by Knight
“You died?” I roar, getting to my feet as my fists clench, and scales emerge on my skin.
She looks back and must notice them because her mouth drops open and she jumps to her feet. “You’re a dragon?” she asks in awe.
“Yes, you died? Who? When?” I growl rapidly.
She grins, shaking her head as she reaches out and touches the iridescent scales covering my arm. If I was in full dragon form they would be black as night, but for some reason, in this half shift, they are always iridescent purple and greens.
“The colours are beautiful, what do you look like when you shift?”
“I shall show you later, now answer me,” I demand, agitated. My monster wanting to burst out of my skin, grab her, and fly away.
“My husband,” she answers distractedly, stroking my arm still. I try to ignore the tingles it sends down my body, even as my dragon preens at her touch. Then her words penetrate the fog in my brain that her touch is causing.
“Husband?” My words drip with malice at someone claiming the creature before me.
“I guess it would be ex-husband now. Don’t worry, I plan to get my revenge.” She grins up at me, her eyes lighting up with an intensity and anger that staggers me as it sends my cock and emotions into overdrive. I expected a fragile mate I would need to protect, but the unknown creature before me, stroking my dragon as she speaks of murder, is anything but.
She tilts her head, her eyes unfocused before they come back to me sadly. “I think I’m waking up. Will I see you again, Dragon?” she asks.
“Would you like to?”
“Yes.”
“Then you shall. I will be here waiting until I can meet you in the flesh, Neriso,” I reply automatically. She already has my dragon wrapped around her little finger, he lets out a huff when she stops touching me and steps back. Fading from view with a smile and a small wave. After she’s left, her dream space starts to collapse, brick after bricking until I am flung back into my own body.
I sit up with a huff, the warm feeling of her skin still lingering on my arm, proving it really happened. My mate is a mystery, one I plan on untangling as soon as I can.
I lean back against the wall of the coffee shop I’m in, grimacing at the noise. Humans are so loud. Sipping my overpriced coffee, I watch for the man I’m hunting for. He arrives here like clockwork every day, and today is the day I confront him. I need the access he has. It seems he runs the security system surrounding the warehouse the girls are being held in. I need to get in and out without being seen. Now, I could use my powers, but I also want to take a look at the security footage and see what I’m dealing with. I might also keep it as insurance against the council.
Something tugs on my arm, and looking down with an angry frown, I stare into the round eyes of the sticky human child next to me.
“Shoo,” I order, extracting my arm, gently, from its grip.
It gargles something at me, and I glare at it. “Be gone, sheep child,” I command in my deadliest voice. It laughs and tries to clamber into my lap when a haggard looking, middle-aged woman rushes over with an apology on her lips as she grabs it.
“Sorry, so sorry. I turned my back for one second. I really am sorry!” she calls as she starts talking to the child, walking away with it in her arms. It giggles, waving at me over her shoulder. Rolling my eyes, I wave back.
Just then my phone rings, pulling it from my jean pocket I swear at the caller ID. Swiping to answer, I put it to my ear as anger already pools in my stomach. There is only one reason they call, and it’s never good.
“You are requested,” the cold, dark voice says before they hang up.
Fucking rude bastards. I suppose they get away with it being the council and all. Downing the lukewarm coffee, I stand from my table. Looks like all of my plans are out the window today, because when the council calls. You answer.
I wake up warm, and when I crack open my eyes I smile, spotting Nos’ snoring face above me from where I’m curled up on his chest. We are both still covered in blood, sweat, and come, and it’s starting to itch. Slipping from the bed, not wanting to disturb my horned god, I tiptoe around the body lying on the floor in a pool of blood, which is soaking into the carpet, reminding me to sort that out later.
The bathroom is a mess as well, obviously from his escape attempt. Kicking the towel I used to gag him to the side, I flip on the shower. Cranking it as hot as it goes, I step inside and sigh in bliss when the water feels like the fires of hell against my body. Scrubbing at my skin, I watch the water turn red as it circles the drain at my feet.
I have to wash my hair three times—no one ever mentions how hard it is to get crusted blood out of blonde hair and let me tell you, it’s not fun.
By the time I’m dry, I walk out of the bathroom expecting Nos to be awake, but he’s still dead to the world. Striding to my bag of stolen goods, I slip into one of the dresses. It’s midnight blue with little golden buttons down the front and flares at the middle. I add some black heels and stolen jewelry, and pack all the other stuff back up, making sure to keep Tim’s paperwork close by.
Looking back at the bed, I debate my options, but now that my urgency and tiredness have left my determination to bring him to justice is back. Writing a quick message for Nos, I slip out of the room with my bags thrown over my shoulders.
Time for part one of the plan: love life.
With the meeting scheduled later tonight, I have time to head back to his apartment building and tail Tim. I’m not sure how I'm going to destroy his love life yet, but I’ll think of something. About an hour of waiting later, he walks out of the front door, his security posse and fuck buddies in tow.
When they don’t take a cab or the car, I keep to my side of the street, secretly watching them as they walk to wherever the hell the bastard goes during the day when he wasn't tormenting me.
He walks for over ten minutes before striding into a posh looking restaurant. I watch through the front window as he meets a blonde at a table near the window and kisses her, hard. This bitch. He never brought me to places like this, not that this is the issue here, but they do nice looking burgers and that bastard knew I loved them.
Throwing my hair over my shoulder, I do what any good dead ex-wife would do. Make a scene.
I push open the door to the restaurant and ignoring the maître d', I head to the back corridor and wait. It doesn't take long before he gets up and heads my way. Hiding until he goes to the men’s room, I block the door with a plant pot, which I’m guessing you aren't supposed to be able to move by the weight of it.
Straightening my dress, I saunter over to his table where the woman waits, sipping on some coffee. Sliding into his empty seat, I cross my legs and meet her startled gaze.
“Hello, love. Don’t mind me joining, do you?” I purr.
“Erm, sorry?” she asks, all timid and a fucking blush covering her cheeks as she lowers her eyes. Fucking hell, he’s going to eat her up and spit her out.
“Don’t be, but he will be,” I murmur, leaning over and grabbing his coffee to sip it as I watch her over the rim of the mug. Her bright blue eyes are wide and confused as she watches me. Her blonde hair is straight and in a short bob, framing her cute face. She looks so sweet and innocent that I sigh and put the coffee down. “What's your name, cutie?” I inquire softly.
She swallows, her eyes darting to the corridor Tim went down. “Don't worry, he's busy. It's just you and me.”
“Stacey, who are you?” she retorts, fiddling with her cup nervously. I spot the red marks on her wrist and frown. She notices my gaze and pulls the sleeve of her dress down to cover it self-consciously.
“Don't worry, I'm used to that. Makeup works best if you can get the right colour match, but it doesn't stop it from hurting, am I right?”
She sucks in a breath and leans back as I lean in. “Listen up Stacey. I've been where you were. He says sorry the next day, he brings presents to make up for it, swearing it won't happen again.” Her breathing ne
arly stop while I talk and I notice the shame in her eyes, she knows I'm right. “I should know, he did it to me. I don't want that to happen to anyone again because, love? He won't ever stop. He feels the need to dominate everything and to hurt others because he can. It's a mechanism. He will never change no matter how many times you tell yourself that, or how many excuses you make for his behaviour. Right now, you’re staring down the barrel of a gun without even realising it. Do you stand there and wait for him to pull the trigger, or do you run?”
“He did this to you?” she whispers, leaning in and dropping her voice so no one else can hear.
“Yup, but much worse. I didn't get out,” I reply, my voice low and dangerous, thinking about the hell he put me through.
“What happened?” she questions, searching my face for answers like I'm her savior.
“He killed me. Well, he thought he did after he forced me to marry him and kept me like his fucking pet,” I spit.
She sucks in a breath, tears gathering in her eyes. “I don't know how to get out. I tried to get away, but he knows where I live and he keeps turning up.” She looks down and I lift her chin with my finger.
“Do you want to be free of him? Are you willing to help yourself? That's the only way this works. I can get you away so he will never find you again, but if you don't want to escape then this is all pointless,” I finish, the truth flowing from my mouth. I came to destroy his life, but I’ll try and save this innocent girl if I can. Stop him in a way no one ever did for me. I see her despite her broken heart and the bruises covering her body. I see her, and with that comes the need to save her. If she will let me.
“Yes,” she responds, desperate. Her voice is strong even if her body isn't. She means what she says, she wants to be free, but she didn't know how.
“I’m going to give you some money. You are going to get on the next flight out of here, do you have anywhere to go? Anywhere he won't know where to find you?”
She thinks hard, nibbling on her bottom lip before her eyes clear. “My family, they own a farm up north, I've never told him about it,” she says quickly, and I know it’s the truth. The adrenaline is pumping through her body now that she sees the light at the end of the tunnel, and I wish I could have found that escape with her too.
“Good, go there. Start fresh. Never come back, I mean it.” I reach down for the small clutch I brought and pull out a wad of his money and pass it over. “Stacey, you’re free, now get out before it's too late, because there is a death coming for him and I would hate for you to get caught up in it.”
I lean back and down the rest of his coffee, leaving a lipstick mark on the rim.
She grabs the money and holds it to her chest like the lifeline it is. Tears drip down her face as she smiles at me, the first one I’ve seen out of her. It will take a long time for her to heal, maybe she never fully will, but at least she has a shot.
She nods and grabs her stuff before getting to her feet and beginning to walk away. I watch her go but she stops and turns back to me, rushing towards me and embracing me. “Thank you, thank you so much,” she whispers before pulling away. “What about you? Why don't you come with me?”
I shake my head sadly. “It's too late for me, go.” I push her softly and she nods. Looking around, she grabs a napkin and pulls a pen from her bag, scribbling something on it before passing it back to me. “Here, if you ever change your mind, there’s a safe place for you here. We aren't...conventional people, but I offer you safe passage.” She nods, turns, and leaves. I frown at her strange wording as I watch her go. It's like watching what I could have been. I was offered an out a few times and I always took it with one hand, never two. What would have happened to me if I was like her and got away?
It doesn't matter now, this is my life. Slipping the napkin into my bag I decide to have my fun, it's the only thing I can do now. Get revenge, let this power inside of me out until it eats at the dead flesh of this city I once loved.
Uncrossing my legs I stand up, and I pull down my dress as I make my way to the corridor. I hear him banging and swearing as he tries to get out of the bathroom. Smirking, I kick the plant over and open the door, stepping inside as he steps back warily. When he spots me, his mouth drops open and his eyes round. I can see his pulse hammering at his neck, and almost taste the confusion and fear on the air.
“Hello husband,” I purr as I step inside and shut the door behind me.
“You’re dead,” he mutters dumbly, shaking his head as he backs away and hits the stall door.
“Very smart of you to notice, thank you for that, by the way. I appreciated the mud facial you gave me. Really smoothed out my skin as I crawled from it,” I comment casually, stepping forward slowly.
His hand grabs the gun I know he keeps tucked in his jacket, his hands shaking as his face pales. What a pussy. “I saw you die,” he repeats like a broken record.
“Dude, we just covered that. Keep up, will you?” I taunt and dart forward, making him jump as I step back and laugh.
He points the gun at me and I roll my eyes.
Rushing forward, I twist and pull and turn it in my hands until it's aimed at him. He freezes, his breaths wheezing as I step closer and push it into his privates. “Now, I know it's hard for you to listen with all the cocks in your mouth, but I'm going to need you to concentrate for a couple of seconds, okay?”
When he doesn't answer me, I dig the gun in and he yelps and nods desperately, sweat appearing on his forehead.
“Good boy.” I tap his cock with the barrel of the pistol. “Now, little Stacey out there has disappeared and you won't try to follow her, or I will become your own little poltergeist every time you try and get your disgusting little woodpecker wet, whether that be in one of your girls or your security team.”
He sputters at that and I grin.
“Oh yes, darling. I have pictures, pictures I’m sure you would hate to get out, seeing as you’re one of the biggest homophobes in the fucking city. So you will leave her alone, as well as any other girls you are beating on.”
He nods, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows hard. “Anything else?”
I lean forward, digging the gun in as I whisper in his ear. “I'll be seeing you soon husband—game on.”
I drop the gun and turn, leaving as casually as I can. I hear him muttering about too much drugs and drinking behind me, no doubt his tiny little mind is trying to protect him from the fact that the wife he killed has come back from the dead with her sights set on him. Whatever helps him cope, because I’m only just getting started, and I can't wait to have my fun. Whistling to myself, I leave the restaurant and head to the designer shops down the road. I'm going to put a dent in his cards. Laughing, I pull out the wallet I slipped from his pocket while he was distracted. Let's see how much I can buy before the meeting later. Time for a pretty woman moment...apart from the fact that I’m not a prostitute and he’s definitely no Edward Lewis.
Let me tell you, money opens a lot of doors. I didn't grow up poor per se, but I wasn't rich, and it's crazy how flashing some black cards and cash can change a person's attitude towards you. I could probably finger myself on the black, leather sofa I’m sitting on in the middle of the ladies section and they wouldn't give a fuck, only ask if I needed any refreshments.
The two women who are serving me bustle back and forth bagging up clothes, hats, shoes, and more as they bring additional items over for me to try on. I have no plans to wear this shit at all—well, maybe some of it, the rest I’m going to donate. See, I can be a good person…sometimes.
“Miss, would you like another drink?” the pretty blonde, who informed me her name was Sarah, asks with a sneer of her lips that she doesn’t think I catch. Her pencil skirt and blouse are pressed perfectly, and probably worth than my old apartment. I nod as I lean back and she brings me a fresh glass of champagne.
It's way too perfect in here, it makes me want to fuck some shit up just because I can. Kicking off my heels, I curl my legs under me
on the sofa. Her eyes widen before she schools her expression. Bringing the glass to my lips I block my smile with it.
“Sarah, be a doll. Run and get me a pizza, would you? I'm starving.” I tell her, just to see if she will. Call it curiosity. The dead have to have a few perks, right?
“Erm, I’m afraid we have a no eating policy,” she counters, looking around as if hoping someone else will appear and take me away. If it wasn't for the card on the sofa next to me, she would have kicked me out an hour ago.
“Okay, bag all this stuff up apart from those jeans, the red dress, that black number, and those golden heels. Here is the two address of where to send the rest.” I pass over a sheet of paper. Written there is a homeless shelter’s number and the other number is Stacy's. I figured Stacey deserves some of that dickwad’s money as well.
She nods and scurries away, no doubt happy to be rid of me. Pulling out the new phone I bought, I check the time. I still have a couple of hours to kill before the meeting. I wonder if Nos is still at the hotel? Probably not, he wouldn't want to be caught with the body. Not that he would care, but he’s probably out here lurking somewhere, stalking me. The thought sends a thrill through me as I sip the overpriced champagne, an evil thought coming to mind. He could definitely help me pass the time if I can find him.
Game on monster, and this time, I’m the hunter.
The plane is waiting for me like Mike said it would be, I guess the vampire can be good for something. Pulling the stolen truck over at the open hangar on the small, private runway, I get out and leave the keys inside. I slam the door behind me, and cover the distance between the car and the plane in four big strides. The man, who is clearly waiting for me, cowers before me. I take a big sniff and realise he is human—what was Mike thinking? He looks like he is about to piss himself.
“Mister, er...” He looks down at his phone, making me narrow my eyes. I don't have time for this.
