Page 4

Adonis

Killing this motherfucker will be easy, something I could do in my sleep. I watch him stagger away from the bar, his movements unsteady and fueled by a mixture of liquor and frustration.

The scent of his anger hangs in the air, sharp and palpable, almost like the metallic tang of blood. I can practically taste the bitterness of his wrath on my tongue, an intoxicating flavor that ignites something profound within me. It beckons to me, a dark craving I cannot ignore.

I am a demon—a once mighty being who soared among the stars as a rising god.

I was kicked out of the afterlife and stripped of my title all because I have a smart mouth, a ‘bigger purpose’, and I questioned the cosmic order.

For centuries, I have been trapped in the wretched abyss of this town, a hellhole where hope withers and light fades.

Cursed for eternity, thanks to Octavia, my existence is now a shadow of what it once was, a testament to the chilling power of damnation.

She stole my wings, my power, and part of my soul, just so she could be immortal.

Being a demon has its perks, but being a demon stuck in this shitty little town is unbearable.

At least loneliness is a fleeting concern, since I have Dax, Killian, and Amelia by my side.

I shake my thoughts from my head as I observe Spencer climb into his truck, a vehicle that unmistakably belongs to him.

The oversized wheels create a clumsy, aggressive stance, while the array of political stickers plastered across the back window screams personal insecurity.

Each vibrant slogan and emblem, a desperate attempt to project confidence, only deepens the impression that a fragile sense of self is beneath the so-called tough exterior.

Dani and Julia must have hurt his ego when they told him he had a tiny cock.

Dani.

Listening to her thoughts made my cock hard, but smelling her intentions almost made me lose all self-control tonight.

Reading people’s thoughts and sensing their intentions is sometimes a curse itself. But, with Dani, knowing her dark desires, has me feeling like a god again.

Picturing those red lips wrapped around my cock sounds heavenly. But the things I want to do to her are sinful… Red is now my favorite color, and I see it everywhere.

Dani has the grimoire and my necklace. I sensed it the moment she removed it from wherever Octavia enchanted its hiding place. That book can break our curse and free us from this town and send us back to the afterlife… too bad that won’t work though. Thanks to me.

Centuries ago, Dax, Killian, and I were betrayed and cursed by Octavia, the witch known as ‘The Witch of Misty Hollow.’ Dumb fucking name.

Puritanical settlers didn’t trust this ‘witch’ and desired total spiritual control.

They thought Octavia was helping women get pregnant with her tonics—though I know damn well she tricked them.

The men were visibly jealous that only women could create life.

So, when Octavia was ‘helping them’, the men got butt hurt and wanted full control, so they captured Octavia and burned her alive.

In exchange, Octavia cursed the town as she was burning.

She went mad before they killed her. She harnessed ancient magic to summon dark creatures that ravished the town. She killed anyone who got in her way.

Octavia tricked me, making me think she was my mate.

She was a powerful witch, but in order to have full power, she needed the heart of a demon.

She took the one sliver of good I had in my soul and then fucking cursed me here to this town.

Though I was condemned from the afterlife to Earth, she made it so my time here would be hell, trapping us here until someone came along and broke the curse.

It took Dax and Killian many years to forgive me for being so na?ve.

Luckily, I had Amelia. My best friend yet annoying little sister.

Although Octavia didn’t remain trapped here from her own curse, she left pieces of her soul behind when she cursed the town.

Her dark creatures that still lurk in the fog in the woods tear apart any unfortunate soul that crosses their path.

Dax, Killian, and I kill the beasts when we can, trying to protect people from the truth.

Octavia wanted this whole town to burn along with everyone in it.

It’s been our mission to break the curse, so we can free ourselves, but Octavia made the spell impossible to break. It requires a mate, to not just one, but all of us, to find the grimoire and read the spell correctly. But the right one has never come along to break it.

That is, until Dani. My goddess. My mate. Our mate…

She possesses two invaluable treasures: Octavia’s book—the ancient tome brimming with potent spells—and my relic, a ruby necklace.

This enchanted necklace is explicitly crafted for me from the gods themselves, infused with powerful magic that no ordinary human can withstand.

It has been missing for centuries, along with the grimoire, cursed so we could never sense it or find it until someone came along and found it first. Only one who shares a sacred connection—a predestined fate, my true mate—could wear it without facing dire consequences.

Together, these artifacts are our lifeline, a beacon of hope in a world shrouded in darkness.

Though I do believe Dani is our destined mate, there is no way the curse can ever be broken.

I roll my shoulders back and clear my thoughts.

I know where Spencer lives. I know where everyone lives in this town. Who they fuck, what they eat, what they dream of. I’m going to kill him for touching what’s mine. Rip out his fucking tongue for even talking to her.

I should tear off his small hands too…

I sit quietly in his dimly lit living room. Outside, the sound of tires crunching over gravel signals his approach. I can almost picture him behind the wheel, laughter echoing from the night out as he drunkenly steers his way home.

Just a few minutes later, the engine roars to a stop, the headlights momentarily splashing light into the darkness before plunging back into shadow.

I sweep my hand across my face, fingertips brushing against the polished metal of my mask, ensuring it sits snugly in place. Not that it holds any real significance if Spencer catches a glimpse of my features. After all, he won’t be able to witness the dawn of another day.

He fumbles with his keys in the front door. I sit on his couch, hands behind my head, contemplating a quick death or a slow one.

He walks in, mumbling to himself, and closes his door while stumbling to kick off his shoes.

I wait a moment.

“Didn’t your mother ever teach you that ‘no’ means ‘no’?” My voice startles him as he screams like a little bitch and turns on the living room light. “Who the hell ares you?! How’d you gets in here?! Wha-whatdooyouwant” Gods almighty was he shit-faced.

The soft glow of the light flickers on, but I swiftly wave my hand to extinguish it, plunging the room back into darkness. A finality looms over him like the weight of an impending storm.

Rising from the worn leather couch, I feel the familiar pull of my shadows, loyal companions that swirl around me like a living cloak.

In that dim light, Spencer’s face drains of color as he spots Dax and Killian stepping out from the depths of the shadows, their masks casting eerie shapes across the walls.

The sheer terror in his eyes turns to panic, and I smirk under my mask as I watch him freeze, a small stream of warmth trickling down his leg in response to the unexpected haunting presence.

“Who’s this sorry bastard, Adonis?” Dax asks while throwing his arm around my shoulder.

“Wh-what doyou want? Wh-wh-what are you!? Gets out of my- my house! Be-begone!” Spencer stutters drunkenly.

“Begone? Is this motherfucker serious?” Killian’s laugh echoes off the walls. “It looks like you don’t need our help, Adonis. Do you want us to get rid of his body?”

“Yes. Once I am done with him, I will need you both to plant evidence in his truck and then drive it off the cliff at the edge of town,” I reply sharply.

“I-I, what do youswant? I’ll do anything! Just ple-please don’t hurt me,” Spencer falls to his knees.

“I want you to shut the fuck up!” I demand while ripping out his entire tongue without touching his foul mouth.

He screams in agony. Blood gushes from his mouth, covering his throat. He gurgles and chokes as he cries out in pain .

Pathetic.

“Make him stop, Killian.”

Killian responds to my command and waves his hand over Spencer’s head, quieting him for good.

“You touched a woman without her consent. In fact, you touched MY woman!” I scream at him, feeling the intensity of my eyes blazing into his very soul. If I had my wings and all my power, I could make this piece of shit my slave.

“Our woman,” Dax corrects me. I nod in his direction.

“I’m going to kill you and hand your soul over to the old gods and let them decide your fate.

They hold no mercy as the new gods do, I fear.

But Spencer, I don’t believe it’s the afterlife that awaits you.

” Tears brim in the corners of his eyes, glistening like dew on a blade of grass. I take twisted pleasure in his dread.

“Alright, let’s get this over with, Adonis. Killian and I were in the middle of something,” Dax says in his smooth voice while rubbing Killian’s masked cheek.

I walk over to Spencer and place both my hands on his neck. “May you rot in the fiery depths of hell.”

Snap.

His lifeless body falls to the floor.

“Well, this wasn’t very entertaining,” Dax grumbles. “This is what you summoned us for? I thought we were at least going to tear him to pieces for touching our girl. Where is she, by the way?”

“Not here,” I say sharply. “I needed it to look like he broke his neck in the accident.”

“And his tongue?” Killian questions.

“Shit... well, perhaps it will look like he bit it off.” I toss his tongue at Killian, “Make sure it’s in his truck when you push it over the edge. ”

Killian sighs and throws Spencer’s lifeless body over his shoulder as if he weighs nothing. Dax follows him out the door.

Dani is mine. Well, she is ours. Anyone who touches her will not live to see another day.

I clean up all the evidence that Spencer had ever driven home that night. We don’t need Dani’s crew to investigate anything.