The Diabolist by Layton Green

Author:Layton Green
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Mystery, Paranormal
ISBN: 9781611099843
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Published: 2013-06-04T05:00:00+00:00

* * *

Eve’s visions had started the morning after the ritual. Her

eyes had returned to their normal robin’s-egg blue, and

Viktor chalked up the sudden dilation to extreme stress

or fear, both of which Viktor’s quick research confirmed

as a possible culprit.

When Viktor woke in her apartment, he found her

whimpering on the floor, clutching her pillow to her

chest. She was staring at the wall, eyes wild, rocking

slowly back and forth.

Eve! What’s wrong?

He went to her, bringing her into his arms on the

edge of the bed.

He came, Viktor.

Who, love?

Her voice barely cracked a whisper. Ahriman.

Prickles of gooseflesh ran up and down Viktor’s arms.

There’s no one here, Eve. It’s all in your head. We didn’t finish the ritual.

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We didn’t have to. I disrupted it, and he’s terribly angry with me. He’s been here all night. He’s like nothing we could ever imagine, so beautiful and terrifying.

Viktor threw back the blinds, f looding the room

with sunshine. Let’s find someplace nice to go today, perhaps that walk by the river you love. You’ll forget all of this by noon.

A small, saddened smile crept to her lips. Viktor, my

Viktor. I love you more than I thought I was capable of loving.

But we shouldn’t have done that. I never cared for the occult at all, you know. I only cared for you.

Viktor dressed both of them, slipping her into slacks

and a sweater. The daylight seemed to help, though she

barely said another word. He felt as if she were only half

present, lost in a dreamworld that only she could see. By

nightfall she wouldn’t let Viktor leave her alone.

Help me, Viktor. Make him go away.

It’s in your mind, Viktor said gently. It’s not real, Eve.

What’d you take this morning?

Nothing. I’m afraid to make it worse.

Maybe a sample would help steady your mind?

No.

Viktor was taken aback. Eve never refused pills.

It was the worst week of Viktor’s life. Eve barely slept,

and when she did she would awake screaming within an

hour, claiming the nightmares were so visceral they made

her physically ill.

Darius tried to see her, and Viktor told him what was

happening. Darius grew very pale. We have to reverse the ritual, Darius said. I can do it.

That’s hardly what she needs.

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Darius reached up to take Viktor by the shoulders.

This isn’t a game. We botched the ritual. She entered the circle.

Where is she?

She doesn’t want to see you.

I don’t care what she wants! This isn’t about me and you, it’s about Eve and Ahriman.

There’s no Ahriman, you fool!

Darius struck him across the face. Just because you don’t have faith doesn’t mean that other people don’t, or that it isn’t real. Ahriman exists whether you like it or not, and he’ll tear her to pieces.

Viktor stood in front of Darius for a long time, his

hand on his cheek where Darius had slapped him. He

knew his friend was in love with Eve and that he deserved

that slap. I’ll grant you, Viktor said finally, that Eve’s beliefs are the ones that matter, not mine.

You have to let me do this, Darius said . We have to reverse the ritual.

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