Of the four girls gathered around the Ouija board, one seemed particularly out of place. It was the girl with the auburn hair tied into a short ponytail, a grey knit sweater, and a silver chain necklace around her neck. She was the only one without a drink in hand and a look of intrigue on her face.

Her brown eyes almost lacked any signs of life and light. Almost like a candle had been snuffed out. The fear that radiated from her body was like a drug to me, as well as the other demons that had shown up to watch the show. Like a moth to a flame, we were drawn to them.

From the moment they placed their fingers on the planchette, the energy in the room had shifted. It became heavy and full of dark matter.

They wanted something scary. We were the thrills they sought, and we made sure to deliver.

The girls each had a shadow seeping into their souls, burrowing inside of the light, leaving nothing but dread in its wake. We made our presence known. From dropping the temperature to moving the planchette. They flinched when a cold hand ran its fingers up their backs or pulled at their soft hair.

The girl in the sweater now had an even darker, almost black mist surrounding her body. I drifted closer to her. Her fear was utterly intoxicating. Yet as I allowed myself to be witness to her thoughts, my sudden pull to her was fused with curiosity. She was not only afraid of the Ouija board. She was not just afraid of an otherworldly presence. No, something else had been plaguing her mind and festering her spirit.

Or rather, someone.

~~~~~~

The streets were dead. Empty. Even the bars seemed to be lacking business. I began to wonder if the zombie apocalypse had started already.

We were stopped at a red light that seemed to taunt us. Matthew patiently waited, and I took the opportunity to get comfortable.

I leaned the seat back until I was nearly horizontal. Glancing through the corner of the window, I tried to gaze at the stars, despite the tall building blocking the view. Upon closer inspection, I immediately sat back up and eyed the structure.

"Let it go, Maryn. Don't torture yourself like this," said Matthew, his voice warm with compassion.

I looked over at him and examined the kind look in his eyes. We both knew what was going through my head, but I didn't say a word. I had always admired Matthew's own ability to be vulnerable. That and the way he cared for others was something that taught me a lot in the few years we'd known each other. I just never felt comfortable opening up completely, even to him.

"It's not that easy," I muttered, turning away.

"It's been eight years. It's time to move on."

I couldn't just move on. I had convinced myself I needed some sort of closure. Maybe then I could move forward.

"I'll see you at home," I said, hopping out of the car.

"Maryn." Matthew's voice was firm, like that of a parent reprimanding a child.

"Don't wait up." I shut the door behind me and walked towards the apartment building.

A flood of memories came back to me with every step on the plush burgundy carpet. I finally stopped in front of apartment number 409.

For a moment I questioned what I was really doing. I didn't know what I would say or do should that door open. Part of me hoped that the words would just come to me. As far as I knew, I didn't have a goal. Perhaps I really was just torturing myself.

Shaking the intrusive thoughts away, I raised my hand to knock. I stopped my fist seconds from hitting the door when I heard a voice inside. Then I realized there were three.

I closed my eyes and focused on what lay on the other side. Slowly, the living room came into view in my mind's eye. It was hazy, much like a dream.

There was the familiar beige L-shaped couch, the red barstools, and the large bookshelf.

Then there was Julia.

Her wavy auburn hair framed her youthful face. A soft blush rested on her cheeks, a stunning grin on her face. A cream colored sweater held her petite frame.

Her laugh was like an echo in my head. I missed that laugh.

To my shock, a tall man in a black sweatshirt knelt down to kiss the top of her head. I recognized him quickly.

David.

My fists started to shake. Suddenly, nothing felt real. It was as though I were in a dream. A nightmare. As I was about to let the images fade, there was another voice. It was small, innocent.

A young girl ran up to Julia, wrapping her arms around her legs, a pink stuffed dog in her hand. Julia lifted her into the air, spinning her around as she giggled.

"Mommy...!" The girl exclaimed. The rest of her words faded into a soft hum until nothing but static silence remained.

I didn't want to hear anything else.

I pulled my attention away from the sight, and I was suddenly back in the hallway. I couldn't process the feeling that sank in my gut. Something in my chest shattered. My body was sinking down, drowning, and I couldn't pull myself up. Everything around me started to spin, and all I wanted to do was vomit.

Immediately I felt out of place. Out of line. It was like walking into the wrong bathroom filled with people. Witnesses to your embarrassment. Even though Julia didn't see me, and didn't know I was there, her eyes seemed locked onto me. An expression that read what the hell are you doing here? on her face.

I took a staggered step back, suddenly dizzy. Reality had fizzled away like a seltzer tablet in water. I was floating on air, my senses were numb. I was watching the world through someone else's eyes, and I couldn't help but stare.

Matthew once told me that everything happens for a reason. I racked my brain for why this could've happened. The only conclusion I could come to was that this was part of some sort of punishment. Losing her eight years ago wasn't enough.

The walk home was a blur. My body was sinking down, like I was dragging my own corpse. I finally saw our apartment building and let myself in. The halls were narrow, and the walls had a sickly yellow cast from the migraine inducing lights. I counted each door until I reached the stairs, then I started again on the second floor. I counted to number seven on the third floor and gently tapped my knuckle on the wood.

Seconds later, Matthew answered.

"Hey, how'd it go?" He asked, holding the door open wider.

"I don't want to talk about it." I walked past him and felt another surge of lethargy hit me. I was beyond exhausted after everything that had happened.

The wooden crucifix that hung on the wall in the kitchen seemed to emit a golden light. One that pressed against my body, like a wall closing in, almost pushing me away.

Though I had grown used to being surrounded by religious symbols, their draining effect on me only grew after an exorcism. I needed to recharge my batteries.

"M...M-Maryn!" Called a voice.

From the hall came a joyful looking guy with open arms. James pulled me into a squeeze, managing to lift my spirits.

"How's your night been, James?"

"I finished another s...s-sculpture!"

His dark eyes beamed with pride, and I noticed the small clay angel he had in his hand. He gave it to me and I turned it around, examining the smallest details, from the intricate strands of long hair to the individual feathers in the wings.

"This looks amazing. Nice job."

I gave it back to him with a smile. James and Matthew looked almost identical, yet their slight differences in appearance served as almost a reflection on their differing personalities. While Matthew had a far more stoic, stern face, his brother always had a playful, boyish appearance.

"Can I talk to you Maryn?" Matthew asked.

James glanced from his brother to me, and then turned on his heel, disappearing down the dark hallway.

I pulled out a chair at the table and slumped down, letting my head fall back.

"I told you, I don't want to talk about it."

Matthew calmly sat down across from me, leaning his arms on the table. He had changed out of his clerical clothing into a sweater and jeans. It was a small detail that made him feel more like a friend and less like a priest who had agreed to help me purely because of a deal.

There was a sudden sense of ease, and I let go of a little bit of the resistance I held.

"She's back with David." My voice came out robotic.

I always found myself questioning Matthew's abilities to get me to talk. As usual, he remained silent, patiently waiting for me to continue. He had a way of getting me to dump my thoughts without ever saying a word. Or maybe that damn crucifix was messing with my head.

"She has a daughter. With that disgusting son of a bitch. How can she just..."

Matthew nodded for me to continue. I felt a heavy flood of emotion building up, burning the back of my eyes. In an attempt to shut it all out, I stood abruptly, nearly knocking over the chair.

"I need some air."

~~~~~~

There was nothing quite like the solitude found when high in the sky, away from society, even if for just a moment.

I stared down from the tall building, distancing myself from everything. The cool wind rippled against my bare chest. I breathed in; the air was dry, and made inhaling a chore. As per usual in windy Wyoming. However It was nothing like the suffocating flames in Hell that I had grown accustomed to.

Sometimes I thought of going home. Just to be reunited with something familiar. Yet if I returned, I would only be reminded of why I was no longer welcome.

I was grateful to have Matthew and James in my life. Staying with them, however, meant denying my true nature. While I had never possessed anyone, I still needed to fuel my energy. It progressed into a stubborn itch. The more I tried to ignore it, the more I needed to scratch.

Suddenly, a force hit me, stronger than the wind. I nearly fell back at the sudden rush of euphoria. Then, as strong as it had pushed, it then began to pull me down.

I stood with my arms outstretched, letting the feeling entice me even more. I couldn't hold back a slight smile. It was a constant wave of ecstasy.

I let my eyes drift shut before my body slowly descended off the rooftop. The wind was whistling in my ears as I fell, picking up speed as my body faded into a shadow.

For a moment, the world was dreary and grey as I passed through a glass barrier.

A kiss of lavender embraced my senses, but the scent carried a slight burning undertone. I approached a dark wooden dresser where a candle sat, recently extinguished.

Next to it was a charred and crumpled paper. A letter. The words "Dear Lilith" remained somewhat legible at the top. I also caught a glimpse of my full name, "Mahrynir".

My attention turned to the young woman who summoned me. She was laying on top of the blankets, blonde strands strewn messily around her face. Beneath her eyelids, the rapid movement signaled the deep sleep she had entered.

Much like the waitress at the restaurant, her aura pulsed red with lust. It drew me in like a magnet.

I slowly climbed over her. She started to shift, and I knew she saw me in whatever dreamscape her mind had conjured up. She had called for me, her soul was willing to let me in. All I needed was the final go-ahead.

My lips brushed against her ear as I lowered my body down.

"May I?" I whispered.

Her consent was granted in a small, soft voice. It was often dangerous for someone to have their soul so open to the astral realm. Anyone could wander in her space and latch onto her. In my case, I intended to feed off of her. With a fair trade in mind, of course.

I held her wrist and kissed her skin, taking my time to inch up her arm and to her shoulder. I lingered on the sensitive skin around her collarbone, biting and abusing the area until it turned red. All the while, her chest heaved as she dragged on her breath.

I tugged off my jeans and continued to tease and caress all over her body, eliciting an arousing response. I let my hands wander in between her legs, pulling at her clothing as she moaned louder. Her sleep paralysis must've worn off, because she wrapped her legs tightly around my torso and dug her nails deep into my back.

She shifted and clawed deeper into my back. She arched her body up against mine, as if trying to pull herself from her dream to experience every sensation in the waking world. The delicate whimpers that escaped her lips made my pulse quicken. My heart was thudding in my head. All the while, I groaned as I moved my body against hers, losing myself in the immense amount of pleasure that rose inside of me.

Despite my best efforts to stay in the moment, I couldn't keep Julia out of my head, and my mind drifted to the blissful nights we had spent together.

Everything I had experienced with her played over and over in my head, filling me with an overwhelming sense of vertigo. Suddenly, it was her body under mine. It was her soft moans filling the room. She called out my name, her lips were against mine, and her hands wandered all over my body. Everything flashed by so quickly. Tugging. Pulling. Biting. Moaning.

I couldn't take it anymore. The sensations of the present and the nostalgic waves made my head spin and sent me over the edge. The girl let out a cry of bliss beneath me. She lay there completely spent, gripping the sheets, still breathing heavily. Her eyes were still shut as she resumed her dreams. As enjoyable as the experience was, there was one last thing I wanted.

With a gentle grip, I held her jaw and her mouth hung open. I leaned in and welcomed the ribbon of light between my lips. It sent a shudder of energy through my entire being, and I pulled back with a gasp.

I wanted to take in every second of that exhilaration. I didn't want to come down from the high. An experience like that was enough to wipe my mind clear for hours.

However, Julia had made it a point to never let me forget. At least, that's what it felt like. Nothing compared to the passionate nights we had spent together. Nothing could ever ignite my entire being like she did.

And yet, I had lost her.

~~~~~~

Thank you for reading!