Page 59 of Appetite

Music begins to play in the room. A slow ballad with a key from a piano, and I recognize Amy Lee's voice.

“Even in Death” by Evanescence plays, and Reid, guiding my hands, leads me to dance in the center of the room. His hand is on my waist in a formal stance, his eyes never leaving mine. He begins leading the steps perfectly in sync with the music, like he has been dancing for years.

When the song ends, the crowd erupts in applause. He dips his head and says softly, "I love you, Jesse Sharpe. This is the beginning of us and of the things I will try to make right in your life.."

CHAPTER43

Zero

Iwatch her toss and turn in her sleep from the other side of her dorm room. After the weekend celebrating her birthday, I hold up my little gift that means so much to my little Sparrow.

It is a shame I must give it to her under different circumstances. She needs to learn to accept me if she wants me to allow her to be with him. She can't have just one because that will not work.

She's ready. I just hope she realizes it and accepts me for the monster that I am. The one that walks in the dark and no one sees. The one they all fear when I come out at night to play.

I walk over to her and watch her chest rise with each breath she takes. The love seeping out of her for him is the same love that can destroy her. An internal battle between good and evil burns inside me, and all I can think about is how to keep her. Keeping what I am from her is shortly coming to a close.

It is hard not to fall for her beauty; I can't blame Reid. He has the gift of her heart. But…we fell in love with her darkness. She fell in love with our demons. We were the perfect hell. But…she's mine. I'm the fire she feeds that will allow her soul to break free.

I leave her and walk down the dark corridor and meet Valen.

"You promise not to hurt her?" he asks under the mask once we are outside.

"Have I?"

"No, but you have to tell her what you are, Zero."

I back him up against the building pissed that he said my name out loud. "Shut the fuck up."

He raises his hands in surrender. He knows there is something more important I have to deal with right now. It cannot wait.

"He's in the room like you wanted."

"Good. Now let's go."

We walk through the secret door on the side of the building. It is how I get in and out of here without anyone seeing me. We make it to the fourth floor and use the master key in my pocket.

The area is dark, except for a white light flickering from the TV inside the room. The rooms are soundproof, and you cannot hear anyone inside. Perfect for the screams.

I take the lead, with Valen following behind me. When we reach the room with the biggest window, I cock my head and watch the look of fear expressed on his features. I'm sure he’s going crazy with the sound of the TV as high as it can go. The sound must be bouncing off the walls.

"I can taste his fear," I say with a growl.

“W-what do you have in mind?” Valen stammers.

I watch him like a curious bird. I flip the switch, and the white strobe light flickers and I see him try to squint and his mouth opens. He’s screaming in agony because he can't close his eyes. I'm sure I look scary as fuck through the glass.

"Have you ever seen the film calledA Clockwork Orange? It's quite spectacular. The more I interact with him, the longer I can stay and feed off his screams."

"Dude. You can't show her this shit. You can’t tell her…" Valen trails off.

I increase the speed of the strobe light, and his mouth hangs open, and I can see his tongue. Definitely, screaming.

"What I do with my future wife is my problem, not yours. I suggest you deal with your own. She has more carnal tastes than you do."

"You can thank Veronica."

"I didn't hear Veronica putting a gun to her head while she feasting on Jess's cunt. She swallowed more than she could chew."

---