Chapter 5
Leviathan stood slowly, starting to pull his arm away from the new demon on the ground. “That's enough.”
The boy snarled fiercely, his teeth sinking deeper into his arm. A deep red glare flashed beneath the new black pearls of his eyes.
Leviathan grimaced and pressed a hand to Cullen's forehead, forcing a command into his mind. Release me. Power burst through their shared connection, rushing through his veins and down into Cullen’s head.
His teeth disconnected and he fell backwards as if he'd been pushed. And when he sprang back up a moment later, his clawed hand swiping toward Leviathan’s bloody arm, Leviathan whipped his good hand forward and slapped him hard, sending him sprawling several feet away.
He gave his mangled arm a quick flick and when he raised it again it was whole, the lingering blood the only proof of what had occurred.
“You've had a taste of blood now, Cullen. Calm yourself.” His voice was quiet but authoritative, a clear order that any demon with half a brain would follow.
But Cullen, in his blood-addled state, had no mind beyond what his instincts were telling him to do.
It was how it usually was in the beginning.
So Leviathan was not surprised when Cullen sprang back up again–though he remained on his knees this time, defiance flashing in his eyes, even as the command Leviathan had given forced him to remain still.
He gave a quick snap of his fingers and pointed to the ground at his feet, another clear order.
But Cullen didn't move, his furious gaze locked on Leviathan's face.
Black blood dripped from his snarling teeth–the canines now lovely delicate points–and his body was trembling as if he were fighting off the urge to attack. Leviathan was sure that he was.
The thought brought out a chuckle. He gave a small flick of his fingers and dark shadows surged around Cullen, lifting him from the ground and dropping him back down ungracefully in front of Leviathan.
The brat continued to growl softly, but he remained kneeling, his eyes blazing with rage.
Leviathan smiled down at him and reached to pat his head–and quickly yanked his hand back again when Cullen snapped his new dagger-sharp teeth at him.
“Naughty, naughty.” He murmured, shaking his finger at him. “Haven’t you come to your senses yet, pet?”
The only answer was another growl, but Leviathan could see the red gleam in his eyes dulling, returning to the pitch black of sentience. The savagery was leaving his mind, letting him have control again. And still he remained kneeling.
Perfect.
He reached to touch his face and the shadows held Cullen still this time, allowing him to run his fingers along his pale cheek.
“My pet,” he purred, running a slow thumb along his full bottom lip. “You are stunning in this new body.”
Not that there was much difference than before.
His skin remained pale, the blue veins visible just under the delicate surface, and his hair remained a dark halo around his head, though it was wild now, from the wind and the last few minutes of thrashing.
Leviathan wondered absently if that was how it would look after a few good rounds in bed.
It had certainly never been much out of place when he’d gone at it with that brat Walker.
Just as the rapid beats of Cullen’s heart began to calm, voices began calling from the bottom of the hill. Wild with panic and fear, calling Cullen’s name and screaming at him to run.
Leviathan turned with a dark, excited smile, watching with glee as that prick Dominick and that idiot Walker made their way up the hill to the Academy. They slipped on the wet grass and Leviathan had to bite back a laugh. He angled himself to block Cullen from sight.
Not yet. They couldn’t see him yet. He wanted to make it a bit of a show.
“Cullen!” That little ingrate Walker cried, tears in his voice. “Get away from him, you son of a bitch!”
Behind him, Cullen sucked in a harsh breath.
His heart began to race again, but Leviathan ignored its rapid thumping, keeping him blocked from sight as he grinned down at the other two men.
They stopped just a few yards away, a long, thin sword in Dominick’s large grasp and two small daggers in Walker’s.
Throwing blades, he thought with amusement.
Was he really stupid enough to throw them while Cullen was mere feet behind him?
If Leviathan moved so much as an inch in either direction, the blades would hit his precious boyfriend.
He thought of the way they had used the boy as bait for the past few weeks and wondered if they would even care.
“What have you done?!” Walker screamed, lurching forward.
Dominick’s hand shot out, slamming down on his shoulder to draw him back again, his eyes narrowed at the figure he could probably see behind him now.
Leviathan’s sneer grew more demented, the edges of it pulling up in an unnatural way.
He slid back a step and reached to touch Cullen’s hair.
And this time, the boy let him. Let him run gentle fingers through his short dark hair until he gave it a firm tug, forcing the brat’s face up, showcasing it for the pair of Diviners.
“I’ve simply given myself a new toy to play with.” Leviathan said softly, his eyes flickering down to Cullen’s devastated and blood strewn face before he looked up at the others again.
A heartbeat passed. And then another. And then Walker screamed as if he’d been stabbed.
As if he’d had his heart torn out and slit open in front of him.
He screamed and fell to his knees, his eyes wide with horror and disbelief.
Leviathan felt Cullen shiver under his touch and grinned wildly as he let go of him, shoving him forward with a vicious jerk.
Walker’s screams cut off and he was instantly rushing for his boyfriend, the blades dropping from his hands as he threw himself forward, falling to his knees in front of Cullen. Dom remained where he was, his hand tight on the pommel of his sword.
“Cull…” The boy whispered, his voice breaking. Leviathan grinned excitedly, his pulse racing faster as Cullen slowly raised his head to look at his boyfriend.
“Walker…” He breathed, his voice raspy. Leviathan saw Dominick tense from the corner of his eye and readied himself to attack both of the Diviners with his shadows.
“I’m here, Cullen.” Walker whispered, bringing his hands up to cup his face. “Cull, I’m here. It’s okay.”
“Walk…er…” Cullen’s voice dripped with agony and fear. Leviathan watched the red light in his eyes pulse again and shivered in delight.
“I’m here, Cull.” He started to slip his arms around him–and Cullen lurched forward with a shout of rage, burying his teeth in the bastard’s shoulder. Walker shrieked in pain and shock–and Dom whipped a small blade forward, aiming for Cullen’s head.
One of Leviathan’s shadows knocked it away and seconds later he was behind Cullen, his voice snapping out with a quick, “Let him go.”
Power pulsed through them both, just as before, and Cullen let go of Walker with a gasp, his body trembling as Leviathan drew him back away from the Diviners. Dominick raced forward, dropping to help Walker before standing again and raising his sword.
“You bastard.” He hissed, his voice seething with rage.
“Walker…” The hoarse word tore from Cullen again, his hand reaching shakily for the other man. “I'm…sorry…”
Leviathan tensed at the words, his hands clenching on Cullen’s arms. Cullen shook his head and Leviathan found himself impressed with how quickly he seemed to be taking back his control. The boy turned then, his eyes meeting Leviathan's, damp with tears and blood.
“Please.” He whispered. “Please let me go to him…”
Rage flooded him. His grip grew even tighter on the brat’s arms, undoubtedly leaving bruises, and he heard himself speak in a low, tense voice.
“You still want him?” He hissed, his fury burning hotter as he spoke.
Heat flared in his hands and Cullen flinched, panic mixing with the fear and hunger in his eyes.
“You think he still wants you?” He whispered, the words barely audible.
He shoved him forward then, forcing him to his knees but keeping a firm hand on the back of his throat as they came face to face with Walker.
Cullen gasped and shuddered, his hands curling into tight fists as he leaned closer. He growled–and Walker screamed again, jerking his hands up to shove Cullen away.
Cullen jerked back in shock–and Leviathan pulled him even further away when Dominick swung a blade towards them both.
He let out a low snarl to threaten him away and hurried backwards with Cullen.
Who knew how easy it would be for those stupid light wielding swords to hurt his new toy, after all? He wasn’t keen to find out.
“Say your goodbyes.” He whispered into Cullen’s ear. “We have places to be.”
“No!” He cried, the ferocity in his voice startling him. “No, let me go to him–”
“Stay back!” Walker screamed, letting go of his bloody shoulder to snatch one of Dom’s blades from his waist. He lurched toward them and Leviathan stepped back again with a scowl, his arm locked tight around Cullen’s chest. “Stay away from me, you monster!”
Cullen stiffened in his arms and Leviathan heard him suck in a sharp breath. But Walker barreled on, stumbling slowly to his feet while he swung that blade at them clumsily, screaming that he would kill them both.
“Oh?” Leviathan purred as the men advanced on them with murderous intent. “Where did all that all-eternal, all-powerful love go, Walker? I thought you said you would always love him no matter what?” Not that that had ever been true anyway.
“You turned him into a fucking monster!” He shrieked, flinching as blood pulsed from his shoulder.
It drenched his cloak and shirt now; Leviathan was mildly surprised that the prick was still standing.
“That’s not even Cullen anymore! You’re both fucking demons and I’m going to slit both your fucking throats! ”
Cullen gasped–and collapsed back against Leviathan. He smiled. Perfect. More perfect than he had expected.
“You see that, pet?” He whispered against his ear. “He never loved you. He couldn’t even handle such a simple change.” He nuzzled him, still backing away from the others. “Are you ready now?”
“You bastard.” He choked out with that weak, broken voice.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
Shadows converged between them and the other men, swallowing them up and pulling them off their feet. And then there was nothing but icy blackness.