Page 3 of The Monster of Darkspell Comics

Pashar

I pride myself on knowing everything that goes on in my shop, even when I’m resting within my den.

It highly benefits me that nightmare demons are armed with a variety of skills when it comes to spell-working and manipulating energies.

Not only is that what allows me to create my comic books, but it’s what gives me a very effective alarm system with the network of energies I leave in place every night when I return home.

The tremble of energy announcing the presence of an intruder brings a scowl to my face as I heave myself off my very comfortable reclining chair, one that I rightfully liberated from the mortal realm several weeks ago, and storm toward the portal.

I’m half naked, I don’t have my glamour in place, and I don’t give a flying fuck. It is a welcome opportunity to scare the piss out of whatever idiot decided to invade my territory. Besides, it’s the middle of the night. Who would believe them?

I smile nastily to myself, my corethi trembling at the bottom of folded wings, and I step out into my stockroom.

With an impatient growl, I enter my shop, my eyes falling on the sleeping form curled up suicidally close to Chewy’s barrier.

My eyes snap to the plant. Several of its pod-like heads are visible on their long stalks as their petals unfurl, their sharp teeth clearly visible in their gaping mouths.

My gaze drops to the long, uncoiled vine that is inching closer to the sleeping human huddled under a thin blanket.

I’m a bit shocked that it’s not one of the heavily barbed vines utilized to flay and weaken Chewy’s victims, but I still don’t hesitate to snarl threateningly, stopping her in her tracks.

I want a terrified human, not a dead one.

Unsanctioned deaths from nightmare demons requires more paperwork than I want to deal with on my vacation.

Heads tipping toward me, the vine rapidly retreats back into her foliage with a snap.

I squint at her suspiciously for a moment as her mouths move slightly as if whimpering in protest. I should have destroyed her the moment she hitched a ride with me to this world.

The infernal lords damn that soft spot in my black heart.

Grumbling, I give the human a brisk nudge with my foot. I’m not at all pleased that they inconvenienced me and then had the nerve to fall asleep before I could get up here and terrify them good and proper.

I purr with satisfaction as the human lets out a shrill squeak in response, their eyes flying open as they roll to face me, their blanket falling away.

My snarl slips slightly in surprise as I meet the honey-brown gaze of a petite female staring up in complete shock at me.

Her golden complexion pales as she stares at me in abject horror.

It’s only then that I consider the sight I must be, snarl fixed in place, corethi looming threateningly around from where they’ve emerged, my exceptionally long tail lashing in the air around me.

It’s for that reason that I’m not at all surprised when she manages to stop choking on her scream long enough to let it out in an ear-piercing shriek.

I’m also acutely aware that it will draw attention from the night security guard, and I can’t have that.

Her slender fingers scrabble against the floor as she tries to scurry away from me, but she isn’t fast enough to evade my tail.

I snag her effortlessly before she can get more than a foot away and haul her up from the floor with ease as my tail winds more firmly around her body, holding her aloft in the air in front of me.

My mouth waters at the scent of her skin.

It strikes a considerable hunger within me, but not for tearing flesh from her dainty bones.

But it is her expression that is giving me a moment of concern.

Her mouth is still wide open, but her scream seems to have lodged within her again now that I have a hold on her, and I’m starting to worry that she’s stopped breathing.

I poke her with one finger in the belly, and a terrible sound erupts from her all at once.

It is a strange lovechild of a strangled shriek and a reactive giggle that is both horrifying and amusing.

Wincing a little, and fighting to hold back a chuckle of my own at the terrible sound, I shrug.

I’ll just carry her out and throw her on her little rear end personally and be done with it.

There are strict rules regarding holding unsanctioned humans, and more paperwork than there is for killing them.

Which is sad because she seems like a tasty little thing.

With a regretful grunt, I hoist her a little higher with my tail as I bend down to retrieve her bag.

Upon picking it up, it tips, dumping several of my precious comic books out onto the floor.

I stare at the mess in dumbfounded silence.

She was going to steal from me? Steal my comics?

Comic books that I’ve spent many hours and days crafting horrendous nightmares with my woven spells.

I bristle, feeling numerous sharp spines pushing up from my skin along my back and arms as fury coils deep in the pit of my belly to mingle with the blaze of lust swirling there.

I ignore the strangled scream she issues in response, and my eyes narrow on her.

Now, punishing a thief and getting compensated for it—that I can do.

That is only minor paperwork if discovered.

I grin at her, and she trembles within the clutch of my tail.

Poor little thief. Chuckling wickedly, I turn back to my portal, carting away my prize.

Having my last employee serving me was nice enough—what was his name?

Chuck? Larry? No, Tyler!—but this little morsel is one who won’t be able to escape me.

There will be no clock-in and out times by which she can make her timely escape.

I stalk toward my portal triumphantly, but my attention rivets back to her, and I come to a stop when she gives a weak cry and goes limp within the hold of my tail. Drawing her toward me, I give her a sniff. Ah, still alive. She just fainted. Good.

She is all mine.