Chapter 5
Chapter
Five
CELESTE
Celeste paced the length of her room.
She’d gotten careless. Waiting too long between feedings made her reckless, luring prey out in the open, where she’d failed to scan the premises.
The hunger pushed her, made her hyper-focus on the tasty morsel in her grasp and not the faint scent of root beer lingering in the air.
When the meal was done and she’d pulled her human mask back on, the scent remained, mixed with something heady and bittersweet that made her mouth water anew.
The reaction hadn’t stopped there. A sensation of sparks cascaded through her bloodstream, making her buzz inside her human skin.
Bewildered by her reaction to it, she’d left instead of eliminating potential witnesses.
Why was the little morsel there? Hadn’t Daphne left to bathe?
That is what she’d told Celeste she planned to do.
And what was that delectable scent beneath the syrupy chemical odor of the soda that teased and tantalized? The pacing continued.
She usually enjoyed moving in her human form.
There was an unexpected grace to human bodies at odds with their gangly limbs.
Celeste enjoyed the way her human thighs rubbed together with each step, the subtle shift and dimple of her buttocks and bounce of her breasts.
Other humans enjoyed watching her move too, with and without coverings.
She used that interest for feeding, luring prey in with her looks and pheromones.
Usually by the time they were hooked by her scent, their brain chemistry shifted.
They worshipped at her feet, and like a Goddess of ancient times, she took her tithe in flesh.
Her real body broke their minds. She gobbled down their adoration alongside their flesh but the more she fed, the more curious she became of those initial reactions to her human form.
In the decades she’d lingered on this rock and the countless observations she’d made of the act, Celeste had never had sex.
Why would she? They were her prey, and it seemed gauche to fuck her food source. And yet….
…And yet, she wondered if Daphne would find her human form pleasing.
Celeste slapped her hands over her face.
What was she thinking? Daphne had seen her feeding.
This campus had been her hunting ground for nearly two decades and now some crumb of a human caught her in the act.
Celeste was confident no one would believe the girl if she started raving about Celeste turning into a monster and eating people, but it would shift unwanted attention to her.
People would ask questions. They might remember Candace if Daphne got insistent.
Her proximity to the feeding meant Daphne would remember her.
She twisted her face into a scowl. Celeste liked it here! The coeds were plentiful, the location was secluded, and she enjoyed her classes. Why did she have to relocate? She was here first. Eliminating the little morsel was necessary if she wanted to stay.
Instead, Celeste slumped on the bed, curling up in her fluffy hot pink comforter.
Tomorrow, she’d tie up loose ends. Pulling her comforter over her head like a hood, she grabbed her remote from the bedside table and turned on an episode of Gossip Girl.
Tonight, she’d comfort-watch her favorite shows and sort her laundry.
The credits were rolling on the twelfth episode when someone tapped on her door.
Celeste paused while folding a cotton candy swirl blouse.
Frowning, she glanced at the clock. With her blackout curtains closed, she’d missed the rollover of the day.
It was now six in the morning, too early for classes and most of her fellow dorm mates to be up and about.
Maybe one of the girls on her floor was too hungover from the night before to realize they were knocking on the wrong door.
Carefully setting her blouse on the folded pile, Celeste went to open her door and froze. Daphne stood right there, in grabbing distance. Her free hand twitched against her thigh. The morsel’s gaze flickered over her form before settling on her face.
“Good morning,” she said, her voice huskier than the night before.
Grab her. Pull her inside. Snap her neck. Fix this. “Good morning yourself,” said Celeste, her voice an octave lower. What!?
Daphne tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, the gesture ridiculously adorable.
“Our dinner last night was rudely interrupted and, um…” She paused, her tongue darting out and across her bottom lip.
Celeste’s gaze snapped to the movement, studying the glossy saliva on her lower lip.
“I was wondering if you’d like to try again somewhere more private? Like my room? Tonight?”
Celeste blinked, catching up to the conversation. “You’re inviting me over to dinner.” Her prey inviting her in was a new one. How did she find this room in the first place? Had Daphne followed her last night?
Baffled, she stared at the morsel, watching the way she twisted her fingers together in front of her, feet scuffing on the hallway carpet. Adorable little movements, like a nervous bunny.
“What time?” Goodness, what would she wear?
“Eight tonight?” Daphne glanced up, a small crease marring her brow. “Do you have any allergies or dietary restrictions?”
Celeste snorted. She shouldn’t find the question so charming. “No. Though I can pay for my share of takeout—”
“No, I’m making you something,” said Daphne.
“Oh,” said Celeste. Her grip on the doorknob tightened. Perhaps she made a mistake and Daphne saw nothing. “That’s so sweet.”
The little snack grinned at her. “Well, I’ll see you tonight.” Daphne dropped her head down as she hurried away. There it was again, that heady, mouth-watering aroma. Celeste braced herself on the door frame, drawing it into her human lungs.
This turn of events made things easier. She should get rid of the girl, to be safe. Daphne was practically serving herself on a platter, so why was Celeste so curious about what bite-size intended to make her for dinner?