Page 78 of Roman

“Brother, what have you done?”Roman whispered in disbelief as he peered over his brother’s shoulder at the beautiful, otherworldly creature that now stood by the portal.

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Hunger consumed her.Charlotte’s mind screamed at her.Food.Her mouth watered.She could smell blood all around her.It was intoxicating.The smell was sweet and alluring.It filled her senses like a pheromone-laced drug she couldn’t ignore.She was hyperaware of everything around her.

Hungry,her mind growled again.

Everything had been dark before.Cold, dark, and lonely.Then, it felt like a fire burning slowly through her veins, like her body was waking up from a cold sleep.It had grown more intense, spreading fast throughout her until she actually felt her heart start again.

The first beat had been so loud she thought her eardrums would explode.But the hunger was overwhelming.It blocked out everything else.She couldn’t think straight.She had been so happy when she spotted Roman.The love she had felt for him in that moment when they had locked eyes had nearly made her heart burst.She’d wanted to kiss him, to hug him,to consume him.But the hunger was stronger.

She covered her ears, the sound of a hundred drums beating was deafening.As Charlotte tried to calm her mind, she realized it wasn’t drums.She looked around the chamber, remembering she was in a temple.She glanced at the golden portal to Hell, then past it, where people were fighting.Wait, no, not people, angels, fallen angels.Memories started to flood her mind.Images of her life, her grandmother, her friends, the demons.She was to be sacrificed.To be killed.

Charlotte frowned, confused.She didn’t feel the same.Nothing was the same.All her senses were heightened.Her smell, hearing, and even the colors of the world seemed brighter, clearer.It was as if she was seeing everything properly for the first time.Hearing the roar of the world as it should have always been heard.Her emotions were stronger.The passion and love for Roman before had nearly paralyzed her, but now they were all-consuming.

Her throat burned with so much intensity, she wanted to rip it out.That goddamn drumming was driving her insane, she thought angrily, shaking her head as she pressed her hands over her ears harder, trying to block it out.

As she focused on the fallen angels fighting, she realized the sound was coming from them.It was their pulses, their beating hearts thumping away.Their blood pumping through their warm, lush bodies.

Hungry.

Charlotte straightened, tilting her head to the side, watching them be beaten down by a tall, dark man in a suit.She licked her lips as her eyes locked on the open wounds.Time slowed as she focused on the deep red blood dripping from their bodies.The scent of it filled the room, blocking out every other sense.Her own heartbeat quickened, drowning out the beating hearts of everyone else in the room.

Charlotte flinched as her tongue pricked on a fang, the taste of her own blood making her close her eyes in delight.Wait, fangs?Her hands flew to her mouth in confusion and felt two long fangs.They throbbed as she touched them.

She felt a heavy weight between her shoulders.With a frown, she turned her head to find… wings.Beautiful black wings.They shimmered in the light, and there was no other word for them but magnificent.

Charlotte raised a hand to touch one when a scream erupted from the fight across from her.She looked over to see a tanned, dark-haired warrior being lifted off the ground by the dark man in the suit.Memories rushed forward.Demon.Disgust filled her, the memories of the evil being rushing through her.She recognized the warrior he was holding, a friendly face.Grigori.

She watched in horror as Azazel flexed his other hand, black claws lengthening from his fingertips and curving into sharp razors.He stabbed Grigori in the stomach, his clawed hand digging deep, then he sliced upwards.

He’s trying to gut him.Dread filled her.Then, the smell of Grigori’s blood hypnotized her.She was thirsty, so thirsty.She wanted to drink his blood, she realized, the thought not even disturbing her.Instead, it excited her.

Charlotte took a few dazed steps toward Grigori and the demon.It was beyond her control.She was so hungry she had to feed, needed to feed.She licked her lips as she watched the blood gush from Grigori’s body.She felt angry seeing her friend in pain, rage at seeing the demon hurt him, yet at the same time, intoxicating excitement for what was to come—the taste of Grigori’s blood.

She faltered with a frown.No, no, not Grigori.

I can’t hurt the people I care about.

Then, her gaze settled on the demon.Her eyes narrowed, head tilting once again to the side like a hungry cat watching a mouse.In a split second, her new instincts took over.She wanted to be behind Azazel with every ounce of her being.

In a flash, she stood behind the demon.Charlotte could see Grigori’s eyes widen, staring at her, confused and in pain, as the demon held him in the air, slowly slicing his stomach.

She was baffled by what had just happened, but not for long.She grinned, excitement flooding her body.Charlotte was almost drooling as she leaped onto Azazel’s back, savagely biting into his neck.She tore through skin, muscle, and tendons, blood flooding her mouth.Her eyes rolled back into her head in ecstasy as she pulled deeply, sucking and drinking the demon’s blood.She moaned and held on tight as the demon screamed in fright, dropping Grigori.The angel, falling limp on the ground, weakly tried to hold in his organs protruding from his stomach.

Others rushed to Grigori’s side to help him, staring at her with fear in their eyes.Charlotte ignored them, wrapping her legs around the demon’s waist, her arms tightening around his chest and neck.She started ripping his throat savagely as she drank faster and deeper.Her vision went red.All sounds fell away except for the sound of the demon’s blood pumping through his veins.

The demon spun, still screaming and trying to shake her off.There was no moving her.She would empty his body, she would suck every last drop of this heavenly liquid from him, and nothing would stop her.He ran backward, smashing her into a wall.Dust and debris fell over her, but she didn’t budge.She drank deeper.She was lost.

Charlotte could hear his heartbeat slowing down.She drank in a frenzy, gulping, sucking, and licking like a starved, crazed animal, wrapping her body tighter around his.He took a few staggered steps forward, falling to his knees.Still, Charlotte did not stop.She was in heaven; nothing would sate her.Once she finished this demon, she would move on to someone else.

I’m going to drink them all, she thought, crazed and excited.

Although she could hear his heart coming to a stop, she didn’t want it to end.Charlotte wanted more.The intoxicating rapture of the blood lust consumed her.Biting harder, she drew deeper than ever before until she heard a pop and a snap of bones breaking and ripping.Enslaved by thirst, she kept tearing with her teeth until the demon’s head ripped straight off his body.

Landing perfectly on her feet, she let go as the demon’s head rolled one way, and his limp, headless body fell the other.Charlotte raised her head to the ceiling of the cavern, smiling in ecstasy, licking the blood from her lips.The world had fallen away, and she felt like she was flying as total euphoria possessed her.

Charlotte gazed down at the demon’s head, then looked around.Everyone was gaping at her, eyes wide in shock.All she saw were their open wounds, blood dripping and flowing down their battered bodies.

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