《Bloody Halloween》


 Creepy Tomfoolery

    CHAPTER ONE


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    CREEPY TOMFOOLERY


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    ¡®A warning.¡¯


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    On the chilly and unforgiving Friday of October 30th, 2023, Allen Brooks found himself at the mercy of the cold, biting wind. It was a day when he would typically prefer to snuggle in the warmth of his cozy bed, a gripping book in one hand, and a steaming cup of cocoa in the other.


    At eighteen years old, this was how Allen chose to spend his frosty evenings, rather than gallivanting around with his so-called friends. He didn''t hold them in particularly high regard; in fact, he considered them a bunch of overbearing, insincere individuals. Yet, they allowed Allen to be a sort of appendage to their group, mainly because he was the resident geek who diligently handled all their presentations and homework assignments.


    With an exasperated sigh, Allen reluctantly followed the group of teenagers as they made their way towards a nearby cemetery, transformed into a Halloween-themed spectacle for the occasion. The bone-chilling cold was a stark reminder of why he''d rather be anywhere else.


    Allen would have much preferred to stay home, but his gentle and obliging nature left him with no choice. The group of teenagers had shown up at his doorstep just a few moments earlier, and he couldn''t decline their invitation.


    So, Allen trudged along in his black hoodie, sporting dark, slim-fit pants and black shoes. Beneath his hoodie, a white shirt offered little protection against the frigid weather that left him shivering.


    One of the boys in the group, a blonde fellow, couldn''t resist taunting Allen. "Hey, Brooks! Hope you won''t scream like a scaredy-cat the moment we set foot in the cemetery." Allen chose to ignore the insult, maintaining his silence as he followed the group into the eerie and deathly quiet graveyard, prompting laughter from his companions.


    Though the graveyard was crowded, they managed to find a spot somewhere among the tombstones. The teenagers formed a circle on the icy ground, producing snacks and drinks from their bags.


    As they bickered about who would win the next high school football game, Allen observed them in silence. They devoured their snacks like ravenous beasts, and to Allen, they had always been hungry and uncouth brutes, both in their eating habits and their behavior.


    Allen sat there, idly toying with his slender fingers as he observed the five other teenagers lounging around him. He couldn''t help but wonder why they had dragged him along when he was of no use to them that evening. Whenever the group sought his presence, it was either to enlist his help in completing some tasks or, more often than not, to mock him mercilessly for being the geek he was, particularly because of his square-framed glasses that accentuated his nerdy appearance. What was he to do? He despised wearing glasses all the time and longed for the day when he could do without them, but his poor eyesight forced him to keep them on constantly.


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    Allen''s thoughts had him so engrossed that he didn''t hear someone repeatedly calling his name. "Allen!" The loud call finally jolted him from his reverie, causing him to blink his sea-blue eyes from behind the dark frames of his glasses. He responded with a somewhat absent-minded, "Yes?"


    "How can you be so lost when we''re sitting in a graveyard, talking about our interests, not to mention the important discussion we''ve been having about the high school Halloween party our principal is hosting tomorrow?" Anna, with her emerald green eyes and furrowed blonde eyebrows, seemed genuinely annoyed by Allen''s inattention.


    Sighing, Allen replied in a soft, timid voice, "I apologize for not paying attention, Anna. But I made it clear yesterday that I won''t be attending any Halloween gatherings because I have an entrance exam for college in January, and I''d much rather focus on studying than on partying."


    Anna scoffed at the brunette''s response before turning to her boyfriend, who merely grunted in response to Allen''s words. "Honestly, dude, your brain won''t die if you take a break from studying for a day. Besides, that entrance exam you''re talking about is in January, and you have plenty of time before then. But if that''s what you really want, who am I to stop your nerdy ass?" Drake commented, toying with Anna''s blonde curls as he spoke.


    "Anyway, guys, let''s not spoil the mood for the night. Since Allen won''t be joining us at the Halloween party tomorrow, he''ll have to do us a favor in return. You all know that my boyfriend and I have brought some eerie fun that involves a little ritual to make our Halloween spectacular. Now, Allen, since you won''t be an angel like you''ve always been and lend a hand at the school''s Halloween party tomorrow, how about returning the favor?" The raven-haired girl with red highlights asked, her gray eyes glinting with seriousness and a smirk that left the cerulean-eyed nerd with no room for argument.


    Allen swallowed hard before giving a reluctant nod, eager to put this behind him and return home before midnight. "Alright, fine. Adalyn, go ahead and take the contents out of the bag," he said, acknowledging the guy sitting with Adalyn who snickered at Allen with the same serious glint in his dirty brown eyes. He ruffled his light dirty brown hair before fixing his gaze back on the raven-haired girl who was sorting through her dark purple school bag for the required materials.


    Allen couldn''t quite put his finger on it, but something felt profoundly unsettling about the eerie entertainment Adalyn and her boyfriend Jake were discussing. When he glanced at Matt, the boy with raven hair and forest-green eyes who was seated alongside the two brothers, Jake and Drake, he received a sympathetic look that spoke volumes.


    Swallowing hard, Allen tried to distract himself by surveying the graveyard, which was adorned with grinning orange pumpkins that managed to look both silly and eerie. They were scattered everywhere, with yellow fairy lights adorning them. Allen''s gaze shifted to the graves adorned with pumpkins, and he couldn''t shake the feeling of foreboding that weighed heavily on his chest. He could only hope that whatever role he played in their so-called amusement wouldn''t lead to harm, as they could be thoughtlessly rough with him at times, all in the name of fun. Allen''s concern grew, and he couldn''t help but wonder how the night would ultimately unfold.


    The sensation of anxiety was like a deep-sea wave threatening to drown him, and it sent his panic skyrocketing. Just then, his three-year-old phone, firmly held in his left palm, chimed with a text message from Matt, who wrote, "Pray that this crazy ritual doesn''t work."


    Allen read the message multiple times, his expression a mix of bewilderment and furrowed brows. Was Matt trying to warn him about something, or was he simply playing with his anxious heart, which felt like it could stop beating at any moment? Allen looked up at Matt, who already wore a sympathetic expression for him.


    Quickly, Allen texted back, asking, "Are you warning me about something?" Matt promptly replied, "Yes, pray that the ritual doesn''t work because if it does, you''ll suffer pure hell, or you might die before hell even breaks loose on the others."


    Matt''s message sent Allen''s young, innocent mind into a spiral of thoughts about something beyond his wildest imagination.


    When a grim fate had been predicted and seemed to loom ever closer.

 The Ritual

    CHAPTER TWO


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    THE RITUAL


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    ¡®Something¡­ enigmatic.¡¯


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    The night grew colder as the relentless wind swept around, tossing the fallen, lifeless elm branches on the ground. Allen''s frustration was palpable, his body shivering in the meager attire he had on. In stark contrast, his companions were well-prepared, wrapped in high-neck sweaters, leather jackets, and, most notably, Matt sporting a long, regal blue fur coat that seemed to mock Allen''s discomfort.


    Allen''s gaze wandered among his friends. Matt was engrossed in his phone, Drake and Anna were capturing the moment with selfies, and Adalyn and Jake examined an old page covered in strange, indecipherable text. Just as Allen began to lose himself in his thoughts about the dismal day, Adalyn''s voice rang out, pulling him back to the present.


    "Alright, everyone, listen up!" Adalyn''s tone was commanding, her narrowed eyes demanding their full attention. Allen nodded with earnest compliance, focusing intently on her words. She unfurled a sepia-toned, rectangular piece of paper adorned with intricate, cryptic symbols.


    "So, folks, as you all know," she began, her eyes gleaming with anticipation, "My family has a long history with shamanic practices. They were the ones responsible for purifying places, ensuring that no ghosts or malevolent forces could infiltrate. Though no one in my family practices it anymore, except for my aunt Erica on occasion, I stumbled upon something rather intriguing when I visited her house a few weeks ago. Something... enigmatic. I''ve been saving this for Halloween to make it more exciting than our usual routine of party-hopping. Consider this little ritual an innocent game with intriguing outcomes. Halloween has grown mundane for me, so I thought we should try something different, something captivating."


    Drake, Jake, Adalyn, and Anna exchanged knowing glances, their curiosity evident as they eagerly embraced the idea of trying something new, something that transcended their typical holiday revelry. They seemed to view it as a carefree diversion, a fun way to spend the evening.


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    Meanwhile, Matt and Allen exchanged a wary glance, their apprehension evident as they swallowed hard. They had no desire to participate in this seemingly innocent yet disconcerting game, which exuded an aura of obscurity and discomfort.


    Adalyn then produced a gleaming silver knife and placed it on the paper, locking eyes with each of them. Her open hair fell behind her ear as she continued, "Now, what I''m about to tell you is that these words are written in French, and they''re meant to open a gateway for a demon to join us. I know it sounds ridiculous, but trust me, this unrealistic stuff actually works. I''m confident because I found an old video in my grandma''s storage that revolved around this spell. If it didn''t work, it meant one of us didn''t chant the words correctly or left something out. This will work because I''ve gathered enough evidence to prove its authenticity. So, do you want to try it, or should we call it a night? It''s your call to make."


    Silence hung over the group for a moment before Drake voiced his concerns, "Wouldn''t that demon be... malevolent? I mean, it could be dangerous." Allen sighed in relief, realizing that not only did he possess brain cells, but so did Drake.


    To address Drake''s concerns, Jake explained, "No, it won''t. Summoning a demon can only be done through a blood pact, meaning one of us has to sacrifice a few drops of blood. This won''t pose any danger, as we won''t order the demon to harm anyone within us, right?"


    Their intrigued nods put everyone at ease, and Anna and Drake eagerly exclaimed, "Let''s do this!" Laughter filled the air as they began moving glasses and leftover snacks to create a circle. However, Matt interrupted their excitement with a crucial question, "Who will provide the blood for the ritual?" Adalyn and Jake exchanged wicked smirks before Jake replied, "Obviously, Allen. After all, he agreed to do us a favor in return for not joining us at the high school Halloween party tomorrow."


    Upon hearing this, dread washed over Allen while his heart dropped to his stomach. He looked at the group with a horrified expression.


    When he didn''t respond, they glared at him, prompting him to nod hastily to divert their attention from him, fearing that disagreeing would lead to a beating and forced compliance. His parents were often absent, living in China for business, leaving him vulnerable to such treatments considering these snakes had parents on their heads to fret over their even minor wounds unlike his.


    Allen couldn''t help but harbor a significant apprehension about this situation.


    Every instinct within him screamed to flee from this madness.


    After all, they all seemed quite unhinged. Moreover, he was acutely aware that if anything were to go awry, he would be the one left to sort out the aftermath, as was often the case. The daunting question lingered in his mind ¨C could he actually handle the consequences this time? He found himself utterly clueless in that regard.


    As the group prepared for the ritual, Allen''s mind raced with questions. Would the ritual work? Would they regret this decision? He could only hope for the night to end without any harm befalling him.

 Chapter Three

    CHAPTER THREE


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    FEAR


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    ¡®¡®Storm has materialized after the calm.¡¯


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    Perhaps "scared" was an understatement; Allen was well beyond petrified at the looming events. He nervously chewed on his soft lower lip, extending his left arm with outstretched fingers. This offered Adalyn an opportunity to smoothly graze the silver knife across his porcelain palm, causing his tender skin to part, and blood to cascade onto an old page adorned with messy French words.


    An inexplicable foreboding gnawed at him, his sixth sense screaming that something was profoundly amiss. The knife continued its macabre work, biting into his skin, causing him to bite down on his lower lip with such intensity that it drew forth a slight taste of blood.


    Nobody had instructed him on the chants, and no one had demanded them; they had merely placed him in the middle, flanked by three candles, near the paper receiving his blood. He sat, squeezing his palm into the air to hasten the process. Though the pain and the lightheadedness gnawed at him, he endured in silence as the other teens chanted incomprehensible words.


    As Allen contemplated closing his eyes, yearning to escape the frantic thudding of his heart, a sudden, harsh gust of wind extinguished the candles, leaving them in eerie darkness. It was a bone-chilling moment, a feeling that something had gone awry, rendering their ritual unnecessary. The teens, having ceased their chanting, opened their eyes, scanning for an uninvited presence among them, only to find none.


    "What the hell! I was hoping for a demon to help with house chores and to boss around at the party tomorrow. I guess it didn''t work!" Adalyn growled in frustration, while others merely shrugged, too fatigued to dissect what had gone wrong.


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    "Hey, guys, it''s getting late. I promised my mom I''d be home before midnight, and there were only seven minutes left. It''s a thirty-minute drive, so I''ll see you all tomorrow. Goodbye," Matt declared as he gathered his belongings and departed the graveyard. The others bid him a weary farewell.


    Allen sighed in frustration, recognizing he couldn''t leave until the other four chose to depart. "Let''s head home for now, and tomorrow, if we have time, we can try to figure out where we went wrong during the ritual," Drake suggested. Anna nodded, stifling a yawn as she stretched her arms. Jake and Adalyn concurred.


    "Hey, guys, aren''t we going to treat Allen''s wound? Look, it''s still bleeding," Anna whispered, her fatigue apparent in her forest-green eyes. Their collective gaze fell upon Allen, who was rolling down the sleeve of his black hoodie to conceal his wound, paying them no heed.


    In his heart, Allen knew that as much as they might want to help him out of pity, they wouldn''t. These teens were prideful and possessed of substantial egos but small minds. With the clock nearly striking midnight and his obligation to meet Emery the following morning to decorate the school hall for the Halloween party at 6:30 p.m., he couldn''t afford to waste any more time with them.


    "No, let him suffer. He might have done something to disrupt our ritual, so I suggest we leave him be. Besides, he can handle it himself," Adalyn grumbled, her silver eyes narrowed.


    Allen knew it was time to depart. He walked back to his house, just fifteen minutes away. He climbed the stairs and entered his room. After tossing his mobile onto the bed, he headed to the bathroom in search of a first aid kit. In the bathroom, he turned on the light, glimpsing his reflection in the rectangular mirror. He adjusted the tap to release warm water into the white sink.


    As Allen reached beneath the flowing warm water to cleanse his bleeding hand, he winced in pain. He eventually extracted a first aid kit from the dark grey cabinet mounted beside the mirror. Though his palm still bled, he set the kit on the grey and white countertop.


    Having looked at himself in the mirror, Allen stepped back and halted abruptly in his tracks. Staring at his own reflection, he could scarcely believe what he saw. His heart pounded with such ferocity that he believed it might be the last time it would ever beat.


    In the mirror stood a sinister, bloodied, and pale woman, clad in all black with flowing raspberry-crimson hair. An eerie, infernal smile stretched across her lips. This horrific sight was the breaking point for Allen, and his scream was loud enough to rupture his own eardrums.


    Suddenly, the woman materialized in front of him, her long, pale fingers, adorned with jet-black claws, silencing his cries. His wide ocean-blue eyes locked onto her fiery scarlet gaze, and his spine stiffened with fear. The chilling smirk haunted his stressed mind, and he was gripped by an inexplicable sense of dread.


    At that moment, Allen couldn''t have known that the calm had given way to an impending storm.


    If only he could have envisioned.


    Storm had materialized after the calm.

 Bonded Soul

    CHAPTER FOUR


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    BONDED SOUL


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    ¡®Now, only death can sever that bond, my love.¡¯


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    A profound stillness enveloped them as their souls locked in a harrowing gaze. Allen, overcome by terror, couldn''t suppress the silent cascade of salty tears that streamed down his cheeks, glistening on his flushed skin. His wide eyes remained locked with the girl, whose scarlet irises beheld a macabre sight: her eyes and mouth oozed mahogany-hued blood that flowed in rivulets, staining her pale neck.


    "Who is she, really? A zombie, perhaps? But wait, can a fictional character manifest in the flesh? Pull yourself together, Allen!" Allen''s mind swirled in turmoil as he grappled with the possibility of her being a living character from fiction or the unfortunate encounter with a home-invading murderer.


    She wore a short Victorian-inspired black dress, ending just above her pale knees. Black lace stockings and long laced-up shoes accentuated her slim, pale legs. A Victorian-style choker adorned her delicate neck, adorned with black rubies and black laced chains with ruby embellishments, while her long, sharp, claw-like black nails hovered near his tear-streaked cheeks. What highlighted her features more like a sore thumb was the bright raspberry-red color of her long and straight hair.


    Her dark claws, which still rested upon the boy''s trembling lips, gently brushed across his soft porcelain cheek, leaving a minor scratch that began to ooze blood. However, Allen remained captivated by the terrifying spectacle before him, panting heavily and soaked in sweat, oblivious to the slight swelling on his moistened cheek.


    Observing the fragile state of the human boy, the girl with raspberry-colored hair lowered her hands from his lips, allowing him to breathe freely. She couldn''t help but notice how adorable and innocent he appeared. Realizing that the boy was recovering, she gently grasped his wrist with her ice-cold hand.


    Allen flinched but didn''t pull away, too paralyzed by the unholy and diabolical presence before him to make a move.


    Allen longed to scream and unleash a torrent of questions, but his fear was so overwhelming that he believed uttering a single word might sever his head from his body. He found her utterly brutal despite his complete ignorance of the girl in black before him. Her demonic presence was like an approaching tidal wave, filling him with dread akin to the relentless surge of ocean waves.


    Her scarlet eyes ensnared the quaking boy''s very essence as she guided his injured hand to her lips, where she began to sensually lick away the blood. To Allen''s bewilderment, there was no pain, only an unexpected rush of pleasure coursing through his tense body. He was utterly perplexed, a faint blush gracing his cheeks as he observed the girl''s artful yet wickedly sinful act of tending to his wound.


    What sin had he committed to warrant this bizarre encounter? Had it been the relentless studying that left no room for leisure? He couldn''t recollect any sinful act; after all, he had dedicated his life to learning from the moment he was born.


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    As he attempted to withdraw his hand, the girl''s pale fingers clamped around his delicate wrist, tightening their grip to the point where he winced in pain.


    He shifted his gaze from her scarlet eyes to his hand, where the wound had mysteriously vanished as if it had never been there. This left him utterly bewildered. When he looked back at the girl, anxiety etched across his face, she found herself captivated by his every expression and gesture, as if she were reading an open book.


    Her lips curled into a faint smile before her face transformed, the blood disappearing to reveal her deadly pale visage once more.


    Despite her beauty, the earlier gruesome spectacle smeared across her face gave her an exceptionally sinister and ominous appearance, unlike any girl on the planet. Although there was little distance between them, she leaned in and noticed that Allen stood an inch shorter than her when she wore high-heeled shoes.


    She chuckled with amusement before leaning in and delicately running her tongue over the boy''s quivering cheek twice, miraculously erasing the small scratch and leaving behind a rosy blush. She pulled back, extending her clawed fingers to gently stroke his flushed cheek as she whispered, "I suspect you''re quite in the dark about who I am and my purpose here in your home, aren''t you?"


    Allen''s eagerness to unravel the mysteries was evident in his quick nod, but he couldn''t muster the courage to meet the girl''s scarlet gaze. Her very presence had a paralyzing effect on him, leaving him in a state of utter terror. How could he dare meet her eyes when she possessed the power to instill sheer dread?


    The raspberry-haired girl smirked before licking her lips while thinking about how ravishing the boy looked in front of her that she really wanted to devour him. After all, innocent and virgin souls always had tasted the best, and¡­ Allen was one of those rare souls.


    Since his age, many teenagers have drowned in the ocean of unpleasant pleasures and even in seven deadly sins.


    Two minutes passed in silence, during which the girl lost herself in her own thoughts and desires concerning the boy. Allen, summoning every ounce of his fractured courage, finally mustered the strength to pose a hesitant question, his voice marked by a nervous stammer, "U-umm... w-w-who are y-you? How did you-you get in here?"


    "Not who, but what. Allow me to introduce myself, my dear. I am Circe, the demon you summoned and to whom you''ve bound your soul through a blood pact. Now, only death can sever that bond, my love," Circe responded, her voice a blend of intimidation and velvety allure, sending shivers down Allen''s spine. He stuttered in response, "What? I-I think there''s a misunderstanding because I didn''t perform any pact. I-I don''t even know anything about this demon stuff. More importantly... I never had any idea if demons truly existed or not."


    Circe''s dark smirk deepened as she took Allen''s chin in her hand, a touch that bordered on painful, guiding his face up to meet her gaze. Leaning closer, she brushed her lips gently against the trembling boy''s, all while saying, "Then, how did you acquire that rather nasty wound in the center of your palm?" Allen found himself utterly overwhelmed by the attractive demon''s proximity and the startling revelations she delivered with a force akin to a hitting bulldozer.


    His breaths came in pants, and his heart thundered, for even the slightest word would surely result in their lips brushing together, an inadvertent kiss hovering on the precipice. The proximity was that intimate, while Circe tenderly caressed his flushed, warm cheek with her dark claws. Oh, how those menacing talons sent shivers down his spine.


    Allen couldn¡¯t move away either because his back was already pressed against the countertop so, he had no chance, but to mumble out a few of his words, ¡°I-I... umm... g-got-¡± Three unintentional and innocent pecks made the boy flush up madly while the demon was hungry for more.


    Rather she was hungry for something else. Something that she knew this boy wouldn¡¯t be fond of.


    Allen came to an abrupt stop, his thoughts veering back to the ritual he''d witnessed at the graveyard. His breath hitched as he realized how they had inadvertently formed a pact. As this realization dawned on him, Circe observed the fear in his deep ocean-blue eyes.


    In response to this revelation, Circe couldn''t help but entertain sinister thoughts, her scarlet eyes gleaming with a malevolent smirk. She knew that this night was far from over, and she eagerly anticipated the torment she could inflict on the mesmerized young man.


    Their awareness of the impending darkness weighed heavily on both of them.

 Cannibalistic Demon

    CHAPTER FIVE


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    CANNIBALISTIC DEAMON


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    ¡®You see, my love, your soul is a treasure I intend to guard and eventually claim.¡¯


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    The relentless ticking of the clock resonated painfully in the room as Allen contemplated the state of his front door. Was it unlocked, or had he been prudent enough to lock it? Perched on the edge of his bed, his every nerve screamed for an opportunity to make a run for it, to escape the chilling presence of the demon that held him captive.


    The dilemma lay in the fact that the demon, with her unwavering gaze, seemed acutely aware of his thoughts, as if she could predict his every move and had no intention of averting her eyes from him.


    She remained fixed in her spot, her gaze locked onto Allen, as she reclined against the closed wooden door of the bedroom''s washroom. The proximity was unnerving; she was both close and yet slightly distanced, the room''s size determining the space between them.


    Allen harbored no illusions about the futility of escaping the clutches of this supernatural entity. After all, she was a demon, and such beings defied human comprehension. With a deep breath to steady his racing heart, Allen decided it might be worth the risk to seek answers, contemplating, ¡®What harm could a few questions possibly do?¡¯


    Although he tried to muster all the reassurance he could, Allen found himself unable to quell the overwhelming fear coursing through his very core. It surged within him in relentless waves, causing his body to convulse so violently that he half-expected to feel the snap of his own bones before the night was over. The unforgiving cold gnawed at him, and the company of the girl, who professed to be a demon, provided no respite.


    To Allen, the prospect of a few broken bones appeared far more palatable than meeting an untimely demise at the hands of a supposed demon, especially before he could reunite with his parents. He had other pending confessions too, such as revealing to his grandmother that he had been secretly feeding all her homemade egg puddings to her husky, meant solely for him. Then there was the matter of the brown street cat that had made itself a permanent resident in his home, patiently waiting for his timely feedings and affectionate ''meows.'' And finally, he longed to confess his budding feelings to Emery, nurturing the hope of deepening their connection in the future.


    However, now, with the mysterious girl before him, everything appeared shrouded in uncertainty.


    Nevertheless, he had to set aside his inner turmoil for the moment and muster the courage to inquire of the mysterious lady before him. Thus, with a fragile glimmer of hope that he might yet survive this encounter, Allen released a trembling sigh. He turned his teary gaze from his anxious, fumbling fingers to the enigmatic demon, who appeared to be deep in thought. Fear and unease coursed through him as he stuttered through his question, "Um... may I... may I pose a query to you?"


    As soon as those words escaped his quivering lips, the raspberry-haired demon locked eyes with the trembling boy, fully aware that her unnerving, narrowed scarlet gaze would only further paralyze him. And indeed, it did. "Of course, my dear. What is it that you wish to know?" Circe responded, her voice deep and husky, sending shivers down the spine of the blue-eyed youth.


    "Will you... kill me?" Allen inquired in a stutter, still fixated on the glittering scarlet depths of the demon''s eyes.


    A heavy silence enveloped them for a minute, until the demon, clearly exasperated, let out a sigh and approached the young man. With deliberate steps, she knelt down in front of him. Allen''s once-wide, now wary, blue eyes tracked her every move, but he didn''t dare to make a single motion.


    Their eyes remained locked, and the proximity sent a fresh wave of fear surging through Allen. Although the demon had a certain eerie beauty about her, especially now that her face was devoid of grotesque blood stains and malevolent smirk, she resembled a regular, extraordinarily beautiful girl. Only the unnaturally pallid complexion of her skin betrayed her otherworldly nature, making it even more ghostly than that of a lifeless corpse.


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    "Circe?" Allen''s voice trembled softly as he uttered her name, casting a sweet spell upon the raspberry-haired demon. To her, his voice calling her name felt like a hauntingly beautiful melody. For some reason, everything about the brunette boy felt oddly familiar, triggering a sense of nostalgia she had never experienced in her long, immortal life. Perhaps it was the unique connection they shared, that drew her into a whirlwind of wild fantasies.


    However, these fantasies were shrouded in darkness, much like an endless, starless night in the stygian sky.


    Resurfacing from the world that had spun to life, fueled solely by the presence of the charming brunette with his enchanting blue eyes and those black-framed glasses perched gracefully on the bridge of his nose, Circe couldn''t help but find him utterly innocent and endearing. Her once stern and narrowed gaze softened as she observed the young boy, anxiety evident as he fidgeted nervously with his fingers. His hoodie sleeves partially concealed his hands, leaving them peeking out, adding to his overall adorable demeanor.


    For the very first time in her immortal existence, Circe experienced a connection of unparalleled strength, one she had never encountered with any of her previous bonders. Those who had been tethered to her before were often tainted with qualities such as greed, deceit, lechery, vengefulness, and a propensity for deadly sins. However, Allen was unlike any of them. His soul emanated purity and innocence, qualities that stood out vividly.


    She could wager her eternal existence that his soul was destined for nothing less than a place in Heaven.


    Circe was acutely aware that Allen''s current predicament had been orchestrated by his reckless and, in her opinion, rather insipid friends. Nevertheless, the thought of coexisting with him was far from straightforward. Their souls were fundamentally disparate. She, an evil and murderous demon, thrived on her insatiable bloodlust, while Allen, a compassionate human, found his vitality in his innocent humanity.


    However, things had taken an intriguing turn with her presence now in the equation.


    His soul had stirred in her a newfound desire ¨C a desire to safeguard and shelter it from the malevolence that permeated their world. This time, her intentions were genuinely driven by a protective instinct, a sentiment she had never thought herself capable of experiencing.


    In a strange twist of fate, his soul would also prove to be malleable in her hands.


    "Dear Allen, your soul is now intricately entwined with mine. This signifies that your life and well-being are my foremost concerns. I shall never inflict harm upon you and shall cater to your every wish. Nothing in this world will be able to encroach upon or jeopardize your safety, and I shall vigilantly ensure it remains so until you willingly bestow me with your soul. You see, my love, your soul is a treasure I intend to guard and eventually claim," Circe remarked, a sly grin tugging at the corners of her lips. The revelation left the brunette boy visibly stunned.


    Left speechless, Allen found himself in a quandary.


    The notion of having a demon on his side was far from his desires. Even though unspoken concerns filled his heart, warning him of the potential cruelty this demon might harbor, he remained convinced that she wouldn''t bring harm upon him.


    Summoning the fragment of courage that still resided within him, Allen ventured forth with a glimmer of hope. "I understand that we''re bound, but all I truly desire is to return to my mundane, ordinary life. Can''t you... just leave me be? You''re a free spirit. Pursue your desires, but please, refrain from interfering with my life." His voice quivered with a mixture of fear and appeal.


    The demon let out a disgruntled murmur in annoyance, causing the young boy to startle. He couldn''t help but wonder if his words had inadvertently offended her, a realization that dawned upon him, although belatedly, as he was yet to fully grasp the implications of his own immaturity.


    "Very well, if that''s your heartfelt wish," she conceded. "But you should be aware that whenever I detect a threat to you, I will intervene. There''s no way to prevent me, as it''s the very purpose of our bond and pact. And remember, your safety serves my interests. Furthermore, whatever actions I take shall be beyond your jurisdiction, even if they displease you. I''m not a docile demon who acquiesces to her bond. Interfere in my affairs once, my dear, and you''ll regret it deeply. Do we have an understanding?" Circe''s voice, now deep and husky, carried the weight of her most sinister demeanor, sending chills through the room and making it constrict around the trembling human boy.


    Allen nodded quickly and swallowed hard, fully comprehending the gravity of the situation.


    However, the inquisitive side of the young brunette was undeterred by fear, compelling Allen to articulate his curiosity. "Could you please tell me... what kind of business?" he queried.


    In response to this question, a dark, sardonic smirk played on Circe''s lips, her sharp fangs making a brief appearance. She answered in a voice charged with sensuality, "Feasting on humans and their souls, my dear. You see, I''m a demon with a penchant for cannibalism."


    At that moment, Allen felt a profound sense of doom settles over him.


    Allen found himself pondering his fate and questioning what he could possibly have done on Earth to become entwined with a satanic entity, especially one of such malevolent nature as a cannibalistic demon.


    And his mind continued to ponder.

 Mark & Claim

    CHAPTER SIX


    <>~X~<>


    MARK & CLAIM


    <>~X~<>


    ¡®Your life rests in my hands.¡¯


    <>~X~<>


    Allen sat in stunned disbelief at the revelation he had just heard moments ago. His body seemed paralyzed, his heart raced as if doomsday was upon him, and his breath quivered, all while his gaze remained locked onto the intimidating scarlet eyes of Circe, who returned his gaze with a malevolent smirk.


    The young boy''s reaction both surprised and greatly amused the demon.


    In a flash, before Circe could even bat an eye, Allen bolted from the room and descended the staircase, making a beeline for the front door. Unfortunately, his escape was met with an abrupt collision, jarring his body and head. Through the pain and the struggle to regain his composure, Allen stumbled over to the side table beside the main entrance to retrieve the keys from a ceramic bowl.


    Upon inserting the key and hearing that distinctive click, signifying the door was now unlocked, Allen struggled to open it. No matter how hard he pulled at the handle, the door refused to budge, as if it had been jammed shut for countless years. In his mind, he screamed, "Why doesn''t it open?! Why won''t it open? Please, open! I beg you! Please, open!" His desperate thoughts echoed as he persisted in yanking at the handle, causing his clammy hands to slip and sending him sliding on the slippery floor.


    As Allen''s backside met the cold, white, wooden-tiled floor, a groan of pain escaped his lips. However, his groaning ceased abruptly when he felt a sharp pain in his right ankle. It was then that he noticed his glasses had vanished from the bridge of his nose. Panic set in as he began searching for them, his trembling fingers exploring every inch of the frigid floor around him.


    Allen''s eyesight was dreadfully poor, rendering everything in his field of vision a disorienting blur. Given his lack of glasses or corrective lenses, the prospect of accidentally smacking his face into a wall hardly seemed improbable.


    As he fumbled around, his vision virtually useless, a close call with a grey, featureless wall near the front door nearly resulted in a painful collision.


    But just as his head was on the brink of an unpleasant encounter with the wall, a brisk and icy palm intercepted, cushioning his forehead from the impending collision. Simultaneously, a second hand delicately slid his black-framed glasses back onto the bridge of his nose, allowing the world to come into sharp focus.


    As Allen''s vision cleared, his initial panic seemed to recede, but it soon became ensnared in a tangled web of emotions as his gaze settled upon a disturbingly familiar figure. His heart quickened its pace, a light sheen of sweat formed on his forehead, and his hands once again grew clammy. The trembling that had somewhat abated now intensified.


    All of this was in response to the sight of Circe, who knelt before him, her malevolent smirk intact, though her eyes held a perplexing mixture of adoration. Allen''s mind was a whirlwind, struggling to decipher whether the soul-devouring demon regarded him with tenderness or with a sinister hunger.


    The answer eluded him.


    With a trace of newfound courage, Allen gingerly retreated, creating a small but necessary gap between their bodies, his awareness suddenly heightened by the realization that their foreheads had been in such close proximity. A mischievous grin stretched across Circe''s features as she elegantly flicked her lengthy hair behind her.


    She inquired with an air of jest, "Aren''t you going to express your gratitude? I did, after all, return your vision to you. Not to mention, I just spared your forehead from a painful collision with the wall that your back is currently pressed against."


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    In the grip of overpowering fear, Allen could merely manage a nod, his voice strangled in his throat. With a hesitant, stuttering response, he finally spoke, "Thanks for that." Despite the gravity of the situation, the raspberry-haired girl couldn''t suppress an evil, almost chillingly gleeful, chuckle. For her, it seemed, every moment was ripe for a peculiar form of amusement¡ªbloody amusement, to be exact.


    Circe spoke with a sly grin, her words dripping with a sinister charm. "I must confess, you''re quite the sprinter. Faster than my own thoughts, in fact. But you see, my dear, no matter how swiftly you move, you''re bound to me for the entirety of your life. You can''t deny the blood pact that ties us together, and remember this ¨C you''re prohibited from indulging in any carnal pleasures with others." She continued to wear her malevolent smirk, finding immense satisfaction in the mix of shock and anxiety she stirred within the young man, evident in his wide eyes and the frantic rhythm of his heart.


    With a soft, trembling voice, Allen dared to question, "Why? I thought you would... leave." But his words were met with a haunting advance as Circe shifted to sit between his splayed legs. Her scarlet eyes gleamed with a malevolent darkness, sending an eerie chill down Allen''s spine. Her gaze bore into his with a bone-chilling dominance as she declared, "My, my, my, my sweet darling. Your heart, soul, body, and mind... they all belong to me. You''re mine, my dear boy. As long as this blood pact endures, your desires will be solely for me. Should you attempt to sever our connection... the agony that will wrack your body could very well lead to your death. Your life rests in my hands. I have the power to end it here and now and walk away unscathed, but I''ve set my sights on a different ambition ¨C to keep you alive, to use you to my satisfaction. You are my precious prize."


    As Circe''s words trailed off, she slithered forward, her lascivious gaze paired with a malevolent smirk. She reached out and seized Allen''s thigh, ensnaring it with her eerie black claws, eliciting a painful whimper and causing him to writhe in discomfort.


    As his heart raced wildly and his breaths came irregularly, Allen grappled with the overwhelming proximity to the world''s most perilous creature. Despite his introverted, self-recoiling from such closeness, he managed to voice the question that his curious side had been yearning to ask the ethereal yet ferocious demon. In a whispering voice, laden with a stutter, he inquired, "What''s preventing y-you... from killing me?"


    "Your... innocence," came her hushed reply.


    As those words spilled from Circe''s lips, the demon sank her fangs into his clavicle, simultaneously drawing blood from Allen''s thigh, where her claws had punctured his flesh. In anguish, Allen let out a moan, his body trembling under the weight of a multitude of overwhelming emotions that defied clear identification. Tears welled at the corners of his eyes, and he squeezed them shut tightly.


    Circe ceased her torment of the brunette''s delicate clavicle, allowing him to catch his breath. She gazed at him with her lascivious eyes as Allen, with flushed cheeks and a clammy forehead, kept his eyes tightly shut, too fearful to open them. His body trembled with trepidation as Circe''s lips and tongue traced a sensuous path down his neck, leaving behind a trail of kisses and moist caresses. Her descent halted at the juncture where the neck and shoulder met once more.


    She continued to moisten and kiss that junction intermittently, and as Allen timidly opened his eyes, he stammered, "What are you... doing? And why are you doing this?" His broken question only seemed to amuse Circe further. With a final sensuous lick, she replied, "Preparing you."


    Allen was utterly bewildered by her response and was about to ask for clarification when Circe advanced further. She seized his wrists, pinning them firmly above his head with a strength that made Allen struggle to break free. However, he quickly realized that the demon was far more powerful than he had ever imagined. Fear for his life gripped him, causing him to pant and tremble as his mind raced with horrifying possibilities.


    The direness of his situation left him mentally preparing for the worst to come.


    Allen stammered, "Preparing me for... for what?" He met Circe''s gaze, his teary blue eyes searching for answers. She locked onto his gaze, responding with an ominous tone, "To claim you." Her head descended once more, and she exhaled onto the same tender junction as before. Circe patiently waited for Allen''s frenzied heartbeat to subside slightly before sinking her sharp fangs into the delicate porcelain skin at the base of his clavicle.


    Allen''s anguish transformed into guttural moans and tears of torment, but soon he sensed an overpowering presence surging through his veins, rendering him strangely impervious to the pain. It compelled him to cease his fruitless resistance, leaving him bewildered and overwhelmed. The rapid succession of events had inundated his mind, shrouding his thoughts in an impenetrable haze.


    In his clouded stupor, Allen remained unaware of the demon''s actions. Not only did she siphon his life essence, but she also injected her own beguiling yet pernicious venom into him, an indelible mark of her possession.


    Henceforth, Allen belonged to her, bound by a contract that not even death could sever, for while the contractor may perish, the demon endured.


    Nevertheless, this tale of ownership held deeper, hidden layers yet to be unveiled.

 Blood Pool

    CHAPTER SEVEN


    <>~X~<>


    BLOOD POOL


    <>~X~<>


    ¡®Who¡¯s the trash, now?¡¯


    <>~X~<>


    On the following morning, which happened to be Halloween, the 31st of October, a chill hung in the air, slightly colder than the day before. However, what troubled Allen the most were the two substantial puncture wounds marking the juncture of his shoulder and neck. As he roused from slumber, a faint weariness clung to him, the ache in his muscles a testament to the exhausting events of the previous night.


    What awaited him that morning was nothing short of eerie and unsettling. As he opened his eyes, he found himself snugly tucked in bed, surrounded by a bizarre arrangement of organs and body parts. Intestines, hearts, skulls, kidneys, lungs, and various other human pieces were meticulously displayed in a circle around his bed on the floor.


    The gruesome scene was overwhelming, causing him to immediately lose consciousness, too fragile to endure such a sight.


    An hour later, when Allen regained consciousness, he rushed to tidy up his room with a sense of urgency, terrified at the prospect of the authorities discovering the grotesque scene while he was away at college. He was utterly baffled by Circe''s disturbing actions, and the thought of encountering her again filled him with dread. He couldn''t shake the fear that he might become her next victim, joining the unfortunate individuals whose remains were callously displayed in his bedroom like macabre trophies of her horrifying deeds.


    Allen prepared for the day, having taken a dose of anxiety medication to soothe his frayed nerves.


    As he readied himself, he couldn''t help but wonder, ''Where could Circe be? What did she do with that grisly display in my bedroom? I blacked out after she inflicted those painful wounds on my acromioclavicular joint, so I have no idea what transpired afterward or what set her off on such a rampage. I wish I could uncover all the answers to find a way to escape her if that''s even possible.''


    Considering I haven''t come across her anywhere in my house, I assume she might have left for good.'' Allen''s thoughts were consumed by memories of the beautiful yet ruthless demon girl from the previous night. She had left him cocooned in the comfort of his own bed, with death lingering in his bedroom after he had blacked out in the midst of the process of her ''claiming him as hers.''


    Allen found it ironic that such a malevolent being could also display kindness towards him, choosing not to leave him on the cold, unforgiving floor. His previous understanding of creatures like Circe led him to believe that they were inherently devoid of concern for humans and notorious for their heartlessness.


    Indeed, Allen had vowed to himself that he wouldn''t get too near the demon. She was known to revel in killing for her own amusement, and it was abundantly clear that his life hung precariously in the balance should she decide to target him.


    Now, Allen pondered whether that was indeed the truth or not. He released a weary sigh as he adjusted his chestnut bangs in front of the mirror. After one last glance at his reflection, he put on his black and white canvas sneakers, which complemented his black jeans and pristine white hoodie perfectly.


    His sole desire at the moment was to leave his house as swiftly as he could, as the scent of blood continued to linger in his bedroom and living room, a grim reminder of the horrific events of the previous night.


    Allen descended the staircase, his gaze sweeping across his surroundings, only to confirm that there was no trace of the raspberry-haired demon. Unconsciously, he pondered where Circe had disappeared after their eventful night. His anticipation for her return was driven by a strong desire for answers, even as he attempted to disregard the nagging feeling in his gut, warning him that something was amiss or that impending trouble lurked on the horizon.


    Nonetheless, he was determined to uncover the reasons behind her gruesome acts, such as the inexplicable murders and the macabre display of the victims in his room, as if his personal space had been turned into a sinister dumping ground.


    Allen left his home and embarked on the journey to his high school, all the while consumed by his contemplation of Circe, which intermittently sent shivers down his spine. As he arrived at the school on a blustery day that intensified the chill in the air, he scanned the corridors of the esteemed institution, searching for any sign of Emery.


    Walking down the corridor that housed the lockers, Allen''s keen eyes eagerly sought out his longtime crush, Emery. However, his quest proved fruitless as she was conspicuously absent. Resigned to his search being futile, he opted to continue down the hallway, surmising that he might locate the brunette girl in one of the classrooms. It was highly likely that she was participating in the preparations for the Halloween party later that evening. The school encouraged every student to join the effort and contribute their unique ideas to transform the school into a Halloween-themed wonderland.


    As Allen made his way toward the hall''s exit, he noticed the decorations that adorned the space. The predominant colors were the classic Halloween hues of orange and black, setting the eerie ambiance in line with the season. Yet, the hall remained oddly silent and devoid of students. This serene atmosphere resulted from most students being occupied elsewhere, some in classrooms, and others out in the garden.


    They were fervently engaged in setting up skeletons, and pumpkins, and stringing vibrant orange and red fairy lights to create a festive Halloween atmosphere.


    Before Allen could make his way out of the hall, an unseen force abruptly yanked him backward by grabbing onto his hoodie''s hood, thrusting him against the lockers with a jolt that sent a sharp pang through his spine. A gasp involuntarily escaped his lips as pain surged up his back, akin to a searing blaze. Despite his throbbing head, which had also taken a hit against the locker, he managed to raise his gaze swiftly.


    What met his eyes was Drake, who was sporting his typical malevolent smirk and the familiar, menacing glare that had long served as an unmistakable forewarning that Allen''s safety was anything but assured.


    "Hello there, bookworm, you seem positively cheerful today. I trust you won''t take offense if I borrow a bit of that joy, will you?" Drake muttered; his dark brown eyes fixated on Allen. Allen swallowed hard, unsure whether Drake was about to unleash some random act of bullying or if he had done something unwittingly to provoke this early morning outburst. If it was the latter, Allen was utterly clueless about what might have caused the giant to vent his frustration so early in the day.


    Allen nervously swallowed the irrational thoughts that had flooded his mind about Drake as he questioned, "What do you want?" Drake appeared on the verge of responding when Anna, Jake, and Adalyn arrived, their anger apparent.


    Adalyn, especially, unleashed a barrage of accusations at Allen, blaming him for their failed ritual. "You, worthless piece of trash! It''s your fault our ritual flopped. You were supposed to chant with us, but your idiotic self either forgot to chant the spell, or your chanting was utterly meaningless. I''m absolutely furious with you, you nerdy misfit!" She spoke with righteous indignation, laying blame on Allen, though they hadn''t even instructed him to participate in the chanting. But in retrospect, he might have asked for clarification.


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    As a well-mannered and empathetic person, Allen could only manage a nervous gulp, his anxiety, fear, and tension intensifying. He bore a secret that others remained oblivious to. At this moment, he felt utterly lost, unsure of how to proceed. He feared that unveiling Circe''s true identity could lead to dire consequences, so he chose to keep the secret hidden until a more opportune moment presented itself.


    Yet, that moment never seemed to arrive.


    "I''m sorry, Adalyn... maybe next time¡ª" Allen''s sentence was abruptly cut short as Adalyn interjected, her tone becoming harsh and impolite. "So, there was going to be a next time too? Okay! Then let''s make that next time today, right now." Allen''s anxiety surged as he thought, ''Oh no, what have I just set in motion?'' Realizing he had unwittingly landed himself in trouble once more, Allen nervously shook his head while attempting to break free from Drake''s strong and imposing grip on his shoulders, the hands thick, powerful, and veined.


    "Allen, don''t make this any more difficult than it needs to be," Adalyn growled in frustration. She nodded toward Drake, who seized Allen''s wrist and attempted to pull him in a direction he was unwilling to go. Allen resisted, gripping the locker handle tightly, unwilling to partake in the ritual when he was already bound to a demon, determined not to invite any more demons into his life.


    Drake gasped and quickly turned to the others, proclaiming, "Guys, he doesn''t have that knife wound from last night." All three wore expressions of deep bewilderment, and Adalyn, in response, advanced toward Allen, gripping both of his hands tightly as she examined them. Meanwhile, Allen''s heart raced in his chest, and his breath grew increasingly irregular.


    Fear coursed through him, causing his heart to beat erratically.


    "Hey, nerd, are you keeping something from us? That wound on your hand should have taken weeks to heal, and it would have left a scar. So, Allen, where''s this demon of ours?" Adalyn pressed, her jaw tight and her eyes narrowed. Allen swallowed hard, attempting to retreat from the hall, but his escape was thwarted when Jake snagged his hood from behind and delivered a forceful punch to his stomach.


    Drake followed with another punch, driving it into Allen''s ribs. The force of the blow left the brunette boy struggling to breathe, his blue eyes squeezed shut in response to the excruciating pain that radiated from his stomach and chest, making each breath a painful endeavor.


    Despite the agony, Allen refused to divulge the secret of the raspberry-red-haired demon. His sixth sense, an inner guide he had learned to trust over time, whispered firmly that revealing her to them was not an option. It had never led him astray in the past, and he wasn''t about to doubt it now.


    Brought to his knees, clutching his stomach in pain, Allen found himself at the mercy of Adalyn''s ominous words. With a menacing tone, she warned, "Listen here, you, geek freak! If you don''t spill the beans on that demon''s location, you''ll wish you were never born."


    On his knees, Allen vigorously shook his head, attempting to convey that he truly didn''t know the demon''s whereabouts. However, the four bullies misinterpreted his response, taking it as a refusal to cooperate. Even in the absence of this misunderstanding, Drake still proceeded to strike Allen in the jaw.


    Just before he could enact a harmful pejorative action, Drake''s hand was seized with an icy grip, and his fingers were cruelly contorted to the point of inhuman breakage. In his excruciating pain, Drake let out a harrowing scream, locking eyes with none other than Circe, her sinister smirk unmistakably present.


    Allen''s breath caught in his throat as he gazed up at Circe, who stood imposingly before him with her menacing aura, gripping Drake''s mangled fingers as he struggled in vain, oblivious to the fact that escape was only possible with the demon''s consent.


    "Why are you squealing and whimpering like a frightened rodent? Just moments ago, you were ruthlessly causing pain to what belongs to me. It''s quite comical to witness a predator reduced to a quivering mess. Drake, do you even qualify as a predator? If you do, then start acting like one!" Circe taunted the boy who now found himself completely vulnerable. With no response forthcoming, her smirk widened, and she ruthlessly seized the blonde boy''s jaw, tearing his head away from his body in a savage act that splattered blood across the pristine white tiles, her face, clothing, and hair. Drake''s decapitation left a gruesome pool of blood in its wake, a chilling testament to the brutality of the scene.


    Anna''s piercing screams filled the air as she bore witness to the horrific spectacle that had just unfolded, a sight that had snatched her beloved from her grasp. Her cries for help echoed through the halls, but she remained oblivious to the fact that her pleas fell on deaf ears, for the demon had already ensnared their minds, preventing anyone from intervening in the infernal retribution being unleashed upon the vile bullies who had dared to harm what belonged to her.


    Circe stood as one of the most formidable and malevolent demons of their kind. She held a lofty position in the hierarchy of hell, revered for her immortality and powers that rivaled even those of Satan himself.


    Following her grisly work with Drake, Circe vanished into the ether, only to reappear abruptly before the terrified girl whose screams had pierced the air. The demon''s icy grip closed around Anna''s throat, extinguishing her nerve-wracking cries in an instant. A chilling sound of bones snapping reverberated through the once-silent hall, signaling to the remaining onlookers that Anna''s life had been snuffed out in the blink of an eye. Without delay, the demon extracted her heart and sent the lifeless body tumbling to the floor, creating a grotesque tableau of blood on the pristine white surface.


    In an instant, the demon vanished from sight, only to reemerge directly before Jake. With a cruel swiftness, she yanked his right arm from his body, transforming the once-limbed young man into a source of gushing blood. Jake''s agonized screams filled the air, but his torment was fleeting, for in the blink of an eye, the demon severed his head from his shoulders before anyone could react.


    Each death unfolded with astonishing speed and left a gruesome tableau of blood in its wake.


    Allen''s breath caught in his throat as an overwhelming sense of panic overtook him, rendering him speechless. It felt as though words had abandoned him, and he was left unable to even attempt to plead with the demon. The realization that his fate mirrored that of the recently deceased teenagers struck him, confirming that his own survival was unlikely. With this grim understanding, Allen''s faculties, his mind, and his muscles all seemed to shut down, as if in resignation to the inevitable approach of his own demise.


    His own despair, Allen realized, had played a role in the tragic demise of those around him. Some lives might have been spared if he had only believed in himself and, most crucially, in the bond they shared with the demon, and if he had reached out to stop her. Yet, as he extended a trembling hand, his vision blurred from the tears that streamed from his eyes.


    He found himself utterly helpless, unable to utter a single word before it was all over, too swift for him to grasp.


    Having completed her ruthless work with three lifeless bodies, Circe licked her blood-stained claws, then advanced toward Adalyn, who stood frozen with wide, tear-filled eyes amid her surroundings, now awash with the vivid crimson of blood.


    The once-pristine hall was on the verge of becoming a scene of unimaginable carnage. With her trembling hand clutching her phone, she managed to summon a fragment of courage and, though stuttering, screamed at the demon, "Leave, you monstrous fiend! Take your trash with you! Just go... please!"


    Circe''s sinister smirk deepened as she observed the raven-haired girl with red highlights crumble into a river of tears following her last words. In an instant, Circe materialized before Adalyn, who, though gasping in fear, didn''t retreat, expecting a fate similar to her friends. Circe leaned close to Adalyn''s ear and, with menacing intensity, whispered, "Who''s the trash now?" At the utterance of this question, Adalyn''s heart seemed to be ripped out of her chest, her scream silenced before it could even fully escape her lips.


    The lifeless body tumbled backward as Circe discarded the heart, allowing it to land in a forgotten corner of the hall. Blood streamed from Adalyn''s body, leaving a gaping hole in her chest where her heart had once resided. The macabre scene transformed the hall into an eerie canvas for the malevolent demon''s work.


    Circe''s lips curled into an evil smirk after a dark, humorless chuckle escaped her, fingers daintily licked clean. She pivoted around, her menacing, glowing scarlet eyes locking onto the quivering boy.


    The moment their gazes met, fear caused a lump to form in his throat, and he couldn''t help but gulp audibly.


    Allen''s legs trembled beneath him, and he knew he couldn''t flee from the impending horror. With the last vestiges of his courage, he summoned the strength to shuffle backward until he collided painfully with the lockers.


    Circe''s form was drenched in crimson, yet she paid it no heed, her focus locked onto someone she cherished for their inner and outer beauty. Her chosen one, her bonded mate, the fragile human she held in her sinister embrace. Allen belonged to her, and she wouldn''t allow anyone to harm him.


    Her gaze remained locked onto his, but a touch of tenderness crept into her eyes as she witnessed the violent shudders wracking her chosen one''s body, despite knowing that his bruised ribs couldn''t tolerate such tremors.


    She was aware.


    All too aware of the ordeal her marked one had endured before her arrival, and the thought of Allen enduring such agony, even with her presence, ignited a fierce anger within her.


    Circe knelt before the quivering boy, and he couldn''t help but startle out of sheer fear. His trembling intensified, and he panted heavily as he felt the chill of her lips brushing against the curve of his ear, her voice husky and authoritative as she inquired,


    "How''s my little one?"

 Blood Teller

    CHAPTER EIGHT


    <>~X~<>


    BLOOD TELLER


    <>~X~<>


    ¡®Watch me revel in this blood dance.¡¯


    <>~X~<>


    Attempting to escape was utterly hopeless.


    Even the slightest movement felt out of the question. But why did Allen suddenly feel an overwhelming urge to run from his impending doom? Just a few minutes earlier, he was too much of a coward to speak up and plead for the lives of the innocent, even though he desperately wanted them to survive. Allen was now caught between paralyzing fear and confusion.


    He yearned to live, but at the same time, he carried the heavy burden of blame for the deaths of four other individuals.


    But his deep contemplations were suddenly interrupted by the sensation of a chilly hand landing on his clothed, still-warm chest. This hand slowly made its way to his heart''s side and settled there. It was at that moment that he was jolted back to reality, emerging from the somber realm of his own pessimistic thoughts.


    "Breathe. Breathe my love," Circe''s commanding voice whispered near Allen''s ear, her obsidian claws trailing gently across his chest and over his heart in a soothing caress. Allen couldn''t even recall when he had ceased to breathe, and, for a brief moment, he had no desire to resume. He had convinced himself that he was the cause of those innocent teenagers'' deaths, and the burden of his guilt had become unbearable, making death seem like the only escape from his mounting misery and agony.


    Though Allen had initially resisted the urge to breathe, he found himself slowly drawing breath, each inhalation forced and accompanied by tremors. It was his own body''s betrayal, surrendering to the commanding will of the red-haired girl with the uncanny power.


    His trembling intensified as he continued to breathe under her influence.


    As his breathing gradually settled, a firm grip took hold of his chin, raising it so that his teary, ocean-blue eyes met the fiery, rage-filled scarlet gaze. Allen yearned to avert his gaze, but his body, once more, was not under his control. His previously calm breaths grew erratic, overwhelmed by the intimidating intensity of those piercing scarlet eyes.


    "You will continue to live. Any attempt to harm yourself will bring severe consequences, ones you will deeply regret. You belong to me, entirely. Your heart, body, soul, and mind are mine. Disobedience carries a heavy price; I will immerse your world in blood just to witness the beauty of tears in your eyes. Always remember, you are my possession now, my marked one, my cherished mate. Omnia quae es, mea sunt," Circe growled, her words punctuating the air, each one sending tremors through the already quivering bones of the fragile boy.


    Her final words whispered softly, held profound implications directed at the tearful boy, a message laden with deeper meaning.


    As the final mysterious words left Circe''s lips, Allen''s eyes widened with the realization that she had spoken in Latin. It struck him as odd because she had been summoned through a French spell. His mind couldn''t help but dwell on the obscure meaning of those words, leaving him puzzled. It was only the second time in his life that he had heard Latin spoken, and it added to the enigmatic nature of the situation.


    The first time Allen had encountered Latin had been in a movie, but he was astute enough to recognize the language spoken by the demon. Still, he remained in the dark about the specific meaning of those particular words.


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    Stuttering nervously, he finally managed to ask, "What was that? The last-last words?" His anxiety was evident, and Circe easily grasped his curiosity. She responded by leaning in, her cold, red-tinted lips brushing against his warm ones, and whispered in her husky voice, "It''s for you to find out."


    Circe swiftly rose to her feet and directed her attention towards the entrance of the hallway. Distant voices were drawing nearer. As a teacher and a professor, accompanied by a group of students, stepped into view, their horrified gasps echoed through the corridor.


    "Who are you? Kid, call the police!" the professor urgently ordered one of the students. The students, frozen with terror at the gruesome scene before them, began fumbling for their phones. However, before they could even retrieve it from their pocket, the professor''s head was violently severed from his body, showering those nearby with blood as it careened through the air.


    Circe deftly caught the severed head in her right hand, a manic grin spreading across her face.


    Alex''s eyes widened in sheer horror, and summoning all his strength, he managed to rise to his feet, though his legs quivered with fear. He slowly approached Circe and gently grasped her wrist. Her narrowed eyes held a hint of anger, sending a chill down Allen''s spine.


    "Please reconsider," he implored with a stutter but a newfound determination. "This doesn''t have to be your only way out of here. Please, leave without causing any more harm. You''ve already caused enough trouble."


    Circe began to chuckle darkly, discarding the severed head. She fixed her gaze on Allen after wrapping her arm around his waist to pull him closer and replied, "Oh, my dear, you misunderstand. I''m not killing them to escape. I''m killing them because if they run, it means I''ll have to hunt for my food. That¡¯d be tiresome."


    Upon hearing the demon''s callous words, Allen''s heart raced in dread, realizing that any other unfortunate soul within her reach was in grave danger. Desperate to get her attention, he tugged gently at her wrist. In response, she pulled him closer into her embrace, her voice laced with menacing darkness as she whispered, "Stay here. Watch me revel in this blood dance. Perhaps one day, you''ll become a blood teller for the sake of others."


    With these ominous words, Circe released her hold on Allen and ventured toward the onlookers who had assembled to witness the gruesome scene. As she approached, she seized throats, gouged out eyes, and ripped out hearts with ruthless efficiency, all for her sustenance.


    Unable to bear the piercing screams of death, Allen closed his eyes and covered his ears, seeking refuge from the harrowing spectacle.


    Allen, well aware of his own fears and self-perceived cowardice, couldn''t help but feel the weight of his humanity. Even though he was human, he found it increasingly difficult to relate to others because of his unique bond with the demon, one so profound that neither he nor Circe could deny its existence.


    With this reflection in his mind, Allen retrieved a fountain pen from his bag, which had been cast aside in the corner amidst the chaotic scene.


    While Circe savored the heart in her grasp, her attention briefly halted in its tracks. She paused her gruesome actions, but not before swiftly beheading the terrified girl with emerald-green hair. In response to this horrifying spectacle, Allen found his voice despite his stutter.


    "Circe, please stop or I¡¯ll kill myself," he implored firmly, his resolve shining through his hesitant words. In a show of unwavering determination, he pressed the pointed end of the fountain pen against his own neck.


    Circe casually discarded the partially devoured heart, seemingly unfazed by Allen''s display. She remarked, "You can''t end your life with it." Taking a deep breath, Allen responded, "Perhaps I can''t end it, but I can certainly harm myself." Circe emitted a contemplative hum as she wiped her blood-stained lips on the back of her hand, while a few of the remaining students seized the opportunity to escape.


    As Emery''s voice reached Allen''s ears, he turned slightly, momentarily forgetting his intended action. This lapse in attention brought a wicked smirk to Circe''s lips as she vanished into thin air. Swiftly, she reappeared behind Allen, embracing him from behind and relieving him of the pen, which she promptly shattered into pieces. Circe inhaled deeply, attempting to quell her anger at his self-destructive intent, but her efforts proved futile when her scarlet eyes fixated on Emery.


    Emery possessed the extraordinary ability to captivate her human¡¯s focus, causing him to forget everything else.


    She was the one for whom Allen harbored deep concern.


    It was imperative for Circe to address a few matters with her human, and she needed to do it without delay, now that he was safely in her embrace.


    Circe''s arms constricted around Allen''s midsection as she leaned in and whispered a pressing inquiry into his ear. Her voice held a hint of urgency, "Did you truly believe I could be deceived so easily? And who is this girl? What is your connection to her?"


    The intense anxiety he felt for his best friend''s safety was evident in the clamminess of Allen''s neck and the rapid thumping of his heart as he struggled to respond. With a gulp, he finally managed to get the words out, "She''s... my friend."


    Circe''s sinister smile widened as she remarked, "Is that the case?"

 Bloody Halloween

    CHAPTER NINE


    <>~X~<>


    BLOODY HALLOWEEN


    <>~X~<>


    ¡®To their utter dismay, the "Bloody Halloween" had begun.¡¯


    <>~X~<>


    A profound hush descended upon the scene the instant the brunette girl called out Allen''s name, drawing the full attention of both the demon girl and the flustered Allen. Emery felt an icy grip of fear clutch at her heart as Circe turned to glare at her, her scarlet eyes and blood-stained appearance exuding menace.


    Emery, trembling with a mix of concern and unease, couldn''t hold back her questions any longer. "Who are you? And what are you doing to him?" she shouted, deeply troubled by Allen''s disheveled state and the horrifying spectacle of the blood-smeared hallway.


    The oppressive scent of blood hung thick in the air, suffocating Emery and Allen, though the demon remained unaffected, taking perverse satisfaction in the gruesome tableau she had orchestrated just moments earlier.


    Emery, however, struggled to suppress the urge to retch, the nausea rising in her throat, threatening to expel the entirety of her morning breakfast at the gruesome sight and stench before her.


    "Are you okay, Allen?" Emery''s voice trembled with panic as she observed him, soaked in perspiration, his eyes betraying profound fear. She inched closer, intent on offering help.


    But before she could take another step, a sudden vice clamped around her throat, hoisting her into the air. Her hands clasped the cold, pallid fingers of the red-haired demon. Its crimson claws drew blood from the sides of her neck, leaving her gasping and choking, struggling for a breath that refused to reach her lungs.


    Allen''s whispered pleas for Emery''s safety fell on deaf ears, as Circe''s focus burned intensely on the unfamiliar woman who had dared to utter her human''s name. Whether one terms it as obsession or possession, Circe was a Mephistophelian being with her own world, status, and pride.


    The audacity of another woman, ignorant of the true nature of her relationship with Allen, invoking his name drove Circe to madness. She was, after all, a demon driven by a bloodthirsty hunger and an unyielding claim to what was rightfully hers.


    According to her own dark code, Allen belonged to her.


    Of all her possessions, Allen was the one in whom she took the greatest pride. Among demons, a virgin soul was a coveted prize, and he was hers to claim.


    "You asked who I am, and let me make it crystal clear," Circe hissed, her jaw clenched, her voice dripping with menace. It had an uncanny ability to send shivers down one''s spine. "I am the one who will derive immense pleasure from taking your life away."


    "Please, Circe! Spare her," Allen pleaded earnestly, his fingers trembling as he adjusted his glasses to restore his clear vision. "I''ll do anything, just spare her, please."


    Allen raised his gaze, peering through his teary eyes, and his widened as he beheld the distressing sight of Emery''s bleeding neck. The blood trickled from both sides, leaving a crimson trail staining her as pristine as a snow-colored high-neck sweater.


    His legs quivered as he took a faltering step towards Circe, but he came to an abrupt halt when the demon fixed him with her menacing gaze, her eyes narrowed and laced with a palpable threat.


    Allen felt the unyielding challenge emanating from those eyes as if they dared his entire being to defy the demon and face the consequences. However, Allen wasn''t naive, and though he grasped this realization somewhat belatedly, he was resolute in his belief that the demon would never harm him.


    In his mind, he was her most cherished possession, her one and only precious treasure. What he momentarily overlooked was that, while she might refrain from physically harming him, there was nothing to prevent her from inflicting pain on others. She could wound him emotionally, but causing him physical harm was, without a doubt, out of the question.


    Allen''s sixth sense told him that Circe could never inflict even the slightest physical injury upon him, making his death a remote possibility, at least for the time being.


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    Trembling, Allen locked his gaze with Circe''s menacing eyes, his own eyes filled with a pleading desire for her not to harm Emery.


    His thoughts raced as he considered the situation.


    He knew that she wouldn''t hurt him; it was something he believed with absolute certainty. But what if he defied her? What sort of torment might she subject him to? Would she take Emery''s life if he dared to disobey her? These questions raced through his mind, causing his anxiety to mount.


    Allen thought while keeping eye contact with the merciless demon who suddenly, dropped Emery¡¯s body harshly on the bloodied floor of the hallway, it came to her epiphany that Allen was not going to back down from his pleading even when her threatening eyes and aura told him not to plead for her prey¡¯s life.


    It was certainly very amusing for the demon to see how cleverly would her human test the waters.


    "Seems like he brushed off my warning without thinking about the potential repercussions he might encounter down the line. It appears that this woman holds a special position in my human''s heart. I suppose I must remind him of where he truly belongs and whose commands he should never defy, for all his days," Circe thought with a malicious smirk, hinting at dark intentions behind her forthcoming actions.


    Emery''s violent coughing fit subsided, and she mustered her last reserves of strength. Allen, while still locking eyes with the wrathful demon, released a trembling breath. Out of nowhere, Circe broke into an evil smirk, adding an unsettling layer to the tense situation.


    Allen felt a lump of fear in his throat as he pondered what sinister thoughts might be brewing in Circe''s mind. Her malevolent grin had him on high alert for the impending danger.


    "Tell me, Allen, do you have a fondness for Halloween?" Circe inquired, momentarily glancing around the Halloween-themed hallway. Her gaze swiftly returned to her human; the evil smirk still intact. All Allen could manage in response was a nod, driven by the unease gnawing at him.


    "Hmm... I''m pleased to hear that you enjoy it. Although, don''t you ever find the typical orange and black Halloween themes a bit monotonous?" Circe asked, her furrowed brows attempting to appear as if her question was nothing more than innocent curiosity.


    Her actions spoke louder than her deceiving appearance and that malevolent grin. She was, through and through, a sinister demon, incapable of feigning innocence.


    Allen found himself uncertain about the direction of their conversation, and he cast a quick glance toward Emery. She remained on her knees, clutching tissues around her neck, her bewildered brown eyes tracking the peripheral vision that caught Allen''s sympathetic gaze. He returned his attention to the smirking demon.


    Sensing Allen''s perplexed expression, the demon''s smirk broadened, revealing her fangs in a macabre display. Circe advanced a bit closer to Allen, who, despite his desire to retreat, found himself rooted in place by his own treacherous body.


    "Why is my body paralyzed? She''s getting closer, and I need to escape, but it''s like she''s holding me in place. How can her gaze have such power, ensnaring me like this? Why does her look affect me so profoundly, whether it''s alluring or menacing?" Allen''s thoughts raced as anxiety welled up, and he nervously bit his lower lip. Fear had wrapped his mind tightly, stalling all his movements, and as Circe stood just two steps away from him, all action came to a standstill.


    Circe gently stroked Allen''s warm cheek, causing him to recoil involuntarily. She continued from her previous question, "I''m starting to despise this theme. So, how about a slightly different kind of Halloween this year... and I believe you might be familiar with my idea of Halloween."


    Although Allen had a hunch about Circe''s intentions, he remained uncertain and offered a subtle disapproval by shaking his head. Meanwhile, the red-haired girl wore an amused smile, her sinister smirk revealing her sharp fangs.


    "Oh, my love, you should be aware of my preferences," Circe grinned broadly. She closed the distance between them, leaning in to whisper the next words into his ear, her voice husky and intimate, meant for Allen''s ears alone. These words shattered Allen''s heart into countless fragments, like glass shattering, and made his trembling so impregnable as if he was electrified in his drenched clothes.


    "You''re well acquainted with my preferences. The kind that brings forth tears, the sort that elicits screams of agony as I wrench out their spines. The kind that forces people to plead on their knees, blood streaming from their eyes. The sort that coaxes out their final farewells, and the type that shortens their lives, for it is their time to die. My brand of malevolent Halloween is what I call the ''Bloody Halloween'' for the upcoming innocent night."


    Circe concluded her sinister monologue with a dark, chilling laugh, causing Allen''s dread to intensify, and he softly pleaded, "No, please¡ª" His plea, however, fell upon deaf ears, dismissed before it could truly begin.


    "Shh, my love," Circe hushed him with a cold tone, "You will be the sole exception spared from the wretched souls I shall consume tonight before I retire. Consider this night, with all its beauty and grandeur, your... punishment. A penalty for your earlier disobedience. You now understand that I won''t harm you, but that doesn''t mean I can''t harm those around you. Have a delightfully bloody night." She growled the final words before vanishing into thin air, leaving behind a glistening shadow that lingered momentarily before dissipating like a wisp of smoke.


    Allen collapsed to his knees, his body quivering, and his breath heavy, burdened by the weight of the deaths he believed himself responsible for.


    In his heart, he longed to rescue Emery, yet he remained unaware that sparing one soul would seal the fates of many others. He found a measure of solace in having saved Emery from a gruesome end, but he was also paralyzed by fear, rendering him incapable of uttering his pleas in that chilling moment.


    Regardless of how fervently Allen might have implored, there was no deterring the ravenous demon who had made up her mind to revel in a night of gruesome feasting. Allen''s contemplations were abruptly halted by the piercing and agonized screams of numerous individuals echoing through the corridor, emanating from both outside and in the classrooms.


    Horror-stricken, Allen cast a brief glance at Emery, whose eyes were wide with shock, and they locked gazes, sharing the same palpable fear.


    To their utter dismay, the "Bloody Halloween" had begun.

 Massacre

    CHAPTER TEN


    <>~X~<>


    MASSACRE


    <>~X~<>


    ¡®-realization¡­¡¯


    <>~X~<>


    Hearts raced with a frenzied tempo, breaths became increasingly ragged, and bone-chilling shivers coursed through their bodies as Allen and Emery hurriedly fled the locker hallway, making their way into the main corridor leading to the classrooms. The screams of agony drew them closer, and as they arrived, their eyes widened at the gruesome tableau before them.


    The entire hallway appeared as though a brutal massacre had recently unfolded, leaving a scene of unimaginable carnage in its wake.


    The entire expanse of the hallway was adorned with gruesome splatters of blood, tangled intestines, scattered skulls, and even skeletal remains soaked in crimson.


    Emery''s scream of horror pierced the air, accompanied by anguished sobs.


    Meanwhile, Allen remained rooted to the spot, trapped in his own tormenting thoughts, convinced that the blame rested squarely on his shoulders, even when he was far from being responsible for the horrific scene that had unfolded before them.


    Allen''s eyes remained locked onto the lifeless form of a young boy, sprawled in a pool of blood, his stomach torn open, and a macabre exhibition of his spilled intestines and organs. The horrific spectacle stirred a torrent of tears, staining Allen''s cheeks as he grieved for the tragic sight before him.


    His silent tears mingled with the anguish in his heart, deepening the profound sense of desolation. However, his focus shifted when Emery called out his name, providing a small respite from his inner anguish.


    "Allen! What is happening here? Please, I need to know," Emery implored, her voice quivering as she fought back tears, striving to maintain her composure amid the senseless brutality that had claimed the lives of innocent people. The heart-wrenching reality that her two childhood friends lay dead, grotesquely mutilated in a pool of their own blood, threatened to overwhelm her.


    As her closest friends, the loss of their lives was a devastating blow, and it took all of her inner strength to confront the gruesome scene before her. Emery knew she had to find the strength to face the horrors unfolding around her.


    Allen turned to face Emery, who, despite her tearful state, was making every effort to project a facade of strength in the midst of overwhelming circumstances. He brushed his own tears away and took a deep breath, striving to regain his composure. With a voice that quavered, he began to explain the harrowing truth.


    "Emery... I know this might sound strange, but the girl you saw, the one with the red raspberry hair... she''s a demon. And Adalyn''s group... they were responsible for binding me to that malevolent demon for their own amusement. They performed a ritual last night, which has led to all of this... this horrifying bloodbath."


    Emery''s reaction was a gasp of utter astonishment upon learning the sinister revelation from Allen. The nature of this information was so malevolent that it filled Emery with an overwhelming urge to scream in sheer frustration.


    This frustration was compounded by the fact that for an entire year, both she and Allen had been subjected to relentless bullying at the hands of Adalyn''s group. Emery seethed with anger at the sheer foolishness of Adalyn''s clique. To make matters even more complicated, she had developed romantic feelings for Allen, and the idea of confessing her emotions to him now seemed more distant and perilous than ever, given the presence of a menacing demon poised to strike at any moment.


    Moreover, it was these foolish jocks who bore the primary responsibility for the gruesome bloodshed and the savage demise of her dearest friends. While Emery harbored numerous pressing questions that demanded answers, her immediate concern was Allen''s well-being. She needed to ascertain whether he had been injured and explore potential avenues to halt the unfolding madness.


    "Are you alright? I mean, you''re not injured or anything, are you?" Emery inquired gently, her voice a comforting presence amidst the grim scene that had entranced Allen as he gazed upon the lifeless forms of fellow students and educators.


    Amidst the macabre tableau, he had come to realize that no one had been exempt from the violence that had swept through the institution''s grounds. For a fleeting moment, he pondered whether Circe''s malevolence would extend beyond these walls, leaving him as the sole survivor in a world devoid of life. However, his morbid contemplations were disrupted by the soothing timbre of Emery''s voice and her urgent inquiry.


    Allen turned to Emery and replied in a hushed tone, "No, I''m... okay." Emery acknowledged his response with a nod before following up with another question, her eyes narrowing with concern. "So, how do we... deal with this situation? It seems like it''s up to either you or both of us to clean up the aftermath of that group''s wrongdoing. I''ve cautioned you countless times, Allen, not to get involved with them, but your innocence and your kind-hearted nature always seem to lead you astray."


    Emery paused, exhaling a frustrated sigh, and went on, "I''ve emphasized this to you before, in this world, if you extend your kindness and naivety to the wrong individuals, you''ll end up betrayed repeatedly until one day they expose you to dire consequences. Now, tell me, how do we address this issue when Adalyn''s entire group is already dead?"


    Emery found herself consumed by a level of anger she had never imagined. Well, it was understandable, given that just half an hour ago, she was on the brink of death, and now countless innocent lives had fallen prey to a vile creature released by a group of dim-witted bullies for their amusement.


    She harbored no remorse for her anger, and she knew, deep down, that Allen wasn''t to blame either.


    Allen remained silent, his lower lip caught between his teeth, as he contemplated Emery''s words. After a moment, he replied softly, "I''m sorry... you''re right... it''s my fault. Can you forgive me?" Emery''s once-narrowed eyes softened, and she walked closer to him. She gently lifted Allen''s chin, making him meet her gaze as she responded, "Allen, I never said it was your fault. Emotions got the best of me, and that''s why I vented my anger and frustration on you, but understand this¡ªyour naivety isn''t to blame here. Sometimes, you have to hurt people''s feelings to save others from their own downfall. To do that, you need to find strength in your heart and your will. Can you do that? If not for yourself, then at least for me?"


    Allen nodded earnestly, his eyes reflecting gratitude and affection.


    Emery''s smile was tender as she leaned in and gently kissed Allen''s rosy cheek, leaving him blushing with a mix of emotions. Allen couldn''t fathom the true meaning behind Emery''s heartfelt actions until she bashfully clarified, "Umm... it''s just in case we or one of us doesn''t make it... consider it as... a farewell in advance. Yeah, a farewell in advance. I''ve liked you for a long time, Allen. I still do."


    Allen was taken aback by Emery''s unexpected confession, causing his cheeks to redden even further. He quickly responded, "I...I like you too, Emery. I''m sorry I couldn''t confess sooner." Emery''s smile was radiant as she shook her head and said, "No need to apologize, Allen. It''s okay.


    What matters is that you feel the same way, which you already do. Thank you for accepting my feelings."


    Emery and Allen exchanged affectionate smiles before Emery shifted to a more serious tone, asking, "So, what''s our plan now? How do we even begin to stop this demon, especially without knowing its origin and motives?"


    Allen swallowed hard and responded, "I''m not entirely sure, but I was thinking we could pay a visit to Adalyn''s aunt. She''s a Shaman, and the spell that was used to summon the demon was borrowed from her. Maybe she has some insight into how to halt this gruesome catastrophe."


    Emery found the idea agreeable and nodded in confirmation. She inquired, "Do you know her address?" Allen nodded in response, and Emery decisively stated, "Alright, it''s settled then. Let''s go. The sooner, the better." And with that, Allen and Emery departed from the high school, leaving behind the horrifying scene which was more like a slaughterland.


    They reached the blood-stained school parking lot and got into Emery''s white car which had an intestine draped over its bonnet but without even picking it up and tossing it away, they just got in and drove away from the school grounds entirely. They continued until they passed a deserted park, where lifeless bodies lay scattered around, a gruesome and chilling sight to behold. However, to their relief, the intestine on the bonnet fell down when Emery accelerated the speed to escape the horrifying scenes as soon as possible. Yet only blood remained back staining the white car.


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    After several wrong turns, navigating to Aunt Erica, Adalyn''s aunt''s residence became quite the ordeal for Allen, who had never visited her before, yet only heard of her place. Eventually, around five in the evening, they found themselves standing before Erica''s house. Hurriedly, they exited the car and made their way to the house''s brown wooden front door.


    Surprisingly, this part of town had been spared from the misfortune that had befallen others, remaining pristine and peaceful, as if it had been patiently awaiting its turn.


    Upon arrival at Aunt Erica''s doorstep, they rang the bell twice, and an elderly woman with grey hair answered the door.


    "Hello, dears! How can I help you?" The elderly woman greeted the teens with a warm, beaming smile as they stood at her doorstep. "Are you both here for some trick or treats?"


    An awkward exchange of glances passed between Emery and Allen before Emery took a step forward and said, "Umm, no, thank you. Actually, we''re friends of Adalyn, and we need to have a conversation with you, right now." Emery offered a reassuring smile, to which the old woman responded with a welcoming one, inviting the teens into her warm and cozy home.


    Allen and Emery laid out all the events and challenges they were currently grappling with to Adalyn''s grandmother. However, Allen decided to omit the fact that he had been marked by the demon. He considered it unimportant, possibly just a result of the demon''s fascination with him.


    Little did Allen realize how mistaken he was.


    On the other hand, Emery was cautious not to disclose the tragic demise of the old woman''s granddaughter. She believed it was essential for Adalyn''s grandmother to focus on the issue at hand instead of being consumed by grief. They were determined to address this dire situation, even if it seemed like a daunting task at this point.


    In a harsh twist of fate, Allen and Emery found themselves resorting to a white lie, knowing the gravity of the situation at hand. They felt that their small act of deception might serve as a beacon of hope in saving the world from impending doom. They informed the woman that Adalyn and her companions were currently occupied, making efforts to alert the public about the impending calamity. Little did they reveal the grim reality that even carnival grounds and amusement parks had been mercilessly transformed into arenas of demonic horror.


    The crimson stains and the haunting silence bore witness to the fact that these places had become scenes of mass slaughter, devoid of life, a fact they had witnessed while passing through the desolation.


    "My dear," the elderly woman began, her voice laced with a sense of understanding, "I comprehend the situation fully. However, I must admit that it''s been quite some time since I''ve practiced the arts. There exists a reversal spell that can undoubtedly counter the ritual you, my foolish children, have enacted. Yet, you must be aware that this particular ritual is exceptionally energy-demanding. Should I attempt it, it may come at the cost of my own life. Therefore, the most viable solution is for both of you to perform the reversal ritual under my guidance. Are you both prepared to take on this responsibility?" Her words resonated with such sincerity and unwavering determination that Allen and Emery found themselves wholly convinced that with her guidance, nothing could go amiss. Filled with confidence, they nodded in unison, offering their resolute approval.


    With a nod, the elderly woman rose from her seat and guided the distraught teens down into a chilly basement, which also doubled as a storage area. In this dimly lit space, she retrieved an antiquated, rust-covered black tome from a cupboard tucked into the corner.


    Approaching the table positioned in the heart of the basement, cluttered with an assortment of papers in various languages, alongside snippets from daily newspapers, she placed the aged book upon its surface and carefully unfurled its pages.


    Upon discovering the page she sought, the elderly woman faced Allen and began to elucidate, "Allen, my dear, this is the French reversal ritual for the spell that was initially cast in French to conjure the soul-eater demon. You''ll need to recite it and then offer a few drops of your blood onto the spell''s words. Given that your blood was employed in the initial incantation, it must be you who reverses it by using your own blood to end the spell. I will utter the incantations, and you must echo them, clearly and resolutely. Do you comprehend my instructions, my dear?"


    Allen nodded in agreement before moving closer to the table. As he reached for the knife placed beside the book, curiosity got the best of him, and he inquired, "Umm... what will happen to the demon?"


    The elderly woman responded promptly, "Dear, she will be banished from the Earth. Once the blood pact is reversed, she will return to the hellish realm from which she originated." Allen nodded once more, comprehending the task at hand.


    "Guess I can omit the part about the bond mate since I won''t be encountering Circe after this," thought Allen, preparing himself for the ritual.


    While the elderly woman intoned the incantations, Allen echoed each word, and Emery observed them closely while holding Allen¡¯s other hand to channel her energy into the spell as the elderly had instructed. Her expression turned to one of concern when Allen ran the silver knife over his palm, allowing the blood droplets to fall onto the words of the spell.


    As a result, the pages became stained with his blood.


    As the incantations continued with unwavering determination, unlit candles in the basement mysteriously ignited, only to be extinguished as swirling winds swept through the room.


    These phenomena signaled the spell''s success.


    Upon the completion of the spell, the elderly woman promptly closed the book and offered a reassuring smile to the anxious teens. Their tension ebbed away, knowing that things had seemingly returned to normal. However, that''s what they hoped for, and what they would continue to hope for.


    Allen and Emery hurried back upstairs, eager to express their gratitude to the compassionate woman. Before taking their leave, they switched on the television, tuning in to the news channel. Relief washed over them as the reporter announced the sudden disappearance of the malevolent creature responsible for the bloodshed in their town.


    Exhaling deeply, both Allen and Emery exchanged a swift, heartfelt embrace, their smiles radiating warmth and their cheeks flushed with joy. They were on the verge of another embrace but paused mid-step as the elderly lady approached them with a broad, warm smile of her own.


    Grateful, they returned her smile and expressed their profound thanks for her role in saving them from the horrors they had faced.


    Allen exchanged glances with Emery, and her empathetic gaze conveyed the unspoken agreement that they shouldn''t be the ones to break the dreadful news of her granddaughter''s death to the elderly lady. After all, they were just teenagers, and the magnitude of such tragic information was beyond their understanding. With that silent understanding, they chose to leave the matter be, bidding their farewells before heading to their respective homes, places of warmth and refuge.


    Deep down, they held the belief that Adalyn''s grandmother would inevitably come to terms with the devastating news in her own way, and in due time.


    Exiting the house, Allen and Emery took their places in the car, their hearts infused with an unusual sense of peace, though they chose not to voice their feelings, dismissing them as unfounded paranoia.


    The calm after the storm felt unfamiliar, but they decided to cherish it.


    Their journey brought them to Allen''s residence first. They held each other close, sharing affection and warmth in a fond embrace. With an affectionate yet bashful smile, Allen parted from Emery, stepping out of the car to begin his journey homeward.


    A final wave and he entered his house, leaving the quiet serenity of the moment behind.


    Upon entering his home, a vague sense of unease washed over Allen, though exhaustion soon overshadowed this feeling. The weariness that clung to him begged for rest, and he intended to oblige.


    Around nine o''clock, after a warm shower, he dressed in a white, full-sleeved t-shirt and blue jeans. His immediate plan was to rest, but he couldn''t ignore the grumbling in his stomach. Hunger compelled him to prepare dinner first, even if it meant a temporary delay in his study plans for the upcoming January entrance exam.


    Allen settled himself at the edge of his bed, close to his pillow, lost in contemplation. His thoughts flitted between Circe and what to prepare for dinner, all while his eyes fixated on his left hand, swathed in bandages.


    Inexplicably, a sense of remorse crept in for dismissing her as he did. He ran a hand through his damp hair, whispering softly into the still, chilly room, "I''m sorry, Circe. It was the only way to prevent you from claiming countless innocent lives. I hope... you can find it in your heart to forgive me."


    As Allen pondered his dinner options, an unexpected interruption occurred. His initial sigh was swiftly followed by the unmistakable sound of a voice. Glancing towards the obscure corner of his room, he strained to identify the source. Seconds ticked by, devoid of any further utterances, prompting him to avert his attention.


    However, a sudden realization gripped him when he beheld a startling sight: a disembodied head with tousled, short blond waves of hair, eerily rolling in his direction.


    As he comprehended the surreal scene before him, his fear grew to such an extent that his vocal cords refused to cooperate, and only a fractured sob managed to escape his constricted throat.


    The disembodied head and the face it bore belonged to none other than Emery Kinkle.


    To describe Allen''s emotions as merely horrified would be an understatement of the profound dread and terror that gripped him at that very moment and in the grip of overwhelming fear and despair, he unleashed a piercing scream that tore through the silence, while violent sobs racked his trembling body like a fragile leaf in the unforgiving wind.


    Allen''s heart raced as he wept after his screams died in nothingness, unleashing his emotions, but his dread deepened when that familiar husky, menacing voice reverberated throughout the room.


    "Hello, Allen. Did you miss me?"


    Trembling, Allen slowly turned his gaze forward through teary eyes. His breath caught as he met the piercing scarlet gaze, those glowing eyes dominating the space, locking onto his own watery, ocean-blue ones.


    Even though Circe''s body was completely drenched in blood, her eyes remained stark and conspicuous. Allen couldn''t tear his gaze away from those intense crimson orbs.


    They seemed to penetrate deep into his very soul.


    ¡°Why¡­¡± as he whispered in stuttering disbelief, the harsh reality began to sink in. Circe, the demon, had returned from the depths of hell. His words trailed off into the chilly air as he realized that he had never disclosed the existence of his claiming mark to Adalyn''s aunt, a colossal oversight on his part.


    Nevertheless, the importance of that detail was far less significant to the situation than Allen had initially thought.


    Although he sensed a peculiar connection with the demon, he made the decision to hide a crucial part of the entire truth. It was because even if the ritual were to be undone, that would be inconsequential as long as the marked one survived, and Allen was Circe''s marked one, her sole and irrevocably claimed mate. Therefore, to permanently remove her from the Earth, Allen would have to forfeit his own life.


    This realization left Allen breathless, and Circe''s wicked smirk broadened evilly.


    She was aware of what he was contemplating, but that wasn''t the whole truth.

 The Sanguinary Truth

    CHAPTER ELEVEN


    <>~X~<>


    THE SANGUINARY TRUTH


    <>~X~<>


    ¡®Betrayal and acknowledgment.¡¯


    <>~X~<>


    Allen wasn''t foolish for failing to recognize the truth earlier.


    He had been skeptical right from the beginning, even when he was oblivious to the supernatural realm. His sole error was in dismissing the importance of Circe marking him last night, which resulted in the loss of his dearest friend, who now meant more than just a friend to him. With a heavy heart, Allen gazed at Emery''s bloodied head, tears of remorse streaming from his eyes once again.


    Circe sensually licked her blood-smeared, claw-like nails, savoring the gruesome scene before her. With a wicked grin, she taunted, "Oh, my dear, if you''re already trembling at the thought of seeing her lifeless head, I can only imagine the horror when I reveal that it was your own hand that severed it. Well, that''s what Emery witnessed in her final moments, just before her life was mercilessly taken away."


    Allen, utterly bewildered, struggled to comprehend the shocking revelation. He lifted his gaze to meet Circe''s malevolent eyes, his voice quivering as he implored, "What do you mean?"


    Circe''s malevolent grin widened as she responded with anticipation, "My dear, perhaps you should inspect yourself before you challenge me."


    With a nervous gulp, Allen shifted his gaze downward, and what he beheld left him in a state of shock and dread. His eyes widened, and he let out a gut-wrenching scream, his voice filled with terror and desperation as he demanded answers, he was afraid to hear. "What is this?! What¡¯s happening?! How... how is this even possible?"


    Allen clutched the collar of his t-shirt, aghast by what he saw.


    His previously pristine white t-shirt now bore the grim stains of fresh blood, as though he had committed a heinous act while wearing it.


    Circe merely hummed in response to his shock, then advanced toward him. This forced Allen to step backward until his leg connected with the bed, causing him to tumble backward into a seated position.


    Closing the distance, Circe drew near and spoke with a sardonic whisper, "This is your own doing, the consequence of attempting to take her side and banish me. I''ve claimed you, which means I can seize your body whenever I please. That''s precisely what occurred. Your refusal led to me taking control of your body, and I took her life while wearing your visage, all to remind you to comply."


    Circe paused to peer into his tear-filled eyes, her fingers tenderly brushing his left cheek, before resuming with the sanguinary truth. "You see, she was rather taken aback when she found you at the door, your shirt stained with blood. By the way, I almost forgot to fetch that old hag''s head. My dear, did you truly believe you could escape me? I marked you precisely for this reason. So, I could still roam the Earth, my conduit remaining intact even after that barbaric reversal spell ¨C a feeble attempt I knew you''d make to halt my bloodshed in your cherished town."


    Just as Allen had feared, he was marked and claimed for a purpose, and now he had no recourse but to bear the burden of his regrets for not disclosing his status to the old woman prior to their ill-fated ritual.


    "Now that I''m in the mood for a little chat, let''s indulge your curiosity further, shall we? Even if I hadn''t marked you, you''d still have been incapable of reversing the spell. You see, to summon me, you need to use my summoning spell, which exists solely in one language: Latin. The spell you all attempted for the reversal was crafted for a different, lowlife demon and not for me."


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Allen''s eyes stretched wide in sheer shock and disbelief, prompting him to seek clarification. "What does that entail? We used a French incantation to summon you." Circe peered into his eyes with a sinister form of adoration, then moved away, standing before him as she divulged, "No, you didn''t. You all gathered in that juvenile circle, reciting verses from a French spell. There was nothing amiss about it ¨C it would have indeed summoned the demon you anticipated. However, one among you inadvertently recited the verses of my incantation. Regrettably for them, they were the first one, I killed after my summoning."


    Allen''s brows furrowed as he found himself lost in the perplexing narrative. Circe, taking note of his stupefaction, pressed on, "Your cherished friend, Matty." At her revelation, Allen''s eyes widened in disbelief. He had held hope that Matt was a trustworthy friend, incapable of causing him any harm. They had shared a strong friendship, after all.


    Allen''s voice came out in a hushed whisper, filled with disbelief, "This can''t possibly be true." But Circe silenced his murmurs and replied, "It''s the undeniable truth. I''m uncertain from where he dug up my ancient spell, but he chanted the verses to summon me, connecting me to you. He was shrewd enough to perform the ritual in a different location. He created a blood pentagon with my spell, using small animal sacrifices to channel energy, enough to distract me from you. When he arrived at that location, he called my name, ''Circe Satania Versella.'' I was momentarily perplexed. I knew I had been summoned, but he wasn''t the one bound to me. That''s the actual reason behind my summoning, which means your friend used you."


    With a heavy, unsteady breath, Allen inquired, "But why? What were his intentions? Why involve me in all of this?"


    Circe pondered for a moment before responding, "He had a wish he desired to fulfill, and he made a deal with me. Initially, I thought of him as a naive child and offered to spare him simply because he had summoned me. However, he surprised me with a compelling proposition. He was willing to give me his soul in exchange for saving his girlfriend, who was on the verge of succumbing to lung cancer at stage three. When I questioned why he would sacrifice his life for someone who wasn''t even family, he explained that he couldn''t bear to live without her, even if she could go on without him. I didn''t press for more details and granted his request. As for why he involved you, I didn''t bother to ask, but I suspected him as stupid enough not to be aware of the potential benefits of being bonded to a demon when offering your soul, or he simply never wanted to get bonded with a demon in the first place. Also, that was the reason for my delayed approach to you that night."


    Allen felt betrayed.


    His tears flowed incessantly, and Circe couldn''t help but grasp the depth of his despair. Strangely, her heart ached witnessing the profound sadness etched across the face of her human companion.


    "Now, from this point forward, you are bound to me," Circe declared. "As you can plainly see, there''s no alternative except your own death if you seek to break our connection. So, accept your fate, however you can. Because now, we are intertwined, and I bear the weight of the misfortunes I bring upon this world and upon you."


    Allen had never felt so utterly lost in his entire life. He grappled with the uncertainty of how to navigate this new reality and address what Circe had imposed upon his destiny.


    Somewhere in the depths of his consciousness, he had sensed that this moment was approaching, yet the full force of it struck him unexpectedly.


    With distant, defeated eyes, Allen acknowledged Circe.


    Before Circe could say anything more to the heartbroken boy, Allen abruptly pushed her aside. He dashed downstairs and entered the kitchen, desperately searching for a sharp butcher knife.


    As he found the knife, he swiftly attempted to slice his neck open. However, to his astonishment, he felt no pain upon impact. When he raised his gaze, a shadow cast over his face in the dimly lit room, revealing Circe with her blazing scarlet eyes. The wound he thought he had inflicted on his own neck was, in reality, on Circe''s neck, causing her to bleed profusely.


    Terror gripped Allen, and he swallowed hard with apprehension. Circe moved menacingly toward him, and the wound on her neck mysteriously vanished as if it had never been there.


    When she came face to face with him, she seized the knife and set it ablaze until it turned to ashes.


    ¡°Stop fooling around before I end up killing your parents too.¡± Fearing Circe''s wrath, Allen panicked as her angry words seemed to spew like fire, leaving him struggling to speak as he choked on his own words and tears.


    Allen''s fingers quivered like fragile elms in the harsh wind, and his heart felt as vulnerable as a newborn''s. With teary eyes, he looked down in shame and despair, realizing that there was no way to turn back time and collect the spilled water in the cup.


    Circe seized his hand and drew near, her voice a menacing whisper in his ear. "Now that I''m aware of where your parents reside and every other person you hold dear, I can snatch them all away in an instant. It would be wise for you to start behaving accordingly for it being in your best interest."


    With that ominous warning, Circe enveloped Allen, who wept bitterly against her chest. She inhaled his fragrant scent and murmured softly in his hair, " Now, you¡¯re mine. And I¡¯m the only one for you. Brace yourself for what lies ahead in this new pernicious life."


    Meanwhile, Allen cried his heart out, his mind racing to find any possible means of escape, though none appeared on the horizon, at least not in the foreseeable future.

 Authors Note

    <>~X~<>


    AUTHOR M.L.Tr


    <>~X~<>


    ¡®NOTE.¡¯


    <>~X~<>


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    I sincerely hope you enjoyed this journey into the world of mystery and horror. Writing this novel has been an incredible experience, and I''m grateful for the opportunity to share it with you, my readers.


    Mysteries are meant to be unraveled, and horror to be faced. As an author, I thrive on crafting stories that take you to the edge of your imagination, where the unknown lurks and the unexplained beckons.


    Your support and interest in my work mean the world to me.


    If you''ve found yourself on the edge of your seat or lost in the suspense of these pages, I''ve achieved my goal. The world of storytelling is a remarkable place, and I''m honored to have been your guide through it.


    Thank you for embarking on this journey with me. Your feedback and thoughts are always appreciated, and I look forward to our next adventure together.


    I look forward to having you in my next books.


    With gratitude,


    {M.L.Tr}.