Sleeptalk

Cassandra wakes up feeling a presence in her room. The vibe of this person doesn't feel very comforting, so she remained still. She focuses on their energy, trying anyway. They don't feel familiar, or too threatening. It feels as if they are just watching, waiting for her to wake up.

"I know you're awake," A voice speaks.

It almost sounds like...her? How can another being have her voice? Unless they are imitating it, of course.

"I'm not, I came here to talk."

The voice, well her voice, sounds cold.

Cassandra remains still in her bed, feeling on edge, "Who are you?"

The being remains silent for a few moments, "I am you."

"What?"

She sits up immediately, not seeing anyone in the room.

"...Where are you?"

"Right here."

She sees herself, standing by the bed grinning.

"What do you want?"

She feels her blood run cold in fear. Was this how she looks to others? No wonder people stayed away, she looks intimidating.

"I already told you, I want to talk, "The being pauses, "You offered your soul to a demon."

"I kind of had to, but yes."

"But, you didn't."

"I did, I want to save Natalia."

"You could have left her to fend for herself, she's a strong woman."

She glares at the being, "How could you even say that? I could never leave her in his hands!"

The being looks at her coldly, "That is because you are emotional, and I am rational. We are one, but different."

"What are you?"

"As I said, I am you."

"How?"

"I'm sure you are aware of your abilities now, yes?"

She nods, listening as the being spoke.

"I was suppressed with them, but I am not emotional. I could control them, if you let me help."

"How am I supposed to trust you?"

The being laughs, "Do you not trust yourself?"

"You did just say that I could have left Natalia to fend for herself."

"Yes, because she is strong, not because I am selfish. She found a way to take control of Damian's body and reach you, and she has abilities most don't. I think she is strong enough to fend for herself."

"That doesn't mean I can't help her."

The being hums thoughtfully, "That is true."

"So, you'll help me?"

"I am you, we are one. How many times do I have to say that?"

"It's still strange talking to myself like this."

The being raises an eyebrow, "This is strange? You're staying with two vampires, a skin walker, and a demon. Not to mention, your beloved is 'part lycan' and now that demon has her soul. AND, you offered your soul to that demon to save her. Plus, you have an ability you never knew about. But, THIS is strange?"

"You have a point, all of this is strange. It just feels odd to be talking to myself like this."

"True enough. How much time do we technically have?"

"About two weeks."

"That's not much, but I think we can figure this out. We have others planning with us," There is a pause, "Someone's coming, I'm not sensing a good vibe."

The "other her" disappears as the door opened.

"How are you feeling?"

Damian leans against the wall, looking like a mess. His hair is unkept, his eyes having dark circles underneath.

"I'm alright," She speaks, eyeing him suspiciously.

"Lucian told me that I should apologize for yesterday, I don't know what came over me. It was as if I lost control of my own body and when I did have control, my hand was bleeding and Shadow was yelling at me about getting blood all over the carpet."

She stifles a laugh, imagining Shadow's small freak out over the mess.

"How is your hand?"

He shrugs, "It'll heal, what did you do to it?"

"I'm not sure," She lies, not wanting to hint at anything,"I just felt so unsure of how to react that my ability took control."

He nods, "I see, so your ability is still hard to control."

She nods, half lying and half telling the truth. She doesn't want him to know the plan, it had to work. It has to.

"Do you hate me for this?"

"What?" The question throws her off guard.

"Look, this is nothing personal. I'd like to be at least friendly towards each other, since we'll be combined, to not sound wrong."

She noticed his face redden a little as he speaks.

"Um," She speaks awkwardly, unsure of how to react, "I don't hate you, but you did kind of cause this situation. Not one where my parents kidnap me, but stealing my beloved's soul to get to me is kind of...messed up."

He nods, "I understand," before walking out of the door.

Cassandra just stares out the door, unsure of what to even say. Why even walk into her room?

"Are you alright?" Lucian asks as he walked into her room, "I saw Damian leaving here."

She pauses before speaking, "He wanted to...ask if I hated him?"

She phrases it as a question, still unsure of that entire conversation. Lucian returns her look, equally as confused.

"Anyway, "He changes the subject, "Did you find anything else about Natalia or what's going on?"

She feels her face heat up slightly, smiling, "I did."

"I'm not one to use this phrase, but you look very happy. So, spill the tea."

Cassandra laughs, explaining what had happened the night before. She recalls the memory fondly, feeling better about the situation. It was going to be okay.

"Gold eyes, "Lucian spoke thoughtfully, "Demons usually have black so that makes sense. Plus, hybrids usually have some sort of ability like that. I don't know much about their souls, though. Especially, when a demon tries to consume it."

"Damian is trying to consume a hybrid soul?" Shadow pokes his head in, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, Natalia told me that she's 'part lycan', but only has the abilities."

"You didn't know before?"

"No, she had planned to tell me once we moved in together, but Damian took that chance away."

"How did he not notice?"Shadow speaks, pacing around the room.

"What, what's wrong?"

Shadow looks up, now sitting on the floor, "This is bad."

"What's going to happen?" Cassandra asks, now feeling concerned.

Shadow sighs, "She's going to consume Damian's body, whether she wants to or not."

"What exactly do you mean by consume?"

"She will essentially become a demon, there's a reason demons and hybrids stay away from each other. How he didn't sense her energy, I don't know. Maybe he was blinded by interest or she hid it well enough."

"That kind of explains why he asked if I hate him."

"Hm?" He gives them an even more perplexed look.

"He walked in here and asked Cas if she hates him."

"Natalia does favor you, so that would naturally show. He probably thinks it's his emotions blinding him or changing him, but it's her. He'd have to let her soul go to escape his own fate."

"But, he won't do that."

"No, he's too prideful."

"I mean, would he even listen to reason?"

Shadow shakes his head, "He wouldn't believe any of us. He is intelligent when it comes to people. He knows how to deceive or get to others. But, he thinks his kind is invincible and demons are actually more vulnerable, being they're still spirits."

"Does that mean you're more of a vulnerable entity, as well?"

"Yes and no. I can choose the body I want to use or look like, so I am partly a physical being."

"You know, I never thought I'd be having a conversation with a skinwalker and vampire about their kind," Cassandra laughs.

The other two smile, laughing along as they speak. It was a peculiar predicament, definitely not something any of them ever thought would happen. But, somehow, they made an unlikely friendship within the predicament. A family even, one none of them had before.

"I honestly never really pictured myself helping any of Damian's 'victims'. Usually, he chooses people who deserved it. But, you've just been through hell and happen to have an ability."

"One that I wasn't even aware of."

Shadow hums thoughtfully, "He didn't really go into too much detail on why he chose you, did he?"

Cassandra shakes her head, "No, he just said my energy was interesting and he began following me. He almost sounded like a stalker, honestly."

"He does. As intelligent as he may be, he doesn't seem to necessarily understand his own motives."

"Is he driven by emotion?"

"No, he usually isn't, but he has emotions. He just keeps them closed off."

"This may sound like an odd question, but how do people become demons? Or, are they born demons?"

"It's a mix of both, to be honest. Some people die and become one, and then others are born one due to their parents being ones themselves."

The room becomes silent until Lucian speaks.

"Did Damian ever tell you how he became one or has he always been one? When I met him, he never mentioned that. He doesn't even talk about it now."

"He never talks about it, but if I try to sense his energy, something else is there. I think he hides his own emotions."

"Do you think something traumatic happened to him to make him the way he is?"

"Conniving and ruthless? Maybe. There are many possibilities, especially with Natalia talking over his mind. She's more than likely using his emotions."

"She is smart," Cassandra speaks thoughtfully, "And, she's not happy with what he did. If his emotions are easier to manipulate or use, she'll use them to distract him and escape."

"That is smart, I have to say. If I was trapped inside a demon's stomach, essentially, I wouldn't just wait to be consumed. I'd find a way to escape that fate."

Cassandra and Lucian both nod in agreement as the conversation progresses. Cassandra couldn't stop wondering how this situation would end. How long would it take for Natalia to escape or even take over Damian's body? How binding was their deal? Would everything really end up the way they wanted?

Shadow gives her an assuring look, "We'll figure this out, it's gonna be alright."

They all nod, assuring each other. She can tell that they're worried as well, but they're not alone in this. They have each other and Natalia, they would make sure the plan worked. As their conversation comes to a halt, they hear yelling coming from the living room.

"What the hell, man?!" They hear Julien yell.

She doesn't hear a response from Damian, but Julien is still audibly upset by something. She looks at the other two and they nod immediately, understanding what she is asking. She wonders if they should even check, seeing as it was Julien yelling.

Shadow sighs, interrupting her thoughts, "We should. He is irritating, but something seems to have happened."

Lucian nods, agreeing with her cut-off thought and Shadow's reluctant agreement. As they reach the door, there is a violent ripping sound, as if fabric is being torn.

"What is wrong with you man?! All I said was-"

Cassandra watches as Lucian burst into the living room, still staying behind. None of them seem to be sure what is happening, but it definitely doesn't sound good or characteristic of Damian.

"What's going on?" She hears Shadow ask before yelling, "WHY is there blood on my carpet?!"

"He started it, "She hears Julien yell, clearly upset.

She doesn't walk into the room, but remains by the door. She can see them and what is happening. Julien is visibly upset, Damian looks very angry. Shadow is motioning at the mess on the floor while Lucian looks between Julien and Damian. As she walks into the room, she notices everyone turn to look at her. It feels as if time has frozen itself, but the feeling unnerves her.

She remained still, "What?"

She stares back, unsure until she notices Damian's eyes. They are gold again. Damian isn't in control, but what did Julien said to Natalia? He had to of said something. Time seems to unfreeze as the situation begins to unfold again.

"Was that another ability of mine? Make everyone look at me and freeze time?" She thinks to herself, shaking off the uneasy feeling. She still has more to learn about herself, so it is a possibility. She reminds herself to ask later, once everything is calm again and not a complete disaster.

"Do you see Damian's eyes?"Cassandra asks Lucian telepathically.

"They look normal to me, but his behavior is off. Shadow might see what you're seeing."

She nods, and looking at Shadow to send out her energy like the previous time. He looks at her confused, before nodding. She hopes he received the question, and not something else. She is still learning to control her abilities.

"So, what happened here?" Lucian asks calmly.

The two had separated Damian and Julien. A fight had started. Well, it wasn't really a fight, per se. It was more so that Julien was about to be beaten to a pulp. Shadow is busy cleaning up the mess, trying to get the bloodstain out of his white carpet.

"All I said was how hot Cassie is and he-" Julien jumps back on the couch as Damian growls at him.

"Don't talk about her like that, and you don't have the right to call her that. You don't know her like that."

"That's Natalia, alright," She thinks to herself.

"See?! He's being weird!"

"Julien, this is a complicated matter and it's more than likely better you aren't involved."

"You know something about this?! Why didn't you tell me?"

Lucian sighs in annoyance, "I will explain when this all is settled, just get some fresh air or go to your room."

"Fine, I'm going out. I may not come back."

The four of them wait in silence as Julien slams the front door shut.

"So, you are Natalia. It is nice to meet you."