Gluttony and Greed Walk into a Burger Joint

Chapter 7 - Wrath

 Dani stopped running within block from her house and wiped at her face, pressing harder than necessary. The mild but abrasive pain helped somewhat. "Stop it," she muttered under her breath. "Stop it, stop it, stop it."

Why, of all things he could have asked, did Alus's question bring her to tears? Dani couldn't remember the last time she'd openly cried. Anytime the urge arose, she'd shoved it deep down, remember all her reasons to not cry and keep moving like the hurt didn't hurt.

Or, perhaps because it was Alus himself. He brought her back to that day, years and years ago. He and his brother both. He made Dani remember...

But that was 21 years ago.

The waitress's past jolted into the present when she spotted Runeak's back as she paced past the rickety, chipped fence gate in front of her house. Runeak wore all black, exactly as Dani had seen her the first and only time they'd met. The demoness's movements distracted in a disturbing way, her body flowing with grace and threat, all at once. 

Prowling. Hunting.

Dani's scalp tingled, fingertips going numb. Runeak's movements slowed to a halt, and the demoness inhaled—a sharp sound. Wrath's neck craned around, the rest of the her body following in the same frightening glide. 

Runeak's abyssal eyes fixed on Dani's, and the waitress froze, whispering, "Oh, God."

Runeak said nothing, nor did her blank expression change as she stalked, closing their distance. The girl willed herself to move, to run, to unfreeze, but succeeded only in sliding a heel back once the demoness came within arm's distance. 

The instant Dani moved, Runeak snapped her hand out and gripped her wrist, forcing a startled, strangled cry out of the girl's throat. The single, quick movement melted back into the patient huntress, slow and precise. Runeak drew Dani in closer, and a scream lodged in the waitress's throat. Wrath's too-black eyes darted back and forth over Dani's hazel gaze, and Dani couldn't help the violent image of Runeak's dark lips opening, those white teeth biting down into her and ripping out pieces of her flesh.

Too many tense moments passed before the demoness broke the silence. "Alus."

Dani blinked, barely managing to respond past her tight throat. "What?"

"Arek."

"What...?" Frowning, caught between terror and confusion, Dani tried to pull away. Runeak gripped tighter. 

The demoness leaned in, quicker than thought, her nose next to Dani's earlobe. With her mouth over the vulnerable spot of the waitress's throat, Runeak inhaled. 

It was too much. 

Dani opened her mouth and filled her lungs. Runeak slid back and laid a single finger across the girl's lips, halting the scream.

The demoness let her finger drag with aching slowness down Dani's mouth as she pulled away. One gliding step back and the two of them no longer touched.

With her gut lodged all the way up in her neck, Dani watched Runeak turn and slink away. Only when the demoness was out of sight did Dani let out the trembling breath she was holding, open her house's gate with shaking fingers, and rush inside. 

Gentlereader, please don't run away from Runeak like Dani just yet! I beg you for a vote before escaping!