Page 16 of Monstrous

Mari.

My name is a whisper in the shadows and I shiver again. Squeezing my eyes shut like I can somehow pretend the voice is my imagination when it definitely is not.

“Go away,” I call out. My voice trembles so I clear my throat and I attempt it again. “Go away!”

Yes, a little better. A little more force behind it.

Where would you have us go, little one? This time, the voice sounds right beside me. I practically jump out of my skin as I cower against the back couch cushions.

They’re surrounding me. All three of the monsters who finally showed themselves to me yesterday. And holy shit, I’m going to die. I’m going to die here in my pajamas because a blown breaker brought the beasts to my side.

“This isn’t real,” I whisper.

Oh, Marianna, it’s real, the second one replies, his voice dark and deep. Melted butter and dark chocolate.

“Please.” I’m not sure what I’m asking them for. I’m not sure of anything right now, but the chill along my spine is still there and I can’t move. I can’t even open my eyes because I have no clue what I’ll see.

We’re here for you. We’re here to keep you safe and to make you feel good. The words whisper along my skin like a caress.You belong to us, but we also belong to you.

There’s no way for me to get the lights back on easily. There’s also no easy way to escape.

Even worse? I don’t want to.Something about the tone soothes me down to my bones and although the fear is still there, it’s slowly lessening.

Their forms solidify around me and despite the darkness, I can see them a bit more clearly. Dark eyes piercing into mine from the left monster. He has black hair slicked over his head, the horns. A forked tongue darts out between his lips and I catch a glimpse of fangs.

The one in the middle has short dark hair and dove-gray eyes. His skin is covered in dark tattoos. A glance lower shows muscular abs I want to run my fingers down, having never seen a six pack in real life. It somehow makes the fangs a little less intimidating.

And the last—

My breath catches in my throat and for a moment I black out. Because I’m staring at Walker. I recognize the curly blond hair and sharp green eyes. No glasses.

Marianna, relax, the Walker look-alike tells me. He reaches out to take my hand, raising it to his lips before turning it over and kissing my pulse. Holding me as I shake.

“It’s not possible.” I am shaking again. Trying to get my center back under me and failing miserably. “You’re dead.”

And people can’t come back from the dead. Oh, lord.

His head tilts to the side.I’m also not your dead fiancé. He’s smiling wickedly and somehow this feels like a terrible cosmic joke. Except it also feels like I have Walker back with me, if only for a brief moment, and I’m not sure how to feel.

“Then…how?” I ask.

I have the ability to take different shapes. I can conjure a person’s greatest fear and become it, he tells me as I run a hand along his cheek.I’m Zane. And I’m Fear.

I shake my head. “I don’t understand.”

We’re nightmares in physical form, the one with the black hair says.The name is Vexx. I’m Darkness.

He hisses every word and I shiver, until the name hits me.

Darkness.

Vexx sees the look on my face and takes a hesitant step forward.I am not him, he says.There is a fine line between us, though.

“What’s the difference?” I whisper.

He shrugs.I’m still sane.

The one with the gray eyes stares at me with his head cocked to the side like he has a secret he can’t give away.Arc. Hopelessness. He lifts a hand and the faint light of the moon glints off of sharp nails.

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