Chapter 10
ZETH
The ringing in my ears subsided as faded screams filled them. The humans all ran out of the room and into the pizzeria like the prey they were. “Oh, this is going to be so much fun!” I shouted, skipping around in a circle, waving the gun around. “Such a fun game!”
The storm raged outside, nearly muting the music that played statically over the speakers, setting the perfect mood.
“Mmm. Time to have myself a delicious five course meal,” I sang.
As I began walking out of the room, I saw a few of Crissa’s rats scampering around my feet.
“Perfect. You little vermin may be of use.” I stepped with purpose so that I didn’t stomp on any of the creatures.
My nose lifted, and with a large inhale, I caught the hint of blood.
My smile grew, knowing who it belonged to.
“There you are,” my words purred. Token’s scent was strong, beckoning me nearer.
I walked toward a knocked over table, stopping to observe the drops of his blood along the edge.
I ran my finger along it, bringing it to my lips before tasting it.
“Mmm. Such a clumsy oaf. He wouldn’t be falling about if his legs were as thick as those meaty arms of his!
” I licked my lips. “I can’t wait to sink my teeth into them! ”
A new, anxious aroma hit my nostrils, drawing my attention as I fell silent.
“Crissa? William? Hello?” A voice shot from the back of the pizzeria. “William? Hello?” The voice sounded familiar.
Who was that human before…she was the dried-up beauty queen who always stuck her nose in everyone’s business…hmmm. Oh yes, I remember. The voice belongs to Crissa’s superior. Tawny.
“Well, this just became a bit more interesting.” My head whipped in the other direction, catching the sounds of mumbled voices from behind a booth, shooshing one another.
“It appears an appetizer has arrived, lucky you.” I called over my shoulder.
I wasn’t as worried about hunting down the terrified humans, they would be easy prey.
But I did need to get this Tawny out of the way. Then, it was onto the others.
Properly ignoring the others, I slowly began walking toward the back of the pizzeria, taking my time, following the smell of the woman’s anxiety.
“Oh Taw-nyyy…” I sang, continuing my slow pursuit.
The gun felt clumsy in my bloodied, clawed fingers as I tried to get used to holding it.
Human weapons were so fickle and odd, and I much preferred a more hands on approach to my killings.
“I’ll come back for you,” I said before setting the weapon on the counter.
“Crissa?” The woman’s voice grew closer.
“Hello? Where are you? And why is there blood in the kitchen? Crissa!” Tawny busted through the back door to find me standing by the register.
I tilted my head at her inspection of me.
“Crissa—” she breathed in shock. “What the fuck is going on? Is that blood? Oh my god! Are–are you okay? Where’s William? ”
Thunder growled from the storm and I giggled at her question, reminiscing about the taste of the old man’s flesh, savoring the tissue bits of him left between my teeth.
Lightning cracked, illuminating my body more in its bright light.
The unnaturally large smile that graced my face, displaying my razor-sharp teeth, made Tawny take a step back.
“Oh, dear William. He did try his best.” I closed the distance between us, walking closer as my smile fell and I felt the drying blood crack on my painted face.
“But I think you—” I flicked her nose with the tip of my claw.
“You will try even harder than he did,” my voice rasped.
Tawny stared at me with confusion and disgust painted across her face.
The woman fluttered her eyelids, as if trying to clear her vision of me.
“What the hell are you talking about, Crissa? Where’s William?
He called me to say something about the power?
What happened?” Her eyes were scrutinizing as she continued to take in my appearance.
Surely trying to pinpoint everything that was different.
“Why are you all bloody? And what’s wrong with your face? ”
Now that was just rude.
An aggressive growl rippled through me. “You see, Taw-ny,” I emphasized her name. “Your dear Crissa isn’t here right now. I do like her vessel quite a lot, though, I think it suits me. Don’t you?” I did a quick spin while Tawny stared at me in shock. “Well. What do you think?”
“Crissa, what the fuck is going on?” Tawny’s voice was quieter now.
She was slowly backing away from me, as if trying to make her escape…
which I didn’t like. I was ravenously hungry, and my sights were set on her, my appetizer.
The scent of fear and anxiety had started to ripple off her body and fill the room, flooding my nostrils with wafts of her delightful aroma—I needed to consume her.
A little chitter sounded at my feet. My black soulless eyes glanced down and I saw a few of the little vermin seated near me. “Oh, my sweet friends.”
Tawny gasped. “We do have rats! I knew it,” she shouted. “Fucking filth—”
“Do not speak about them that way,” I scolded with a tilted snarl.
“These intriguing little creatures are far superior to you pathetic humans in every way. Besides...” I grinned.
“You shouldn’t be so worried about this wretched place…
once I’m through with you, they will be the least of your worries.
I can promise you that.” The woman looked at me completely gobsmacked.
It was annoying how simple minded she was, like most humans.
“To be frank, you’ll have no worries because you’ll be dead.
Oh, and I have the most splendid idea.” Turning my attention to my friends on the floor, I picked the few rodents up that had gathered around me.
They huddled together in my bloodied palms as I whispered to them.
“Dead? What the hell?” Tawny asked as she took another slow, calculated step backward toward the kitchen door. “Crissa, you—you need help.”
I glared at the woman while whispering to the rats some more. “You’re going to help me with this Tawny, just like you did that man in the alley.” The rats squeaked, accepting my command. “But try not to ruin her face. I have plans.”
“What the hell does that mean?” she asked as sweat rolled down her wrinkled face.
Releasing the rats back onto the counter beside me, I took similar measured steps toward Tawny.
“I don’t think I was speaking to you, Tawny.
As for what I said to them…” I smirked. “It is really none of your business. Not that any of it will matter in the end. What matters now is if you’re going to make this easy or hard. ”
“Easy or—what the hell are you even talking about? Crissa…you’re scaring me. Where is William?”
I raised my forearm to wipe Crissa’s blood from my nose.
Tawny stopped, her face drained of color as the storm crackled above. “What did you do?”
Taking a deep breath, I sighed. “Oh Tawny.” I then lunged at the woman with swiftness, moving quicker than she could. Thankfully, my vessel was small enough that the quick maneuvers were easy and had become my absolute favorite. Crissa was easily becoming one of my favorite possessions.
My clawed hand had gripped Tawny’s throat, allowing me to lift her off the ground.
The woman started gasping for air, digging her nails into my hand as if her weak little scratches would stop me.
“For the last time—” My voice had gone a bit deeper.
“Crissa isn’t here anymore. And as for your dear William…
” My mouth curled at the recent memory of his taste.
“Well, your dear security guard was quite delicious.” Her eyes widened at my words.
“He was drenched in fear, the taste of it soaking into his organs creating such a spectacular flavor. But when I consumed his heart, he had the faintest hint of longing hidden beneath it all. Strange really. Perhaps he harbored some unrequited feelings?” My head tilted.
“Oh, how scandalous! Do you think they might have been for you, Taw-ny? Hmm? Did you and old William ever get a little cheeky after hours?” She desperately thrashed as I held her higher in the air.
She kept scratching at my arm, her mouth gaping as she tried to speak, but my grip on her throat silenced her voice.
“Oh, what was that?” I mocked. “I can’t hear you.
” I slammed her to the ground, the motion so quick and the force so intense, that my claws ripped away at her throat as she hit the floor.
Tawny coughed hysterically, blood dripping from her sliced neck as she gasped and tried to speak.
“You—you’re sick!” The woman wheezed. “If you’re not Crissa—” She coughed, rolling to her hands and knees.
“Then where is she? And what the hell is going on?” Tears rolled down the woman’s wrinkled face, her reddened eyes glaring up at me, waiting for some kind of explanation, but I gave none.
“Fuck,” she breathed, crawling backward behind the counter.
My eyes followed her, amused by her attempts to run.
“Crissa is long gone. It’s just me now.” I smiled, licking her blood from my claw. “It’s just you and me now, Taw-ny.”
The woman continued to crawl away, the skin of her thigh on full display. I eyed it closely, admiring how perfect and plump her flesh was, ready to be ruined. My mouth watered at the fantasy of how she'd taste, her fear at an all-time high and nearly palpable.