There I sat in a chair of fine leather, engaged in what felt like the most intimidating staring contest ever. The opponent? An old man I'd been led to believe was Madelyn's grandfather. He remained silent, his eyes locked onto mine, peering deep into my soul. The tension was palpable, and I was starting to understand why Madelyn was so uncomfortable.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xGO8iPKCl
"Why are you so nervous, my boy?" Madelyn's grandfather finally spoke, his lips curling into a gentle smile.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKL8nAv0Xo0
I chuckled awkwardly, attempting to break the ice. "I'm sorry, sir. I'm just pretty shy when it comes to meeting new people."
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBq8hK83KFT
In all honesty, I wasn't lying. Meeting new people had always been an uncomfortable experience for me, but this old man took it to a whole new level of unbearable.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZNvbwueNk
The old man's sympathetic smile was reassuring. "Well, don't worry, young man. I promise I won't bite."
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU94BlPY2oZ
"Yea, right," I thought, faking another laugh.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMlPZvUHCr
"The truth of the matter is, we brought you into our home for a few answers," the old man explained, glancing over at Madelyn, who sat next to me in a similarly lavish chair.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuWqOMxIqP
I could read the unspoken story in Madelyn's eyes as she sat there, her face marked with the aftermath of a heated conversation with her grandfather. It didn't take much to discern that their discussion hadn't gone well – the red, puffy eyes and swollen cheeks painted a clear picture. To me, it was evident. Madelyn had been crying, and she'd been hurt.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYTlBPzWPr
The rush of anger surged within me, directed solely at this old man. My thoughts of respect transformed into a dangerous blend of rage, echoing a memory from long ago.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsursMFHIir
"Hey, old man," I growled, my fists clenched in anger.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CDOvNtsUK
"Did you hit her?" I demanded, pointing at Madelyn's swollen face, surprising both her and her grandfather.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLkzkB2jXF
Madelyn's grandfather remained silent as he observed my explosion of fury.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJsQ3dDnAo
"Yes, yes I did," the old man responded, unapologetic and imperturbable.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaZO65k3Ib
My body seemed to react on its own, fueled by a response that only infuriated me further. Filled with anger and outrage, I lunged at the old man, ready to strike him in the face.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52pLbDVhIY
My clenched fist raced toward the old man's face, driven by unyielding anger and no mercy, but as it neared its target, the punch came to a sudden halt.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUi6y84yzq
My eyes opened wide with shock. "Madelyn?" I stammered, seeing her standing before me, my fist ensnared in her right hand.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tAbpSfeUS
I hadn't seen her move, and as I gazed into her eyes, they were as cold and sharp as daggers. This was a woman poised to strike like a predator, and as I stared into Madelyn's intense, piercing eyes, a bead of sweat formed on my forehead.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdR3Vyoek8
Madelyn's once-piercing eyes softened as she implored, "Ethan, please, calm down."
"We only want to talk," she added, and her tight grip around my fist finally loosened, which was a relief. I had no doubt she could have broken my hand if she had chosen to.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaU0Z1BZB2c
I settled back in my chair, and Madelyn did the same as she sat in the one next to mine. I couldn't help but rub my knuckles, eyeing the old man who remained seated in his leather throne, seemingly unperturbed.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkSIhpRnHV
"You're quite the fiery young man, aren't you?" the old man chuckled. "I like that."
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqVuK4b1Hs
"Enough with the games," I demanded, my patience waning. "I want to know what's going on." I wasn't interested in beating around the bush.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmsMbckEtb
"Did what I saw really happen?!" I couldn't contain my shout.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9je6x3jHur
I turned to Madelyn. "That man had pitch-black eyes, and you cut off his arm!"
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwb04BH0AIv
"That was no man," Madelyn's grandfather explained, adding to my confusion.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx74EMgE7vW
"What are you talking about?" I asked, my brow furrowed.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MqYAj2dMK
"There was a time when that creature could've been considered a man, but that time had long passed."
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17oBjKHeW3
I struggled to find the words to voice my bewilderment. Part of me wanted to say that the old man was crazy, as well as Madelyn, but they both seemed oddly calm and unwavering in their convictions.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yKg4o3wYy
"If he wasn't a man, then what was he exactly?" I inquired, feeling a sense of unease creeping over me.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEp956zPy9
The room fell silent for a few moments. "He was a demon."
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAWyKEU0bf
"A demon?" I questioned, disbelief evident in my tone, even though a part of me recognized that it started to make sense. All the things I had seen, could it really be true?
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgJT237iTd
"They do exist," Madelyn stated, probably noticing the skepticism on my face.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzCGrwUvAa
"Indeed they do," Madelyn's grandfather affirmed, rising from his seat and moving towards the fireplace.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJD3EZ0mYuP
The old man stared into the blazing flames. "They exist within the darkest shadows, in the most demoralized hearts, in the most broken minds."
The old man turned to me, his gaze piercing. "As well as in the deepest crevices of the world."
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFGoPKrUn7
My hands began to shake as I listened to Madelyn's grandfather explain about demons. "Why, why is a demon after me?"
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjxh0jq0wj
"There are two things that demons desire more than anything," the old man continued, his voice grave. "Human bodies and human souls."
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jvEzjVKhx
The words sent a chill up my spine, and I shivered involuntarily.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Rj0Ej7l5u
The old man stroked his chin, pondering. "The soul of a pillar is the most satisfying."
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPTdUX1ZNa
My eyes widened in surprise. "Pillar... that's what that demon called me," I mused, recalling our previous encounter. "What is a pillar? Who is Solomon?" I asked, feeling utterly lost.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOl6Obc057d
Madelyn's grandfather let out a long, tired sigh as he walked over and settled into the leather chair behind the wooden desk.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvaw2eRPoY
"Solomon... was the wise and powerful king of Israel," he began, speaking with a deep respect. "He was a true master of mysticism and the savior of the world."
I couldn't help but feel like I had stepped into the pages of a comic book; the concept of demons and ancient kings who had saved the world seemed otherworldly.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLkQrjgCQL
"A pillar is someone who fights against the darkness," the old man continued, his voice weighted with history. "The blood of the great King Solomon runs through their veins, and they hold within themselves one of the 72 demons that almost destroyed the world so long ago. That is the existence known as a pillar."
The answers the old man was providing were difficult to grasp, and yet, amidst the confusion, I still clung to one burning question.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrP1wAfQT66
"So I'm a pillar?" I asked, and to my own confusion, there was a trace of hope in my voice.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5GNCdCqEe
Madelyn and the old man both looked at me in silence for a few moments.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfh7H9yWMRq
"No," he replied bluntly.
542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1nSLO9RtN
My eyes widened in shock. "Wait, what?"
***
Author notes: Please support my work on Patreon for early access to new chapters. https://patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse
ns216.73.216.137da2
