I pressed my back against the wall, unable to look away from the finger and bloody blades. What was I supposed to do? This was real. Everything I had seen happened. It hadn't been a dream. Someone or something used my body to torture and maim a Demi. The wall was cold beneath my finger tips, bleeding through my clothes, it was the only thing that kept me in the now. I clung to it, trying not to let the panic overwhelm me. Even so, my heart thudded so violently in my chest that it pounded in my ears. My pulse raced in my head, making the whole thing hurt.

What should I do? Do I tell the others and risk never being trusted again? Do I keep it to myself until I know exactly what's happening? I put a hand to my chest as it burned to breath. I couldn't inhale more than sharp gasps. My vision blurred in and out as my body tensed so much that it felt as if it would fold in half and snap.

Who was Tragore?

Who was Zendar?

Images of Vagotha came into my mind as I saw he king of demons running towards me, crying for Zendar. This wasn't the first time he had existed. He had been around since Vagotha's attack, since I got tainted. How much more damage had he done in that time? How many had he killed?

Was I Zendar? How? Why?

I looked down at my trembling hands. What in the gods names was happening to me?

A knock sounded on my door. "Breakfast has been prepared in the main hall, Master Geayu requests your presence," Seroe's calm voice called out, his tone in opposition to the panic that was racing through my thoughts.

"Thank you," I said quietly, he probably didn't even hear me. I grabbed the knives and the finger, shoving them in the drawer and locking them beneath the sigil. I needed to know more about what was happening, I wouldn't be able to stop it otherwise. Was I even able to stop it? Or was I doomed to live a duel life with a sociopath ready to kill and torment all of those that mattered to me? What would happen to Geayu? Jalin? Would he target them next?

I slipped on a shirt, tucking it into my trousers before putting on my boots and going out the door.

Serve looked me up and down. "Rough night, Master Falosa?"

How the fuck did he know? It was as if he had seen right into my very soul?

"I just don't sleep the best, that's all," I stated with a forced laugh. I didn't feel it in the slightest, my whole body was still tense, ready to fight.

He hummed. "Let me know if there is anything I can do to help that, change out the pillows, lock the balcony, provide a heavier blanket, whatever you need, I am here to serve."

I put a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you, Seroe. . . Could you lead me to where they are eating? I must say I haven't quite figured out the lay out of this place yet and get quite lost."

"Absolutely, Master Falosa, this way," Seroe gestured for me to follow him.

We walked in silence for a time, going down various halls before he cleared his throat. "Pardon my asking, Master Falosa, but do you always venture out so late at night without informing the household?"

I stopped, feeling the color drain from my face. He knew. He saw. "N—no it was simply a nice night, I wanted to walk the grounds for a bit and take in the natural beauty of the stars."

"By leaving the grounds?" Seroe asked, raising a brow. His voice inflection never changed despite the things he was asking, as if we were simply talking about the various teas in the cabinet.

"It's my business, Seroe, don't worry about it," I said, a little harsher than I meant to.

His eyes widen in surprise before turning cold. "Just so you know, Master Falosa, you are a guest in this house. My duty is to Master Geayu." He stepped closer, the world warping around him as he did. The house groaned, the halls closing in on us. "If you do anything, absolutely anything that could bring him harm, I will see to it that you are buried so far down that you'll live the rest of your miserable existence forever digging to the top until you are completely taken by madness and lose the will to live." (Here for nano)

I stepped back, inhaling sharply as he displayed his powers in full. My hand reached to my side where my daggers usually resided, but they weren't there, I had hidden them beneath the sigils. "Understood, Seroe."

The halls stopped warping and Seroe opened a door to his left. "This is where they are eating, you may sit anywhere you like." He bowed curtly as if he hadn't just threatened my life seconds before.

Geayu, Jalin, and Kalon sat amidst a bunch of others I didn't recognize. I sat next to Kalon, not because he was the greatest company but because I knew he would protect me if it came down to it.

"What took you so long? We've already eaten almost everything that the servants brought out." Kalon sided up to me, prodding me in the side with his elbow. "Did you see your red-haired lover last night?"

"No." I poked at the eggs Benedict with my fork, moving the pieces around. It reminded me of the smell of piss that had been on the Demi's pants when Zendar had come to torture him once more. Vomit rose up my throat. I was going to be sick.

"Don't want to tell me about your adventures? I thought we were friends," Kalon said with a pout.

I scoffed in disgust. "We were never friends, more like coworkers, I tolerate you. Now leave me alone." I cold feel cold sweat dripping down my back. I had to tense my muscles to keep them from trembling

"Are you hiding something? Why won't you tell me where you were?" Kalon prodded, getting closer in my space.

I gripped the knife tightly. "Stop talking."

Kalon eyed me wary. "I see how it is, you probably went and had sex with that demon and you're ashamed of yourself. There's no shame, demons are pretty attractive, I know I fu—"

""I said stop. Talking!" I cried out, stabbing the knife between his fingers, missing cutting through his flesh by less than a breath away.

The table grew quiet and all eyes turned in my direction. The great General Falosa, snapping, going mad. It was only a matter of time. This was probably what they all thought of me. That was better than the truth. They couldn't know. They'd kill me if they did.

Jalin stared at me, her dark eyes calculating, suspicious. She said nothing but I can tell she suspected much.

I pushed away from the table and left. There was no point in being there if I wasn't going to eat. I wasn't hungry anyway. Shutting the door behind me, I made my way back to my room. It took a few attempts getting lost through the halls before I was able to find it, but I found it all the same.

Once I clicked the door shut behind me, I turned the lock and slid to the floor, holding my head in my hands. What was I going to do?

A gentle knock sounded on the door, making me jolt.

"What happened?" Geayu asked, his voice was concerned, as if he truly cared for my wellbeing.

"Nothing. I'm fine," I replied all too quickly. I didn't need him on my case too. How would he react? I didn't know him well enough to know.

Geayu sighed. "I don't like it when people lie to me. I can't help you if I don't know what's happening."

Would it really hurt if he knew? I clenched and unclenched my hands. I couldn't very well figure this out on my own. He knew of the crimes I'd done and helped me anyway, surely this wouldn't be any different.

Getting up, I opened the door and ushered him inside. The instant he sat down, I told him everything. From the dream to Tragore, and the finger I found on my balcony.

Geayu hummed, stroking his chin in thought. "This could be because of when you were tainted by the demons blood. A demon general has the ability to inhabit the body of whoever they tainted and use them for committing crimes."

"Is there anything that can be done to remove it?" I asked. I couldn't live my life like this, not knowing when I'd attack some innocent sod.

"I've heard of a woman skilled in this sort of thing but. . . She's very far away, and I can't say I trust her. There's too much grey lines around when she helps and when she experiments on those she's supposed to be helping," Geayu stated as he looked out at the balcony. "Her research is phenomenal, but how she comes by it is not in the least bit humane."

I got up, pacing the floor. "If she can stop this, if there's any chance, I'm willing to take it, no matter the cost."

Geayu leaned forward. "I've heard most of her patients don't survive the process. It's a high risk, and if we leave now, who knows what the demons will do in our absence." He stood up, running a hand through his greying hair. "Whatever's going on, we're going to have to wait until we can take out the portals. I'll assign people to watch you, to report your every move so we can figure out what this demon general's motivations are."

"No." I shook my head, turning to face him. "We can't risk your people like that." I chewed on the inside of my cheek. "What if they end up dead? Or worse? I'm a danger as long as this continues. No one is safe around me." Gazing out the window I watched the various Demi's roam the gardens. Were they even the least bit aware of how much danger awaited them in the shadows? "I should be locked up somewhere, or chained ever time I go to sleep."

"That can be arranged but. . . What if it does nothing? this being can teleport." Geayu tapped his fingers on the dresser. "Unless. . . No."

"Is there a way to prevent teleportation?" I placed a hand on his shoulder. "Whatever it is, I'll do it. I'll do anything."

"It's a way that was used to imprison immortals during the war. It's not in any way humane." Geayu frowned, his brown eyes holding a deep set concern. "I don't know i I could forgive myself for doing it to you."

"The demon general is a psycho, I'll do anything to prevent him from getting what he wants."

Geayu's face went dark, a shadow falling over him. "What if he's the one they are trying to summon? We could use information from what memories you see to figure out the demons plans."

I stiffened. "Use my body to do gods knows what to figure out their plans? Geayu. . . Are you hearing yourself? You're mad!"

"You said you want to stop him, right? What better way then to figure out his plans and eradicate him once and for all."