Page 2 of Demonic Affliction

1

Willow

Now…

“But… I don’t want to destroy the world.”

My mind reels as I try to make sense of what my life has become. Just two weeks ago, I was getting ready to walk down the aisle to my human fiancé, only to find him cheating on me with my best friend. In my worst moment, I was kidnapped by an—admittedly—sweet demon, brought to a different dimension, and forced to live in his frozen tunnel home with him and his three demon brothers. It took a while for me to warm up, but eventually, I gave in to my feelings, bonded to Rhune—and his brother Nyx—and settled into my new home with my new family. I went through hell and back, tried some new cuisine, lived through an ice wyrm attack, and managed to survive two demon cocks at once.

And now… now a strange entity is squatting in my head, talking to me as clear as my own voice. And it has proclaimed that I am going to destroy the world.

“No, seriously,” I say. “I really don’t want to do that. I’m not going to do that.”

The entity in my head goes silent. When it next speaks, its words no longer hold their teasing lilt from before. It does not matter what you want, human. You will do what needs to be done. What we were born to do.

I clutch my head, fingers digging into my scalp as I squeeze my eyes shut against the bright silver sun.

No! I scream at it. I’m not going to do what you want!

A long beat of silence follows. There’s no need to yell.

There so is! If you don’t like it, you can get out of my head!

No can do. We’re stuck like glue. Now that the Awakening has taken place, we will soon assimilate, and our souls will be inseparable.

“Oh my God. This is not real…”

If you insist on speaking to yourself, please put up a barrier between our minds, the entity drawls. I tire of hearing your panicked human ramblings.

I wouldn’t be so panicked if you would bother to explain what’s happening to me instead of just popping into my brain and declaring that I’m going to destroy the world!

Correction: We are going to destroy it.

Oh my God! That does not matter! It’s still very much freaky and terrifying to hear.

Hmm. I guess I see where you are coming from.

Thank you⁠—

But I still think it’s stupid to panic over such a simple fact.

I rub my eyes, feeling like my head is about to explode. Please be a dream, please be a dream…

Somewhere close by, I can hear wings shifting and claws clicking restlessly against ice—the unmistakable sound of someone trying very hard not to hover.

"Willow?" Rhune lets out a pitiful whine. His wings twitch at his back, and his hands curl into fists, like he doesn't know what to do with them if they're not on me. "You are worrying me. Please tell me what is wrong, pup. I cannot make it better if I do not know what is going on…"

I look at Rhune, my mouth opening and closing wordlessly. What am I supposed to say to him? I don’t even fully understand.

I already told you, it says. You have gone through The Awakening. Hence, I am awake.

"Please stop talking to me," I groan, closing my eyes tight. "You're making it worse."

"I do not mean to." Rhune's voice is heart-stricken. "I am sorry…"

"Not you, Rhune sweetie," I say quickly. "I'm talking to—" Who am I talking to, exactly?

Nyx steps into view, wearing the same concerned expression as Rhune, his usual composure cracked at the edges. "Do you hear someone else speaking, Willow?"