Phoenix was a little discouraged when he had no messages from Catherine, not that he expected any, but there were a million from Molly. And one from Demi. ‘I’m on my way,’ it read. Phoenix’s eyes bulged from his skull, and he promptly opened it to respond.

Phoenix: What??

Demi: I’m on my way. Something wrong with your eyes, Astar? X x

Phoenix: No, my eyes are fine… just it takes you 8 hours to get here, and I was going to bed shortly and tomorrow—you know, I have company.

Demi: I thought I’d come and meet them too… see what the fuss is about. X x

Demi: Why this girl got your knickers in a knot. X x

Phoenix: She didn’t get anything of mine in a knot. The interview was weird, but she explained that someone paid her to say that and later printed that in a magazine, so what’s the issue?

Demi: I just thought I’d sus her out myself. You know I’m protective of you. X x

Phoenix: I know, but everything is fine.

Demi: Then why are you inviting them over? X x

Phoenix: Just to ensure everything is fine, but it is. Besides, the friend is hot.

That was a lie. Sure, Molly was hot, but not really Phoenix’s type. Catherine was his type to the core, but he didn’t want to bring any more attention to her. Demi had made it clear she didn’t like her. She didn’t like what she said about him only having one song. It was a red flag for sure. The curse protected Phoenix from people thinking that specific thought. That question would naturally put Demi on alert. But, Demi got protective regardless. She normally vetted his conquests to ‘make sure he was safe’.

So Phoenix had lied and said Catherine was paid to ask that question. Now Demi wanted to know Catherine’s source, who told her to say that. Phoenix told her he would find out when they came over, but that was yet again…another lie. And now she was coming here.

Demi: I just want to ensure you’re safe Phoenix that’s all. X x

Phoenix: I know and I appreciate that, but I just want to go to bed. I got this.

Demi: You sure? X x

Phoenix: Yes, I’m sure I can handle two young women….

Phoenix: If something goes weird or feels off, I’ll call you.

Phoenix: I promise.

Demi: Okay, well, have fun I guess…. X x

Phoenix: Well, right now I’m off to bed but thanks.

Demi: I hope you sleep well, Phoenix X x

Phoenix: Thank you. You too.

Demi: Goodnight X x

Phoenix: Goodnight

Demi: Don’t forget to hide your occult stuff X x

Phoenix: I’m not going to let them see that…. It’s not exactly a part of the tour. Besides, the room is hidden.

Demi: It could be more hidden… X x

Phoenix: It’s hidden.

Demi: Okay, goodnight again. Hope you sleep well. X x

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Phoenix: Goodnight.

After texting with Demi, Phoenix felt like he had his soul sucked out of him. He knew she meant well, but sometimes she stayed true to what she was—a succubus of men. Demi was nice. And attractive. Phoenix hadn’t lied about that during the interview, he guessed he couldn’t since he was rigged to a lie detector, but he also hadn’t lied that they were just friends. Attractive as she was with her curvaceous build, dark auburn hair, tanned body, green eyes, and sassy personality, Phoenix just couldn’t bring himself to get over what she was.

A demon.

Succubi were demons.

And sure, a lot of people would be into that, but knowing that she slept with men and took their souls, it was a deal breaker. Of course, she’d never do that with Phoenix. They had already built a strong foundation of friendship. Besides, they worked together, and they were going to be spending an eternity together after Phoenix died, so…it seemed unwise to cross any boundaries, regardless of how attractive and caring she was.

She was also pretty open, for a demon.

She told Phoenix a lot of stuff, which most demons wouldn’t share, like that she was human once. Like him, she sold her soul for fame, but wouldn’t say which celebrity she used to be in her past life. Now, she took another form, since she had sold her soul and died so she couldn’t exactly walk around as a dead celebrity, but Phoenix was forever trying to guess who she was. He once thought she was Marilyn Monroe, but really, she was far too mean to be Marilyn. Demi laughed and found it amusing regardless.

Phoenix didn’t usually sleep during the night, but he did end up laying down and trying to. Mischief and Manners joined him, taking up the majority of the bed somehow, despite how big it was, and he also made sure to say goodnight to Larry. Larry didn’t communicate the same way dogs did, but Phoenix could tell as he opened his mouth and stared at him, that he was saying goodnight too. Phoenix knew his attachment to his animals was bizarre—the way he spoke to them as if they were people. But given that he was likely destined to die young and spend an eternity in hell—given that he was slowly losing his soul each day, becoming more demonic as the curse intended—it seemed selfish and wrong to have children. So, in a way, these animals became his kids. His fur and fish babies.

As Phoenix laid in bed, he texted Molly.

Phoenix: You still up?

Molly: Yes I’m up, going to sleep soon x o

Phoenix: But you and Catherine, you’re both still coming tomorrow?

Molly: Yes, we are

Phoenix: Okay cool—I’m excited for it

Molly: Me too!

Phoenix: Just text me when my driver gets to your place okay?

Molly: Ok no worries

Phoenix: I’ll let you get some sleep now

Molly: Goodnight! X o x o

Phoenix: Goodnight.

Molly: I hope you sleep well! :) x o x o

Molly was nice. Phoenix could tell she was affected by the curse, like everyone else—save Catherine, it seemed, but she was nice. Phoenix liked her, but not the way he liked Catherine. Maybe it was because she seemed to be immune, or because she was one of the few people in this world—literally one of two—who could resist him. It made him curious. Phoenix wanted to know her, or at least learn more about who she was as a person, so—as one does—he used the web search to look up Catherine. He read some of her articles, which were posted on her blog, they gave him insight into her mind. She cared a lot. She cared about the little people, the less fortunate, and animals. Basically, anyone who didn’t have a loud voice, anyone who was powerless and the opposite of what Phoenix was, she cared for. It only made him like her all the more. It reminded him of how he felt with Larry. He took Larry because he saw something in him, despite what other people saw. Catherine spoke up for ‘the little guy’ because she saw something in them. Phoenix just wanted to stare at her sometimes…as creepy as that was. He found her socials and wanted to add her under his alias account, but resisted. She clearly didn’t want much to do with him yet, but Phoenix hoped and prayed that would change with time. He hoped she would see his place, spend some time with him, and maybe eventually warm up to his presence.

He liked her a lot! Something about her face—her eyes…her energy soothed him. She soothed him, likely because she was the only mortal that was real. The rest felt like some kind of simulation. She was beautiful as well, but that wasn’t what drew him to her. It was deeper. Much deeper. It was like he had met her somewhere before, as impossible as that was, since she wasn’t a fan. Still, Phoenix creepily stalked her socials and smiled as he stared at her face—taking in those brown eyes before he finally turned his phone off and tried to get some much-needed sleep. He just hoped that the nightmares wouldn’t get him today.

Unfortunately, Phoenix wasn’t that lucky…

It was ‘lucid dreaming’ where he was aware he was dreaming but he was there. But this wasn’t a dream—it was a recurring nightmare where he burned in hell for an eternity. Although the events in the dream sometimes shifted, it was always the same concept. It was another kind of torment. Another kind of pain. There were no words to even describe the things they did to him, and it felt real. It was real.

It was like his subconscious was aware….

It was like his subconscious knew that part of his soul was missing—elsewhere, that part of him belonged to Him: Satan.

In his nightmare, Phoenix struggled and screamed, but there was no saving him.

There was no saving him. That was the harsh truth.

There was just eternal agony.

There was just eternal pain.