I focused even more onto Talek, hoping to understand the puzzling display I've become entangled in to; if I push hard enough could I somehow manage to break the barrier between Talek and I, or at the very least, give some indication that I was still only a few feet away.

"So... this is what frightens you..." He whispered behind my right ear. "...You're fearful that you've fallen for another monster?"

I was encumbered by the intensity his presence exhumed. The horrible tightening rattling my chest; even resonating even lower than I'd ever expected to have any of the likes of a response.

His breath littered the arch of my cheek, just inches from ear shot.

"No, that's not it..." He insisted. "... let's dig a bit deeper into that chaotic mind of yours." His left hand retreating from my chin, to hovering over my temple. "Let... go..." he dared.

With Talek's transformation taking place in front of me, I felt the incredible urgency to surrender; exhausted from the eternity it felt as I had been running from; that being the past to the present; I wanted to let it all go.

"There it is." he snickered. "...you're not afraid of him being a monster... you're terrified he will find the monster you believe to have become." He inhaled again, this time with more intent. "Those delicious hints of evil thinking plaguing all those relationships... the many ways you fantasized of hacking away at family... lovers... and most particular at a stronger opponent... well, 'friend' when knowing she never actually needed you."

"You've no idea what you are talking about." I spat.

"Don't I?" he cackled. "My eyes and ears are all over this area, even that little ole town you call home... I know!" He spat back in a hummed growl.

"I know what horror laced goodies you've swept under a mile-high rug... well-hidden over the years, I might add, only to keep your thoughts tarnished... dreams panicked in terrors at every turn you've ever made; knowing that possibly someone would get a glimpse of the little demon you knew grew within you."

I whimpered to catch a breath. "You're wrong..." I whispered. Holding onto to the moisture desperately needing to escape.

"Dannity... you were a tool... a weapon that was learned to be harnessed, time and time again, as every monster... every supernatural being... what you thought was hilarious 'love...'"

He sighed.

"... It was all attracted to nothing more than the supple blood bag you had to offer." He affirmed, bashing against me even harder than before.

I calculated every moment; memories of those whom I loved or thought to be in love with, spearing frantically and acting out to showcase the hurt; stress; pain; the abandonment and humiliation that leached to me like some sort of curse or plague. Then there was Nikki and the endless foray of creatures continuously vying for me, instead of her.

Was he right? Was my whole life one big collusion of depression and anxiety riddled in fields of landmines to accumulate to here and now?

I don't think so!

I've fought tooth to nail... too brashly... for this piece of pit grime's demon ass to add up all my errors in life. Grasping at anything about me, to belittle my self esteem is quite comical; giving the fact he is a supposed demon, and me, a human.

That reverberated again, I'm a human, with no actual capabilities, captive to a higher-level demon; why am I still kicking a conversation with this meaty suit? He needs me. He's continuingly cognizant of any actions Talek makes – That's it! This is all to get him through that glass barrier... the demon's trapped here! I'm only the pawn to get Talek to do so; but if I can somehow stop it all, nothing can happen.

After such a tremendous reevaluation; I didn't care, rather need, to hear anymore, of his ridiculous theories; that tiny voice slowly ramped up to amphitheater heights as I knew what my truth was; the answers were not going to be coated in some fantastically well-groomed demon's tarter spit.

...And... what's that?" I coaxed, just to keep the ball rolling. As I could tell he'd caught I was aware of his own secret.

"My young one... nothing really to be shocked of... we all have demons... err ... some evil sparing within us, well, some of us more than others..." he quipped "... we are at war with." He slurred. "Yours just happen to be a bit more definite than metaphysical."

As if the hound could feel the pang leaping out of my pores and into the air like fabrics of rogue dust; Talek's sun ripened eyes peered straight into mine; as even under the hound exterior, the connection we seem to share penetrated between the real world, and this façade I'd been dragged into.

The demon snickered as his rough tongue glided against my right cheek. "Thank you for enticing out those pesky emotional feelings he'd been so reluctant to face... you played such a grande role... how could I ever repay you for bringing him out?"

Another howl brewed just in time to break the tension, and unwanted advances of my capturer.

"He's no ordinary hound..." He affirmed as if some physic connection had been plugged between us. "... he will be one of the better candidates..." he said as he released the assertive grip he had; pushing away from me, and from the molting ground I remained on.

"In fact... to show such gratitude, I've got the perfect gift for you..." he murmured shuffling a piece of rock between his bare feet. "By the way... did you know you've been marked by his many talents..."

I sniffled in what water could be manifested within my dry nasal cavity, as I pondered his statement. Coming up with no real explanation to accommodate the remark.

"You're a bitch!" I pronounced in a low toned voice.

He chuckled at my naivety; or quite possibly the callowness that plastered my face.

Had I been that blind... again?

"My feisty dear..." he began, kneeling to gaze directly into my eyes. "You've been marked to die... to be oddly judged by... with all those ooey gooey scraps of secrets you've managed to hold close until all that changed by sure happenstance... courtesy of the kiss you shared with the handsome hound before you."

I couldn't understand where he was going with this unsolicited ramble. Of course, I couldn't just walk away; there wasn't anywhere that I could go.

"It all boils down to untold truths... you nor he have been completely honest with each other."

My eyebrows creased in detest of his accusations.

"He's just a young grim junior." He confessed. Fawning over Talek as if he had some helping in creating him.

"You see, Danni..." he began again finding my eyes in our reflection. "...none of this was supposed to be with you... you are not 'the one' who was meant to be here but who can be choosey in the throes of love... I cannot conduct every single movement made to a tee... he..." head directing towards Talek "...chose to persuade his natural instincts to leak out."

He casually strolled a few paces. "Though... it didn't help her case, when she tried to get away with that whole scheme of making more tainted spawns." He chuckled. "So, delighted that you were miraculously there, you clever sphinx."

The veins within me shook sporadically, convulsing on the revelations being poured down my ear drum. The realizations beating me from every angle; flying round like a carousel through all emotions till settling down to one familiar tone – anger!

I was tired of being the toy of these supernatural entities raggedy toy; jerked around the countryside by 'the one' only to find out I wasn't a contender in finding content; ease; love! Everything never fell on the side a rose in soft winds of spring but of some rag weed surrounded by a reeking wetland, struggling to be upon the sun's warm rays. I hated to be continuously compared; never measuring up; as if I was some measly consolation reward for the grand prize of gold.

And the terrifying truth swiped all otherthoughts away for a second: was Talek only attracted to me because of whohe thought I was? Was all this... really meant for Nikki, not me? She could have wisely warned me of all it – butagain, a strategic piece in this game – was all I had been.