The Demon's Half

Chapter 8

My stomach shriveled like a dying thing.
He was dressed like some lost royalty. Flowing black layers matching the color of his hair, too elegant for this place, made his snow-kissed skin look almost supernatural.
The very atmosphere seemed to get heavier at his presence. Slowly, he prowled forward. A faint tremor followed his every movement, like even the ground feared him. The lively hum of the outside world fell silent. No birds. No rustling leaves. It seemed that every living creature decided, all at once, that it was safer not to breathe.

He looked young. Maybe early twenties. But it didn't make sense. No one that age could hold this much power in a single space.

"You're far more interesting than I expected."
His voice... it was the kind of voice that made sinners out of saints.

Heat curled in my stomach, but I forced my expression into stone. Because his eyes...
Ice blue. Pure ice.
They were as dangerous as they were beautiful. Like glaciers waiting in the blackest depths, still and patient, ready to pull you under and never let you go. The kind of eyes that could destroy you. And make you thank them for it.
The world faded, shrinking into nothing. Only those beautiful, damned blue eyes.

My feet betrayed me.
Helpless. And happily at his mercy.
His lips twisted into a smirk. I had to tilt my head back just to meet his gaze.

Mia's face flashed in my mind.
And I closed my eyes. Breaking the trance. A breath hitched in my throat as realization slammed into me: I had been seconds away from touching him. My heart slammed against my ribs like a trapped bird, desperate to escape.
With my eyes still closed, I took several steps back.

"Who—who the hell are you?" I refused to look at him again.

He stepped closer.
Like a panther indulging in the last, sweet moments before the kill.

"Don't recognize me?" His tone tugged to something deep inside me.

Every nerve screamed at me to run. To get away.
Before I could, the earth moved. Windows broke.
I screamed as I fell to the wobbling floor.
Pictures crashed. Walls shook. I couldn't hold my ground as I tried to stand. And at the very heart of it, he stood.

His body expanded. Massive. Four times his size. Growing until he reached the ceiling. What had once been flawless skin was now rough and black. His face was no longer human. I've never seen anything like it. It was the face of a beast.
A monstrous snout. Fangs. His eyes turned red. Two huge horns curled from his brow. Thick and twisted.
And behind that huge body were massive, leathery wings. Like the ones of a bat.
He was a nightmare made flesh.

"GIVE ME YOUR SOUL," he roared.

Then, just as quick as it had began, it all stopped. The shadows peeled away. And he was back. Black hair, blue eyes.
Human.
Beautiful.
Lethal.
I stayed on the ground. Frozen.

"Run," he grinned.

I scrambled to my feet. My legs moved before my brain caught up. I flew down the hallway.
Because it was him.
The evil spirit who had haunted me, stolen every moment of peace. The one who burned my kitchen to the ground. The one who left bruises on my skin and soul. The same bastard who had taken Mia from me. He had all this power.
And he had done nothing to save her.

"I'll catch you anyway." His voice sounded from the entrance as shadows moved around me.
The impact came as they swept past, sending me sprawling. Gritting my teeth against the ache, I forced myself to stand, only to freeze mid-step. He had materialized before me.
I was breathless.

He clicked his tongue. Shaking his head.
"Too slow, Little Thing."

I bolted left, toward the remains of my kitchen. My hand closed around the only intact knife in the house.