Author's note: This chapter is dedicated to the very talented Kanon Wakeshima, whose deftness with the cello I hope to recreate with the pen. Seriously, her music is gorgeous...if you haven't listened to it yet, what the hell are you waiting for?

Anyway, enjoy! :3

...

Craig was taken aback by how visually arresting Pip was in this position.

In some small part of his brain, a part that hadn't yet been taken over by...whatever IT was, Craig was able to drink in Pip's beauty and savor it. With his arms held aloft, Pip looked like a rare species of butterfly...his pale skin crisscrossed with quivering, delicate veins. His head lolled on his shoulder, causing his golden hair to obscure his face...Craig could only make out Pip's mouth, a stream of saliva filtering from the corner.

An even smaller part of Craig's red-fogged brain remembered the deep-seated desire he felt for this boy. Long before he simply wanted to violate him, he had wanted to possess him...a fact which made him hate himself, and the object of his desire. A question that often arose in his brain resurfaced now - why was Pip so enticing? What was it about him that made people want to ... hurt him? To claim him?

His kindness, for one thing, the uncorrupted part of Craig's mind answered. I don't believe I've ever seen him hurt another living creature...for all of the years we've attended school together, he's never been cruel to anyone. And God knows, he had every right to beat the shit out of...all of us, pretty much.

A memory floated to the surface of his mind: Craig had hurt himself on the playground...in his mind, he could see the blood trickling down his arm, and for a moment, he could remember hurting. The other guys had continued playing kickball, unconcerned with his suffering. Not wanting to draw attention to himself, he had gone to sit on the school steps...he had applied pressure to the wound, but the blood wouldn't stop. Out of nowhere, a hand holding a thick wad of gauze appeared before him...and then kind blue eyes were watching him closely, waiting to see if he would accept help. Pip had managed to make the blood stop...had even put a band-aid on his arm...all without a word, and certainly not expecting anything in return. Craig could remember feeling ashamed that he'd been such a dick to Pip...and this shame had filled him with anger...somehow, he had always known that Pip was a more worthwhile human being than any of them...

(especially him, he couldn't help thinking...)

This knowledge, that Pip could never become as twisted and wretched as the rest of humanity, had filled him with a wistful love for the boy. But, over the years, the idea that Pip would go on being a potential beacon of hope in a sea of tired, useless people (himself included)...had filled Craig with an acidic hate.

Craig also recollected pushing Pip down the school stairs soon after he'd nursed his wound. As Pip had been taken away in the ambulance, Craig had felt deep remorse for what he'd done. On the flip-side of his remorse, however, had been a savage hope that somehow he'd stamped out a little of Pip's light...that maybe he had managed to make him a little more like the rest of the world.

But I didn't, Craig thought, bitterly. I'm not strong enough to devour such good. That's why I've been trying to chip away at Pip for all of these years...and he's still the same. He will never change.

His eyes passed over the immobilized Pip again. A low groan was escaping from his mouth now, and he was trying to lift his head. Craig's heart felt ripped in two at the sound of Pip's discomfort. Without warning, the feelings of wanting to maim and kill the boy were fading...while the desire to hold him and be cleansed of his sins was growing. A desperate part of him wondered if Pip could transmit some of his clear light to Craig...that maybe there was a part of him that could be salvaged.

What should I do? He asked himself. I'm so confused...!

Stop whining, the foreign voice chastised him. Why are you getting bogged down with all of this sentimental bullshit? Don't forget that Pip IS the reason for your suffering. Don't forget that no one is all good or all evil - Pip is just as capable of hurting you as you're capable of hurting HIM. Now stop fucking around and finish your task - or you'll have to answer to me.

The last thought sent agony slicing through Craig's head. Before the curtain dropped over his brain again, filling him with murderous desire, Craig lamented ever succumbing to the voice.

...

The handcuffs were biting into Pip's wrists terribly. No matter how many times he tried to readjust his arms, the metal of the bracelets dug deeper into his skin. A terrible numbness was sweeping through his upper arms as well, contributing to his discomfort.

I feel exhausted, but that vapor won't let me fall asleep, he thought, drowsily`. Damien certainly thought of everything...he made it harder for me to fight back, but he wanted me awake enough to experience every little detail.

An eternity had seemed to pass as Pip waited for Craig to make the first move. Though he was too tired to look up, he could sense Craig standing off to his left, watching him closely. A fresh wave of goose-flesh broke out across Pip's body as the tension in the room heightened.

Why is he just standing there? He has me exactly where he wants me...why doesn't he do something?

With a monumental effort, he was able to turn his head to look at Craig. His bangs shifted, allowing Pip to glance at him without hindrance. What he saw made him feel even weaker than he already did.

Craig was indeed watching him, his eyes glowing like smoldering rubies. Behind him, however, was Damien, hovering in the air very much like the mist that had escaped Craig's wounds. He had his arms wrapped loosely around Craig's neck, and was languidly whispering something in his ear. All the while, his eyes never left Pip's face. The moonlight caught on one of his fangs when he smiled, creating a vicious sparkle. Momentarily, he stopped whispering in Craig's ear and spoke directly to Pip:

"He's grappling with his feelings of love for you," he explained in a lazy voice.

Pip's mouth opened in utter surprise. Craig loved him? But he thought...

"I thought he hated you, too," Damien said, interrupting his thoughts. "The big oaf is just so muddled about what he wants that it wasn't clear to me at first. But, yeah, he loves you, Pippy. Sure, it's a deranged and...distasteful sort of love, but it's there. How does that make you feel?" He grinned.

"I-I..." He stammered.

Damien laughed harshly. "This whole thing is just so priceless. I started out wanting to teach you a lesson for even thinking of disobeying me, and now I've made this hilarious discovery. This night is just full of wonderful surprises, don't you think?"

Pip managed to find his voice. "I've learned my lesson, Damien. You've gone far enough...let me and Craig go!"

Damien ran a hand through Craig's hair. "Only on one condition: Will you help me willingly?"

Pip's silence answered the question more effectively than his words ever could.

"I'll take that as a no. As you wish, then, the game will continue." Damien sneered.

Desperate, Pip shouted at him, "If you want my help so badly, why don't you just possess me the way you did Craig? Wouldn't that be easier for you? Why did you have to get him involved?"

Damien sighed. "I only have so much energy, Pip. It would get really tiresome and boring having to control you constantly...besides, it's more fun for me if you help me willingly. It'd be nice to corrupt you just a little." He winked at him.

Pip was angry now. "Stop playing with me like a toy, Damien! I'm tired of being forced into doing things I don't want to do!"

Damien's voice was becoming irritated. "And I'm tired of your resistance, Pip. Really tired of it, actually."

In a flash, Damien was on top of Pip, straddling his body. "I am the son of Satan and I will not be disobeyed. I like to play games like anyone else, but my patience with you is running really thin. Normally, I'd kill you and be done with it, but your tenacity is too intriguing for me to simply destroy it. I want to channel it in a different direction...preferably one that benefits me."

He dragged a claw down Pip's cheek, drawing blood. "I will have you for my own devices, and if that means leaving a few bodies in my wake, so be it. Now, will you help me, or not?"

An intense rage gripped Pip's mind now, and as stupid as he knew he was being, he shook his head. With the last of his energy, he reared back his head and spit in Damien's face. It sizzled where it fell.

Damien chuckled and allowed the saliva to linger where it would. "So be it. I'll leave you and Craig to your little game. But, first..."

He placed a hand under Pip's chin and jerked his face upwards. Delicately, he licked the blood from Pip's cheek. "I deserve a little reward for bringing you two together this evening, don't I?" He asked.

Damien disappeared from the bed and reappeared behind Craig. Brutally, he shoved him towards Pip. "Get to it, little man. Your plaything is anxious to get to know you better."

With a wink, he disappeared as silently as he came.

TO BE CONTINUED.