Believe in Margaret

Margaret told me to stay away, and I wanted to believe in her… Her eyes were still beaming with determination.

"I suppose I'll have to try something else." She said. "Frigore Mortis!" She lifted her hand towards the sky, as the air suddenly got colder and snow started to fall all around us. Margaret had a sadistic smirk, as she gestured towards the demon. "Plants hate the cold, don't they? Let's see if you're still moving that fast when it's minus forty, my dear."

The demon seemed annoyed. "Are you suicidal? Judging by the way you dress, you're going to die as well."

Margaret snickered, seemingly amused by the demon's comment. "This body can endure much worse. Now, let's continue our dance."

"I will kill you." The demon said, her tone threatening.

She rushed towards Margaret yet again, but her attacks clearly weren't as quick as before, and I could see her struggling with the cold, her vines way less swift.

"You're getting more sloppy. Is it too cold for you?" Margaret seemed to be having the time of her life, provoking the demon even more.

"Damn human…" The demon retracted the vines inside her arm, grinding her teeth. "You're going to pay for that…" Her eyes started to shine a bright red as she glared at Margaret. "Sleep forever."

The air around us started to feel heavy, surprising Margaret. "What?"

What did she do?

"Fuck, I didn't expect that…" I saw Margaret running towards me, a worried look on her face..." "Run, fast." She grabbed my hand, and we ran inside the castle.

I was starting to panic as I saw the sea of blood and bodies in the hall, almost all of them torn apart or slashed, fear plastered on their faces. It was a bloodbath. Something straight out of a horror movie.

"I-is this a nightmare?" I muttered in shock.

"It will soon be one for you, if I don't act fast…" Margaret commented. "Get behind me, now!” Margaret knelt in front of the dead body of a guard, checking something, while I did as she asked. "He still has his heart. Good..."

The demon caught up to us, ready to finish us off. “You think you can run away?”

Margaret snickered. "No, I was just preparing my next plan." As she said that, I saw her cutting her wrist and dripping some of her blood on the guard's corpse. “Et Vocavi Vos Daemonium!"

The air was getting colder again, but I could feel that it wasn't the same kind of cold as earlier...

A voice resonated throughout the room. "Who dares to summon me, the almighty Circe?"

A woman appeared in front of us, but she wasn’t a normal woman. Her skin was a purplish grey, her hair a dark purple, and horns came out of her head. She also had a lizard-like tail behind her. Her yellow snake-like eyes landed on Margaret, and her expression turned to that of surprise.

Margaret stood up and started to wrap her wrist with a bandage. "Long time no see..."

"That aura…" Circe observed Margaret, astonished.

Meanwhile, the demon we were fighting was shocked, her eyes wide open as she stared at Circe. "C-Circe?"

"If it isn't good old Yuri?" The snake-like demon, Circe, was beaming, apparently knowing Margaret already, even if I noticed how she called her.

Yuri?

She laughed. "I suppose you don't go by that name anymore? What's the name of your new identity?"

"Margaret. My name is Margaret."

"How long has it been since you last summoned me?" Circe asked.

"Thirty-two years, exactly." Margaret replied coldly.

Circe chuckled. "Time really flies, huh? Well, I wasn't expecting you to summon me again, Maggie. Missed me?" She looked at Margaret's wrist, grinning. "And using your blood for the ritual, I see. Clever girl. That's why I took a liking to you. What is your wish?"

Margaret pointed behind Circe. "I need you to help me get rid of that demon behind you."

Circe turned around and smiled as she looked at the demon Margaret was fighting. "Oh, Maia? What a surprise. I wasn't expecting you to be in the Human Realm."

The demon clenched her fists, fury visible in her eyes. "I'm not here because I want to be. These filthy humans managed to summon and capture me. I slowly prepared my escape, and managed to break free today. I just took my **** once I got out, and exterminated them. Until you showed up.” She said that last part with spite in her tone.

Circe looked around and laughed. "Judging by the amount of bodies around and the smell of blood covering the fragrance of your roses, I think that you already had your fun. I'm sorry, but Maggie is too interesting for me to let you kill her. Not that you are able to do so, anyway. Besides, she wished for me to help her. Now, be a good girl and return to your realm." Circe asked, before giving Maia a terrifying grin, cackling at Maia. "Unless you want to test your luck?"

"I know I don't stand a chance against you…" Maia sighed, looking defeated. "Send me back..."

Circe then smiled more warmly at Maia, gesturing towards the corpses all around us. "Don't worry, I'll make sure to take the souls of the humans who dared capture you and punish them adequately. Now, farewell."

"Thank you." Maia seemed satisfied with this deal, smiling as she was slowly disappearing.

"I-is it... over?" I asked, breathing loudly.

Circe turned back to face us. "Maia won't be coming back to the Human Realm anytime soon. Now, let's talk, Maggie."

“What do you want?" Ever since Margaret summoned Circe, she's always been cold towards her, but now, her glare alone could almost kill.

Circe didn’t seem bothered, though. "I got rid of her for you, but I want something from you in exchange."

"Taking away my proficiency with destructive spells wasn't enough?" Margaret retorted.

"Of course not. That was for your previous wish. I can see that you made good use of what I gave you." Circe explained.

"Get to the point." She answered with a cold tone, not wanting to deal with Circe any longer.

It only amused Circe. "Very well. I want you to make a human body for me."

M-make a human body?

"Why?" Margaret's eyes narrowed, as if she was trying to look at Circe's soul.

Circe shrugged. "So that I can come here whenever I want. Because of that barrier your human ancestors created, I can't stay in the Human Realm for long without a vessel. And the Demon Realm is getting pretty boring." Circe sighed.

"And what do you plan to do in the Human Realm?" Margaret inquired.

Circe chuckled. “Oh, just to have some fun here and there. Don't you worry, I won't bring havoc upon this world. Having me here more often would be beneficial for you, as well."

What Circe said caught Margaret’s attention. "How so?"

"I could help you with your research, free of charge. I'm sure you'd love to learn everything about demons and the Demon Realm, and almost no one can match my knowledge."

After thinking for a moment, Margaret replied. "Very well. I accept."

"Good." Circe produced a purple gem in her hand and gave it to Margaret. "Take this gem, and use it on the body you will give me. I hope for your sake that you'll make a suitable one for me. Until next time, Maggie."

Circe laughed, overjoyed by how this event turned out, and slowly faded away. The air became normal again, a lot warmer.