When I finally get my hands on it, it lights up, showing three missed calls and at least a dozen texts from Isla.She’s going to kill me.Just as I think those words, my phone starts ringing again.
“Hiiii,” I sing out tentatively.
“Ughfinally!I’ve been calling you all night! Did you get sucked into a book again?”
Well, yes, but like literally. “Uhhh, yeah, you know how I get. I need to get through this manuscript by the end of the week.” Hopefully, that’ll be enough for her, and she can begin to tell me why she really called. I start meandering back to my drink and T.V. show while waiting for her to take over the conversation.
“You need to take a break from time to time, Bel. I worry about you,” she sighs before a long pause. “So,” she perks up, ready to launch into whatever has caught her attention this week, “I met someone special.”
“I just saw you the day before yesterday. How did you meet someone already?”
“Well, sometimes you meet someone and you justknowthey’re going to change your life!” she gushes, “You’re going to love him, I just know it. When can you meet him?”
I’m always hesitant to meet her paramours, as often as they come and go. Isla is the best person I know, just… with the absolute worst judgment. Every person she meets is someone special, and every time, it ends in heartbreak. “Well…”
“Belissenda, you will not ditch me on this,” she orders.
“I’m not… ditching. I’m just… Maybe you should get to know him before introducing him to your life, you know?” I aim for nonchalance, no doubt falling flat.
“Ughfine!Two weeks, then I’ll expect you to meet us for brunch,” I can almost see her pouting from here.
“Two weeks. Brunch. It’s a deal. I gotta go, babes. I’m exhausted.” Not technically a lie, even though I won’t be getting any sleep.
“Okay, love you!”
“Love you, too.”
All I want to do is bundle up under a blanket and zone out for a bit. So that’s exactly what I do. The laugh track of some rerun is my background music. It must work because eventually, I find myself dreaming of green eyes and golden skin with bulging veins, whispering filthy promises, calling me hisLittle Dove.
Those Are New
Caspian
Words cannot describe this new world I have entered. Though the closest ones might besmelly, loud,andbright. I hate to admit, even to myself, that I am unsure how to navigate this strange place. So much has changed in the past few centuries.
It would appear that mortals have certainly gotten over their fear of technology. Every person I see has a tiny, glowing box they seem to be glued to. They hardly even register that a monster is walking amongst them, and I idly wonder how those of my kind have acclimated to the 21st century.
As I walk and try to take in my new surroundings, I relish the memories of the night thus far.Bel.The way she said it has me thinking it must be a shortened version of her real name. Bel alone is so fitting; from the delightful bell shape of her hips to her tinkling, musical voice, everything about her sings to me.
But how did she summon me, and why couldn’t I harm her?She had even hurt me! The last time a simple mortal drew blood from me was ages ago, and they didn’t live to see their next breath. But this tiny little woman did.Why?
Although, if I’m being honest with myself, her living has made my return far more interesting.
Surely, someone has the answers. I just need to locate another demon who has lived all these years. As I walk, I wonder if an old friend is still around and where he might be. In the meantime, I’ll need to stay close to Bel. She won’t like it— well, if her body language was any indication, she’ll love it. But she won’tlikethat she loves it.
No, my sweet little sacrifice feels betrayed that her body gravitates toward me. She nearly grazed my antlers before she realized what she was doing. Had she stroked them, I could not have resisted her pull. Just being in her proximity, I couldn’t help but imagine how she’d clutch onto them as I buried my tongue between her full, soft thighs. I had no business thinking those wicked things about her. She was a vulgar, uncouth woman, and the last time I felt even a fraction of this aching need, it ended disastrously.
She allowed me to use her freezer for my spoils, though, truly, they were her own fault. Ihadwarned her not to run. But, oh, how I loved watching the shock and horror on her face, her big blue eyes filling with tears, that mouth dropping into a silent scream. And then she thought she could just slink away, but I couldn’t have that.
I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly she calmed herself when the damage was done. Even dripping blood, holding onto the fruits of my labor, she defied all logic andscoldedme for making a mess. Her quick temper and disallowance of disrespect had me nearly on my knees, begging for another taste of her ire. Perhaps all modern women were as fiery as this one, though I doubt it.
She seemed less afraid of my monstrous form than my mortal one, and that was a conundrum as well. Were those filthy tomes in her home responsible for that? Some of the… artwork was only vaguely humanoid. The crass language used within made it clear that this woman and those like her were only too willing to speak openly about such private things. In my time, women were not permitted to use such vulgarity or discuss the manner in which they chose to fornicate.
While I much prefer openness about the wonder of sexuality, it still may take some… adjusting. All of Bel’s bare, soft skin on display had me searching for any excuse to touch her. The smallest invitation would have sent the beast inside me into a frenzy, begging to feel her warm body wrapped around me.
I shake off the debased thoughts, focusing again on my goal.I’ve been wandering for nearly an hour now with no sign of another demon.Surely, they could not have been eradicated, but perhaps, in this modern world, it’s easier for them to hide. I wonder if the mortals would even look up long enough to notice a demon walking around their city.
That’s when I hear them.Sanctus Sculutis. That was fast.Rather than draw more attention to myself with so many witnesses around, I keep my stride steady, aiming for an alley up ahead.
