Chapter Two:
Taming the Prince
A/N- Again thanks to every one who reviewed this fic. I hope the rest of this story gets the same results. Read on.
When Ron regained consciousness he was in a cage, furnished to look like the living room of a house. Puzzled and a little wary, he started to explore, looking all along the walls for a loose bar, or other means of escape. When he could find none he turned his attention to the place outside his cage that he could see. It was a high domed room, made of stone, and torches burned all around. There was another source of light, almost like sunlight, and at first Ron couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from. When he finally did, that was when he got his first good look at his captor.
Something that resembled a man stood towards the front of the room peering out of two curiously oval shaped windows. When he heard Ron's startled gasp he turned bringing down his hood at the same time. He looked to be about fifty, but something in his eyes told Ron he was much, much, older. He smile was cold, and his voice sent shivers down Ron's back.
"So, the little princeling is awake." For the first time scince awaking Ron found his voice.
"Pardon?" The man grimaced.
"Sorry, wrong dimension." (1)
"Who are you?" Ron questioned, still too much in shock to be really afraid.
"I have many names. For instance I have been known and feared as Flagg, and Pennywise and André Linoge. (2) But I think you'd better call me Hesperos (3), yes that seems to be the right name for this place." The man, Hesperos, grinned and that was worse than his smile. Still Ron pressed on, not realizing the gravity of his situation, after all none of those names meant anything to him. If they had he'd have been much more afraid, and Hesperos saw this and filed it away for future reference.
"Where are we?"
"Why, my dear boy, we are simply in you're subconscious. Your body is on autopilot as it were. You see, I need you. You are simply the best choice for my return to the physical plane." Suddenly Hesperos stepped fully up to the cage, and lowered his face to Ron's, black eyes flashing a deep blood red. "And I have waited a very long time!" he nearly hissed this last line. Straightening up he spoke calmly again. "Now I will return you partial control of your body." Before Ron could protest, Hesperos held up a finger, lightening flashing from the tip, and he felt a searing pain.
It stopped. Ron waited for it to start again but it didn't. The demon, that's what he had decided Hesperos was, seemed to have left. Not likely, A dry voice crackled amusedly in his head, and you might want to open your eyes. Now! Ron did so, just in time to swerve his car out from under the wheels of an oncoming eighteen wheeler.
"What the Hell!" He swore, shaking from head to toe. "What just happened?!" The voice gave a small chuckle, I told you your body couldn't stay on autopilot forever.
Still fighting the urge to drop unconscious on the spot, Ron drove the rest of the way home, only to be confronted at the door by Hermione. Ron swore inwardly, she looked pissed.
"You're late!" She nearly growled. "Where have you been? We were supposed to meet the others at the coffee-shop an hour ago!"
I'm sorry I had a few extra after school assignments.
"I'm sorry, I had some things to finish up after school." Ron felt his lips move of their own accord, his voice sounded calm and collected. Hermione 'hmph'ed and scowled at him.
"I doubt that. Well come on anyway." She grabbed his hand and tugged him back out the door. He started to pull away, and complain about needing sleep, but his body was already following Hermione of it's own accord.
Later that night Ron collapsed on his bed, exhausted. It had been a long day even when viewed normally, and it hadn't helped that every time it looked like he might say something about their encounter, however outrageous, Hesperos had taken over. At first he'd tried to fight of course, but he was always ultimately forced into submission, and eventually he came to welcome it as a respite from the chore of keeping awake. He glared at the book that still rested on his bedside table, sans the sheet of paper with the ingredients on it, surveying it with animosity.
"This is all your fault." He told it, in no uncertain terms, then grimaced. If his friends heard him talking to a book he wouldn't need to tell them the story about Hesperos. They'd put him away just as sure as rain. Was he going insane? After all, until now he'd been fairly sure he didn't believe in demons, and now he had one living in his head. He decided he worry about it in then morning and slept.
The next few days passed by in relative sanity, Hesperos was still there, but apparently was busy with his task of draining Ron's energy and didn't talk much. Then the energy flow died down, Ron didn't produce that much adrenaline. Hesperos decided to take matters into his own hands.
Ron and Neville were having a late nigh snog session, as they sometimes did, when it happened. And when Neville pushed Ron away as he often did, telling him that he had to get up early Ron/Hesperos smiled a cold smile and whispered in his ear.
"Not tonight, little one." Ron watched through his eyes, as though from far away, as his body acted against him to subdue the smaller boy. 'This isn't right!' he thought frantically, and for the first time had had something to fight for. Struggling he found the presence in his mind and tried to cast it off. The pain was intense, and it took him a while. When he did succeed, it was a small victory. He couldn't make a move, but neither could Hesperos. Slowly he opened his eyes.
Neville was holed up in a corner of his bed, eyes wide, breathing heavily. There was a cut on his forehead and a bruise was starting on his face. His shirt was torn in two places. Ron fought down a wave of nausea at the damage he'd done. As he watched Neville's eyes filled with tears and he seemed to shrink into himself. It took Ron a few moments to realize he was whispering. He strained to hear but could only make out one word.
"Why?"
Ron couldn't answer him, but he gathered the remains of his strength and turned from the room and ran. In his mind Hesperos laughed, it didn't matter; he'd gotten his adrenaline surge.
A/N- sorry, please don't kill me read the next chapter first. And now for the notes:
- Don't ask yet you'll see soon
- Characters made up by Stephen King, they all just reminded me of my demon. Told ya you'd see soon
3. It means Evening Star.
