Page 63 of From the Shadows
“Come now, human. You know full well who I am.”
“Cristobal,” Shay snarled.
“Oh, you’ve heard of me. I’m sure they were fond words.”
“Jeremy, go to your room,” Shay ordered. “Lock the door.”
“Have you learned nothing?” Cristobal asked, sounding bored. “A door won’t keep me out, just like it didn’t stop me from entering here.”
Patrice! Need help. Cristobal is here.
Damn it! I’m contacting the team. Stay away from him.
No kidding. He kept moving, slowly, methodically.
“Please try to run. I like it when my prey gets their juices flowing. It makes their blood so much sweeter.”
“Jeremy, go!” Shay shouted.
He took off down the hall, screaming in fear. Shay had to keep this animal away from him until Diego got home.
“I don’t know why you think this will work. I’ve been planning this for months. Turn a few dozen dregs, not unlike yourself, then set them loose to feed or cause chaos in a populated area. They were instructed to be creative. To show a level of violence and depravity no one had seen before. To show him what he’s missing by denying this part of his life. The carnage, the sex whenever you wanted, with whomever caught your eye. Then, when the hunters showed up and killed them, I made more. The nice thing about this city? It seems the filth outnumber the regular people, and you’re all too blind to see it. They make for a great army.”
“They’re no army. They were harmless people that you murdered.” Shay tried to keep distance between him and Cristobal. He knew it was fruitless. He could mist like Diego, so he could take him at any time. He was toying with Shay, that much was obvious. Then Shay understood why. “You’re waiting for Diego to come back.”
“Oh, very good. Perhaps you humans aren’t as stupid as I thought. These last attacks were meant to lull them into a false sense of security, knowing their precious home wasn’t the target. When, all along, it was the ultimate prize.”
Shay rushed into the kitchen, where he grabbed a towel that he put over the burner of the stove. It caught quickly. When he turned around, Cristobal was there, smirking. Shay held out the flaming cloth and shook it, ashes and bits of fire falling to thefloor. Cristobal reached out and took it in his hands, snuffing the flame.
“You’re brave too. I’m impressed. Sadly, you all need to die, so the hold you have over his heart is broken and he returns to me. To my family.”
“You sick son of a bitch,” Shay screamed, slamming a fist into Cristobal’s face. He didn’t even flinch.
“Oh, how I wish I could kill you now. You’re the first human to actually stand up to me. All the others ran, begging not to die. You? I can see in your eyes you’ve faced darkness before.”
Shay tried to back up, but there was no room. He was boxed in with nowhere to go.
“Don’t worry, little human. I won’t kill you yet. He needs to be here. He needs to see you die.” He gave a sick smile. “Perhaps I’ll have him kill you. That would truly break him.” Cristobal’s hand lashed out, and he grabbed Shay’s throat. “But be certain of one thing. You will die.”
“No, he won’t.”
Cristobal smirked. “Ah, you’ve arrived. Finally.” He dropped Shay, who clutched at his throat, trying to draw a breath.
“Diego, I’m sorry.”
“Hush. You didn’t do anything wrong. Go find Jeremy.”
“No, I think not.” He stared at Diego. “You want to please me, do you not?”
Diego’s eyes narrowed, and then his face went slack. “Yes, I want to please you.”
“Very good. Kill him for me and bring me his head that I might make a goblet of it.”
“As you command.”
Diego stalked toward Shay. “Please, don’t do this,” he whimpered. “Diego, think of Jeremy. He’s in the house. Do you want him to hear me die?”
He continued, unfazed. Shay tried to stand, but Diego was faster. He pulled Shay up off the floor and leaned in close. “Go get him and get the hell out of here,” he whispered, then let go of Shay and launched himself at Cristobal.
