Slowly, she stood in the darkness. It engulfed her, swallowed her whole, and choked her.
The darkness was terrifying.
She had always been afraid of the dark.
Then a single light lit in the room, then two, then three.
About a hundred candles were lit now, their flames flickering wildly. She could feel him, suffocating her—the spirit that possessed the man who desired her.
The spirit of death.
That was why she kept running from him.
He didn't know it, but he was possessed, and every night that spirit used her for its sport. Because that spirit claimed to love her.
She glanced outside, her thoughts racing. The sun had set.
And the sweet, loving man who had begged her to come outside? He was no loving man. He was a monster in the flesh of a man, so evil that he had invoked the spirit of death upon himself.
A sharp knock sounded at the door.
"Daaaaaaarrrrrling."
His voice—or rather, voices—told her all she needed to know.
"Hello, darling. It's me," one voice said, smooth and sinister.
"Come on, darling, don't you like the candles? I lit them for you…" another echoed.
Her heart was pounding in terror.
"Darling, open the door?"
"Darling???"
"I got you flowers!" His tone was pleading, almost sweet.
"Come on, darling, open the door. I won't bite…"
"Darling, please, I need you…"
His voice softened, the false tenderness making her stomach churn.
"Darling, come on. If it's not bright enough, I'll move the stars for you."
She dared a glance outside and froze as the fog shifted. The clouds rolled back, revealing an ink-black sky glittering with stars so vivid it made her skin crawl.
"Darling, if it's not enough, I'll even move the moon for you."
True to his word, another moon rose in the dark sky. She stifled a scream, her entire body trembling in fear.
He was terrifying in his human form—lord only knew what he'd do in his demon state.
"Oh, come on, darling. Don't be like that. I can smell your fear…" he sneered, the sound laced with a dark, intoxicating pleasure. "And it is so… intoxicating."
He moaned, sending chills down her spine.
"But you know the smell I love the most?" His voice dropped to a whisper, yet it was the loudest thing she had ever heard. "That arousal I smell between your legs…"
Her breath hitched, and she snapped her legs shut. He wasn't lying—she was drawn to him in ways that terrified her.
"Darling, open the door, or I'll force my way in…"
Her pulse thundered in her ears. She had to get out.
"Darling, I'm going to count to three…"
Her body moved on instinct, bolting for the back door.
"One!"
She fumbled with the latch, adrenaline surging through her veins.
"Two!"
The door swung open, and she darted into the forest.
"Three!"
The front door burst apart, the window panes shattering into shards of glass. He stepped into the room, his eyes locking onto the open back door.
"Hmmm," he murmured, cracking his neck. "I guess she just wants me to chase her."
His gaze flicked to the woods, catching her silhouette weaving between the trees. A slow, predatory grin spread across his face as he licked his lips.
"How exciting."
He took a step forward, his voice carrying effortlessly through the night.
"Run, my naughty little meal."