A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL : CHAPTER 11 – 20

A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL : CHAPTER 11 – 20

THE DEVIL IN HER DREAMS 1

Selena open her eyes.

I found myself sitting in a garden again, but this time, the feeling was different. The air was heavier, and the strange object in my hands pulsed with a rhythmic beat, like it was alive. The garden itself, though beautiful, seemed… wrong. The flowers were too vibrant, the grass too green. It was like someone had painted the world, but they had made it just a little too perfect. I looked around, confused, and realized I had no idea how I had gotten here.

As I shifted uncomfortably, a chill ran down my spine. I wasn’t alone.

My gaze darted to the side, and there he was again—the shadowy figure. He didn’t sit on the stone bench, but instead, lingered just at the edge of the garden, barely visible in the dim light. His form was less defined this time, his features blurry and shrouded in darkness. But his presence was unmistakable.

“Little girl,” he called softly, his voice drifting through the air like a whispered secret. I couldn’t see his eyes, but I could feel them on me, watching, assessing. “You look troubled again.” And finally, I got a glance of his face, just once

He was unlike anyone I had ever seen. His hair was dark as midnight, falling in soft waves around his face, and his eyes… they were something else entirely. At first glance, they seemed red, glowing faintly in the soft light, but the longer I looked, the more they seemed to shift, changing colors like a kaleidoscope. Reds, golds, and blacks swirled in his gaze, captivating and unsettling.

I swallowed hard, trying to calm the growing sense of unease that coiled in my chest. “I don’t feel troubled,” I managed to say, though my voice lacked conviction. There was something about his presence that unsettled me deeply, but I couldn’t show it. I didn’t want him to know how much he unnerved me.

He chuckled softly, the sound low and melodic, though it felt twisted, like a lullaby turned on its head. His form moved, just slightly, like the shadows around him were breathing, shifting as he did. “Is that so?” he asked, almost mockingly. “I see you carry something.” His gaze flickered to the object in my hands, though I hadn’t even shown it to him. “Do you know what it is?”

I stared at the object, its warmth seeping into my palms. “No,” I whispered, because I didn’t. It was strange and foreign, and even now, holding it felt like holding a part of something I shouldn’t be touching. But it was mine, wasn’t it? The box had my name on it. And yet…

The man, or shadow, or whatever he was, drifted closer, his steps so light they made no sound. He was barely there, almost like a figment of my imagination, and I began to wonder if I was dreaming again. His face remained hidden in the darkness, but his voice was as clear as ever, smooth and too inviting.

“Is there something you desire?” he asked, leaning closer, as if he could smell the secrets I tried so hard to bury. His words were almost hypnotic, wrapping around me like vines, making it hard to think clearly. “What is it you want most?”

I looked at him, or tried to. His form seemed to flicker, blending with the shadows of the trees and flowers, like he was part of the darkness itself. My heart pounded in my chest, and I found myself unable to look away from where his eyes should have been. “I… I don’t know,” I replied, though the words felt hollow. There were plenty of things I wanted—freedom, peace, a life without the constant weight of being unwanted. But I couldn’t bring myself to say any of them aloud.

He seemed to sense my hesitation, and he moved closer, his presence overwhelming now. He was right in front of me, though I still couldn’t make out his face. His hand reached up, and I flinched slightly as he gently wiped away a tear I didn’t even know was there. His touch was cold, it sent a shiver down my spine.

“Don’t lie to yourself, little one,” he whispered, his voice soft but with an edge that made my skin crawl. “You know what you want. You always have.” He leaned in even closer, his face just inches from mine now. “Tell me, and I will make it happen.”

For a moment, I wanted to believe him. I wanted to trust that whatever he was offering, it would take away all the pain, all the loneliness. But deep down, I knew better. Nothing came without a cost. Not in this life, and certainly not from him.

Before I could respond, everything around me began to shift. The garden started to fade, the vibrant colors draining away until all that was left was the shadowy figure and me. His hand lingered near my cheek for a moment longer before he stepped back, melting into the darkness.

“Remember,” he said, his voice distant now, as if he were speaking from somewhere far away. “Whatever you want”

And then, just like that, he was gone. The garden vanished, replaced by the familiar darkness of my room.

I bolted upright, gasping for air, my heart pounding in my chest. The room was silent, but the lingering sensation of his touch still clung to my skin, cold and unnerving. I ran a hand over my cheek, wiping away the tears that had somehow appeared again. I wasn’t crying when I fell asleep, was I?

I shuddered, pulling the blankets tighter around me, trying to shake the feeling of unease. It was just a dream, I told myself. It had to be. But it felt so real. Too real. And his words echoed in my mind, refusing to be forgotten.

“What ever I wished for.”

I didn’t know what he meant, I couldn’t ignore the weight of his words. Something was wrong. I had felt it ever since the mansion, since finding the box.

I glanced at the strange object still sitting on my bedside table, its faint glow casting long shadows across the room. Whatever it was, I had a feeling it was connected to all of this. To him.

But I wasn’t ready to face that yet. I wasn’t ready to believe that there was something—or someone—out there waiting for me. Not yet.

Curling up beneath the blankets, I closed my eyes again, though sleep didn’t come easily. The shadows in the room seemed to shift, almost as if they were watching me, waiting for the right moment to pull me back into the darkness.

And as I lay there, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the next time I dreamed, he would be there. Waiting for me.

A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL : CHAPTER 11 – 20

I groaned softly as I blinked my eyes open, the gentle rays of sunlight spilling into my room and casting a warm glow over the walls. It was Sunday morning—my one day to sleep in, and I had every intention of taking full advantage of it. I rolled over, pulling the blanket up over my head, wishing I could sink back into the comfort of sleep. The faint chirping of birds outside was calming, creating a peaceful atmosphere that made me want to stay in bed all day.

I wasn’t expecting anyone to disturb me, not on a Sunday. Especially not—

A sudden sound from the window startled me, and I quickly pulled the blanket down just in time to see Liam, halfway through climbing into my room. I rolled my eyes but couldn’t suppress the smile that tugged at my lips.

“Liam, what are you doing?” I asked, propping myself up on my elbows. “You know there’s this thing called a door, right?”

He grinned, pushing the window fully open and slipping inside with the ease of someone who’d done this a thousand times before. “Doors are overrated. Besides, this is way more fun.”

I shook my head, watching him land softly on the floor and straighten up. “What if I was naked?” I teased, raising an eyebrow, knowing he couldn’t resist the opportunity for a comeback.

Liam paused, pretending to think about it, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Then I guess it’d be my lucky day,” he said, flashing me that grin—the one that always made me want to laugh and roll my eyes at the same time.

I scoffed, sitting up a little more in bed, tugging my blanket tighter around me, though I knew he was just teasing. “You’re impossible,” I muttered, though I couldn’t help but smile.

He walked over to the bed and flopped down beside me, the mattress dipping under his weight. “What can I say? You bring out the best in me.” His voice was light, but there was something in his eyes, something soft that made my stomach twist in a way I didn’t quite understand.

We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the sound of the morning drifting in from the open window, a soft breeze brushing against my skin. I watched as Liam stared at the ceiling for a moment before turning his head to look at me, his expression suddenly serious.

“Are you okay?” he asked quietly, his voice softer now, losing the playful edge.

I blinked, taken off guard by the question. “Yeah… I mean, why wouldn’t I be?”

He hesitated, his eyes searching mine. “I don’t know… just lately you’ve seemed a bit off. I know there’s stuff going on, with your aunt and… other things.” His voice trailed off, but his concern was clear.

A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL : CHAPTER 11 – 20

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