summoned you!"

There was a deep rumbling in my head, a burst of long and insidious laughter.

And I answered.

"Where am I?" I asked, still looking around. "And where are you?"

Two slits appeared on the wall of darkness, revealing huge, red eyeballs the size of a two-story house, staring down at me. The same eyes as the Shade's. I should have been scared. But instead, I feel confident, strong, with no fear of death.

At the threshold of your dimension and mine. The same place that greedy cultist was when he first offered me his soul.

"Daniel...this is where he made the pact."

"And do you have something to give me, Virgo?"

It wants to make a pact. Like with Daniel. But what could I offer? What could it possibly want? I thought about Daniel. He offered his soul to give this thing influence in our dimension, creating the Shade. But now, the Shade is in Daniel's control, leaving him no way of influencing our dimension.

"It's Vergil," I said. "And yes, I do have something for you."

The eyes stared at me. The voice inside my head stayed quiet.

"Daniel took control of your powers," I said. "And you want it back, right? I will give you permission to enter our dimension but only to take back Daniel."

Is that what I want?

"But...don't you want to be in control, again?"

The darkness parted, revealing a beautiful door that is made of light, the symbols of the zodiac is etched on it in a circle. Each symbol was glowing brightly, equidistant to one another. But what caught my attention were the scratches on its surface.

What I want is for this door to open.

Suddenly, something Daniel had said flashed in my mind:"Unless they were, as I found out, permitted entry."

"A door...it's a seal! Isn't it? That's why you couldn't do anything to our dimension." I asked the floating eyes. But the voice inside my head remained quiet.

"Then forget it. There's no way I'm going to do that."

A commendable answer. Convincing, if only you weren't prepared to sacrifice one of your friends to buy time.

My mouth gaped. "How did you know..."

What do you think your friends will say when they found out?

I couldn't answer. The thought of them finding out silenced me.

Will they be disgusted? Enrage? Imagine their faces once they've learned of your despicable plan. Should I tell that greedy cultist now?

I gritted my teeth. Anger is overwhelming my mind.

That girl Cana, do you think she'll remain your friend?