Page 14 of The Angel's Kiss
I snorted, then laughed. “And you lot call us demons heartless.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You are. It’s because of demons and regular wicked humans that Guardians must be prepared to accept the loss of life. Not everyone they want to save will be. Guardians must learn what it means to make sacrifices for the greater good.”
I didn’t say anything to that, because I understood her meaning. I just nodded.
“I’ll take my leave, but don’t worry. I’ll be back with more progress reports,” she said.
“Wait a minute,” I called out before she left. She turned. “Has he dreamed about me? You said your kind get visions around his age.”
Terri nodded. “From what I’ve been told, he considers those to be nightmares.”
I huffed. “Me in my prime, I bet.”
“Behave yourself,” she joked. With that, she left.
I picked up the boy’s photo again and looked at it. He was in his Stellar Academy uniform, a big smile on his face. I guess it was before he found out he’d been royally fucked by the same destiny that had been kicking my ass for over a hundred years. I tossed the photo on the table again and walked over to my window, looking down at the city below. So much has changed, yet remained the same. Technology had advanced, even beyond my own expectations. Who knew humans would create a bombthat would still kill for years to come? The guns and bombs I’d taught man to make were way more efficient in destroying humanity.
I still fed off all of that death, making me stronger over time. It was interesting to see my legacy ruling supreme and humans had no idea. Of course, I hadn’t been able to take credit for anything created in these modern times like drones that could kill from afar or satellites. It was true, I’d been forced to retire in 1912. Oh, but did I enjoy the twenties and the decades that followed. I didn’t make mankind fight itself, couldn’t even if I wanted to. Their desire to destroy themselves was in their nature... a flaw in their design, if you asked me. I had just made it easier for them to do it.
I watched the lights from cars moving and wondered... who could I kill tonight? Perhaps a rapist? A murderer? I smiled and then put on my long, black coat. Time to go hunting.
***
“Please... please don’t kill me,” the man begged as he scooted back on the ground, dragging himself through the muck in the filthy alley. A fitting place for him.
I’d caught him trying to rape a teenage girl who happened to be heading home from a party she shouldn’t have attended. The girl was unconscious, having had her head slammed against the wall by her would-be rapist. Her blouse was undone, but that was as far as the asshole got before he met me.
“Oh, I’m going to kill you. Only question is, do I kill you slowly or mercifully?” I asked.
“Please, I won’t do it again,” he lied.
I laughed. “Do you know how many times I’ve heard that? ‘Please, don’t’ or ‘I’m sorry’.” I sneered at him. “Pathetic. Die with dignity. Own up to your crimes... your sins. Trust me, it goes a long way in Hell. You’ll be tortured, this is true. Forcenturies, but there is a chance for a promotion if you’re proud of what you’ve done.”
“Please... I never did this before. I won’t do it again.”
I allowed my eyes to glow their bright indigo and his eyes widened. I then allowed my fangs, claws, and ears to transform. I used to be able to show my demonic face, but ever since being cursed with the Angel’s Kiss, I couldn’t. This was the extent of the demon I could show these humans. Still, it was enough.
“Ahhh,” the man screamed, then scrambled to his feet. He tried to run, but I teleported in front of him, blocking the way. He screamed again, his face contorted in the terror he felt, and I smiled, showing off my sharpened teeth. I slashed his chest, ripping into his skin. Blood gushed from the wounds and it felt so good to feel the heat of what pumped life into their weak bodies dripping from my fingers. He fell back to the ground, holding his bleeding chest, his clothes becoming soaked in blood. “Please don’t,” he pleaded.
“Stop,” I said, using my ability to freeze objects and people for a brief period. It was enough for me to set him on fire. I released the freeze on him, allowing parts of his body to feel the pain of the Hellfire burning him, yet his head and mouth remained frozen. He felt every bit of the heat from the fire as it raged, yet couldn’t scream. His limbs flailed about as the flames devoured him. His death was absolute and pure agony. Watching him suffer had me in a state of extreme arousal. As killing always did.
I released my power over him, allowing the flames to engulf his head, where he did scream, but only for a few seconds before he died. I waved my hand and a gust of wind extinguished the flames, leaving his charred body smoldering. I wondered what happened to the souls of demons and humans I killed who were bound for Hell. Since I was no longer linked to my Empress, I had no way of knowing if those souls went to her or if they justdisappeared. Did they remain in limbo, a void that might be even worse than torture? I did wonder.
For now, I had a human to drop off at home and a raging hard-on to take care of.
Chapter six
Rai
A Bad Idea But a Good Ass Time
“You’re dropping your shoulder,giving your moves away,” Instructor Snyder said as I sparred with one of the Guards of the Guild.
“Yes, sir,” I said, then made adjustments as I continued to spar. This was hand-to-hand combat day and I took my opponent down, locking his arm in a hold he couldn’t counter. He tapped out and I let him go.
“Good job, Rai,” Instructor Snyder praised.
I nodded and rose from the mat. I offered a hand to the Guard-in-training, but he refused and got up on his own. I didn’t care. I was used to their attitudes by now. Fuck them. For some reason, a lot of the Guards and some of the Guardians didn’t like or trust me. I didn’t know why. I mean, weren’t we all on the same team?
