My eyes turned toward those of my oppressor. Sweat dripped from my face, landing softly on the ground. I was frozen like a statue as its red eyes glared me down.

The sun was against my back as it was on the verge of settling itself down.

How did it get here? It was impossible, but yet standing before me was a creature from that world; the one Ash had killed. It was waiting for me to move, taunting me with a menacing aura.

I couldn't fight it here, too much was at stake. I rushed towards the open plain of pasture. Hoping my sudden motion would give me time and Ash would soon follow.

It laughed with a deep tone as it spoke, "Domenic, we have come for you."

Its feet pounded into the ground with a devastating quake. It was fast, in seconds it was breathing upon me.

My instincts told me: Duck!

Swoosh!!!!

A rush of wind passed me, had I not ducked, it would have certainly taken my head.

Now it stood before me, blocking my path.

What was my next move?

"Almost had your head," as a large mocking tongue came out revealing rows of sharpening teeth.

It made its intentions clear. Yet it seemed different from before. Maybe my eyes were playing tricks however, for one moment it seemed distorted. I could see through it for a small fraction of time.

Was it just me wanting not to believe that this was real. I glanced back at the house, but there was no sign of Ash.

"How are you able to talk?" I asked it.

"How do you think?"

"Is it only you that could learn and speak this way?"

"We have long spoken and we will satisfy our hunger upon you."

I squeezed my hands into a fist as I asked, "Do you work for Lilith?"

It paused, I noticed this sudden change as it contemplated the name.

"That name has no meaning to me. The only thing that matters to us is your death," it said, before it rushed me again.

I couldn't tell which way to go, and I waited for the last second to use its overzealous nature against it.

It swiped at me from the left, way too early, and as I shifted myself in anticipation. I gave it a strike of my own, a sweeping kick.

It flew over me, but as expected my attack didn't even register. Then I saw it, hidden within the side of it, a naked human.

The figure was engulfed within a thick sheet of black. What I had seen earlier was not my imagination, its body was really distorted.

"How did you get here?" my eyes measuring the distance between us.

"Hate and as long as it exists, I will forever find you. Did you think it would stop? It only ends when you die. When you suffer like we are."

"So it is Samael then, he put you up to this?" I asked, trying my best to peer into the mind of this monster.

I had to pass more time. I knew within me that I could not defeat it alone. Was it possible to even outrun it? I had shifted to this plain if only to keep those in the house safe, but it now seemed to be a dangerous move. I did not anticipate it would have been this fast.

I could not see or hear Ash, nor did I know if she knew what was happening. I looked at the window where the study is. Would she hear me if I shouted? I wondered? My eyes peered back onto this creature if I did that I probably would be dead even quicker.

I could not outsmart it forever. It had not answered me. It continued to glare at me with its eyes. Was that an answer to itself?

I decided to follow it up, "Why do you hate me? Doesn't the man you wish to kill at least deserve to know why?"

There was a change in the presence of the air.

"Why!!!!? You do not know why?? You do not know what you did to us!!!?? If it was not for her. Our hate would never be manifested into a reality. Our revenge would never be so sweet. Come, let me savour it like a fine wine. We will feast on your bones as your soul is trapped forever with ours in anguish."

It rushed at me again, this time however it did not try to give me the chance to counter as its claws tore through my shirt and left a trail of red marks across my chest in its path. I had barely dodged a fatal move, but it was not without some form of a bruise to show for it.

It turned again with excitement from the taste of blood. It was in no more of a mood for casual conversation.

Swoosh!!!

It went left.

Swoosh!!!

It went right.

It was trying to catch me with speed.

It was now in mid-air.

Beeepppppp!!!!!!

A horn sounded loudly and at the last moment, it rushed me. A jeep connected directly into the monster, sending it flying in the air. It crashed a distance away with a loud thud that seemed to shake the ground.

I recognized the jeep that was inches from me it was Ralph. He got out of the car and he took a quick glance at the damage to the jeep and then to me.

"What the hell was that?" he shouted.

I had never seen Ralph so much out of character and despite my life being in danger. I chuckled as my body came back calm.

"My demons," I responded as the burning ached my chest. "We have to go."

Ralph, however, had other plans as he opened the back door of his car pulling out his shotgun from the make it was a pump-action, he loaded it.

"This car, sir, he said, is not in the right condition to drive. I would like to believe what I saw was some sort of wild animal. This here will just have to keep us both safe," he pointed at his gun.

I saw it coming as Ralph unloaded round after round with swift precision. Each shot thundered as it connected, but the monster did not let up even though the shots send him back.

That was until a blade landed in its back, it collapsed to the ground. Ash was now here. Her two makeshift blade already upon the monster. Ralph took the time to reload.

It's body more human than what it first appeared to be as it rushed a last swipe at Ralph. Failing miserably before it fell to the ground.

Ash's eyes turned from me to Ralph.

"What took you so long?" I asked.

Before she could respond Ralph had put another round in what now was the scattered body parts of a human.

"It's dead now, Ralph," I said.

"Did you see it, sir? Did you see what it was before?"

"Yes, Ralph, I did."

"It is not possible, it couldn't be real? A monster, those things don't exist. Yet I saw and you did."

I could hear him muttering pray after pray. Who he was praying to I wasn't sure. I just saw him switching symbols after each other.

"It was Ralph," I said, to enforce the point.

"What do we do with him and how do we explain this," Ash asked, giving a very concerned look as she raised her blade slightly higher.

Ralph, was too busy checking to see if the thing before him was dead.

"I will let him know it is for the best," I gave an insistent eye.

I looked at the man then at my house, this is easy to explain.

Ash merely matched my gaze. I could see she wasn't too happy with my response.

"Let me know what, sir?" Ralph interjected into the stalemate, looking from the man to me to Ash.

"What is really going on? At least tell me what of this madness I have not been able to make out so far."

I briefly explained to him the details of what had happened. His strange facial expressions clearly showed his state of confusion; he was dumbfounded. I couldn't blame him, it would all seem crazy if I were also in his shoes.

I didn't know if he believed me or not. However, we had to create and stick to a story and soon.

***

The police response was faster than I had anticipated. Given the area, I guess this would be normal.

I had never seen so many police cars before in my life. Nor had I ever had so many aggressive and hostile looks upon me, fingers trained to kill if need be.

They initially wanted to take us to the station for questioning. From the time, I mentioned my name, however, there was a complete change of tone in their approach and demeanour. All except for one officer, Chris, I didn't expect him to be here.

"So let me get this story straight again, you're saying that this man knocked out the people that were inside the house. Chased you out here and your butler ran him over with his jeep. Then shot this man, and you sliced him up in the process?"

"No, I used the sword to protect myself. Ralph just responded to the fact that I was in danger. He fired a few shots at him. Just out of panic and for my safety."

Chris looked down at the body. "This looks far more than a few shots. It smells of overkill than just plain self-defence. You're sure you didn't take the liberty to kill this man?"

I glanced at Ralph, who despite everything had a stoic face.

I was about to speak, when, another spoke for me, "This is enough, Chris. Damn, do you push it?"

"My apologies, sir. This case is quite straight forward, we have the statements from people within the house who all described similar circumstances. The guard outside has the time which is within the frame of the jeeps arrivals and it is clear that Mr. Foster's life was in danger and he did what he had to do, that is how this case will go and that is it."

I turned to see it was the supervising officer. I nodded my head to him. "Can we leave? I asked, "It's been quite a dramatic experience and I would like to check on my staff.

"Certainly Mr. Foster but just before you go, I contacted the morgue, when they arrive we will leave."

Chris looked irritated by the interjection, but I paid no mind. I left with Ralph walking towards the house. On our way, we overheard the officers.

"Do you think it was some sort of drug he was using? Who attacks anyone just so random and naked?"

"I know right, it is so weird."

When I got to the house, there was chaos with the staff. They tried to piece together their last remaining puzzled moments by softly muttering to themselves.

Mallory herself seems taken back by the entire thing. Her dress muddy and her eyes seemed fixated on trying to recall the events.

It was an excellent plan to have Ash hide back in the study.

"Domenic," she called, "Is that man dead, did he cause us all to go unconscious?"

"Yes," I replied.

"Then what did he want you for? How did he get past security? This place is it actually safe for our daughter?"

"I promise you everything will be fine. I will discuss with the police any further details."

As I turned to head inside, she noticed the cut on my chest.

She gasped as she saw it. "What happened?"

"This is just a scratch, you can see yourself out." Not waiting for her response.

"Ralph, I will be in the study," I said as he nodded.

I began walking towards the staircase as the light faded.