Page 9 of Hollyhocks

Except for now.

The only taste I have, the only craving torturing my body, is for Fitz.

“Yes,” she moans, reaching for me again.

I snap her neck before she can blink. Unwrapping my hand from her slender throat, her body falls to the ground.

“Too bad. That’s for interrupting my fucking thoughts.” I squat down, tucking her blonde hair behind her ear as her lifeless eyes stare back at me. “Only one person can have me. You understand, don’t you?”

I don’t feel bad for killing her. The old me would have, but I’ve noticed all my give-a-damns died when I became a monster.

“You were pretty.” I bend down and kiss her cheek before whispering, “But you are so much prettier dead.”

My fingers drag across her cheek and that’s when I see the light purple flesh of mine morphs into her skin tone. Curious, I grab her arm so hard the bone breaks, and her features take over my body.

“Woah,” I whisper, turning my hands over to see how I’ve changed.

My nails are shorter. The light purple skin is gone. I look down, noticing my breasts are hers. Everything is hers. I rush to the van and rip the side mirror off, needing to see my reflection.

My horns are gone.

The bright orange glow of my eyes are now baby blue. Instead of long blue hair with a shaved side, I have wavy blonde hair. Inspecting my mouth, even my teeth are dull.

The longer I stare at myself, the more uncomfortable I become. I can sense my beasts inside me, roaring and clashing together to be freed.

“How do I change back?” I ask myself, touching my cheek as a slight panic plucks at my heart.

I focus on my form, wishing for it to return, and my eyes widen as I watch the change happen in real-time. The light purple skin returns, the blonde is overcome with blue, and in the next instant, I’m looking at myself again.

“Can I change back into her?” My curiosity has always known no bounds. I focus on her features, and they return with no issue.

I can change into her whenever I want. If I want.

Not liking the human appearance, I bring my new form back and stay in it. Being around other humans one day, my trick to change or blend into my surroundings will come in handy, but right now, it is best if I stay in the body that can protect me best.

“What do you have in here?” I ask her dead body, the only reply is the crackling of the fire. Walking to the back of the van where the doors are open, I claw through the pink curtains she has on the windows. “Cute,” I tell her. “Not my favorite color, though.”

Her suitcase is open on the small twin bed. I come across a cute white crop top that has black leather strings laced from the middle of the chest to the base of the neck.

“I like this too. I’m taking it. You don’t mind, right? It’s not like you need it anymore.” I tug it on over my head and come across a brand-new pack of unopened underwear. “Oh, smart woman. I’m using these, okay?” I rip the bag open, the plain white panties spilling free.

“Again, not my style, but better than being completely naked, right?” I say to myself, curling my lips in disapproval as I hold up the basic panties.

A pair of jean shorts with pink daisies sewn on the pockets have me rolling my eyes but they will have to do.

“Out of all the people I had to come across, why did the universe send me you?” I grumble, wishing my victim had a little more taste in her clothing.

I rip a hole in the back for my tail, slip them on, tug my tail through the hole, and button them.

“How do I look? What do you think?” I give her a little spin. “Why thank you. I think it’s cute too. What was that?” I pretend she is talking to me. “It looks better on me than you?” I place my hand on my chest. “You’re too sweet.”

I jump in the van, my horns grinding across the ceiling, and my head rings from the sound of metal tearing.

“What else do you have in here?” I hum, ignoring the photos of herself with a few friends and the canned food sitting on the floorboard.

My feet kick something under her raised bed. I bend down, moving the curtain of blue that falls in my face, and see three big black duffle bags.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” I pull one out, unzip it, and rip the flap open to see more money than I have ever seen before. “What the fuck did you do to get this money? I mean, lucky for me, but—” I take a stack of hundreds out, feathering my thumb through the ends. “—This is so much.”

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