Chapter 4 Eryx
ERYX
Feeling more foolish than I ever have in my life, I wait where the little human instructed me to.
Cloaked in shadow, in the alley across from the noisy tavern, I lie in wait.
It has begun snowing in earnest, and little white piles have built up atop my shoulders.
It’s the only indication of how long I’ve been waiting out here.
Not for the first time since I felt her summons tonight, I question exactly what I am doing. I am a fool.
If I had any sense at all, I’d turn from this tavern—this town, this woman—and never look back. Why would I agree to such an arrangement with what little time I have left?
I know the answer. It’s her—Nory—the small human with a bewitching face and delicious blood. Through the foggy tavern windows, I can just see her. She’s sitting at one of the long bar tables with a forgotten mug of ale in front of her.
The long tresses of her red hair match the maddening red gown she has on.
Indecent only because of the way it highlights her creamy skin.
I hadn’t understood her need to get it from her cottage, and yet I had waited outside for her to change like a dutiful servant before we made our way into town.
The window blurs most of her face, save for those bewitching green eyes.
Her movements are soft as she shyly looks around the bar. It is all an act. I’ve seen the defiance in her gaze—how she fights against her fear for what she wants.
I no longer scare her; that was made clear in the graveyard. It was a revelation to watch her lean into my touch and even more shocking when she reached for me of her own accord.
When was the last time someone willingly touched me? Never, if I had to guess. Nory is the first and, assuredly, the only one. I watch her intently through the window. Can she not tell just how badly the male patrons hunger after her?
I can hardly blame them. I too cannot resist the temptation she inspires within me.
She is mine—to protect, to serve for as long as I live in this between state—neither dead nor alive.
She makes me feel alive, though. As if I’m burning by the force of a thousand suns, my lust for her rages inside of me.
Just as it had raged inside the men I’ve drained all over the Snowlands. She had consumed each of their waking thoughts—a veritable siren of these forsaken lands. No one’s thoughts had been more depraved than the man I killed in front of her—something I would do a thousand times over.
It was a privilege to protect her. Even though I was a fool to reveal myself to her, I cannot regret doing so.
I was not strong enough to remain hidden, for she has bewitched me just as she has the others of this town.
Where she goes, I will helplessly follow.
That is why I will fulfill my promise to help her in exchange for her companionship.
Truth be told, I would’ve helped her had she not agreed, I am that powerless when it comes to her.
I cannot deny the pleasure I feel at her acceptance of my terms. It was a childish fantasy—but one I have held onto for years.
I am a solitary wanderer. The last of my kind was unwound decades ago.
The dark magic that stitches us all together had been severed, and each of their souls had been cast into the void, leaving behind husks where their bodies should be.
The same fate awaits me, with each day creeping closer.
I’ve felt my time dwindling for a while now.
My magic has weakened, and my hunger refuses to be satiated.
That is why this is my last chance to feel something other than hunger before it’s too late. I hadn’t expected her to be merciful and agree. Whoever it is we are helping must be dear to her. That or Nory is uncommonly kind and brave.
My eyes lock onto a figure that has come near her in the tavern.
I watch her posture change, still shy but more open, as if relieved to see this person.
He settles in across from her, and a smile tugs on her full lips.
Through the foggy glass, I can make out the tightness around her mouth.
It’s her only tell that this shy disposition is all an act.
Pulling my eyes away from Nory is no easy feat, but somehow I manage to.
I survey the man across from her. A glass of amber liquid is clenched in his meaty fist. His dark hair is pulled back in a low bun at the top of his neck.
His clothes are immaculate if a little worn at the knees—a cloak lined with gray wolf’s fur lounges on his shoulders.
The man is massive. His impressive chest rises and falls quickly. Even sitting down, he towers over Nory’s petite frame. The man’s gaze is burning with intensity. His dark eyes travel down her in one lustful stroke.
I cannot read minds word for word, but I can sense energies and intentions.
This man’s desire could not be more singularly focused.
The sight makes my teeth grind. While I cannot blame the other male, I do not like it.
I pray this is her target, and I will take great pleasure in ending his life between my jaws.
My eyes return to Nory, who giggles softly. The neckline of her scarlet gown pulls lower, highlighting the swells of her breasts. The man notices, licking his lips in earnest. He leans closer over the table and says something that causes her to blush into her mug of ale.
Nory nods to him once before rising gracefully and smoothing out the front of her gown.
She tucks a piece of her hair behind her ear before looking away.
The bashfulness is all an act. This pretend skittish creature would never summon a monster like me and demand my help.
This must be her plan—her ploy. Get this male to lower his guard enough to follow her wherever she wishes.
Then, at the right moment, I will act and end his sorry existence.
Slipping from the table, Nory smiles at him before nodding towards the door.
I watch as she takes her cloak and slides through the tavern door quietly.
Slowly, she begins walking over towards where I am hidden in the alley.
My eyes return to the man watching as he grins, downs the rest of his liquor in one gulp, and lurches to his feet.
The tavern door bangs open loudly as he pushes through it.
Nory’s sweet scent of roses reaches me, her eyes and mine connecting for a moment.
She opens her mouth, but before she can get a word out, the stench of alcohol blights her smell.
In an instant, the man has reached her, his hands wrapping around her waist and pulling her into him.
She gasps as he deftly backs her into the closest alley wall.
His head falls to her shoulder, inhaling greedily—lips moving against her flesh.
“I knew you always wanted me, knew it from the looks you’d give me around town. Don’t worry, no one will know. This will be our little secret,” the man slurs against her.
Nory’s face morphs into one of disgust as she pushes at his shoulder.
He is much larger than her—her resistance isn’t even registering.
My teeth grind together as his pale tongue licks up her throat in the same spot mine had—red mists over my vision, and my magic hums to life.
Nory’s eyes blaze as they lock with mine.
“Now,” she mouths, and I strike.
A snarl echoes in the quiet alley as I move on swift, silent feet.
My hands wrap around the man and pull him from her.
Even in his drunken state, the man has the good sense to look shocked.
He pushes against me, but it is useless.
He is my prey now, and I have him pinned to the wall in an instant.
My lifefire blazes inside of me, reaching an inferno.
I am burning everywhere, and I will channel it all into ending this man.
I snarl into his purpling face, my grip on his throat cutting off his air supply.
“You will die for touching her. For your vile actions and wretched life that has brought pain to all those around you, you will die alone and in fear.”
The scent of urine coats the air, and I chuckle darkly.
Unhinging my jaw, I let him see the monster I genuinely am.
All remaining color leeches from his face.
His fear tastes bitter, but the hunger inside of me doesn’t mind.
My teeth embed themselves in his throat and drink down his blood.
The sticky warmth is tangy—poisoned with his rotten soul.
The man struggles against me, but it is useless.
Especially when I bite into his neck and rip out his throat muscles, spitting the flesh onto the ground with a wet thud, he begins bleeding in earnest now.
Once the man goes limp in my grasp, I let his body fall onto the hard ground.
His eyes are open but unfocused. Blood coats the snowy grass beneath him.
My breathing is ragged as I take in the sight, the high from the feeding still coursing through my veins.
A gasp from behind me startles me into awareness. I whirl from the bloody sight and take in Nory. She has gone pale, her whole body trembling as she stares up at me. I clean my face with a tattered sleeve and prowl towards her. Unease dances in my stomach.
“I didn’t know I would feel like this,” Nory whimpers.
Her knees begin to buckle, but before she hits the ground, I catch her in my arms. I hold her close, absorbing her warmth and waiting for her to push me away.
“You made a pact with a death omen. If you regret our deal, tell me now, and this will be done.”
Of course, she would be disgusted by me. Now that she has seen what I am truly capable of, there is no possibility of her welcoming me into her bed, her heart. I was foolish to think otherwise. I wait for her rejection, hoping that it comes swiftly so that I may save a bit of my pride.
Scarlet lashes flutter atop her freckled cheeks. Her green eyes swirl with an emotion I’ve never seen before. Slowly, she reaches up, and her warm palm cradles my cheek.
“That is not what I meant,” she sighs. “I didn’t know watching him die would make me feel this…this happy.”
The world around me freezes. She licks her lower lip as her eyes unfocus.
“I liked watching him die. I shouldn’t admit that—but I did. He was a wretched man who hurt his wife and children. Who would’ve hurt me had you not been here.” Her hand on my cheek tightens. “I’m glad he’s gone. It makes me—it makes me want—”
“Yes?” My hand rests atop hers on my face, savoring her soft skin.
“To do it again,” she says finally.
The world around me spins, and for a moment, I believe I have already been unwound, and instead of the void, I have been granted the privilege of heaven.
Though even as I think that, I know it cannot be true.
The bitter air around me still swirls, as does the rasping air in my lungs.
Nory’s floral scent envelopes me with its sweetness.
I am still alive, and I thank my maker for their kindness.
The heat in Nory’s bright eyes is familiar to me, for it is the same desire I have in my gaze for her. Never in a dozen centuries would I ever consider her looking at me like this—with yearning. To have her want me—a wretched, disgusting creature—is a gift I am not worthy of.
That is why every day that I remain in this world, I will live for her in whatever capacity I can. If only to keep her looking at me like that.
“Tell me who's next. I’ll kill them all for you, I swear it.”
Nory’s pink lips transform into a wide smile—a real one this time, where no unease pinches the sides.
“One is more than enough for tonight,” she says. “I’ll need to choose our next target wisely.”
Her hand leaves my cheek to slide behind my neck. I groan as the supple curves of her body press into me. Her soft laugh is the sweetest music I have ever heard. Tucking herself firmly against me, her smile widens.
“Until then, take me home, Eryx.” Her lips press close to my ear. “It’s time for me to hold up my end of the bargain.”