Careful What you Wish for

Everything was ready for the ritual. Leanne thought as she finished setting up in her dark basement. She was going to find out once and for all who he really was. She noticed strange things around them. People were going missing and returning strangely different. Her own twin sister Layla disappeared two weeks ago before returning angrier and meaner than she had ever been. She was now in jail for a crime she couldn’t possibly commit because of it. He was the last person to talk to her before she disappeared; All the missing people had disappeared shortly after talking to him. He had to be behind whatever this was. Walking slowly into her kitchen, she sighed deeply. This was going to be a long night. She pulled out her phone and began to dial. “Good evening darling.” A gruff voice with a southern drawl answered. “Good evening, Seth…” She paused unsure how to precede. “Is something wrong?” He could sense her hesitation. “No… I was just wondering if you could come by and help me with some heavy moving boxes in my basement.” She lied, silently praying he wouldn’t notice her shaky voice. “Of course. Anything for you love.” “Okay. Thank you so much.” “No problem. See you around six?” “That sounds perfect. I’ll order some Chinese.” “Sounds wonderful.” His voice dripped with charm. “Well until then.” Hanging up the phone she leaned against the kitchen wall and slumped to the ground. If she wasn’t right about this the ritual could kill him. Her mother warned her to only use her powers in the face of danger, especially a ritual as dangerous as an identity ritual. He was so sweet and charming how could he be a monster. One way or another she was ending this tonight.

The doorbell rang causing her to gasp in surprise before running to answer it. The door swung open to reveal a tall handsome man with white hair and a scar over his left eye. “Six o’clock on the dot.” Seth winked. “On time as always.” She smiled. “The food should be here in the next 30 minutes or so.” She waved him in and closed the door behind him. “Okay so let’s get to work on those boxes until then.” His green eyes sparkled happily. “Uh… sure.” She led him to the basement and held the door while he slowly descended the stairs. She followed behind, taking a deep breath to ready herself. “Let me get the light.” She mumbled. Mustering all her power she shoved him hard into the dark, before racing to the light switch.

“What’s going on Leanne?” He asked standing in the middle of a circle drawn on the cement floor. He stepped towards her, sending a lightning shock rippling around him in the air. He jumped back in pain. “I’m sorry Seth but I can’t let you continue hurting people I care about.” “What are you talking about darling? I haven’t hurt anyone.” “Then what happened to Layla!” She shouted. “Nothing happened to her love. Well, nothing she didn’t ask for. Now how about you let me out of here and we can talk this out.” He said with a smile that sent shivers down her back. “I couldn’t let you out even if I wanted to.” She growled. “It’s a supernatural trap. If you were human, you wouldn’t be trapped.” Swiftly she made her way to the other side of the dingy basement, where she had filled a table with various vials full of different colored liquids. “Well seeing your interesting set up can I assume you are no mere human either?” She glared back at his dastardly smirk. “A witch? Or Spiritualist? Maybe an Occult Hunter perhaps?” Her eyes flickered slightly at the latter. “Hunter it is then.” He chuckled smugly. “Well, you know what I am so let’s find out who you are?” She grumbled grabbing a vial of neon yellow liquid in one hand and a small blue crystal. Dropping the beautiful stone into the glass, they watch as the liquid began to smoke and flare out before turning blue. “I don’t think you want to do that.” His calm face never wavering even with the chance of a forced transformation hanging over his head. “If it means I can help Layla then yes I do.” “Layla doesn’t need help. She got exactly what she asked for.” “She wouldn’t ask to become reclusive and mean.” “Your sister was very depressed, and contemplating suicide. She asked for the ability to no longer feel Depressed. All I did was grant her wish… I can’t help it if her anger was strong enough to fill the void.” He smirked. “Some people just cannot control their temper. Sometimes people are killed because of that temper.” “Shut up!” She shouted. “Layla didn’t have a temper until she met you.” “Your sister could be very convincing, but we all have certain emotions that keep the other negative ones in check. As for you I’m going to warn you one more time you don’t want to do this. You can just let me go and we can go about our lives as normal. No need to do anything we will regret.” With a wicked smirk Leanne dropped the vial into the circle. A cloud of blue smoke rose from the ground hiding the handsome man. Leanne watched in horror as Seth’s skin turned red and scaly. Horns exploded from his temples and spine. His fingers stretched into long claws. Leanne was only able to muster a few words. “You’re a demon?” Seth’s sharp pointed mouth curled into a devious smile. “And you my dear are way in over your head.” Slowly he pushed his muscular body through the invisible wall of lightning. “I gave you the chance to stop while you were ahead, and I really do wish you had headed my warning. I really didn’t want to hurt you, but you mortals would do anything for your loved ones; even when it spells your demise.” He stepped closer to her. She stared up at his menacing face and her scream was drowned out as everything went black.