Page 39 of Insatiable Hunger

Think. What is it that we are doing in the trees, dear Cain?John asked. I didn’t respond, genuinely perplexed by everything. The creature hesitated, lingering for a moment before galloping towards the sound of the whistles.Do you understand what is happening?It aimedin the same direction of the dark silhouette that remained seated in the trees. I wasn’t sure what any of it meant.They are tracking and guiding the beast. Corralling it.

Who?I felt lost.

“The Triad,” John whispered aloud, smiling.

The putrid odor drifted away as the animal ventured further into the woods, unknowingly obeying the command of the whistles. John waited a few moments before carefully lowering himself, descending the tree. He hopped from a lower branch, landing in the mud below.What’re you doing?

“If the Triad are luring that beast away, that must mean there is something they do not want it to stumble upon.” He pointed towards the trees ahead. “And your friends' tracks dallied in this direction, which means we are gaining on them.” He slowly began to trek ahead, stopping as he sniffed the air.

What is it?I asked.

John’s eyes glanced around, probing the woods, following whatever phantom scent was luring him. He stumbled as his feet halted before the same puddle the animal had been so enamored with before. He tilted his head, studying the flippant pool, bending down to one knee, reaching his hand forward. He dipped his fingertips into the liquid, raising it high.

“Just as I expected.” John examined the dark red water as it ran down his skin. “Blood.” Rain trickled down his hand, running along the blood, causing it to streak across his skin. He brought his finger to his mouth, tasting the mixture. Faint moans fell from his lips, seemingly enjoying what he was consuming. “You simply must try hexer blood, dear Cain. It truly has such a marvelous taste.”

Hexer blood? You mean witches' blood.I stopped, realizing there were two possibilities as to whose blood it might be.Whose blood is it?It could only belong to two people: Alaska or Ruby.

“This,” he ran his index finger through the puddle, rippling the surface, “belongs to our fiery friend, Ruby, and it is relatively fresh. She is near.” He sniffed again, scanning the ground closely. “Wait, there is more.” He ran his other hand along the damp dirt, touching a small droplet, raising it closely to his face as he examined the blood. “Alaska,” he breathed her name, licking the single bead from his fingertip. A whimper, followed by satisfying sounds, rumbled in his throat. “My my.” He licked his lips. “Dear Cain, you did not tell me your sweet little hexer had the mostexquisiteblood. Oh, what a pleasant surprise this is.”

My anxiousness bubbled as I fought to regain control. I didn’t care what the reasoning behind their blood being here was; I simply wanted to try their blood myself.I want to taste it.My existence slammed into his, straining to be set free. An unnatural craving took over, possessing me as I continued to claw for control.Let me try it!

“I’m afraid that was all your sweet Alaska left for us to enjoy. But alas, you may quench your thirst with dear Ruby’s. I do say, she must be severely injured as she has left an abundance behind. Plenty for us to share.” John’s existence stepped aside, allowing me to slither back into my skin alongside him, regaining control.

I fell to my knees, eagerly pressing my hands into the bloody puddle and raising them to my face. Deep red dripped from my fingers, running down my bare arms. I inhaled, the smell of her blood tainted with a foul scent as it filled my lungs.Cain, John tugged at my consciousness.Cain. I ignored his pestering, consumed with the idea of what her blood might taste like.Cain!

“Shut the fuck up!” I snapped back, closing my eyes as I ran my drenched finger along my tongue. “Let me enjoy this,” I breathed, savoring the sticky substance. My tastebuds exploded with euphoria, the tang of her essence waking a new hunger within. John was right: her blood—hexer blood—was unlike anything I had ever consumed. It was nothing like what I expected, filled with saccharine. The flavor palate of my mouth ruptured, the after taste of her lingering on my tongue. I reached my hand back into the withering puddle, desperately craving more. The blood rippled as the ground quivered.

Cain, you imbecile!John’s power yanked at my skin, forcing my head high as my gaze locked with another’s. Straight ahead, peering through the trees, was a set of red glowing eyes.Do not move.

What’s happening? What is that?My questions quivered within my mind.

John whispered his response back to me.It seems we are once again being hunted, but by what, I am not sure.I remained quiet and still, frozen in my position.

The source of the unnaturally red eyes moved, a large, bone-like claw stepping forward as the same blood dipped deer skull appeared. The glowing eyes were seeded within the empty sockets of the skull itself. The skeletal face tilted as the broken antler rose. The boney jaw of the skull trembled, a low chitter drifting from the skullcap.

“That’s not possible,” I whispered, alarmed by what I saw. The animal stepped forward, its malnourished body moving from the trees and into clear view, petrifying my nerves. The skull wasn’t sitting on top of its head… No, itwasits head, and it wasn’t a bear, or an animal. It was a demon.

My hand slowly lowered, reaching for my knife, tucked safely into the back of my jeans.Careful, Cain. We do not know what might trigger its instincts.

The demon huffed, fog gathering around the damaged skull as it sauntered near. The beast’s umber fur-covered body rose, standing about seven feet high with a slouched posture. Its long, boney hands scratched its deer-like ears, its red eyes fixated on me as my fingers curled along the handle of my knife, ready to attack.

A loud, nearby whistle caught me off guard, my eyes moving to the corners of my sockets as if it were a reflex.

Do not look away!My attention snapped back to the beast, but it was gone. Fear weighed me down, my heart pounding as I frantically searched the woods, desperately trying to spot the animal.

“Where is it, John? Where did it go?”

Snap.

I whipped around at the startling sound. The beast sprung at me, its boney jaw extended, growling as its peckish frame pinned me to the ground, knocking my knife away from me. “Shit!” I yelled, its claw-like hands weighing mine down. The demon’s mouth was dripping with saliva, a long, snake-like tongue wiggling from behind its yellow stained teeth as its jaw inched towards my face. The wet textured tongue scraped across my neck and face, licking the slightly dried blood that soaked my skin. My strength fought against its heavy weight, struggling to break free. I yelled, straining to shove the creature from my body, kicking my legs, but to no avail.

Let me take control, Cain. I can use my power. Let me out!

My body surged with power as John stepped forward, taking absolute control. He clenched his teeth, biting back a growl as his hands began to glow. His fingers curled around the creature’s claws, forcing them to remain locked with his as his magic fire burned its limbs. The beast raised its head, screeching into the night as John grappled with it, forcing it to endure the pain. I curled into myself, shocked by the sheer evil John possessed. Hegrappled with the demon, pulling it closer as it screamed, its ear-piercing shriek filling the night. Green fire slithered along the beast’s claws, burning up its fur covered arms. He was torturing it.

A gunshot blasted from our left as a bullet whizzed above the animal’s head, missing. Both John and the beast turned their attention, still tangled together. A second shot echoed, piercing the creature’s neck, knocking it to the ground. John’s magic faded as he quickly stumbled to his feet, gripping my nearby knife.

A tall, slender woman dressed in hunting gear was frantically reloading her shotgun, dropping the empty shells as she watched John sprint towards her. Her paint-smeared face was drenched in panic. She fumbled a handful of ammo, struggling to place two in the barrel.

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