OBSESSION

Chapter 1

October seemed to slip by too quickly. The cold wind whipped through the city and tore the last remaining leaves from the branches of the ancient trees that stood on campus. Lia always liked winter, but the last few months had taken a lot out of her. 

It was the first semester of her second year at the university, and it was already nearly over. Lia was glad it was almost time for mid-semester break. She shifted from foot to foot, growing tired of holding her heavy textbook in her arms. The prior class should be letting out any moment. 

She could almost hear the professor through the thick oak door. Lia looked up the hall toward the entryway impatiently. There were so many plants. Directive for Oxygen, the botany club, had already turned the old lecture hall into a jungle. Ferns, vines, and strange-looking orchids sat in every window. It felt almost like summertime; the plants lent moisture to the dry, wintry air.

Lia glanced down the hallway as she waited, tapping her foot. She noticed a familiar figure far in the distance walking towards her. His leather boots sounded loud in the long, empty hallway.

“Damn,” she whispered, glancing at the watch on her wrist. The last thing Lia wanted was to be social. She slipped behind a divider for the study booths on the other side of the hall.

She looked down at herself. Not cute, she groaned. She was still wearing yesterday’s makeup and yesterday’s hoodie. Her thick, shoulder-length black hair was unruly, and her ice-blue eyes stood out in her pale face. She knew she looked gaunt, even zombified. The mirror on her PDA didn’t lie. There was no way she wanted to talk to him. I can’t let him see me now, not looking like this. 

Today was the final lecture in her favorite class that semester, Art History: Religious Symbolism in Modern Art, taught by Professor Hernandez. Lia knew that almost no one took it just for the credits. The professor had a reputation on campus among the female students. He was handsome, like he’d stepped off the cover of an ancient romance novel—long brown hair, brooding eyes, sleeves always rolled up to show off his toned forearms.

Although Lia appreciated the eye candy, she had a more personal reason for enrolling.  Art history reminded her of her mother. They had spent countless hours together, bonding over art books and visits to the city’s fine art museum. 

She sighed quietly, watching the students as they finally began to pour out of the lecture hall. Time to hide, she thought, darting out from behind the divider. 

Lia entered behind the rush of exiting students. She slid into a seat in the back of the darkened hall. Professor Hernandez was still having a conversation with someone. They stood close together, nearly embracing. She watched as they went together through the door near the lectern at the front of the hall, disappearing into his office. To discuss an assignment? She caught herself staring at them. Am I jealous?

Lia tried to make herself busy, getting her notebook ready. “I brought so many pens…” she grumbled to herself, annoyed. A few moments later, Professor Hernandez emerged again, as he returned from the darkened office beyond, he smoothed his hair and tucked his shirt casually back into his waistband.

The girl was tall, blonde, and curvy. Kind of like Acacia, Lia thought of her middle-school friend. She remembered back to those times, wincing. Acacia had been one of the first girls in her class to get taller, to become a woman. She definitely didn’t treat Lia very well, even now. She always made fun of her flat chest and her height.

“Ahh, so lucky,” she lamented, finding herself thinking, Girls like that are so pretty. Defeated, Lia slumped down. She sighed, putting her head in her hand. I’m not like that at all. Things could be better. 

Trying to cheer herself up, she thought of her best friends. Two girls, Nora and Eden. She was so happy to have met them, since their studies had started the year before. Together, they shared early morning study sessions in the library and long nights out. Lia was especially thankful for Nora’s math skills. She smiled, remembering Nora’s study guides—no wonder she’d gotten that scholarship.

Lia’s friends were carefree and wealthy. In the short time she’d known them, she realized they didn’t understand responsibility. Lia was already balancing her job at a bookstore, managing her bills, and keeping up with university demands; it was exhausting. Until recently, she had other responsibilities as well. Her mind wandered, remembering the coughing, the steady beeping. She shook herself and tried not to think about it, desperate to think of her friends instead.

She wished they had grown up together. They are so lucky, Lia thought. Not with malice, she only imagined their family life. It must be so nice to have brothers and sisters, a mom and dad. 

She was just so tired. Lia nodded, trying to keep her head up. I can’t give up yet, she thought with a yawn. It was so stressful with midterms, the only thing that really took her mind off things was her job at the bookstore in her neighborhood.

A few days each week, Lia worked part-time at The Stacks. It was a charmingly dusty shop nestled on a street lined with bakeries, bars, and hip restaurants. She welcomed the distraction of keeping busy, organizing shelves.

Staying occupied was essential. Lia was devoted to each task and routine since she took over the apartment she once shared with her mother. She only wanted to keep it how Mom did. Now it just seemed empty to her, coming home in the dark of the winter afternoons. She swallowed, throat suddenly tightening. She thought about Eden’s family again. Her beautiful mom was so kind when she visited over the summer– so lucky, and they even have a pool. She pushed those thoughts down, hiding her face in her hands.

“Hey…” a quiet greeting, nearly a whisper in the quiet lecture hall.

Lia popped her head back up, suddenly self-conscious. It was Mark. “Um, hi…” she said, trying to tuck her wild hair behind her ear. Ahh, fuck, I sat in the back, too. She hadn’t escaped detection—they usually sat together, even becoming friends over the semester so far.

Mark must have ridden to class on the Amphora, his superbike. It was super fast—and loud, too. He was still dressed for riding, carrying his helmet under his arm. She didn’t want to know what kind of whiplash you could get going 500 km/h on a bike, but he didn’t seem to mind. He set his helmet down on the floor by his seat. Lia wondered if he was totally fearless. She hadn’t known him that long. 

He settled into the seat next to her, leathers creaking. Mark was one of the art students, so this class was a requirement for him at least. Lia noticed he smelled so faintly of turpentine or something chemical. She couldn’t bring herself to look over at him, wishing she could disappear.

Mark was tall and slim. His cracked leather jacket concealed his arms now, but she knew those black tattoos covered him from his hands all the way up to his neck. He had black hair that curled softly to the hard edge of his jaw. Lia got the courage to sneak a look over and saw that he was doodling in his notebook. “We could go for some coffee after this?” he was still drawing as he asked her.

“I, ah– I told Eden I was going to meet her already, s-sorry,” she stuttered, hardly able to answer.

He looked up at her then, his eyes were a wolfish shade of yellow. Mark was grinning at her, his perfect white teeth flashing. He is so cute, Lia thought as her stomach flipped over.

He didn’t seem bothered by her rejection and said, “It’s okay, some other time, maybe.”

She felt her face get hot, the blush creeping up into her cheeks. Mark just went back to his notebook, smiling slightly to himself. It took all her effort to stay there and listen to the lecture after that. She sat fidgeting with her pens, trying not to let him see how nervous he made her feel.

Meeting up for lunch at the Commons with Eden was a welcome distraction. Lia just got a cup of coffee, trying to make it through the rest of her day. 

“Finally… lectures are done,” Lia muttered in relief. She set her coffee down and let her head thump onto the table in defeat. 

Across from her, Eden tapped her orange manicured nails in a steady rhythm against the tabletop. She was looking more frazzled than ever. “Girl, we need to go out tonight. I can’t take this anymore,” she groaned loudly, stretching her smooth brown arms over her head. The charms on her braids sparkled with pink crystals and golden rings. Lia thought, She is so beautiful; Eden always dresses up.

Still, it was true, they were both worn out from studying. Eden was usually the most focused one in their group, but even she seemed ready to throw in the towel. 

They each had a few tests left to take, then they would be free. Lia wished it would be over quickly, and she was excited for fall break to arrive. There was an unmistakable energy in the air. The other students were excited; she could hear parts of their conversations at the nearby tables. Everyone was trying to decide whether to go home or to party on campus over the next two weeks.

“I still have to work later,” Lia replied, rolling her eyes and cracking a small, tired smile.

“Aww, damn!” Eden slumped dramatically in her seat before perking up. She was so animated, probably trying to hype herself up to get through the day. “So…maybe tomorrow?” She was always ready to drink and dance. Buying shots for the whole bar was her favorite hobby. 

“Maybe…” Lia said apprehensively. She began gathering her things and grabbed her bag as soon as the ancient bells in the clock tower on campus tolled the hour. Lia already knew The Stacks was going to be absolute chaos. The old bookshop was always crazy during testing. It was very possible that she would have to go and reshelve about half the store.

By late afternoon, Lia made it to work. She was greeted by a cart loaded with battered paperbacks and heavy textbooks to organize, just as she had predicted. 

She didn’t feel too bad about it, and she had loved being in the shop ever since she was young. It was one of the city’s largest bookstores, and it had several sections of fiction that she often spent time browsing. To Lia, the old shop was a cozy haven from the stress of school and life. Its narrow aisles smelled of paper and wood polish, the comforting scents of familiarity. The old heater hummed softly in the corner, filling the quiet space with warmth.

Mr. Kairo, the shop’s owner, instantly noticed Lia’s tired eyes from where he sat at the front desk. He was an older man, his glasses perched precariously on the end of his nose. He was a fixture in the neighborhood, with a quiet presence that made even the busiest afternoon feel calm.

After a while, he peeked around the corner to check on her. He found Lia at the top of the ladder in the North American History section. She was struggling to slot a small stack of sci-fi paperbacks onto an already overstuffed shelf. She wobbled slightly as she stretched up, gripping the edge of the shelf for balance.

“Girl, you better come down from there before you hurt yourself,” he called out with a warm chuckle. Lia looked over her shoulder, half-laughing, half-embarrassed, and carefully climbed down, setting the books back on the cart.

“Sorry, Mr. Kairo. Guess I’m running on autopilot today,” she admitted, brushing a stray lock of her thick, black hair from her face. He couldn’t ignore the darkness beneath Lia’s usually sparkling ice-blue eyes. Mr. Kairo knew it wasn’t just makeup.

He gave her a kind smile, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses. “I’ve noticed. Why don’t you take the rest of the day off?” He wagged his finger at her, gently chiding as he said, “You’ve been looking more tired each day. And with midterms, you’ll need your strength!”

For a moment, Lia felt her defenses drop. The thought of going home early, maybe even catching up on sleep, was tempting. But part of her hesitated. She didn’t want to let anyone down—or admit how much she was struggling. She couldn’t let him worry about her.

“Oh, I’m fine, really,” she said, trying to keep her voice bright. She tapped the books lightly, reminding her old friend just how much work they still had to do.

But Mr. Kairo wasn’t fooled. “I appreciate the effort, Lia,” he said gently, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Now go on, get some rest. I’ll manage without you for a day or two,” he said, patting her arm. He knew she would feel better after she had a good night’s sleep. His own bones ached for bed, but he always kept longer hours because of the frenzy around testing at the university. “I’ll be alright, my girl,” he said gently.

The kindness in his voice tightened her throat unexpectedly, and she nodded, smiling gratefully. “Thanks, Mr. Kairo. I owe you one,” she managed to say.

“Just take care of yourself. These books will still be here later,” the old man said with a wink, thumping the same stack of sci-fi paperbacks the way some people knock on wood.

“Sorry, you’re right, I’ll just come back tomorrow,” she said sheepishly, but he only waved her off. He tottered back toward the register to help one of the many customers. His old back would appreciate the help, but he would understand if he didn’t see her again until after break. 

Lia went back to the break room and gathered her things. She already felt lighter, like she’d been carrying a weight without even realizing it. The cheerful sounds of people shopping rang out in the evening air as she stepped outside. For the first time all week, she thought about what she’d do if she didn’t have to be anywhere or accomplish anything. Maybe Mr. Kairo was right, she should go to bed early.

She pulled the door shut behind her. The wind was whipping and cold. She could smell the salt in the air. The ocean made the city seem even more frigid, wintry, even though it was still autumn. Lia headed home down the darkened street. As she walked the few blocks back up to her apartment, she gathered her black woolen coat tightly around herself to keep out the chill.

Once she made it inside, she locked the heavy door of her apartment behind herself. She leaned back against it, finally letting go of a deep breath she didn’t know how long she’d been holding. She dropped her bag from her shoulder; it thudded to the floor of the entryway to her apartment. The lights were off, but it was still bright enough. The city lights were shining through the large, unobstructed windows that formed one wall of her apartment’s living room. Lia looked over at the picture on the wall by the door and slipped off her boots. A better day, she thought. Half a smile turned her mouth as she tried to ignore that familiar tightness inside her chest. 

Ready to finally relax, Lia began to walk into the quiet apartment. She approached the mirror in the hallway leading to the living room. She noticed an odd, reddish glow surrounding it. The reflection in the mirror seemed wrong.

Lia’s brow furrowed as she stared. She moved closer for a better look. Turning, she glanced behind her at the living room. “What’s missing?” she thought curiously. 

The image flickered, and for a split second, the reflection showed her something that she knew instinctively was not supposed to exist, something so terrifying she couldn’t understand it. Utterly frightened and confused, she gasped, falling back against the arch that led into the living room. “N-no…this can’t be real!” She shook her head, trying to clear her vision.

The image in the mirror did not waver. It was like looking at another world. To Lia, the mirror was no longer reflecting anything, but it had become a window. She knew some mirrors could make video calls, but this one was only an ordinary decoration. She looked back toward the living room, wishing she would see something she recognized in the image reflected there.

She watched in awe as the shadows gathered and multiplied within the mirror. They increased in number until they stretched out into the distance, a much larger space than the room she knew. The scene in the mirror stretched out for a million miles, deep into another realm. The image and the shadows became distorted, shifting and changing. Lia couldn’t look away, almost hypnotized by their movements. She stared helplessly as she felt a strange new sensation spread through her body. To Lia, it felt as if she were falling deep into this other world. It was such a disorienting sensation. As she stared into the roiling scene that unfolded there, she clutched her stomach. Suddenly queasy from the sense of vertigo.

“What am I seeing here?” she whispered, in awe as she reached out to touch the mirror’s surface. Strangely fascinated, she wasn’t ready to believe her eyes. Shifting colors, impossible geometry, it was unlike anything she could imagine. After a long moment, everything she saw slowed and began to coalesce into a shadowy mass. 

A single figure made of shadows stood in the center of the image in the mirror. Its eyes glowed a deep, intense red. They were piercing and almond-shaped with no pupil she could see. To Lia, it seemed that the thing tilted its head, bowing to her slightly.

Finally, the figure spoke. Its voice was deep, gravelly, but still somehow intelligible. Lia listened closely, trying to understand and leaning into the mirror. It was whispering, as if it was speaking directly into her head. A tone that was almost out of her range of hearing.

As she focused, she began to understand. The shadowy figure said, “We are locked in the heat of battle, vampires have infiltrated your city.” She strained to hear the words as they continued, “Yes, we are the forces of Hell itself.” Lia couldn’t believe what she was hearing: vampires, hell? As she strained to hear, the sensation of vertigo increased, like she was free-falling. “The battle is nearly lost. This city will fall without your help,” the voice growled. 

Lia was frozen; she felt a sudden shock of apprehension, even fear. She muttered to herself, “Is this a person…this can’t be real? It sounds like someone is talking?”

It said, “Yes,” blood-red eyes flashing as it continued, “we are stationed nearby.” After a pause, it growled again, “We are going to send you our power. Accept this gift, fight with us to save your city.” Many voices were screaming at her; they were calling to her from deep within the mirror.

“Help us, girl!” They moved, pulsating with a sickening energy. The horrific images played in the mirror as Lia watched. The multitude of voices drowned out her own thoughts. 

“Chosen!” They shouted, chanting, as they all agreed and urged her to cooperate. She was compelled to stay, unable to look away from the mirror. She felt she had to listen, that she had to watch them move. 

Lia finally realized she might be in danger; the fear overwhelmed her. She thought, How could this be? Why can’t I see myself? Her panic set in, Lia sank to the floor, her heart was beating out of her chest. She froze, unable to run or even look away.

The red-eyed shadow moved back into the center of the mirror again. It nodded toward her, “Yes, if you come with us now, we can recover the artifact.” It sounded as if it spoke directly into her mind, “If you go with us now, we can recover enough power to incarnate in the city again.” She didn’t know what that could mean, and she didn’t think she could say no to them either.

Lia sat, her mouth hanging open in shock, unable to answer. Her senses were overwhelmed, and even assaulted by the disgusting scene. All the hordes of hell were staring back at her from the mirror. Her mind was cracking, overloaded by panic.

The figure spoke again, ignoring her silence. It motioned toward the creatures writhing in the mirror beyond, “This army is ready to remove them from this city.” 

The shadows surged, begging for Lia to follow their infernal plan. “So you will help us with this task? To fight alongside us?” Yet another shadow pushed forward toward her, bobbing above the others.

“You will recover the Rod?” The first shadow asked, leaning forward; she felt time stop when she met its glowing red eyes.

Her breath caught in her chest, “Wait, was that even a question, or a command?” she whispered under her breath.

She began to realize how wrong this was, thinking, It’s not normal to have a conversation with a mirror. She answered, stuttering, “But…w- why the fuck would I help you, aren’t you demons? Aren’t you evil? Why would you need my help?” She tried to sound confident, but her voice was little more than a squeak.

The red-eyed shadow made a noise, something like a laugh; it was a grating sound. Its eyes disappeared for a moment into the blackness. Another shadow surged to the front, eager to point out, “But the vampires are far more evil than we are; they want to ensnare every human soul. No survivors!”

The first growled, “We can’t allow them to amass such power.” Continuing, “They can rip the soul out of a human…” Lia couldn’t believe her ears. No survivors? Ripping souls? 

“Yes, and we can no longer use a human without a soul,” another shadow said, quickly, as it was trying to explain. The others lit up, each vying to clarify their own motives, trying to push forward. With so many voices, Lia couldn’t understand what they were saying. Her stomach knotted.

“If the vampires win—it would be utter chaos!” another one shouted, shoving the others back.

Lia was trying to understand, “But, where do they even come from then if they’re so bad? If they’re even more evil than you?” she said, her voice sounded so far away.

The shadow then shrugged its dark form, red eyes bobbing, “They must have come from somewhere…”

“Unlike us, they a–” another shadow tried to interrupt, pushing towards the front.

“No, they’re the undead,” said another, trying to speak above the others. Then the whole mass of them began to shout and scream. The multitude of shadows began moving, roiling, and angry like a wasp nest. The image in the mirror destabilized again as the scene became blurred.

Lia, shaken by this revelation, asked, “What, this city is in danger?” She looked at her hands in shock, I’m awake, this is real, she thought, chilled. She murmured to herself, “Undead vampires?” She caught her reflection for a moment. She looked like a wide-eyed porcelain doll; she couldn’t even blink. 

Once again, the mirror pulsed with light, the red-eyed figure solidified, bringing the image back into focus. It loomed closer, leaning toward the surface of the glass to make its offer. Its eyes were gleaming with unnerving light.

“Really, we’re trying to help you out here.” Its voice, once growling, now sounded warmer and somehow reassuring to her.

“Yes, here in your city, this residential block is next on the list to be taken by vampires,” another voice chimed in convincingly.

“Um, I–” Lia was confused and wondered, This must be some sort of prank, or a dream? The demons, the shadows, fell quiet as she considered their words. I think they have a point here, she thought. She was a victim of her own exhaustion and stress because it all began to sound sort of reasonable. Any normal, well-rested person would be horrified and instantly notice that this conversation was impossible.

Lia just asked, “OK, w-well… what do I have to do anyway?” She was giving in under the weight of these revelations, and the sickening feeling in her stomach grew. In the back of her mind, she thought, This must be a dream, it has to be. 

She looked up to the photo hanging on the wall in her entryway once more, a memory of a brighter day. “Mom, did you know there are people in this mirror?” The photo above the old shoe cabinet was the same as ever. Bright and cheerful, Mom was standing there, just smiling beneath the lilac bush at the arboretum downtown. Lia just wanted to crawl into bed.

The red-eyed figure nodded, excitedly as it explained, “Now, you will awaken.” It growled deeply, glowing like blood-red fire as it gathered power. Its eyes shone brightly, coloring the room around her and expanding to fill the mirror’s entire surface.

“Yes, awaken as our ally,” another interjected. Their voices began to sound far away and tinny. The light increased, filling Lia’s vision, engulfing her.

Lia suddenly found herself outside. She was standing alone on a deserted street. She caught her reflection in the window of a darkened shop. Lia recognized it as one of the bakeries up the street from The Stacks. It must have been very early in the morning; everything on the street was closed. The air was still, but so cold that she could see her frozen breath drifting away from her.

Dazed, she thought, I was just at home. She slowly looked around with wonder. 

“Why is it so quiet?” she asked herself.

Like a black mirror, Lia noticed a darkness gathering in the window’s reflection. It was even darker and blacker than any ordinary shadow. The shape grew until it was a tall and sinister presence looming over her. Lia watched, frightened as it settled behind her. She felt as though a hand gripped her. Unseen claws curled around her slight, bony shoulder. At only five feet tall, the figure seemed enormous to her. It filled the space behind her like a dark cloud.

Lia turned. Is it real? A feeling like electricity raced through her. “How?” But only the reflection showed the truth. Looking again, she met his eyes. In her heart, she knew it was the same creature she had met just moments before. Its sinister gaze curdled her blood, yet she couldn’t help but feel safer knowing that she wasn’t totally alone. 

The shadow tilted its head in acknowledgement, its eyes closed. Its voice was gratingly deep, “Now, we go down to the underground. This part might be dangerous.” Like smoke, the figure disappeared, and she was left alone once more.

The night was cold. It was a lot quieter than it should have been, at least this deep in the city. As she looked down Platte Street in the next block, she noticed a faint greenish glow around one of the manhole covers. It wasn’t just swamp gas. 

Going down into a sewer wasn’t usually the kind of thing Lia would think to do. She may have been a goth, but was also a bit of a priss. She usually enjoyed dressing up in adorable clothing and makeup, especially when she wasn’t feeling so stressed. She always hated getting dirty.

“Wait, why…” suddenly apprehensive. But somehow, that flash of fear gave way to the dreamlike sensation of warmth. A calm that spread through her. She began to walk towards the manhole cover, no longer in control of her actions. She lifted her hand, gesturing in an esoteric manner. Tracers of mysterious light streamed behind her manicured nails, sparkling red and black in the sulfur glow of the streetlamps above. 

Her eyes widened, glinting pale blue in the moonlight, “Oh, it moved!” The cover of the manhole lifted, slowly at first, then flew off. It crashed to the ground, clanging as it rolled down the street, yards away. She cringed– the noise was so loud, “Is someone going to hear that?” She grew a little worried, murmuring, “Wait, I have telekinesis now?” It was like walking through a dream, one that she was unable to control. She wondered to herself, what else will be different after today?

Lia remembered a book she read, not long ago. It was an old, well-worn copy of an ancient story called Alice in Wonderland. She found it at The Stacks. In the story, Alice followed a white rabbit down into his burrow. Lia looked down the dark hole. I don’t really have options here. I guess I have to trust them. The voice was hers, but the thoughts seemed unfamiliar. 

Like a shooting star, a memory invaded her mind. She thought of her own past, not long ago. Standing by her bedroom window. That was the night she found out it opened, down twenty floors to the street below. She didn’t have the courage then, or maybe she was pushed back from the ledge. Now it was different; she knew she would do it, she had to. Lia took one last look behind her as she gathered her courage and jumped.

The dark descent continued for many long minutes, as she fell for what seemed like forever. It was like she was floating, somehow falling slowly. Her body felt lighter than air. “Like Alice, I suppose,” she muttered to herself, sort of relieved. This isn’t real, she reminded herself as she floated softly downward, just a dream.

When she finally reached the bottom, Lia was dismayed to find that she landed right into a creepy, dusty section of the city’s catacombs. She could hardly believe the stories were real.

The city catacombs were little more than a myth among the youth of the nation at that time. However, older residents remembered the plague that followed the war. They would remember the rebuilding of everything. They would have known how the nations were unified. Life flourishes and retreats on a cycle; we all have our part to play in our time. Lia realized this wasn’t something she would have thought. Whose words are these? She recalled listening to some of Mr. Kairo’s old stories, maybe it was something he had told her. She was worried. How could someone else’s thoughts just come into my mind?

To her disgust, Lia found that the spot in the catacombs where she landed was full of spider webs and a thick layer of dust. Looking to the left and right, she saw the endless, echoing tunnels. The tunnels were the remnants of an old, historic underground railway built into the catacombs. 

She was reminded of her old friend again, thinking back to a time when she heard Mr. Kairo tell her and some of the other kids stories about there being an entrance to the catacombs in their neighborhood. He liked to tell them ghost stories when she was young. But she had always hoped he was just making things up to scare them. He was not just telling stories, and Lia saw now that the mossy skulls held witness to the truth of what he said.

Lia heard a skittering, a sharp noise in the dark. Distantly, the sound of water echoed off the walls. The ceiling from which she descended was a black abyss. She could not see the sky or the street above. The room around her was dim. There was just enough light to see, but it was a sickly green color. The light must have been coming from somewhere up ahead. 

“I can’t be afraid,” she gritted her teeth. She didn’t realize until then that she was wearing only the thick boot socks she had put on that morning. Her thick woolen coat was some protection from the chill air. “Yeah, I’m supposed to be a hero in this situation,” she said. The creatures in the mirror had called her chosen. “But, if this is my dream, then–” She began to walk toward that faint greenish glow. Like before, her feet moved all on their own. Drawn toward her destination.

She went slowly and carefully as she tried to avoid tripping. She traveled further, deeper into the darkness. “I’ll get the artifact.” Her feet padded lightly on the old and mossy stones. Like a marionette, she was pulled toward the light. Lia felt an edge of electricity deep in her brain. It was a new sensation, one that compelled her to continue walking. She had to keep going.

“It must be here; there isn’t any other way to go,” she realized as she walked through the ancient corridor. There were no other branching hallways. Only one, singular path forward. She went along, brushing the thick cobwebs back every so often. Somehow, she was unafraid of what giant beasts could have spun them, strengthened by the resolve of an unknown origin.

She was pulled by an unseen force, even stronger than her own will. Lia felt like going against it would be impossible. She eventually realized she was walking towards a pair of doors, far off into the distance.

The tunnel led her down a long and winding path. As she walked, Lia noticed the light steadily grew brighter, casting strange shadows along the walls. Out of the corner of her vision, unseen things moved like they were following her. Countless shadows gathered and stretched, cast by invisible beings moving independently of one another, chaotic and free. There was an almost imperceptible noise underneath it all. She hoped it was only an echo.

Finally reaching the end, Lia came to a large and ornate doorway. It was more than twenty feet tall. Who was it built for? She wondered. The sickly greenish glow was enough to illuminate strange carvings on its surface. Lia traced her fingers along it, trying to find the handle. She pushed the door gently at first. It didn’t move, but she persisted; the shadows behind her moved, as if they were encouraging her. The old door gave way, as if it were the first time in countless years anyone had touched it. And it did protest, like an ancient guardian roused from slumber, the door groaned with a loud creak. 

“This is just like a haunted house,” Lia said to herself, brushing another cobweb out of her face. She entered the chamber beyond and peeked slowly around the door frame. She was not sure of what she might find. It was darker than she expected, given the light that had previously ushered her all the way down the long and winding corridor.

Lia tripped, stubbing her toe on the corner of a flagstone; the pain brought her back to reality for a moment. She finally understood where they had led her. The room was something like a chapel, with a round perimeter and a high domed ceiling. 

In the center of the room stood a crumbling altar, and above it hung the crucifix of Jesus Christ. She was puzzled to see that he was not hanging upright. Cobwebs festooned the wooden cross, and dust covered every corner. The floor was cracked and rugged.

It was as if he were waiting there for her appraisal, his feet pointed to the ceiling for countless years. The shadows settled into the corners of the room, shifting and falling away from the glow. 

When she finally looked down and noticed the altar, a sick feeling spread from the pit of her stomach. She whispered, “This is exactly what would happen in a scary movie.” She couldn’t reconcile the growing apprehension that filled her, as if she were doing something horribly wrong.

No sooner than she stepped into the room, the glow began to increase in intensity. The light became a swirling vision. It covered the room, pulsating in an absurd multicolored checkerboard pattern. The light expanded, dousing the area in a technicolor mockery. The dusty chapel was painted from floor to ceiling in warping, twisted colors that resembled the reflection of a fun house mirror.

Lia was in awe, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. Finally, the vision settled, and a small object lay on the altar. Her eyes were drawn magnetically to it. She felt a longing, a desire, a hunger fill her. Once again, her brain was tickled by that same electric sensation. A new thought came to her mind, “This must be it.” 

The object appeared to Lia to resemble a magic wand. It was silver but glowing, magnesium-hot. Unafraid, she touched it with her fingertips gently. She thought, It must be metal, but how is it glowing like this? She hesitated, stopping herself from picking it up.  The object was nearly as long as her arm and made of a silvery metal. Every inch of the artifact was adorned with intricate carvings. 

She marveled at the silver orb that was set into the tip of the artifact; it was like a jewel. It was made of a pearlescent material or some unknown metal. It shone with the pure, clear reflection of the room around her. Every color of the rainbow refracted and danced within the orb, like a diamond. The glow increased–subtle at first, like the first light of dawn. Lia noticed a sound swelling; the air grew heavy with it. The stones around her groaned as they absorbed this strange new energy. A few crumbs of dust fell from the ceiling.

Lia was mesmerized; colors swirled and shifted endlessly within the artifact. The power seemed concentrated in the tip of the orb. It made her want to fall to her knees, to cry; it was so marvelous. It was so beautiful and mysterious. It was lovely – a precious treasure that didn’t belong in a dusty old room like this. All apprehension vanished from Lia’s mind; she was compelled to reach out and touch the artifact. An unseen hand guided her forward, and she firmly grasped the artifact. As she stood, drawing it off the altar, everything shifted.

Chapter 2

Lia woke up in her bedroom. The very first red rays of the sun beamed in through her window. It was early, but somehow she felt well rested. She looked down at herself. She was wearing one of her old T-shirts, just like usual. It was so cold in her room, she didn’t want to leave the protection of her quilts. Always responsible, Lia realized she couldn’t stay in bed. I still have testing, she thought as she sat up. She rubbed her eyes, stretching, “Well…guess, I got into bed alright.” Her eyes widened as she slowly remembered the dream from the night before.

“Man, what a crazy dream, what the heck was that all supposed to mean?” she said out loud. She sat in bed for a moment, thinking back to the mirror, those voices, that weird underground passage.

Filled with sudden dread, Lia looked around her room. It couldn’t have been a dream, it just felt… real. She tried to recall how she had gotten into bed, retracing her steps in her mind. And then, her eyes fixed on it, “o-oh!” she gasped in surprise. There it was– the strange artifact from her dream. 

That disturbing yet beautiful silver object was just lying casually on her desk, next to her textbooks and pencil cup. “It sure looks real,” Lia said as she scrambled out of bed, ignoring the cold morning air. Rainbow light reflected off the orb as it caught the light from the window.

“Oh fuck! It was all real,” she said to herself, breaking into a cold sweat despite the temperature. “What do I do now?” She was panicking at that point. She shifted from one foot to another, unsure of how to use the burst of nervous energy.

As she paced, she felt a familiar electricity, as if eyes were watching her. She turned in time to catch it. Unnatural shadows gathered, filling the far corner of her room by the bed. Lia stopped pacing, and her heart skipped a beat. As she stared, the room warped slightly, as if reality were bending. The shadows grew taller, ominously stretching towards her and solidifying.

Lia gasped in fear. She was finally able to react, so she grabbed the artifact off the desk. It was the only thing close enough. She brandished the object, pointing it towards that horrible shadow like she held a fencing foil.

“Get back!” she shouted, trying to sound strong.

The shadow continued to stretch towards her, advancing into the light of day. Lia watched in awe as it flowed like dark water into her bedroom. A strange rift began to form in the air. Lia heard a snap as the figure emerged through the chasm. 

The man was huge, standing seven feet tall. She looked up at him, her mouth falling open in surprise. Oddly enough, he was so devastatingly beautiful. His perfect face was pale, as if carved from fine white marble. His features were impossible, immaculate. 

Lia realized instantly that he was not human. His short, closely cropped hair was a deep, pure red, and it was unlike any natural hair color she had ever seen. His eyes caught the burning sunrise, shifting from red to magenta in the shadows beneath his long red lashes. His clothing–also reddish, the color of old blood–was loosely fitted and masculine. It resembled some sort of military uniform or jumpsuit, fastened to the neck and the hood pushed back to his broad shoulders. His clothes appeared to be made of a rough, somehow archaic textile that was covered in strange symbols she couldn’t quite recognize. 

He had appeared in the center of her room, by the bed, and he stood looking down at her. His pose was relaxed, casually resting his hand on his hip, like he didn’t just materialize from nothing.

Lia had stopped pacing as he appeared and stood at the edge of her room near the desk. She was frozen by fear. Her arm grew heavy, still pointing the artifact at him. She was overwhelmed by a warm, dizzy feeling the longer she tried to look at him. Finally, she managed to meet his gaze, and the man smiled– revealing pointed teeth, predatory, like the grin of a shark.

“Oh, fuck oh!” she tripped as she backpedaled away from him and fell back over the desk chair. Her pencil cup tipped over, spilling its contents to the floor. Foolishly, in her shock, she even dropped the artifact. It tinkled softly as it fell onto the plush carpet.

The man spoke then, his voice was rough and grating, like stones shifting after centuries, “Yes, we’ve done it.” He moved only slightly, leaning forward towards her, patting his hands against his chest lightly. Smiling, he said, “We can incarnate once more and return to this city.” He looked down at the silver artifact where it lay by Lia’s foot and continued, “We need more power, though. Many of our ranks are from crossing.”

“Wh– who are you?” She stammered. 

He tilted his head slightly, his elegant crimson eyebrows knit together, as if he were confused by her question, “Do you not remember me? We met yesterday, I was in the mirror.” He touched his chest with long, elegant fingers tipped with ruby claws, “I am Arakiel, I am of the fallen.”

She realized she did seem to remember his voice and the red eyes.

“Yes, we are the ones who contacted you. There’s no need to fear me, if you do as I say…” he gave her an icy look, and his deep voice held a promise that Lia didn’t want to see fulfilled.

Lia gulped, swallowing her fear, and pushed down the need to run or fight. “O-oh! Right… I guess it was all true…” she felt her heart thump in her chest. She realized, horrified, it was real. I’m stuck helping them.

“Yes, you are stuck with us. You belong to us,” Arakiel smirked as he said it. The nightmarish grin grew on his perfect face, sharp white teeth glinting as his eyes roamed over her body. She suddenly remembered that all she was wearing was a thin T-shirt that was barely long enough to cover her thighs.

“What? Can you read my thoughts?” She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, blushing.

“Yes, of course, we know all the thoughts of humans. Even their innermost desires.” She heard his voice, but his words echoed in her mind, her ears ringing. She felt a sudden sense of vertigo.

Arakiel advanced on Lia, like a viper strike. She didn’t even have time to react. He was impossibly fast as he reached for her. His claws grasped her around the throat. He picked her up by the neck and stared into her eyes. His gaze was cold. Lia gasped, struggling against him, tearing at his wrist.

It was like his hand was made of iron; her struggle meant nothing. “Yes, you’re ours now,” he repeated as he shook her a little, “yes…you belong to me, don’t forget it.” His beautiful mouth twisted into a sneer, “You wanted this after all, you wanted to be our chosen.”

She couldn’t breathe, the color in the room seemed to dim, and her feet were dangling helplessly off the ground. “You’re going to learn to love us, to worship us,” he growled. He had mercy enough to drop her then, and Lia sank to her knees, trembling as she coughed air back into her lungs.

“Now, you’re going to make yourself useful.” Arakiel loomed over her, a domineering look in his eyes. 

Lia couldn’t meet his eyes, still coughing on the floor. He said, “We are sending you to seduce the head of the Consanguine family. In this city, they run the underground.” Arakiel continued, “We know the vampires have taken the souls out of a large part of the family. If we can claim him, then we can regain some significant energy.” He leaned forward, leering at her as she lay on the ground.

“We have to get you in there, then you must return the soul of Don Consanguine that the vampires stole from him. You will use the Rod of Sophia,” He pointed to the artifact, explaining. Arakiel explained, “You will use it to return his soul.” He stared at the artifact where it was lying on the carpet as a look of lustful desire flashed across his perfect face. “Yes, you will do this, and then I will strike.” His hand balled into a fist.

He stepped back, slightly, moving towards her closet. “Fail, and you will be punished,” Arakiel motioned to the mirror hanging on Lia’s closet door. In it, she saw a flashing image appear, it was a horror show of demons– gnashing teeth and fire. “Succeed, and I will bless you with my power.”

Arakiel vanished again, even more suddenly than he appeared. It was like he stepped smoothly through a shadow, a glitch torn in the side of the room closed behind him, crackling. The scent of ozone burned Lia’s nose.

Even though he had departed, Lia remained kneeling on the floor. She was trying to catch her breath, tears welling up in her eyes, and shaking in terror at the strength of his hands. She was tiny, but she had never been thrown around by anyone so nonchalantly, like a doll. She tried to slow her breathing, holding herself in a vain attempt to feel any comfort or safety.

Then her PDA rang, the familiar song tearing her back to reality.

Who could be calling? “He-hello?” She coughed again, trying to keep her panic out of her voice.

“Lia…Like, seriously, where are you? We were going to study before the exam together!” It was Nora, a classmate and one of her best friends, who sounded almost annoyed.

They had a study group together, along with Eden. Since Lia lived off campus, she seemed like a slacker if she couldn’t make the 4 am bus.

“Oh shit! The test!” Lia squeeled as reality hit her like a ton of bricks. 

Lia had completely forgotten what day it was, and that morning, they had another test. This time it was mathematics with Professor Morris. She apologized, begging them to wait at the library, and got Nora off the call. Then she rushed to throw on some clothes and drag a brush through her thick black hair. 

As she turned to leave, she remembered the artifact, he called the Rod of Sophia. She placed it gently in her bag along with her notebook and locked the door. Muttering to herself, “I guess I can’t really leave something like this lying around…”

The sky was now gray and threatening to storm, but thankfully, the next bus arrived on time. Lia took her seat near the back. There were only a few other people: the driver, two high school students, and a handful of other commuters dressed for work at offices or construction sites around town.

The normalcy of sitting on the bus made her feel at odds with what had happened that morning. She couldn’t help but remember the grip of Arakiel’s claws on her throat; she shuddered. Lia found herself tense, trying to keep tears from reaching her eyes. She huffed, “I- I need to think about something else,” as she tried to push away the thoughts. She took out her PDA. Holding it up, she caught her reflection on the black screen. Her eyes looked strange to her. 

“Oh!” She gasped as she finally got a good look at herself. She was shaking and nearly dropped the PDA as she tried to see her reflection. Her eye color had somehow changed. Where they were once a bright and icy blue, the eyes staring back at her were now a deep, blood-red.

Lia, thinking about earlier, heard his voice again, “…you’re ours now…” His eyes were red, too. Is that just how they look? He said he was “fallen,” she thought about it for a long moment, “what even is a fallen?” Lia asked herself, under her breath.

She had not been raised religious, and her mother was very skeptical about anything supernatural. But when she was a child, Lia played games like Ouija board and Tarot with Lotus and her other friends. She always felt like there was more to the world than school and work. As a child, Lia often wished she had magic powers. 

She really didn’t know anything about demons, fallen or any sort of creatures like that. But now, she found herself in the middle of a waking nightmare. Lia didn’t even know how, but he told her that she had asked them to choose her. She winced– he’d said there were vampires too. To Lia, it honestly sounded ridiculous. Vampires are fiction, she remembered reading Dracula years ago. At least I’m hoping they are, she thought, no longer so sure.

“Maybe, I need to look this up somehow… see what kind of creatures I’m dealing with.” She thought aloud as she made a mental note to ask Mr. Kairo about the fallen next time she had work.

“Especially if I have to belong to them…” She felt somehow both disgusted and intrigued at the thought. “What if I actually have some kind of psychic powers?” she mused, chosen. She remembered moving the manhole cover in her dream and floating endlessly.

The bus arrived at the campus. Lia was the only rider left when she got off. She was certain no one followed, yet she still felt watched. She looked back over her shoulder, feeling paranoid. The whole walk to the library, she wondered if there was something there, just outside of her field of vision. As she hurried, pushed by the chill wind, she couldn’t shake that sensation. To Lia, it seemed like all the people she passed had stopped to stare.

Thankfully, she made it to the lights of the library. The library was shining like a beacon, glowing warm and inviting in the cold. To her relief, she saw the girls sitting near the balcony in the library’s café, which was on the second floor.

They all enjoyed their study sessions, despite the pressure. Even now, the test was only a few hours away. They had fun debating whether the professor would give extra credit. As the girls finalized their notes, Lia felt herself begin to relax. The pain of Arakiel’s claws was already fading, and her anxiety was melting like the first flakes of snow that landed on the tall windows of the library.

They just thought my eyes were contacts, thank goodness I’m always wearing stuff like that anyway, Lia thought to herself. She usually wore alternative fashion, preferring black makeup and clothes with lots of studs and chains. She felt a pang of anxiety, but they wouldn’t understand this– I just can’t tell them demons are in my bedroom, and some kind of undead vampire mobsters are running this town.

They took their lattes over to the lecture hall. The three of them, Lia, Nora, and Eden, made it just in time for the professor to close the doors. As they settled into their usual seats, Lia finally felt safe. Yet, those anxious thoughts kept coming. She couldn’t help but think again of the mirror image Arakiel showed her. Arakiel, she shuddered. It was like his face, his haunting eyes, were etched in her brain. I hope I never piss him off.

The test was over in what seemed like the blink of an eye. Sadly for Nora, who lost the bet, Professor Morris didn’t give any extra credit. But he did let them go early when they finished the exam.  By the end of the period, the girls were just thankful that now they each had only one more test to go before their break. Then they would be free from their studies for two whole weeks before classes resumed. It was clear from the murmurs of the other students that everyone really needed a vacation.

As they walked back towards the library after the test, the girls were swept up in an air of excitement that was growing on campus. It was already late afternoon, and many students had finished their tests, so they made their way to the campus pub. The noise inside the pub was raucous, and packed to bursting with excited students and the usual barflies from the neighborhood.

Eden turned to them, hazel green eyes sparkling. “Hey, so why don’t we all go get some drinks and blow off some steam?” She began steering them both back to the pub– it wasn’t a question. She linked her arms with theirs. Neither of the girls had the heart to refuse her. 

They ordered their drinks and settled into their usual haunt at the booth in the corner. It was the best spot to watch the pool tables and dance to the jukebox, if they decided to put coins in. They all loved the retro charm of the old pub. It was a fixture on the campus for over a hundred years by then, and since its opening, little had changed aside from the patrons.

On this particular occasion, each stool lined up at the bar was occupied. Even the dance floor was packed. People were laughing, talking, and maybe a cheeky bit of flirting. Some of them were people who lived near the campus but didn’t even attend the school. It was a full house, the atmosphere and temperature were warm– a welcome shift after the frigid air outside. 

Lia looked around, seeing many familiar faces. Even Acacia was there, trying to scam some Zen or a few pills off of Stan, like usual. Neither of them attended college, but Stan often found the students were willing to purchase his dubious wares. Acacia looked at Lia, eyeing her up and down, then smirking. She turned away, back towards the people at her table. They didn’t get along.

Lia rolled her eyes. She never expected her bully to turn out like that. They were around the same age and still lived near each other in the neighborhood. Acacia used to be the posh, popular girl. But now, her striking good looks were the only reason she wasn’t currently homeless. She used any man she could hook for money, drugs, and anything else she could squeeze out of them. Even Stan used to be different when they were kids. They used to be friends, at least until he started doing the drugs instead of just selling. Since then, Lia had noticed him change. She shuddered thinking about how he had even become kind of scary.

Nora waved to a group of some of the guys she and Eden had been chasing. The guys were playing a game of pool at the table in the other corner of the hall. 

Lia knew them too. Ever since freshman year, they had all become friends. The unofficial leader of the group, Vik, was a German major. He was extremely outgoing and very tall, with shoulder-length brown hair, blue eyes, and handsome olive skin. There was also his best friend, Elias, who was a business management major. Elias was much shorter than Vik, with a muscular build, blonde hair, and light skin. He was absolutely and shamelessly smitten with Nora and tried his best to get her attention. 

The only other person Lia recognized in their group was Jerome, Mark’s best friend. Jerome went by “Jerry” to his friends. He had deep brown skin, brown eyes, and an infectious smile, which he rarely showed anyone except Mark. He was extremely shy around the girls, but Lia couldn’t understand why. She saw how good he looked when they were all hanging out at Eden’s pool that summer. She suspected he had been trying to hide his crush on Eden ever since.

In contrast, Vik would take any opportunity to chat with girls– he was a bit of a playboy. He noticed Nora instantly and waved back to her. He smiled warmly as he and Elias stepped away from their game to walk over to the girls. The others in their party continued chatting. 

Vik looked over to Eden as they stood by the table, a teasing grin on his face. “Hey, want to do a shot?” he wanted to see if she was ready to go wild, like she did a few months ago. The look on his face said that he was reminiscing about how she looked in her bathing suit last summer.

Elias chuckled, “Ah man,” he put his hand on Vik’s shoulder– neither one of them could forget that day. He turned to Nora, “Hey, we saw you got into the competition. I’m so jealous!” He put his face in his hands. The best way to flirt with Nora was to compliment her or be jealous of her. She moved closer to Elias, taking the bait. She flirted, batting her lashes and switching her thick, brown braid over to her other shoulder. She patted his back, bangles jingling, “Aww, too bad!” She was beaming, proud to have made it into the Institute’s exclusive student stock exchange simulation that spring semester. They would be receiving a grant and any winnings.

As her friends flirted, Lia took her drink down the bar. Then, fingering a few coins in her pocket, she contemplated the jukebox. It was nothing but oldies, and the records seemed dusty. She thought of the dust, deep in the catacombs, on the crucifix. As she stared at her reflection in the glass of the jukebox, a sudden movement caught her eye. She looked up, startled. She glanced at the tarnished old mirror behind the bar, searching for anything out of place. Lia could have sworn she saw movement, a flash of red. She found herself remembering Arakiel’s words. His instructions from that morning: she would have to seduce someone. Then she realized there was a shadow reflected in the glass of the jukebox, obscuring her own reflection.  

She jumped back with a surprised, “Oh!” If anyone near her noticed or paid her attention, they gave no indication. Not that she would have cared either way. At that moment, Lia felt she was compelled to leave immediately. The once warm, comforting air of the pub was now constricting. She knew she needed to feel the cold air on her skin.

She set her nearly empty drink down on the bar, tossing the coins down near it. She didn’t even turn back to say goodbye to her friends. Lia felt a sense of paranoia grip her as she turned to leave through the back door of the pub, snatching her coat from the stool as she fled.

Her veins ran hot as she went from the safety of the pub out into the cold evening air, alone. She ran, turning down the alley, her heels tapping on the cracked pavement. She felt empty of any thought or emotion except fear.

In the dying light of the last of the sun’s rays, she raced away from the pub. I have to leave, I have to go. She felt the same she did before– in the dream– unable to control herself. By the time she realized where she was, she was practically out on the main avenue again and nearing the end of the alley.

“It seems like such a nice night…” a strange voice called out in the darkness. It was a whisper, like a breeze moving the last few crispy leaves of fall across the ground.

Lia turned on her heel, coming back to her senses. Danger, her internal alarms rang out. “Who’s there?” she said, almost to herself. She looked around and realized she couldn’t find anyone. She felt her heartbeat high in her throat. She was hot from running and tasted metal.

Lia turned back, looking across the street. She realized she was already at the bus stop at the end of the alleyway. She was shifting from foot to foot, head on a swivel. “I hope it gets here soon.” She tried to listen for the voice in the darkness. The sounds of the city surrounded her, but she was sure she heard footsteps. As she searched the street, she noticed movement across the avenue, where the alleyway continued across from the bus stop. 

“There,” she whispered, “it’s someone there.” She strained her eyes searching the darkness. 

The figure, still shrouded in shadow, stood beneath the awning of a darkened business, next to the alley entrance. “It could be a shadow but…” Lia gasped, still trying to get her breath, “It does look like another person is standing there, in the darkness.” Gulping, she tried to push the fear back down. 

Lia looked back down the other side of the avenue again. Where is the bus? She desperately wanted to leave, but there was still no sign of the bus. As she stood, feeling her pulse slow and her fear ease, she was suddenly hit by a wave of nausea. Lia touched her forehead, “Ugh, I feel like I drank too much.” She held her hand to her mouth, regretting that last beer on her empty stomach.

She looked back again, “Did the shadow move? It can’t be.” She squinted, trying to focus. Her vision blurred as she realized it was neither a man nor a shadow. That’s when she realized it was something completely alien. The creature was close enough now that Lia saw it for what it was. She looked at the creature in shock and horror, trying to make sense of it. This monster had claws, it had teeth, and it had murder in its God-forsaken eyes.

Get the Rod! She heard a voice screaming inside her mind, and she felt butterflies in her stomach. It was like the feeling of needing to move or stretch a muscle to relieve some pressure, but not knowing how. She moved quickly, not questioning the thought. She pulled her bag open, grabbing for the silver artifact. The thing Arakiel called the Rod of Sophia– she drew it out of her bag. 

Unlike before, in her dream, it felt burningly hot. She felt it melt into her skin, burning her palm, but she couldn’t let go. As she held it, Lia felt a strange sensation overcome her. “Oh-oh no! What is this feeling?” She felt sick, animalistic. Like she wanted to vomit, she fought the feeling of vertigo. Deep inside her mind, in her very soul, she felt an otherworldly power course through her.

As the sensation grew, she began to feel an intense pain. It pulsated through her, blossoming into an agonizing sort of pleasure. She felt her body absorb the unholy energy. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced. The sheer joy and utter satisfaction made Lia cry out, her voice cracking.

“Mmhhahaah,” her voice cut through the air of the night around her. Her cry was a reactive sound, halfway between a scream and a laugh. She felt as though her very mind was becoming something else. Another consciousness overtook her completely.

“Vampire! Kneel before the power of the fallen!” It was not Lia’s light, childlike voice, though her mouth moved. The sound was far deeper, grating. 

The creature, the vampire, reacted to her voice. Its leathery face stretched to expose saber-like tusks as it laughed, the sound of dry leaves. “Oh, little girl. I will have fun taking their plaything from them.” It stepped back slightly, readying itself, then it stretched out black wings to strike. It snarled, “Your flesh will be mine!” Like a rubber band recoiling, the vampire rocketed toward her, leaping across the avenue. 

Somehow, Lia was ready and stood her ground. To her, it felt like every second stretched into infinity. She slowly leveled the Rod towards the creature, like a scepter in the hand of a queen meant to bless the beast with knighthood. The orb began to glow brightly, its influence expanding. It was like a field opened around them both. The light radiated from her, like it was an even hotter sun than the one shining that day in November. It was the grace of Sophia. 

Lia bent her wrist with the barest flicker, and where it touched the vampire– square on the face– the once darkened street imploded in unbearable light. The explosion engulfed them, and the creature vanished in an instant. It was obliterated, and not even ashes remained. Lia felt a sense of power welling up within her. She felt that even the light was welling up within her, and all of her fear and pain were a distant memory.

As she was luxuriating, bathing in the peace of the Rod of Sophia, Lia heard his voice. He was disappointed, “You absorbed it.” Arakiel’s eyes were shining in the fading light of Sophia, a deep red shifting to magenta in the afterglow. Lia could see his face floating behind her closed eyelids. She opened her eyes, shocked that she wasn’t alone on the street.

Arakiel, the fallen, was once again standing before her. He was only about an arm’s length away, coming into sharp focus. His face held an emotion that Lia couldn’t recognize, something that no human being had ever felt. 

Even though it was dark and the sun should have dipped below the horizon, he still reflected the sunset in his striking coloring. The last pink and golden lights of the evening sun were a part of him. ”I suppose it can’t be helped, but you did follow my command obediently enough,” his rough voice cut through the peace she felt, instantly. It was like a candle being snuffed out.

He stretched out his hand, and she felt time and space mold around her. She found herself encircled, ensnared in his arms. When he embraced her, he leaned down towards her. His kiss was gentle at first, even chaste. He began to tease her lips apart, his tongue tasting her. 

His kiss deepened, and then she felt it go inside of her. A thick, pulsating worm entered her mouth. It stretched her jaw impossibly wide, fighting to slither down her throat. Lia tried to pull back, choking, but they were still connected by it. The bloody, reddish flesh of the worm glistened in the dying light. Its sickening skin was covered in the putrid slime of hell. 

As the worm wriggled down her throat and fully entered Lia’s body, it latched onto her inside. It gnawed its teeth into her flesh as it infiltrated her. It went down to her belly. As it flowed into her, she felt like her stomach would burst; the pain was so intense she couldn’t take it. She felt defiled by it. The evil energy of the worm was filtering up from the very core of her being. It felt like the spread of infection, an electric sting in each of her nerve endings. Her anxiety was rising– it was like taking some sort of cruel amphetamine, the sensation was intoxicating. 

Arakiel pulled her back into his arms, holding her against his body. He brought her closer to him and bent down toward her, guiding her mouth toward his. His hand tangled in her hair at the nape of her neck. She panicked as his kiss deepened. His worm infiltrated her body and mind. He was bridging the gap between her humanity and a depravity she had never known.

“This is how you will take Consanguine,” he said as he broke the embrace. He let her fall to her knees on the concrete. 

She had never expected him to touch her like that, and she hardly wanted him to touch her to begin with. She felt so many emotions. It was the most intense sensation, her first kiss; she felt so broken. Lia tried not to vomit, shocked and choking on the feeling. His scent was like the soil after a rainstorm. He appeared so handsome, perfect, and seemingly angelic. She was torn because looks were so deceiving. Now she knew the truth was the evil worm inside her. 

“My doll, you will give him this worm.” He met her gaze knowingly, taking his sick satisfaction from her at that moment. “It will allow you to transform while you host it. Use the power it gives you and then touch the Don with the Rod,” he pointed to the Rod of Sophia, where Lia held it slack in her lap. It no longer burned; it was silent now.

“You will take him, as I have taken you this evening, and give him this worm.” Arakiel leaned forward, emphasizing his words. He seemed to feel so pleased with himself. His eyes sparkled. “Do as I have instructed you, and I will reward you, little doll.” Arakiel’s laughter cut the night air like a knife; the sound made the air glitch. Lia twitched and flinched back from him as he once again disappeared. She tried not to look where he went– the portal made her feel sick. 

She couldn’t help but remember, thinking of a day not that far in the past. She found herself wishing she had cut deeper. In her memory, her blood spread across the bathroom floor. Lia was left alone at the bus stop once more. The light on the street above her flickered, winking off, then back to life, bathing the area in a sulfur-yellow light.

She felt somehow she knew where to go and what to do. Still fueled by the warmth of the alcohol and pushed by the worm inside her. She realized she was able to stand, just in time to climb onto the bus. Several stops later, she was once again left alone by the side of the road in the dark.