Chapter Seventeen
Six years after the burning
"You know what to do?" I asked Rixon, raising my eyebrows. We were headed to the barn where Barnabas Underwood liked to spend his time.
"Of course! Now Barny; he's the one who needs to be ready! Bit of a quivering quail, he is. Needs to man up. " Rixon responded confidently. It was finally time; Barnabas was sixteen years old, and Rixon's excitement was practically pouring over. It had been hard enough to corner him; Chauncey had watched over the boy like a hawk, keeping him from any sign of myself or any other danger. He'd slipped up, deciding to go to court and leaving the boy behind. Henry was less than a decent father to him; in fact, he'd stopped acknowledging him in person when Elizabeth died, although he still sent money as required. As a guardian, he was incredibly remiss, allowing the boy to wander around as an urchin. For a sixteen year old, Barnabas was a little naïve, and a slight coward at that. Rixon had plans to use his nature to his advantage.
Rixon opened the barn doors, and Barnabas looked up from his book, sitting in his pile of hay.
Have at it, I told Rixon, becoming invisible in the shadow of the now closed doors.
Needing no other words, Rixon began to charge the boy.
"Hey! Who are you, and what do you want—"Barnabas couldn't finish before Rixon had lifted him up by his collar.
"Well now, it seems a proper introduction is in order. Allow me to start." Rixon threw the boy into the wall, and before Barnabas could run, he was choke holding him on the wall. "I'm your worst nightmare, Nephil."
Barnabas' eyes widened. "You…you're a fallen angel! Chauncey warned me about you! He said that you would try to steal my soul!" he choked out. Rixon laughed evilly.
"You apparently didn't listen to him very well, and now, yes, your soul is mine. Now, there are a few words that I need you to say. Say them, and I'll let you leave here without too much trouble. Do you understand me?" When Barnabas didn't answer, Rixon clocked him across his jaw, leaving a bright welt.
"Do you understand me?" he shouted again. Barnabas nodded quickly, and Rixon let him fall to the ground.
"The words are 'Lord, I become your man'. Get on one knee and say them. Now!" he commanded. Instead of complying, a whimpering Barnabas began to crawl towards the door. Rolling his eyes, Rixon quickly kicked him in the chest, sending him flying into one of the wooden beams. He continued to beat the boy, and blood began to spray around the ground. I couldn't help but be slightly disturbed; it seemed like Rixon was enjoying the boy's pain more than he wanted the oath.
Rixon, the oath! He can't swear the oath to you if he's unconscious! I warned.
He'll live, Rixon said back, turning to face me.
I couldn't believe it, but I felt bad for the boy. I knew what it was like to first make a Nephil swear fealty; the power and the hunger for that chance to feel, but considering all he'd suffered (not to mention he was a little slow in the head), I felt like he didn't need this much persuasion. Maybe I was just feeling merciful; maybe I wanted to lighten the load on my soul.
Chauncey will return tomorrow; I'd rather do this without any conflict. We've waited too long for you to mess up now. Besides, you don't want to look hideous on your first Cheshvan, do you?
Nodding, he lifted a bloody Barnabas to one knee. Gurgling, Barnabas was able to whisper the oath.
"Excellent job, boy! I expect you here by Cheshvan." Rixon said happily, dropping him to the ground.
Barnabas gurgled out something else while we were leaving.
"What?" Rixon yelled back.
"You…you killed my mother…Chauncey said that you forced him to kill her…" he whispered.
Rixon threw his head back and laughed. He seems to have me mixed up for you.
When we got far away enough from the barn, I dropped the invisibility.
"Did you have to be so cruel? It took me much less time to force Chauncey." I said nonchalantly.
"He needs to fear me. He needs to know what'll happen if he doesn't follow my orders." He answered. I nodded, resigned.
Cheshvan
Having already possessed Chauncey, I'd waited for Rixon inside of the barn. Chauncey had come home and, in searching for Barnabas, saw the carnage that had occurred. He knew now that he wasn't alone in his servitude. Finally, I saw "Rixon" walking up the way.
"How does it feel?" I asked him. Rixon was in wonder.
"It…it feels…it feels amazing…" he murmured. I smiled at him.
"I know. Completely worth it." Rixon nodded eagerly.
"Let's go! There's a woman with these beautiful flaxen locks that I can't wait to bed!" With that, he ran into town.
At the moment, I was waiting in the hall, enjoying my apple beer, waiting for Rixon to finish with the latest woman he'd bedded. I'd already had my share of women, and it was amusing to me that Rixon seemed to have no end. When they were finished, the woman opened the door and hurried out. I looked inside to see Rixon lying on the bed, smiling at nothing in particular.
"I only wanted to see if you were interested in cards tonight. I've got a feeling I'm going to get lucky tonight." I told him, leaning against the door frame.
"Lad, I know what getting lucky is like, and I'm not going to do it as well playing cards. You go on ahead, make us some money; I'll catch up with you tomorrow." He said, turning towards me.
"Make us some money? I don't think I should share when I'm the one doing all of the hard work, don't you think?" I said, laughing. Rixon stretched, unperturbed.
"Aw, have a heart, Patch. I'm enjoying my first Cheshvan. Besides, money can be made year round, but feeling the soft skin of a lass; I've got two weeks. I don't know how you can resist."
I smirked. "I have excellent self-control."
"All the better to play cards and make us money with." He rubbed his hands together. "Now, do you mind calling another one of the wenches in here? There's plenty of them out there; I prefer blondes, but any one will do."
I laughed at the eager and hungry face he had on. "Don't strain yourself."
After pointing one of the women into the room, I closed the door and left the building.
Go ahead...go ahead, I know you were thinking it...for a moment there, you almost uttered the blasphemous words "poor Hank", didn't you? 0o0 ! It's kind of hard; I don't know who I'm rooting for, considering both of them turn out to be bad guys...what'll you do? Lol his meanness to Nephils aside, I love the idea of Rixon being very voracious when it comes to women. Both of them, yes, but Rixon's got a little less...finesse.