Mari: Year One [Completed]

Chapter Five: Hell Hath No Fury

Mari parted ways with Jessamine once more as the day ended, yet she went the extra mile and ensured that she got on the proper jeepney without any hassle. Jessamine seemed to adore this, yet Mari still felt conflicted.

Her affection for Jessamine was instantly exposed, and she acted on it without hesitation.

"Fine." she muttered to herself as the sun started to go down, "I'll see where this leads to."

She finally realized the connection she had, it was not because of her own nature corroding Jessamine's perception of her, it was her own perception that was corroded, revealing something that she had long yearned for.

As she walked down the path towards her apartment complex, she felt a pain twinge in her stomach, a familiar pain, a feeling she knows all too well.

"No.." Mari muttered alarmingly, "It's too early."

Her hunger has returned, bobbing and weaving, dancing and spinning as if taunting her. Her thoughts started to grow intense, her hunger, her desire, they are starting to overpower her once more.

"We just fed." Mari continued, trying to rationalize with whatever this was.

But it did not matter, it's not that she was hungry, it was because she was angry. Her display of controlled wrath had given her nature, the hidden and monstrous one, enough leverage to take control once more.

Give in, her thoughts whispered, We shall feast, we shall eat their hearts.

"No..." she struggled, grabbing her stomach as if she were experiencing some sickening pain. Her thoughts flickered towards Jessamine and her hunger instantly reacted.

"NO!" Mari shouted out loud, as everyone around her stopped to look, "Not her..." she finished weakly.

Her body spasmed as Mari hurried to find a safe place, somewhere that could isolate her, the sun was barely down, there were still too many people.

Anger, wrath, fury, we have been given fuel and we must act on it, her thoughts goaded her, as Mari tried to wrench them from her brain.

"Leave her alone!" Mari begged, and her thoughts immediately focused on something else: Nick.

Feast, the voice in her head echoed once more, He has harmed the one you love, has he not?

"Yes, but it does not necessitate his death." Mari willed herself, "We just fed."

This is not born out of hunger, her thoughts continued, this is wrath and retribution.

"Then why do you seek out Jessamine?!" Mari responded internally.

Because she is the one you wish for, is she not? The last semblance of humanity within you is being shared with her. You shall have your love, in return, we must have vengeance for those who shamed such a love.

"This is idiotic." Mari muttered, still fighting the constant barrage, it was as if she was being jabbed repeatedly by steel spikes in the stomach.

It will not stop, he will not stop, unless we put an end to it ourselves, for your sake, for your love.

"We. Just. Fed." Mari moaned, "Can't we wait a few more weeks?"

At once her thoughts stopped, the hunger subsided to a tolerable level as Mari straightened her posture.

"Fine, it seems that Nick has chosen death." Mari said coldly and started her search for him.

It was like looking for hay in a needlestack, as each scent drove her mad with a hunger that was awakened violently. The mixture of scents felt like a buffet to her, to this version of Mari, but she deterred her bloodlust by focusing on the figure that is central to her current wrath: Nicholas Duque.