She surrendered herself to me so easily.

For millennia, I had roamed the nether. I am ashamed to admit that I was not particularly esteemed amongst my demonic brethren. Whereas they had influenced some of humanity’s heinous and most capable transgressors, I was little more than an unruly poltergeist in a few homes.

What worth as a demon did I have? I pondered on how I could make myself known in the underworld. It needed to be something easy and in the grand scheme of things, not take a lot of time. My forefathers had told me of how wicked (and impressive) it was to turn an ordinary person - someone well respected and loved - into a malevolent creature only superficially resembling a human being. I pondered techniques I could do that were within my power as a low-ranking demon, and then it came to me.

Possession - commandeering a meat puppet in the overworld - is how I would do it. It was difficult to find a victim at first. I did as the forefathers instructed and attempted to take over several priests, parishioners, choir members, and anyone who had any business being in a church. I failed every time. Then I went for those who were unsure of their religious conviction, but I failed again as they still associated with people who were pious and recognized demonic possession.

I was beginning to lose faith in my quest. That is, until I saw Catherine. This dull, pathetic soul gliding along life, barely keeping her head in the light, would be the perfect victim. She lived alone as far as I could tell, so this possession would go without a hitch.

At the stroke of midnight, I appeared in her abode. Catherine stood by her stove with an immovable glare at a pot. She did not even give me a glance. This was clearly an affront to my presence and she needed to know her place. I flooded the kitchen with a scarlet light and a wretched, fetid stink, but instead of breaking down in a screaming fit, she let out a curt sigh.

“What do you want,” she interrogated, “I’m trying to make some ramen and you’re fucking up my appetite.” This insect was a little more stubborn than I took her for, but I would be controlling the conversation real soon.

“Your life is now forfeit. I, Abbado, will take over your body to use as a vessel and spread the hellish decrees of the Prince of Darkness.”

She said nothing for what seemed like an eternity, only staring at me with a blank expression. I assumed she was concocting a plea in her head for me to spare her grim fate. Unbeknownst to her, it was already set in stone, but I figured I would entertain her a bit before sentencing her soul.

Catherine leaned against the fridge and simply uttered “Do it then.” I was puzzled. The forefathers had never told me what to do with victims who were willing to undergo the possession. She had to be bluffing. I walked closer to her, steadily shifting my presence to be even more beastly and disgusting.

“As long as I control that worthless meat sack of yours, you will be powerless to stop whatever actions I may do. Everyone you know, your family, your friends, they will all come to hate you.”

“Parents, dead. Friends, don’t really have any. I guess there’s.. actually nah, she’s kind of a bitch to me.”

“What are you saying… ahem, mortal?”

“Dude, I am so fucking tired. Rent’s overdue, I’ve been having sleep for dinner these past few days, and now some other place I applied to wants me to work without pay for a few days to ‘test the waters’ or some bullshit. I’m pretty sure that’s not even legal but who the fuck do I complain to for that? I just.. need a breather and if you take the wheel for a bit, be my guest.”

The forefathers had not prepared me for someone who was willing to be possessed by a demon. As she spoke, I felt a lump form in my bird-like throat. What was this unpleasant feeling gestating in my core? She continued as she walked through her home.

“Everyday, I come to this dusty, musty, tiny crap hole that I’m being charged fifteen hundred for a month. I have no time for hobbies and when I finally get some free time, it’s to catch up on sleep. No one ever asks me how my day is, no one asks me if I’m okay or need help! It’s like people don’t notice me half the time! My coworkers confuse me with the only other blonde girl who works there!” I saw her tear up and I suddenly felt nauseous.

She let out a chuckle as she wiped away at her face, and looked up at my one of my many eyes. “Do demons get tired?”

“Not really.” I answered, trying to keep a professional demeanor.

“Do you get hungry?”

“N-no.” My sagacity was beginning to falter.

“Then please, Mr. Aba- uhhh, Demon, haha. Take me away.”

I closed my eyes as my physical form reduced itself to a simple cloud. I enveloped Catherine’s being entirely; she stood there with her eyes closed and a relaxed smile on her face before her conscience was put to rest. And then, I was her.

I stood in the middle of her home and observed just how she had been living the past few years. A sullen, barren apartment with almost no furniture or decorations.

I looked at my hands and curled my fingers. An awful sensation like no other coursed through the fibers of my being - Catherine’s pain.

Possession was temporary, the forefathers said, and only ended once demons were bored or the vessel was destroyed by an angry mob.

That was NOT going to happen.

I did not want her to come back to this life full of hardship and misery.

I will build a new life for her.