CYOA Part Six: A Goat & a Demon

Ebal standing in front of the open fridge, staring inside with a focused gaze. From the light, it appeared as if something was growing from the top of his head, almost like horns. You remember seeing a baseball bat in the closet, you consider going and getting it but Ebal turns and looks at you.

A smile spreads across his face as he shuts the refrigerator door. “About time you noticed.”

“What are you doing in my house?” You snapped.

Eball wagged his finger, tsking his tongue. “It’s not yours. Your old boy is just letting you use it.” He chuckles then he goes instantly into a frown. “Used to be my old boy too.”

Your brow furrows deeper. “What do you mean?”

Ebal’s smirk returns and he steps forward. “Little Luke is a fun one right? Very attentive, very loving, good with his mouth.” He leans on the wall before you and grins. “Certainly kept me a happy camper for a year or so.”

You look over Ebal’s face incredulously, something about him seems off. “What are you trying to do?”

Eball sighed and tilted his head to the side. “Do?”

“Telling me about Luke like this. Breaking into the house. Being weird every time I come across you. What in the hell do you want from me?”

Ebal laughed, sliding back up and cracking his neck. “Do you not know what you are?” He took a step closer to you. “Do you really not know?”

You stepped backwards and braced your arm against the wall. “I know I don’t like having strange men in my house.”

Ebal snickered. “You are the queen of strange men, darling.” He stretched out his hand, showing that his fingertips were glowing. “Let me show you.”

“Fuck off E.T!” You turned and spring into the bedroom, but right as you enter Ebal is standing there, but he’s different.

He is much taller and paler, his eyes are frightening blood red. Not to mention he has an extra set of them. A big red eye opens in the center of his forehead and his hair begins to flow up around the great horns jutting from behind his ears.

“Motherfucker,” you gasp.

Ebal tilts his head to the side, sneering with a mouth full of sharp teeth. “I have been trying to find you for years. Do not take this moment away from me.”

You go back out the bedroom door, running down the hallway. Your feet are grabbed and yanked out from under you,pulling you through the floor. You look up into a void, an endless world of shimmering lights and flowing colors. You float there, breathless and endless. It feels like seconds then decades that you’re there. You’re then yanked sideways and pushed down onto your bed. Ebal glares down upon you, his hands pressing your shoulders into the mattress.

“Get off me!” You scream at him.

“Listen to me, daughter of Pan!” Ebal snarls. “I can help you! I need you!”

I find one of your legs is free and you swing up, clocking him right in the crotch. Eball crumples like a paper cup, folding in on himself then toppling over onto the floor.

Just as you’re about to get up and run you see Remi standing in the bedroom door. “Not you too!” You whine.

Remi screams, charging it and hitting Ebal in the back. It’s then a flurry of limbs and screams as the two fight. Remi has Ebal under the bed, then Ebal has Remi pinned to the floor. You want to watch such a strange display, but instead you run back to the office to fetch your phone, and then you head towards the door.

“Wait! You!”

You turn as Remi hobbles out of the hallway. He’s on all fours, but he’s not a goat. He’s panting and huffing, lifting his head so those blue eyes leave glowing trails.

“Stay where you are!” Remi pleas.

You stare him down like he’s crazy. “No!” You leave the house, stomping down onto the road while you try to call someone, anyone really. But you can’t get a signal.

“Dammit!” You cuss and look around you. There’s nothing but woods for miles. You sat down on the ground and rubbed your face as you tried to think.

“I get it, this is extremely weird.”

You looked up at the goat standing beside you. “That’s an understatement.”

Remi sat down beside you and sighed. “”I got him out of the house for you.”

You nodded your head. “Thanks, I guess.”

“Ebal is a demon of lust, an old follower of Pan. He’s not to be trusted as his touch can bring out the desire in people.”

You scoff. “That explains a few things.”

Remi turned and looked at you. “I told you not to let him in your home.”

“He let himself in!” You balk, staring Remi down. “And what about you? Are you a demon too?”

Remi bleated and stuck his tongue out. “No! Nothing so vulgar. I am a fae.”

“A fairy?”

Remi glared then turned his head away. “And you claimed to have had contact with Mr. Faire.”

Every hair on your body stood in attention. You turned to full face Remi. “He’s my Uncle! You know him?”

Remi’s gaze softened upon you. “Everyone knows Mr. Faire.”

You sigh heavily and shake your head. “What’s going on/ What does Ebal want from me?”

“You really don’t know,” he murmured softly.

“Am I supposed to?”

Remi scooted himself around and tilted his head to the side. “Do you know exactly who Pan is?”

You shook your head. “No. Not really.”

“He was something of a god. At least, he believed himself to be one. He used his power and influence to get his way, which was usually in the bedroom. He was killed not too long ago. Since then, his followers and enemies alike have been looking for his countless offspring.”

You pointed at yourself. “Am I-”

“A child of Pan? Yes.”

You gaze at Remi ins silence for a long spell. You then tap at your chest. “So I’m half god?”

“You’re half Pan. It’s similar but different.”

You swallow back the lump in your throat. “But what would anyone want with me? I’m just some person! I swear, nothing is special about me at all.”

“To see if there is a successor to Pan’s power. You may not realize it, but you do hold power. You are unique. And depending on that, you could inherit your father’s throne.”

“Is that a good thing?”

“Depends on who you ask,” Remi replied. He then rose to his feet. “Come back inside, it’ll start raining soon.”

You rise and follow Remi back into the house. Sure enough, as soon as you close the door the world grows dark outside and thunder rumbles in the distance.

“It was a good thing Pan was killed,” Remi murmurs. “At least to me it was a good thing. He was the most narcissistic person I had ever met.”

“What’d he do?” You’re still trying to absorb everything.

“What didn’t he do?” Remi jumps up onto the table top and sits there. “He put his dick into anything that moved. Abused his power. Abused his children. Abused everyone if they didn’t drink his kool-aid really.”

“My mother never talked about my dad. She just said I was the only good thing about him.”

“And she was probably right.” Remi settles down and glares into the shadows.

You sit down at the table. “Did you know him?”

Remi grumbles under his breath. “I did. For a long time. I considered him my dearest friend for longer than I should have. But when I started to question his motives he turned on me. He took everything from me, threatened me. He even-” Remi voice caught in his throat.

You gaze at him softly. “Is that why you’re a goat?”

He turns his head sharply. “In a way, yes. I chose to hide here. It was safe and guarded, and Pan never had a taste for werewolves. He always said they smelled like wet dog and that turned him off. I found my reason to exist here in this weird little Appalachian town.”

You smile. “Evander said you have your ‘women’ here.”

Remi chuckles. “I have family here. My too little ones on the farm. Their father, Beau, saved me when I was at my lowest. He’s the father I never had.”

Your heart melts.

He then scoffs. “Anyways, you’re the one in danger here. That Ebal is a thorn in my side ever since he came here, but no one seems to notice. After today, it just proves what a scumbag he is.”

“What does he want with me?” You asked.

“I’m not sure. But since he was an old follower of Pan, I’m sure it’s no good,” Remi scoffs. “The best thing I can recommend to you is to put salt around your bed.”

You frowned.

“What?” Remi huffs

“Really? Salt? Like that show about the demon hunting brothers?”

Remi rolls his eyes. “Look, some things in fiction are actually real. I’m being serious here.”

“Why does salt help against demons?”

Remi bleats in frustration. “They’re on a low sodium diet. Why does it fucking matter? I’m telling you something that’ll help keep him away from you.”

“Okay, okay,” you huff. “I’ll do it. I still don’t get how table salt can ward off a demon, that’s all.”

“It just does, alright?” Remi jumps down off the table. “You do have salt right?”

You frown. “I’m not sure what is here.”

“Then call the big bull and have him bring you some.” He goes to the door right as thunder growls outside and the patter of rain hits the roof.

“You’re not leaving in that are you?” You ask.

Remi huffs. “I was going to guard outside.”

“Stay in here, no sense in you getting soaked to the bone.” You search through cabinets, finding a few odd things inside, but so far no salt.

Remi stands still where he is, watching you as you climb onto the counter to look into the cabinets above the stove. “I’m surprised with how well you’re taking this.”

“I’m not. I’m just in shock.” You glance down at him. “My boyfriend’s ex is a demon, and one who wants me. My birth father is a first palace rapist. And there’s a talking goat fairy in my kitchen.”

“Fae!” Remi bleats.

You look into the cabinet and see an old, round canister of salt. “Yes, fae, sorry.” You hop down and show him the salt.

“Go put a circle of it around yoru bed.”

“Does it matter that it is iodized?” You ask.

“Just do it!”

You turn and go into the bedroom, pouring salt all the way around your bed. It seems like such a mess, and a waste at that. You set the canister on your bedside and sigh. “Still don’t get it.”

As you turn to leave, you hear a whimper. You look over your shoulder and see eyes glowing from under the bed.

“You’re joking,” you scoff.

“What’d you put salt down for?” Ebal whines.

You lean out the door. “Remi!”

Ebal jumps and hits his head under the bed. “No! Ow! Don’t call him in here. Please! I beg you!”

You give him a dirty look. “What am I supposed to do? You’re trapped under my bed. You never even left the house!”

“Listen, please! I just wanted to talk to you!”

Your look turns dirtier.

“I’m sorry about what happened before! I’m just dramatic!”

“Dramatic,” you scoff.

Ebal swallows and peers out from under the bed a little more. “Please, I really need your help. I’m desperate, you have no idea. I’m in a lot of trouble!”

Your mouth opens slightly. “Of course you’re in a lot of trouble!”

“Not this,” Ebal whines. “Something else. Something much much worse. I could die if you don’t give me a chance.”

You hold your breath and your frown weakens. “Then you really should reconsider acting dramatically!”

“I know! I know!” Ebal lifts his hands out from under the bed. “I promise, if you just hear me out, I’ll stop!”

You scoff and fold your arms against your chest. “And why should I believe you?”

“Because my life depends on it.”

You consider it for a moment. “Then are you the reason I’ve been so…aroused as of late?” You huff.

“Only what you wanted to feel,” Ebal grumbles. “Whatever you acted upon was something you were already considering. I just unlocked the door.”

“So you are a lust demon!”

“Yes! Why would I deny that?” Ebal growl. “You’re an apple from the same tree. Pan was way hornier than I could ever be.”

Your teeth are set on edge. “Did you really used to date Luke?”

“Yes, I did. It ended ugly though…” Ebal peers out more from under the bed. “But does that really matter right now?

“Is everything alright?” Remi calls down the hallway.

“Please! No! Let me just talk to you for a moment. There’s nothing I can do anyways. I’m your prisoner!”

You consider calling Remi in to show him your captive, but then again, maybe hearing Ebal out would answer even more of your questions.