#darkentity

        “No, don’t, please!” Shera felt as if her chest would explode from fear, not for herself, but for Han and Peter.

        “Tell me, witch, can you feel his pain?”  At that, Peter balled up his fist, and Han screamed in agony.

        Shera felt his pain and his fear.  She screamed, and something inside her snapped.  A blue-white light exploded from her chest and enveloped the room. This time she could see it and feel it.  The force of the blast knocked Peter backward, and Han fell from the wall.

        This felt very different from what she had experienced at the Milner house.  The light began to swirl and pull back toward her body, and with it, she felt her consciousness being pulled deeper and deeper within herself.  She began to fight it until a gentle female voice filled her being, Don’t fight me.  You will be in a dreamlike state, but you will still be able to hear and see what goes on.  Shera, if you want him to live, you must give me complete control.

        Who are you?

        I am the one the demon spoke of.  You must trust me.

        Shera felt that she was telling the truth, and knew that she had very little choice if she wanted to save Han.  She had seen this woman’s power before and knew that she could fight the dark entity.  She gave in and sank into unconsciousness.

        As the swirling light continued to withdraw back into her, Shera’s body lifted from the bed to hover above it.  She looked as if she were standing on some invisible precipice.  Bright blue wings of flame sprouted forth from her back destroying her shirt.  Her eyes glossed over and became completely white.  She looked down at Peter with a look of profound sadness, and spoke gently, “Abaddon, release the human.”

        Han couldn’t move or speak, as he watched Shera’s transformation.  He sat stunned on the floor, as she raised her hand at what used to be Peter.  Peter’s body slowly lifted from the floor, and he let out an angry snarl.  “You dare to command me, Muriel?  Have you forgotten who imprisoned you within that human body?”

        “I have not forgotten, my love.  I remember all the wrong you did to me, and my anger burns deeply.  You will release that human, or I will drag you out and destroy you.”

        Peter laughed, “You could not destroy me, then, you will not destroy me, now.”

        “You underestimate my anger.”  Shera lifted her free hand parallel to the other and began to pull back slowly.  A dual scream issued forth from Peter.

        “Fool, you will kill this mud-monkey you are trying to save.”

        “That man would rather die than have that evil within him—the same evil that took his sister.”

        Peter snarled at Shera.  “I will kill you for this, Muriel!”

        “You could not kill me, then, you will not kill me, now.”

        Peter’s body lurched, and he screamed, then fell unconscious.  She lowered her arms, and with them, Peter floated down to the floor. Shera looked at Han, and said, “He has retreated for now.  Your friend will be fine, and I will return to my sleep until I am needed again.”  She closed her eyes, and the blue-white light began to dissipate.  Shera’s body drifted down to the bed.

        Han winced at the statement and the loneliness in her voice.  “Shera, Collin can be an idiot sometimes.  He’s not always like this.  I’ve done a lot of things over the years that made it hard for him.  I get why he’s being an ass.”

        She looked at him. “What does all of this have to do with me?”  Han opened his mouth, and she interrupted, “And don’t tell me it doesn’t!”

        “It really doesn’t, Shera. He doesn’t want me spending time with any female co-workers if it doesn’t pertain to work.  It’s my own fault, and it has absolutely nothing to do with you.”

        “Accept that we’ve been spending time together.”

        “A lot of time together, and he’s concerned.  Someone told him you stayed with me last night.”

        “But that was…”

        “I told him that, but he doesn’t believe me.  To make matters worse, Liam saw us outside the restaurant.  I don’t know what he saw or what he told Collin, but it hasn’t helped the situation.”

        “I’ll talk to him, then.”

        Han shook his head. “He won’t believe you, either. He’ll just think you’re trying to protect me.”

        She looked at the floor. “I never should’ve agreed to come. All of this was a mistake.”  She felt the surge of pain from Han, as she finished the statement.  She turned to him and grabbed his hand.  “Han, I didn’t mean…”

        “I know what you meant.” He squeezed her hand.  “It’s okay.  I had a similar thought after I found out you ran off.  Maybe, if I had stayed away, you would still be with the group, and not running off to a bus station.”

        “No, Han, I didn’t leave because of you.  I’m independent, and I don’t like people telling me what to do.  I’ve been that way for a long time.  Also, I’m not comfortable with people knowing about my nightmares, much less witnessing them.  Now, everyone knows.  The last thing I wanted, was to be trapped in that van, with a bunch of people, who can’t handle it.”

        He arched his brow, “How do you know they couldn’t handle it?”

        She looked at him obstinately, “Han, I’ve known two people in my life, who knew what to do, when I get that way.”  She looked away, embarrassed.

        “And your answer was to get on a bus full of strangers?”

        “I don’t sleep on public transportation, Han.  I can’t handle so much emotion and intent.  It makes me uncomfortable.  Plus, I’d hate to stab a man in the eye with a pencil for shoving his hand up my shirt, when I was trying to sleep.”  She gave him a smirk, and held up the pencil, “They’re hard to find and expensive.”

        He laughed.  “Well, are you going to hop on a bus full of strangers, or will you ride home with me?”

        “What about Collin?”

        “Do you care what he thinks?”

        “No, but…”

        “Neither do I.  It’s my car, and if you want to ride in it, you can.”  

        She smiled at him, and replied, “Okay, but can I finish my drawing?”

        He grinned.  “How about a compromise.”  He pulled out his phone and snapped a photo.  “Will that do?”

        “I usually prefer real-life models, but… that camera is amazing.”

        “I buy the phone for the camera.  So, do we get off at the next stop?”

        She gave him a smile. “I guess so.”

        “You’re my best friend, Ginger.  I’m worried about you.”

        “Friends… I remember us being a lot more than that, Jackie.  But that’s when it suited you, right?  You never minded my promiscuity, then.  The fact that you want to judge me now, is a blatant insult.” She finished putting on her clothes, then walked over to the sink.  She started brushing her teeth, as Jackie walked up, and sat down on the counter beside her.

        “I never meant it that way, you know that!  The way you’ve been acting since we left home, isn’t normal behavior for you, Ginger.  You propositioned Collin, for God’s sake, and in public!  Now, you want to run off by yourself to a club and pick up the first guy who talks to you.  How could I not be concerned?”

        She finished brushing her teeth, then turned to Jackie, “What’s the problem? You act like this is the first time. I do it all the time.”

        “No, you don’t!  You always go out with one or more of us, and when you take those men home with you, Hawk is always there, in case you need him.  What exactly was your plan for tonight?  To go home with a stranger?”

        “Maybe. You know what, I don’t have time for this.”  She picked up her brush and the blow-dryer and started fixing her hair.

        Jackie waited patiently for Ginger to finish with the blow-dryer.  As she turned off the noisy machine, Jackie begged, “Please, Ginger!  Think about what you’re doing.  I only want you to be safe.”

        Ginger pulled out her make-up and went to work on her face.  “I am thinking about it, and I’m gonna enjoy banging some guy in the back seat of his car.”

        “Fine, I get it!  You don’t care, and I’m wasting my time.  Will you at least tell me where you’re going, so I’ll know where to start looking if you don’t come back?”

        Ginger whipped her head around to give a smart retort, but stopped short, when she saw Jackie’s face.  She was shaking, her eyes glued to her knees, and tears ran freely down her cheeks. Ginger sighed softly, and whispered, “I’m sorry, Jackie.  I didn’t mean it.”  She hugged her friend.  “I know you care about me.  I’m just being a bitch.  I’m fine, really.  I just need some time away, that’s all.”

        Jackie gently pushed her away and slid off the counter.  “Are you going to tell me where you’re going, or not?”  She never looked up at her friend, as she waited for her answer.

        Ginger sighed in resignation, “The Boiler Room.  It’s in Gainesville.”

        Jackie pushed passed her, and whispered, “Thank you,” then walked into the bathroom, and slammed the door.

        Ginger tried to open it, but it was locked.  “Come on, Jackie, don’t be like this!”

        “How do you want me to be?  You’re being reckless and expecting me to just let you.”

        “Fine, be that way!  You’re my friend, not my mother.  I’ll see you tomorrow.”  Ginger grabbed her makeup bag and her purse slipped on her heels and left.