Cruelty

Chapter 3: It's a beautiful day in the Neighborhood

You awoke to the dogs barking viciously.

"Time to deal with this problem." you thought emerging from your warm cocoon.

"Wamuu?" You called.

No response.

"Oh no, "you thought. It was still dark out, "Nonononononononono." You ran out the front door, "Wamuu!" you called out.

"Y/N, we've tolerated your presence for the past 5 years!" A voice called out. Many more followed shouting in agreement. "But now you have gone from healer to murderer. Leo was hired to work for you, to fix your electric supply, No!?"

You nodded to the dimly lit faces surrounding your home. You did not show your fear, but internally you wept and cried at your fate. This wasn't supposed to happen. This was an accident, a miscommunication. Wamuu didn't mean for this to happen.

"And now he is missing, presumably dead!"

Again you nodded. You so badly wanted to explain. But why would they listen? Who would believe you? Wamuu had been so good about feeding- why did Leo have to be the mistake?

"We've seen you!" another voice rang out, "With that strange looking man. His look- satanic! NO doubt in my mind!" others shouted in agreement, " No human could stand so tall, carry bushels so heavy! He's inhuman! You commune with the devil, Y/N! You provide refuge for a demon! Thus you have no place here, witch!" The other villagers again cheered in agreement.

"She does commune with the devil!" an even louder and very familiar voice shouted out. The mob shrieked.

"It's coming from the trees!" One called.

"So you would like to think!"

"No it's coming from the barn."

"Wrong again!"

The mob sloshed around madly trying to locate the ever changing position of Wamuu's voice. Finally, he allowed himself to be seen. He revealed himself in his gleaming glory before you. The townspeople stepped back in fear. "Deliver unto me what harm you may, but know" he said gravely in a thunderous voice, "whatever harm you serve to those which dwell on this property will be delivered back to you and yours 1000 fold." His aggression pierced through the trees and the egos of the villagers. "Know that no prayer can keep me away. No church. No Angel. Nothing... will protect you from me." He glared down upon them with wrath coursing through his body- strength radiating off every feature and gleaming muscle. You'd never been so fearful of him before... you weren't even the focus of his wrath.

"If I'm scared, they must be terrified." You thought as Wamuu continued.

"My wrath knows no limits, nor does my strength. With a flick of my wrist I could obliterate your entire village- erasing you and your memory from this world." One man in the crowd sneered. Just as Wamuu has expected. He'll lead by example...he flicked his wrist creating a vortex of wind that instantly slit the man's throat. "I find people learn by experience." He said darkly- eyeing the crowd. The mob fell silent. The only sound to be heard were the death throes of Wamuu's victim. He made it clear that you were not to be fucked with. "You will leave here now, and you will not return."

One man, stupidly, cried from the crowd,"We will leave, demon, but she is no longer welcomed in town."

Wamuu grunted, "I will make that choice, not you." He began to move his wrist.

"It's fine." You piped up. Stepping beside Wamuu to hold back his hand and speak to the crowd. "I will no longer come to town."

Wamuu looked down at you with a faint look of surprise on his face.

"Just don't ever come back to this property." You warn. Your face was emotionless and cold. You held tightly to Wamuu's arm.

"It's settled then." the leader of the mob shouts, "We have an agreement." The man hissed over his shoulder, "Let us go!"

The crowd slowly dissipates as Wamuu and you eye them from your stoop. When they are far enough you nuzzled into his healing side. Wamuu says nothing. Rather he pulls you in his big arms and welcomes your touch.

"Thank you." you whisper calmly.

"You do not need to thank me, Y/N." He paused- his blonde hair swaying in the dim twilight, "I'm aware of the repercussions of your deal. We will have to travel much farther for supplies." He looked down at you with sorrowful eyes, "I doubt that any electrician will come here now."

He was right. No one would come here now. You'd become an outcast; A murderer, and worse one who consorts with demons. What talent! To the heavens, you wished you could explain to them your bizarre predicament. But that's all it was... a wish. Still, you weren't completely alone. You had Wamuu... until he healed. You sighed breaking from his arms.

"I don't have enough food. I don't have enough to last through the winter."

"Do not worry, Y/N... I shall hunt for you."