Waiter from Nowhere

The light from the vial exploded outward, blinding Jay for a moment. When the light faded, he found himself standing in an empty void. The shadows had retreated, but there was no sense of peace. Instead, a new presence filled the air—a presence darker than anything Jay had felt before.

In the center of the void stood a figure, cloaked in black. Jay's heart skipped a beat as the figure slowly turned toward him. It was the demon, but there was something different about him. His eyes glowed with a malevolent light, and his form seemed to shimmer like smoke.

"So, you destroyed it," the demon said, his voice a low growl. "You've taken the first step toward embracing your fate, Jay."

Jay's chest tightened. "What do you mean? What is this place?"

"This is the realm between light and darkness," the demon replied. "The place where souls like yours are torn between the two forces. You have destroyed the Elixir's vessel, but that does not mean you are free. The darkness inside you is still there. And it will never let you go."

Jay's grip on the orb tightened. "I will control it. I will not become what you want me to be."

The demon laughed, a cold, cruel sound that sent a shiver down Jay's spine. "You cannot control it. It controls you. Just like it has controlled every soul that came before you."