Game of Life

Chapter 16

Red.

It was everywhere.

Blood covered the lake, the trees. A rainstorm of hot, choking liquid showering us all in crimson.

It was disgusting to say the least.

"You know I honestly didn't expect that to happen." Severin appeared at my side, frowning at the mess. He picked up the eyeball near my foot, looking it over for a second then holding it out in offering. 

"No thanks." I waved his hand away and slowly got to my feet. Ugh. We were all drenched in it, there's no way that thing had this much blood in it. Severin had to be messing with us.

"Suit yourself," he mumbled, peeling off the thin membrane that covered the pupil and sticking it in his mouth before sucking at it like a popsicle. A nasty, gooey, bloody popsicle. 

He saw the look I gave him and took it out of his mouth, offering it again. "If I didn't want it before I don't want it now," I grumbled, placing my face in my hands and shaking my head in exasperation.

"You might like it if you gave it a chance," he sang, spinning around in a little circle.

"I do not want your soggy eyesicle, thank you for your consideration."

"Eyesicle,"  he giggled. "I get it."

"Glad to be of amusement." I sighed, attempting to wipe the blood of the side of my face, only succeeding in smudging it more. For fuck's sakes.

Severin grinned at my discomfort. "I could help you with that," he murmured, leaning in close to my ear.

"Yeah I bet you could." Just shut up Calla.

His hand trailed down my arm and I felt the flick of his tongue on my cheek. "I could help you with a lot of things."

Did I just get proposition by a demon? I shook my head and tried to jerk away but his grip tightened around my wrist, holding me in place. "Now, now Calla."

"No thank you," I insisted.

"You sure?" he purred, running his nose along my collarbone.

"I'm sure," I choked out, terror making my voice crack.

He paused and backed off, shrugging. "Alright."

"That's just.. that's it?" I glanced at him, surprised. Not that I wasn't glad he'd backed off, merely confused.

"Of course! Why? Did someone not respect your wishes?" His voice took on a dark tone.

"No! No." I raised my hands up in surrender. "I'm good, um.. thanks for your concern?" What the fuck is going on around here?

He nodded once, looking very serious in his defense of my virtue.

"What's your favourite animal?" he asked out of the blue.

"Um..what?" 

"Favourite. Animal. Yours." He sat down on the pillar, pulling me along with him. I shot a panicked glance behind me, he had completely disregarded those literally three feet behind us. Adrian shook his head frantically, clearly unwilling to bring the demon's attention to him. "Calla?" Severin pressed at my silence.

"Oh..um..I really don't know." 

"C'mon, you gotta have something, some inkling of an idea? Anything. I can make anything work." Make it work..? 

Oh. 

Why is he making me choose?

"I don't know, I've never really thought about it," I mumbled, dipping my hands into the not quite clear but not as disgusting as before water and wiping some of the blood from my face.

He frowned at my movements and flicked his wrist, clearing the blood away like it had never been there to begin with. I paused mid-wipe and leaned back. "Thanks."

"Animal," he responded.

I sighed, he wouldn't give this up until I came up with an answer. "Well..fuck I don't know, a butterfly."

He tilted his head, considering. "Butterflies," he murmured and tapped his "fingers" on the ground. "That is a fabulous idea, many thanks my dear." He brushed his hand under my chin, flashing sharp teeth. "How would you like to sit out for a round?"

"Sit out?" I echoed. 

"Yes," he purred, cupping my chin in his hands. "Spend another round with me, I'll give you the best seats in the house."

"As...appealing as that sounds, I can't just abandon everyone." Alone time with a demon was not on my bucket list. "That wouldn't be fair," I added when he opened his mouth to protest.

A pout spread along his face and he dropped his hands. "Well..what if we brought two others with us?" He sounded like a two year old who really wanted three toys and mommy was only allowing one.

"Why don't we just skip the round altogether and have a campfire instead," I said, knowing it was useless.

The smile faded from his face and his voice went cold. "Now now don't be silly. Sitting out, two others, that's my offer. Take it or leave it." 

I hesitated, chewing on my lip while I considered his offer. Two others..who would I even pick? I shook my head, why was I even considering this? I couldn't abandon them. "Leave it." I spoke quietly. "I'm not going to turn my back in this. Not going to run away."

Severin growled under his breath. "Fine then. Let's start." He slammed his palm onto the ground, making the earth shake. I could see the energy pour out of his hands into the earth, a glowing ball of Light, morphing and shifting, every change clearly visible under the barely lit sky.

He didn't look happy, glaring at the ground and muttering under his breath.

The ball of light glowed under the lake, flickering and expanding while the sun sunk rapidly below the horizon.

He's going to make us do this in the dark.

Slowly, the beast rose from the lake, a gleaming fifteen foot tall golden butterfly.

Severin didn't say a word, just disappeared while we stared at the beast. Without a second of hesitation it attacked. A vicious screech leaving its lips, its first target already in mind the second it had been formed.

The light from its skin illuminated its victim as it dove, bared fangs protruding from its mouth as it devoured Eric in a single swoop.