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After reducing another Hellbeast to ash, Aurora Justice flew away, landing in a dark alley a few blocks away from home. After a brief check to make sure she didn’t have any witnesses, she allowed her powers to fade away. Her costume dissolved into smoke and sparkles, erasing the heroic Aurora Justice and leaving behind Josephine, an attractive young widow whose quiet demeanor and modest attire did well to mask her secret identity. She left the alleyway, and walked the few blocks to her parking lot, careful not to start any conversations. A curse hung over her head, as it always did after using so much power.

Compelled Confession: The ability to pull out the dark secrets from those around her. It didn’t always strike immediately, but it was inevitable. When her patron demon, Xzyrnos, outlined the cost Josephine would have to pay for his support, she hadn’t thought it to be a particularly steep one. And at first, it wasn’t. A gas station attendant admitted to stealing candy bars from his place of employment, then nervously tried to play it off as a joke. A stranger admitted to cheating on his wife, before walking away with a panicked look on his face. But every time she went out to fight monsters and protect the citizens, those same citizens would unload more and more of their secrets upon her, and it was beginning to weigh heavily on the young woman. She tried not to dwell on it, to forgive them and move on, but it was difficult.

Entering the parking lot, she popped open her trunk and retrieved the groceries she had to abandon when Xzyrnos informed her of the Hellbeast attack. Other champions, she knew, could arrive at the scene of an attack before it even begun, but that kind of foresight seemed beyond her demon’s capabilities. Perhaps, being an entity of Justice and ****, he couldn’t detect a monster until it had already acted? Either way, it meant that Josephine often left chores half-done, and today that chore was groceries. She liked to buy in bulk, and the bags were heavy in her current form: until the Compelled Confession was resolved, Josephine’s strength and stamina was reduced, beyond even her normal abilities. Her arms were burning by the time she reached her apartment on the third floor, and she allowed the heavy bags to thump against the ground as she fumbled with her keys.

“Miss Cross?” The voice of Anthony, the young man who lived across the hall, startled Josephine for a moment, causing her to drop her keys.

“Oh, Anthony,” She said, giving him a friendly smile, “Sorry for the noise.”

“No worries, ma’am. It’s always nice to see you.” He said, smiling nervously in return. Noticing the groceries at her feet, he stepped forward, “Want some help with those, Miss?”

“Oh, you’re too sweet. Thanks, Anthony.” Finally lining up the key with the lock, she opened her door and entered her apartment, Anthony following behind. It wasn’t the first time the young man had helped her with groceries, and he placed them on the counter while Josephine started putting them away. “There are a couple more bags in my trunk, if you don’t mind. The keys are still in the door.”

Anthony took her keys and disappeared, returning with the rest of the groceries just as Josephine finished storing the first batch. He helped her put away the remaining food, and waited patiently as she made a batch of fresh lemonade. She never let the younger man leave without payment, which usually came in the form of a snack or drink. The normality of it all helped Josephine get out of her superhero mindset, which she appreciated. Pouring two tall glasses, she handed one to Anthony.

“Thanks again, Anthony,” She said, visibly relaxing as she drank, “You’re always so helpful, making time for an old widow like me.”

“You’re not even 30, ma’am,” He said, “Not exactly old. Besides, I’m in love with you.”

They both paused, as if to make sure they heard what he said correctly. Only too late did Josephine realize what was happening.

“Uh, sorry,” Anthony said, blushing and taking a nervous sip, “What I mean is that you’re incredibly beautiful and kind and I would do anything for you?”

It was Josephine’s turn to blush, now. She could hear Xzyrnos laughing noisily in the back of her head, but she did her best to ignore him.

Anthony set down his drink and clamped his hands over his mouth, looking horrified at having so plainly revealed his true feelings.

“Uh,” Josephine wasn’t sure what to say. She liked Anthony, and considered him one of her closest friends, but she certainly wasn’t in love with the younger man. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings, and she knew that while he was telling the truth, it wasn’t something he had any control over, “That’s, um, not-”

“I think of you when I masturbate!” He blurted out, this final secret finally lifting the curse. Strength flooded back into Josephine, but the young man looked utterly horrified. Josephine was used to that expression, by now, but she never wanted to see it on sweet young Anthony. She buried her guilt at forcing this uncomfortable confession from the young man, cursed Xzyrnos, and chose her words carefully...