Catharsis [Novel]

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

            It's not human that I smell, and it isn't the putrid rats I've been consuming.  As I silently jog towards the front of the building, I place the smell: it's a dog.  It's a large dog.  I don't really care as long as it's full of the delicious blood that I'm in need of.

            Approaching the front door, I slow down.  I don't want to scare the animal by slamming through the front door and charging towards it.  I doubt it will be able to outrun me (In my current amped up state I'm not sure any land creature would have a chance of evading me, let alone outrunning me), but I might as well start practicing some good hunting techniques.

            Opening the door, I make no noise as I press my nose to the dark slit and inhale deeply.  The dog isn't far away, and it isn't running from me.  In fact, it seems to be slowly padding its way towards me and the front door. 

            Easier than expected, I breathe to myself, although I am slightly disappointed.  A hunt and a test of my ability to track a living creature would have been exciting.  For a minute I consider scaring the beast just to give myself the challenge, and then I dismiss the thought almost as quickly.  I'm hungry now, and there's no point looking a gift pup in the mouth (To mix my metaphors...or idioms in this case.).

            The smell emanating from the expansive yard in front of me is wonderful, and my mouth begins to leak a bit as my glands salivate with anticipation.  The dog doesn't smell as good as the nurse did (A thought that still revolts me!), but it is leaps above the rats I've been feasting on.  This will be a delicious change.

            The dog continues towards me until it is about twenty feet from the cracked front door, and then it stops.  I hear a slight shift in movement from my prey, and then it whines at me.

            The noise startles me, and I jump just a little.  I hadn't expected it to make a noise, and I frown.  This was supposed to be quick and painless.  If it makes noise and barks, then that might alert others.  I need to finish this quickly.  My grip on the door loosens as I pull it open in anticipation of releasing it and jumping towards my dinner.

            Then I get a good look at my dinner, and I falter.  The dog is a large, beautiful creature.  From a glance it appears to be a mix between a German Shepard and Rottweiler, which is a large, muscular mix of breeds.  His head would easily come to my mid-thigh or hips if it was standing.  But he isn't.  His (I can tell he's a boy just from the strength of the musk in his scent.) haunches and tail are up in the air and his tail is wagging.  His head, though, is near the ground over his outstretched paws and sideways and I would swear he's smiling at me.  There is no fear in him.  I can see that (And smell the lack of it.  He's actually ecstatic to see me.  The dog-happy pheromones are practically pouring out of him.), and it slows my approach.  This isn't the animal I had intended to attack and feast on.  This hadn't been my plan at all.  I step out into the tall grass and away from the door, and he gives a small, happy yip.

            "Crap," I slowly blow the word through my teeth in frustration.  Not what I had planned at all.

            Then the wind picks up and I get a nostril full of the wonderful blood-scent coming from the creature in front of me, and it blocks out all other thoughts.  I am going to feed.  And I am going to feed now.

            Without another thought, I launch myself through the air and land on top of the startled dog.  Before it can react or resist, I bury my face into the soft fur around his neck and feel the warm rush of deliciousness splash into my mouth.