“What the fuck?” Conan exclaimed. Stella was behind all this? It did not make any sense to him.

“Well, I can see you are confused, old friend, so I am going to fill you in a little bit before the show tonight.”

Show? Conan thought, he decided it was better to let the old bat talk and he could try to think of a way out of this. Plus, he was curious what the hell was going on.

Stella pulled up a folding chair and sat peacefully. She looked like a nice old lady this way, but her eyes still shone with evil excitement. She began, “I was raised by my grandmother, and she was a very powerful witch. She sat me down very young and explained our lineage. The power from witches in my genes traces back to the darkest times in human history. Many of my family members died protecting our craft.”

“So, naturally, I have been a practicing witch for quite a while. However, the one thing my specific family has been tasked with as a price from the devil himself for powers is finding eternal life. I took over my grandmother's studies when she passed. She was extremely close. I was devoted and tried many different spells to complete our life-long task. I wanted our future witches to be able to cast spells freely and not worry of this burden anymore. However, where I found the answer was in the thing we were all fearing. Death.”

“We were too focused on drawing from the living to extend our powers, but why not the dead? I became obsessed with ghosts and those who have this life. What happens when we die? Where do we go? All of this led me to where our power even comes from. So, I created a spell unlike any other.”

“I devised the plan to take a life from both life and death to grant me my own. So, I picked you, Conan.”

“I created that portal that night. I drew you to the forest. I was to fully kill you and then eradicate your ghost immediately after to grant myself eternal life as I fully extinguished any flame you had left on the Earth. However, I shared your surprise when I found you as a half-life being. My plan had failed, or so I thought. I stayed close to you to find my answer. I messed up my enchantment by assuming I would have to kill you only once in both forms, instead, I have to kill you twice in both forms. However, by the time I figured this out, you did your disappearing act. And even though I am a witch, your spell did work for a short time so I did lose you. Then, you stopped using your powers, so I had to send out demons willie-nillie till one finally found you. So many lives lost to finding your greedy ass.”

“However, I did find you, and your little friend. Which works out even better for me. As of course, I can finally get your powers of eternal life for good, and I can kill the one you love for even more power, and because you pissed me off. It is truly the perfect trifecta.”

“So, here is how this will go. First, I am gonna kill your little girlfriend. I am gonna perform the ceremony my family has done for years to find temporary youth. Then, once I am my beautiful self again, I will finally end your existence and be able to live eternally. I will pay off my family’s debt and get to live in peace. And, as a bonus, I will be able to harness both the powers over life and death, making me the most powerful witch in existence!”

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Conan stared in disbelief. All this time, this curse was his best friend’s fault. No, it was his fault. All of this. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes in shame.

“Okay sweetie, now that you are all caught up, I have to get ready for the ceremony. So, I am going to put you under again to keep from figuring a way out of this. See you soon, babe!”

Stella placed her wrinkled hand over Conan’s eyes as he shook his head vigorously and she whispered something in his ear that made everything go black again.

_______________________________________

Conan awoke a few hours later to see the moon was bright and directly above his eyes. He was still restrained in the same position, but now the table was laid vertically so he could see outward over the stage. In front of him were hundreds of demons screaming loudly from the seats. He looked to his right and found Luna to be restrained in the same position. Her head was slumped over her chest with her length of hair covering her face. Her shoulders were bobbing with heavy sobs. She was wearing dark blue flared jeans that were covered in dirt and blood with a few miscellaneous rips along the knees. Her black tank top was also ripped along the collarbone and had a few dirt patches as well. She looked like she had been through hell.

Conan immediately began to speak her name. Softly at first, but deeperation turned his cries into a yell. He seemed to finally get her attention when she lifted her head slowly and looked to her left at Conan. Her eyes were bloodshot with her cheeks bright red from crying. She had a cut along her bottom lip and her upper lip trembled. Her face seemed to lift a little at her first glance at him, but it quickly turned to a scowl. She whipped her head the other way and breathed heavily.

“I am so sorry, Luna,” Conan whispered and hung his head in shame. As if on queue, the raggedy, old Stella emerged from somewhere behind them and walked between the two walls holding her guests. She was wearing a white, flowy dress with many layers of cream and bright white. The color was beautiful against her dark skin, but such a beautiful gown did not fit her humped posture and sagging features. She lifted her arms and the demons in the crowd joined her in a howl. Candles meticulously placed all around the room burst into flame and provided a warm and ambient light.

Stella walked over to Conan, smiling sweetly at him, and placed a light kiss on his cheek. Conan shivered as she walked over to where Luna was restrained. She turned to face her fans again.

“Today, my friends, we finally end what began all those years ago. You have been patient, and tonight, we shall be rewarded. Now, let the first part of the ceremony begin!” Stella shouted. The demons roared as she turned back to face Luna. Stella slowly lifted a side of her skirt to reveal a long, silver blade clipped to thigh in a garter. She pulled the blade and held it above her head. The silver sparkled in the candle light. Conan did not understand what was going to happen, but it could not be good. He began to pull desperately against the restraints to no avail.

Stella then brought the blade to her chest and placed it in both hands in a prayer position. She was enchanting silently to herself with the knife, her head lifted to the open sky. Conan saw this as his opportunity and yelled to Luna.

“I am so sorry Luna. I was only trying to protect you. You were the greatest thing I have ever experienced and I couldn’t lose you. I love you, Luna. Please forgive me.”

Luna widened her eyes at him and gave a soft smile.

“I know,” she mouthed.

Stella then looked up and lifted the blade directly above Luna's heart.

“I love you Conan,” Luna said as Stella plunged the knife deep into Luna’s chest.