Worlds Apart

Chapter 5

At the sight of the giant, black praying mantis approaching me down the middle of the road, I turn back down the side street that I just passed and press myself up against the wall. My chest heaves, and without George and Elizabeth to tell me to stop, I continue to pant heavy breaths.

I peel away from the wall to peer around the corner of the brick building. The demon is still advancing towards me as tall as the buildings blocking it in. Humans continue to shop in peace, oblivious to the threat.

I flatten back up against the wall and squeeze my eyes shut as I figure out what the hell I'm meant to do now.

I had to feed. When Elizabeth and George never returned to replenish the two jars of blood they left me, I had to leave. It's only been ten days since I last saw them, but I could feel the hunger beginning to own me. I could feel my skin heating beyond controllable.

Especially when I had to watch Blue devour his constant stream of rats.

I was beginning to pick up human scents no matter how tightly I blocked any holes beneath the doors or around the windows.

It didn't matter what I did, I had to leave.

I had to feed.

I stayed vigilant, searching out potential demons. Making sure I kept to places I knew so I wouldn't get caught.

But I couldn't bear to see that look in Blue's eyes each time he was forced to hunt and eat a rat over a tin of tuna. Like it was my fault.

I understand that look far too well.

So I ventured away from the forest in search of tuna.

All for a dead, old lady's cat.

And now I'm on a street lined with cafes and estate agents, hiding from a giant praying mantis demon with the ass of a gorilla.

I'm sure these demons have names. George told me the names of some lesser demons once that I no longer remember.

Nothing about this demon is lesser.

There's no doubt in my mind this thing is after me. They find me wherever I go. And if the demon is here, so is the wolf.

The scent of human blood catches me out as a lady wrapped in a scarf and a thick coat steps into the building I'm pressed up against. The bitter smell of coffee wafts out, carried by the wind as the door swings closed.

I don't know how I'm meant to stick to the treaty when demons continue to follow me everywhere I go.

Without really thinking it through, I follow the steps of the lady and wrap my fingers around the brass handle, which runs the length of the darkened wooden door.

I turn my gaze to my left down the subdued street to the demon, still approaching. If I'm surrounded by humans, they can't attack me, right?

I turn back to the door and catch my reflection, checking that no signs of my meal aren't evident on my face. Satisfied, I peer through the large window into the dimly lit room. Beyond it, two people sit at tables, and a third stays occupied behind the coffee counter. The lady I followed removes her scarf as she scans the boards above the counter.

Four humans. I can manage four humans. I have to be able to manage four humans.

The barista glances over to me, and in a fluttery panic, I take a large inhale of the human free air and push open the door. With the door still open behind me, I relax the hold on my breath and let a small amount of the air out through my nose.

Even without inhaling, the scent of coffee swirls through the air, mixing with the sweetness of warm milk. Wood lingers beneath it all alongside the hint of cleaning products.