As we entered my apartment building, Bree sat at the security desk. She was pale, wore a shiny red wig, and had obnoxiously long fake eyelashes. She had a wide, well – everything, and her uniform didn’t do her any favors.

She wasn’t my biggest fan on account of my being a huge inconvenience to her. An effort on her part was required to dissuade my unwanted guests from disturbing my neighbors. You’d think she’d enjoy tasing religious zealots from time to time. She stood as my entourage and I approached carrying two unconscious people. When she saw me, she made an oh-its-you-again face and reached for the phone on her desk. Al ignored her as she did most people, I gave her a placating smile, and Leah shrugged.

“It’s a sex thing.” Dale commented in response to the woman’s conflicted expression. Leah stared daggers back at him. As we made into the elevator, I heard three clacks of Bree’s obnoxiously long fingernails on her desk phone. I sighed.

We were once more in my destroyed apartment. I plopped Shawn onto the floor, unfortunately missing the couch. He woke up at the impact and unsteadily climbed onto the cushions then silently watched us. I couldn’t be sure whether he stayed conscious. Al dragged a kitchen chair into the living room and sat Car-ascia on it. My mentor then smacked the teenager, garbed in leather and fishnets, across the face. The girl looked around blearily, but almost toppled out of the chair when Al smacked her again. Our captive’s eyes shot open, and she grabbed her face pouting.

She quickly assessed the room, then desperately reached for Al’s arm. Remembering what I’d experienced, the motion was likely to put Al under her controlling spell, but I had no need to worry. With lightning speed, Al slapped the hand away in disgust, then her face smoothed and feigned pleasantness.

“I have some questions for you.” Al announced. The demon continued to pout, staring deeply into her attacker’s eyes, who stared back menacingly. That’s when I also remembered Jascia’s hypnotic influence when she’d grabbed me, so I punched her in the face to get in on the action. Al gave me a disapproving glare which I countered with a less impressive one. Our attention off of her, Jascia tried to get up, but before getting anywhere, Al pushed her back down without looking.

“If I answer your questions, will you let me go?” Jascia hissed.

“Probably not.” Al answered honestly. “But if you do, I won’t have to torture you.” Her head eerily turned back to the captive with an evil grin. Leah’s lips pursed at the threat, staring at Al. I, even though Jascia was controlling the body, felt a tinge of guilt at the look of fear and desperation on Cara’s face. Thankfully, the creature’s expression disappeared as quickly as it had arrived, replaced by hatred.

“What do you want to know?” Jascia asked curtly.

“First, I’d like to know where you and your kind come from?” Al asked. Jascia scoffed in reply.

“Your feeble human minds wouldn’t be able to comprehend the concept.” Jascia spat. Al responded by flicking her in the forehead. It was a small gesture, but it was hard enough to make the chair tip back on two legs. Jascia’s arms flailed to maintain her balance, then clutched her forehead while Al smiled down at her. It said a lot about Al’s confidence that she didn’t even bother to tie up the demon.

“Fine.” Jascia growled. There was a pause, then she started to explain. “We live in the same place as this one, everything’s just – shifted slightly.”

“What does that mean?” Al asked.

“I told you, you wouldn’t be able to – ” She caught her tongue; Al had a finger cocked back, hovering in front of her forehead. “Everything’s the same, but I don’t know.” Her eyes rolled around, desperately searching for the words to prevent another strike. “They overlap. Cara would describe it as another plane.” We all gave her a confused look.

“What do you mean by that? Did you talk to her?” Al asked.

“No.” She said, as if it were obvious. “Her memories are stored in her brain, so I have access to those memories.” Jascia explained. Al nodded contemplatively.

“And what do you mean by another plane?” Al continued. Jascia considered how to answer, then brightened.

“Our two worlds are the same, but our kinds are concealed from one another by a veil. It’s not like a physical thing. Your language doesn’t have sufficient words to describe what it is. I guess you can think of it as a boundary between our two people, and neither us nor your kind can sense one another through it. But sometimes the veil thins, and we can see or feel each other. You describe us as ghosts, specters, or monsters. I take offense to that by the way.” We all rolled our eyes, but nodded, following along. “Your plane consists of matter, but once again, your language can’t convey what our side is made of, the closest word is – spirit maybe?” Jascia paused for a long time thinking. “Your words are too restrictive. Let me convey the concepts directly into your souls.” She reached a hand out.

“No.” I responded coldly. I looked at the others. “That’s how her power works. She imprisons your soul and you become brainwashed into serving her.”

“C’mon, I’d never do that to all of you . I promise.” She said with an innocent quality to her voice, but I gave her a flat, unyielding look. She smiled wryly. “You’re no fun.”

“Continue.” Al said impatiently.

“Anyway, when the boundary is thin enough, something happens to us, but Cara doesn’t know a word for the combination of can be seen/exists/crosses, plus a few other states, on both sides. Nor does she know how to describe that we make up, are, are of, and are in the veil. Do you understand?” Al nodded; Dale, Leah, and I all shook our heads; and Shawn’s eyes lazily drifted around between us.

“Well, that’s the best I can do. Continuing on, death is the process of our souls reverting to energy. When energy coalesces, it becomes a soul and can either create our kind or yours.” Jascia explained. “Energy also allows for crossing through the veil. Since matter is required to exist in your world, I entered Cara’s body.”

“I see.” I commented with realization. “So, when I gave Cara a second chance-” I quickly shot a glance at everyone to make sure they were privy to the use of my glorious terminology. Shawn rolled his eyes, so apparently, he was conscious. “-excess energy leaked out allowing you to cross into our world?”

“I guess.” Jascia replied with a face of confusion. “Energy was flying around with purpose, and I went to investigate. When I arrived, the veil was being pulled tight and I could see you and Cara. A – I don’t know what you’d call them – veil blob, I guess? – was consuming the energy you were putting into Cara’s body, it couldn’t contain it all and some of it leaked out. I realized that it was my chance to cross through the veil and entered the creature before it could contain Cara’s soul energy in your world.”

“I don’t really understand.” I said. “What is this veil blob and what do you mean by contain Cara’s soul energy in our world?”

#x200e “That’s what I’m telling you!” Jascia replied exasperated. “Your words are insufficient to convey the concepts.”

“Is that the only way to cross over? It seems like your kind is able to use other means to get through.” Al interjected.

“Hey, she didn’t answer my question.” I complained to Al. Jascia looked between us with a smirk then chose to answer Al.

“Energy is the only way to cross the veil.” Jascia said. “Most commonly, we come across because we’re invited. One of the ways humans secrete energy is through desire. To us, that energy is like blood in the ocean for sharks.” The way she grinned reminded me of a shark. “If a human’s desire is strong enough, we can use it to touch a human’s soul and if they give us permission, we can use them as fuel to cross into your world and reside in their body.”

Al looked perplexed as she paced. She used her presence to warn Jascia not to get up from the chair, then met each of our eyes and nodded to the dining table in the kitchen. We all started to walk in that direction, except Shawn who looked weary and perhaps a little nauseated. I went to join the gathering but was forced to stop when I heard a voice.

“ I can feel the darkness in you. ” It was an eerie, echoing whisper and judging from no one else’s reaction, I was the only one that heard it. “ A longing and loneliness. ” I realized the ethereal voice was Jascia’s and I turned to look at her. She had a sad expression on her face, but her lips didn’t move as she continued. “ They’re not like you. I understand your pain. ” She continued. “ You don’t have to be alone anymore.”

Jascia’s eyes and words were comforting, and there was a beckoning quality to them. The closest thing I could compare it to was cuddling up with a blanket in front of a fireplace on a chilly night. I was only a couple feet from her. When had I gotten so close? A knowing, mischievous grin spread on her face. With sudden realization, I tried to turn away, but before I could escape, she grabbed my arm.

For the second time that day, I was pulled into the deep dark void of Jascia’s eyes.