Everything was dark when by the time Edric opened his eyes. His lights were off, the moon was hidden behind the clouds, the only noise being of the rain.
As always, Edric couldn't feel his body. The IV needle pumping serum into his veins. However, something was weird. Something wasn't right…
Just then, the door opened, slowly, almost soundless. Moving his eyes slowly towards the sound, Edric felt a deep, irrational dread cripped into his bones. The silhouette of a demon with eight arms was at the door. Edric couldn't see his face…no, he didn't have one, only a mask.
The facade of a smiling demon with two twisted horns in his forehead, two back voids instead of eyes, yet Edric could feel his gaze in him.
His heart raced with each of the demon's steps. Soon the demon was looking down on him. Although Edric knew exactly what he would do, he still felt the same irrational fear.
The demon…just stared at him, immovable like a statue. Even though he knew that's all his mind could play on him, the fear he felt was not rational. It gripped at his very soul, making his body shiver uncontrollable–except by his left leg, of course.
Eventually, the demon seemed to have grown bored. He raised one of his hands towards his mask. Raising one of his seven fingers, placing over his twisted smile, reality snapped back into place.
Edric opened his eyes.
'Again…' Sleep paralysis, only one of his many conditions.
He took a deep breath to calm his heart and mind. Even though he knew that he was in a dream, the fear had been real. Too real.
The brain is really a piece of work. To imagine a sickness that literally wakes up his mind, while his body still sleeps, and then sends a personal monster created in his mind to wake him up. Fascinating…and sinister. Terrifying actually.
Even after such a dream, Edric still couldn't move his body. The room was the same as before, that would make one doubt if they really had got up, but no. Edric could tell, this was for sure reality. While he waited for his body to respond, Edric began to ponder.
'Why does it have to be that bastard?'
The demon had been a constant in his life ever since this curse had started. Sometimes he sits over his body, another he stays by the door, but he never makes a sound. Perhaps it was a blessing, just imagining what kind of voice such aberration had made him lose his sleep. Thankfully, that didn't happen every night, otherwise he may have gone crazy long ago.
At some point he even questioned the demon's appearance. Does he have eight arms because of Edric's dislike of spiders? But why the mask though?
'This won't get me anywhere. Who am I to understand the human mind?'
Leaving those thoughts aside, he tried to move his finger. He would soon be able to move.
Just then the door opened. For a heart beat Edric felt a shill in his spine.
"Sir, are you awake?" Tina's voice sounded like a choir of angels.
Edric left a breath that he didn't know it was holding.
"I am," he said, "Though I am still paralyzed."
Tina stepped into the room with a suit in hands.
"Whatever you are ready, we can go."
"Ok, just give a minute."
After some time, Tina removed the IV needle from his arm and helped him get up. Taking his cane, Edric threw a last look to his room, this would be the last time he would be seen for a while, if ever. He didn't carry a lot of good memories from here, mostly had already died out with time.
Yet, he would miss the mansion. It was his home after all. Who wouldn't miss home?
***
Galleon was already outside, packing some things in a spacious black van at the garage. The girls were at his side dressed in cute dresses that Edric was pretty sure were Tina's once. Raquel yawned while Rachel dark circles under her eyes.
'Is still early, why are they so tired? Kids really are a mystery…'
As he and Tina walked side by side, Edric suddenly remembered something.
"Did you free the horses?"
"I think Galleon did," she responded.
"I see," Then there was no need to worry.
As they got closer the girls were the first ones to notice them.
"Good evening, Miss Tina, Mister Edric." Rachel said, slightly bowing.
"Oh, you two are finally here," Galleon said, closing the front door and walking towards them. "Is this your bag, Edric?"
"I think so, I am not sure."
"How can you not know whether a suitcase is yours or not?"
"...What kind of question is this?"
"It is," Tina interjected, already handling him the leathered suitcase, "Do me a favor and put it on the back."
"Why didn't you put it in your bag?"
"Stop asking questions, would ya?" She grabbed Edric by the hand and dragged him towards the van.
Raquel laughed as Edric tried not to stumble and hurt himself.
"Really, are you in your period or something?" Galleon murmured, but it was enough to Tina's high senses to hear it.
She stopped in her tracks, turning slowly with a sweet smile on her face. Edric felt a shiver down his spine and quickly freed himself from her gasp and quickly walked towards the girls. Using them as a shield.
"You really like to make jokes, old man."
"Eh? Did I say something? I can't remember, perhaps you are right. I really should go to an asylum." He laughed at his own joke.
"Perhaps I should really send you to one," Tina laughed back, but it didn't last long, "Go put the bag in the van."
He didn't argue.
Edric let out a sigh of relief, for a moment he thought they would start throwing hands…Well, Tina would and it wouldn't be the first time either.
"...What just happened?" Rachel asked him.
"Hm…they have a peculiar way to show affection," Edric said scratching his chin while trying to think of something, "You know, just like when you fight with your sister but eventually make it out. I think it's the same, though I can't say from experience."
"I–I see," She still didn't understand, but decided to accept it either way.