As the last of the 6 candles was placed onto the pentagon drawn with blood, Akira smiled. Red liquid emanated from the gash on her hand; the blood-stained dagger that caused the wound lay forgotten on the cold hard stone floor alongside her garments. However, she felt no pain. In her mind, there was only her master, and she hadn’t let him down. Soon, the ritual would be completed. Soon, she would be rewarded beyond her wildest dreams.


A cold gust blew pass, prickling the hairs on her naked body. The flames on the candles flickered wildly, casting dark shadows evocative of demons onto the wall behind. Akira stood firm, unafraid when she should fear, more concerned with giving then taking.


Somewhere in the distance, a bell chimed, signaling midnight. And then it happened. Without warning, warped thoughts of a stranger assaulted her mind relentlessly. A million nerves centered around her brain as the incessant throb burgeoned, spiraled and evolved. The illusion of need, the crush of desire, the culmination of absolute love of her master fell over her as she screamed into the night, unable to contain herself anymore.

Akira awoke cold and shivering. The room was dark; the candles extinguished. In the back of the room, a lone figure cloaked in black stood silently, observantly.

“Master, my master…”

“You have done well my child.”

“Thank you… thank you master!”

Akira relaxed. Relief rushed through her veins. The ritual was complete; she would be honored.

“Arise my child.” whispered the cloaked stranger. “Thou shalt be blessed.”

Akira obeyed and rose to her feet boldly, unashamed of her nakedness. The stranger raised a hand, pale and white under the moonlight that streamed in from the window, and snapped his fingers. Suddenly, bright blue flames erupted around Akira, engulfing her, burning her. She shrieked in agony and fell onto the floor, writhing in pain.

“Master!? Why?!” she cried out, but the stranger merely smiled evilly. A second snap of his fingers and the girl whom had served him so acquiescently exploded into nothingness. Thick red blood splattered all over the room and onto his face. Out of the corner of his lips, a long tongue escaped and caught a drop of red liquid trickling down his cheek.

‘Delicious…’ he thought, gazing out of the window, where the full moon shone brightly – a silver orb illuminating the starless sky. ‘You have done well, now depart in peace…’

‘The night is still young.’ he mused as he left the confinement of the room. ‘There is much work to be done…’