"Hello, Jens." The voice of Cross, my vampire friend, sounded in my ear. I turned to face him.
"Hello, Cross," I grinned. "What are you doing here?"
The expression on his face was severe. "I'm worried, Jens. The prophecy is only two months away from being fulfilled. How will we stop the malevolent spirit? You're our only hope, and you don't seem to be doing much."
"Even for a vampire warlock like me, defeating the spirit in combat is too much of a challenge," I informed him. "But I have an alternate plan. Top secret."
"I hope you know what you're doing," Cross mumbled. "Your plan has to work." With that, he slipped away.
I walked over to the pond where the spirit was dwelling. It sensed my presence at once and formed itself into the shape of a beautiful woman, but with bloody skin and hellfire eyes. "I hope you haven't come to challenge me to combat. Many have tried... and many have died."
I gave the spirit a smile and lifted my hands into the air, revealing that I was not holding a weapon of any kind. "I'm not that foolish. Do you have a name, spirit?"
The spirit's hellfire eyes flashed at me. "No one has ever asked me that question before."
I grinned. "I guess there's a first time for everything. Are you going to answer the question? What name should I call you as we converse?"
The spirit's eyes had an odd flash in them. "Um.... call me Beela."
I gave Beela a smile. "And I'm Jens. So, Beela, I'd like to get to know you better. What are you, exactly? How did you form? And what are your likes and dislikes?"
Beela seemed taken aback by the soft approach. She remained silent for a good minute. "Filthy humans and their sins have made me into what I am. You are not human, I can tell. A vampire, and a warlock." She paused, and my eyes met hers. I gave her an encouraging smile, and she continued. "I am the spirit of hatred. Humans strengthen me every day with their sins. Sorrows... I like sorrows. I would like to see all the filthy humans erased from this planet. They are doing a good job of it themselves. Wars, anger, murders..."
I grinned and reached my arms towards Beela. "Come." She more firmly materialized, and I was able to pull her gently in my arms and hold her. I said nothing, just resting her head against my strong shoulder.
After a few minutes, Beela whispered, "You're not... afraid of me?"
"No," I murmured. "I like you, Beela... a lot."
Beela's tears dripped onto my skin. I could feel the essence of sorrow in them. "No one has ever liked me before," she breathed. "My brother is the spirit of disease. He too would like to see humans erased. And when the Prophecy arrives, they will be."
I released her from my arms. "I must go now," I told Beela, speaking softly. "But I will return, tomorrow. I want to be with you."
Beela's expression changed into a smile, the first one of those I'd ever seen on her face. "What... is this feeling?" she asked querulously.
I smiled back. "Happiness, Beela. And I intend to give you more of it, much more."
The next day, Beela came straight into my arms. Her material form was very solid, as solid as an actual human. "Just for you," she whispered. "It takes a lot of energy to materialize this fully, but since I know you like it..."
I kissed her cheek. "Beela, you're intelligent and beautiful. I love it." Then my lips met hers. I could feel her body shiver. After 2 minutes of twining tongues, we broke the kiss to breathe.