Crissa’s eyes began to water. “Of course she wants to hurt me…she—she hates me. She fucking hates me! And I’ve never done anything to her!” Tears rolled down her flushed cheeks as she continued to cry. “I’ve never done a single fucking thing to her and she just up and decided it would be so much fun to make my life hell!”
My palm pressed against the glass. “If you agree to allow me to take control at my discretion, then I will ensure she doesn’t harm a single hair on your head, dear Crissa.”
Crissa’s reflection glared back at me. I could see the wheels turning in her skull. “If I agree, will you promise me something?” My brow lifted in curiosity. “Unless it’s absolutely necessary, like tonight, I stay in control. You can watch or listen, whatever it is you do, but I remain in charge.”
I snarled. “Then you’ll never get your revenge.”
“I never said that.”
I didn’t answer.
“Swear it, Zeth.”
I wondered what new game the human was playing. “Fine. But if a moment arises and an opportunity for vengeance is before me, I shall take it. With or without your consent.”
Crissa pressed her hand against the glass, touching the reflection of mine. “Fine. But only if necessary.”
My grin returned. “Then I swear.”
Too bad demons never keep their word.
CHAPTER 5
ZETH
“You did well, little vermin.”My claw scraped along the blood-stained concrete, admiring how thoroughly the rats had discarded the man’s body I left behind. Aside from his mangled clothing and a stain that could be mistaken for anything, not even his bones remained. The rats had consumed him entirely. The edges of my lips raised. “Marvelous job.” The rat before me squeaked. “I can see why this human has taken such a liking to your kind.”
Maybe I should as well.
I stood up and sighed. “I guess there was no need to shield dear Crissa from seeing the remnants of my gruesome crime.” My tongue clicked. “What a pity, I was looking forward to snacking on some leftovers.” The rat’s ear twitched as we both heard a faint noise. “Oh?” I stepped into the dark corner and watched from the shadows as two humans stepped into the alley. One seemed familiar—a human I had noticed always hanging around this establishment and alley. He never bothered my human, but the other, well…she was far more interesting.
Oh my, now what do we have here?
My claw dug into the wall as my smile grew at the sight of her red hair. “S-s-s-Sybil,” I hissed from the shadows.
The two snuck into the alley and quietly spoke. I watched the woman slide the man a wad of what appeared to be money as he handed her back a small bag of white powder. She quickly stuffed it into her pocket and the two then parted ways. I waited for the man to leave before quietly slithering along the shadows to the end of the alley. I waited for the red-haired woman to gain some distance and began to stalk my prey.
What Crissa doesn’t know won’t harm her. Besides, when will I ever get such an opportunity again.
My stomach growled from my growing hunger. The simple thought of revenge made it ache. Humans were my favorite meal, but their fear and the taste of glorified vengeance were the sweetest of them all. This woman was a dish I simply couldn't resist. I’d seen her through Crissa’s eyes, knew her voice and smell from her memories. She was consumed with evil, but what enticed me most was the faintest hint of fear the woman kept hidden. It had the weakest scent, but it was there. And now, I needed to taste her for myself. “Soon,” I whispered to myself. Sybil stopped just ahead and turned around. I tucked myself into the shadows before she could see me. She glanced around for a moment before turning back and resumed walking. I pulled the hood of Crissa’s sweatshirt up over my head and waited a few minutes before following her again.
Thank goodness it’s nightfall, or I wouldn’t be able to follow you in this form.
The red-haired woman walked a ways away from where I found her, ducking behind buildings and crossing streets until she ended up in what appeared to be a trailer park. A rather rundown one at that. It smelled of cat piss and motor oil and was blanketed in piles of trash. “One can only imagine how much worse this place would seem in the daylight,” I muttered to myself. I continued to follow the red-haired woman from a distance.
Of the six street lights I could see, two of them were working properly, and a third flashed like a strobe light. It was just after midnight and yet very few lights were on in homes in the crowded lot. “Interesting,” I purred. The white sneakers I wore lightly crunched on gravel as I slowly stepped by each trailer, curiously peeking in through the open curtains. Most of the homes seemed oddly silent. Their televisions played static channels while others were dark. Very few were even awake at such an hour and there was silence in most.
It would seem most of the humans here are asleep for the night. How perfect.
I continued to follow Sybil’s faint scent that lingered in the night air, allowing me to track her.
After turning down a few more rows of trailers, a screen door whipped open in the near distance. A busty blonde woman stumbled out, falling to her knees into the gravel with a loud groan. I quickly ducked between two trailers and hid in the shadows along an overflowing trash can that reeked of a dead animal.
Now who are you?
I tucked my green hair into the hood of my jacket and observed the human.
“You stupid fucking bitch! Can’t even fucking walk! What the fuck is wrong with you?” A tall, string bean of a man threw a can at the woman as she crawled to the edge of the road. He ran after her, leaning down as he gripped her arm and tried to lift her up. “Get up, Candice! I swear to?—”
