There I sat in a chair of fine leather, engaged in what felt like the most intimidating staring contest ever. The opponent? An old man I'd been led to believe was Madelyn's grandfather. He remained silent, his eyes locked onto mine, peering deep into my soul. The tension was palpable, and I was starting to understand why Madelyn was so uncomfortable.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaS7KCLyiEz
"Why are you so nervous, my boy?" Madelyn's grandfather finally spoke, his lips curling into a gentle smile.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruBzxX0AVn
I chuckled awkwardly, attempting to break the ice. "I'm sorry, sir. I'm just pretty shy when it comes to meeting new people."
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAveT34S8uy
In all honesty, I wasn't lying. Meeting new people had always been an uncomfortable experience for me, but this old man took it to a whole new level of unbearable.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEY63swYXe
The old man's sympathetic smile was reassuring. "Well, don't worry, young man. I promise I won't bite."
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8feJC3n2Xi
"Yea, right," I thought, faking another laugh.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzoj4n8YJi
"The truth of the matter is, we brought you into our home for a few answers," the old man explained, glancing over at Madelyn, who sat next to me in a similarly lavish chair.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20RKlIkOXr
I could read the unspoken story in Madelyn's eyes as she sat there, her face marked with the aftermath of a heated conversation with her grandfather. It didn't take much to discern that their discussion hadn't gone well – the red, puffy eyes and swollen cheeks painted a clear picture. To me, it was evident. Madelyn had been crying, and she'd been hurt.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZJiZbR33o
The rush of anger surged within me, directed solely at this old man. My thoughts of respect transformed into a dangerous blend of rage, echoing a memory from long ago.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5jNvava1T
"Hey, old man," I growled, my fists clenched in anger.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuRjWDKHJA
"Did you hit her?" I demanded, pointing at Madelyn's swollen face, surprising both her and her grandfather.924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nTomg9jLk
Madelyn's grandfather remained silent as he observed my explosion of fury.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9q81EowfT
"Yes, yes I did," the old man responded, unapologetic and imperturbable.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpjXqwuS6Y
My body seemed to react on its own, fueled by a response that only infuriated me further. Filled with anger and outrage, I lunged at the old man, ready to strike him in the face.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50gQ72Lpx8
My clenched fist raced toward the old man's face, driven by unyielding anger and no mercy, but as it neared its target, the punch came to a sudden halt.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WOe9dci67
My eyes opened wide with shock. "Madelyn?" I stammered, seeing her standing before me, my fist ensnared in her right hand.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvl838k8P7
I hadn't seen her move, and as I gazed into her eyes, they were as cold and sharp as daggers. This was a woman poised to strike like a predator, and as I stared into Madelyn's intense, piercing eyes, a bead of sweat formed on my forehead.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQ5JU8PlfR
Madelyn's once-piercing eyes softened as she implored, "Ethan, please, calm down."
"We only want to talk," she added, and her tight grip around my fist finally loosened, which was a relief. I had no doubt she could have broken my hand if she had chosen to.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQfU0Va123
I settled back in my chair, and Madelyn did the same as she sat in the one next to mine. I couldn't help but rub my knuckles, eyeing the old man who remained seated in his leather throne, seemingly unperturbed.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTDdjK3iWU
"You're quite the fiery young man, aren't you?" the old man chuckled. "I like that."
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡld7hpQKeU9
"Enough with the games," I demanded, my patience waning. "I want to know what's going on." I wasn't interested in beating around the bush.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebEV7BP88R
"Did what I saw really happen?!" I couldn't contain my shout.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDbYyxVZef
I turned to Madelyn. "That man had pitch-black eyes, and you cut off his arm!"
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCjVyLgu39
"That was no man," Madelyn's grandfather explained, adding to my confusion.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwD04cyrHJ1
"What are you talking about?" I asked, my brow furrowed.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaj0dxSPphU
"There was a time when that creature could've been considered a man, but that time had long passed."
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiilETmOlq
I struggled to find the words to voice my bewilderment. Part of me wanted to say that the old man was crazy, as well as Madelyn, but they both seemed oddly calm and unwavering in their convictions.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo31Gy3Rv87
"If he wasn't a man, then what was he exactly?" I inquired, feeling a sense of unease creeping over me.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQ44jU8pny
The room fell silent for a few moments. "He was a demon."
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMcvcGdb89
"A demon?" I questioned, disbelief evident in my tone, even though a part of me recognized that it started to make sense. All the things I had seen, could it really be true?
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwU730rKwR
"They do exist," Madelyn stated, probably noticing the skepticism on my face.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4WI19W7Kx
"Indeed they do," Madelyn's grandfather affirmed, rising from his seat and moving towards the fireplace.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2blVQgegp
The old man stared into the blazing flames. "They exist within the darkest shadows, in the most demoralized hearts, in the most broken minds."
The old man turned to me, his gaze piercing. "As well as in the deepest crevices of the world."
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5Ce8wn6rw
My hands began to shake as I listened to Madelyn's grandfather explain about demons. "Why, why is a demon after me?"
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjMvO6oFQs
"There are two things that demons desire more than anything," the old man continued, his voice grave. "Human bodies and human souls."
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtD1IZoQAfp
The words sent a chill up my spine, and I shivered involuntarily.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDGFbN3GeT
The old man stroked his chin, pondering. "The soul of a pillar is the most satisfying."
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCd9a2BRE2
My eyes widened in surprise. "Pillar... that's what that demon called me," I mused, recalling our previous encounter. "What is a pillar? Who is Solomon?" I asked, feeling utterly lost.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtXjzW7V4P
Madelyn's grandfather let out a long, tired sigh as he walked over and settled into the leather chair behind the wooden desk.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07UPdVe1Rr
"Solomon... was the wise and powerful king of Israel," he began, speaking with a deep respect. "He was a true master of mysticism and the savior of the world."
I couldn't help but feel like I had stepped into the pages of a comic book; the concept of demons and ancient kings who had saved the world seemed otherworldly.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNF5Vtxsve
"A pillar is someone who fights against the darkness," the old man continued, his voice weighted with history. "The blood of the great King Solomon runs through their veins, and they hold within themselves one of the 72 demons that almost destroyed the world so long ago. That is the existence known as a pillar."
The answers the old man was providing were difficult to grasp, and yet, amidst the confusion, I still clung to one burning question.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Y8g0gpgHd
"So I'm a pillar?" I asked, and to my own confusion, there was a trace of hope in my voice.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeSnox7l71
Madelyn and the old man both looked at me in silence for a few moments.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW30XXB0uap
"No," he replied bluntly.
924Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDyQczYoWZ
My eyes widened in shock. "Wait, what?"
***
Author notes: Please support my work on Patreon for early access to new chapters. https://patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse
ns216.73.216.176da2
and then Add to home screen.