A Cabin in the Woods

Jason lay in a bloody heap inside the lair of the demon he'd been serving for over a millennium. Nickolas had vented his anger out on his friend for the abduction of Aden. Worse than that, Jinka had been the one to take him! Jinka, Nickolas' Achilles heel, his nemesis, his biggest regret in life. More so than the woman he had been using Aden to deceive.

Where had Jinka been all these centuries? And why did he make an appearance now? Just to save that little witch's boyfriend? No. It couldn't be that alone. There had to be something else going on. Jinka wouldn't do someone else's dirty work, least of all that of a half breed demon like that girl.

"I should just kill you and get it over with!" He bellowed at the cowering figure on the floor. "Jinka!! With him involved…" he let out an exasperated sigh while clenching his fists. "You'd better pray to God that Jinka doesn't…" his words were interrupted by laughter.

"Pray to God?" Jason spat. "God? What's he gonna do for the likes of us?" He struggled with great effort to stand up with the help of the wall behind him. One eye had swollen shut while the other one had turned a brilliant red and stared daggers at Nickolas. "We are dead already, Nick. God won't stop Jinka… or anybody else from delivering the punishments he has for us! We're damned, remember."

"Shut up! We are doing what we are supposed to."

"Bullsh*t! We stopped doing our job when you got obsessed with Twila."

"She goes by Rose now and she's just another half-breed! It's our job to kill them."

"And it's her job to save them." Jason snapped back making Nickolas blink in confusion.

"What? How? She's hiding them somewhere? Is that why Jinka came for Jaden? But he's a demon killer, why would help half-breeds?"

"You're wrong about her, Nick. She's not a demon, a witch or even a half-breed. She never was one of us."

"She's not human!" Nickolas insisted. "And she certainly is no angel!"

"She's the phoenix. The one that was foretold to us in the beginning. She is the one to cleanse the mix breed demons." Jason let out another low chuckle. "Jinka is nothing. She… she is our judgment."

"No! It can't be! You're either lying or you have been horribly deceived!"

"Like I said," Jason patted Nickolas on the shoulder as he passed by on wobbly legs. "We're dead already."

*

In the cabin Where Aden had just left, Adrian waved his arm towards his sofa. "Care to sit?" He asked politely.

"You want to visit with me before killing me?" Rose queried. "How gentlemanly of you." She sat on the sofa and faced him with a smirk. "I'm a bit thirsty."

"Lemonade?"

"Water?"

"Lemonade."

"Never mind then." She shifted to the edge of her seat, resting her elbows on her knees. "Let's get on with it. Do you mind answering a few of my questions before taking me out?"

He sat in the chair facing her with widened eyes full of glee. "Forgive my surprise, little witch. I wasn't actually expecting you to come to me this soon. I thought for sure I was going to have kill a few more people to gain your attention." He crossed one leg over the other knee as he leaned back in the chair. "I'm so used to you running way and hiding little a scared little rabbit."

"I was tempted." She admitted.

"No doubt. I must say; I was looking forward to the chase."

"You broke the rules, Adrian, by killing that woman with your own hands."

"What woman are referring to?"

"Amy Fisher."

"I heard that woman is alive and well, so how can you credit me with her death?"

"Answer my questions first and I'll answer yours."

"Fine. Consider this me granting you your last wish. Ask away."

"When did you forget what your assignment is? How did you come to the conclusion that my existence was any of your concern? And what makes you think that Nickolas isn't using to do his dirty work?" She waited for him to react but receiving only a blank stare she continued. "You see, I have learned a few things recently that have shed a light on our situation. One is that you were assigned to eliminate the irredeemable half-breeds. You have abandoned that call to follow the orders of the very demon that is creating them. It is not I, but you who stands in need of punishment."

Adrian scoffed. "What an imagination you have. You are the worst of the worst of the half-breeds, witch!"

She scowled at her nemesis. "I am not a half-breed demon. I am purifying fire sent to free the half-breeds from their demon blood. And I am your judgment."

"You're wrong! And I will prove it with your death today." He snarled as he let his claws extend from his fingertips. His fangs elongated and his eyes flashed with burning orange flames.

Rose allowed herself to feel the power rage through her. All the things that she had learned from Joey and Allie had unlocked the truth she had long denied about herself. How many centuries had she spent living in fear of this creature before her while being unaware of the power she held within? How long had she tried to hide from him and those like him without understanding they are powerless in front of her. She had deceived herself in believing she was a powerless freak. No more. It was time to embrace the truth. The truth of who and what she is as well as her purpose. She was not a freak. She was not a mistake. And she is not the one who will die today. "You have choice, Adrian." She calmly spoke to the demon as he transitioned from his human to his demon form. "You can take my hand and the know truth for yourself." She extended her hand in his direction. "Or you can die trying to kill me."

Adrian stared at her hand for a split second. "You will burn in Hell this very day, witch!" He growled as he leapt toward her.

She was quick to grab his arms as she burst into flames. Her fire spread throughout the cabin, engulfing every square inch in her fire. Nothing was spared. The howls of the flames could barely be heard above Adrian's wails of agony.