by Ty Griffin
I found myself looking for potential threats around every corner and behind every parked car. I was not only looking for dark, malicious spirits. In the back of my mind, I knew at some point I was going to have to talk to Barnett, and I was sure that conversation would not be especially good for my health. I had taken his money and agreed to spy on Gabe for him, and I would have to explain that I no longer wanted to work for him. And Barnett did not seem like the type to take rejection very well.
I was lost in thought, trying to imagine a way to get out of that conversation with all my body parts reasonably intact, when a voice behind me made my blood run cold.
“A week has passed, prey.”
I froze. My heart began to race, and I turned slowly, preparing my sore legs to run. Hanging from a lamp pole behind me was an impish, little creature. It was about the size of a howler monkey and the color of dried grass. It had great big eyes, long floppy ears, and two pointy teeth extending from each side of its mouth. It hung from the side of the pole by an arm and two legs, its long appendages curling all the way around.
“A week has passed, prey,” the little creature repeated. “You have kept Undheer waiting. Undheer does not like to be kept waiting and has sent me for you.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, looking around to make sure no one saw me talking to a light.
The imp’s lip curled up in a threatening sneer. “You know exactly what I mean. Undheer gave you instructions to bring him the tutuvar within a month. It has been more than a week, and Undheer grows impatient.”
“He gave me a month. I’ve got two-and-a-half weeks left!”
“Undheer grows impatient, human,” the imp repeated.
“And if I do find the tutuvar, how am I supposed to find Undheer? I don’t even know where he is. How would I find him?” I asked.
“Just return to where he first found you. He will have someone keeping an eye out for you.”
“Fine,” I said begrudgingly. “You’ve delivered your message. Now go away.”
“Two weeks, human. Do not disappoint Undheer further.” The creature let out a mocking, chittering laugh and leapt onto a car driving past, riding it on down the street.
I stood there a moment longer, trying to get my thoughts back on track. “Okay,” I said to myself. “So I have two conversations I have to figure a way out of.”
“Vessel, you did not tell me Undheer knew of you,” Veikr’s voice rumbled inside my body.
“Veikr,” I whispered. “So you finally decide to show up again? You abandoned me in the middle of a fight for my life and then you don’t even say a word for almost an entire week?” In the back of my mind, I remembered the pain Veikr was capable of causing, but I was angry and kept pushing. “I looked you up, by the way. Or at least I looked up your name. ‘Veikr’ is an old Norse word for ‘weak.’ You told me you were so great and powerful, but your own kind calls you pathetic. You lied to me!”
“Do not change the subject,” he seethed.
“Change the subject! You lied to me, abandoned me. You have done nothing but try to manipulate and control me for your own purposes.”
“I am a demon, Vessel. Did you expect something different of me?” he asked defiantly.
I blinked. He was right. I had gone along with him expecting him to treat me in good faith, but he was a demon. He was a malevolent creature from hell. Of course he would lie, manipulate, and betray. That was his nature. Being fooled by anything he said was my own idiotic fault.
Taking my silence as a sign that he had made his point, Veikr continued. “You did not tell me Undheer knew of you.”
“No. I kind of had more pressing things on my plate. Why? Is he dangerous?”
“Dangerous, Vessel? Dangerous does not begin to describe Undheer. Achimasiz was dangerous, and Achimasiz would not be considered worthy to serve as a guard for one such as Undheer. He is not one to disobey. Not even fleeing this country would protect you were you to disobey Undheer. Once you have caught his attention, you will either serve at his will or you will die.”
“What? What if I don’t want to serve him?” I asked.
“It does not matter, Vessel. Your will does not matter. You will serve. You must serve, for both our sakes.”
“Goddammit,” I muttered.
“He may indeed,” growled the demon.
Afterword
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Thank you for reading The Corruption Within, book one of The Demontender Series by Ty Griffin. Go to areallifegriffin.wordpress.com to read short stories by Ty and stay up to date on news regarding upcoming book releases.