Page 27 of Wicked Magik

Chapter 10

Vesper

He had two hearts, and he couldn’t tell me where those had come from.

A tail of a dragon.

Tongue of a serpent.

Fangs of a vampire.

Claws and horns of a demon.

Torso of a thick fae woodsman.

Lower half of his body, a bull.

He bore the face of a bull. Once soft with fur, it had petrified in the instant his spirit settled into the vessel.

Because of lightning.I didn’t ask questions.

After just those details, I was overwhelmed. There was so much more to him, fragments that were beyond understanding, and perhaps his as well. I was almost certain there were two hearts, but doubt crept in. The erratic rhythm of his body's beats left me confused, unable to grasp the full picture. I was torn between wanting to uncover the truth and fearing what I might find.

How did I know about these heartbeats?

Because he held onto me for the past three days while we slept.

Three days I’ve been in his protection and in the arms of someone else.

It was Oryx's vessel, yet it had once belonged to another soul. Now, Oryx possessed it, but the history of its former owner lingered. His Lord had constructed him from fragments of other vessels, pulling Oryx’s soul from the… Under Shadows to restore him to the living plane.

Which I have decided is like the Underworld of Greek Mythology. That was the only way I could describe it.

I couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Was this ethically… okay?

It was absolutely insane, yet strangely compelling. On one hand, bringing back a spirit to inhabit a body seemed impossible, even unnatural. But on the other, wasn’t Leo attempting just that? In my world, don’t psychics regularly try to contact spirits, seeking answers so the living can find peace? The boundaries between life and death felt blurred, and I wasn't sure whether to question it or accept it as a part of our reality.

I remember when I was so distraught over my mother’s death I thought about seeing a psychic but thought better of it. She was dead, and some psychics were out to get money anyway, right?

Could Oryx be lying about all of this? I shook my head internally. I don’t feel like he is lying to me, I don’t feel like thereis an underlying cause of him bringing me here. He was so… innocent

You know, besides the blood bath earlier.

My little monster had grown on me. He liked his head pats, late night talks, making me food and to be completely honest I liked his company. I don’t remember the last time I’ve had an enjoyable vacation with someone I liked talking to other than my mother.

Learning about him had been an experience. The traits he possessed were all much like the animals that created him. At least, that was the only way I put it to some of the strange things he did. Such as, his wanted to make his den comfortable and beautiful at the same time.

One might assume that a person would desire such decorations, but Oryx elevated this inclination to an extraordinary degree. His walls were adorned with an array of gleaming objects, including polished silver dishes, ornate plates, and even gold and silver jewelry that caught the light. The walls were also graced with exquisite paintings depicting serene meadows, vibrant scenes of nature, and cascading waterfalls that seemed almost alive.

Oryx cherished the idea of sunshine, yet during all the days I've spent here, gazing out the window, the sun's rays never managed to pierce through the glass and fill the room with their warmth.

So his dragon side? Dragons like a hoard of pretty shiny things? Or so I’ve read.

The blankets he possessed were luxuriously soft, woven in deep, rich hues that seemed to capture warmth. Each day, he meticulously cared for them, ensuring they remained pristine and inviting just for me. His dedication extended to washing the same sets of clothes for me with diligence, as if engaged in a sacred ritual. Despite my efforts to remind him that I was ahuman being, he continued to regard me with the gentle care and attention one might bestow upon a beloved pet.

He still put the chain on my ankle, and I wasn’t happy about it. But the only way I could ever get out of this and go home was to earn his trust. I felt I could do that in a month anyway. Patience, I had that.

Oryx was fiercely possessive. Whenever his Lord summoned him, typically during meal times, he would be forced to leave. Each time we heard his Lord’s voice, Oryx would emit a low, menacing growl, his claws unsheathing, and his entire body would tremble with a dangerous energy.