A chilling freeze danced with the blackness in the air. The sound of a haunting siren sung from an ambulance passing by. The chatter of the bustling streets faded into an eery silence.

Ellis could feel his breath stop short.

“If you are here, show yourself.” Ellis’ voice shook as his eyes darted around, warily seeking for a movement amongst the darkness.

A creaking groan sounded but it didn’t feel as if it came from one direction. It didn’t feel as if it came from any direction. No. Ellis could hear it directly in his head. The urge to claw out his eyes and tear off his ears was hard to resist, but after a desperate cry, Ellie screamed the beast’s name.

“Lovodico!!” The groan stopped.

He was breathing heavily now, frantically looking for the creature he himself had summoned.

“Ellis,” it said like a whisper surfing among the waves. A shiver ran through Ellis’ bones.

“I- I summon you to be in my presence and do my will,” the boy of only 19 stuttered and Lovodico fed on his fear.

“I do not bend to the will of a feeble human,” it hissed back and Ellis shuddered as he felt something slimy and scaly brush past his arm.

“But it’s.. but it’s in the book. I summoned you. You have to obey me.” Lovodico could hear a slight desperation feed at his tone now, and it felt glorious.

“Do you know what my name means?” the voice slithered. “Lovodico. ‘Famous Warrior’. Do you think a famous warrior would bow to your needs, mortal?”

It could see the questions in Ellis’ eyes. Why had it come to Earth if it was not going to obey the human? What did it want?

“An invitation was all I needed to arrive. Honoured I once was, the greatest warrior in the land. Lovodico they would chant. But then they betrayed me, cast me out when my good no longer alined with theirs. Humans are toxic to the earth. A virus. A disease. And so I was banished to the void to stop me from acting upon my belief. I was discarded and forgotten. Until you.”

And then Ellis could see it’s eyes. White and piercing. They had a thousand emotions and experiences and desires hidden behind the blinding light. Fear struck Ellis to his spot, his breath caught in his throat.

“Thank you Ellis,” it said, the sly whisper swimming around his head and his body. “I can continue my mission. I will show them that what I am doing is good for all. I will be named Lovodico once again.”