Page 31 of Feral Possession

“No name,” they answered in a deep growl. The timbre of his voice, part Steele, part other.

Awesome. They were up to three words now. Either it didn’t have a name or didn’t want to give it to her. After all, there were some cultures that believed there was power in knowing someone’s name. Regardless, she couldn’t keep calling it shadow monster. “How about I give you one?”

Seconds ticked past. “Yesss,” they answered, hissing the word as though it had a forked tongue.

Great. How did one name a faceless entity? She bit her lip. “How about Frank?” Her favorite piano teacher’s name.

They snorted a disgusted sound.

“No, huh? How about Shadow?”

This he seemed to ponder a moment, falling silent. Was he warming to the idea?

“Or Smokey. I had a pet rabbit once. His fur was black and—”

“Not a pet,” they snarled.

Glass broke, and she scrambled back, shrieking when something struck her shoulder. Certain she was under attack, she spun and faced… the dressing table. “Stupid table leg,” she cursed, scuttling beneath the makeshift shelter. While she’d already proven the creature couldn’t get past her ward, the effect of its fury was still scary as heck.

By degrees, her racing heartbeat slowed, and she huffed a breath. She clutched her arms around her knees, peering into the darkness.

“Hell-hello?” she called out, voice shaking. “Are you still there?”

“Ssstay,” he hissed.

Yep. Still there. Her shoulders sank. No, wait. This was good. Scaring it off would mean she’d failed her first mission. Perhaps she should say something to make sure they didn’t take off. Smooth things over.

“Sorry about the name thing. No disrespect intended. In fact, I hold the incorporeal in the highest esteem.” More or less. Okay, not really. She found her connection to the spirit realm rather tiresome at times. Like now. “Shadow is a nice name. Can I call you Shadow?”

Nada.

She’d take the lack of violence as acceptance.

Dang it. If she wanted to see Vivian again, she needed to get her act together. When she reported back to Steele, it would take more than a bunch of broken furniture and a handful of words to satisfy him. Since the interrogation wasn’t off to a great start, perhaps it was time to change tactics. “Can you come closer? I promise the ward won’t harm you if you don’t touch it.” Or ram it like a bug smacking a windshield.

“You. Closer,” Shadow-Steele growled.

“Me?” She straightened, cracked her head into the dressing table, and pressed her palm to her aching scalp.

“Yesss.”

Figures he’d want her out in the open where he had a clean shot at her again. She eyed her ridiculous shelter. The ward was the only protection she needed. Hiding was pointless.

“Okay, fine,” she huffed. “I’ll come out if you come out.” Show you mine if you show me yours. Har. Har.

Silence stretched before they finally answered, their gravelly tone taunting. “You. Firssst.”

Goose bumps crept down her arms at his creepy response. This was starting to feel like a game of truth or dare, only the stakes were higher. Lucky for her, she was the reigning champion, hence the abundance of beads she’d earned at Mardi Gras. “Fine. I’ll return to the doorway if you do the same. Agreed?”

“Yesss.”

“Alright, here I come.” She crawled out from her shelter on her hands and knees. Uncertain if her wobbly legs would support her, she scooched her way across the fluffy white rug. Two feet shy of the ward, she stopped, sitting back on her calves.

“Okay, I’m here. Your turn.” Her heart pounded at the realization she was about to see the full extent of Marcus’s possession. The demon inside of him was about to reveal himself in all his demonic glory. Be cool, Dove. Be cool. You’ve got this. No matter what, she would not freak out. Not like she did at Vivian’s groundbreaking ceremony with those damned zombie hellhounds.

Across the darkened living room, shadows moved and shifted. From their smokey depths, an inky figure took shape. It separated from the wispy grays, solidifying.

Closer. That shape became a rounded head and massive shoulders. Could it be he was bigger in this form?

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