Chapter 2:-
"Chew~~ Chew~~"
I woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside my window, their sweet melodies a stark contrast to the darkness that lurked within me.
Actually It had been a week since I made the deal with Zareth, and I could feel the power coursing through my veins like liquid fire.
Sigh~~~
As I got out of bed, I noticed that my room was spotless, the mess that I had accumulated over the years suddenly vanished.
"Oooo.. that's so weird?"
I looked around, wondering if someone had broken in and cleaned my room, but I knew that was impossible. I was the only one who had a key.
"Is it me dreaming again?"
"Let's just not think about it!" I shrugged it off, attributing it to the strange occurrences that had been happening since I made the deal. I got dressed and headed downstairs, where I found my mom making breakfast in the kitchen.
"Hey, kiddo!" she said, beaming at me. "I made your favorite pancakes!"
I smiled, feeling a pang of guilt for not being able to tell her about the deal and how can i even.
"Thanks, Mom. They look great."
As we sat down to eat, I noticed that my mom seemed different. She was more energetic, more vibrant, and her eyes seemed to sparkle with a newfound enthusiasm.
"Mom, what's going on?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. "You seem...different."
She smiled, taking a sip of her coffee. "I don't know, sweetie. I just feel...alive, I guess. Like I've been given a new lease on life."
I nodded, feeling a sense of wonder. Was this the power of Zareth at work? Was it somehow affecting my mom, making her feel more alive?
As we finished breakfast, the doorbell rang. It was my best friend, Alex, who had been acting strange lately. He had been distant, preoccupied, and I had been worried about him.
But as he walked into the kitchen, I saw that he was back to his old self. He was grinning, joking, and teasing my mom about her cooking.
"Hey, Mrs. W!" he said, ruffling my mom's hair. "What's the special occasion? You're cooking like a pro!"
My mom laughed, playfully swatting at Alex. "Just making breakfast for my favorite son and his friend," she said.
As we chatted and laughed, I felt a sense of normalcy wash over me. Maybe, just maybe, this deal with Zareth wouldn't be so bad after all. Maybe it would even bring some good into my life.
But as we were about to leave the kitchen, I saw a figure standing in the doorway, a girl, tall and slender, with piercing brown eyes and long, curly brown hair.
"Hey, Nathaniel," she said, her voice husky and confident. "I'm Sophia. I've been looking for you."
I felt a jolt of surprise, unsure of who this girl was or what she wanted. But as I looked into her eyes, I saw something there that gave me pause. It was a spark of recognition, a sense of connection that I couldn't quite explain.
"Hey, Sophia," I said, trying to sound casual. "What brings you here?"
Sophia smiled, her eyes glinting with amusement. "I think we need to talk, Nathaniel," she said. "About Zareth, and about what's been happening to you."
I felt a shiver run down my spine as Sophia's words struck a chord within me.
How did she know about Zareth? And what did she know about what was happening to me?
As I looked at Sophia, I knew that my life was again about to take a dramatic turn. I was about to embark on a journey , a journey that would lead me down a path of discovery, danger, and ultimately, transformation.
Sophia's words hung in the air.
How did she know about Zareth? And what did she know about the strange occurrences that had been happening to me?
I glanced over at Alex, who was watching the exchange with interest. My mom, oblivious to the tension, smiled and invited Sophia to join us for breakfast.
Sophia declined, her eyes never leaving mine. "I'd rather talk to Nathaniel alone," she said. "If that's okay with you, Mrs. W."
My mom nodded, her expression curious. "Of course, dear. You two go ahead and talk. I'll clean up the kitchen."
As my mom busied herself, Sophia turned to me and nodded towards the living room. "Let's talk in there," she said.
I followed her, feeling uneasy.
What did Sophia want to talk about? And how did she know about Zareth?
As we sat down on the couch, Sophia turned to me with an intense gaze. "Nathaniel, I know what happened to you in the woods," she said. "I know about the deal you made with Zareth."
I felt a jolt of surprise, my heart racing. "How do you know?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
Sophia leaned forward, her eyes burning with an inner fire. "I've been watching you, Nathaniel," she said. "I've been waiting for you to make your move. And now that you have, I'm here to help you."
I stared at her, unsure of what to make of her words. "Help me?" I repeated. "What do you mean?"
Sophia smiled, a fierce glint in her eye. "I mean that I'm here to help you navigate the world of magic," she said. "I'm here to help you master your powers and avoid the dangers that come with them."
I felt a surge of excitement mixed with fear. "What dangers?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Sophia's expression turned serious. "The dangers of Zareth's world," she said. "The world of demons and angels, of magic and mayhem. You've entered a world where the rules are different, Nathaniel. And if you're not careful, you'll get burned."
I swallowed hard, feeling a sense of trepidation. What had I gotten myself into?
But as I looked at Sophia, I saw something in her eyes that gave me hope. It was a spark of determination, a sense of purpose that I couldn't quite explain.
"Um....Okay," I said, taking a deep breath. "I'm ready to learn. Teach me what I need to know."
Sophia smiled, a fierce glint in her eye. "Let's get started, then," she said. "We have a lot of work to do."
As Sophia began to explain the basics of magic, I felt my mind expanding with new ideas and concepts. She told me about the different types of magic, the various spells and incantations, and the importance of control and focus.
I listened intently, soaking up every word like a sponge. I was fascinated by the world of magic, and I couldn't wait to start practicing.
As we talked, I noticed that Sophia seemed to be watching me closely, as if she was searching for something. I again felt a sense of unease, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was.
Suddenly, Sophia's eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a jolt of electricity run through my body. "Nathaniel, I need to ask you something," she said, her voice low and serious.
I nodded, feeling a sense of trepidation. "What is it?"
Sophia hesitated, as if she was unsure of how to phrase her question. "Do you remember anything... unusual happening to you since you made the deal with Zareth?" she asked.
I thought back, trying to recall anything out of the ordinary. And then, it hit me. The strange dreams, the vivid visions, the feeling of being watched. It all came flooding back, and I felt a sense of unease.
"Yes," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I've been having these... visions, I guess. Dreams that feel real. And I've been feeling like I'm being watched all the time."
Sophia's eyes narrowed, her expression intense. "I thought so," she said. "You're experiencing the effects of Zareth's power. It's awakening something within you, something that's been dormant for a long time."
I felt a sense of excitement mixed with fear. "What does it mean?" I asked.
Sophia's eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a sense of foreboding. "It means that you're not just a ordinary human anymore, Nathaniel," she said. "You're something more. Something powerful."
As Sophia's words hung in the air, I felt a strange sensation building up inside me. It was like a storm was brewing, a storm that was going to change everything.
And then, just as suddenly as it had started, everything went black.
I felt myself falling, plummeting into a dark abyss. I tried to scream, but my voice was silenced by some unseen force.
As I fell, I saw a figure standing in the distance. It was Zareth, his eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.
"Welcome, Nathaniel," he said, his voice echoing in my mind. "I've been waiting for you."
And with that, everything went black.
To be continued...