Page 36 of Unbinding the Demon

God motherfucking dammit!

My fatigued arm struggled to lift the small journal above my head; then I slammed it down onto the bed. The book bounced on the crimson coverlet, with the yellowed pages fluttering around. I huffed and fell backward onto the bed next to it. My damp hair fanned out around my head while my weary eyes stared up at the crack in the ceiling with a sense of despair.

I can’t believe this shit.

I had spent the last hour and a half locked away, hiding in the bedroom like a little frightened hermit crab, crying and obsessively reading and re-reading the stupid journal. There was no way around it. Each time I re-read the damn thing, it became even more evident. She wanted me to unbind that unscrupulous jerk!

The only thing that still made little sense was that, in the dream, Aunt Elowynn had said we were in the realm of the dead. But I didn’t understand how that could have been possible when I was still perfectly alive. My head throbbed as I wondered whether or not the dream was real and if I’d have to forgive and unbind him like she asked. If it had been real, I’d do it for her.

I sighed and closed my eyes, allowing my thoughts to drift. I asked myself, out of all the odd scenarios I could have ended up in, why couldn’t it have been my secret pirate fantasy? The one where I’m a princess being held for ransom by a group of unruly marauders. Then, a mysterious, sexy lone pirate swings in on a rope from his ghost ship and beats them all up. He then kidnaps me, and we make love while sailing off into the sunset together ... I giggled with a mischievous, lustful smile. Oh, yes... Nothing quite like a devilishly handsome pirate... Mhmm... My eyes snapped open, and I furrowed my brows.

Focus, Gwendolyn, focus! Now’s not the time to get lost in your stupid pirate fantasy!

I sat up and, lost in thought, then plucked some cat hair off my black tank top and red sweatpants to distract myself from my harsh reality. Once my clothing seemed plucked clean, I stood up on my wobbly legs and paced back and forth with what little energy I had left. The cold floorboards creaked beneath me as I thought of my plan.

I would go downstairs and ask Ashton if I had died. If he said yes, then that would mean the dream was real. In that case, I’d hear him out and try to forgive him. He had just saved my life, after all, and I trusted Aunt Elowynn would know what was best for me. From there, I’d determine if I should unbind him. But if he said no, I’d walk away and never speak to him again... Seems like a solid plan.

I opened the bedroom door with a creak, and I gulped as I stared out into the dark hallway, my heart racing. He was still the “man” I had spent the last two months with, and he hadn’t hurt me thus far. But I was intimidated and shocked by the whole “Surprise! Your boyfriend’s actually the bloodthirsty demon who destroyed several cities” thing. I was apprehensive about his reaction to my previous harsh words. And frankly, I still hated his fucking guts for what he’d done and was ready to lay into him again just for the hell of it. But it was nerve-wracking to face him. He could very easily kill me if he decided to, after all.

I scurried over to the stairs and took a careful peek over the railing and down into the foyer. There was a dim light shining across the wooden floor coming from the living room. I crept down the stairs, mindful of each creaky step I took. The more I descended, the more panicked and anxious I felt. My breathing became strained, and my heart pounded hard in my chest. I paused halfway down and put my trembling hands over my face to compose myself.

Get a grip, you pathetic pansy on tenterhooks!

After a few deep breaths, I realized there was no way I was going to swallow my anxiety. It would be better to suck it up and get it over with. So, I inched the rest of the way down, gathering my courage, then turned to walk into the living room. A strong feeling of fear and dread settled over me, and it felt more like I was about to approach the gallows than my boyfriend.

I hesitated before crossing through the archway into the warmly lit living room. Ashton was sitting on the floor next to Belzar, who was still lying on the couch. He had gotten all cleaned up and looked human again. He and Belzar were both examining the book and appeared to be engaged in a discussion. Pepper Paws was also there, curled up against Belzar’s side, his eyes closed in contentment.

Both sets of golden, ethereal eyes snapped up at me, causing me to freeze in place. Even though their body language was calm and non-threatening, it still felt like I had just caught the attention of two mephistophelian predators. Which, in all reality, was the case. Ashton gave me a slight smile, his eyes filled with sorrow and longing. Belzar also looked sad. His pitiful puppy dog eyes gazed at me with wistfulness, and he let out a soft whimper.

Unfortunately, the heart-rending sight of them did nothing to calm my nerves. My anxiety crippled all the confidence I had mustered up while in the bedroom. The words I had planned to say seemed to have gone “ poof” and disappeared into thin air.

As I stood there, struggling to recall what I was going to say, I became increasingly fidgety and shifted back and forth on my heels, twiddling my thumbs like a nervous weirdo. My wary, crazed eyes shifted around as I tried to suppress my growing panic. Ashton watched my strange behavior with an unwavering gaze. It was as if he were studying my every move and trying to find some obscure secret hidden within my soul.

“So, um, did I... die ?” I asked while shrugging with my palms up, creating a sudden shift in the awkward moment.

He raised a curious brow, as if that was not what he was expecting me to say at all. “Not recently,” his deep voice rumbled.

Not recently? What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

I narrowed my eyes at him. “What do you mean, not recently ?”

He tucked a strand of damp hair behind his ear. “I mean, you did die of an overdose the night you were drugged at the club, but that wasn’t too recent,” he stated matter-of-factly.

My eyes widened in shock, and my mouth fell agape. I stared over at him with that stunned, unflattering facial expression for almost a full minute before I could bring myself to speak again. “Then how am I alive?” I stuttered, feeling a tightness in my chest.

He sighed and traced the floral pattern on the couch with his finger, his movements slow and disengaged. “I had just enough power to bring you back.”

A strange flurry of emotions came over me upon hearing that. I felt overwhelming happiness because that confirmation implied the dream had been real. Which meant I had actually seen Aunt Elowynn again, and she was watching over me. But I was also downright furious because that meant she had asked me to forgive and unbind Ashton, and I really didn’t want to do that. Even though I trusted she knew what was best for me, the mere thought of it still boiled my blood. I mean, he was the one who killed her, for fuck’s sake!

I took in a long deep breath and did what I think any normal, rational person would do. “God motherfucking dammit!” In a fit of rage, I stormed over to a pile of books and started flinging them across the room. “Of all the fucking things in the world that could be true! Of course! Of fucking course!” I shouted like a maniac as loose pages fluttered all around. Ashton and Belzar both looked confused and concerned, but neither of them moved as they watched my tantrum.

After most of the books were on the other side of the room, I took a moment to catch my breath while I stared at Ashton. His gaze on me was intense, like he was trying to burn holes through my face with laser vision, but the look on his face was kind. I averted his gaze by looking down at my bare feet, wiggling my toes against the carpet like a weirdo.

“So, should I... Well, I mean, should I call you Ashton or Azathoth from now on?” I stammered, attempting once more to break up the awkwardness.

“Whichever you prefer,” he stated with a relaxed tone, giving a slight shrug.

“Well, I guess it would make sense to use your real name.” I tucked a strand of hair out of my face with a shaky hand while shifting on my feet to help muster up my courage. “Look, I’m really fucking pissed at you, and I still think that you’re a selfish dickbag.” I took a deep breath. “But I’m willing to hear you out, and I’m going to

try,“ I huffed, feeling exasperated, “to forgive you.” I tucked my trembling hands into my pockets to hide my fear and present my best tough-guy facade.

Ashton—I mean, Azathoth’s eyes widened in shock and a look of complete befuddlement fell across his face, as if he couldn’t believe what I'd just said. He and Belzar glanced at one another in confusion, then turned their attention back to me. He looked at me with somewhat of a timorous smile. “Thank you.” His eyes gleamed with gratitude, showing that he was pleased with my willingness to listen to him. He turned his attention back to Belzar and said something in that bizarre, demonic language.

I stood there, feeling uneasy, and listened to the crackling fire and the soft, deep murmurs of Azathoth. My nerves were on edge, and my body was fatigued. I wanted to leave and go stay with Lacey, forget all about him and that any of this had ever happened. I started to wonder if my heart would have been better off if Adelstein had stabbed it instead of dealing with this emotional torment.

Belzar gave me one last glance, then he took the book in his mouth and disappeared into a cloud of black mist. I stared at the spot where he’d been for a moment, still not used to the fact that he could dematerialize. Azathoth petted Pepper Paws with care and helped him readjust since Belzar was no longer there for him to snuggle up against. He turned to me with a faint smile and let out a sigh. “Look, I really am sorry you found out about all of this the way that you did. I had intended to tell you in a much gentler manner.”

“Yeah, well, it’s still pretty fucking overwhelming, regardless of how I found out about it. I mean, just a few hours ago, I didn’t even believe demons existed, and now I’m suddenly dating one!” My weary body swayed as I spoke.

His brows furrowed with concern as he watched me sway. “You need to rest. You don’t look well.” He pushed himself up from the floor and walked toward me.

Oh shit, he’s approaching!

All the courage I had while freaking out vanished without a trace. I backed up until my body pressed against the maroon wall, which still bore the scent of fresh paint. I glued myself flat against it and stared at him with fearful eyes like a skittish, cornered mouse, losing my tough-guy facade. He paused for a second, noticing my obvious reluctance to have him near me, but disregarded it and closed the distance between us.

Hurt and mild vexation flashed in his unique golden eyes as he put his arms against the wall on either side of me, caging me in with his large, imposing body. My blood ran cold, and I froze up. He wasn’t providing me with any escape route, and in that moment, I wished to be absorbed physically into the wall behind me.

“Listen, I understand why you’re afraid. Yes, it’s true, I’m a demon. But you’re still my Buttercup, and I still love you very much. So please, trust that I’d never harm you and that you don’t need to fear me.” His stance was intimidating, but his words came out soft and kind-sounding.

My wide, nervous eyes met his stoic yet pleading gaze as I took a deep breath. Even Adelstein had mentioned that he loved me... and that the scar on my neck somehow proved it? My hand shot up to cover my scar as I remembered that little detail and the fact it had healed so fast the second time he’d bitten me. His eyes glowed as they tracked the movement of my hand, and he stiffened in response.

Yeah, there’s definitely something peculiar going on with that .

“I want to know what happened the night my aunt died. I also have some other questions for you too, like why you destroyed those ancient cities, and what’s the deal with this scar on my neck?” I pointed to the scar, feeling a tremor in my hand. “And I only want the truth,” I added. I tried to sound brave and tough, but I probably wasn’t too convincing because I leaned back even harder against the wall in fear as I spoke.

“I’ll tell you everything you want to know, and I promise that I’ll always be truthful with you from now on.” He tried to caress my cheek, but I flinched away, unable to stop myself. A tormented look flashed across his face. However, he masked it and offered me a warm smile. “Don’t be frightened, Buttercup.” He took his time placing his hands on my shoulders. “You’ve been safe with me this far, and that’s not about to change.”

I chose not to get away from his touch this time. The wear of my adrenaline, combined with a wave of intense physical and emotional exhaustion, was taking hold of me. But also because I believed him when he said that he wouldn’t harm me. “Alright, well, I guess I’ll start by asking what was up with that hit list I found in the basement this morning?” I figured I might as well start off by asking a less upsetting question.

His lips turned up into a mischievous grin as he gently ran his palms down the length of my arms until he was holding my hands. “That was a hit list,” he chuckled. “I knew Adelstein’s clergy was hunting you, so I aimed to eliminate them before they could try what they did today.” A murderous look gleamed in his eyes. “But it doesn’t matter anymore; Belzar and I took care of every one of them, well, except for Adelstein, that is.” He shrugged nonchalantly.

“So wait, you killed all of those people?” I asked, unsure as I tried to pull my hands away.

His grip on my hands tightened, and he leaned in a little closer with a soft, but deep chuckle. “Yes.” The proprietorial way he was looking at me was unnerving. “And, since I’m being honest with you, I should probably let you know up front that I’m inherently a very possessive predator. I protect what is mine fiercely, and I will not hesitate to sink my claws into anyone else who dares to threaten you.”

Well, so much for that being less upsetting.

“I think I should sit down before asking any more questions...” After hearing that, I likely appeared as a lethargic wraith.

“I agree. You seem exhausted.” He looked at me with endearment as he walked backward, guiding me to the couch.

The cushions squeaked as my weak body flopped down next to Pepper Paws. His little kitty head popped up to see what had disturbed him, then it lowered back down with a yawn. Azathoth’s hands remained latched onto mine, and his large frame sat close to me as if he were afraid I’d run away again. I glanced around the room at all the books strewn about, and another question popped into my mind.

“So, if you’re a demon, then how do you even have a house?” I gestured up and around at the ceiling using my face since he still had my hands. Please don’t say you killed a family... Please don’t say you killed a family...

He raised a brow and smirked. “You look like you’re expecting me to say that I killed an entire family for this place.”

“Well, did you!?”

“Gods, no. I may be a ruthless killer, but I still have morals,” he teased. “This house was abandoned when I found it. I liked the lake, Belzar liked the spruce forest, so we’ve been hanging out here for the past few years. The necessity to fix it up and illegally tap into the electric grid arose only after your arrival.”

I peered over at the flickering flames in the fireplace for a minute as I tried to process everything. I had literally been living in an old abandoned house occupied by a murderous demon that had just been on a violent killing spree. And now I was being hunted down by an evil wizard priest and his cannibalistic horde of zombies. How has my life turned into the script for a rudimentary horror film in less than a day?

I sighed, dreading my next question, but I had to ask it. “What’s the deal with the scar on my neck?” My voice was distant and my gaze stayed on the fire. Azathoth squeezed my hands, then let go. He stood up and began picking a few books off the floor. “Um, what are you doing?” I eyed him with nervous suspicion.

“I’m just getting some books ready for you to throw. You’re not going to be happy with what I’m about to tell you.” He opened one of the books and took a quick glance at it. “Asmodeus has three heads... and the feet of a chicken? That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. He’s even hotter than I am, and a king no less. What kind of blasphemous cunts wrote this shit?” he grumbled to himself with irritation, then handed me the book. “Aim for the fire when you throw this one. It’s full of rubbish.” He sat back down and placed the small pile of books he’d gathered next to me.

I traced my fingers over the glossy black cover of the book he’d handed me. It was small and titled, The Goetia. “Am I really going to be that upset about the bite mark?” I furrowed my brows and kept my eyes on the book.

He ran a hand through his hair. “I hope not, but I think you will be.” He gazed over at me with a penitent look in his eyes. “It’s not just a bite mark. It’s a claim.”

My head snapped up.

“What do you mean a cla—?”

He pressed his finger against my mouth to silence me. “ Shh, let me finish.” He removed his finger and grabbed my hand. “It’s the first of three steps for an infernal matrimony. When I bit you, I quite literally claimed you as mine. However, without the second step, the wound would have healed and faded normally.

I placed the book in my lap and narrowed my eyes. “So, why the hell did it heal so quickly the second time you bit me, then?”

An apprehensive look crossed his face. “Because I realized I loved you, and I didn’t want my claim to fade.” He took a deep breath. “So I used my blood to draw an inverted pentagram over your heart center while under a dark moon and then had you drink my blood, all while my cock was inside you. Then you verbally proclaimed that you belonged to me, completing the second step. That’s why it’s now so much more pleasurable when I touch or bite it, and why it healed so quickly the second time.” He gave me a soft, shameful smile, resembling a guilty child who'd been caught stealing cookies.

What the fuck.

My mouth fell agape. “Wait, so let me get this straight.” I held my hand up. “You didn’t even love me when you ‘claimed’ me!? And that’s what we were really doing in the graveyard!? Some weird, clandestine infernal matrimony thing!?” I threw The Goetia into the fire, and my anger grew as I watched the pages combust.

He shrugged as he watched the book burn with an air of indifference. “Honestly, I wanted to claim you the very first time we slept together. I don’t know if you noticed how much I would gnash my teeth and graze them along your throat, but it took a lot of effort not to sink my fangs into you each time. And yes, I claimed you before I was in love with you. I lost control of myself, but figured it’d be fine because at the time I planned to let the mark fade.” He looked me dead in the eyes. “But that plan changed.”

“So, am I understanding this correctly? You secretly half-married me!?” I held my palms up and shook my head, with a downright dumbfounded expression.

He tapped his chin, pretending to think, then pointed his finger up while speaking. “Yes, that’s a perfect way to put it. Only, we’re more like two-thirds married now, I suppose.” He grinned and handed me another book to throw.

I snatched the book from his hand, then smacked him over the head with it. “Is there a way to get two-thirds divorced!?”

My assault seemed to have no effect on him, which was quite irritating. “No, we would have to wait for the claim to fade, which will take a very long time since we’ve already completed the second step.” He pushed me onto my back and loomed over my body, with his menacing face just above mine. “But I don’t want to let that happen. Like I said earlier, I want you to come back to Hell with me and be my bride.” A wicked grin stretched across his handsome face, but his ethereal eyes beamed with endearment and devotion.

This psychotic motherfucker .

I glared up at him. “Well, before we go and order ourselves a three-tier wedding cake, why don’t we deal with the elephant in the room? And by elephant, I mean you, you gargantuan slab of demonic muscle, and why you killed my aunt.” My words came out harsh and hateful.

Azathoth’s face turned somber in an instant, and he sat back up with slow, deliberate movements. “Alright, but just know it wasn’t pleasant. I wish I could tell you she hadn’t suffered, but she did.” Remorse filled his eyes as he shifted them from me to the fire.

“I need to know,” I said softly as I sat back up. Tears threatened to spill from my eyes as I stared at the warmly illuminated, stoic profile of my aunt’s killer, the “man” I had fallen in love with.

He ran a hand through his long hair and twiddled the end of a strand between his fingers, then he spoke in a low voice. He explained that he thought he would never escape The Abyss, and how shocking it was to be suddenly pulled out and thrown into the modern world. He explained about my aunt chanting the unbinding spell, and Adelstein stabbing him in the shoulder with a poisoned dagger. He knitted his brows, recalling how the poison had made him dizzy and disoriented. He didn’t realize his wing had struck her until the commotion died down and he removed the dagger. Once he could see straight again, he worried Belzar wouldn’t escape The Abyss. Belzar's soul was apparently somehow connected to his, so the summoning brought him into this world too. He didn’t notice her dying figure until after Belzar had arrived.

He said she mentioned his name and something else. But he didn’t understand English at that time, so he wasn’t sure what her last words were. Tears streamed down my face as he described how he cradled her hand at the moment of her death. I placed my trembling hands over my face and began crying my eyes out. His large arms enveloped me in a comforting embrace, and we lingered in that moment for a long time.

My sobbing eventually quieted down, and I traced the black veiny design on his shoulder with my finger. “So this isn’t one of your tattoos, then, is it?”

He looked down at me and ran his hand through my hair, his touch warm and soothing. “No, it’s the poison.”

My gaze shifted over to the fire as a fresh wave of anger crashed over me. I was angry because I had wanted to hate Azathoth for what he had done. But I couldn’t after hearing his story. Yes, he had killed my aunt, but it wasn’t his fault. It was Adelstein’s fault . I seethed at the thought of that vile, corrupt man and began to throw the rest of the books into the fire with resentment.

Azathoth watched me with an anxious look in his eyes. “Are you all right?” he asked with uncertainty while I hurled the last book into the flames, watching the curling pages turn ash gray and black as they burned in the bright orange flames.

I sighed, with tears still streaming down my cheeks. “Look, I’m ticked off about all that devious infernal matrimony stuff. And I’m still not sure how I feel about performing the mysterious, hocus pocus unbinding spell for you.” I sighed. “But I don’t blame you for my aunt’s death anymore. I’m willing to let the pages of the past burn, and I forgive you.”

A loving smile lit up his face. I let out a little “Oof” as he pulled me into a big, tight hug. “Thank you,” he whispered, and kissed the top of my head.

Once he released his tight, strangling hold on me, I leaned into him and rested the side of my face on his hard chest. He cradled me and caressed my back with endearment as we shared a quiet moment, gazing into the crackling flames together.