Worlds of Darkness

Chapter 10

By GirlX2

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House watched as the creature grappled with Wilson. Perhaps grappled wasn't the right word, though--everywhere the thing touched, Wilson's flames vanished. His features, indistinct as they were, seemed to grow gaunt. As he struggled, his flames were turning from black to a dirty gray.

Wilson was dying before his eyes.

If he kept at that thing, he would vanish, or burn himself out. House steeled himself and swung himself into the thing's legs, knocking it off balance. They both tumbled to the ground, freeing Wilson from it's touch.

"Leave him alone!"

God, he wished he could keep his voice from quivering.

The thing turned on House. "You've outlived your usefulness."

Damn. Hadn't they just done this? House was still against the wall, and Wilson still couldn't do anything to help him. All they had done was make the creature before them even madder.

"No." Wilson was lying on the floor. His color hadn't returned, but was no longer flickering. "I'll do what you want--just let him go."

"No. You won't." The anger had cooled slightly from It's voice. "I can see that no matter how I try to menace him or entice you, you won't follow my orders."

"So…you'll let him go?"

Wilson flinched at the question. There was an unnatural note of hope in House's voice--either he was cracking under the strain, or the transformation had reached past his body and into his mind. In either case, it didn't bode well.

The thing laughed cheerlessly. "Why, of course not. The only reason I haven't killed him yet is that I put to much effort into bringing him here."

It turned from House, regarding Wilson coldly. "I've had eyes on you for so long, and all for naught. I don't like being disappointed."

"If you watched me that long, you should have known I wouldn't do this." Wilson hissed.

"I suppose. But you are unique in a long line of superiors, James. Something to be proud of, I suppose. At least as proud as one an be while being in your position."

The last word was accompanied by a snap of the thing's fingers. Instantly, a large cylinder rose from the floor, a thick cable extruding from it's top. The cable wrapped around Wilson's neck, and pulled him onto the top of the structure. It pulled taunt for a moment, nearly choking him. Wilson was held firm to the five-foot high surface, able to stand--but only just.

"What is this?"

"It's a candle, James. You're going to be my candle-flame, since you're unwilling to be my servant. I will keep you until I grow bored, and then snuff you out. And, just so you know, as an immortal, I may not grow bored for a very long time."

"No!" House was instantly clawing at the thing. "Let him go!"

"I will--if you can reach him."

The lie was so obvious in It's voice, Wilson expected House to cry out in frustration. Instead, there was a gooey SMACK. Wilson looked over the edge of the candle as House attempted to claw his way up it.

"House, stop!"

House did stop, but it wasn't by choice. His hands and feet had stuck in the tar-like wax of the candle. He was struggling but couldn't get free.

"Wilson, help me!" Tears began to stream down his face.

Wilson reached for him, but his hand could barely brush House's face, let alone any part that was stuck in the wax. "I…I can't."

"Don't worry--what's left of him will be freed once you've burnt the candle down." The thing said. "He'll be pulled into it soon enough."

"No!" There was barely a feeble flicker as Wilson reached for it. He'd used up whatever power it was that let him rage.

Tendrils of wax were creeping up House's arms and legs, pulling the loose cloth of his night clothes taunt against his small body. They were pulling him forwards, slowly but surely. He was still struggeling, terror emblazoned on his face.

"I'll take my leave, for the moment. I suspect you two will want to talk." The thing smiled and vanished.

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To be continued...