What's Gotten Into You [1]
#1 of What's Gotten Into You
After paying his respects towards his recently deceased parents, Nathan Slater finds himself back in the small town of Tallowoh. For a month now, Nathan is plagued by the same nightmare. A shadowy beast has been hunting him down each night. He awakes each night, telling himself that it was just a dream. That is, until he finds the first note.
Gay, M/Solo, Transformation, Possession, Demon
What's Gotten Into You
By pawsroloc
THIS IS NSFW. THIS IS GAY. THIS IS ALSO REALLY PARANORMAL PORN SO YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
To those of you that have ignored the warning, I'd like to say a little bit about this story. This is a two part (maybe three part) story I've wanted to write for a while. It's on the longer side... and I wouldn't expect too much 'action' from this first one.
After paying his respects towards his recently deceased parents, Nathan Slater finds himself back in the small town of Tallowoh. For a month now, Nathan is plagued by the same nightmare. A shadowy beast has been hunting him down each night. He awakes each night, telling himself that it was just a dream. That is, until he finds the first note.
"Well I think that covers everything, Mr. Slater." The old man sighed, closing the large manila folder in front of them. He tapped the folder with his wrinkled hand a few times before withdrawing to reach behind him.
"You are... no longer the owner of that home." He grunted, leaning forward to allow better access to his back pocket.
The man opposite of the strained gentleman was much younger. The quiet lad had been staring into his coffee for the last ten minutes or so, only looking up to sign whatever documents his lawyer had shoved under his nose.
"Good riddance." He said, watching as his thumb idly stroked the side of his mug.
The older gentleman had finally freed his leather wallet from his pants and was currently rummaging through its contents. Eventually he found a bill he deemed small enough and tossed it onto the table.
The elderly man loosened his tie as he watched his client's shoulders droop even lower. He sighed, reaching across the table and placing a weathered hand on the young man's. "Nathan. Are you sure you're ready?"
Nathan Slater looked into his lawyers eyes for the first time that day. The older gentleman couldn't help but notice how tired the poor man looked. He squeezed the boy's hand tightly. "I cannot imagine the shades of hell you've been dragged through, Nathan. Now I know it's not my place, but I've talked it over with the misses and you are welcome to stay with us until-"
Nathan shook his head at the thought. Mr. Telly had been his closest companion over the past month, but the idea of further burdening Hank's life didn't sit right with Nathan. "I'll be fine." Nathan said, doing his best to muster a smile.
"You know my number Nathan. If you need anything, and I mean anything!" Mr. Telly repeated, wagging a finger at Nathan. "You just let me know."
"Thank you Hank. For everything." Nathan said, watching as the old man's reassuring hand slid off of his.
"I'm just trying to help you get back to a regular life, boy." Hank grumbled, reaching for the cane that lay propped against the booth.
Nathan watched as the elderly lawyer picked up his belongings before hoisting himself back onto his feet. The old man's nodded towards the boy before turning around. The rhythmic tapping of the lawyer's cane against the floor slowly became less pronounced as Mr. Telly departed.
Nathan looked back down into his coffee. The half empty cup was no longer warm to the touch, and while Nathan hated fogging up his glasses from the steam, he found himself missing the heat of the mug against his hands.
He pushed his hands into his coat pockets, hoping that they might offer more warmth.
"More coffee?" A deep voice called out. Nathan broke away from his vacant stare in time to see the waiter heading towards his table. The tall man beamed at him, lugging a tall thermos in one hand.
Nathan sat upright as the waiter reached his table. "No, that's fine. I'd actually like a check."
"No can do." The cheery man said, placing the thermos on the table as he spoke.
Nathan looked up at him, confused as to what the waiter was trying to refuse. "What?"
"Coffees on the house." He clarified. "I heard about what happened. It's the least I can do."
Nathan's expression darkened, shoulders slouching at the mention of his name. He glanced at the twenty dollar bill Hank had left on the table.
"Thank you, but... I'd really like to pay." Nathan persisted, practically pleading with his waiter.
The man laughed it off. "You can take your money and leave whenever you're ready, sir." The waitress said, leaving the thermos behind as he made his way over to an elderly couple waiting by the door.
If the man insisted on paying his check for him, then he might as well leave him a gracious tip to help him. Nathan sighed, making sure to grab his scarf before heading through the back door. Nathan wrapped the scarf around his neck. The morning air was almost below freezing. The young man knew that the town well enough to know that it wasn't time for snow. Not for another month, at least.
It was only a short distance from the diner to his store. He rummaged through his jeans, trying to fish out his keys from beneath his wallet. The streets were empty. The small town was usually quiet until late midday. Tallowoh's downtown consisted of a few restaurants, a small shopping district, a bowling alley, and four bars. Needless to say, Nathan wasn't expecting any customers for at least late midday.
He walked across the street as he tried to find the right key for the front door. The stores in front of him were some of the oldest buildings of this town. The stores were remodeled town houses. However the word remodeled did these buildings little justice. Their bricks were worn from years of exposure. Many of their second stories were boarded up and left to rot.
To any outsider headed through this forgotten town, they might have thought the buildings were abandoned. But these townhouses really meant a lot to the people of Tallowoh. Every year, the firefighters hosted a fundraiser to help support the repair of the Tallowoh Townhouses. While Nathan's family had never needed the support to keep their building standing, it did help to bring in new faces.
As Nathan reached the front door of his shop, he heard the shop bell next to his ring. Nathan looked to the right to see Gloria and her pug step out from the front door. The small dog looked just as wrinkled and tiny as their owner.
"Hey Gloria." Nathan called out meekly.
The elderly woman looked up in surprise. "Oh! W-who's there?!" She shouted, eyes scanning through thick lenses to make out who called to her.
"It's me Gloria, Nathan. I'm reopening shop." Nathan said, watching as the elderly woman yanked the lazy pug over to him.
"O-Ohhhh! Nathan! It's been so long." Gloria said softly, voice quivering as she spoke. "I heard all a-about what happened to your family. I-I am so sorry to h-hear about that dear. H-how are you holding up?"
"Good." Nathan lied, finally managing to worm the right key into his lock.
"W-well that's good to h-hear sonny. I've got to take Rosco h-here on a walk, but I'll be around any time y-you need me." Gloria said sweetly, looking up at Nathan through squinting eyes.
"Alright." Nathan said, yanking the door open. "I'll be good. Enjoy your walk."
Nathan could hear Gloria continue to speak as stepped inside the store. "Oh I will Nathan! I will! Don't think the same can be said for Rosco though!" He winced as he heard the dog yelp and bark. Nathan shook his head, hoping that the old woman wouldn't kill the fat dog too soon.
Nathan reached blindly for the switch behind his counter. As soon as his fingers found it the whole floor lit up. Row upon row of bookshelves congested the store. Nathan coughed as the dust finally caught up to him.
He stepped behind the front desk and rummaged through the closet. Eventually he found where he had left the duster and set to work clearing the desk. Nathan brought his scarf up over his mouth as a makeshift filter. He scanned the crowded store, wondering just how long it would take him to clean the bookshelves alone.
"Well... I'm back." He said to himself, voice muffled through his black scarf.
The first floor had taken him forever to clean, but Nathan had never expected upstairs to take even longer. The rickety stairs to the second floor were off limits to customers. While the bottom floor had been renovated into a store, the second story remained a place to live. After cleaning the spoiled fridge and letting the room air out, he moved on to mopping, dusting, and freshening up his old living space.
The bed smelled like home. He buried his face in the pillows, soaking himself in the familiar scents. As he lay there, it finally occurred to Nathan that he was free. The weeks spent in that abysmal hospital were over. No more questioning, no more nurses, no more burdens. A bittersweet happiness welled within him. He gripped the sheets, remembering how he used to lay on this same bed back in high school. He remembered shouting into the sheets, so excited to finally be out of his parent's grasp.
"I'm free! No more school! No more parents! I'm free!" He had chanted.
Nathan found himself crying. A cold shiver ran across his back as he lay in the large bed. He curled up, hugging a pillow with floral print to his chest.
As Nathan had expected, no one came by. He doubted anyone would know he was in town again until Gloria spread the word. Nathan didn't mind the peace and quiet. The hum of the heater and his books were his only companions. For a second Nathan found himself drifting back into his old patterns. He'd stay as the cashier all day, reading whatever book he currently fancied. The book he was reading right now was about a young elf traveling across the world to defeat an ancient evil. It was terribly dark, and quite a boring read at the moment. Nathan closed the book, deciding it was a good enough time as any to shut down shop.
As Nathan sunk into bed, his stomach began to coil in anxiety. He dreaded what was to come. Dr. Guscetti's voice rang through his head, reminding him of the steps he should follow.
Close your eyes.
Take a deep breath.
You are safe, now.
Hold onto it.
Keep holding it.
Now let it go.
And say to yourself:
"You are safe now." Nathan murmered, hugging himself tightly.
He took a deep breathe, then another. Eventually, he lost count.
And then everything went red. His eyes traveled across their bodies. Mangled. Broken. There was screaming. Who was screaming? Was he screaming? WHY AM I SCREAMING?
Nathan shot up, gasping for breath. He was clutching his sheets to his chest. His cheeks were wet. He hadn't remembered crying before. Nathan noted that at the very least he wasn't screaming now. He wiped away his tears before sinking back into his sheets. The bed didn't feel very warm at all. He felt cold, and alone.
All alone.
The following morning, Nathan found the first note.
It was laying on his desk. At first Nathan thought it was a loose scrap of paper. But as Nathan unfurled the paper, he realized it was from a page of a book.
"Hello,
Nathan looked up from the small note. His eyes immediately went to check the door. It was still locked, and the sign was flipped to read closed outside. Nathan hadn't remembered vandalizing his copies. He scanned the rows of novels in the shelf closest to him, wondering which book had lost a page. Nathan knew that it would take him years to find the book in question.
Gloria had stopped by midday. She had brought him a few 'get well' cookies from her bakery next door. They chatted a while, mostly about Rosco's health. Nathan insisted that she should stop feeding him her sweets, but she refused.
"It's the only way I get him to behave!" She argued.
It wasn't long before she was out of his shop. She never bought anything from him besides a few cookbooks, but she always tried to visit at least one a week.
It was late in the day, and Nathan was half tempted to close the shop early. His book had been getting more and more boring. That wasn't to say that things in the book weren't happening. The elf had gathered quite a following at this point. But all of it just... didn't interest Nathan. He sighed, closing the novel. He heard a knock on the window. He glanced to see a familiar face at the door.
Nathan wondered why the man didn't just come inside. The door still read open. There was another knock on the door's window. Nathan sighed, opening the door.
"Evening, Sherriff." Nathan stated dryly.
"Evening, Slater." The cop said. Paul McMillan man was in his mid-thirties. His long slicked back hair and impressive beard made the man look quite intimidating. Nathan reckoned that he too would be intimidated if the man hadn't saved his life a month ago.
"Just checking in on you." The Sherriff stated, looking around the block with squinted eyes.
Nathan sighed. "I'm just trying to get over this."
"Good to hear. Glad to have you back with the living, Nathan." McMillan smiled. The man's expression seemed neither warm nor cold to Nathan. Everything the Sherriff did seemed to radiate authority.
"Yeah. Glad to be back." Nathan said, scratching his head.
They stood there in silence for a minute before Nathan finally spoke. "Do you, uh. Want to come in?" Nathan said, glancing inside.
The Sherriff opened his mouth, as if to say something, before quickly closing it. McMillan shook his head. "No, I was just swinging by to check up on you. And to uh... ask if you were needing a ride up to the clinic on Thursday."
Nathan had not forgotten his appointment with Dr. Guscetti. "I was going to take the bus."
The Sherriff shook his head. "Nonsense. That's too far of a ride. I'll take you."
"If you insist." Nathan shrugged.
"Alright. Well. Stay safe, then." The cop nodded before returning to his cruiser.
Nathan watched him leave, flipping the sign to closed as the police car drove off into the distance.
He was back in the house. The door had somehow locked behind him. He could feel them behind him. On the steps of the stairs. He didn't want to turn around but he knew he had to. He had to see what had happened to his parents.
It took all his strength not to look, he glanced at the floor instead. He stared at the circles. The red circles with incomprehensible markings. They seemed to shift and dance as he strained to read them.
And then he heard that noise.
That noise.
The snarl sent his entire body on edge. His body froze as the fear set in. Oh god.
Oh god.
The Beast was here.
Nathan awoke with a blood-curdling scream. It took him a second to calm down, his heart racing. Nathan was shaking from head to toe. Somehow his heater had turned off in the middle of the night. With one hand, Nathan strained to reach for the dial from under his covers. Eventually he was able to turn it on low, but sleep did not come easily to Nathan that night. He tried counting, and breathing, and letting it go. But he couldn't. He knew what he had seen.
Nathan stared at the second scroll, trying to figure out what it meant.
don't panic!" The hero shouted. "I'm here to help
Nathan pondered where the notes could be coming from. He had locked the door this night as well. Nathan half thought that someone was playing tricks on him. The only people who really knew him in this town were Hank, Gloria, and the Sherriff. Maybe it was someone from his high school? The man from the diner had looked his age. His class was so small, and yet he could barely remember anyone's names.
As much as Nathan tried to dismiss the papers, he was curious.
Nathan pulled out the book he had been reading. He skimmed through the pages, searching for a particular passage. The book had become too boring to Nathan. Even if he was over halfway done, he saw little reason to finish the book. Eventually he found the page he was looking for. The passage in question was when the hero begged for his life. Nathan found the entire chapter completely out of character for the small elf boy. He mentally took note of the author's name as he tore the page out of the book. Carefully, he peeled the words he wanted out of the page.
Go away! Go away!
They were the words the elf boy had used right before dying. Nathan shuddered, hoping that the boy's last words wouldn't become his as well.
He was running through down the field now. He could see the town up ahead, but it was still so far away. The tall grass whipped past him as he ran.
He didn't need to turn around to tell that the Beast was still there.
He could hear it.
Oh god he wasn't going to make it. Oh god, he wasn't going to make it.
Suddenly he tripped.
Right before he hit the ground he awoke. Gasping. Shaking. Cold. Alone. He was on the floor in the middle of the second floor. He got up, still shaking from the experience, and crawled underneath the covers of his bed.
Nathan's questions kept piling up as he read the next... two notes.
the pact
do not run
The words confused Nathan. He tried to distract himself with a new book, but the mysterious sentence would not leave him alone. He quickly found himself searching through book after book for the right answer. Eventually he settled on a question he deemed worthy of the strange messenger.
Who are you?
Nathan left the shop closed for lunch. It was the coldest noon the town had seen all week. The meteorologist on the radio said that it'd be snowing by the end of next week. Nathan had stopped by the diner yesterday as well, but the man around his age hadn't been there that day. Today was a different story. Nathan could hear the man's cheery disposition from across the room.
He took a seat at the same booth he had shared with Hank.
"What can I get started for you? A drink?" The waiter asked.
Nathan turned towards to look up at his peer. When he glanced at the name tag, his jaw dropped.
"Eric? Eric Holt?" Nathan asked.
The man grinned. "That's my name, Nathan. What can I get you to drink?"
"I-I didn't recognize you." Nathan said, looking the man up and down.
"Oh thank goodness! And here I thought you were giving me the cold shoulder." Eric sighed with relief. "For a while I thought maybe you'd gone all..."
His voice dwindled as he thought the sentence threw. Eric winced, as if he had avoided a narrow collision with an oncoming car. "Well... anyways. It's nice to have you back in town again. Haven't seen you since you left for college."
"Yeah... sorry about that." Nathan apologized.
"No worries. We'll talk later, its rush hour. Can I get you something to drink?" Eric repeated, holding up his pen and paper.
"Yeah, a coke?" Nathan asked.
Eric snapped his fingers and pointed them at Nathan as he slid back towards the kitchen. "Got it." He winked, before disappearing behind the swinging door.
Eric had done a lot of growing in the four years Nathan had been absent. He was now incredibly built, and was sporting a neatly trimmed beard with short combed hair. He seemed a completely different person now. Nathan's mental picture of Eric was of the scrawny nerd with hair down to his shoulders he would hang with during lunch break of high school.
And on top of that his personality was completely different. What had happened in the four years he had been gone?
Nathan shook his head.
Nathan had once again left too much money on the table for his old friend. The air was just as chilly as he had left it. Nathan wanted to talk with Eric some more, but the man was far too busy to spare some free time. He had left a note, however, with his new phone number on it.
The shop was just as he had left it. His new note was still on the front desk. It seemed whoever it was leaving him notes liked to do it in the dead of the night. Nathan thought that out of everyone in town, it was most likely Eric. Who else would have the galls to pull a prank as elaborate as this?
Nathan quickly undressed and hopped into bed. He closed his eyes and practiced breathing once more.
It was dark. He was itchy, and there was pain. Lots of pain. He could hear it though. The beast. It was practically breathing down his neck. Nathan knew it would be on top of him soon if he didn't get up. He grabbed at the weeds around him before trying to push himself up. However as soon as he got on his feet a heavy force knocked him back down to the dirt. The panting behind him grew louder. He could hear it snarl as it leaned in close to his ear. Nathan could feel its chilling breath on his neck.
I FOUND YOU
Nathan awoke to a searing hot pain across his shoulder. He screamed in agony, gripping the source of the pain with one hand. His shoulder felt frigid beneath his touch. He bit his pillow to hold back his screams, using his free hand to claw at his sheets. What seemed like an hour was only ten minutes of searing pain. As the pain subsided, Nathan rolled out of bed. He fumbled for the lights in the small bathroom. As the lights flickered on, Nathan inspected his shoulder. There was no blood, nor sign of bite.
"I'm going insane. I'm fucking going insane." Nathan whispered. He glanced past his reflection, focusing on a more pressing concern of his.
Nathan rushed down the stairs, practically stumbling over his own feet. He turned on the lights, half expecting some demon to appear in the room before him. But there was nothing out of the ordinary.
Nathan walked over to the main desk. He peered outside to make sure there was no shadowy figure lurking in the distance. That's when he saw it.
The note.
Nathan unfurled the paper impatiently, hands trembling in nervousness.
the beast
He sat down on his stool, clutching the foreboding message. Nathan knew what the dreams meant now. Either he had just relapsed... or the Beast was coming.
CALM DOWN
Nathan fell off of his stool with a scream. He landed on the floor with a heavy thud, a few books falling onto his lap in the chaos.
DO NOT STRUGGLE
The voice... the voice was in his head. Nathan stood up, letting the books fall to the floor. "W-who are you?"
I'M THE BEAST. The deep voice stated.
"I've gathered that." Nathan said, clenching the message in his fist tighter. "So you sent me those messages?"
TECHNICALLY.
"T-technically? W-what does that mean?" Nathan asked frantically, making sure not to step on any of the fallen books as he made his way over to the phone.
CALM DOWN. The voice repeated.
Nathan didn't listen to the voice as he picked up the landline.
WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO?
The voice chuckled in his ear, amused by the humans desperate attempts for rescue. With a shaky hand, Nathan pressed the nine.
PUT DOWN THE PHONE.
Nathan tried his best to tune out the commanding voice. All he knew was that he had to call the Sherriff. Nathan pressed the one.
I SAID...
Nathan pressed the number again, bringing the phone closer to his ear.
PUT DOWN THE PHONE.
Nathan cried out in pain as the soreness in his shoulder suddenly multiplied exponentially. The biting chill ran throughout his arm. Nathan was forced to watch as his body moved beneath him. His icy arm slammed the phone back down onto its case.
I TRIED TO WARN YOU. The Beast said weakly. The voice sounded as if it had had felt the pain as well. As the chilling sensation dissipated, the control over Nathan's arm returned to him. He stared at his own hand for some time, teeth chattering uncontrollably.
"W-w-what do you w-w-want?" Nathan whimpered, hand sliding off the receiver.
I WANT YOU TO CALM DOWN. The deep voice boomed within his head again. It felt so much louder than his own thoughts. Nathan backed up against the wall, eyes wide with fear.
"W-what are you going to d-do with me?" Nathan asked.
NOTHING. The Beast stated simply.
"I-I have a hard time believing that." Nathan stated, grabbing his bare shoulder. It still felt frigid to the touch.
BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY THAT HURT ME AS MUCH AS IT HURT YOU
"Then why?" Nathan spat, fear turning into anger.
YOU DID NOT THINK YOUR ACTIONS THROUGH. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THE AUTHORITIES? I DO NOT WANT MY HOST SPENDING HIS REMAINING YEARS IN A MENTAL INSTITUTE.
"H-hosts?" He asked fearfully. A battle raged inside of his mind as he tried to comprehend his current situation logically. "W-what are you?" Nathan asked again.
I AM THE BEAST. YOU AND I ARE ONE NOW.
"Are you a ghost?" Nathan continued.
I AM A SPIRIT WHO TREADS THE MORTAL REALMS. TO A FEW, I AM A SPIRIT... TO MOST, I AM A DEMON.
Nathan could feel his heart rate returning to normal as the two talked. "Why are you doing this?"
I AM CURIOUS.
The simple answer shocked Nathan. "Then why me?"
YOU HAD POTENTIAL.
Nathan slid to the floor, trying to wrap his head around everything that had happened in the last five minutes. He brought his hands to his head as he slowly rocked in place.
"This can't be happening." Nathan whispered to himself.
TAKE US BACK TO BED. WE ARE FREEZING.
"S-So it's 'we' now?" Nathan chuckled to himself, the ridiculousness of the situation setting in.
WOULD YOU RATHER I SAY YOU?
The courteous response from the Beast confused Nathan. Had the demon not just previously hijacked his body? Hesitantly, Nathan got up from the floor. "No I just... this is all so weird."
YOU'LL GET USED TO IT. MOST DO.
"Most?" Nathan gulped, making his way up the stairs. With each step Nathan took his body began to warm up. It almost felt like his shoulder had been thawing as Nathan slid into bed.
MUCH BETTER. CLOSE YOUR EYES AND GET SOME SLEEP. WE HAVE A LONG DAY AHEAD OF US TOMORROW.
Nathan did as he was told, the pain in his shoulder dissipating completely in the process. Nathan felt both emotionally and physically drained as he lay in bed. He prayed that he would wake up the next morning and find that the entire event had all been a dream.
"That wasn't a dream." Nathan whispered to himself, looking at his shoulder in the mirror. A bright blue circle no larger than a quarter was scrawled across his shoulder. The detailed circle was cold to the touch.
THAT IS CORRECT. The Beast stated. Nathan couldn't help but jump as the voice rang though his head.
"What did you do to me?" Nathan asked, inspecting the strange pattern on his skin.
THAT IS OUR MARK. IT SIGNIFIES THE PACT. YOU WOULD BE WISE NOT TO LET OTHERS SEE IT.
"Our pact?" Nathan squinted, trying his best to make out the strange markings that lined the inside of the circle.
IT IS A BINDING CONTRACT. THE MORE WE AGREE, THE LARGER THE MARK. THE MORE WE DISAGREE, THE MORE IT HURTS. The Beast explained.
Nathan prodded the strange mark. The intricate blue circle felt like regular skin beneath his fingers, asides from the cold sensation.
"So if I don't do as you say, it will sting me?" Nathan asked, feeling like he had been stuck with the shorter end of the stick.
NOT QUITE. IT WILL STING US. AS I HAVE SAID, WE ARE ONE NOW. MY TOUCH IS YOUR TOUCH. YOUR TASTE IS MY TASTE. MY PAIN IS YOUR PAIN. TWO SOULS, ONE BODY.
"So when you took control of my hand..."
IT STUNG US BOTH, YES. WE ARE ONE NOW. FOR EXAMPLE, LOOK AT YOUR HAND.
Nathan looked down to see his hand absent-mindedly scratching his stomach.
WE HAD AN ITCH. I SCRATCHED IT.
"This is surreal." Nathan whispered, watching as his hand returned to his side. He could feel it move, and yet he had not controlled its actions in the slightest.
TELL ME WHERE TO GO AND I WILL MOVE US.
"Downstairs." Nathan said. He watched as his body lurched to life. His feet quickly traversed the room and down the stairs. Nathan watched in awe as his body walked for him. It felt like an out of body experience, as if he was merely a spectator of his own actions.
Nathan stopped suddenly at the bottom of the stairs. "This is wild." He muttered, taking control of his body and walking towards the front desk. He bent over and picked up his stool from the ground.
"I have so many questions. What are you? What should I call you? What does this mean for me? Are there others like me?" Nathan asked, collecting more of his fallen books off the floor.
SIT DOWN AND I'LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW. The voice commanded. The sore feeling returned to Nathan's shoulder until he did as the Beast had asked.
I AM NOT MORTAL. NOR AM I OF THIS REALM. I HAVE NO NAME, AND CHOOSE TO PASS MY TIME BY LIVING THROUGH THE LENSES OF OTHERS. IF YOU MUST CALL ME SOMETHING, YOU MAY CALL ME THE BEAST, HOWEVER I WISH YOU WOULD THINK OF ME AS AN EXTENSION OF YOURSELF.
"You said last night that I had... potential. What did you mean?" Nathan asked, finding it hard to converse with the Beast without staring at something.
I HAVE BEEN OBSERVING YOU, NATHAN... WATCHING FROM AFAR. YOU ARE A MAN WITH LITTLE TIES TO THIS EARTH LEFT. I WISH TO BE THERE AS YOU SOW YOUR TIES TO THIS REALM, FOR YOU INTEREST ME. I HOPE TO SEE THROUGH YOUR EYES, AND HELP SHAPE OUR FUTURE.
"I don't believe you." Nathan admitted.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO. BUT YOU MUST TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THAT MY LIFE IS NOW YOURS. I WOULD DO NOTHING TO HARM OUR LIVES. YOU PAIN IS MY PAIN. YOUR JOY IS-
"-is my joy, I understand." Nathan finished for the Beast. The young man could feel a pleasant tingle emanate from the mark as he spoke.
THAT IS GOOD TO HEAR. I WILL BE QUIET FOR NOW. IF WE ARE STUNG I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT I HAVE WILLED.
"As will I, Beast." Nathan said. His shoulder bit back as he said the spirit's name.
Nathan decided it might have been best not to open the shop that day. Instead he found himself slouched in a large armchair in the back of the shop. A large stack of books he had been trying to get through had collected there since his days in high school. He was currently reading an old sci-fi classic about a man travelling the galaxy in search of intergalactic peace. It was far from a challenging read, but Nathan found himself greatly enjoying it.
Every so often that comforting tingle would spread out from his shoulder. After chuckling at a particularly witty line from the main character, his shoulder radiated warmness.
"What is that?" Nathan asked out loud, turning the page.
IT IS A RESPONSE OF THE MARK, LETTING US KNOW WHEN WE ACT IN UNISON. IT HELPS THE PACT GROW, STRENGTHENS THE BOND.
Nathan pulled down his tee to take a peek at the strange circle. The warmth had faded, leaving the shoulder feeling oddly barren.
"I have a question." Nathan said, returning to his book.
SPEAK.
"How did you leave the notes?" Nathan asked, genuinely curious about the demon's response.
YOUR DREAMS LEAVE YOU VULNERABLE TO TOTAL POSSESSION. IN A WAY, YOU LEFT THOSE NOTES FOR YOURSELF. I WISHED TO GIVE YOU A WARNING OF THE THINGS TO COME.
Nathan thought back to the nights he had stayed up, hoping to catch the culprit before he would fall asleep. He felt so foolish in hindsight.
Nathan found himself too antsy to read. He closed the book and set to work fixing up the shop. He moved towards the front of the shop, rummaging in the storage closet for a broom. As Nathan pulled the broom out, he accidentally knocked a book off the counter. Nathan instinctually reached out to grab the falling book. It was practically instinctual for him to catch the book, but the reaction in his shoulder was immediate. His shoulder instantly started to radiate the familiar heat as soon as his hand shot out. The brand almost seemed to throb with pleasure.
IT FEELS GOOD, DOES IT NOT? TO WORK IN TANDEM? The Beast asked, his deep voice sounding as relaxed as Danny felt.
The tingling pleasant feeling disappeared as Nathan set the book back on the counter. "Yeah." He admitted.
THERE ARE WAYS... FOR US TO FORCE THE FEELING OUT. BASIC ROUTINE TASKS WITH CLEAR GOALS.
"Like... weight lifting? Or running?" Nathan thought, debating if he really wanted to follow the demon's ideas.
I HAVE BEEN WATCHING YOU, NATHAN. I AM AWARE OF YOUR DEPRESSION. A RUN WILL DO US GOOD.
His body walked around the front desk and towards the stairs.
"W-what are we going to do?" Nathan asked, the warm feeling returning as he helped the demon walk up the stairs. With each step, a dull throb of warmth leapt from his shoulder.
THE LESS FORCED THE CONNECTION, THE STRONGER THE SENSATION.
"Why? How?" Nathan asked, using one hand to grip his mark.
THE BRAND IS A SYMBOL OF OUR BOND. AS WE CONTINUE TO ACT AS ONE, IT STIMULATES OUR BODY TO RELEASE ENDORPHINS INTO THE BODY. THE HIGHER THE ENDORPHIN LEVELS, THE MORE WE MERGE.
"M-merge?" Nathan asked, body walking its way over to his room.
AS THE BRAND GROWS, THE MORE OUR SOULS HAVE MERGED. IN A WAY, YOU WILL BECOME MORE LIKE ME.
"What does that mean?" Nathan said, helping the demon in taking off his pants.
THE FIRST SIGNS ARE SIMPLE. EUPHORIA, A GREATER APPETITE, INCREASE IN SEX HOROMONES, AND A HEALTHIER BODY. THE ENDORPHINS WILL HELP REDUCE YOUR STRESS LEVELS AS WELL.
None of the symptoms sounded all that bad to Nathan, but the man couldn't help but feel like the demon was withholding something from him. He half expected him to wake up the next morning, trapped in a body that wouldn't listen to him.
Nathan looked at himself in the mirror. His short blonde hair and blue eyes made him look much younger than he was. Due to his boyish looks, many people often thought that Nathan was still in high school. His wiry frame didn't help either. The demon's control brought the loose gym shorts up over his boxers. Nathan moved them over to his bed to put on his track shoes. He hadn't used the pair since high school.
"So what are we going to do? What is going to happen to us?" Nathan asked. The question had been burning into the back of his mind for a while.
WE ARE GOING TO LIVE OUR LIFE TOGETHER. I WILL ENJOY SEEING LIFE THROUGH YOUR EYES, AND YOU WILL ENJOY THE PERKS I HAVE TO OFFER. FOR NOW, LET US RUN.
Nathan thought they would only run a mile at most, but once he had started, he didn't want to stop. He hadn't expected the endorphin's to be so... potent. And it wasn't just his shoulder that was flaring with activity, his entire body was engulfed in the familiar warmth. What started as one mile became two... then three... then five. Not only did Nathan feel alive, but he felt like he could just keep going. The Beast had been just as quiet as he had for the run. Nathan guessed that the Beast was enjoying it as much as he was.
Eventually they found their way back to the bookstore. Nathan was exhausted, but his blood was pumping with endorphins. Even when the two came to a halt outside of his store, the warm pleasure persisted as he made his way upstairs.
"This feels amazing." Nathan gasped for air, completely drenched in sweat. He removed his shirt, throwing the damp cloth onto his bed.
Nathan turned towards the mirror to inspect the mark. It seemed larger than before. There were two more layers of circles, each filled with unintelligible markings.
THE MARK HAS GROWN. The Beast proudly stated. COME, I WISH TO SHOW MY GRATITUDE.
Nathan watched as his body moved on its own towards his bed. The pleasurable sensations that coursed through him left him completely willing to follow the demon's lead. The young man disrobed as he crawled into the middle of the bed.
"What are you going to do?" Nathan asked, watching as his own arms pulled his boxers down to his knees.
RUNNING IS ONLY ONE WAY TO HELP STRESS LEVELS. I CAN THINK OF SEVERAL MORE... PLEASURABLE OPTIONS. The Beasts voice rumbled in his hear. Nathan's hand gripped his half hard member. The demon's touch felt so foreign, as if it wasn't his hand that was currently running up and down his shaft.
Nathan hadn't been able to place the strange warmth before, but now it was clear what it radiated. The sexual pleasure that rocked his body seemed to multiply the brand's sensations. Nathan could only watch as the Beast continued to pleasure him. He could hear the demon's voice within his ear. The Beast's own rumbling growls joined Nathan's moans as the hand picked up speed.
PREPARE YOURSELF. WE ARE... GOING TO... The Beast grunted, expertly working Nathan's hand across their shaft.
" C-Cum!" Nathan bellowed. Except... it hadn't been Nathan that had shouted. The voice that shouted those words was as deep as the Beasts.
Nathan didn't have time to process this as his hips spasmed into his hand. A tidal wave of pleasure rolled over him. He curled his toes as spurt after spurt of cum painted his sweaty chest. As the sexual bliss dissipated, the warmth of the brand persisted. The two lay there as one, gasping for breath.
The warm tingle of his shoulder didn't seem to diminish after that. Nathan had cleaned up, and showered. The Beast had remained silent as Nathan redressed. He inspected the mark once more before putting on his shirt. It was as large as the circumference of an aluminum can now.
"I have a question." Nathan said.
SPEAK. The Beast muttered. The deep voice sounded dazed and content.
"Will this mark keep getting bigger?" Nathan asked.
THE MARK WILL REACH ITS MATURITY WHEN OUR SOULS ARE COMPATIBLE. THEN THE IMPRINTING CAN BEGIN.
"Imprinting?" Nathan asked, his sense of security fading.
THE MARKS CHANGES TO YOUR BODY ARE PURELY CHEMICAL. WHEN IT MATURES THE HOST BODY IS SUBJECT TO MORE... PHYSICAL CHANGES.
"What type of changes?" Nathan could feel the warmth in his shoulder begin to dissipate as he spoke.
I HAVE TAKEN MANY FORMS. SOME OF THEM MAY... RUB OFF ON YOU.
"Will I turn into some... demon? Some monster?" Nathan asked.
IF THAT IS WHAT CALLS TO YOU. The Beast chuckled.
Nathan's body stiffened. The demon's cryptic answer worried him. "Are they permanent?" He asked.
A PHYSICAL FORM IS EASY TO MOLD, AS LONG AS THE SHAPE IS FAMILIAR. FOR NOW, WE ARE FAMISHED. LET US EAT.
"Oh! Nathan!" A wavering voice shouted from behind him.
Nathan heard his neighbor's calling as he finished locking the door to his store. He turned to see Gloria shuffling her way towards him, dog in tow.
"Good afternoon Gloria. Hi Rosco. How are you?" Nathan called out as he watched the old lady shuffle towards him.
"Oh, y-you know Rosco." Gloria said, glaring at the panting pug. "Too lazy a-and too stubborn for his o-own good." She yanked the leash once more, practically dragging the dog behind her.
"What about you? How have you been?" Nathan said, pulling his attention away from the sad dog.
"Well I-I'm worried, Nathan." Gloria said, looking up into Nathan's eyes.
"About what?" Nathan asked, watching the elderly woman shuffle in discomfort.
"Well... I've been noticing a-a lot of screaming a-and shouting coming from your townhouse Nathan a-and I'm worried for you." Gloria said earnestly.
Nathan blushed. "T-those are just my dreams Gloria. The Sherriff's taking me to my shrink tomorrow for my weekly visit. I'll talk to him about it then."
Nathan's stomach rumbled as Gloria started to ramble about her day. His shoulder shot with pain for just a second, letting the young man know the Beast's desires.
"Well, I've got to get going, Gloria. Busy day and all." Nathan said, making his goodbyes with the sweet old woman.
HUMAN INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS ARE STRANGE TO ME. The Beast commented.
"With Gloria?" Nathan whispered.
WHAT DOES SHE MEAN TO YOU?
"She is a friend. And a good person." Nathan said.
The demon didn't speak for a while after that. Nathan made his way over to the diner. He could hear Eric's laughter as soon as he opened the door. Nathan smiled.
OH... WHAT IS THIS? The Beast asked, voice curious about the young man's reaction.
Nathan ignored the demon's strange comment as he made his way to his booth. It wasn't long before Eric showed up, pen and paper in hand.
"Hey, Nathan! Got your number the other day. Haven't had the time to text you but I'll be free this weekend." Eric said, smiling down at Nathan.
AHHHHH. The Beast's voice rang clear in his head. I UNDERSTAND NOW. The demon's voice spoke knowingly.
Nathan did his best to ignore the demon as he gave Eric his order. He watched the old friend walk away to the backroom before hissing at the Beast. "What are you talking about!?"
INCREASED HEART RATE, SWEATY PALMS, NERVOUS LAUGHTER. YOU WISH TO MATE WITH HIM.
Nathan blushed furiously. "I don't know what you're talking about."
YOU FIND HIM ATTRACTIVE. TELL ME, IS IT JUST MALES?
"W-what?" Nathan asked, making sure no one was listening to him talk to himself.
ARE YOU PURELY HOMOSEXUAL?
"Y-yes." Nathan admitted.
The voice rumbled in satisfaction. AND DO YOU WISH TO LAY WITH THAT MAN?
"Yeah." Nathan repeated. "But I don't even know if he is gay."
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TRY.
"Yeah well... I would too" Nathan whispered.
Nathan watched as Eric returned from behind the kitchen counter with his drink.
"Thanks." Nathan said, trying his best to look as normal as possible.
"No problem." Eric said, winking at him before moving on to another booth.
WE SHOULD SEDUCE HIM. OFFER SEX.
"N-no!" Nathan stammered, trying to keep his voice low.
BUT OUR BODY WANTS IT.
"Well sometimes we don't get what we want." Nathan said, shoulder wincing in pain.
YOU... HUMANS... CONFUSE ME.
"Us humans?" Nathan whispered.
I HAVE SEEN THROUGH THE EYES OF TRILLIONS OF SPECIES ACROSS MULTIPLE REALMS. BUT HUMANS... HUMANS ARE ILLOGICAL TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CANNOT COMPREHEND EVEN THE SIMPLEST OF COURTING METHODS. IT ONLY MAKES SENSE TO CLAIM HIM.
"I'm not... claiming... anyone today." Nathan muttered, sipping his drink. The cold beverage was quite refreshing after today's events.
AND THAT IS WHY I FIND HUMANS SO INTERESTING. YOU ARE IRRATIONAL AND UNJUSTIFIABLE AS A SPECIES, AND YET YOU DOMINATE THIS REALM. OUT OF ALL THE SPECIES I HAVE SPECTATED YOU REMAIN ONE OF THE MOST... COMPLICATED.
"Uh... thanks?" Nathan said, shaking his head. Here he was, at a diner... Sharing his body with some cosmic being that was demanding he fuck his best friend.
Nathan chuckled to himself, absent mindedly swirling the drink with his straw.
"This is wild. Too fucking wild."
That's it for part one. If you liked it, leave me a comment. If you didn't, give me some feedback. I'm trying to write a slow transformation story, because I'm getting tired of the "furry in ten seconds" transformation scenes.
pawsroloc