Page 110 of Beauty's Monstrous Demons

Dropping articles of clothing as I undress, I leave them where they lay as I turn on the shower. Forcing myself to take deep breaths, I climb in, allowing the water to splash across my skin.

Except instead of the gentle sound of the running water, all I can hear are Lorelei’s screams in my mind. They never end, they simply get more and more forlorn and desperate.

LORELEI

I’m sitting in class, and there are students surrounding me, but their features are shadowy. I suppose it’s unimportant because my eyes are on Phenex, drinking up his features, the way he says his words, and how his lips curl as he speaks.

I’m still in love with him, my heart still aches because I know this can’t be real. I’m willing to pretend though, as it’s the only time I’m able to get any relief from the terror of the shadows.

They want to ruin me, tear my sanity from my mind, so that all that exists is sadness and despair. I’d much prefer snippets of my men than the screams and taunts from the darkness.

“Lorelei, can I see you after class, please?” he asks.

Nodding, I stand, ignoring my things by my desk as I walk down the stairs toward him. I can vaguely hear movement from the other students as they leave, but time is moving oddly for me. I know this isn’t real in a way, I’m just grateful to have it.

“Professor?” I ask, gazing up at him.

He smirks as he lifts me onto the desk at the front of the room, his arms caging me on either side.

“What have we established that you should call me?” he asks, grinning at my giggle.

Happiness, this is what that feels like. I’ve missed it so much.

“Maybe I want the professor,” I tease him, shrugging.

“You can have whatever you want, baby,” he murmurs before he kisses me.

Our moans are the only thing that can be heard for a few minutes before he kisses down my throat.

“I love you, do you know that?” he asks.

“I do,” I whisper. “I love you too. I miss you.”

“Good, hold onto that, Lorelei,” he says. “Do you feel anything pulling you away?”

“No,” I say honestly. It’s like everything around me is quiet. “Have we had this conversation before?”

It feels as if we may have, but I’m unsure.

“For six months,” he says softly. “In different ways, but yes. Do you think you can answer another question?”

“Maybe,” I reply. “I feel like I’m losing touch with the world. Six months is a long time, Phenex.”

“And yet, it’s but a blink of an eye,” he says. “Do you know who did this to you?”

“That’s what’s odd about it,” I say. “It sounded like President Christa, but her voice was really fucked up and she had all of these arms. Why is that? I couldn’t move, I couldn’t scream.”

“But we heard you, and we still do,” he says. “She’s a type of shadow creature. She can grow her appendages as needed. It’s why she gets whatever the fuck she wants. People have a very healthy respect for her.”

“Fear isn’t respect,” I growl.

His face is beginning to crumble, and tears begin to flow from my eyes.

“Not again,” I wail. “Phenex, please stay with me.”

“We’ll find you,” he promises sadly. “Hold on, Lorelei.”

The darkness crawls in, overtaking the light, until there’s nothing left of his strong features, his wild black hair, or his stone colored skin.

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