Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 14761 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 74(@200wpm)___ 59(@250wpm)___ 49(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14761 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 74(@200wpm)___ 59(@250wpm)___ 49(@300wpm)
My stomach drops and my head spins—literally. I pop back into existence in a dark bedroom lit only by a streetlamp shining in the distance. My target left the window open, and a slight, chilly wind flicks the curtains, leaving the room slightly more lit and darker by turns. Changeable is good; changeable I can work with.
I take a deep breath and slouch a little, allowing the shadows to shield me from view. My human—except he’s not mine, a demon should never be possessive of a human, not when they all belong to the gods, not to us. The only beings who get to be possessive are guardian angels, and no demon takes them seriously. I mean, sure, they’re pretty, with the wings and the holy light and all that, but they can’t actually interfere with much. They just comfort.
That sounds a lot easier than what I’m about to do, but Ralph is counting on me not to embarrass him.
I slide soundlessly over the carpet to stand next to the bed and look down at the sleeping human sprawled out on his back. All humans are beautiful in their own way, lit within by that spark of life that burns so hotly, but this one is particularly lovely, with his freckled skin and shock of red hair that I can pick up even with so little light. I catch myself wondering what color his eyes are and force myself to focus.
First, paralysis. Can’t forget that bit.
I summon my magic, visualize a net that will prevent the human from moving but won’t stop him breathing. The point is fear, not to actually hurt him. I don’t think I could stomach actually hurting them.
Once I’m sure I have that down, I move to where he won’t be able to see me without turning his head—which he won’t be able to do—and intentionally set my hoof down loudly enough to startle him awake.
I know it works when he inhales sharply and makes a low terrified animal noise in his throat, realizing he can’t move. This is the point, the bare minimum of my job, and I have to clench my fists to keep from reaching for him, snap my jaw shut to prevent myself from telling him that he has nothing to fear. Fear is the damned point. Of course he should fear me.
Every muscle in his body looks carved from stone as he strains against my magic. I lick my lips. Wait, no. That’s not what I’m here for. Gods, my head is all turned around.
Ralph. Remember Ralph.
I plant one hand on the bed and lean down, careful to keep out of sight. It’s no effort at all to breath heavily next to his ear. I haven’t stopped the awful panic that rose with Ralph. There’s been no time.
The man on the bed—my target, my task—lets out another low moan and shakes harder. I bite my bottom lip. I’ve seen all manner of reactions while shadowing Ralph, and while this isn’t out of the norm, I can’t help a sliver of worry. Maybe I should turn him on his side?
No, no, the net works better when he’s on his back. There’s a reason for the rules. I don’t have to remember the reason in order to remember the rules.
There’s nothing surprising here. Paralyze. Build tension. Then press him tightly to the bed, sucking down his fear like the finest wine. If I’ve always found fear to be a bit sour? Well, I might be a miserable disaster, but I’m smart enough to keep that to myself.
I can smell it now, the faint thread of pure terror. It should make me happy. This is what I came here for. Instead, guilt pricks my chest. He was sleeping so soundly, and I’ve ruined it. Even if he falls asleep again once I leave, the night will be tainted by my presence.
Stop it, Gemma. Stop thinking about stuff that doesn’t matter.
Frustrated that I can’t turn my brain off as effectively as I can turn off my human’s motor functions, I curse internally and climb onto the bed. The mattress gives beneath my weight, shifting his body, but I’m in motion and I’ve come too far to worry about screwing up this part too.
And, as much as I hate this, I’m starving. I’ve been existing on Ralph’s overflow for months, and I’m no longer eligible to pull from the community pool. I’m too old, and there’s no good reason I shouldn’t be able to feed myself in the job I was assigned. Thousands upon thousands of other demons manage just fine.
I shift up and slide onto his chest, finally revealing myself and allowing my weight to press him more firmly against the bed. He’ll feel like he’s suffocating, but I’m careful. He’ll be fine.
This is where he’ll gasp and the fear will flow, sickly sweet and intense enough to fill me up. It only takes one look at Ralph for his targets to nearly pass out from terror. He’s always glutted, and there’s still plenty left over for his mentee.