6 years, 6 months, 17 days and 23 hours since he was found dead. 6 years since I met him. 6 years since my life changed. the year is 1837. The sky was still clear. the days long and sun bright. But the air was heavy. is...heavy. everything was heavy. I remember it like it was yesterday. his eyes were lifeless. the way his dead stare burned holes in my heart. everything stopped that day, everything shattered. it felt like a dream, like it wasn't real... like I wasn't there. the air was thick. the smell was heavy. the feelings were crushing. the walls felt constricting. the air was closing in, the dark was terrifying. his stare was chilling.

I couldn't move, I couldn't do anything. all I did was stare. I couldn't even mutter his name. I couldn't bring myself to even attempt to help him. I felt sick. I felt scared. I felt helpless. I started to run. I ran until my legs gave out. what was I to do? a 12-year-old church boy orphan with a dead priest in his living room. what could I do? cry and scream my lungs out. I was already an outsider. no one liked me, everyone looked at me with such pity and disgust. Papa said it was because I was 'special' and I stupidly believed him.

Well I was a kid. we believe anything. the town was dark, cold, bleak. no color what's so ever. even the cobble stones were dull. nothing to expect from the town of Stocks, Stocks Mirside, large town, big castle. the King and queen lived up the hill. The castle overlooked the city, made of dark polished marble, the city beacon of peace and happiness. I was able to see it from the church, a perfect view. if I was lucky, I could see the king doing his rounds on the castle grounds. he was such a mysterious figure. I heard his wife was a sight, she's cold like ice and as beautiful as a princess from grim tales. she walked with a grace unmatched by the noble women in town. but her aura was fierce, sharp like daggers. But I also heard she was murdered years ago and the woman he's with now is a stand in. I also heard the king was actually the puppet of a witch.

word gets around surprisingly fast.

of course, none of these rumors were true.

"Sullivan."

"Yes." I responded.

none of those rumors were true. except one. She was murdered. and he wasn't happy.

"You awake out there kid. snap out of it. or you'll be a stain on the grass." a voice spoke. deep and soft, yet commanding. he wasn't happy, he never was. at least, not any more.

he found me all those years ago. in this very field. the flowers were in full bloom. the moon was high and the sky was alive. the stars burned bright, the air was crisp and thin. he was like a ghost; I could feel his lingering presence. Of course, as a kid I didn't know what the hell that was. I was too busy crying my eyes out and cursing that man. but when he spoke to me, it was calm and gentle. he offered me a deal. one I couldn't refuse. little did I know I'd be in this situation now.

"I'm fine old man." I muttered and steadied myself. "whether I'm all there or not, these things are child's play."

he opened my eyes to a world I never knew existed.

that night, a cry baby, traumatized 12-year-old, met the King of the land. the mysterious man with many rumors following his every move. a man no one was even sure what he looked like. a man who scared people with just the simple utter of his name.

He was here, looking at me, I should be scared...right? I'm calm. it's calm. I still remember the calm smile he gave me. he was gentle with his words. manipulative. he offered me power. smart for someone so powerless. I was vulnerable, sad, hurt, in a dark place. he made himself the light. a beacon of peace. I followed him. I agreed. I took his hand.

The flowers died. Red flag.

I made my bed. and now I'm lying in it.

shrieking sounded in the distance. I whipped my head towards it.

"let's go kid." he spoke again. I gave a slight nod and headed towards the sound.

it's been getting to frequent. I swear this man attracts shit wherever he goes. the day I shook his hand and had him possess me, was the beginning of this mess. demons, vampires, werewolves. hell, and those are the tame ones. now I see things I haven't before. hear things I haven't before. do things I couldn't before. the only perk I got out of this damn deal was power. very little knowledge. he won't say much.

Even alive he wasn't a man for many words. he was cunning. secretive. Sneaky. smart. he told me a few stories on how he acquired the land of Stocks. underhanded deals and truce's humans couldn't begin to understand. he managed to say so much but also so little. from that day on I've seen creatures. ones like this. Dark, grotesque. slimy and powerful. he calls them rouges. things 'straight out of hell' his words not mine. he said it's the best way to explain it to my 'simple church boy brain'. I told him to fuck off and keep me updated on these things. of course, the next thing he said is 'we have to kill them.' yes. I, a little church kid with a demon king possessing his body is now responsible for killing and rounding them up.

confused yet?

welcome to my world.

"I think...that's all of them..." I panted out. I dropped the tip of my blade in the grass. The sky was still clear. the days long and sun bright. But the air is heavy. it always is. the clouds rolled by, covering the shimmering sun. the glare of the blade stung a bit as it beamed in my eyes. I'm not use to the light anymore. but god I hate the dark. I never noticed how lonely and crushing the dark is. what was once a sanctuary was now tainted by memories of the past.in the dark I see him; I don't want to see him.

I dropped my head and looked back towards stocks. "so." I muttered as I began to walk, descending down the hill, "you finally gonna explain?"

"explain?" I blinked slowly and nodded.

"you still have me in the dark, you know I hate that." he made a small noise of amusement. I looked down at the shining ruby on my finger, his reflection shimmered in it. he hasn't aged a day. Dark hair, the palest of skin, pale grey iris'. the look in his eyes was always dark but it had an underline of something else. "It's been 6 years. think I'm old enough yet?"

"old enough means nothing if you lack maturity." he responded slyly

"oh, fuck you. I'm mature enough to get my hands dirty for you but not old enough to be told of this magical voodoo shit. if I'm going to be your vessel, I think I need to be up to speed on the shit I'm going to go through. don't you think?"

"Not particularly. you asked for revenge, that is what I'll deliver, I don't have to explain my origins for that to be achieved." he shot back. a groan of annoyance escaped my lips. same damn answer for six years. "is that so?"

I made my way in a nearby bar, shuffling past the tons of people on the crowded streets. Stocks always smelled the worst, like shit and decay on top of sewage and faint hints of perfume. cheap of course. I always preferred the fields. no people, no problems. they're all disgusting. blowing out nicotine and germs in the air. gossiping about the latest. spreading rumors about the better off, being bored as usual. I grabbed a seat at the bar and looked down at my ring.

"tell me..." the ring danced between my finger, the ruby was perfectly cut, not a single scratch on it. A ruby, a lustrous, deep red stone. an activator of passion and confidence, develops courage and helps you face your fears. powerful confident gems? fits Atticus's personality. It's beautiful, no matter how much damage I take it remains unscathed. the night I shook his hand was the night the ring appeared. I figured the ring was the way he implanted himself. he was protective of it. I put two and two together.

"if...I was to... perse-" he cut me off instantly.

"don't. you do that you'll die."

"why?"

"you just will." he muttered back.

"will I? or will you." he went silent, I might not be as smart as this man in my head, but I picked up on his ques a long time ago. "I see."

he let out a sigh, "what are you expecting me to say Sullivan? there's a lot you don't know, and honestly, it's for the better. you aren't ready."

"when I was a kid, I remember you asking me something." I looked at the reflective surface behind the bar, directly in the eye he claims, god I looked like hell. hair was disheveled, skin cut up but I'll live. can't take off the eye patch though. he said it wouldn't be wise. so, I stared at the fabric. "you asked, 'what the hell are you?'."

"huh?"

"what did you mean. you act like you've never seen a kid sleepwalk before. it happens sometimes, not sure what you saw. but I do weird shit sometimes, papa use to say I would scare the hell out of him when I did..."

"..." no response. sleepwalking was a normal occurrence. when I was five, I use to get out of bed, walk outside and look up at the moon until papa came for me. they look on his face when he found me use to make me cry. it was always dark out there, but I always wanted to be there, he said I only did it when the moon was full, he said I use to talk about a voice, a song. I stopped sleepwalking when I got older, I mean I woke up outside from time to time, but it became normal.

Hm, did I scare the oh so powerful demon king Atticus?" I teased as I picked up the beer the bar keeps sat down for me, nodded to him and took a sip. I never drank before him. I think he's affecting me, more than what I was bargaining for.

"I'm not a demon."

"then what are you?"

no response.

"you're not human." I muttered, "humans don't do this shit."

no response.

I let out a sigh and took another chug, wiping my lips with my gloved hand I run my fingers through my dark locks and breathe out. "you aren't making this easy."

no response.

I looked at the ruby once more, I need answers. he won't talk and I'm not risking my life for this shady bastard. I'm just a meat suit for him to get his revenge, fuck I want mine too. but at what cost? not like I can go behind his back and ask. he's in my damn head. I'm sure he can hear what I'm thinking up there. why did I agree to this again? oh yea... because I want him dead too. I need him dead for what he did. But if I die before him? what's the point. what is the point of him staying silent?

"Sullivan." he spoke after a long moment; I gave a small grunt. "you asked... what I meant by that... by what I said?"

"yea."

"I... don't think you're human either..."

what?