“It’s too late.” My head fell forward as I whispered the demon’s name. “Zeth.”
Finally.
CHAPTER 9
ZETH
Lightning cracked,followed by a loud boom of thunder outside, causing the entire pizzeria’s power to flicker as I took control of my vessel, settling into her nerves and limbs, feeling her blood taint with my darkness while her soul withered into itself. I could taste her blood on my tongue, sucking it through my sharp teeth before slowly building an eerie cackle from deep within my throat.
“Wh–what’s happening?” the woman before me shouted, stepping back in fear as the other humans began to panic. “Crissa?”
My laughter grew in both volume and depth, rippling through the room. Without so much as moving a muscle, I used my power to slam the door shut, locking everyone inside with me.
“What the hell is going on?!” One of the men with two-toned hair shouted, clinging to his carbon copy. “Is this part of the prank?”
My voice shot through the room. “Prank?!” And then the entire pizzeria suddenly fell back into absolute darkness, leaving only the single beam of the flashlight at my bloodied feet. One of the women picked it up and aimed it at my face.
Blood soaked strands of shaggy green hair hung in front of my eyes as the human’s blood dripped from my nose and mouth, landing onto my lap. The pain my vessel had endured was impressive, considering how weak she’d always been. It made me laugh to think about it.
S-s-s-s-s-s-Sy-b-i-l-l-l-l-l,” I hissed, lifting my head faintly until I could see their faces. The red-haired woman stared at me in horror, holding the flashlight with trembling hands. “Oh, I have been waiting for this moment for alongtime.” My smile grew large and unnatural, pulling at my cracking lips.
Sybil stepped closer, wary of her distance, and bent down to look at me. As her eyes met mine, she fell back onto her backside with a loud, gasping cry. “What the hell? What’s wrong with your face?!”
My head shot back with a deep inhale, morphing into another loud laugh. “Oh, Sybil!” I cackled. “For someone who plays such a tough little black widow, you sure doreekof pathetic desperation!” I licked my lips. “Mmm. So much fear in this room.” The larger male helped her to her feet as she clung to him. My neck cracked to the side as I settled the last bit of my being into this vessel’s bones. “Ohh, I recognize your scent.”
The man made a face. “What the hell is this, Crissa?” he asked.
A low, vibrating purr shuddered in my throat as I slowly tilted my head and grinned at him. “Mon–tey.” I bit down on the syllables of his name. “Mmm, you have an intriguing scent of your own…there is something rather peculiar lingering inside your soul.” I inhaled again, recognizing the smell. “Oh, yes. You’re filled with regret. Must be from settling for the black widow over your poor, innocent little Crissa.”
Montey made a face. “That’s enough, Crissa. Whatever the fuck this is—you need to knock it off, okay? It’s not funny.”
My head tilted in the opposite direction. “Dear Crissa isn’t here right now. But I dare disagree as this isextremelyentertaining for me.” The humans all looked at one another, then back at me, confused. “Now, which one of you shall I hunt down first, hmm?” My eyes moved across their faces, inhaling the immense flavors of their feelings. “So many options! How ever shall I choose!” I took another deep inhale, focusing on their emotions. “We have the red-haired cunt whose own parents despise her, a fitting choice as you are ripe with desperation, my dear.” Sybil’s eyes widened at my truthful insult. “The broad but stupid man-child who regrets every aspect of his life, yet is still too whipped to use his brain. And even more pathetic…you don’t even like the woman you chose.” Montey stared in disbelief. “What’s wrong, big boy? Having buyer’s remorse?” I cackled while my eyes moved to the other woman. “Butyou,” I purred. “You are an intriguing little treat.” I stared at the blue-eyed woman standing straight ahead of me. “Lavender,” I sang her name. Before I could say anything else, movement to my right caught my attention. My eyes shot to the cocky human known as Token. “Andyou!” He froze at my voice. “Such a big strong man with those thick, meaty arms.” I licked my lips. “Too bad that is all you have to offer. Unlike your twin.” My focus shifted to his brother. “You always were the more sensitive one, weren’t you, little Ryder. Unlike your brother. Tell me, does he know you share the same feelings towards a certain flower-named friend?” His face drained of color as Token shot a look at him, the two then looking at their friend Lavender. It made me giggle.
“Hey, freak.” My head snapped sharply toward Sybil. She was now walking near me, unamused and annoyed. “Take off that stupid mask. Whatever this fucking is, it’s not funny.”
My grin stretched even higher. “Mask?” My head snapped aggressively to one side, my neck cracking slightly. “Does my face truly frighten you so?”
She scoffed and rushed me, gripping a handful of my hair, tugging as if to peel it from my head. “Ugh! It’s not coming off!”
“Pull harder,” Token shouted.
“I am!” she strained.
I cackled at her attempts, ripping my left arm free from the duct tape and snatching her arm. I pulled her close, listening to her loud gasp as her hair tickled my face. My claws dug into her skin as the lights flickered back to life and her eyes widened.
“No,” she breathed. “It’s…it’s not a mask.”
The lights shot to life as the pizzeria lit up and the carnival-like music played through the speakers above. I leaned in close to the woman, licking her cheek as she remained frozen in absolute terror. “Oh, I am very much real,” I purred.
My mouth widened and before Sybil could react, my teeth gripped the edge of her ear, ripping it clean from her skull as she lunged away from me, crying out in pain. Her friends all huddled together in horror at the vision of me chewing on the flimsy tissue while her blood dripped down my chin. “Mmm. How delicious.” I moaned before swallowing her ear. My fingertips glided along my chin to my mouth, and I licked them clean, sucking her blood from my flesh. “Now, who’s next?”
As my eyes narrowed towards the group, they began to panic. Lavender cried silently as the twins enveloped her and Montey comforted his whore. “Crissa.” Montey spoke, clutching Sybil close while she clasped her holey head. “What the hell is going on”
My right arm rose, ripping the duct tape as I freed my limb. “Isn’t it obvious?” I ripped my legs free from the chair and stood, cracking my neck and stretching my limbs. “Your dear Crissa is no longer with us. And now that she is gone...” I grinned. “I get to play with my food however I see fit.” A low growl began to build in my chest. “So…which of you would like to die first?” They stared in disbelief, still perplexed by what was happening. “Oh! But a fair warning…none of your deaths will be swift or easy. I shall make sure of it.” My focus moved along their faces, settling on the older of the twins, already bleeding. My arm raised as I pointed my claw in his direction. “You die first, big boy.”
“Like hell?—”
A loud bang hit the door of the old party room, catching all our focus. The sound repeated again and again until the door bursted open, followed by a barreling old man. He fumbled into the room, holding a weapon. “That’s enough, Crissa!” He raised his weapon and glared at me from the doorway. “I don’t know what’s going on, but you need to step back.”
