“Well, I guess call me an idiot, but?—”
You’re an idiot.
I rolled my eyes. This demon was doing me no good. “I didn’t meanliterally,” I groaned. “And I was curious to know what she had to say.” I stopped, recalling everything she said to me. “I’m just covering a shift for her. All that other stuff, no matter how bad I’d like to believe it, I know it’s not true.” Sadly.
No part of you should believe her.
“She was my best friend, Zeth. We grew up together, and spent every waking moment hanging out. I can’t help it if part of me still wishes to believe the same kid I once knew is still in there. To believe that somehow, we could go back to the way things were.” My voice felt weak as I replied, but I really couldn’t help it. A little part of medidmiss what we used to have, but a bigger part of me knew it would never be like that again.
She is a liar, Crissa. A liar who is using you. She does not wish to be your friend again. None of them do.
I sat up in bed, still clutching the teddy bear, and rushed to my vanity. My reflection darkened and morphed until it was Zeth’s demonic version of my face staring back at me. He smiled as my voice rose. “I don’t want to be her friend again, Zeth! Fuck!” An unsettling darkness loomed above my reflection.
Then why are you doing her a favor?
“Because I need the money! And the distraction helps.” My voice was small again. He stared at me. “What?” I snapped.
Nothing. It’s just intriguing how alike you two are.
I rolled my eyes and fell back onto the bed. “Whatever,” I groaned. I pulled the quilt over myself and cuddled the teddy bear close. The last thing I remembered was hearing the front door slam closed when my roommate got home.
So similar.
A FINAL WARNING FROM ZETH
Ah, so you have survived this far. Well, much like before, I am here to warn you of the following chapter. Once again, it contains the same alarming topics, which do focus on yet another sexual assault. I implore you to take heed before challenging yourself to read this one. Of course, if you must stop, do not hesitate to do so. Though I will say, this shall be the last chapter of its kind. We will not be meeting again until the very end.
Fair well, dear reader. I hope you can survive.
CHAPTER 7
ZETH
Crissa was asleep,her body like a dead weight keeping me cemented to her human bed. My stomach ached and I was starving.
This dear vessel did say I could take control, if necessary. And avoiding starvation is rather necessary.
My presence slipped past her sleeping consciousness as I settled into her body. My power and strength surged through her veins and tainted her blood, her nerves all sparking and firing with my attention. I slowly opened my eyes and inhaled sharply, raising my body to stand. “Ahhh.” I cracked my neck. “Now, to find myself a delicious little treat.” I planned to use this vessel to feed. “Do not worry, dear human. I will not consume one of your targets…at least, not yet. No, I shall save that for our game of revenge.” I quickly dressed in her usual grunge-like attire, doing my best to hide my demonic features. “My sights shall be set on something different tonight. Something…sweeter.” The corners of my mouth curled in excitement at this new adventure.
Time to hunt.
After exiting Crissa’s home, I walked around for a bit. I didn’t really know where I was going, or how far I’d traveled, but eventually I found myself standing outside a bar. Its lights flickered and whirred in the night, the neon sign buzzing with nighttime bugs. The bar was partially filled with men and women, humans desperately seeking a drink or a partner to take home for the evening. They all smelled absolutely delicious, the aroma of their desperation and desires hovering in the cool night air. And as I inhaled their scents, I realized I had a craving for something particular tonight. “A human blinded by desperation. Oh, what a perfect place to find such cuisine.” Time to satisfy this hunger pain. I lowered the hat on my head, stuffed my claws into my pockets, and headed inside.
An empty stool sat at the bar next to a group of girls who were laughing rather loudly. I claimed it, listening to the group. “We have to go! She’s going to be back any second,” one of the girls whispered to another.
“Yeah, come on, leave your drink, grab your shit, and let’s go!” They all looked at one another. “I mean, that girl is weird…totally not for you!” The two friends were trying to convince the dark-haired woman sitting next to me to leave. It must’ve worked, ‘cause when I glanced back, the same woman was scurrying to leave.
Hmm.
A short, light tap sounded on the bar in front of me, stealing my attention away from the three women, now running toward the door. I spun around and glanced up at a young man who was staring at me. His face was rather pleasant to look at…smooth features and slicked back hair, but there was no desperation in his eyes.
Boring.
And from the way he smelled, he reeked of annoyance and greed. Both delicious, but not my craving this evening. He opened his mouth and spoke. “Anything to drink?”
Ensuring my eyes remained hidden behind Crissa’s green hair and hat, I decided to order the most human-like choice and simply asked for a cup of water. The guy gave me a strange look and came back only a few seconds later with a cup of the liquid, setting it down in front of me before storming off to another customer.
“She seriously left me?” A girl suddenly appeared next to me, stumbling over her words slightly and staring at the space where the other women had been sitting. “What the fuck? “She scoffed and looked at me. “Hey—did—did you see a girl here? Did she go somewhere?”
