256 Cursed (2/2)

Ciprian staggered against the wall of the pub as the Creature poured back into his skull. He forced himself to keep walking until he was out of sight in the alley, where he braced himself against the brick wall with one hand to keep from doubling over.

The Creature's sudden reappearance filled his head with a pressure so intense, he thought his eyeballs might burst out of their sockets. He gritted his teeth and held in his groan of pain, refusing to give the thing the satisfaction of hearing it.

It was even more engorged with energy after its absence than usual. As it drenched Ciprian's thoughts with its presence like filthy water squeezed from a sponge, Ciprian couldn't help but feel that it was showing off what it had stolen.

Finally the pressure subsided enough that Ciprian could feel his own awareness as separate from the Creature's.

"Oh good. You're here," he muttered as he straightened his spine and smoothed down the front of his tunic.