The Red Door Pt. 8 “Opened”

Summary: You and Erik have a lot of shared history together but because of recent events you’re scared that you’re going to lose your best friend. Maybe he’s still there … behind that red door?

Author’s Note: Hi guyssss! It’s a been a long time coming with this story! It will be coming to an end soon. I hope you guys have enjoyed the journey thus far! Please leave a comment for ya girl! I love you guys and thank you for reading!

You sat at your desk and chewed your bottom lip incessantly while blankly staring at your computer screen. You found it incredibly hard to focus on your assignments at work after the gruesomely detailed bomb Erik dropped on you in the middle of the week.

“Marley, I-I saw her head roll to my feet. Marie decapitated her,” he said.

Those words seamlessly replayed over and over in your mind. You memorized the slightest gestures he made as he revealed the naked truth to you. You watched his jaw clench each time the name Marie muttered off his tongue while the scrunch in his eyebrows deepened as he searched for the words to accurately describe how he felt that night. You recalled the pain in his eyes and the heaviness of his voice. It was evident to you that his once light and airy voice was weighed down by trauma. You remembered how his Adam’s apple moved subtly as he swallowed his emotion to better showcase his pride. The melancholic look on his face was heart-breaking. It’s an image that is sadly, permanently embedded in your brain.

In your all-black computer chair, you shifted again. The left leg crossed over the right presently. You pressed the mouse gently to open your email.

“Work M, just work,” you whispered to yourself.

You began scanning through the unread messages and prayed that you would be able to stay focused for the remaining hours of your workday. You began jotting down due dates onto your yellow sticky notes and placed them on their correct folders that were full of paperwork. You diligently sorted, filed, and organized until you were interrupted by your coworker Giselle.

You watched her beige oval-shaped fingernails drum across the dark wood of your desk. Her fingertips gently stroked the petals of the dark red rose that sat before you.

“You don’t water her enough,” she said.

Your eyes met her light honey-colored eyes as you let a small grin form across your lips.

“Her? Giselle, it’s a flower and what makes you think it’s female anyway?” you quizzed while chuckling awkwardly.

Giselle was your fellow co-worker. You picked up three things from working with her over this past year. She was quiet, quirky, and extremely observant. You didn’t find it strange that she noticed your slightly wilting rose…you just found Giselle strange in general, but very intriguing nonetheless. She always submitted her assignments a day early, unapologetically spoke her mind, and kept others in check tastefully. She even gifted you with a cupcake and card on your birthday. You admired and respected her.

“Some things I just know. And since we’re on the subject of noticing things, I notice you don’t seem like yourself today.” Giselle answered.

Giselle wore a white blouse and a tan pencil skirt which complimented her figure nicely. Her braids were a honey blond mixed with a small hint of brown that rested in a neat high bun. Her braids seemed to enhance her natural beauty. Her full lips were painted with dark red lipstick and she wore gold stud earrings.

“I’m just tired. I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.” you sighed while massaging your left temple.

“Can I be frank with you?” Giselle questioned with an ever-growing smirk on her face.

“I’d rather you no-”

“You need a night out. Come hang out with me tonight. Please?” she begged.

“That’s not what I thought you were going to say.” you chuckled.

“Oh, I know. You thought I was going to say you need some d-”

“Giselle!” you whispered somewhat aggressively.

You watched Giselle cover her mouth and giggle to herself.

“Well, is that a yes or a yes?” she quizzed.

“It’s a yes.” you sighed.

“Good! I’ll give you all the information before you leave today,” she said before leaving your desk.

You looked over at your rose again. You weren’t sure if it was the lack of sleep or stress making you delirious, but your lifeless rose was in full bloom.

Giselle stepped outside to make a brief phone call.

“Mistress, it is done. I will have Marley tonight,” she said.

“Excellent. I trust you know what to do.” Marie responded.

“I know exactly what to do to bring Erik to you,” she answered before ending the call.

———–

*Three months prior*

Erik’s dreads messily rested on his forehead. One woman caught his eye in the sea of bodies that danced drunkenly in the club. He couldn’t describe her essence but it was powerful and alluring. He thought about how powerless she would look under him as he would relentlessly pound into her. Or how weak she would look limping out of his apartment. After minutes of contemplating, he decided to make his way to the upper level of the club to approach this nameless caramel beauty. He pulled his short dreads into a pony-tail as he walked up the steps. He licked his full lips and stood boldly in front of her.

The woman looked Erik up and down and smirked before biting her lip. She raised her glass to him and started walking away.

“Aye, ma where you going? Don’t act like you haven’t been eyeing me all night,” he yelled.

The woman looked back at him and stroked her long blond braids.

“Do you usually flatter yourself to get women?” she questioned.

“You right, lemme start over. I’m Erik and you beautiful?” he asked while rubbing his thumb over her arm.

The woman watched Erik caress her arm and pulled it back swiftly. In one touch alone, she felt a great sense of loss and darkness. She looked into his dark brown eyes and received confirmation. She found Erik Stevens who is now known as the “One Who Consumes Life.” So far, he has ruthlessly killed 12 witches in the last month.

“I think you are well aware of who I am.” she spat.

“You mean what you are? I know, I could smell you from across the room. You reek of power but that’s not what I’m here for.” he said while eyeing her body.

The woman snapped her fingers swiftly and the entire club became still. Everything that resided in the club was totally under her influence except for Erik who stood in front of her. She leaned into Erik and reached for the back of his neck to bring her lips to his ear.

“GiGi. Short for Giselle and you should know I don’t fear you,” she whispered in his ear.

Erik chuckled and grabbed her by the neck giving it a firm squeeze.

“Be good,” he said while throwing her against the wall.

She giggled and took his hand off of her neck and inserted two of his fingers into her mouth and sucked them sensually.

“Yo, you’re crazy as fuck. You kinky b-”

“Witch.” she corrected.

“Now I have indulged you, how about you indulge me,” she said while magically forcing Erik into a chair. She tapped the hem of her dress three times before turning away from him. To her command, her dress unzipped and unraveled off of her flawless skin. Erik’s eyes now holding her bareback in his view. If only she would turn around he thought as he watched the dress puddle at her feet. Her long braids covered the curve of her ass making his mouth water. This is the kind of torture he wanted. That he needed.

“What do you want?” he questioned with wandering eyes.

She moved her honeyed color braids to the side showcasing her full ass.

“I want to know how to kill you. But first, I need to get to the person that you’re working for.”

She took a step closer to him and then another.

She kissed Erik’s lips softly and straddled him boldly. She grinded into his erection carelessly, fearlessly.

“I can’t be killed,” he whispered watching her wind into him. His eyes following the rhythm of her hips.

“Maybe not. But you can be freed,” she said while kissing on his neck.

She fed off of his arousal. With each touch, kiss, rub, and lick she gathered more information. The saying is true, actions do speak louder than words. She decided to free him from her spell so he could engage more deeply. She was almost there, she just had to dig a little deeper.

“Freed?” he asked while cupping her ass and smacking it.

“Don’t be fucking with me,” he warned as his eyes turned pitch black.

“Enter me, and I’ll tell you everything you need to know,” she said slyly.

Erik did just that. He slammed into her like a crashing wave against the shore. He felt his dick drowning in her tidal waves. Her screams were purely sinful which complemented his devilish grunts. Erik had a plan of his own. He wanted Giselle to read him. He wanted her to see everything. He didn’t know why and he couldn’t explain it. He looked at her and saw hope. It wasn’t her attraction or her power that pulled him in. But her light.

Giselle grabbed a hold of his face and looked at him with satisfaction.

“Ah, now I understand,” she said breathlessly.

“What you see?” he asked.

“The daughter of the Great Mother and that she’s coming back for her son. There’s a great spell on you Erik. It is blocking you from seeing the full truth. I will find her so you can be free. But you must do one thing for me.” she said while caressing his face.

“I don’t trust you. I just wanted to fuck you. I did that.” he said while pushing her off of his lap.

Giselle snickered.

“I think it’s me that did the fucking,” she said.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he said while pulling a knife out of the sleeve of his shirt and pointing it at her.

“Marley is such a pretty name.” she spat.

Erik lodged at her aiming for her throat. Giselle quickly moved to the side and dodged every jab and punch that he threw at her. She laughed at his feeble attempts and smiled at him tauntingly. She clapped her hands three times and the party resumed. Time was no longer frozen in the club.

Giselle used her magic and pulled the blade from Erik’s hand. She forced the knife into his side secretly as others crowded their space with drunken laughter and sensual swaying bodies.

“She is your salvation. Your freedom. You’ll see in time. Oh! And before I forget, this is for my fallen sisters and brothers. I hope it stings like a witch.” she said while twisting the knife into his flesh.

Giselle danced her way into the crowd and blew a kiss to Erik who was left crouched down on the floor. He pulled the knife from his side and tossed it on the floor. Erik realized that it had been 6 months too long. Maybe Giselle was right? Maybe Marley is the key to it all or maybe she was just a crazy bitch. Erik stood slowly planting both feet on the floor firmly. Either way, it was time for him to see her. It was time for him to open his red door.

Giselle left the club knowing everything. Erik Stevens was the son of death and life making him the most powerful being to ever walk the earth. The spell on Erik was great but she knew something greater. The love that Erik had for Marley. Marley is the key to unlocking Erik’s true power, his true destiny. In an appointed time, she will fuel him to end the Sons of Feu (fire).

“Marley here I come baby,” she whispered to herself.