LOVE + FEAR | Damirae

BODIES

Raven slumped against the musty double doors. She set the plush Totoro figure down and murmured a power word.

The ball of gray fuzz jerked like electricity emerging from wire restraints. Ears flapped. Whiskers twitched.

The animated plush angled it's head up towards her, it's permanently stitched smile seeming to grow ever wider.

Raven crouched down and patted the plushie between the ears. "Hi. Do you remember the plan?"

The doll nodded. Raven was stealing directly from Constantine; he had taken down five demons in one go before and barely did a thing. Raven could never let him know she used his plan. But she didn't predict anything wrong in applying it to the Sins.

Raven straightened and delved further inside. She passed lines of corroded, desecrated pews. Something squeaked and skittered in the darkness. Moonlight peeked through the colored glass, bathing the church in dull crimson.

They're here.

Raven looked to the row next to her as the smoke dissipated. Feathery black wings stretched the entire length of the pew before folding behind the demon's back. From the intense power radiating from the entity, Raven guessed it was Pride.

"Where are my brothers?" They asked, looking up from long, obsidian talons. The gems embroidered along their limbs were seared scarlet by the stained glass.

Raven didn't answer. A creature dropped down from the ceiling, hanging by its tail as it hovered in front of her face.

"Knew it was wrong to take Trigon's offer. The stock market is more reliable than him!" Greed snarled and barred their fangs.

Raven's mouth dropped open. "What offer —?"

The Totoro plushie leapt from the shadows and onto Greed's face.

Raven ducked as the demon wailed in agony, hearing blood splatter across the floor. Diving into the nearest pew, she kept low to the ground as the fighting started.

Growls and ripping flesh filled the air as Raven took cover behind a pillar. She spared a look over at the enchanted stuffed animal. Perhaps John had a point; it really was the stuff of nightmares. It's stitched smile was unwavering as it ripped out tendons and bone marrow alike. Sacs spurted, arteries gushed. A scarlet waterfall cascaded from clawed wounds, gaping open like mouths screaming in terror.

Raven looked away just as intestines slithered out of Wrath like worms gnawing on corpses.

"Raven..."

Her entire body melted at the voice. A whisper escaped her lips, "Damian...?"

A hand reached out from around the pillar she stood behind. Familiar fingers traced her collarbone. Her gaze trailed along the veins that twirled around the calloused hand, curving just below the inside of the wrist.

Raven's eyes lifted as his shadow fell over her. Her face ignited into flames.

Damian stood before her. Wearing absolutely nothing.

Raven leaned back into the pillar, the long wooden slab creaking from her weight. Damian pressed closer, caging her in. Moonlight bathed them in crimson.

"You've thought about us like this," The hoarseness of his voice vibrated against her skin. Damian's lips feathered her jawline.

Raven pressed her hands against his chest, intending to push him off, yet she was caught off guard from how real he felt. Flickers of when they were cooking sparked across her mind, his warmth pressed firmly against her. The same heat burned beneath her fingertips, tracing the prominent muscle.