1-Intervention

-July 12th, 7PM

“The cost of survival…” I thought to myself, recounting the meager number of coins. It was strange holding currency again. But, what’s one to do when there’s nothing else to trade for? The promise of value, shared between all living things. A deal struck: Value for value.

“If you find anything else, be sure to bring them here first. I’ll be sure to guarantee a positive outcome for such loyal patronage.” The figure behind the desk growled before fading into the back of the shop. Out of sight, out of mind. Forgetting the reason I entered in the first place, I knew I completed what I came here for. I paused, and glanced about the pristine place. For as well stocked as the shop was, it was always empty of customers. Walking in always felt like being the stores first, or last, customer.

“We should move on…” Exiting out the pane glass door, the crossroads were mostly barren. What little lighting was available provided no insight to the beings who wandered late at night. Even within the protected walls of such a bastion, it was wise to never be out so late. “Those who walk in the light, should fear those in the dark.” But, more importantly, should fear those that also walk in the light. “Lest one’s cost be snatched by another.” Such as myself, I suppose. I waited outside the shop, with its flickering lights peering down on me.

A distant shriek, a bloodied cry for help, erupted in the distance. A bleak reminder of the nature of the world. After a pause, the street lights flickered back on dimly. It was time to move on once again. There was no rush, so long as I kept to myself. I opened my phone and began to browse a news website. Tomorrow’s forecast predicts rain, with curfew reinstated once more. Plus, it seems the royalty have lifted some taxes after a good harvest. One could argue, the world has never been in a better state. The ability to learn was abundant, the streets were clean, buildings upkept, and families blossomed. “For all the wrong reasons”. It’s astounding, how ideals adapt in the face of Armageddon.

A trembling voice emerged from the darkness behind me. "C-can you h-help…?" it whimpered. Pausing, I surveyed my surroundings. I found myself on a deserted wooded side street, with houses spaced widely apart. It felt like something out of one of those cheesy horror flicks, where the monster lurks just beyond your sight. "You'd help me, right?"

Without a word, I turned to face the source of the voice. There stood a tall, alluring woman, her clothes recently torn, tears streaming down her face as she extended a trembling hand. Although there were no visible injuries, it was clear she had been running. I hesitated, caught off guard by her appearance. "Please." She pleaded, her voice quivering, "I'll give you anything. Just, help me."

“W-what do you need?” I asked, slightly shaking myself. My mind felt a bit hazy trying to piece together this situation as I quickly pocketed my phone. My eyes couldn’t leave this innocent girl before me.

“I-I’m being chased, you can give me passage right? Can fulfill my needs?” She asked, quivering. Of course, I was the only option available. I had to help.

"O-of course!" I responded without hesitation, feeling a blush creep onto my cheeks. Blinking, I found her suddenly standing in front of me, holding my hand tightly. She was too close, uncomfortably close. Only now did I realize just how much taller she was compared to me, her torn clothes more revealing than I had initially noticed. It took a moment for me to realize I had to look up to meet her gaze, feeling an uncanny allure.

"W-we should get going. I-I know a place nearby." I stammered, breaking away from her intense stare. Her eyes seemed filled with something... A shiver ran down my spine as the atmosphere around us grew heavy.

“Quickly, this way.” We were close to where I was staying, it would be quick. “Hhhmmm….”

I grabbed ahold of her hand and we took off down the road. I reached back in my pocket to grab my phone, desperate to make a call. “No signal.” I’ll try again. “No signal. Something’s close.” I glanced behind me, but only saw the woman, still with tears, and those piercing eyes. Before I had a chance to speak, she tripped. Shock grew over her as she flew forward toward me. I turned, letting go of her hand, as she landed on me taking us both to the ground going limp. “Hey, lady! Now is not the time to pass out!” I yelped. It was no use, she was unconscious.

To say she was heavy was an understatement, one could have confused her for a bag of cinderblocks. I moved her enough so that I could sit up and peer down the road we just came down. There was definitely something coming down the road. “Bloodlust is in the air.” Being still mostly under her weight, I rolled onto my stomach and, summoning all my strength, lifted her onto my back. I didn’t realize it, but we were right outside the place I was staying. It felt like an Olympic feat to make it inside, shouldering the door open, and crouching slightly through to get her in. It was a very plain, small, and mostly unlived in house. I struggled to make it to the couch, and sat her down. I fell to the floor and heaved for a few seconds, not remembering the last time I had to expend so much energy. My chest and head felt heavy. “Three days ago, little one. You had to admire my beautiful form again, remember?” I paused, and looked about. Nothing seemed out of place, which was a good sign. With one last breath, I stood up and went back to close the door, locking it with the three metal bars. The windows were already barred and covered, so there wasn’t a worry there. I flicked on a switch and a singular light turned on next to the couch, where the unconscious woman was now slouched over to one side. The previous haze filled my head again, she was gorgeous. Her hair had a brown and a dark red-orange mixture, and her face had sharp features. Her tattered casual outfit exposed a rather lean and muscular body. In a fight between the two of us, there was no doubt in my mind she would tear me asunder.

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I approached her, drawn inexplicably to her beauty. But these thoughts, they weren't mine. They raced through my mind at a rapid pace, foreign and unsettling. With a forceful shake of my head, I attempted to dispel the mental fog clouding my thoughts. As I drew closer, my gaze swept over her features. She was barefoot, her jeans straining at the seams as if something were pushing against them from within. And her hands... Her hands were adorned with long nails, dripping with blood. Blood? Despite the torn fabric of her clothes, there were no scratches, no bruises. “No bruises, no blood”, echoed the voice within me. Where did the blood come from?

I snapped back to reality; I was hovering over her unconscious body, a hand on her shoulder. “But she wasn’t unconscious.” Her eyes were open, fixated on mine. A fierce pair of golden eyes locked onto mine, intense enough to pierce through my very soul. How did I not see these beforehand? “Fight or flight.” I froze, realizing the situation.

“Fulfill your needs… give passage…” I stuttered, finally comprehending her intentions. The woman’s unwavering golden eyes complimented the now sinister grin on her face. Rows of vicious pearly whites, meticulously maintained by those foolish enough to prey on her allure. My legs gave way beneath me as I sank to the ground, as she slowly began to grow in size.

Her metamorphosis unfolded with excruciating precision, a horrifying spectacle to witness. Each movement appeared deliberate, each phase of transformation adding another layer of despair to my predicament. Layers of deep red-bronze fur unfurled from her arms, cascading down her form like a sinister waterfall. Skin gave way to fur, revealing the raw power pulsating beneath. Claws, cruelly sharp, extended to their full, menacing length. Her chest swelled with ominous purpose, straining against fabric that once hung loose. The unmistakable refinement of an apex predator exuded from every inch of her being. Even her legs, tempered by untold horrors, tore through the tattered remnants of her clothing. With each sinewy flex, they served as a chilling reminder of the futility of escape. At her zenith, she exuded an aura of dominance, yet it was evident she held back her true, terrifying potential.

“Oh, come now, morsel.” She taunted, her voice dripping with malice. “You were so close. Won’t you have your way with me? It’s only natural to want some of this. Just a lick is all you need, is all I need... Oh, but that scent of yours… Yes, a rare treat indeed.” Her words drowned in vicious mockery, as she treated herself to drops of blood on her razor-sharp claws. Blood. But from where?

I grasped my side, and felt three scalpel perfect incisions oozing blood. “You live alone...? A wanderer...? You’ve lived this long as such a delicacy? I guess I’ll take your destiny for myself!” “Were the rules broken?”

With a split-second of barely conscious thought, I managed to evade her clawed hand as it grazed my face. I screamed in terror, scrambling desperately towards the door. Somehow getting to my feet felt in vain as I was sent across the room into the wall with a heavy kick. “Broken nose, ribs, cracked pelvis, and your ear drums are ruptured.” Blood streamed down my face blinding my left eye, as I struggled to regain my bearings. Slowly, I got back up leaning against the wall as a menacing laugh echoed in the hollow home. “Oh, little treat, how you wiggle so. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The night is young, after all. Let me drain you, slowly, painfully.” Her voice, overflowing with spite.

“Why are you doing this? I thought I was saving you.” I mustered saying, coughing up a bit of blood, anything to buy time to stall this inevitability.

“Prey is nothing but prey. It just happened to be your time. Color me impressed though, little thing. You bided your time. Alone, in the woods, with a beautiful girl. You resisted the temptation of your desires right then and there and lead me to a place far away from others. You even carried me! Do you know how many just drag me? But, alone in the comforts of your place, you had your way with me, and for that you're mine now.”

Her words twisted into a strange cadence, veering into realms beyond my understanding. Or, perhaps it was my own senses failing me as I lay broken and bleeding. What was clear, was the dreadful laughter following her statement.

“Liar.” A chilling voice borrowed my mouth, the words ringing across the room. The beast of a lady froze, her eyes darted around the room in confusion. She didn’t realize the voice came from me. A sudden burst of adrenaline surged through me as I realized I was next to the barred door. Escaping was within my grasp. I rushed towards it, throwing the bars off. Before I could open the door, I was forcibly thrown back against the wall, coming face to face with the enraged beast. A vicious crunch rang throughout the room, emanating from my right shoulder. I screamed in agony as I felt her claws dig deep into my flesh. Her hot breath of rage enveloped my face as I dangled off the ground, her grip tightening around me to meet her gaze.

"I don’t know what trickery you just pulled, but you’re not escaping!” She roared, her voice reverberating through the room like thunder. Her maw opened wide, revealing a perilous array of razor-sharp teeth, glistening ominously in the dim light. As her voracious breath washed over my face, I recoiled at the metallic tang lingering in the air, reminiscent of fresh blood. The size of her maw was enough to engulf my entire head in one merciless bite. No amount of struggling could break free from the iron grip of this monstrous predator. As despair crept into my mind, a grim resignation settled over me like a shroud, signaling the inevitable end drawing near. Like a final chapter in a tragic tale, opening the door to an eternal afterlife... “Death.”

“Zylas, is that you?” What sounded like a young boy’s voice echoed off the walls, but the words were becoming muffled and unintelligible to my fading consciousness. Reality began to slip away. The teeth, mere moments from penetrating my skull, paused. Her voracious breath ceased, and a glimpse of recognition danced in her eyes. “You managed to find another one in the same night? Here I thought you already cleared out most of this place.” The boys voice spoke again, with what I could only consider monotony. Her maw and gaze swept over to the doorway, revealing a kid in his early teens. I knew him, but from where? I struggled to focus, unsure if he was speaking a different language or if the damage to my head distorted his words.

“R-run kid!” I croaked, through blood-soaked words. The life I felt I gave up on, rushed back stronger than ever for a brief moment seeing an innocent kid staring death in the face. What strength I had left, I launched a left hook at the eye of the beast in front. Before I made contact, I was swiftly dropped to the ground. Slumping over against the wall, I had no strength left to move. My eyes, growing heavier by the second.

“Liar.” The voice spoke again through me, this time the beast took notice. She exchanged tense glances between me and the boy. It sounded as if she was stuttering, trying to give… An excuse…? The last thing I could make out, before succumbing to blood loss was, “Zylas, I think we need to have a talk.”.

“Rest now, little Daegon. A deal is to be made when you awaken. Take nothing less than everything if you… If we, are to survive. That kid is not what you think.”