Cold, deadening, bitter, none accurately captured the restless sensation that kept her skin burning. It festered in her hypodermis, causing an unbearable itch, not even her coal-colored nails could ease. Her nails...

  Holding up her arm, she ran her blackened fingertips over the muted and dry skin. The vibrant peach hue that she bragged about in grey winter months, mocked her with its desertion. Groaning, she looked up to the modern mansion, white eyes catching the rearview mirror. Immediately she ripped the mirror off the windshield, chucking the worthless piece on the passenger floor. Seething, she hoped out the SUV. A cough from the gate pulled her gaze to the tiny guard box. Locking eyes with the large bald man inside, she hissed.

  “You can’t even breathe Jonathan.”

  “You Fledglings are always angry. Why is that?”

  “Fledgling but I rank higher than you.”

  “Nah, you’re just a bitch who got lucky. Wrong time, right place.”

  Narrowing her gaze, she kicked a rear tire. A soft hiss arose, and the SUV soon began to lean. Reaching the trunk, she threw the hatch open. A cluster of flies whipped by her head. The burlap that wrapped around him was damp with stains in random places.

  Grabbing the corpse, she slung it over her shoulder, displeased at its rigidness. Her boots scrapped cross the pavement as she passed Johnathan without a glance. The guard shook his head, as he grabbed a floor jack and moseyed on to the SUV. Reaching a pair of grand doors, she stared into the blackness that lay on the other side. The mirror thin glass a burglars wet dream.

  Pushing on them, they parted with ease. Stepping inside, her ears rung at the lost of natural sound, becoming swallowed the further she walked down the long hall. She ignored the jerky movements of the demons that slithered across the walls. Soft murmurs soothed the ringing and she followed the whispers deeper into the home.

  “Will you resume the contract?” The voice was honeyed and matter of fact.

  Tilting her head, Trinity peeked into the ajar door, a child’ cradled form catching her attention. Steel shudders concealed the windows, leaving the only light source five dim crystal chandeliers. They casted a yellow glow upon the room’s occupants, highlighting their desires and fears. Trinity focused on an older woman whose arms snaked around a young girl. The grip on her, tight enough to cause tears but not enough that’d she pull away. Though who would.

  The beast next to them was an abomination. She studied it’s flat head and bulging red eyes. It’s ears reminded her of a fox but the snout resembled a vampire bat. Hair sparsely dotted it’s body, and a thick webbing of skin rested under its arms. One extended to hold onto the woman, showing its disgusting wingspan. Towering at 8ft, she sees why little girl kept her eyes closed.

  “Derrick, please! I’ll sign everything over! Everything, let us go!” The woman’s brittle voice croaked.

  The man Derrick, reeked. Under the cream colored polo that showed wires of grey on his chest, and the Prada silk slacks that covered his stooped legs, he smelled of sulfur and sewage. It infected him, surging in his veins, encapsulating his organs. His cataract eyes looked over the woman, likely in her 40’s, before reaching the girl, who couldn’t be older than 9. The smile he gave them didn’t reach his eyes.

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  “It’s not that I don’t love you. Please remember that, Grace.”

  His focus turned back to Qwen, her figure and face obscured by a hooded robe.

  "I will resume our contract Lady Qwen."

  ~A bit dramatic. ~

  Dragging a blackened nail over her wrist, Trinity watched a thick black bile weep from Qwen. The liquid hit the white marbled floors with a loud and steady drum. The man that groveled at her feet gasped before pressing his white patchy tongue to the floor. She inwardly cringed as he sunk deeper, his forehead smearing the muck around, seeping into the wrinkles.

  Shortly after he stilled, then his body crashed onto the floor. Grace’s cries grew louder as his shoes sporadically tapped the floor. Trinity looked away as Grace squeezed the girl, until she too cried out. Derrick’s arms jutted straight and his hands curled; a puddle formed between his thighs. She curled her lip and raised her nose.

  “…Trinity, you should have introduced yourself.”

  Stepping forward she gently placed Jay’s corpse on the ground. His body partially exposed as the burlap fell. She tensed at the click of Qwen’s heels. A sharp pain soon pinched the base of her spine, enveloping her senses and burrowing into her mind. Her joints locked and she couldn’t rise from her kneeling position. Instead, her eyes lingered on Jays face. They did their best to make him presentable. Though she was sure Khalia would have still pushed for a closed casket. Restrained, she ground her teeth as Qwen infiltrated her being.

  “Your memories fascinate me…our memories fascinate me. We love him so dearly, more than anything, everything.”

  Unable to look up she only registered shuffling as Qwen adjusted her robe. She bit her lip when a hand entered her vision. A motley of colors and sizes she would never get used to. From sepia, to dainty, to amputated, then ebony, her flesh altered. Trinity’s gut boiled as the hand caressed Jay’s mangled face.

  “He’ll require extensive work, but I will uphold our bargain.”

  Sudden coughing caused more cries to echoed in the room. She felt Qwen rise and back away from her.

  “It’s always good to see you in marvelous health Derrick. You had me worried there for a few decades. Head through those doors, someone will take you to the showers.”

  The old man, or once old man gave a wide smile. His knees no longer bent, showed his full 6’3 frame. The clothing that barely fitted, now seemed to hug his bulging biceps and thickening thighs. Trinity knew a few old friends who would have folded at the flawless smile he gleamed at Qwen. Grey was nowhere to be seen, only a vivacious blonde, that glinted platinum. He removed his clothing, bunching the attire over his groin.

  “Thank you, Lady Qwen. You never have to question my loyalty.”

  “You’re right. These are the 10th.” Craning her neck, Qwen looked over the cowering girls.

  “Trinity…you look ravished. Dine with me?”

  “No thank you. Just give me my task, Qwen.”

  “Hm…Head to Bathale, I need you to visit a friend. Convince her my way is the only option. When you return, you’ll have what you want.”

  Trinity nodded as her vision blurred, a dark haired woman stood before her.

  “ She likely wont look the same after all these centuries. Dismissed.”

  Trinity exhaled, the weight that held her now gone. Leaning forward she dragged her hand against Jay’s stitched cheek, before planting a kiss on his dead lips. As she exited the doors, screams filled the mansion. Shrill….childlike… feminine, she quickly blocked out the nuisance. Instead, flooding her mind with joys of the past. Stepping out, the moon kissed her face as she strolled to her repaired SUV.

  “Try not to break anything else on accident.”

  She sneered at his demand before hoping in the vehicle. Rolling down the tinted window she stared at him indifferently.

  “When I return, I’ll do you a favor Johnathan and kill you last.”

  “Yea yea, see you in a few weeks Fledge.”

  Frowning she rolled up the window and gave a last look at the home. He was in there, waiting. A buzzing pulled her attention to her cell. Fishing it out the cup holder, Khalia’s face appeared on the cracked screen. She pressed her thumb over it with force, dragging it in circles over the glass. The same black bile spilled, obscuring Khalia’s face and smile. The vibrations stopped. Tossing the phone onto the passenger seat she flicked her hand sending blood on the windshield. Gripping the wheel, she pressed the pedal to the floorboard, making sure to kick up gravel and dust into the guard shack.

  “Yea yea, fuck you too.”