Page 12 of Inhuman Nature

Shaun followed Lawrence’s gaze towards the window to see the black sky fading to blue. He nodded deferentially. “Thank you, Master.”

Lawrence didn’t spare him another look. Shaun preferred it that way.

The wind tugged on his long sweatshirt as he sped out. He headed towards the seafront, where the clubs would be open late, the stragglers partying into the wee hours as they imbibed whatever substances they favoured. Shaun couldn’t feel the cold, but the miles of exposed skin on the human clubbers still made him shiver.

Shaun sat on the hard granite steps that led down towards one of the popular beachfront venues. The dark waves of the sea rolled in and out, frothing over the pebbles. Shaun watched them for a while, wishing that was all he was there for.

But no.

He was on the hunt.

He waited to see who would be the unlucky human for the evening. Lawrence never strayed far from his type: attractive men who would be carded no matter where they went.

One group caught his attention—young men and women, all drunk or high or some combination of the two. A few of them stumbled, and all were unaware of the predator in their midst. Even if they noticed him, none of them wouldsee Shaun as anything other than a peer.

He trailed the group as they meandered back into the city, splintering off as they went their separate ways. He identified early on the one that Lawrence would desire. Whilst Shaun was tempted by the stocky guy with dark hair and the thick thighs of a rugby player, it wasn’t up to him. So, when the short blond guy with a heart-shaped face waved an exuberant goodbye to his friends, Shaun stalked him to his front door.

The guy fumbled with his keys, dropping them to the ground. Shaun picked them up before his prey had so much as bent down. “Here you go,” Shaun said.

“Oh my god, thank you.” The guy gave a nervous giggle. “Are you from the downstairs flat?”

Shaun smiled, guileless and warm, even though he felt sick at his own actions. “It’s no problem. I live a little further away, but you should come with me. Follow me home. Don’t be scared.”

The usual millisecond of confusion passed across the guy’s face: the last vestige of his free will making itself known before his mind slipped under the compulsion. Shaun had done this so many times he’d thought himself immune to the turmoil. But, as he led the young man away from the sanctuary of his home and towards Lawrence’s waiting arms, his stomach lurched.

“Tell me your name,” Shaun said. Knowing made it worse. But not knowing ensured the guy would be nothing more than a victim.

“Toby.”

“I’m Shaun.”

Guilt grew with every silent step that brought them closerto Lawrence. The worst part, however, was when Toby slid his hand into Shaun’s as he hurried him along, pretending to be his friend.

It made him think about DJ’s soft hands; how his long, strong fingers had entwined with Shaun’s own. How right it had been, even if only for a moment. A pang of want hit Shaun like a tidal wave, but he tamped it down as he approached the house.

A second after Shaun had ushered Toby through the front door, Lawrence was upon them. Shaun winced at the sound of Toby hitting the wall as Lawrence shoved him face first into it.

The tang of fresh blood hit the air as Lawrence bit Toby’s neck. Shaun’s own blood wetted his mouth as his fangs cut into his bottom lip, waiting impotently until Lawrence gave him permission to feed.

After indulging for a while, Lawrence twisted to face Shaun, his mouth painted a lurid red. Lawrence leaned in. Shaun closed his eyes as Lawrence flicked his tongue into his mouth. Toby’s blood was sweet to the point of being cloying. Despite that, Shaun chased Lawrence to follow the taste when he withdrew.

Lawrence’s lips quirked in amusement as he denied Shaun, jerking his head out of reach.

Ashamed, Shaun pressed himself back against the front door, as if the solid oak would hold his hunger in check if he gripped it tight enough.

“You chose well, pet. He’s divine.”

Shaun tried not to let Lawrence see his elation at the praise. Affection came so rarely these days that Shaun ateup any crumb Lawrence offered.

Toby cried out. He’d probably been making noises the entire time, but Shaun hadn’t realised it until then. His bloodlust still got the better of him when he’d not fed in a while.

“He’s being too loud,” Shaun said. It wasn’t out of a desire to stop any neighbours or passers-by from hearing the anguished sounds, but to stop from having to hear it himself.

“I like it when they cry,” Lawrence said. He peeled Toby off the wall with a brutal yank of his hair. Toby’s face was wet with tears, though his eyes were dull, the compulsion keeping him pliant even as his body reacted to the pain.

“See? Isn’t he pretty like this, pet?”

“Yes, Master.”