Birth of Dwindella

by Culanaluana

RIP Steve Barton

8. First Fright Fight

"Did you enjoy yourself?"

I heard a familiar huffy voice speak to me through the darkness.

There was misshapen shadow and two tiny specks of light that were no doubt a pair of eyes that were staring at me from inside the house.

"It was okay, nothing to write home about, it was rather dull to be honest."

"Yet you stayed.

Can you believe it?

They wouldn't even let me in through the gates.

I was informed that there would be a meeting that would go on later than expected and that transportation would be provided for you after the meeting was finished.

I'm wondering what was so damned important that they needed to keep you out so late?"

"We... discussed the locations we'll be visiting, you know for the show."

"Locations? What locations do you think you'll be visiting?"

Dirk's eyes had lost nearly all their color, they were vivid and fierce and frankly he terrified me.

"We have to visit certain locations, so we check them out, you know see if their safe and suitable for the show.

They are supposed to be haunted and it's our responsibility to explore these places so we know the layout and we can figure out where to set up the equipment.

It's supposed to fun or so I've heard".

"Why do you have to go?

Can't the location crew go instead?"

"I was invited to go... by Mr. Vander Hoff himself."

"Oh really...well you're going to have decline his offer".

"That would be rude to decline his invitation.

I'm a paranormal consultant so i have every right to be there with the rest of the crew.

Besides Mr Vander Hoff is my employer, It is my duty to show him respect, he's the one that hired me and he owns the entire Studio, to refuse his invitation would be in extremally bad taste.

He expects me to be there with the crew tomorrow and,I intend to be there."

"Oh do you?

So i suppose he's the one that will be picking you up and bringing you back from now on."

"No, there are others than can provide transportation for me.

Its a huge studio, there are a lot people on the premises".

"Interesting, than who brought you home today?"

"Sidney, Mansfield's Lawyer, took me home today".

"Sidney, i remember hearing the name."

"Yes Mansfield mentioned him when we first went to his office."

"Oh yes but I've heard the name before.

Does he have a last name by any chance?"

"Salazar... Sidney Salazar... Why?"

"Just curious.

I know that this Mansfield expects such great things from you but I have even greater plans in store, so first thing in the morning you will call Mr. Vander Hoff and you will inform him you will not be coming in and that you are needed elsewhere. You will explain to him briefly as possible that you already made plans in advance."

"I will do no such thing.

You can tell him yourself."

"Oh I would but he doesn't like me, he likes you, so I think it would be best if you were to tell him instead."

"Nope, not happening. I refuse to lie to him for your sake."

"Oh so you're loyal to him but you're not loyal to me anymore.

So what did you tell him, Splendor?

Did you let a little secret slip?

Did you feed him lies so he'd despise me?

I demand to know, Splendor, what did you say to him?!"

His words shot into the air like newly sharpened arrows.

"I didn't tell him anything but you know people around the studio have been telling me some very interesting things about you and your past".

Dirk shot up from his chair and towered over me, he harshly clutched onto my wrist, i could feel his pulse doing the macarena and i knew i had said the wrong thing because there was violence glowing in his eyes at this point.

"Really and what do they say about me?"

"Maybe you should stay around a little longer at the studio, instead of running away and you might find out".

"Funny, so that's what you think I'm doing?

You think I'm just running away?

I was giving you, your space now i see, clearly that I have made a grave mistake.

I never should have trusted you to manage this all on your own, I really should have supervised more, you clearly need me step in and intervene so that these other people won't take advantage of you.

What troubles me is why I was kept from entering the gate.

No Visitors, it's a private meeting that guard said.

Thay guard had a weapon on him, he threatened that he'd use it on me if I didn't pull away from the gate.

Tell me, What do they say about me?!

TELL ME! Dammit!"

"I won't tell you anything especially when you're shouting at me!"

"This is very sad.

Am I going to have to call Dr. Chesso again? I really don't want to but if you keep having manic episodes like this you'll leave me no choice.

So either you call Vander Hoff Tomorrow or I'll give the good doctor a call in the morning, I'm sure they'll have a bed available for you at the Institute.

I'm sure if I tell him it's urgent that he'll make room for you."

My heart tightened and froze up yet then I remembered all the bad publicity he had gotten the last time I was admitted to Morningside.

"Oh you do that Dirk. You go ahead and do it. In fact why don't you do it now, or you could wait and just further incriminate yourself.

After the location hunting, we will then start filming and after filming, the show will be released. There will be interviews, I'll be meeting plenty of important people, not just after filming but most likely I'll be getting calls in between shooting, they'll want to know my story and how i do my job.

You see before i was a nobody but now I'm crawling out from under your shadow and I'm coming up in the world.

People will know my name, they'll be pictures, articles, videos, all sorts of media following me around, they're might even be paparazzi which means picking up that phone may prove to be even more dangerous.

I'll tell you why, this is my life, my Life is no longer going to be private which means anything you do or say has a even higher risk of being made public.

So if you have me admitted be prepared for making a big ugly splash on the front page of every newspaper and news station.

You'll be the top story but it won't be a good story, it will be most likely defending my innocence and throwing you in under a very negative light.

Call that doctor and you may find yourself getting roasted by bad publicity.

I know you don't want bad publicity now do you, Uncle?"

"You're bluffing. Nobody cares about you because as far as i am concerned you are nobody, already. Oh so you have a few friends, they won't save you, besides haven't they heard about your admittance to Morningside? Once they hear you have a History with the place they may not be as forgiving towards you.

Just call him in the morning, it will make things easier for you".

"I don't understand why you think you are so important that I have to put all my plans on hold for you".

"Because i gave you everything, i fed you, I clothed you, i provided you with a home, I've given you a life of luxury. I fucking raised you so YOU OWE ME!"

"NO, you're wrong! I owe you nothing! You gave me nothing but heartache and loneliness, you left me to drown in my own silence and tears.

You never believed in me even though i was the one that solved all those mysteries for you.

I spoke the truth and still you called me crazy.

I gave you your success, I sat back and cried myself to sleep while you took off traveling the world and enjoying that success, that should have rightfully been mine.

I didn't care cause i thought it would make you happy, I would have sacrificed anything just to have you say you were pleased with me but it was never enough, my blood, my tears, my submission, my silent obedience to you and my undying love and blind loyalty wasn't enough for you.

You always wanted more and frankly I am EXHAUSTED from having to serve you and please you. I'm sick of being your slave!

When you took me in as a child, I had time to pay my debts to you, so i worked hard every day of my life but now I'm 23 years old, how much longer do i have to labor for you until my debts are paid in full?"

"You are an ungrateful child, insolent and disrespectful.

I should have raised you better".

"I am not a CHILD! I am woman now!

I should be independent and living on my own, I should have a husband, a home and family by now.

Is that what you want, you want for me to give all of that up for you?

I've already given up everything for you.

I squelched out so many dreams just so i could see you live out yours.

I sacrificed my own happiness for you, so I've never once been happy in my entire life that I've been with you, I've never truly had any sort of happiness.

Do you know that?"

Dirk wanted to scream back at me but his throat tightened, silently he swallowed the words, gulping the hateful phrases back down his gullet, he threw my hand away so as to let go of my wrist.

This was the moment I'd be waiting for all my life, the moment where I'd actually stand up to him and leave him speechless.

I had defeated him.

I still couldn't enjoy it because ny was body was jittery and my head felt light, my nerves raw, exposed and jumpy.

I decided to walk up the stairs, i fought my apprehension with every step, I kept dreading that he would run after me, or he'd trip me or maybe even hit me or throw me across the room.

He's done none of those things before but i felt the sting his anger in the air and I wasn't sure what he'd do next, since I'd never seen him this angry before".

I took a step into my room, I fastidiously shut the door, I let out all the air from my lungs and I allowed, the long suppressed tears to trickle down.

"Brava, Bravissimo. That was quite a show you put on down there and I didn't even have to help you, you handled it all by yourself, you actually held your own, you defeated him.

You have Conquered him!

You must be very proud.

I know I am".

Dwindle gave me his applause and his devious smile followed after he cheered for my triumph.

"It wasn't a show, that was all very real, almost too real and it took almost all my strength to say those words and stand up to him.

Those words are things I've wanted to say to him for a long time. I feel I should be relieved, I I feel I should be happy but instead I feel like the wind has been knocked right out of me.

I ache and I hurt, my energy is honestly so drained.

I don't know if i can do that again."

I made a few desperate inhales which just made me sound like I was hyperventilating.

"Shhhhh... breath...go easy on yourself. It was your first time... you'll have a chance to do it again, you'll have plenty of time to practice, you might even get to do it everyday.

The important thing is you've done it, you defeated him, you overcame him, you overpowered him, you faught him and you won.

It's hard to be strong but you've always been strong, Splendor.

You've had this strength all along, you've always had it in you to do this, that and so much more.

You can rest now.

Come and lie down sweet Splendor".

He lead me to my bed but I didn't lie down instead I just sat there beside him and blankly stared off into space.

"You were out late.

Do anything fun while you were away?"

"Not really, I just stayed after hours to train with Sidney.

He's a clairvoyant like I am and be offered to teach me how to use my abilities better.

He claims he knows how to use telekinesis.

He's really not what I thought he is.

I didn't trust him at first.

I made snide remarks Whenever I could with him, I was abrupt sarcastic and suspicious but I think I've misjudged him.

I really don't think he's all that bad.

I believe he has a good heart and he seems to always have the best intentions behind everything he does.

There's always a logical explanation for his actions.

I think I'm starting to trust him now."

"Good. Does he know about me by any chance?"

His fangs were exposed, glinting in the moonlight, the lights flickered, there was a ominous rumbling of the floor boards, i could see the planks below, roll like a wave.

"He knows about you.

I didn't tell them your name but he asked if the we were friends. He gave me a warning how I'd put myself in danger that one time when I calmed you down, he said I could lose my soul and that demons don't get any better, they can only get worse.

I kept my cool and I didn't really elaborate any further.

I gave basic information cause I figured the less he knew the better."

"Yes you're right. You must never reveal my name, names have power and you need a name to summon a demon and as for our relationship well yes I think it is best you keep that to yourself.

People might not understand the kind of relationship we have.

They'll worry, they'll say you're crazy or they might even think that they need to come here and rescue you.

So yes you might as well refer to me as your friend... for now...just to be on the safe side. Anyhow I missed you.

I missed you terribly.

Did you miss me too?"

"Yes of course I did.

Um you know what I am really tired, I'm going to close my eyes and...go to sleep".

I rolled over so my back was facing him.

"So strange and very unlike you. You aren't even going to give me a goodnight kiss".

I panicked, my body stiffened with apprehension, for I knew he never just wanted a kiss before bed, so he wasn't really talking about a simple kiss but something far more sinister.

I didn't mind giving him a few drops in the evening and I didn't mind if he took a few drops more, just as long as he didn't drain me dry I was fine with it yet lately it had become a nightly routine.

He expected his share every night and yes I admit I enjoyed it tremendously but sometimes the thought of him feeding off of me, gave me this dreadful nausea and I couldn't help but worry and wonder if I was creating a monster.

"I'm only asking for a kiss, nothing more. Trust me you'll enjoy it and you'll even sleep better, I promise you."

"What if I say no...this time?"

"No? You'd say no to this? No to me?

You've never said no before, not like this and not at this hour.

This is our time together, these are, our best moments together, is in the evening.

I don't understand.

Do I bother you?

Oh no it doesn't hurt does it?

I've got it! I've taken too much haven't I?

I'll restrain myself.

I'll take less, you don't have to worry, I'll be gentle, I'll go fast , I'll go slow, I'll do whatever you wish, I'll do anything just so You'll be happy.

Tell me what to do and I'll do it, without question and without complaint."

"You'll do anything... for me?"

I rolled onto my back to look up at him.

"Well yes, I'm crazy about you. Why are you so surprised?"

"I'm not surprised. I just worry about you.

I mean I enjoy these moments we have together but I keep questioning myself.

I can't help but think that maybe we are taking this too far".

"Don't be ridiculous. One of these days I won't have to do any of this, I'll be free, I won't be human but I'll be very close to being one and then God will see my soul and he will redeem it.

I'll be redeemed and maybe I could even become an angel one day.

Don't you see I want God's forgiveness, I want him to see me and I want him to love me, that's why I'm doing this every night, so I'll be right with him.

My soul will soon be cleansed by your blood and when I am completely cleansed, I will have wings of the purest white and I shall outshine every demon in existence.

I even came up with a name for myself, my new name shall be Raphael which in ancient Hebrew means "God Heals.

It will perfect, I will be perfect, you'll love me even more because you won't fear me any longer, you'll be free to love me without fear of judgement from God".

"When are you going to see that you are free of judgement already? I don't fear you and iy don't fear God either.

I'm just worried that this desperate pursuit for purity and freedom may push you further away from me and further away from God."

"No that will never happen, my plan is already working out so perfectly.

It says it right here".

There was a eruption of flames that bloomed from his fingertips and amongst the fading flames was the book I had shown him, the same book that Dirk had presented to me as a gift so many years ago.

"I, Swerva, Opposer of Walrick Wastrum, have defied the natural order of magic by consuming the blood of a pure soul.

I am free but I am not free of immortality, I have found I can drink freely as well without consequence just as long as I show restraint and the soul is willing.

Magic was once only a art given to angels but since the fall of Lucifer, many demons kept thr old magic with them on earth. The Demons of this world were foolish, they gave their aid to humans and in so doing they passed those abilities down to humankind. Humankind has become too powerful and far to corrupted by Satan and his followers.

It is now time for me to summon the fallen ones, there are those who no longer show loyalty to Lucifer, I will gather them together and we will create a new world, with a new order and a new civilization that is free of all evil.

I however may have made the mistake of placing a curse on the Wastrum family.

I hope my children that succeed me shall have mercy and remove the curse, for no doubt there will be a pure soul amongst their family line."

"Wastrum, that's my uncle's last name.

Do you think he's related?"

"Yes most likely since there isn't very many Wasrums out there in the world."

"If he's indeed a descendant of the Wastrum Family then he's cursed and maybe that's just the problem with him, maybe his soul is just tainted by the curse and maybe if we help remove that curse he won't be such rotten villain like he is now."

"That's a lot of ifs but I don't feel like doing him any favors plus I have this horrible feeling that removing whatever curse he might be under, may just make things worse.

I don't mean to be a bringer of bad news but I've seen into his soul, Splendor, there was not even a hint of light in it, it was pitch black, no stars, no moon, no sun, no hope and there was no warmth there.

It was a empty and numb abyss, there was nothing but a void, he is one with the darkness Splendor.

If there is a curse upon him I'm afraid he's already embraced it, no doubt he's been allowing that curse to strengthen him and when you accept evil as if it were your own, it becomes a part of you, it consumes you, it scoops out the good and replaces it with sin.

I know you don't want to hear this but there are some people in this world that have such harmony with the forces of evil that the evil begins to feed them instead of feeding off of them.

There were a great many wizards and warlocks that found this kind of harmony very useful, they'd trick a demon into helping them and they would absorb their power yet the same goes for those that live without magic.

Evil can't be removed if it's already been accepted and I don't believe his soul is willing to let go of this terrible evil.

What I mean to say is plain and simple, Splendor, it's too late for him. What's more is do you really want to save him after all he's done to you?"

"No I suppose not. I was just hoping that he could be helped or saved somwhow.

I thought maybe the curse could be lifted and he could be the father I've always wanted, we'd be happy like the fairy tales I used to read. I know it's silly but I guess deep down I just want everyone to get along but that's not very realistic now is it?"

"Having hopes for something better is never silly, Splendor.

Just know that even God can't help these who don't want to be helped.

I know you want to save him but I'm not the right one to do that, I'm a demon, I don't specialize in the saving of souls, I mostly excel in the art of curses and other dark incantations.

I mean I suppose I could lift the curse without much trouble but curses are tricky, removing them is easy but to remove the damage the curse has left is the hard part.

Curses often don't get lifted in time and after awhile the damage done by that curse becomes permanent.

Curses usually effect the soul and I don't have the power to heal the soul.

So he'll have to remain cursed for now. I'm sorry Splendor".

"No it's fine, I'll have to leave him behind eventually either with you or with this new career.

I feel at ease and at peace knowing I didn't fail to save his life. I won't feel guilty when I leave him for good because I'll know he was already lost.

I won't feel like a failure anymore, I'll be free in the knowledge that it was never my job to save him."

"Interesting way of looking at it but yes you will eventually have to say goodbye, so you might as well let go of him now and face the truth that you cannot save him from himself.

Seeing the best in people isn't silly but not everyone is all good, realistically every soul has both dark and light but not your uncle.

He has no light left in him.

Don't allow the good in you to blind you from the truth.

I'm glad you are taking this so well. Oh by the way, this is book forged in magic, it has ancient magic known as Infinite Bliss.

Infinite Bliss is something so old that neither angels nor demons recognize it as their own.

It's a simplistic sort of magic, it doesn't draw power from either good or evil, it is pure, definitely could be categorized as magic of the light yet infinite bliss can give any object a infinite amount of abilities, more specifically it is used to give infinite knowledge to certain things like this book for instance.

However this book only gives the information that is needed, however I've found if you ask nicely, the book will show you what you want as well.

This ancient magic may be simple but it is nearly impossible to destroy.

There was a time long ago, that there was a clear line between the light and the dark, good people were good, evil people were evil, there was never a doubt that one was hiding who they really were deep inside.

There were humans that worked magic only for the purpose of helping others, when they weren't helping others, they used their powers for practical things, like housework, writing rough drafts for long novels and fixing their tea and preparing dinner and whatnot.

The object in the house would eventually absorb the energy that their magic provided and these objects would eventually become alive.

It was said these magical objects had souls and that they were indeed sentient beings.

It just goes to show that goodness does have a way of rubbing off on certain things.

I've heard the stories even say that it is possible that the pure intentions of a soul and the very character and personality of a person can be transfered through the art of Infinite Bliss, it's just takes patience and a little bit of kindness.

This book may very well be the key to achieving that infinite bliss."

"I thought my blood was supposed to be the key to your infinite bliss?"

"Your blood isn't magic,

this book is magic and I am magic as well, so magical things are bound to happen now for sure".

"Well you have fun with that, right now I'm going to bed."

"Did I insult you... perhaps?"

"Yes you did if you must know.

Did you ever think that maybe I had a little magic of my own, magic that could rub off on you as well?

Let's think outside the box shall we and imagined that maybe my magic has enough power to actually bring you new life, a life that is free of all this darkness and evil that surrounds us."

"Well I'm certainly open to the idea.

I have seen a lot of changes take place in me. I have changed, strangely enough the atmosphere around here has changed as well, ever since you came here, things have been different.

When you spoke to me in that pillar of smoke and thunder, you spoke to my soul.

I wanted to destroy you, I wanted to destroy everyone, understand I was lost in my bitterness and my silent isolation, I was lost in my loneliness and in my pain.

I don't think you'll like to hear this Splendor but there was a reason I spoke to you in your dreams.

I wanted to punish you for subduing me, I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn't soft or weak, I wanted to prove to myself that I was strong.

I was hoping to lure you here so I could corrupt you yet when you finally came I couldn't do it."

"I knew it!

That's why you were being so seductive and charming, the moment I walked into this place, I knew the intentions behind those sultry tones and kind gestures.

Then on the first night i spent here you made me think that all your intentions were good and pure.

You made me question myself, you made me doubt my own feelings! I thought I was fucking crazy!

You really are cursed because you are clearly no better than my uncle is. GOODNIGHT!"

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