CRAVED (SHE TOUCHED THE MONSTER)

ween Night – 8t

lled like sug

nto sidewalks cracked with old city wear. Jack-o'-lanterns flickered in the windows. Music t

only

m the crowd. His hands were sticky with caramel. His father had hoisted him onto his shoulders

the screa

in with the music. A

eams were real. T

es that didn't blink, claws that dripped, skin too tight or too loose or not at all. They tore throu

r

oment his father stopped calling his name. He only remembered running - tiny

from the screaming.

ar he ran. He only k

. Not wind - somet

lence. Heav

hen..

ed in black that didn't reflect the moonlight. His eyes were bottomless,

crouched b

pered. Its voice was velvet over steel. "An

it st

ugh his neck. Fire

ng - not dying, not ex

th neve

stared at the boy's small, lifeless body. A flicker of

red. "Not you.

to the boy's mouth and whisp

ss of the cursed w

opped. Then

ower.

ent had awaken

the man was still there

aid. "You are mine now.

ed. His memor

No father

hunge

24 A

ns blinked across cracked sidewalks, painting sinners in red a

hrough it al

No heartbeat, no breath, but his presence stirred something primal in the air around him. People didn't se

as h

e ache, the whispers beneath his ribs. But hunger, even restrained, always le

ht, i

, scrolling through her phone with shaking fingers. Alone. Unaware. Her blood

Not with malic

steps

he'd known her for years. Her head snapped up. Eyes wi

ated. The

nd," she

small smile. She blinked, sur

a on her skin. Her pulse jumped. He could feel it f

pered. "Quiet. Warm. Better

t lie. N

ollow

-

lked in

ust him, drawn anyway. That's how they always were. They knew something was w

a shuttered bakery. The scent of rain mixed with rust and some

't look like a

t," he m

as on her throat - not choking, n

yes w

-" she

hh

ver's kiss. Her heartbeat thundered - delicious, terrified. He closed hi

reathe caused. He pulled away from her and sto

Irene stood only a few steps away, framed by the dim streetlamp, her c

ulse throbbed like music beneath

didn'

he look

ly l

s as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She was speaking - something about the bar

ut what echoed was the

ia

er his real name

. Just one swift motion. She'd

ead... h

ong out here,"

miling again. "

ade hi

know how ri

t strangers anymore. Her eyes searched his like she was tryi

fee

slow breath.

asted wrong in his mouth - too h

ut

ed out a folded bill, handed i

wed. "I thought

he said t

she took the money, turned, and walked toward the

the door closed, she

silent gesture. A good

nished int

was alo

he t

s behind h

ice followed

getting

't flinch

sted like a

slick concrete. He looked exactly the same. He

e alley, then landed

let h

as inn

are. Until t

aid no

circling him like a w

ssed. "Human. You've f

" Liam muttered. "I'm

Drac - just f

ampire laughed

. You're a monster. Don't i

voice trailing

ness in... it'll b

d, shadows swal

ce more - bloodless, breathless, and

aid he