🖤 Possession Becomes Her - Part 1
Jessica and Gwen meet again
It should be safe by now, right? They wouldn’t dare attack her in the daylight, would they? Besides, she was certain—well, almost certain—that he had survived and forced them to leave the forest. There was only one way to find out.
She stared through the side windows at the dark trees pressing close against her car. Everything looked… normal. Gripping the steering wheel to gather her strength, she got out before she could change her mind.
Jessica pulled her old daypack from the rear seat and shouldered it with a deep sigh. She pushed her car door shut with a soft click and found the start of the path tucked between two ancient pine trees. With one last glance to make sure no one had followed her down the remote logging road, she pressed forward between the branches that clutched at her long, curly hair.
Back into the forest she went, seeking the hidden trail that led to the wizard’s cabin deep in these dark woods. It was essential that she reached it before nightfall. This was not the sort of wilderness you wanted to be wandering through once the sun went down. The memory of that experience made her shiver a little as she hiked down the leaf-covered path under a dense canopy.
As usual, thinking about the wizard reignited a confusing mix of feelings. Irritation, mostly. But a hint of excitement threaded its way through her thoughts as well. Reluctantly, she had decided that she needed his help again.
Her attempts to reconnect with William had failed. Something was wrong with the new spell, and she couldn’t quite figure out what was sabotaging her efforts. So, it was time for another lesson from the cranky old bastard.
Jessica hoped he would notice that she had advanced a great deal since her visit with him last year. Her powers had grown considerably. Well, at least it felt that way to her. However, she was certain he would still try to infantilize her and insult her abilities. A scowl clouded her pretty face as she remembered his barking laughter.
It was midafternoon by the time she reached the protective barrier that shielded his cabin from prying eyes and unwelcome visitors. The last time she had encountered it, she’d been trapped within the clinging energy for so long that she almost suffocated. But she was no longer that frightened and inexperienced witch. With a murmur and a flick of her fingers, she easily pierced the magical bubble with a sizzling pop that echoed in the small clearing.
“Ouch! What the fuck?!” An angry shout echoed from within the old cabin revealed by her spell.
The front door slammed open, and a tall man stomped onto the rickety porch with his white beard bristling. A swirling cloud of sparking energy danced around his upright fist. The hostile hum of his swelling power made her teeth vibrate painfully.
“Stop, you old fool! It’s me!”
He peered in her direction and grumbled. “Oh, it’s you.” Dropping his arm, he let the energy flow back into his body with a quivering shake. “Why are you bothering me again? And how dare you penetrate my veil like that! That fucking hurt!”
Jessica smirked and chuckled. “Felt that, did you? I’ve learned a few tricks recently.”
Grudgingly, he gave her a slow nod. “I see that, girl. Not bad. Not bad at all. But if you are an all-powerful witch now, what do you need with me? Begone!”
He turned to go back inside his dark cabin, but halted when she shouted her response. “Wait! I need your help. Something has gone wrong. I’m blocked, and I can’t seem to push through it.”
His shoulders fell with a tired sigh. “So? That is not my concern. You chose to return to that… world. Deal with it yourself.”
She shook her head. “No, I need you.” Then, her tone became more playful. “I’m willing to pay the price like last time. Be angry with me if you like, but I know you always want that.”
Callum snorted over his shoulder. “Oh, you think so, do you? Fine, come in. But I think you’ll find that I don’t want—or need—that anymore.”
Jessica rolled her eyes, but followed him onto the porch and into the small cabin, shutting the door behind her. It took a few seconds for her eyes to adjust to the dimly lit interior. Despite being rough, she had to admit it was cozy and not all of her memories of this place were bad. He kept it surprisingly clean, and she could smell something pleasant simmering on the simple stove.
Then, movement across the room attracted her attention. A petite woman with dark, shimmering skin moved into the lamplight, revealing her nude form. Well, not exactly a “woman.” The liquid black eyes of a succubus scanned her from head to toe. The demon frowned as she recognized Jessica. Her tail suddenly stiffened and rose into the air from behind her back. The tip whipped back and forth, reflecting her irritation.
Jessica shook her head. “Seriously? Why are you still here? I thought you would have returned to your world by now.”
Vianelle hissed at her. “Of course I am still here, fickle witch! The wizard is mine now. He wants to be with me, not you! You left him, but I never will.” Gliding across the room, she slipped under his arm and snuggled up against the old man’s side.
Callum squinted down at her and snorted. “Actually, you did leave me. Maybe you forgot about that.”
The pretty succubus scowled up at him. “Maybe you forgot how poorly you treated me, you ungrateful oaf. I left for only one night. I am back now. Forever!”
Jessica sighed and gestured at the gleaming black tips of the demon’s horns peeking through her ebony hair. “You dirty old pervert. Are you enjoying your little plaything?”
Callum closed his eyes and ignored the question, but Vianelle smirked and piped up happily. “We enjoy each other greatly, jealous witch. I give him more pleasure than you ever could, and he feeds me well and so very often.”
“Yuck. Keep that to yourself. You two are certainly made for each other. Maybe you should get married? What a beautiful wedding that would be.”
The wizard bristled and shouted, “Enough! Why are you here again? What in the hell do you want from me this time?”
Jessica looked up at the ceiling and drew in calming breaths. Closing her eyes, she whispered, “William. It’s about William.”
Callum’s face softened. “Oh. Well, then… what about him? What’s the problem?”
“I’m still investigating his murder. Michael is working with what we have, but it’s not enough. I have been trying to summon William again, but the spell keeps failing. I can’t figure out why.”
“I’m not sure how I can help you with that beyond what I've already taught you. You should know what you’re doing. If it’s not working, it’s not working! Magic isn’t an exact science. You know that, girl.”
Jessica gritted her teeth. “Yes, I know that. I’m not here to discuss the summoning spell. I want your help with something… new. Something different.”
The wizard frowned. “Spit it out then! I don’t have time for your vague nonsense. What in the hell have you been trying to do?”
“Okay, just listen. Don’t judge me until you hear the full story. Michael told me about a weird experience he had when he was much younger. Apparently, he went to an abandoned house with some friends for a party, and he was…” She hesitated, fearing his reaction. “Possessed or something. He claims he willingly welcomed a spirit to join with him, and it shared his body for a few hours. It wasn’t permanent! It didn’t harm him at all.”
Callum stared at her quietly for a few seconds before responding in a low voice. “Are you asking what I think you are? Do you know how dangerous that is?”
She nodded. “Yes, I have a pretty good idea. But William isn’t some hostile entity! I’ve been researching what I can find about it, but nothing I’ve explored seems to work. Michael is willing to try, since he’s experienced it before. If we can draw William out, and he can use Michael to speak with us, we can learn more about what happened that night!”
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