Bound to the Devil

The silence in the car was suffocating. My fingers gripped the steering wheel as I watched that ridiculous scene in front of me. The church overflowed with joy, with laughter and applause from the guests, all celebrating the perfect couple who had just walked through the ornate wooden doors.

Married. Happy. What a joke.

My body still carried the remnants of my escape from Hell, a feat few had accomplished before me. My time down there had taught me many things, especially about suffering. And now, here I was, stuck in this pathetic body I had managed to possess, doomed to something worse than Hell: impotence.

I glanced at myself in the rearview mirror. A common body, devoid of charisma, and to top it off, male. No beauty, no allure. How could I wreak havoc like this? My former form—beautiful, young, and commanding—would have had the world at my feet. But this… this was just a cruel joke of fate.

My weakness kept me trapped, unable to jump to a new host. The only thing left was to endure that unbearable scene and slowly plan how to ruin it all. The groom, Nathan, should have been broken, just as I had molded him. But there he was, beside another, smiling, as if pain had never touched his soul. And all of it because of her.

That woman took from him what I had created. She turned the man who belonged to me into something weak, complacent. And I wanted to destroy that.

“You shouldn't be here.”

A deep voice shattered the silence. My heart raced for a moment before I slowly turned. The imposing figure in the back seat radiated power—cold, absolute.

The Devil himself.

“You escaped, but no one escapes twice.” His voice was like the sound of grinding stones, emotionless, unhurried. He was here to take me back.

I felt his power pulling me, like invisible chains wrapping around my soul. There was no escape this time. I was doomed.

The last thing I saw before being ripped from that miserable body was the smiling couple, surrounded by people, so unaware of the destruction that was coming.

And then, I was consumed by darkness.

“Set me free!” I scream, even though it feels futile once more. I slam my dark essence against the glowing bars of this hellish cell.

“NOW!” I exclaim again, but, as always, my voice echoes into the void.

I hate how my voice resonates down here. It sounds distorted, a lamentation, never a sweet melody. I cry out in frustration and turn in circles.

I loathe everything about being trapped. I have no physical body, only this black shadow that is my true demonic nature; I have no proper voice, no food, wine, and the most devastating: sex!

I am a seductress. A demon created specifically to lure men. Tempting them with carnal pleasures and then leading them to their ruin, so their souls can be collected and sent straight to Hell. The satisfaction of torturing and destroying my victims is a small addition to my wicked behavior.

I spent nearly two hundred years on Earth, playing my role and enjoying every moment, but now I am trapped for eternity, with only my memories to console me.

I am a shadow that was banished, sent to the deepest circle of Hell because of my sin. My only crime was being discovered and sent back here.

Well, that and the difficulty of managing to escape again. I suppose that’s the reason I am literally in this Hell.

Understand this: the Lord of Shadows allows you to pass through the portal once. If you are exorcised in life, that will be your fate. You remain here to endure your existence under the orders of your creator.

I never imagined my weak slave, David Fletcher, would have the audacity to rid himself of me.

What a traitor.

I sigh. It’s a shame he left me. I thought I taught him better.

I miss him, as much as that is possible. He was the ideal slave, always attentive and willing to cater to my dark and damaged side. Oh, how he was damaged. He was ready to be taken. It didn’t take much to lure him into my grasp. No, he was eager to be harvested, and I should have eliminated him months ago, but I wanted to keep him a little longer. It was extremely fun to toy with him.

But then that bitch, Maya, showed up and took him from me. I wanted to stay to ensure Clara returned to being the dominant personality in that mind, so I could ensure their happiness would be destroyed. Unfortunately, the Lord of Shadows caught up with me and sent me back, locked away in this fiery cell, waiting for him to decide to set me free.

If he still remembers me. That’s a strong possibility, as I can hear the wails of hundreds of other lost souls trapped in this abyss.

Upon hearing one of those anguished cries, I truly hope he hasn’t forgotten me. I don’t think I can stand being here much longer. Time no longer makes sense, and I have no idea how long I’ve been locked up here.

Too long.

I try to vaporize my black essence once more and futilely seek to escape this circle of fire that keeps me imprisoned. As expected, I fail and scream again into the dark, exasperated.

“Nerina!” The Lord of Shadows suddenly confronts me. “Silence! Your incessant screams are driving me mad.” He says in his beautifully threatening voice, but somehow soothing.

He is striking, while I just cry like a lost soul. Not to undermine the wails, of course.

“Please, let me out.” I plead with him, floating to the bars of the cell, trying to get as close as I can before he hurls me back to the center of the circle.

He watches me; there’s a charming smile on his lips that hypnotizes me for a moment.

“I’m not sure I can trust you,” he replies, examining his flawless nails. He approaches me, disguised in a form so seductive and beautiful that I despise him.

I wish he would reveal his true form to me, instead of being this alluring creature, radiating warmth, with dark hair and green eyes in front of me.

Rumor has it that only one lucky demon has ever witnessed his true form. Or should that be unlucky? She was so shaken that her eyes went mad before succumbing to insanity. I know I’m stronger than that. I’m one of the few who managed to escape this place after being imprisoned. One of three in the entire history of Hell to accomplish this feat. The Lord of Shadows knows what is in me. I hope he has found a use for my many talents and hasn’t come just to torment me, leaving me trapped for eternity.

“You can.” I cry out again. “You can trust me. I am under your command; let me go!”

“Yes, you are mine.” He says with desire, examining me with predator's eyes.

I don’t know why he finds this dark stain so alluring, but again, he created me from the damned soul of someone two hundred years ago. There must be something in me he finds attractive.

“Completely yours.” He adds before disappearing from my sight.

I scream once more. He left me here.

I was at the peak of my power before I underestimated David. It was a foolish decision, but I didn’t realize he had been corrupted by that bitch, Maya. I should have seen this coming, and now my punishment approaches.

I float in the void, silencing my screams with a dark determination. I will show the Lord of Shadows that he cannot destroy me.

No one can break Nerina.

I must be feared and respected. Adored.

Not trapped in some abyss of Hell to be forgotten. The Lord of Shadows came here for a reason, and lamenting my situation in a weak and pathetic manner will lead me nowhere. No, I need to demonstrate to him my strength, remind him of what I am capable of. I will remain here, serene and focused, until he returns to retrieve me.

I hope he comes.