Page 54 of Possession

Scared? Of what?

“You all knew that Aris wasn’t going anywhere. He was trapped. It was just… me that they were punishing, and I didn’t do anything.”

“You were the surface,” he says, again after a moment. I can tell that he’s choosing his words carefully. His hands tighten on the steering wheel. “But we knew what was underneath, and we couldn’t afford to forget what we couldn’t see. We didn't know what he was telling you, if he had… corrupted you. For a while there, we questioned how you even stayed sane. You know that they were constantly monitoring the two of you, right?”

I nod slowly. “Yes.”

“Well, sometimes you would lend him parts of your body, letting him speak for you, or flip a page in a book you were reading. To them, that meant that there was a threat you’d escape. It meant that you might even aid him, which didn’t make you innocent. Even now, many members believe that Aris is actually controlling your body. They think that he consumed your essence years ago and has been playing a long con. To them, there is no Mary; there never really was. You are just his face.”

Silence follows this. Henry turns the music back up as I slump in my seat. It makes sense. The mages are right, even—wasn’t I just thinking of the strange camaraderie I share with Aris?

The words float in my head. Though heavy, they refuse to sink. There is no Mary. You are just his face.

That’s not true—I don’t want it to be true, but when I think of how the Following treated me, when I think of how others see me, even I have to acknowledge the merit of the statement. Aris is so much bigger than I am; he is what is important.

And I am just the surface.

***

It’s late by the time we arrive at a large but remote house. Though well-maintained, it looks abandoned and utterly detached from civilization, save a paved driveway. Thick forest surrounds the perimeter of the house like an iron veil, the foliage trapping it in perpetual darkness.

Henry forgoes a tour and shows me to a modest room for the night, soon leaving me to my own devices. Almost as soon as he leaves, I get into bed. I take off my grippy socks from the hospital, briefly wishing for pajamas or the patience to take a bath, but I just climb under the covers. My body aches, and, mentally, it feels like I’ve run a marathon.

Aris, what do we do now?

He curls around my heart, lightly squeezing. Like a hug. We, he remarks. I like when we work together.

We kind of have to, I remind him dryly, then remind him of my question.

I thought that we were staying with the wizard.

That’s what I was thinking. I’m just surprised at how… agreeable you’re being. It doesn’t make sense for him to be sharing a body with me, for him not to be taking. I don’t know what angle he’s trying to play, but there has to be something else going on. Do you have any plans for world domination I should be worrying about?

None as of yet. He pauses, squeezing my heart until I quietly gasp. Then relenting, he remains wrapped around it. I want to stay here, in this house with you.

I shut my eyes in relief. Aris does not lie. Of course, I don’t know why he wants this, but maybe even gods need to catch their breath sometimes.

Chapter twelve

Over breakfast, Aris and I have a discussion. Henry is at the table with me, none the wiser as he eats his toast, though surely, he suspects that we’re talking. I don’t like excluding him, especially since he woke up early, went into town for food and supplies, and cooked me a full breakfast.

I do feel bad. It’s just, well, some conversations are private.

Now that I’m out of imminent danger, we’re able to consider other aspects of our predicament. Specifically, Aris wants his turn in control, but neither of us know what that would do to me. Meaning, we have a problem.

I’ll give it to him that he’s been patient. He’s been inside for days now without complaint, but he’s antsy. He wants out—to feel, see, experience, do. And, after feeling the nothingness that is the inside, I understand, and it’s only fair that he has his turn; he’s held up his share of the bargain, so I need to hold up mine.

The main issue is that we don’t know why I fade when Aris is in control. Dominachion used magic to change the amulet in ways that we don’t understand. We can’t reverse the changes, because Aris can’t use magic, and we wouldn’t know how to alter it, anyway.

If we don’t have a way to change the amulet, that means that we need a way to work around the changes. But given that we don’t know why I fade when Aris is in control, we don’t know how to work around it, so we’re stuck.

I drum my fingers on the table. No one likes feeling frustrated, but it’s is considerably worse when felt by two people in one body. What bothers Aris the most is not knowing. He feels powerless, once again, which drives him utterly insane.

We could ask Henry.

And what could he do about it?

Do you remember what we were talking about yesterday? He said that a lot of the mages thought that you “consumed” me and ate my essence or something, so I don’t exist anymore. That could be what’s happening.

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