Page 33 of Unbinding the Demon

The silhouette of the distant mountain range slowly devoured the dying sun. Crimson rays streamed out from the sinking sunset as the sharp, towering peaks acted like the murderous blades of athames. They spilled its blood throughout the reddening skyline, sacrificing the fading light to the growing darkness.

A few small finches flew away as I manifested from the shadows next to the twisted boughs of a lone apple tree. The sanguine horizon mirrored the splattering of droplets that decorated my skin and dripped from my hair. I gazed over at the quaint yellow house before me, with hatred filling my glowing eyes. A joyless smile crossed my lips as I listened to the sound of a beating heart coming from within the home. A sound I wasn’t able to hear while in the shadows, thanks to the enchanted sapphire necklace that the mage was no doubt wearing.

I didn’t have to look to know that Belzar had manifested beside me. “Have any of them talked yet?” I asked, referring to the six mages we were holding hostage and torturing in the shadow realm.

A small, remorseful whimper left him as he responded in my mind. “No. I’m beginning to think that they are telling the truth. I don’t think they know her location.”

I looked at him and sighed in frustration. Blood drenched his fur and dripped from his snout as he hung his head in sorrow with his pointed ears flattened back. Rage boiled in my blood, and it took every effort not to teleport into the shadows and slaughter them all. I’d killed many of the mages off already, but, just in case I might need to use some of them as bargaining chips later on, I’d decided to keep our hostages alive... for now .

Belzar’s suspicions were probably correct, though. These weak, 21st-century ninnies had very little resolve. If they knew Gwendolyn’s whereabouts, at least one of them would have talked by now. Especially while I was slowly burning a single eye out of each of them. They seemed to have really hated that part. Which, to my dismay, meant we still didn’t have any leads on where to find her. She was likely being hidden from me with some accursed enchantment, so interrogating the mages was still currently my best course of action.

“Well, keep torturing them regardless. I’ll see if this one knows anything.” I nodded toward the house. The empty trees rustled in the breeze behind it, while a flock of honking geese flew in a V-formation across the scarlet skyline.

“Azathoth,” he said softly while gazing up at me with concern in his glowing canine eyes.

“Yes, Belzar?” I quietly responded as the wind blew through my blood-soaked hair.

“We will find her.” His dampened head nuzzled up beneath my hand and gave it a small, comforting lick.

“Thank you.” I gave him a wistful smile and stroked behind his ear.

Belzar went back to the shadows, while my wet boots began staining the dead, frost-kissed grass red as I walked up to the house. Except for the glow in my eyes, I was in my human illusion. Yet, the fact I was drenched in blood made me a terrifying sight to behold, regardless. The empty branches of a lilac bush obscured my view, as sudden movement in one of the darkened windows caught my eye. She knows I’m here... Good. I stomped up onto the front porch, then kicked down the pristine white door, leaving a big red smear behind. I then barged into a small, homey living room.

“ Oh, Patsy ...” I called out to her in a sinister voice, making it a point to use her name. “You can’t hide from me, Patsy. I know you’re here.” A wicked grin stretched across my face as the sound of her frantically beating heart led me into the rustic, chicken-themed kitchen. I found her wide-eyed and clutching a butcher knife in her trembling hand. I chuckled in humorless amusement and raised a brow. “Now, now, it would be a shame to ruin a perfectly good knife like that, don’t you think?”

She cowered while grasping the cherry-red countertop behind her with her empty hand. “Please, Azathoth... I-I... P-Please—”

I growled and leapt over to her. The blood on my hand stained her light blonde locks as I grabbed her head and yanked her across the room. One of the wooden dining chairs scraped against the floor as I dragged it away from the table. I roughly threw her down into it and wrapped my hand around her throat, squeezing the air from her lungs. “Where is Gwendolyn!?” I roared.

Terror filled her honey-brown eyes as she clutched the knife for a false sense of comfort. “Please, I’ll tell you everything I know. I-I want you to find her.”

I extended my claws so that she could feel their sharp points against her tender, vulnerable flesh. “You want me to find her?” I laughed maniacally. “And why should I believe you?”

“B-Because I was a good friend of Elowynn’s, and I-I know that Adelstein’s a lying monster. I was there... when she released you... from The Abyss. I saw what really happened,” she nervously stammered.

I knew she told the truth about being there the night of my release. I recognized the sound of her blood. My claws retracted, and I removed my hand from her throat so she would stop fucking stuttering. It was getting annoying and taking up too much time. “Go on, but be quick.”

“I was a member of Elowynn’s coven before she passed away. After Adelstein took over and made it his clergy, he initiated a bunch of new members from his religious groups. He lied to everyone about what happened that night,” she said with a shaky voice, eager to finish.

“Oh?” I raised a brow. “And what does this have to do with finding Gwendolyn?”

“Because it’s why I want you to find her. He told them you slaughtered Elowynn the moment you were released. The others were too busy panicking to notice, but I saw what really happened that night. I know you didn’t intentionally kill her, and I know the girl is safer with you.” I kept my expression blank and stony as she continued. “To honor the close friendship I had with Elowynn, and to stop Adelstein, I’ll tell you how to find the girl.”

I wrapped my hand around her throat again, causing her to drop the useless knife. It clanged to the brown tile floor with an ominous echo. “So where is she then!?” I growled through gritted fanged teeth. I was growing rather impatient and didn’t give a shit about Adelstein, or Elowynn, or the idiotic clergy! They were all going to be dead before the night was over, anyway. All I cared about was getting my Buttercup back and holding her safely in my arms again.

“I-I don’t know where she is right now. Adelstein only told a few select members. But they’ll be taking her to their altar in the Mount Sumac State Forest tonight. We’re s-supposed to all meet there three hours after sunset to help raise the energies. He’s planning to spill her blood to bring down the magical barrier.” She rasped as her hands desperately clawed at mine to allow her more air. “The altar is near the cliffs and accessible from Blue Spruce Road. Just go up—”

“Silence!” I interrupted, causing her to flinch. “I already know where that worthless slab of rock is.” I rose to a standing position and moved around behind her, adopting a predatory stance. “I owe you thanks for the information you’ve given to me. Unfortunately, you’ve still willingly been a member of Adelstein’s clergy for these past five years. I've watched as you helped commit heinous acts of abduction and blood sacrifice. In fact, you’ve even partaken in the corruption of innocent souls with dark essence from The Abyss. And I still fully intend to ensure that every last one of you vile mages are the last and final sacrifice this valley sees while I’m around.” She whimpered and tears rolled down her cheeks as I gently placed my hands around her head. “However, unlike your comrades, your death will be painless and quick. That is my thanks to you.”

“A-Azathoth, p-please... don’t,” she fearfully begged through her sobs.

“ Shhh , it’s alright, Patsy,” I cooed as I brushed her bloodied hair from her face, taking a firm hold of her skull. “May you make wiser choices in your next life.”

— SNAP .

-Three hours later-

Forty... forty one... forty two... Huh? There are exactly forty-two zombies down here. Hot ding-a-ling, I’m a good guesser!

I sat there, rocking back and forth within the limits of my restraints, counting the now full-bellied “children” in a pathetic attempt to distract myself from my impending doom. Hours had passed, and I was still tied up under the godawful church. There was nothing I could do other than count the zombies and curse whatever blasted planetary transit was making me so goddamn susceptible to being kidnapped lately.

Once the feeding frenzy had ended, the only remains left of the two men were their bloody, tattered clothing, shoes, and a pair of broken glasses lying strewn about the blood-dampened dirt floor. I had hoped I would have gotten used to the rancid stench by now, but it was just as foul and putrid as ever. That, and the gruesome display kept my stomach in a constant state of nausea. The zombies, thankfully, stopped snapping their jaws at me once they had eaten. Most were wandering aimlessly around the room, snarling and groaning. Others kept their beady eyes on me with unwavering vigilance.

I wanted nothing more than to pass out and sleep through this horrific nightmare. But even if my debilitating fear and frazzled nerves would allow me that small comfort, the zombies wouldn’t. Every time I had tried to close my eyes, the one named Ryan would aggressively shake my chair and loudly snarl in my face.

What made it worse was that I didn’t know how long I had until Adelstein came to kill me. Hours? Days? Weeks, even? Was he going to wait for some obscure celestial alignment or just get it over with? I tried to keep my spirits high and my thoughts positive, even though I knew I was a goner. If I let myself think about my friends or Ashton, I’d end up spiraling into another teary fit of self-loathing and misery.

The sound of loud, clunky footsteps descending the creaky staircase startled me out of my thoughts. Each heavy thud injected a hefty shot of anxiety straight into my veins. The latch to the decrepit door clicked, and then it opened. Adelstein and the two other men from earlier strolled in. Adelstein smiled warmly at me with a compassionate look as he walked over. It made me want to throw up more than the zombies had.

“Well, my dear, the time has finally come. Simon and Elliot over here,” he gestured to the other two men. “Are going to be bringing you to the secret sacrificial location. Do be a good girl and behave for them.” His patronizing tone made me want to dish out all the sass I had to offer, but I kept my cool and held my tongue. I had come up with an argument to talk him out of killing me, and I didn’t want to anger him beforehand.

“Please, Father, don’t do this,” I pleaded pitifully as I gazed up at him. My eyes were puffy and red and burned from all my tears.

“I’m terribly sorry, my child, but I must. It’s God’s will, after all.” He crouched down and reached around my body, squeezing one of my tied-up hands to comfort me. Feeling his cold, clammy hand on mine did nothing but sicken me, but I begrudgingly forced a small smile onto my lips.

“But god says not to murder, doesn’t he? So wouldn’t it be a sin to kill me?” I tried to sound extra sweet and helpless, hoping I’d be able to reason with this harebrained whack job.

“Oh my sweet child, you see, that is where you’re terribly wrong. Yes, it’s true that God says not to murder, but how many times did God tell the ancient Israelites to slay every man, woman, and child amongst the heathen tribes for him? So he certainly doesn’t oppose killing in his name. It’s also made quite clear throughout the Bible that the Lord our God enjoys blood offerings.” I stared over at him with a look of complete bafflement, while a joyous smile stretched across his long, thin face as he continued.

“That’s not true.” I side-eyed him, dread seeping into my veins.

“Oh, but it is! All one needs to do is simply read the Bible to see it. Just look at Numbers 31:40; God demanded that 32 virgins be sacrificed unto him. Or how about Exodus 22:29, where it requires us to offer our firstborn sons to the Lord? II Samuel 21:6-21:10 is another wonderful example of human sacrifice to Jehovah, and the list goes on and on.” He waved his hand in a circle. “So you see, my dear, God will be most pleased when I spill your blood for his cause.” His smile was loving as he spoke with an eagerness in his crazed eyes.

Goddammit, he’s a religious radicalist . There goes my last shred of hope .

I sighed in aggravation, trying to keep my tears from falling once more. The false, loving smile he had on his face made me want to gag. In his mind, he was a true man of his god, and killing me was the righteous thing to do. I didn’t know how to argue with someone who had such a twisted mindset.

“Well, my dear, it’s about time we got going. I don’t want to keep the others waiting.” He was still smiling as he stood up and brushed some invisible dust from his sleeve. “Bring her to the car,” he ordered Simon and Elliot, while pointing up with enthusiasm.

The broken pair of glasses crunched beneath Simon's boot as the two men shuffled over to me. Elliot’s callused hands held me in place while Simon untied the restraints. My stiff body popped at every joint, but my muscles jumped for joy as I was pulled up, thankful to escape that godforsaken chair. It felt great to stand, but then I winced. A sharp burn shot through my wrists as they retied them behind my back. The coarse rope dug into my sore, already rope-burned skin, then Simon took hold of it and guided me out of the room.

Tears fell from my weary eyes as I glanced at Adelstein’s smugly pleased smile and all the zombies that faithfully stood around him. Then, just as we were about to leave the room, an unexpected moment of anger and complete insanity washed over me... You think I’ll just let you kill me without a fight!? Yeah, flippin’ right!

In an attempt to go all Chuck Norris on their asses, I let out a loud, hysterical scream that I could only imagine sounded something like an ancient Aztec war cry. I used all my strength to pathetically roundhouse kick Elliot in the gut. “Ow,” he groaned as he took a few steps back while holding his stomach. I bounced off the dirt floor and kicked my way up the side of the splintered doorframe in a frantic effort to get away. Simon was still holding onto the rope around my wrists, causing me to go horizontal in the air, then spin and flop onto my stomach.

I made a little “Oof” noise as my body thudded against the bloody, compacted dirt, ripping my black leggings at the knees. I jumped up to sit, ready to run. But then, a heap of flailing zombies tackled me back to the ground. The impact knocked the wind from my lungs. My head slammed into the floor, leaving a dirt stain on my cheek and making my vision go white. Black drool dripped all over my face and body as they snarled and snapped their jaws while pinning me down.

Why exactly did I think that would work?

“Don’t kill her!” Adelstein yelled with urgency, attempting to cut through the snarling commotion that engulfed me. “Get off her right now! She’s invaluable to us! We need her to be alive when we sacrifice her!” He ripped one of the smaller zombies off me. Simon pulled my disheveled, crumpled-up body back to my feet, his grip tight and unyielding. “You’re lucky I loved Elowynn so much!” Adelstein yelled in a fit of rage as I regained my balance. “Or else I’d be letting my children gnaw your limbs off for that outburst!” His face was beet red, and saliva sprayed from his mouth.

My breath came in sharp bursts as I directed a fierce glare at him. “If you had truly loved her, you wouldn’t be about to kill me right now! I read her journal! I know how much you obsessed over her! And as a priest, you should know that

obsession is more like selfishness than it is love! You spineless, selfish cockalorum!“ I stated with a venomous bite to my words.

Before I could even register his hand coming at me, he smacked me across the face. “Harlot!” he furiously spat. Searing pain radiated across my face, vibrating up along my cheekbone. But I paid little attention to it. I kept my loathsome gaze locked onto his enraged one. “Who in God’s name even says cockalorum anyway?” he grumbled in a harsh tone. “Gag her again, so she knows what it’s like to speak like a proper woman in her final moments,” he commanded his idiotic henchmen in irritation and then stormed off.

To my horror, they re-gagged me with the same red cloth they had previously thrown onto the dirty floor. The material tasted foul and sucked all the moisture from my mouth. They then stuck a brown cloth sack over my head, and Simon picked me up, bridal style. I squirmed and kicked, but my efforts were futile. Simon reeked of wood chips and body odor, which made me long for Ashton’s pleasant scent of fire and spice.

I heard the squeaking of an opening door, and a sudden gust of air chilled my skin. The sounds of trees rustling in the wind and distant yipping coyotes told me we were now outside. The cloth over my head was thin enough to allow me to see that it had darkened dramatically, meaning nighttime had already fallen.

I heard a click and was then ungracefully stuffed into what I assumed to be the trunk of a car. There were a few hard thingamajigs jabbing into me that made it quite uncomfortable, but I managed to fit in. The hood slammed down above me, and then everything became quiet until the rumbling of the engine started.

These jerks really couldn’t have been bothered to empty their trunk out beforehand?

The drive seemed to go on for ages, even though it was probably only about fifteen minutes. Every bump and stop jostled me around like a helpless little rag-doll. I laid there alone in the dark, listening to the spinning tires crunching over what sounded like a dirt or gravel road. I should have been at home right around this time, enjoying my leftover tortellini. My heart was breaking as I despondently reflected on my short life.

I reminisced about my friendships, thinking of all our silly antics and the ridiculous escapades we had been on. My thoughts drifted to Aunt Elowynn and to how she was always so good to me, wishing I could have made her proud. I thought of my parents... Eh, fuck those drunken booze monkeys . I then thought of Ashton and how I wished we could have had a life together. I wished we could have gotten married and raised a few kids in his big lakeside house.

The thought shattered my heart, and my chest tightened as I sobbed. The gag in my mouth made it worse, but I just couldn’t help myself. He was still out there looking for me. What would he do when he finally got the news that my body had been found? If it was ever found, that is. I felt extremely guilty about the immense pain my stupidity and mistrust would soon cause him, and it really fucking hurt.

The car came to a slow stop. The sounds of footsteps and rummaging came from outside the car, barely audible. The rear hood popped open with a soft click. There was distant chatter as two arms wrapped around my body and lifted me out of that awful trunk. The sound of gravel crunching under shoes turned into the rustling of leaves, so I assumed we had entered the forest.

Tiny brittle twigs ensnared and tugged at my clothes as I was carried over what seemed like uneven terrain. The smells of the decaying leaves and earthy soil mixed with wood chips and body odor filled my nose, giving away that it was that Simon guy carrying me again. About ten minutes had passed when a warm glow pierced through the material of the sack over my head, and the soft crackling of fire danced in my ears.

I was laid down with my back against a cold, flat stone. They untied my hands, but then pulled them up above my head and spread them apart. Ropes burned into my skin again as they roughly strapped my wrists to the corners of the stone. They did the same thing with my feet next, so that I felt like a splayed-out starfish.

I yanked at my restraints while grumbling like a curmudgeon through the gag, but judging by how tight they were, it obviously wasn’t going to do me any good. Someone slid the sack off my head, and I blinked as my eyes adjusted to my surroundings. The stars twinkled above, and the bright moon was just shy of a waxing gibbous. Branches illuminated by the warm light swayed in the wind against the night sky, producing gentle clinks as they came together.

I turned my head to the side, where seven people stood. All wore white hooded robes with royal blue embroidery and glittering sapphire pendants around their necks. They were casually standing around, chit-chatting in the flickering light of a circle of flaming torches. I nervously looked down at myself and realized... that I was strapped down... to a stone altar... in the middle of the woods.

Fucking. Fuckity. Fuck …