6.the shadow casted

The room felt as though it had been pulled into another reality, suffocating and cold, as if the world itself held its breath. The crack in the air pulsed faintly behind the demonic woman, casting an otherworldly glow that danced across the walls. Her crimson eyes glinted as she tilted her head, her wicked smile unwavering.

"Mephisto," she called, her voice smooth yet commanding. "Join me."

The fissure behind her widened with a deep groan, and a shadowy figure emerged, stepping through the threshold as though it had always belonged there. A young man, no older than twenty-two, with glowing red eyes and skin shrouded in a smoky darkness, stood tall. The faint wisps of shadow that clung to him moved like restless tendrils, and his presence was oppressive, chilling the air further.

Emma gasped, her voice caught in her throat as she stared at the man, her body frozen stiff. Ryan, however, shoved her behind him, his trembling hand raised as though it could protect them both.

"Who—what the hell are you?" Ryan demanded, his voice cracking despite his attempt at bravado.

The demonic woman chuckled, the sound dripping with mockery. "What a childish response," she said, stepping closer. Her voice was low, dangerous. "You're old enough to know who I am. Or perhaps you'd rather pretend you don't see what's right in front of you?"

Ryan's jaw clenched, his eyes darting from the woman to the glowing fissure and back again. His hands balled into fists as he stumbled for words.

The woman turned her attention to Marisol, her expression softening slightly. "Don't worry," she said, her tone almost maternal. "It'll be over in a second."

Marisol's lips parted as if to respond, but no sound came. The shadows in the corner of the room shifted, responding to the demon's gesture. A sleek, feline-like shadow leapt forward, its glowing red eyes locking onto Marisol as it landed gracefully on her shoulder. Its smoky tail curled protectively around her head, shielding her eyes.

Marisol felt the creature's presence like a weight, heavy yet oddly calming. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears, but the shadow cat's low growl kept her grounded. It didn't speak, but its gaze never left her step-siblings.

Ryan turned back toward the demon just as her figure blurred, moving faster than his eyes could follow. In the span of a heartbeat, she was face-to-face with him. His breath hitched as she raised her hand, her long, clawed fingers brushing against his chest.

"You won't remember much of this," she whispered, her voice soft but laced with venom. "Goodbye, brother."

Before Ryan could react, her hand plunged into his chest. The sound of tearing flesh filled the room as her fingers curled around his heart. His body convulsed, his lips trembling as he struggled to speak.

"Ma… Marisol…" His voice was barely a whisper.

The demon pulled his heart free with a sickening wet sound, blood spilling to the floor in thick pools. Her crimson eyes glowed brighter as she examined the heart briefly before tossing it aside like a discarded toy.

"No, Ryan," she said with quiet pride, correcting him. "It's Eri not that that matters to you."

Marisol's chest tightened, her breaths coming in short gasps. The world blurred at the edges as the sickening sound of tearing flesh filled the room. She tried to scream, but the sound caught in her throat, swallowed by the overwhelming weight of the moment.

Emma's piercing scream shattered the silence, her body crumpling to the floor as she scrambled backward on her hands. "Help!" she shrieked, her voice raw and desperate. "Somebody, please help us!"

The demon didn't hesitate. She cleared the distance in a single step, her clawed hand arcing through the air. The sharp, wet sound of her claws slicing through Emma's neck echoed through the room, and the girl's head rolled to the floor, her eyes still wide with fear.

Marisol, her vision obscured by the shadow cat's tail, screamed as the weight of what was happening crashed over her. She reached up instinctively, her fingers gripping the shadow's tail, and with a surge of fear and desperation, she bent it to her will. The shadow dissolved into smoke, revealing the bloody carnage before her.

"No!" Marisol's voice cracked as tears streamed down her face. Her body trembled, her mind torn between terror and disbelief.

Before she could move, Mephisto, the demon's enforcer, stepped forward and placed a firm hand on her shoulder. His grip was cold, unyielding, but not cruel. "Watch," he said quietly, his glowing eyes meeting hers. "It's better this way."

Marisol shook her head violently, trying to pull free. "No! Stop this! Please!"

The sound of hurried footsteps thundered down the hall, followed by her mother's shrill voice. "What the hell is going on in here?" The woman burst into the room, her eyes scanning the carnage with disbelief and horror. "Marisol! What did you do? I swear, if you—"

Her words were cut short as Eri turned to face her. Sadness flickered in the demon's crimson eyes, a faint shadow of something almost human. "You'll never understand, will you?" she said softly.

Her hand extended, and blackened roots erupted from the floor, twisting and coiling around Marisol's mother like serpents. The woman screamed as the roots tightened, crushing her ribs with a sickening series of cracks.

"No!" Marisol screamed, lunging forward, but Mephisto held her back effortlessly.

Eri's voice was quiet, almost tender, as she looked into the woman's panicked eyes. "Goodbye… one last time."

The roots tightened, and Marisol's mother fell silent. Her lifeless body slumped to the floor, the roots retreating back into the shadows.

"Mom! No, no, no…", Marisol's voice broke as she screamed, her knees hitting the floor. The mother who had ignored her, belittled her, treated her like a butden-gone. And yet, the weight of her absence crushed her chest, suffocating her in a way she couldn't understand.

Eri turned to Mephisto, her expression calm once more. "Pick her up. We're leaving."

Mephisto obeyed, lifting Marisol with ease. She thrashed weakly in his arms, her voice breaking as she sobbed. "Why… why are you doing this?"

Eri didn't answer. Instead, she raised a hand, and the shadows in the room began to pool toward her. The crack in space pulsed one last time before disappearing forever. she and Mephisto left the house with elegant haste, taking Marisol with them.

The room smelled of blood and burnt wood, the shadows leaving behind a faint, acrid stench as they dissolved. Marisol's ears rang in silence, the echo of her own screams reverberating in her head.

As the house fell silent, the muffled sound of sirens grew louder, cutting through the stillness. The neighbors had heard the screams, but they would arrive far too late to make sense of the horrors that had unfolded within.