My Demon

Chapter 3 – FACE TO FACE WİTH THE DEMON

The fortune-teller woman took a deep breath, then gently placed the paper on the table without looking at it. Her eyes locked onto mine. She spoke in a low, trembling voice:

Fortune Teller: Where did you find this?

I couldn’t answer. My heart was pounding rapidly.

Wiping her forehead with her hand, the woman continued:

Fortune Teller: This… did you accept this agreement?

Her eyes narrowed. She went on in a voice barely above a whisper:

Fortune Teller: This agreement… did you free him?

Lina: No. I didn’t make any agreement. I found this paper in the forest. It was caught on a branch. I didn’t understand what was written on it, I was just curious and took it with me.

The woman’s gaze hardened.

Fortune Teller: Really?

I looked away. Only now did I realize that I hadn’t known what I was getting myself into when I went down into the cellar that day.

Grandmother: Lina has always been a curious girl. One day, her curiosity will get her into trouble.

My grandmother had said it jokingly, but it was true. I had been bored, not knowing what to do, so I went to that abandoned mansion I’d been curious about since childhood but had never dared to visit. While looking for an adventure, I had accidentally made a deal with a demon and set him free. What would happen now? Where was the demon? Or was he here, watching me? Could I break the agreement?

Lina: I feel sorry for whoever accepted that agreement. Making a deal with a demon sounds truly terrifying. But… can this agreement be broken?

Fortune Teller: Yes.

Lina: Who can break it? The demon, or the person who accepted the agreement?

Fortune Teller: The agreement can only be broken by the demon. Not by a human.

So… I had to go back to that mansion and find the demon. I had to do this to get rid of this curse.

Night had fallen. While my grandmother slept, I returned to the abandoned mansion, holding a small flashlight. The wild plants surrounding the garden cast disturbing shadows in the beam of light. The wind slipped through the broken windows.

I gently pushed the door. It opened with a creak. As I stepped inside, dust rose with every step, and the shadows of old furniture shifted along the walls.

The stairs leading to the cellar descended into the depths of darkness. Holding the flashlight forward, I began to go down slowly. Everything was silent. Like death…

When I reached the cellar, the flashlight’s pale light revealed strange symbols carved into the stone walls. The symbols were glowing. The damp air filled my lungs, and the smell of mold burned my throat. But… there was no movement. The demon was not in the cellar. The silence seemed to swallow me whole.

In the darkness, there were only old chains. No demon.

Suddenly, the flashlight flickered. My heart tightened. I held my breath.

But it was only the flashlight’s battery running low.

Lina: Where did you go? If you’re not here… then where are you?

My questions went unanswered. Where could one even find a demon? I went back home and fell asleep.

It was 3:00 a.m. when I jolted awake. I felt as if someone’s eyes were on me. I carefully scanned every corner of the room. There was no one there—no one but me. My throat went dry. My breathing quickened. The temperature had risen. The room felt more suffocating than usual. The window was open, but there was no wind. I wanted to drink water, but the pitcher was empty. I went to the kitchen and filled a glass. When I returned to my room, the shadows beside my bed began to thicken. A shape… slowly became distinct.

A tall silhouette. Dressed in pitch-black clothing. On his back, red feathered wings, as if tearing through the darkness itself.

At that moment, our eyes met… Was this him? The demon. He wasn’t gray-skinned or horned like they said. But fear still flooded my entire body. I felt my hands trembling. The demon looked at me in surprise and whispered:

Demon: Can you see me?

I didn’t answer—more accurately, I couldn’t. I wanted to speak, but the words knotted in my throat. From my silence, the demon seemed to understand my answer. He frowned and murmured:

Demon: I can’t remain invisible for long anymore.

I wanted to scream, but no sound came out. I wanted to run, but my feet felt nailed to the floor. Seeing my fear, the demon smiled and said:

Demon: I won’t hurt you. After all, you’re the one who accepted the agreement.

I took a deep breath and spoke with great difficulty.

Lina: I didn’t… accept the agreement willingly. I just found it. I didn’t know…

The demon took a step toward me. There was no threat in the movement—only curiosity.

Demon: So… you played with fate. You opened a door without knowing what it was.

His eyes gleamed for a moment, as if he could see something inside me.

Lina: I… want to break the agreement. I want to send you back.

The demon tilted his head slightly. A demonic smile appeared on his face.

Demon: Oh, how sweet. And just as innocent… Humans are always like this. They do something, then regret it. They want to turn back time. But some things… don’t return.

The air in the room grew heavy. The walls seemed to darken. The lamp still emitted a faint light, but it no longer illuminated the room… only him.

Lina: Then… what do you want?

Demon: How impatient you are. First, let’s get to know each other. I am Vassago.

The demon extended his hand in a friendly manner. I hesitated. I instinctively took a step back. Shaking hands with a demon? Even the thought made my stomach churn. But I also had to face him. I could only learn the rules of this dark game by knowing him. The demon kept his hand extended for several minutes, staring into my eyes. When he realized I wouldn’t take it, he quietly withdrew his hand.

Lina: Why can I see you?

Vassago: Because I’ve lost my powers. I’m growing weaker with each passing day.

Lina: You lost your powers?

Vassago: No being is created invisible. Angels and demons are visible as well. They only possess invisibility to hide from humans and other creatures.

Lina: Why did you lose your power? Who locked you in that cellar?

Vassago: I’ll answer all your questions. After all, we are partners now.

Lina: Partners?

Vassago: Yes. You accepted the agreement and freed me from that cellar.

Lina: I didn’t free you! It was just a piece of paper! I couldn’t even read what was written on it…

Vassago’s smile widened. At that moment, when I looked into his eyes, I noticed the pain within him. This being enjoyed playing games, but this wasn’t amusement—it was sorrow.

Vassago: The paper merely cracked the door open and loosened the chains that bound me. But coming to the abandoned mansion, going down into the cellar—that was your choice. Every choice is a door. Some, once opened, never close again.

Vassago began pacing slowly around the room. His shadow stretched and shrank along the walls, enveloping every corner.

Vassago: I won’t hurt you. Trust me.

Lina: Trust a demon? Never!

Vassago walked as if drawing a circle around me.

Vassago: Trust… isn’t it a strange word?

Trembling, I stepped back and spoke loudly—almost shouting.

Lina: I will never trust someone like you!

Vassago stopped behind me. He stood there silently, but with unshakable confidence. At that moment, I felt a strange warmth… His wings were almost brushing my shoulders, their heat sending a shiver through my skin. Those red feathers—wild, yet protective. They felt like shelter within danger.

I gripped the glass in my hand tighter. I couldn’t swallow; his presence was too overwhelming. I turned my eyes toward him—if we made eye contact, it felt as though everything I’d hidden inside would unravel. The silence felt like a secret… a dark one. If this was a dream, I wanted to wake up.

He leaned in and whispered into my ear. His breath brushed my neck like a faint shiver.

Vassago: Don’t speak so loudly. You’ll wake your grandmother.

My heart nearly stopped. If my grandmother saw me with a demon… she’d have a heart attack and die of fear. The demon took a step back. That eased me. I refocused. I had to break the agreement and get the demon out of here. Only the demon could break it. But would he?

Vassago: I won’t break the agreement.

I didn’t need to ask. The demon had already answered the question running through my mind.

Lina: Are you reading my mind?

Vassago: I don’t have the ability to read minds.

Lina: Then how did you—

Vassago: You don’t need to know me closely. You just need to fulfill the condition of the agreement, Lina.

My God. He knew my name—and my thoughts… while I knew nothing about him except that he was a demon.