Page 13 of Gray

Me:It’s been two years. I’m not a newb anymore. Am I?

She sent back a winking emoji, and I shook my head, sliding my phone aside.

There were roughly five hours before sunset. I needed to find the demon’s hideout, wait for her to detach her torso from her lower half—which was still fucking weird as hell—and then wait for dawn. But would she kill again in the meantime? I wanted to stop her from taking another life, not sit around waiting for sunrise while she did god knows what to innocent people.

My phone vibrated with another text.

Scar:Be careful tonight, ok? Check in with me and the others so we know you’re not dead in a ditch somewhere.

Me:Will do.

One way or another, this shit ended tonight.

***

Music filtered through the crowded bar, mixing with bouts of laughter and the burst of billiard balls smashing together as men played pool in the back of the room.

A man was next on the demon’s menu. And what better place to pick up men than at a bar? I’d asked around town, and Sailor’s Cove seemed to be a hot spot for hooking up.

I sat at the bar and nursed a beer, people-watching.

A group of college-aged guys laughed from their table in the center of the room before yelling for more drinks. Some had girls sitting on their laps. Men beside me stared at the bar top, their woes written all over their faces as they found solace at the bottom of shot glasses.

Scarlett said the manananggal took the shape of a beautiful woman to lure men, then ate them alive. The demon also hated happy couples. Like an evil homewrecker.

My mission for the night? Be the bait.

Fuck, I’m an idiot.

From what Scarlett told me, when the manananggal seduced men she took them somewhere private before eating them. In order to feed, she had to change into her monstrous form… which meant she’d have to separate from her lower body. With me being her intended victim, no one else would be hurt while I subdued her, prevented her from reconnecting her body, and waited for the sun to roast her.

Maybe not the brightest idea I’d ever had, but it was worth the gamble.

Now, I just needed to make sure the demon chose me. I surveyed the bar again, trying not to be too obvious. Sensing someone standing to my left, I turned to see a pretty girl with blonde hair and big blue eyes. She was petite and had a nice rack. If you liked that sort of thing anyway. Which I didn’t. The college boys close by felt differently though, judging by the way they looked her up and down.

“Hey,” she said with a flirty smile.

Could she be the demon?

“Hey.”

“You here with anyone?”

“No.” I took another swig of beer. “You?”

“Nope.” She stepped closer, and the smell of strawberries wafted from her. “Well, I’m here with my friends.” She nodded to a group at a nearby table. “Wanna join us?”

“Nah, I’m good.” The demon would be alone. “Thanks though.”

As the petite blonde walked away, I felt eyes on me. And then I saw her.

She sat at the edge of the bar, an untouched drink in front of her. Black hair cascaded down her back and fell over one shoulder, a contrast to her porcelain skin and bright red lipstick. Her gaze lingered on me, dark. Hungry too, probably.

That has to be her.

The demon enjoyed the chase. She sought men in relationships because it gave her a sick, twisted pleasure to have them choose her. If I made it too easy on her, she’d lose interest.

Breaking eye contact with her, I paid my tab and stood from the barstool. I knew she was still watching me, but I pretended not to notice as I pulled out my phone.