The music has been turned down to a moderate rumble in the background. My eyes flicked to Philetos' complacent expression. The smog of the aroma coming from the surrounding candles was extremely irritating and distracting. Already I felt impaired, and in such a nervous situation, an air of fleeting helplessness choked me.
“What do you want? Why...do all of this?” I worked out. My throat felt strangely dry, but I would and could not touch a drop of that red wine.
“Ah, ah. Well, I was hoping were gonna have a nice little dinner first, talk a little about what I want, and what you want and go from there.” He brought himself back to the chair opposite of me. “That is- What I had hoped was going to happen, but you've already decided against that route.” The legs of the chair scraped against the floor loudly as he inched even closer, causing me to jerk backwardly in my chair.
“Yes, I see we're well past any hope of conducting this civilly. And here I thought you were a credit to your kind, always acting all refined and prim. Even in that arena when you were smashing brutishly like the best of them, you did it with a certain amount of understated grace that doesn't seem at all present here.” He drummed his knuckles flat against the table with a bit of a hum as I stared to him contemptuously. “Ah, but. I suppose you can only be who you are, truly. So let your guard down, darlin'. I know how you beasts really are.” He let out a seemingly bored sigh. “And how to deal with them.”
Enough was enough. I cleared my throat as well as I could. If you wanna talk, lets talk, but do not threaten me like this and expect me to take it submissively. I'm not here to be your gracious hostage submitting to your whims. I want only answers.
“Cut the threats. I'm not here to play house or relent to you. Just explain why the hell I'm here, Phil.”
The words escape from me with a forcible tone. Half of the reason to sound in a way to sound halfway intimidating, and the other half because I had to force them out.
“Threats? Just a warning, I'm sure. I really do want the rest of this evening to go smoothly, Maneater.”
Do not call me that.
“Don't.”
“Don't what?” He asked, a slight smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Oh, do you prefer Oolala?”
I feel an irritating twinge of anger. I know what he's trying to do. I cannot let him also take my anger hostage.
“You do not get to call me that.” It comes out coldly at best. It conceals nothing, and I know this round he's already won.
“Why? I rather like Oolala.”
“Stop.”
He sighed ironically, palming at his own wine glass.
“My apologies. I’m sure the right is only reserved for close friends. A bit of ambition on my part. See, that is part of what I want exactly, to become very close friends.” The overly saccharine sentiment in his voice was grating.
“That is not what you want.”
Stop dancing around it, you obnoxious theatrical jerk.
He chuckled and gave a wink.
“But I'd love to be your friend, truly I would, Oolala. Because I care about you and your upcoming decisions. Why else would I go through all of this effort?”
Because you are a megalomaniac jerk who likes to take things too far, is why. I wouldn't be surprised if he was filming this whole thing. I found myself glancing around the room to spot cameras, but once again my senses were failing me. However, his ominous wording was not lost on me. I could feel an ultimatum coming.
“What upcoming decisions?”
“Ah, there's a golden question! And here I thought we were due for at least five more minutes of vehement staring. Always efficient, Oolala! I can see why whats-his-face keeps you around. Other than the obvious loyalty ingrained into your little dragon brain. Which is actually a high selling point of your kind.” He left his seat to swipe a large and battered book. The front cover was ornate with some sort of runic circle. “Well, before I answer that question, can you guess what this is?”
Bells and alarms went off in my brain as I recalled seeing a similar book in Yulie's possession. That can't be. He was exactly the person not supposed to have this. The sole person we were trying to keep away from it, and he has had it all this time. Somehow, I was not very surprised as I was entirely frustrated that so far he held all the cards.
"Zoya's. . .book.” I said in a near whisper. “How did you get that. You shouldn't have been able to. She put up wards specifically to keep you out.”
“Same way demons get everything, little Maneater. You would know better. We make deals and work for it.” He replied with a grin. “Just have to strike them with the right people with the right conditions.” He pat it with his hand, sliding it towards me. “Go ahead, take a look. I've had it for a good while now. Probably not too long after I employed its help to help this guy kill off his own kind. But- You'd probably know all about that one.”
“And I prove that you didn't completely succeed on that, either.” I replied coldly. The mirthful look he held dissipated a bit, as he drew into a long sigh. That is one thing I could hone in on. He didn't like to be associated with failure. p***k a pin to that inflated ego.
“Yeah. But the thing is, I didn't completely fail at all, either.” He punctuated the end of his sentence with a smile that was far too unnerving to be taken lightly. “And that is exactly what I am trying to do. Tie up those loose ends.”
Curtly, I leaned into his space. “By what, killing me? I know you could've tried to do so way before all the creepy stalking and this kidnapping.” I was temped to reshape his nose, but information first. “So what's your game, you're trying to get me to play? What sort of decision do you want me to make?”
“Well, to start with, I know something you don't know even about yourself.” He leaned in again standing over me, as his eyes traced over my body. “What's that old saying? 'What's inside matters'? Well, that applies big time here.”
I could feel my expression turn to disgust and confusion. How dare you leer at me. I lifted an arm to smack him away, but he caught it just in time. I ripped it away from his grip, and I'm forced to notice how weak I felt. What the hell did he put in my body to make me feel this powerless?
“What are you trying to say?” I could feel myself heat up trying to control my anger. “What did you do to me? What did you do to my body?!”
Philetos just gave an amused chuckle and waved me off.
“Oh that? It'll wear off soon after I'm done with you. What I'm talking about is on a less physical level.” He took a stride away from the table, walking to what looked to be a movie projector. “Its about what we demons all have eyes for; Souls, darlin'.”
I didn't know if I should have felt a little relieved or not, but I did. It was a typical thing to be worried of, and because I had expected it, it somewhat brought me comfort. A bit of regained confidence, even. But I also knew that not all demons did their dealings like Demetri does. Most do not give you much of a choice or approach you with patience.
“What do you want my soul for, I have no interest in your demeaning fighting federation. I'm not stupid enough to sell it to you. You wouldn't go through all this effort if there wasn't more to it.”
“Again, right you are, Oolala!” His face lit up. “There is so much more to your soul. And you know there is, because that is exactly what all those old scaly monoliths knew as well, whenever they did that fancy spell on you to try to stop the one I had going.”
“What? How did you- How do you know about that?” I uttered, deeply astonished and and feeling further violated. How far does this go, exactly? “Who told you. Only few should even know about that.”
“Ah, ah. I can't reveal my sources. But just know that I've made it my business to know you.” He extended a hand to tap my nose. “Now. About that choice; Here it is: You will allow me the pleasure of reversing whatever spell was used on you, thus freeing you of the burden of housing a plethora of souls, that should of belonged to me anyways. Or. Well-” He chuckled intermittently. “-Sorry, I lied. There's not much of a second choice. Unless you really want to be subjected to what I have in mind.”
I took a small moment to register what he had just laid out there. I am housing souls. Somehow he knows this. Somehow, he plans to undo the very thing that has made me feel bound to a life I haven't wanted for over a hundred years. And my choice is to take it or face vague threatening consequences. Yeah, the hell with that.
“I am not going to do any of that. You will get nothing from me.”
He went silent for a moment, as a clicking sound from a projector starts. He blows a few candles out to dim the room further, and the smoke mixed with the smell does not help with my already dizzy head. He stared at me, as the image projected on hotel curtains fades from black to bright color.
“Let's play a short film of what I like to call, 'Your Loss'. As its gonna show all the things you are going to lose if continue this ridiculous bull-headed attitude, Oolala.” He makes another grab at my chin, forcing my head to look at the projection before us. “Watch it. You can't afford not to know what you could lose.”
The film starts with footage of myself in civilian form, walking alongside Misha when we went to the fair. It goes on to document a series of interactions I have with various friends, out and about at public places, until it gets darker and more intimate, documenting myself sleeping with Moxt at my side. The camera work is shaky and disturbing, and a horrible sinking feeling comes back into my gut. It even ends with me opening the red box from Phil himself, on my birthday. Red. Dark, moody, horrible red is all I could feel at that moment. The undertones of fear were bubbling under, but this was too much. I was irrevocably angry with what I saw.
“I will stop you. I don't care how far I have to go. I will make sure you never hurt any of them or anyone else again.”
I said every syllable with assured conviction that would have shook lesser demons. He could not seem to care, though. He came back over to my side, back into my personal space, propping his head with his elbows.
“Ah. I see now, after all of that, it seems that you still don’t grasp the full spectrum of what I’m capable of here. You see, my associates are extremely talented people. I know that you probably assume that its all nothing but brutes and jerks down here. Understandably so, with all the unchecked rage and such flowing around, heck; its even palpable. But, they’re actually just a group of people driven by one common thing; passion- and that passion I know how to put to good use. ”
I swallowed slightly. I was familiar with Philetos' people. They pretty much worshiped him, for reasons I both could and could not understand.
“And thats exactly how I got your number, and exactly how I've become so entangled and grossly intermingled in your life that you're going to be checking your back more fiercely for the rest of your life. They've served us both well.”
I won't let it rattle me further.
“I can handle any of them that you throw at me. And however many of them you throw at me.” I might have spoken with a bit of a hiss. “Tell me, how's those dopey fighters of yours doing?”
He clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“Do you really think you're in the position to be saying those things, Oolala? Look where you are at, darlin'.”
My claws press out involuntarily for a moment, I can feel my pupils constrict as I lay my gaze upon him with venomous rage. I want nothing more than to reduce him to nothing, but I know at that moment I can't. I try to calm myself and think about my situation. There has to be a way out. Is anyone looking for me? No. I can't just count for someone to save me. There has to be another way. I begin to realize something. Why would he even gave me that 'choice' if he has the book and myself at his mercy? It can only mean that he doesn't have everything yet. He just wants me to believe that.
“I do. Why not just do this spell you are supposedly all equipped for and get it over with? I mean, I'm already here.”
His self-assured expression drooped slightly. He chuckled sardonically, smoothing his hair over with his hand.
“Because it would be so much more satisfying with a proper stage and audience. If you have a good show, then you don't just keep it to yourself.” He explained with another blithe grin. I wasn't buying it, however it did seem like his motive. “Now, be sure to tell your employer our first date went really well, spare no detail even. Mention the lamb and Foie Gras, even. If that's what it really was, hard to tell since the chef served human once.”
The abrupt change of subject told me he was trying to derail from the point I made. He turned off the projector and turned up the music.
Oh. Careless Whisper.
“Let's dance. I heard you are quite the little dancer, Oolala.”
He began to push the table from in front of me, but I was still chained to this chair. I just glanced to him with a look that just read 'Yeah no, not in a million years, I ******** hate you.' He grabbed at my arms anyways, pulling me up, chains and all.
“Here, come on. I'll lead.”
Philetos shoved me close to his body, as a pushed and smacked him away.
'I'M NEVER GONNA DANCE AGAIN, GUILTY FEET HAVE GOT NO RHYTHM-'
He wrestled with me, and my arms even without the chains just felt hopelessly heavy. My legs couldn't muster a decent balance on their own. He shoved me towards him once more.
“Stop! Get your disgusting body away from me!” I screamed, raising my knees to get his gut and crotch in one move. He let go, and I lost balance and go crashing towards the floor. The heavy chains on my legs somehow felt like they're weighing me down more than usual. The room was blurry, and I was disoriented.
A shadow loomed over me, and I did not want to find out how far it wants to go.
“Stay away from me!” I pressed my claws out and make a slash at his throat. I made contact with flesh in my swipe. A thump to floor sounded as a body wriggled in pain. I opened my eyes and try to make them focus to ensure Philetos wasn't getting up anytime soon.
But it wasn't him.
In true horror, I realized it was the kid previously guarding the door. When did he come into the room? How did this happen? Was it when I screamed?
“Aww, you filleted him.” Phil said, watching as the kid struggled with trying to stop the blood. “Man, I was gonna give you a promotion and everything if this job went well for you, too.”
He did nothing more as the kid continued to struggle from blood loss.
“Maneater murders rookie fighter at private party. Tomorrow's headline at this rate.” He commented, grabbing his glass of wine. He had a disgusting amount of amusement in his voice.
I quickly ripped the bottom of the slip of my dress, wrapping it around his neck with fumbling fingers.
“Stop struggling, you'll bleed more.” I command, my voice comes out dry and pleading. “Please.”
The young rookie lays still, holding onto the makeshift tourniquet. He complied, but didn't look well.
“Please don't die.” I murmur. “Please.”
Phil dug out his phone, checking the time. It goes off in his hand.
“What the- Hello?” He answered it.
He talked in a low voice for a few minutes, and from what I could tell from my position on the floor, he seemed to be angriest I've seen him.
“What the fifth do you mean its wrecked? Fine. I'm done here anyways.”
In a few minutes, he hung up, and walked towards me, squatting low to the ground to meet my face.
“You have until the end of the month to make your decision, Oolala. And that is it.”
He doesn't give me time to make a response.
“Also, listen. I need you to take another nap.”
THWACK-
From that moment on, I slipped in and out from consciousness. I remember being tied up again, and being carried. As I left that room with those candles, my senses slowly returned to me. I was dropped to a hard floor. But where I was at, smelled familiar. Leather of chairs, volumes of paper, the saltwater of a large fish tank. The back-light and murmuring of the filter going confirmed it for me. Tears rolled involuntarily down my cheeks. This is where I wanted to spend my day. Please don't look at me like this, Deb.
He has still not left yet. He grabs one of Demetri's Swarovski pens and writes on a card with it. He waggles it in my face to make sure I see it.
Thanks for letting me borrow this!
-Phil
He puts the pen back and hunched over to shove the note into my bindings on my back.
“And with that, keep in touch. See you at the end of the month, Maneater.” He winked and leaned in as a red circle appears on the floor. “I had a lovely time with you tonight.” He got uncomfortably closer and I attempted to roll away. “Ooh, I can respect a lady who doesn't kiss on the first date.”
Soon, he got up, dusting himself off. He stepped into the circle, and disappeared.
I just laid there, feeling probably the lowest I have ever felt beyond the day of that reckoning and devastation. Helpless and alone. I resolved to make sure after all this is said and done, that Phil will never harm anyone close to me ever again. And soon, my body gave out and sleep demanded to take over.
Oola Dragon Community Member 
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