The night went on as usual and Skender didn’t hear the hissing sound for a while. His grandmother had been standing stiffly and compelling every man away that he had to give her some push to enjoy herself.

He found Lucrezia and William speaking in a corner and as much as he didn’t want to ruin their talk knowing William was completely captivated by her, he had to interrupt. “Could you take William with you?” He asked her.

Well, was this not helping in a way?

“Sneak him in somewhere. Or anywhere else that seems safe?”

“What is happening?” William asked worriedly.

“I just felt something strange. I don’t feel it anymore but to be sure,” he explained. “Did you find out anything?” He asked Lucrezia.

“Nothing other than that you could be right. He is an archdemon, creating shades to attack us. But I am not sure.”

He nodded.

She turned to William. “Well then. Let’s go to my favorite place,” she smirked, putting her glass of wine away and learning the way.

Should he be worried about the boy’s innocence? Lucrezia could be… immoral.

“Where is she taking him?” Lazarus came to stand beside him. “She will suck him dry.”

“He will be fine.”

“Yes. I am sure he will die happily.”

Skender sighed. “I’ll take my leave,” he said. He didn’t have to stay until the end anyway.

“Well, you accomplished what you wanted but… who is that exquisite lady?” He pointed at his grandma.

Skender chuckled. “Try your luck,” he told him.

“Oh no. I sense her power so… is she a relative?”

“She is my grandma.”

His eyes widened. “No doubt. She is an original.”

They watched her dance with a man that could at least hold a decent conversation with her now. He would just wait for her to finish and then he would take her away from this. She didn’t seem to enjoy herself after all.

Lazarus went back to his drinking and chattering and that was when Skender heard the hissing sound again. This time louder. It was as if someone hissed right next to his ear so only he could hear.

He turned around slowly, feeling as if someone touched him on the back. That was when he saw her. The woman at the door. She stood completely still, her eyes staring right into his. Her mouth moved and slowly the hissing sound became more clear. It was chanting and he was hypnotized.

His feet carried him to the entrance, following her down the hall that strangely got darker and darker while the chanting increased. Suddenly he was surrounded by the sound. It came from every corner and he could only see the shadows of the people chanting. He felt trapped in his mind as if he couldn’t act accordingly. His head began to hurt, the chanting turning into a disturbing, ear-piercing sound.

“Ah!” It was painful and he covered his ears, but it was hurting. It felt as if his head would explode. He shut his eyes tightly, screaming at the pain as he felt something snap in his head and ears.

Skender fell to his knees, blood seeping from his ears and nose. “Stop!” he called but it only got worse until he heard nothing. A complete eerie silence made him fall to the ground and darkness followed.

When he woke up, his head felt broken with pain. He looked around, everytime his eyes turned his temples hurt. He was laying on the ground, in an empty dark room. There was the smell of blood everywhere. His body felt strange. Weak. He had no control over it.

He tried to move, but his limbs weren’t obeying. Well, at least he was the target and Roxana was fine.

‘Destroyer. Isn’t it time to wake up now?’ he thought.

Strangely it felt as if his demon was gone. Not again. Must be the damned witches involved.

No! He called for the destroyer, tried calling him defender, or just provoked it but nothing worked, and as he kept trying piercing sound returned, knocking him back to darkness.

The same thing happened twice more so he stopped trying that method. He waited for someone to come instead.

After what felt like an eternity the door opened and a woman stepped inside. She came to him, crouching beside him she put the bowl in her hand on the ground.

“What am I doing here?” He asked her.

She grabbed his limp arm and placed it over the bowl. She cut his wrist, allowing his blood to drip into the bowl. Skender could only look and do nothing.

“What are you doing?”

“Relax. It will be over soon when we have enough blood.”

“What do you mean? Who are you working for? Call him!” He demanded.

“You will meet him in time.” She said dropping his hand.

She stood up, collecting the bowl.

“What will you do with my blood?” He asked.

She ignored him and closed the door behind her.

Skender fought to move again but he felt the throbbing in his head slowly return. He had no other choice now than to fight the sound. Do it over and over again and try to endure it.

It was utter torture and left him exhausted with no progress. It wasn’t triggering his demon either.

The sound of the door opening caught his attention. This time it was two large males that stepped inside. Without a word, they grabbed him, lifted him from the ground, and sat him on a chair before tying him up.

Skender didn’t waste his energy speaking to them. They looked like the ones who wouldn’t speak a word. He would wait for whoever was in charge of this. Once they tied him up they left. Some time went by and the same woman returned to take his blood.

“Are you making some sacrifice?” he asked her. “Or ritual.”

“Yes.”

“Why my blood?” He asked.

“Because it doesn’t change,” she replied.

“What will you use it for?”

She chuckled. “Knowing won’t help you in any way?”

“You being involved in this won’t help you in any way. I would suggest you stop and leave while you can.”

She stared at him for a moment. “There is nothing you can do.”

“Are you sure?” He asked staring back into her eyes.

“Don’t try too hard or you will hurt your head. Permanently.” She then left him.

Skender watched his feet, trying to move again. It was as if his body was locked. Not limp. He reached inside, looking for some power, or energy to break him through but there was none. He could do nothing he would normally be able to do. Not reading mind or mind linking. Nothing.

Desperately he tried again, causing his ears to bleed until the darkness devoured him. When he came back this time, there was a man sitting in the corner of the room. A golden-haired male, with green eyes, shaped like a cat’s. But he was no shade. He was a demon.

Skender looked at him carefully, some memories being triggered. He knew this man. He had seen him with his parents.