***
The being that inhabited Calypso’s body breathed. For the first time in a hundred or so years.
It tightened the bony fist it now processed, this right arm freed of most of the pathetic flesh that formed oh so snugly on the creature.
Half of the face was gone, but it wasn’t a deal breaker. A few hunts and it will be restored in time. Besides, the “normal” half was twisted to fit the Subsumed’s likeness anyway. Eye socket that was completely sunken, the cheekbone formed into a spike that pulled the already tight skin.
It felt right to smile. Since this face was so used to faking it. Now it’s going to be effortless, once the Grim Subsumed manages to escape.
“It’s a shame, Calypso Grimes…” the exhausted tone of this voice was something the Grim had to get used to, but will do so in time. “You truly embodied what lower Subsumed had. It was a shame, that you were born a human. You would’ve at least thrived in our world. But as they say…”
The Grim Subsumed was puzzled… Puzzlement that turned into immediate panic.
It couldn’t continue with the saying. It couldn’t talk at all.
Let me guess… “Such as fate”? You’re saying it’s a shame that I wasn’t born like you—had I known you were so well read, our fight would’ve been so much better—
“Where are you?” the Grimm asked, accusingly. It piloted the girl’s body into a tree that just manifested into sight. Putting the back against it. “WHAT IS THIS?!”
A branch quickly swung towards the Grim Subsumed using the twigs to wrap around its stolen neck. As its startled eyes tried to take in what was happening, the tree itself turned pale… A very human-hued pale.
Calypso’s eye morphed on the truck, taking the position where a lost branch’s base was.
To be as blunt as possible: this is your demise. Your true demise.
The Grimm tried looking about, tried to worm its way out of the girl’s hold, but it meant precious little.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Sorry to say… But you were nothing more than a reanimated corpse I had to force from deep inside. My coven and I, we were informed that while the process of becoming Consumed meant that you—our monsters—were truly dead… There were still remnants. Still a whole ‘nother process to truly become what we are. And this whole exercise was that: you subsuming me, so the shoe’s on the other foot.
The tree transformed completely. Turned into sludge that slowly but surely surrounded the Grim Subsumed as it truly panicked. Tried to throw the matter away, but it simply latched onto the monster again.
We are truly one now. The Consumed process has been completed~
“YOU’RE DEAD!” the Grimm screamed. “WE’RE BOTH DEAD! A being with both footholds in the two worlds is an abomination—you’re signing your life away! If there was a process to return back to human—and I go on my way—you wasted it!”
As the sludge got to the monster’s shoulders, a head formed itself before the Grimm. A mockery of Calypso’s face—eyeless and without teeth as she continued to talk.
That’s the thing, with you Subsumed. You don’t understand, because you doomed yourselves from the moment you’re born. You happily take these roles, this… Terrible life. Us humans? We’re willing to burn, to pillage, to kill if that means escaping this fate… And that’s why you’ll always lose. For better and for worse… We are beings that have to constantly change.
Calypso’s head rose as the neck kept extending. An empty, mask-like smile from stretched ear to metaphorical ear.
You tried to do the same as my depression. Batter me with so many excuses for me to lie down and die. It’s all the same. And I thank you for making me realize that. There’s simply nothing else left to say: from it and from you. Nothing else left to say.
A bloodcurdling scream exited Calypso’s lips as she sped downward to the monster. Once again consuming it whole, as she transformed into an iridescent flash of light.
***
Calypso awoke in Sal’s arms.
“Ya’ better be lucky that I’m a girl scout and come prepared—” Sal humble-bragged. “Not only outdoor tools, but extra covers—”
Calypso moved to lightly hit her cousin… Upon realizing that her Illuminator’s Glove changed.
Now a black, skeletal frame was fused into the leather glove, giving the appearance of a skeleton’s hand resting upon Calypso’s.
Sal pointed at it. “Suppose that means ya’ done it?”
Calypso smiled. “Yep. And in flying colors, provided that Gale and Natalie haven’t returned yet…”
Sal shook her head, helping her cousin up. “We gotta wait, right? I gotta admit… Kinda glad it was you first. Not ta’ be mean and all… But I don’t think I can handle another monster chargin’ at me full speed until ya’ came ta’ yer senses again…”
Calypso sucked her teeth. She should’ve figured that she did rampage for a bit, after all…
Nevertheless, she stood up and did so firmly. “Things are looking promising, though. Once we all gain our new forms, they’ll help us with phase 2 of the plan…”
The skeletal monster girl smirked, and looked to the moon.
“We’re ending you, Cassie Morgan. There can only be three monsters that love this town.”