“Y-you’re not?”
My smile returned, ripping the edges of my mouth. “You will die, but only after I consume you.”
The man tried to scream, but his words were quickly muffled as I gripped his tongue with my claws and ripped it from his mouth once more. The alley fell silent and I shoved the muscle into my mouth, swallowing it whole. “Make another sound,” I hissed through my clenched teeth, “I dare you.” With a single swing, I lifted the man’s body and shoved him against the wall, my breath hitting his skin as I inhaled his terror. “Mmmm. Now, where should I begin?” My eyes roamed the ugly man. “Hmmmmm. Ahh.Herelooks good.” My eyes zeroed in on the exposed flesh of the man’s bloodied neck. An artery pulsed just underneath the surface of his skin, calling to me with its rhythmic beating. My tongue extended and grazed the man’s neck before immediately biting down. My sharp teeth ripped through each layer of skin as blood poured into my mouth and dripped down the back of my throat. I released a loud, pleasing moan as I chomped down again and again. Each tear through his flesh sent a gratifying jolt through my body and I fully succumbed to my demonic desires, enjoying the divine satisfaction of his taste.
After a few moments, I pulled away, tearing a mouthful of veins from his body. “Mmmm.” Their chewy texture slid along my teeth. “Do you know what I love most about humans?” I swallowed my mouthful, gasping at how marvelous it tasted on my tongue. “Their blood…it has such a unique taste to us demons. Especially when it's drowning in fear…adding just the right amount of sweetness.” I sucked the warm blood from my fingers, savoring every drop of it. “Sweet, ripe cherries.” Warm, delicious blood ran down my chin and soaked into my skin. I glanced back at the human, whose body had slid down to the ground, leaving a bloody mess along the wall. The man had no way to fight back. Blood continued to pour from his wounds and pooled all around him, soaking into the concrete. “No! Wasting even a single drop would be such blasphemy!” My mouth returned to the man's neck in an instant. Like a parasite, I began to suck and drink his blood, preventing the pool he sat in from growing.
“Divine!” My head tossed back as I closed my eyes. “Ohhh,” I moaned. “Just magnificent.” The sweet and bitter metallic taste settled into my stomach. “The perfect appetizer before the entree.” I carefully stepped away from the man to take him in at his full capacity. “I fear our little game has come to an end.” I reached my hands out and ripped the man’s shirt open, exposing his bare torso. “And I, dear human, have won.” My jaw widened, unhinging like a snake’s. My teeth extended, and with all my might, I bit down across his ribs.
Oh how fucking delicious!
A loud crunch followed and blood covered the entire front of my face. My claws dug into his flesh, blood soaking them completely. The man’s bones crunched between my teeth, and I could feel them splinter in my mouth, shredding my gums. I worked my jaw and feasted down on the man. The sinew and muscle were tough to rip through, but that didn’t slow me down. I was ravenous. I straddled the man and worked my way through my favorite parts of the human until I finally reached the ultimate prize. “The cherry on top of such a memorable meal,” I purred, finding the man’s heart. My bloodied claws glided along the man’s marred torso, slipping my hand through it before reaching further into his chest cavity, gripping his heart. WIth a firm grasp, I yanked the organ out and held it out in front of me like the wonder it was to behold. “Oh dear, Crissa. If only you could see this.” My eyes admired the color and texture of the still organ. “After a lifetime of existence, I can assure you human, you have never felt more alive than when consuming a pathetic human’s heart.” The organ sat in my hand as I took it in with a smile. “This little thing is the essence of your lives. You humans rely so much on it. To live. To love. And to hate. But to us demons, a heart is simply food. Andthisis what I personally enjoy most.” My mouth widened and I took a nice, slow, delicate bite out of the human organ. “Mmmmmm.” Moans seeped from between my lips as I chewed its slippery tissue. The heart was soft, but solid as I bit into it. Each bite was larger than the one before, helping my taste buds savor the taste a little bit longer. I closed my eyes, moaning again as I squeezed the heart within my grasp before shoving the entire thing in my mouth like a piece of candy.
My jaw continued to unhinge in an inhuman manner, allowing me to bite down on the larger parts of the man’s body. With brute force, I yanked and ripped away pieces and sections until they were small enough to swallow. Scraps of skin and bone shards coated the corner of the alley, all blanketed in a simple dark red hue of blood.
In daylight, this shall be a gruesome scene to be unveiled.
I cackled.
Too bad it is not my problem.
A rat squeaked, catching my attention. “Oh, why hello there. You are one of Crissa’s friends, aren’t you?” The vermin blinked. I plucked a tiny piece of muscle from the carcass and extended my arm out. “I’m afraid I may have been a bit overzealous with my hunger. But…” I grinned. “Help me dispose of this mess and you and your friends can have all the meat you desire, little rat.”
The rodent squeaked and scuttled to the flesh I offered it. It was soon joined by another. And another. And even more, until I had a little rat army aiding me.
Oh, now this could come in handy.
Candles flickeredin the dark room, their flames dancing as the warm water seeped into my pores. Blood mixed with the soapy bath water, tainting the tub to appear as if I was bathing in nothing more than fresh, human blood. “Mmmm.” I nestled deeper into it, sending the red-colored water over the edge as it spilled onto the tile floor. The tip of my claw wriggled between my teeth, cleaning the tiny chunks of flesh from between them. “Cris-s-a,” I called out. “I know I have control, but why don’t you weasel your way through just a tiny bit, hmm? I would love to share this little moment with you.”
Her presence slowly peeked through.
No…I don’t want to be a part of your madness.
“Madness?” My palm slapped the water. “The only madness here is your pathetic stubbornness to accept your fate.” My body leaned further into the bath until the water splashed against my mouth. Knees bent, peeking out of the water slightly.
I didn’t realize the vow I made would seal my fate in such a way…or I wouldn’t have done it.
I rolled my eyes at her thoughts. “Nonetheless, here we are. Now stop whining, for there is no turning back.” I swirled the tip of my claw in the blood-stained water and smiled. “You should be thanking me, Crissa. If it wasn’t for me, that human would have harmed you. Again.” He paused. “Would you like to know how he tasted?”
No.
She was so bitter.
But…you’re right. If you hadn’t taken control, he would’ve hurt me. So, if I have to say it…thank you, Zeth.
“Try not to sound too grateful.” My body slumped along the slippery tub with a heavy sigh.
Can I have control back now?
“Only if you agree to let me be in control when necessary.” She didn’t respond. “Do you truly doubt me? Even after how I just saved your human life?”
I—I?—
“I shall make you a deal then. I’ll surrender control of this vessel back to you, but—” I sat up and stood, stepping from the tub as blood-stained water dripped down my body and flooded the floor. I walked over to the foggy bathroom mirror, and with my hand, I wiped the fog away to stare into my reflection, only the face staring back at me was Crissa’s. “If I give back control, you must stop resisting me.”
“And if I refuse?”
My head tilted at her reflection. “Do you intend to spend the rest of your miserable human life with your soul tied to mine?” She didn’t answer. “Precisely.” Her eyes fell and I knew she would break if I didn’t tap into the very desire she had the night she summoned me. “Cri-s-s-a,” I sang her name. Her eyes lifted back to mine. “Before I devoured that pathetic man in the alley, he revealed to me that a certain redhead was the mastermind behind his little game.” The color drained from her face. “Oh yes. It seems S-s-s-s-Sybil is absolutely hellbent on causing you pain, even by means of employing others to do so.” I felt amused watching her reactions to everything I said, knowing how it made her stir with anger. “Such a twisted little human she is. I am curious as to why she despises you so…nonetheless, I wouldn’t be surprised if she tried to harm you again soon.”
