Page 5 of Hellish Witch

I clenched my fists, willing the bite of my claws to anchor me here and now, but my thoughts were slippery. Oily and dark.

My feet carried me towards the cage with a single-minded intensity that strangled any logic. Saliva pooled on my tongue as my stomach roiled.

“Ooh, look! Another pretty creature to play with!” The tall demon slurred, waving his bottle at me in greeting. “The Hybrid Kingdom is just full of treats. Maybe I’ll visit this pile of dirt more often.”

Time skipped, and I was already standing before him, the cage looming between us.

He paused, glassy eyes narrowing. “Heh, the half-mage mutt, right? Thehealer? I’ve got something you can work your magic on, witch.” He pointed his blade towards his crotch, snorting with laughter.

I couldn’t unclench my jaw to reply. Instead, I reached a shaky hand for the cage bars, scrabbling at the bolt that held the rusted thing closed. Inside lurked pitch-black fur and feline eyes burning the shade of fresh blood.

A sweaty palm clamped my wrist, squeezing hard enough for my bones to creak. “Fuck off, girl. Or I’ll put you in there with it and sell you in the next kingdom.”

The feeling of someone else’s skin froze me in place.

And then everything happened at once.

Something hungry burst from deep in my chest. Ravenous power lashed out with invisible force. It latched onto the demon with glee and hooked my chest, pulling at me with an awful tugging sensation that stuttered my heart.

Red edged my vision. It matched the blood pouring from the demon’s mouth and a hundred lines soaking through his shirt. Cuts covered his bare arms, widening like screaming mouths. His nose shifted with a crack, blood gushing down his chalky face.

He couldn’t even scream. A wet gurgle of pain spilled from his pale lips. Eyes wide with terror, he struggled to get away from me, slipping in his own blood.

I stumbled back, horror curdling my stomach. But foul magic had me in its grip, wrenching at my chest and strangling my throat.

“No,” I whimpered, scrambling internally to call on my healing magic instead. But no warm glow responded to my desperate cries, my hands unlit and lifeless.

Once bright eyes drained of the last spark of life. The demon collapsed onto the wet grass. His own blood splashed up his cheek.

Dead.

I’d killed him.

Dead. Dead. Dead.

“Shit.” My hands shook as I pushed loose strands of my red hair back between my horns. Power sloshed around in my chest as I struggled to take in what I’d done.

I got my first good look at the male. A middle-aged fear demon, a pureblood merchant likely visiting on his way to a nearby kingdom. He had sky-blue skin and unseeing green eyes. Ram-like horns curled around pointed ears stuck through with countless brass piercings. A smooth tail sagged down to his ankles, no bulbous end to hint at any surprises hidden within the tip.

His face would star in my nightmares. Along with the others.

I turned back to the silent cage, hands trembling as I fought with the lock. It gave with a metallic groan.

The giant beast inside slunk through the tiny opening, unhurried in its escape.

My lips parted, the bizarre sight enough to yank me from my panic spiral.

Ahellcat.

I’d never seen one in person, but I’d heard the warnings about them.

The deadly feline straightened until her head reached my middle, all sleek power and vicious grace. Glossy black fur covered her lean frame, damp from the alcohol splashed over it. Crimson tufts lengthened her triangular ears and fuzzed out the tip of her dangerous tail.

She held completely still, blood-red eyes boring into mine.

I frowned. They were the same shade I had. For some reason, that felt important.

Something passed between us, and the night seemed to hold its breath.

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