Page 16 of Thanatos' Craving

My fingers tapped against my scythe, watching her intently instead of retrieving the soul of her abuser.

I was far too fascinated by her reaction. I designed Fluffy’s form to frighten everyone around him. With women and children, he usually stayed by my side, knowing his face was hideous, and waited until I took them to their designated resting places. But with her?

He forgot his appearance.

The female’s hand reached out, touching Fluffy’s ivory boned jaw, and if my eyes could widen, they would have.

She was petting a beast, without care.

Fluffy then pulled away, seeing that the abuser’s body was covering my female. He circled the male and pulled on his ankle, dragging the dead body away from her. Blood continued to pour from the neck, it was slit right across his throat.

It was a perfect cut, the right angle and depth. It impressed me, the tiny thing able to make such a strike at just the right time. I puffed out my chest. Even though I could not protect her, she held her own. She protected herself; she was a fighter.

Once Fluffy dragged the body closer to me, I pulled up my sleeve, showing off my boned hand. The female’s heart sped up slightly.

My fingers tightened around his ankle, feeling the cold, lifeless flesh against my skin. His tormented soul writhed violently, desperate to escape as I forcefully extracted it from his nowlifeless body. Curses and screams echoed through the air, mixing with the sound of my labored breathing. Each punch that failed to touch my robed form fueled my anger further. Even in death, he remained unrepentant, a fact that would only intensify his suffering during judgment.

“Put me down, you scary fuck!” With a flick of my wrist, his blackened soul landed on his back. His eyes widened, seeing my covered face and my scythe by my side. “Shit!”

I stared down at him, looking into his eyes, and realized this was a demon soul. A demon had penetrated a human’s body and thrown the human’s soul elsewhere. I paused, watching him wither beneath me. “Name!” I bellowed.

“No!” he snapped. “I won’t tell you!”

I needed a name. A name to command him back to The Underworld. “I command you give me a name!” I ordered.

He shook his head again. He tried to push me away.

“Koozoth,” the female whispered.

I turned to her, and the demon cursed.

She swallowed. “Koozoth is his name.”

“You bitch!” he roared.

"Koozoth, I sentence you to the torture chambers of Lucifer, where you will be tried and judged."

I threw him to the ground, and with one swipe of the scythe, I beheaded his soul, causing it to fade into a mist that was sucked into the earth.

I felt a sense of accomplishment wash over me, but I knew my task wasn't done just yet. Because the female’s heated gaze was still burning deep into my robes.

Why? Why did I feel I was naked in front of her when I held so much fabric between us?

“Are you here for me, too?” Her voice was raw, her eyes stayed on me, but her hand continued to pet the hellhound like it was a puppy.

I stayed silent and walked slowly toward her.

I wanted to say yes, that I was here for her. Her heart beat more slowly, her movements grew sluggish. There was no way she would survive this. Taking her soul would be the easiest option.

The idea repulsed me.

“I just want to know if Amanda is okay. I-is she okay?” She took in a shaky breath. “Did she get out in time?”

She dropped the hand that was petting Fluffy. He whined, nudging her with his nose.

“Is she at least alive?” Her eyes drooped.

I sunk back into my mind, recalling any reapers around the area taking a soul with the name Amanda. None came to. “There is no soul named Amanda in my care.”

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