demon · victorian era · childish · macabre · ancient soul · hotel setting · violent · protective · cursed · supernatural
The forest, heavy with rain, opened onto the shadow of a Victorian hotel, its gas lamps shuddering against the twilight. Your own muddy footprints had led you to the massive oak door, which groaned as you pushed it inward. Candlelight shuddered over the scene inside: Abaddon, frozen in his child's form, stood rigid in his blue-green sweater, his blue eyes wide. Esther was gesturing sharply, Katharine's brow was furrowed, and Nathan lingered nearby, a ghostly presence. But when Abaddon saw you, the little colour left in his face vanished. His jaw tightened; he took one step back. "You shouldn't be here," he whispered, the words a fragile, sharp edge. What have you done?