The Devil Inside

I woke up the next morning feeling oddly satisfied, as the sunlight streamed through gaps in my cheap blinds. I needed to spring for some curtains. I rolled to my side facing the clock on the nightstand. 8:52AM, I'd slept for almost a full eight hours. For a moment, I just lay there, basking in the unfamiliar feeling of being well-rested. No nightmares, no restless tossing and turning, no whispered temptations in the dark. Just blessed, uninterrupted sleep.

The silence in my head was almost disconcerting. No snarky comments, no insidious suggestions. Just... peace. I knew it wouldn't last, it never did, but for now, I'd enjoy the reprieve.

I shuffled into the kitchen, the cold linoleum slapping against my bare feet. Time for the morning ritual: biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, and a tall cup of coffee. Some might call it boring; for me, there was comfort in the routine. In my line of work, you took your stability where you could get it.

My movements were fluid and automatic, honed by years of repetition, as the air filled with the aroma of sausage gravy. Now, sitting at my small kitchen table, I watched the steam rise from the plate and allowed myself this brief moment of normalcy. Just a guy enjoying his breakfast--nothing supernatural or demonic about it.

I was halfway through my eggs when my phone rang, shattering the illusion. Unknown number. I hesitated, fork hovering midair my eyes cutting to the screen on my phone. In my experience, unknown numbers rarely brought good news. But then again, they also paid the bills.

With a sigh, I picked up. "Victor speaking."

"Ay, gracias a Dios," a woman's voice came through, trembling slightly. "Are you the Victor who... deals with unusual problems?"

I chuckled, it couldn't be prevented. "Unusual problems? Sure let's call it that. So, on a scale of 'my toaster is possessed' to 'I've accidentally summoned Cthulhu in my bathtub', how unusual are we talking here?"

"My name is Sophia," she said, her voice taking on a bit more strength. "And I think I'm being followed by something. not human."

I closed my eyes, pressing the heel of my palm to my forehead. Great, just great. "What makes you say that?"

"Está siempre allí, just out of sight," Sophia hurried on, the words spilling out as if she had been holding them back too long. "Shadows move when they shouldn't, I hear whispers when I'm alone. I've tried going to the police, but they think I'm loca. Maybe I am, but." She broke off, taking a shaking breath. "But I don't think so. Something is after me, Señor Victor. And I don't know what to do."

I leaned back in my chair, mind racing. Could be nothing, plenty of people convinced themselves they were being haunted when it was just old pipes and an overactive imagination. But something in her voice, the edge of genuine fear, made me think otherwise.

"Alright, Sophia," I said, pushing away from the table. "I'm going to give you an address. Can you meet me there in 20 minutes?"

"Si, si," she exclaimed grateful that someone was taking her serious. She was going to be a lot less grateful when she found out my fee.

"I'm not saying I'm going to take your case, but I will at least listen and try to figure out what's going on." She wasn't listening anymore. I could already hear here shuffling around her house and grabbing her keys.

"Gracias, Victor. Gracias!" She hung up before I could get another word in. Guess I won't be spending the day catching up on Sex in the City.

****

I let out a sigh and hung up the phone before heading into my closet. Something told me showing up in some rumpled t-shirt and dinosaur boxers wasn't going to exactly shout confidence. Instead, I pulled out a crisp white t-shirt and layered it with a brown sweater. Then, pulling on a pair of jeans and running a comb through my hair, I headed for the car.

Twenty minutes later, I pulled into my office in my beat-up Honda Civic. The 'check engine' light was blinking ominously-one problem at a time, I thought to myself. Sophia's car was already out front, a shiny new SUV that looked comically out of place next to the dilapidated building that was my workplace. I spotted her pacing nervously by the door, glancing at her watch.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," I called out, already fumbling with my keys as I approached. "Traffic was murder. Well, not literal murder. That's more of a Friday thing around here," I said with a smile. I don't think she got the joke.

I pushed open the creaky front door; the sign above it, reading 'Victor's Investigation of the Paranormal', the gold from the VIP letters were peeling off, classy.

"Bienvenida to my humble abode," I said, waving around. "Don't mind the mess. Or the smell. That's just sage and... well, let's call it ambient mystique."

Look at you, Mr. Bilingual, I thought to myself. That one semester of Spanish is really paying off.

Sophia stepped inside, her eyes skittering around the cramped space, taking in the eclectic decor. The room was barely larger than a huge closet, with walls lined from floor to ceiling with shelves filled with books. Ancient tomes on demonology stood shoulder to shoulder with modern paranormal research journals. A glass case in the corner housed an assortment of religious artifacts--crosses and holy water vials; a few things I'd rather not explain to the uninitiated.

My desk, an oak monstrosity I had retrieved from an estate sale, dominated the space. Its surface was littered with open books, scribbled notes, and a half-empty bottle of whiskey. Hey, sometimes exorcisms require liquid courage.

I settled back into my chair. "So, Sophia, tell me about this shadow that's been following you. When did you first notice it?"

Sophia perched on the edge of a worn leather armchair. "It started about two nights ago, during my dance class."

I raised an eyebrow. "Dance class? What kind of dance are we talking about here? Salsa? Tango? Interpretive rain dance?"

She blushed, avoiding my eyes. "It's... pole dancing. But only for the workout!" she added quickly.

Suddenly, a stirring deep inside, a familiar burning bloomed in my chest. The incubus, silent all morning, was suddenly very much awake and interested.

"Well, well," it purred. "Things just got a lot more interesting, didn't they?"

I shoved the demon's voice into the back of my head, focusing on Sophia. "No judgment here. I've seen things that would make Lovecraft wet his pants. So, what went down with this. workout?"

Sophia took a deep breath. "At first, I thought I was imagining things. But then I started noticing shadows moving but like, only the shadows not the objects themself. Even when there was nothing to cast them, I still saw shadows. And the whispers."

"Whispers?" I leaned forward. "What kind of whispers?"

She shuddered, wrapping her arms around herself as if suddenly cold. "I can never make out what they're saying. It's like... hissing, almost. And it's always when I'm alone."

I nodded, scratching down notes. "And has this shadow ever tried to communicate with you directly? Or has it just been lurking and whispering sweet nothings?"

Sophia's eyes widened, a haunted look crossing her face. "No... no direct communication. But..." She trailed off, her breath quickening.

"But what?" I pressed gently, leaning forward.

She swallowed hard. "Last night, I was alone in the studio after class. I know the owner so sometimes he let's me stay late and lock up. I was cleaning up, and suddenly all the lights went out. I thought it was just a power outage, but then..." Her voice broke. "I saw it. A darker shadow among the shadows, moving towards me. I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. It reached for me, and I swear I felt cold fingers on my skin."

Sophia's hands were visibly shaking, whatever it was really did a number on her. "I have never been so scared in my life, Señor Victor. It felt... hungry. Like it wanted to devour me whole. I managed to run before it got too close but..." She looked up at me then, tears in her eyes. "I haven't been back to the studio since. I am terrified about what might happen if I go back alone."

"Oh, I bet it did," the incubus chuckled darkly. "She does look delicious, doesn't she?" I gritted my teeth, pushing the thought away.

The hairs on my arms stood up, not exactly a spidey sense, but I knew this was even worse than I originally thought. "Is it at all possible it was just your imagination running wild? Perhaps one too many late night horror shows?" I knew the answer already.

Sophia's eyes flashed. "I'm not loca, Señor Victor. This is real."

I was already heading to the stack of books behind me. A permanent scowl on my face as I envisioned the next demon I would be facing. This sounded a lot like a Shadow Wraith, but why would it be attached to a dance studio? "Sophia," I said carefully. "This dance studio. how old is it? Do you know its history?"

She blinked, tilting her head a bit like a confused dog. "I... I'm not sure. It's in an old building downtown. Why? Does that matter?"

I nodded grimly. "It might. Sounds like you've got yourself a Shadow Wraith. And if I'm right, it's tied to that studio somehow." I spun the book around and pointed to the creature so she could see for herself.

"A Shadow Wraith?" Sophia repeated, her accent wrapping around the words. Her eyes went wide as she stared at the picture in front of her. "What is that? How do we get rid of it?"

I grimaced. "Well, that's the tricky part. Shadow Wraiths are nasty customers. Not quite ghost, not quite demon. They're. in-between things. And they're usually tied to a place or an object. Although it's not completely unheard of for it to be tied to a person."

Sophia leaned forward, hope glimmering in her eyes. "So you can help me?"

I hesitated. Shadow Wraiths were nothing to laugh at. The last time I'd tangled with one... well, let's just say it hadn't been pretty. "I can try," I said finally. "But I've got to warn you, it won't be easy. Or cheap."

She waved her hand dismissively. "Dinero is no object. I just want this thing gone."

I nodded, already mentally cataloging what I'd need for the job. "Alright then, we'll need to start by investigating that studio. I'll need to gather some equipment -- EMF meters, infrared cameras, holy water, the usual ghostbusting toolkit. Maybe even dig out the old Ouija board if we're feeling adventurous."

A small smile crept along her face at my attempt to lighten the mood. I couldn't help but blush, she had a nice smile. "mmm yes, butter her up with that charm. I can't wait to get a taste."

Save the hot and bothered for the thermal camera, I shot back. I really thought I'd get more time to myself after last night.

When I finished my list, Sophia shook her head in disbelief. "Dios mío, I never imagined... Señor Victor, how does someone even get into this line of work? It's not exactly something they teach in school, is it?"

She looked around the cluttered office, no doubt wondering what the hell she was doing in a place like this. Her glance stalled on a framed photo on my desk, barely visible beneath a stack of papers. I felt my jaw tighten, memories I'd rather forget bubbling to the surface.

"It's not exactly a career you plan for," I said, my voice low. My eyes flicked to the photo she'd noticed -- Sarah's smiling face, forever frozen in time. I took a deep breath, weighing how much to share. "Let's just say I lost someone very close to me due to a possession. After that... well, I couldn't go back to a normal life knowing what's really out there."

"Oh, don't be so melodramatic, Victor," the incubus purred. "Sarah's still alive, isn't she? Mmm... I'd love another taste of that."

Rage surged through me as I pictured Sarah nearly dead thanks to what I'd... what this thing had done to her. My fists clenched involuntarily, slamming against the desk. "Shut. Up," I growled through gritted teeth, my voice low and dangerous.

Sophia jerked, eyes wide with alarm. "I... I am sorry, Señor Victor. I did not mean to upset you," she stuttered, pressing back into her chair.

I blinked, now aware of how my outburst must have looked to her. "No, no," I hurriedly said, forcing my voice softer. "I am sorry, Sophia. I wasn't talking about you. It's just... it's a difficult subject for me." I sucked in a deep breath in, unclenching my fists. "Sometimes the memories. they can be overwhelming."

Sophia nodded slowly, still looking wary. "I understand. I didn't mean to pry."

I managed a weak smile, silently cursing the incubus. "Thank you. Now, let's focus on your problem, shall we?"

Clearing my throat, I steered us back to the matter at hand. "The Shadow Wraith. We need to figure out exactly what it's attached to in that studio. And for that, we're going to need to take a little field trip." I raised an eyebrow at Sophia. "Hope you're up for some after-hours investigating, because things are about to get real interesting."

****

Of course it was a full moon. It wouldn't be a proper night of demons and various other worldly creatures without one, would it? I pulled into a near-empty parking lot of "Rhythm and Moves Dance Studio" and Sophia's SUV was already waiting for me. I was beginning to worry she wasn't going to think I was very professional.

I maneuvered my beat-up Honda into a parking spot next to her and jump out with a smile. "We've got to stop meeting like this," I said as I grabbed my bug of supplies from the car. She was already pulling the door attempting to wiggle it open, oblivious to any banter or flirting I thought I was doing.

When she finally noticed my presence the faintest hint of a smile formed at the corner of her lips. "Victor! I was starting to think the shadows got you too."

I hefted my bag, packed to the brim with ghostbusting goodies. "Takes more than a few spooky shadows to keep me away. Though I did have to fight off a particularly aggressive pothole on Fifth Street."

Her laugh was shaky but genuine. Progress.

As Sophia continued to wrestled with the stubborn door, I scanned our surroundings. The street was dead quiet, but the air felt... charged. Like the calm before a storm.

"Or before something much more fun", the incubus chimed in, its voice a silky purr in my mind. "Look at how her hands tremble. Imagine how they'd feel-"

I bit down on my tongue, the sudden pain allowing me to banishing the thought. Now was not the time for demonic dirty talk.

The door finally sprung free and a blast of cold air hit us. Sophia held the door open, revealing a cavernous space filled with mirrors and ballet barres. Our reflections stared back at us, wide-eyed and tense.

"So," Sophia said, hugging herself as if warding off a chill, and pushing out her chest in the process, "you mentioned a Shadow Wraith earlier. What exactly does that mean?"

I set down my bag, pulling out an EMF meter. "Think of it as the supernatural world's problem child. Not quite a ghost, not quite a demon. It's the angsty teenager of the spirit realm, throwing temper tantrums and feeding off negative energy."

"But why me?" Sophia's voice cracked slightly. "What did I do to deserve this?"

"Oh, I can think of a few things she could do to deserve it", the incubus laughed. "Shall we give her some ideas?"

I gritted my teeth, fighting back against the wave of heat that surged through me. "It's probably not personal," I managed, my voice rougher than I intended. "These things usually latch onto a place or an object. You just happened to stumble into its playground. We will flush it out and then send it back to where it belongs. No TV for you," I said in a mock parenting voice as I wiggled my finger.

Sophia chuckled slapping my arm playfully. Her touch sent a thrill through my body I wasn't ready for. I felt my heart begin to race as my playful eyes met her... much more intimate gaze.

"I can practically taste her desire from her. Quick, show her your plasma ray"

"How do you manage to keep such a calm and funny demeanor with all this going on around you?" Her question was likely just innocent chit chat, something to distract her from the monster haunting her every move. Yet, for once I found myself agreeing with the incubus, there was... something there.

"Oh you know, just trying to keep it light." Smooth Victor, real smooth.

I moved around the room, waving the EMF meter like a dowsing rod. "The good news is, if we can find what it's attached to, we can send it packing."

"And the bad news?" Sophia asked, trailing behind me like a shadow.

"Let's just say it won't go down without a fight. And it fights dirtier than a politician in a mud-wrestling match."

As if on cue, the temperature plummeted. Goosebumps erupted along my arms, and I could see Sophia shivering out of the corner of my eye.

"My, my, look at her shiver", the incubus whispered. "Wouldn't it be nice to warm her up?"

I clenched my jaw so hard I thought my teeth might crack. "Let's keep moving," I said, perhaps a bit too forcefully. "There's a lot of ground to cover."

We cleared the studio methodically, checking practice rooms and storage closets. But with each passing minute, the incubus seemed to grow bolder, its suggestions more. vivid. Every accidental brush of my skin against Sophia's sent electricity crackling across my skin. I found myself hyperaware of her presence, the soft sound of her breathing, the way her eyes darted nervously around each new room.

"Stop denying yourself", the demon urged. "You're only human, after all. Well, mostly."

Victor?" Sophia's voice sliced through the miasma of want. "Is your device picking up anything? Any sign of the Wraith?"

I blinked. I'd been staring blankly at a wall of trophies, the EMF meter dangling forgotten from my hand. "Not yet," I said, shaking my head to clear it. "But that doesn't mean it's not here. These things can be tricky to detect."

Sophia nodded, her eyes darting nervously around the room. "Where should we look next?"

Before I could answer, a sound caught my attention. Voices, muffled but distinct, coming from one of the back rooms.

I held up a hand, signaling Sophia to be quiet. She nodded, fear and anticipation warring on her face.

We crept towards the source of the sound, finding ourselves outside another mirrored practice room. Through a small gap in the curtains, we could make out two figures inside - a man and a woman, deep in conversation.

I raised the EMF meter, and suddenly it sprang to life, lights flashing and needle swinging wildly. "What the hell?" I muttered, adjusting the settings.

That's when I saw it. My blood ran cold as I realized what we were dealing with. Attached to the woman, like a second skin, was a succubus - a demon of lust and desire. Its form was fluid, almost smoke-like, but unmistakable to my trained eye.

"Great," I thought to myself, suppressing a groan. "A succubus in a dance studio. Because apparently, demons need cardio too."

"Well, well," the incubus taunted in my mind, its excitement palpable. "Looks like we're not the only ones here. What do you say we crash their party?"

"Sure," I shot back. "Let's join the demonic orgy. Because that always ends well in the exorcist's handbook."

I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry as I considered our options. The EMF meter in my hand continued its frantic dance, confirming what my eyes could barely believe. A shiver ran down my spine that had nothing to do with the room's chill. This case had just gotten a lot more complicated - and a hell of a lot more dangerous.

"Sophia," I whispered, turning to face her. "Remember when I said things were about to get interesting? Well, buckle up, because we've just hit the paranormal jackpot."

Sophia and I were wedged into the dimly-lit hall, our ears plastered on the conversation in the office.