Grayson's Veil

Grayson stared at the scene in front of him, his mind not fully comprehending what had just happened. When the young woman turned her head to look at him, Grayson jerked his body back.

Her eyes were wide and unblinking without her eyelids, and her mouth was just badly stained teeth without her lips. All her hair had come off when she slipped out of her skin, making her look bald and naked. She made she teeth chatter quietly before bringing her attention back to the old man.

“What the Hell!” Grayson yelled crudely, stumbling back and falling onto his ass.

“Hush, Traveler,” the old man said while putting a finger up to his hood, “this part is very important.”

The old man turned to the young woman who was unnaturally still. She waited for him to do something, making Grayson gulp loudly at the intensity coming off her.

Putting down his pipe, the old man extended his boney fingers along the skin. They brushed it lightly, almost as if he was worried about ruining it with the tiniest touch.

Then, he roughly grabbed it with both hands and held it out in front of him.

The fire was dangerously close to the skin. The glow making it nearly translucent.

Grayson watched with morbid curiosity while the old man carefully inspected every inch of the skin.

The young woman did not move from her spot.

He could tell she was waiting for the old man’s approval.

Grinding his teeth together, Grayson made himself stand up and move to the fire. With his hand on the hilt again, his courage and pride were back.

“Explain yourself, old man!” Grayson barked.

But the sharpness of his tone did nothing to the old man’s attention. Instead, he seemed to have slowed down at a certain spot, making the woman next to him tense.

Ignoring Grayson, the old man’s hood turned toward the woman. “What is this?” he rasped out, pointing at something on the skin.

The woman’s teeth clenched together, her jaw muscles bunching up in tension.

She shook her head slightly, wincing from the exposed nerves being touched by the air.

“It is ruined! That’s what it is!” the old man spat, spittle flying through the hood at the young woman. She kept her head down as the skin was thrown at her.

“Go to the tent. You will be dealt with later,” The old man picked up his pipe again, dismissing the young woman.

The young woman made no move to grab the skin, her eyes staring off into nothing.

Standing up as if in a trance, the woman left her skin on the forest floor and walked into the tent.

The old man breathed out a puff of smoke, “terrible. Her skin was so flawless when I first saw her. So beautiful and smooth. Not a blemish. But she went and ruined it when she got it off her. She stretched the mouth too far open…”

Grayson tightened his grip on his sword and marginally widened his stance.

“Stretch marks were left around the mouth. Tsk, tsk. It will never look the same.” The old man went to take off his hood, “it will never look like my own skin.”

The hood fell back.

Grayson’s eyes widened in terror.

The old man’s face looked like it was half melted, falling off his bones. But he did not have bones. He had smooth face that was elongated, reminding Grayson of a deer head. There was no fur, just a black smooth out layer. It almost looked like a shell the way it shined.

There was a beady, green eye looking out at him, studying him.

“Surprised?” the old man rasped then let out a hollow laugh. The way the man talked drew Grayson’s attention to his jaw. It was short and his teeth jagged, the head hiding it until he spoke.

Grayson opened his mouth, then shut it with a loud snap.

A high-pitched screech replaced Grayson’s reluctance to answer. He looked toward the tent in concern, ready to charge into it to save the source.

The old man held out his arm. “Do not be stupid. Her fate was sealed the moment she stepped into my circle. Trying to save her will only result in your death.”

Grayson clenched his jaw but dropped his hands in acceptance. His main priority was Eleanor, not the woman whose fate was already in motion.

Deciding to sit across from the old man again, Grayson never took his eyes off the sagging skin.

“So, what are you?”

The old man smirked. “You cannot tell? I knew what you were the moment you stepped foot on my hidden path.”

Grayson’s eye furrowed in confusion but stayed silent.

“My name is Uphir, I am the demon physician of Hell.” With that, the old man stood and tore off the clothing and skin he was wearing.

Uphir was tall, his body black and sleek. He looked like he was wearing fancy armor that a high standing lord would give him. Sharp talons curved out his shoulders, elbows, and the back of his head, making Grayson wonder how he was able to hide them under the skin.

Eyebrows to his hairline, Grayson watched Uphir walk around the fire.

“Physician?”

Uphir stopped, considering his next words. “Doctor. I help heal the demons in Hell. More than a fulltime job, I might add.” His voice changed with his appearance. It was smoother, caring almost.

It was lulling Grayson into a false sense of security.

‘Do not fall for his innocent, caring tone. He is still a demon.’ Grayson’s demon spoke up.

Closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose, Grayson spoke. “I do not understand, none of what you say makes sense. What are you doing here on this side of the veil?”

Uphir walked over to one of the trees, skin hanging over the branches. He rubbed the slim off to expose a symbol that was carved into the trunk. If Grayson had to guess, it dealt with what the circle the demon physician mentioned earlier.

A small itch danced across his shoulders at the thought.

“I… like to study… humans and animals,” Uphir spoke slowly, as if trying to relay just enough information to satisfy Grayson’s inquisitiveness.

Grayson shook his head, standing up. “Not good enough,” he said while withdrawing his sword.

Uphir smirked, but tilted his head down at the threat. “I am up here studying so I can be a better physician. I take great pride in my life’s work.”

Brushing his finger’s on many of the skins and bones that hung from the trees, Uphir walked over to the tent. “I may not be the most vicious demon, but I am curious.”

Uphir opened the tent, motioning Grayson to follow.

“That is so much worse,” Grayson muttered as he walked over.

He paused just before the opening, still feeling an itch between his shoulder blades. He glanced at the demon physician one more time before disappearing into the tent.

The inside was made from nightmares.

It was larger than what the outside made it look like. There were pedestals of fire in each corner of the tent, causing a dark glow and smoky haze to fill the air.

There were seven long tables in the center of the tent. There were three humans strapped to them, one with its skin while the other two had none.

The one with the skin had his chest open, his ribs broken and flipped out to get a better view of the inside.

A Judas chair, a saw, and an Iron chair where all placed by one wall separately. Shadows danced on the torture devices, making them looking more menacingly than they already were.

Surprisingly, there was no blood anywhere. The grassy floor, the tables, and the torture devices were all free of the irony liquid. It was quite clean for the horror that was supposed to be an examination, it made Grayson pinch his lips together in confusion.

As disturbing as it was, it was just… too clean.

Shaking his head, Grayson realized he was way off task. He was there to grab an amulet so the rest of his journey was not plagued with complaints from his companions.

Personally, he thrived off surviving in Bragwen Forest.

“So…” Grayson began, watching Uphir walk over to the table that held the human with an open cavity. He reached into the cavity and squeezed something so harshly that a resounding squish reached Grayson’s ears.

“Tsk, tsk. Such a weak heart,” The demon physician mumbled before dropping the ruined heart back in, making it plop. He turned towards Grayson, waiting for him to speak.

“Why am I here?”

Uphir lowered his head so he could study Grayson. “You are the one who walked into my circle.” He pointed out.

Grayson rubbed the back of his neck in annoyance. “Yes but you are keeping me here instead of letting me go back to my task.”

Uphir smirked. “And what task it that? I could help you, in exchange for something I need.”

Huffing a dramatic sigh while rubbing his free hand over his face, Grayson closed his eyes, debating if he really needed this demon’s help.

‘This is for Eleanor. Think about Eleanor.’

He nodded in agreement then opened his eyes, waiting for the demon physician to name his price.

“In due time, traveler. What is your task?”

Grayson huffed in annoyance. “I am trying to find an amulet for a priest and a nun.”

Uphir stared at Grayson, then burst out in laughter. At least, it sounded like laughter. It was a hiss that came out in huffs, making the demon’s shoulder shake and hunch over.

After a moment of Grayson feeling uncomfortable at being laughed at, he finally spoke in a tight tone. “What is so funny?”

Shaking his head and straightening his back, Uphir finally regained his composure.

“A priest and nun. Sister Jane, I presume?”

Grayson lifted a brow but nodded.

“And the priest never gave you his name, did he?”

Grayson had to think back at their interaction, but he was right. The priest never mentioned his name once.

Grinding his teeth, he shook his head. He felt stupid at the deception. It never occurred to him to ask for the priest’s damn name, he just kept calling him priest.

Because that’s what he was. A sad, pathetic, desperate priest.

“I have to give credit where it is due, he is very good at deception. That priest has been able to stay under the radar for years by never giving his name, but he made one simple mistake.” Uphir held up one long claw, adding to his speech. “Can you think of what it could be?”

Grayson stared at the demon physician’s finger, concentrating on what he could mean.

Realization finally hit him hard enough that he brought his eyes to Uphir’s.

“Sister Jane,” Grayson whispered.

“Yesss,” Uphir hissed with a smile in his eyes. “Though they changed her name after the incident, he kept saying it in front of his flock. If you think about it, it is quite brilliant. He could easily throw her to the wolves then claim it was a different priest involved. No name, no attestation that the priest was a real person.”

Grayson could only stare at the demon physician. His anger started boiling inside his veins, the itch becoming violent between his shoulder blades.

But, he did not let his anger explode. Not at Uphir.

‘When we get back, I am killing that priest,’ Grayson thought making his inner demon chuckle with delight.

“Do not worry, Traveler, he will get his due in time. Now, let’s get you that amulet.”