Fallen (editing)

Chapter 8

"Why do you think he can understand what we're saying? We're speaking like we're back home."
I shrug, walking into Walmart. "I don't know. Maybe he's special? Or maybe we influenced him somehow?"
"Then how come that human who tried to rob you didn't understand you?"
"I don't know. It's not that important Dim, we have other things to worry about."
I search over the aisles for the books Pops told me about.
Dimitrio hops from shelf to shelf, picking up the books with his beak and dropping them into my hands.
I flip through them, looking at the big letters written there.
I grab a couple of them and head over to a brightly lit area. The check-out area.
I stand in line, waiting.
Finally, I get to the front. The woman behind the counter smiles at me.
I don't say anything. I put the books in front of her.
I hand her the paper Pops gave me.
She smiles warmly at me, her brown hair framing her face.
She points to my head. "I like your hair."
I smile and nod.
Dimitrio pecks at my shoulder. I roll my eyes, grabbing the plastic bags the woman hands me.
I head outside, Dimitrio flying above me.
Suddenly, something whizzes past my ear, pinning my shirt to the brick wall covered in graffiti behind me.
Dimitrio caws loudly, hopping on my shoulder.
"Demon, 3'o'clock."
I roll my eyes. "Really? I thought it was bird!"
Dimitrio pulls at my hair.
I turn, pulling the knife out of my shirt.
A thin, muscled man faces me, his mouth pulled into a wide grin.
His stark white hair is a mess on his face. His young features twist into a hungry snarl as he stares at me.
"Your Highness, what a surprise!"
His yellow eyes glint at me like a smirk.
I grip the knife in my hand tightly.
He glances at it, his smile growing wider and wider until it overtakes his face in a literal ear-to-ear grin.
He rushes forward, pivoting off the wall, and swinging a Hell-sharp blade at my face.
The world slows down.
My eyes widen as the blade flies by it. I twist on my feet, smashing them into his legs.
He flips over, landing upright. His blade scrapes the bricks, making a harsh screech.
He breathes hard for a moment then grins.
He stands up straight, leaning back up against the wall behind him.
"Well? Is this it? No impressive power surges this time?"
I glower at him.
He grins wider. "What? Am I not important enough? Or are you not strong enough?"
He snarls the last question, lunging forward, his face transforming into a growling wolf's.
I jump out of the way.
He skids to a stop and glares at me, his yellow eyes glazed over.
I scan the area quickly.
Damn it! No humans...... No negative thoughts....... No power. Damn it.
I lock eyes with the wolf-man-demon-thing.
I smirk. His growl falters a bit.
I stare at him. His thoughts stream into my skull, loud and clear.
He's strong, he's thinking. Can I take him? What if I lose? Idiot. You don't lose. You're Luca. Luca doesn't lose. But....... Oh hell.
I grin, listening. Luca growls louder, his back arching.
He seems smaller now.
My arms muscle up, huge black horns jut out of my skull.
I grin wider, my new fangs biting into my bottom lip.
I step forward. He steps back, snarling.
I lunge forward, grabbing him by the neck. He pulls at my hands, which are now three times as big as my flimsy human ones.
Luca gasps for air as my grip tightens.
His raspy breaths come out in puffs.
My hands clench tighter.
His form starts to shimmer, going see-through like the demoness.
His eyes bug out as he spits,"Your father says hello."
His body finally shatters, fading away completely, and leaving his snarling afterimage.