"You can look me in the eyes if you want. I think you're exhausted, aren’t you?" Lera asked, nodding with feigned sympathy.

  "No," Uda lied.

  She immediately bit her tongue, and Lera’s icy eyes flashed. Then she smiled and slowly rose up. Setting the goblet back on the table, she walked toward Uda with the apple still in hand. Uda was on the verge of apologizing, about to confess that she’d lied and promise not to do it again…

  NO! I won’t give in!

  Lera now stood in front of her, running a finger along Uda’s chin, then down between her breasts and to her stomach. Uda had to suppress a shudder, forcing herself not to recoil in disgust. Lera continued downward, then slowly traced her finger back up, stepping so close that their faces were less than a foot apart. Her floral perfume drove Uda mad, and she forced herself to stare directly into the Exorcist’s blue irises.

  Suddenly, Lera grabbed the backpack straps and yanked them tight.

  "If you’re not tired, you possessed bitch, then I’ll make sure you are. No need to take off the stones anymore. Maybe Exorcist Immesh will allow it, but you probably won’t be that lucky. And even if he does, he’ll punish you with something worse…" Lera whispered.

  A searing heat stabbed into Uda’s chest.

  She tried to suppress a scream, but couldn’t. Steam rose into her face, and she smelled burning flesh. When she looked down, she was blinded as Lera’s hand was glowing a reddish white. After what felt like an eternity of searing pain, Lera finally let go, looking down with a satisfied smile. Uda followed her gaze... and finally screamed in despair, which earned her another one of Lera’s dreadful smiles. The two straps of the backpack had melted together. She had no idea how she’d ever separate them again without cutting them apart. The backpack was connected to her now the same way the horrid net of glowing stones was...

  "Please, no…" slipped from her lips, and she bit down hard in desperation.

  Even with the awful weight now hanging from her, she tried to stay upright.

  "Ah, very good. I think you’re starting to understand. You’re beginning to grasp what we do to Nightmares like you. Those who’ve nested inside the minds of innocents. You think you can haunt us? That’s a mistake…" Lera whispered, her voice trembling with rage this time.

  She leaned in close and hissed, "I’m the one who haunts you. Just like all my brothers and sisters, from the lowest recruits to the High Exorcists. Make no mistake - you’ll be begging far more than you just did. And I won’t grant you release. You and your kind have plagued our land for so long, we don’t even remember when we first had to retreat behind the shields. How long we lived there - like caged, fucking animals ready for the slaughter. I’ll show you what that feels like… Oh, I’ve waited so long to imprison a Possessed. The last one we met woke up. Took nearly thirty of my Hunters down with him..."

  Lera’s voice shook, her eyes boring into Uda’s as if they could smother her with sheer hatred.

  A faint scent of alcohol had now mingled with the flowery perfume Lera wore. Her lips pressed into a thin line. Suddenly she inhaled deeply and closed her eyes.

  Then, Lera put her fake smile back on and raised the apple.

  "Are you hungry?" she asked.

  YES, please, FUCK, YES! Uda screamed inwardly, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

  The hatred in Lera’s words still rang in her head, and the muscles in her back spasmed under the weight of the pack.

  "I… yes," Uda murmured weakly, stifling a tear as her stomach growled.

  The only thing that existed now was the apple. So juicy...

  Lera held it closer to her face, so close that the fruit almost brushed the tip of Uda’s nose.

  "You want… this apple, little possessed bitch?" Lera asked slowly, savoring the moment.

  "Yes, please… can I have it…" Uda whispered and then her voice gave out.

  "Then apologize to the poor girl you’re hiding inside. I can see the scars you left on her face before. I can barely imagine it… just arrived, and already overwhelmed and swallowed by darkness, like in some…"

  Lera shook her head in disgust and spat into her face.

  "The name Nightmare suits you perfectly, doesn't it? So say it. Apologize, even if she probably can’t hear you anymore. The only reason you’ll ever be destroyed is to wake her up. So she can return and get a second, a better, real chance. But since she’s probably not really here anymore, it doesn’t matter how long I make her wait. For her, it must be just eternal darkness in pain…" Lera hissed, her voice quieter now.

  But this time, her eyes welled up, and she had to swallow several times to keep speaking.

  She drew in a deep breath and put her mask of friendliness back on. Then she quickly walked to the silver carafe and poured herself another cup of wine. She sat back down on her gaudy chair and drained the goblet in large gulps.

  "Oh… how I wish I could be there when Exorcist Immesh gets his hands on you. They say he has… very different kinds of pleasure when it comes to the Possessed. Especially the ones in such… tempting bodies. He’s a disgusting little swamp-snake, revolting, you know? Still, he belongs to the Revealers... And who knows... maybe you’ll enjoy it a little? You’re a Seductress, right? Maybe even possessed by a Lust, considering your mental and physical fortifications? Then intimacy must be your thing… using it to get what you want… Too bad the only thing waiting for you is a perhaps slightly bigger cage. Not a heart you can crush in your filthy hands…"

  Uda felt sick, though she couldn’t tell if it was the stench of alcohol in her nostrils, the burning hunger in her stomach, or the words Lera was saying that made her want to vomit.

  "Anyway… KNEEL BEFORE ME! Or by the Goddess, you’re really going to get to know me! Kneel and apologize! Maybe then you’ll get your apple!" Lera barked, her words now slurred.

  She pointed to the ground in front of her.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  Uda was horrified by how quickly she scrambled to her knees.

  "I’m sorry, Uda… you’re trapped because of me. I’m sorry I took away your chance to explore the Dream, to form bonds with others… I’m a Nightmare, a Lust, and I’ve stolen and destroyed the potential of the girl whose body I’ve taken… Please, Exorcist, please… I’m hungry…" Uda whimpered.

  Half of her breakdown was a performance. The other half was real. But admitting that she had brought herself into this situation voluntarily - something Lera would never understand - reminded her of the reason why she was here.... And as she cried out those pitiful words, Uda suddenly felt something pulse near her, something deeply comforting, just for a moment.

  Probably the Sky Stone. Ah, those colors... There’s always hope, she thought.

  Then she looked up at Lera, who was still holding the apple.

  "Maybe you’d rather… have something to drink first? You did really well… I’m proud of you. Good girl," Lera said cheerfully, nodding toward the goblet in her hand.

  She was clearly drunk now, and Uda feared even more hatred would spill out of her, so she nodded quickly.

  YES! Finally, something to drink…!

  Her lips felt cracked, her throat raw. She couldn’t help it - her mouth filled with saliva. She looked hopefully at the golden goblet.

  "I don’t know… do you really want it?"

  "Yes, please… I’m so thirsty…"

  "But you don’t have to drink anything… you don’t have to eat… It’s just for a little pleasure. You could get by without it…" Lera mused mockingly.

  No, please! PLEASE! It’s so close, Uda screamed inwardly.

  With a sigh, Lera stood and walked back to the carafe. She refilled the goblet and stepped in front of Uda.

  "I suppose I can be nice," she smiled, then spat into the liquid several times.

  Uda’s face twisted in disgust, but she needed something to drink. The thirst…

  "Mouth open. Head back. Eyes shut. Enjoy it, you possessed piece of filth," Lera commanded, holding the goblet over Uda’s head.

  Uda obeyed quickly, nearly losing her balance and toppling backward under the weight of the pack on her back. She waited eagerly. Nothing happened.

  Please, please... Just let me drink, you fucking bitch, Uda begged silently, keeping her mouth open.

  She knew Lera would do something vile, something cruel... Still... nothing...

  Saliva threatened to spill from the corners of her mouth, and she swallowed it down. Nothing. Uda’s knees ached, and now more than ever, she felt how completely her body was falling apart. Her feet and palms were torn open, her legs nearly numb from kneeling so long, and her back throbbed under the weight of the stones. With her eyes closed, her other senses were overwhelmed.

  A splashing sound made her jolt, her lids fly open in alarm. Lera was pouring the wine out, right onto the ground, where it soaked into the brown grass.

  Uda cried out. She couldn’t hold back the tears anymore and broke into uncontrollable sobs. She tried to focus on the Sky Stone, but this time, it gave her no comfort.

  "Why are you crying? Because I’m so generous? Then drink. And go ahead, eat a little dirt with it. Hurry, or it’ll be gone. NOW," Lera barked, pointing to the spot on the tent floor where the last puddle of wine was vanishing into the earth.

  Uda barely registered what she was doing as she lunged toward it, desperately trying to scoop the liquid into her mouth with her hands. She clawed at the dirt with aching fingers, frantic, and only managed to save a few drops.

  No… she thought, sobbing as she collapsed onto the hard ground.

  The stones on her back pressed into her chest, forcing the air from her lungs.

  "Still hungry?" Lera asked with a crooked grin, as if nothing had happened.

  Her voice barely reached Uda. All she could feel was the emptiness in her stomach and the wreckage of her body. Her black hair clung to her face, tangled and matted with tears and sweat from the journey and her torment.

  "Yes… please, yes… hungry… please… apple…" she ghasped, looking up at Lera.

  The Exorcist pressed her lips together and gestured at the apple in her hand with mock curiosity.

  "This one? You want this one? How hungry are you? Convince me, and I’ll give it to you. Just like this. No tricks this time. I’m already bored of you anyway…" Lera yawned.

  "Please… I’m so hungry… I just want a little… that juicy taste… please…" Uda moaned, but she was close to giving up, close to retreating into herself, where that vile ring of filthy light would continue to drive her mad.

  "Hmm… you know what? Let’s test that. See how hungry you really are. Kill two birds with one stone," Lera mused. "There are still bits of that Nightmare stuck to my boots… not an apple… but technically edible, I think. And my boots do need cleaning. Lick them. If they’re spotless, maybe you’ll get the apple."

  She set the goblet down again.

  Uda hadn’t even noticed she’d refilled it. She stared at the boot being shoved toward her. Crusty, grimy bits clung to it, reeking foully.

  No. You’re not doing this. You don’t have to eat… She said so. You don’t have to…

  Slowly, she reached out toward the boot and lowered her face to it.

  What are you doing? What are you doing?

  "I didn’t say you could use your hand. Your tongue will do just fine. As a Seductress, I’m sure you’re good at that…"

  "SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH, YOU DRUNK, FUCKING BITCH! LICK THAT SHIT OFF YOURSELF AND CHOKE ON IT, YOU FILTHY SHIT! THAT WON’T BRING BACK THE ONES WHO DIED BECAUSE OF YOUR DAMNED INCOMPETENCE!" Uda screamed with everything she had left.

  She pushed herself upright and spat right between Lera’s eyes.

  For a moment, there was total silence. Lera was too drunk to react quickly, she just stared back in stunned disbelief.

  Uda was barely holding herself upright, on the verge of collapsing again, unable to process what she’d just done. Part of her wanted to take it all back, cursing herself, but another part felt an overwhelming relief.

  I am still myself. I will not...

  Lera’s face turned white, her eyes bulging. A second later, the whip lashed across Uda’s face, knocking her to the ground, where she lay gasping. The necklace flared to life, flooding her with waves of nausea, and she vomited the little that was in her stomach.

  Behind her, someone stormed into the tent, probably Kelwin, running to his mistress like the animal he was after hearing Uda’s scream.

  "You… I should’ve… you… I…" Lera stammered, her eyes burning, her mouth twisted with hatred as the chain around Uda’s neck tightened and began to choke her.

  "I’ll… you’ve gone… too far… you dare…"

  Desperate, Uda clawed at the band crushing her throat, knowing there was nothing she could do. She struggled to breathe.

  Is this the end? Did I abandon Nia? Did my stupidity lead me into something I can’t escape…? Maybe... maybe next time I’ll be luckier… Maybe I’ll find Nia again. Or Orfet… Yes… or Vid, or… Weet… Or all the others, whose names I never even asked…

  The world blurred, and Uda braced herself.

  She didn’t regret it.

  I did not break...

  Suddenly, she could breathe again, ragged, wheezing breaths, full of strain. Lera now looked completely unhinged, and Uda knew there was nothing that could save her anymore.

  "Kelwin… take her outside… I’ll begin cultivation, then we’ll move on… Strip off those filthy clothes. I want her crawling on all fours like the animal she is. Exorcist Immesh should get some ideas when he sees her and what he can do wi—"

  Then came the abyss.

  Deep. Terrible. Endless.

  It came and flooded into Uda, sending a wave of boundless terror into her soul. Nothing she had ever sensed compared to it. It was as if the core of her very being was being torn apart, swallowed by infinite emptiness. Her thoughts unraveled and vanished into the vast nothingness invading, spreading inside her.

  Uda wasn’t sure whether, in that bottomless abyss that suddenly shattered her mind and pulled everything into its depths, there was something after all.

  Was it rage? Hatred? Despair…?

  A flicker of joy?

  No. Just yawning emptiness. Only the end.

  As the abyss continued pushing her inward like a raging current, she could no longer tell where she ended and the void began. It was as if she had become part of it, her consciousness merging with neverending darkness. And somehow… it felt almost peaceful.

  And then, just as suddenly as it had arrived, the abyss began to recede.

  Next to her, Lera had collapsed to the ground with a panicked scream, vomiting onto the floor. As Uda turned her head with the last of her strength toward the entrance of the tent, she saw Kelwin clutching his forehead, his eyes darting in confusion, his mouth forming soundless words. Screams echoed beyond the tent walls.

  "Exorcist… what was that? What caused that? Was it close? Was… was that a Nightmare? I’ve never… " Kelwin finally stammered, voice low and shaking.

  "Neither have I… Never… I think it was not close, yet... I do not even know where it was? Very far? It felt like I was touched by something primal… ancient…" Lera whispered.

  Her lips trembled, and a single tear began to roll down her cheek.