appeared from nowhere in this dark prison.
Max looked around, understanding dawning on him. “You’re trapped, aren’t you?”
“He took my body.”
“Are you okay with that? Is that what you really want? To exist inside his head, while he takes the power you wanted for yourself?”
“I knew the risks,” Jacob answered sullenly. “You don’t bargain with the devil without knowing he’s the Prince of Lies.”
“Then why do it at all?”
“You wouldn’t understand, would you? Born into money, adored by your parents, I bet. But my family saw me as an aberration. Something different from the rest of their children. It wasn’t until I discovered the legend of Lucifer’s Cage that I found a purpose. I lied, betrayed and murdered to get to this point… for power. For prestige.”
“I don’t fully understand… and I suspect I don’t want to. But I’ll ask you again: is this how you want the story to end? With you locked away inside here until he’s done with your body?”
“I have no choice.”
“Yes. You do.” Max offered a hand to Jacob, who stared at it in confusion. “Help me.”
* * *
Evelyn was on her knees, the magic fire in the room beginning to sear her lungs. Though its touch did not harm her, the smoke and heat from it seemed real enough.
She glanced up at the devil, which had managed to knock Max off of it. The Peregrine lay on the ground like a broken doll, barely breathing.
Before Evelyn could contemplate her next move, the Peregrine sat upright and began crawling towards the fallen dagger. The devil moved to intercept him, but stopped in mid-movement. Evelyn could see anger and dismay on the devil’s face and he began to speak nonsense:
“Stop that! This is my flesh now! You have gotten your prize! Now be gone!”
The devil doubled over, growling. He looked upright, staring into Evelyn’s eyes… and for a moment, she was positive that the being staring back at her was truly Jacob Trench. He smiled wickedly at her.
The Peregrine rose up over the devil, raising the dagger high. It was brought down with awful force, stabbing straight through Trench’s neck and protruding through on the other side.
Evelyn gasped and looked away as droplets of blood fell on her like rain.
CHAPTER XXIII
Endings and Beginnings
Evelyn slipped out of the tub, checking her reflection in the mirror. She looked none the worse for the harrowing adventure in Germany, though the first few days back had left her feeling sore in places she didn’t even know she had. As she wrapped a fresh towel about herself, she wondered which dress she should wear for the evening: the black one was her favorite but she’d noticed that Max favored the red.
Red it would be, then.
After dressing and applying her makeup, Evelyn cast a glance over an open script next to her bed. It was a good one and it promised a return to the silver screen, both of which appealed to her. Working on the stage in Atlanta was fun but there was always a tiny part of her that wanted more.
She stepped out of the room and went downstairs, where Max was waiting for her. He’d arrived early for their date, which was par for the course. In the month or so since they’d returned from Germany, they’d gone out practically every evening and he’d made it a standard practice to show up an hour or so early each time. It had annoyed her at first but she’d come to recognize it as a compliment of sorts. He wanted to see her as soon as possible.
She found him in the den, standing next to the radio. His expression was grim, but it didn’t detract from his handsome features. In fact, it only added to them. “Something wrong?”
Max turned to face her, his eyes drifting over her curves. In some men, such a look would be worthy of a slap… but for some reason, Evelyn didn’t exactly mind that Max found her body pleasing enough for the occasional leer. “You look wonderful,” he said.
“Thank you. But you didn’t answer the
Max looked around, understanding dawning on him. “You’re trapped, aren’t you?”
“He took my body.”
“Are you okay with that? Is that what you really want? To exist inside his head, while he takes the power you wanted for yourself?”
“I knew the risks,” Jacob answered sullenly. “You don’t bargain with the devil without knowing he’s the Prince of Lies.”
“Then why do it at all?”
“You wouldn’t understand, would you? Born into money, adored by your parents, I bet. But my family saw me as an aberration. Something different from the rest of their children. It wasn’t until I discovered the legend of Lucifer’s Cage that I found a purpose. I lied, betrayed and murdered to get to this point… for power. For prestige.”
“I don’t fully understand… and I suspect I don’t want to. But I’ll ask you again: is this how you want the story to end? With you locked away inside here until he’s done with your body?”
“I have no choice.”
“Yes. You do.” Max offered a hand to Jacob, who stared at it in confusion. “Help me.”
* * *
Evelyn was on her knees, the magic fire in the room beginning to sear her lungs. Though its touch did not harm her, the smoke and heat from it seemed real enough.
She glanced up at the devil, which had managed to knock Max off of it. The Peregrine lay on the ground like a broken doll, barely breathing.
Before Evelyn could contemplate her next move, the Peregrine sat upright and began crawling towards the fallen dagger. The devil moved to intercept him, but stopped in mid-movement. Evelyn could see anger and dismay on the devil’s face and he began to speak nonsense:
“Stop that! This is my flesh now! You have gotten your prize! Now be gone!”
The devil doubled over, growling. He looked upright, staring into Evelyn’s eyes… and for a moment, she was positive that the being staring back at her was truly Jacob Trench. He smiled wickedly at her.
The Peregrine rose up over the devil, raising the dagger high. It was brought down with awful force, stabbing straight through Trench’s neck and protruding through on the other side.
Evelyn gasped and looked away as droplets of blood fell on her like rain.
CHAPTER XXIII
Endings and Beginnings
Evelyn slipped out of the tub, checking her reflection in the mirror. She looked none the worse for the harrowing adventure in Germany, though the first few days back had left her feeling sore in places she didn’t even know she had. As she wrapped a fresh towel about herself, she wondered which dress she should wear for the evening: the black one was her favorite but she’d noticed that Max favored the red.
Red it would be, then.
After dressing and applying her makeup, Evelyn cast a glance over an open script next to her bed. It was a good one and it promised a return to the silver screen, both of which appealed to her. Working on the stage in Atlanta was fun but there was always a tiny part of her that wanted more.
She stepped out of the room and went downstairs, where Max was waiting for her. He’d arrived early for their date, which was par for the course. In the month or so since they’d returned from Germany, they’d gone out practically every evening and he’d made it a standard practice to show up an hour or so early each time. It had annoyed her at first but she’d come to recognize it as a compliment of sorts. He wanted to see her as soon as possible.
She found him in the den, standing next to the radio. His expression was grim, but it didn’t detract from his handsome features. In fact, it only added to them. “Something wrong?”
Max turned to face her, his eyes drifting over her curves. In some men, such a look would be worthy of a slap… but for some reason, Evelyn didn’t exactly mind that Max found her body pleasing enough for the occasional leer. “You look wonderful,” he said.
“Thank you. But you didn’t answer the
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