18. Jason #2
I scrub my face, then jab my finger at her, reminding myself that I am not someone who puts up with any crap.
Still, I can’t help but savor the fire in her eyes and the way her anger charges the air between us.
I’d be a liar if I said this near-death experience didn’t leave me shaken, but I return to what I’m comfortable with.
Fighting and harsh words. “Stop calling me an asshole, brat.”
“Suck my toes, asshole.”
I chuckle and survey the carnage Daisy carved with her chainsaw, letting out a low whistle. She really tore into that massive blight. Guts and gore are everywhere. I lift my boot and shake, watching an ear fly off. “Anyone want some monster meat for dinner?”
Thinking about it, I actually would like more of that delicious meat.
Daisy shoots me a death glare before flinging her arms at the remaining, still-breathing blight. “Our job here isn’t done.”
I blink, startled. I hadn’t even noticed the creature lurking there.
My gaze sweeps over the last blight, spotting the wounds that keep it slumped against the wall, its chest rising slowly. Daisy must have hurt it while she was dismembering the big guy.
We stand before it, weighing our next move. Obviously, we must kill it, but we could also eat it, too. My stomach rumbles, yearning for the delicious meat to coat my insides.
“We should sacrifice it to the voice.” Daisy pauses before continuing.
“Yes, if we do that, then it’ll have more control over these monsters.
” She tilts her head as if she’s listening to someone speak.
“And then—” Daisy looks at me, shooting another glare in my direction.
What I’ve done wrong now, I’m not sure. “I’m going to fuck you.
It’ll be your punishment for almost dying on me. And for being an asshole earlier.”
I roll my eyes, ignoring that my sister said she wants to fuck me. I focus on the fact that she’s still upset by what I did earlier. “How long are you going to hold onto that grudge for? I said I’m sorry.”
Daisy smiles sweetly. “Forever.”
Christ, she’s insane. Hot, but insane. And if she’s this crazy, her plans to fuck me must be diabolical.
I’m scared, but horny. My cock twitches like it’s saying sign me up.
I think Nicky might have also mixed Viagra with the drugs, considering how hard my dick has been tonight.
I’ll have to interrogate that little shit later.
“Everyone says to not trust blondes because they’re the craziest, and man, were they right.” Daisy punches my arm in response and I groan, rubbing the spot. “Ow. You’re so mean.”
“I’ll show you how mean I can really get.”
I snort. “Ooh, now I’m scared.”
“Stop talking and pull that blight into the middle of the room,” Daisy demands, stomping off.
I take a step forward and my head shakes, dizzy from being knocked around.
“You heard the lady. But really, I’m not even sure why I’m listening to her.
” I clamp my hand around the monster’s ankle and look up at the lack of resistance.
I realize now that I’m close this blight isn’t as transformed as the others.
Half of its face sags in melted ruin, while a lumpy infection creeps across the other side, sprouting green bumps that swell and nearly close its one good eye.
The top of its head is twisted and misshapen, with stray wisps of blond hair jutting out where the rest has vanished, scorched away by something harsh and chemical.
My eyebrows furrow. There’s something I can’t quite put my finger on, but the rattling of chains makes me glance up at Daisy, and the thought quickly fades.
“Jason,” she whines. “Hurry up!”
Her demands send my eyes rolling, but I obey, hauling the blight into the center of the room. I grunt and drag the body, watching a glistening trail of disease ooze behind it. The monster emits a pained warble but doesn’t fight back.
It’s injured, that’s why. It knows it’s going to die, so it’s given up. I should be happy it’s not fighting. I don’t think I could go another round, not after dealing with that huge monster.
Daisy claps her hands with excitement. “Our God is so happy.” I watch her wind the chains around the blight’s wrists and snap the other ends into the waiting hooks on either side of the wall. “Come here, Jason.” Daisy grabs the dagger I used earlier.
I follow behind her as she approaches the blight. Something warm and heavy wraps around me, halting me mid-step.
“Do you feel that? That’s our God with us here.”
My hand slides to my shoulder and I gasp when I touch something tangible resting upon me. Our God’s voice bursts through my mind.
I’m always here guiding your steps, my son. Now, sacrifice this monster to me and as a reward, I will give you a piece of its flesh. This piece will be special, unlike the others. Power will be yours. You will never know fear again, for terror will be your name.
Air quickly rushes into my lungs, excitement building, a steady pulse beneath my skin.
My stomach rumbles with hunger while my mind clears.
Has the voice healed my injuries? I blink in confusion and raise my arms while bending my neck side to side.
Everything is normal. This is amazing. I feel amazing.
“Which piece would you like?” Daisy whispers. She drags the knife down the front of the blight, almost teasing it. My gaze locks onto the bound creature, watching as its appearance shifts further into something monstrous with every moment it waits for its fate.
“The heart. I want the heart.”
My stepsister hums her approval before throwing her head back and flashing a smile at me. “I like that. We can share it, and our hearts will become one. How romantic. This is the best first date ever.”
It’s always been clear from the moment I laid eyes upon her that Daisy was the one for me, even when I tried to fight fate. But now I understand. She’ll protect my heart, just as I will hers. After all, we’re born from the same malevolent shadow destined to become Gods shaped by this voice.
She turns her head back to the monster and takes a deep breath, like she’s preparing for a reckoning.
Daisy raises the knife above her head and slams it down into the monster’s chest
“We sacrifice this monster to our God. Our maker. Our salvation. Take its blood and grow stronger.” The blight wails in agony, the chains rattling as it thrashes.
But Daisy doesn’t stop, just tightens her grip while she continues to cut into it.
“Guide us through darkness into eternity. From its blood, grant us power, that we may rise unholy and rule in your name as Gods. We shall hunt these creatures and rid the earth of this disease.”
Shadows move along the walls, whispering of our rebirth, our place as rulers and protectors of Grimwood. The town doesn’t know it yet…but it will, the voice finishes off.
The chamber is silent aside from the sound of fluids and organs splattering the floor. Daisy rises, holding the heart, and brings it closer. Somehow, it continues to pulse in her hand, casting a shimmering, rainbow light. We have stumbled upon the world’s most precious treasure.
Feed, my children. Become the evil you were always destined to be.
Daisy lifts the heart to my mouth, and I sink my teeth into it. Sweetness floods my tongue and a groan escapes me. I’m surprised by how much I already missed the flavor.
A spark lights up my eyes, and I see the same excitement flicker in hers as she takes a bite. Juice trickles down her chin, as though an orange has just exploded with flavor in her mouth.
She drops what’s left of the heart and instead grips the front of my shirt, pulling me close. Her lips melt into mine, the taste of candy swirling between us. I rock against her body, my cock hardening from the kiss alone as if I’ve been sexless and starved for my entire life.
A low growl slips from my throat, reverberating in the belly of the house as an unearthly echo. The walls seem to throb in response, their layers peeling back to reveal dark, pulsing flesh.
Daisy will drive me insane, but with my fingers tangled in her golden hair and her soft breath filling the air, I would gladly lose my mind to keep her close.
Our souls had long been connected, but now the closeness between us beats stronger than ever, and I realize how much I need her to survive.
We can never go back to who we were. The thought of hating her—even pretending to, is unimaginable now.
As she pulls away, her pink lips puffy and cheeks flushed, my eyes roam her face.
“What was that for?”
She shrugs in response, a coy smirk appearing. “Because I can. Because you’re mine.” I snort, and instantly Daisy’s eyes narrow, a sassy demon flickering to life inside her with the flip of a switch. “Follow me now.” She spins on her heel, walking away from me.
“I’m not a dog you can just order around, you know.”
“I bet I could make you crawl to me. I bet I could say bark for this pussy and you’d do it. I think there’s so many things I could make you do, Stepbrother.”
My lips flatten into a thin line. I secretly enjoy how much Daisy riles me up, and not that I’ll admit it, but I would do all of those things. “Also, where are you going?” I shout, chasing after her.