8 V 3 2

I could still try and yank the hood off, but lighting was abysmal anyhow. Just before touching what was under the heavy hood, I stopped. Is this a trap? My skin still remembered sharp needles trailing down to fingertips. Was he going to bite it off? I decided on a no. Had he planned on doing that, it would already have happened. Instead, he caught me. Though burns hurt too. Oh well, he'd probably regrow it anyway and I'd receive a nugget of insight on my jailer.

Hand went deep under the fake fabric. When my fingertips touched the skin under the skin, a very inappropriate shiver of anticipation ran down my spine. I forced away the memory of pleasure. It was unwanted, unnecessary and untimely. It was still hard to concentrate. I grit my teeth and gave in, sinking my whole palm down onto it.There were no features. No mouth, no nose. No head at all. Horns sprouted up from the body masquerading as the neck, made a turn at very top and sprang out somewhere at eye level. My fingers gently traced the knobby rows of thick bony trunk, thumb brushing the same leathery texture of as his outer skin. There was no head. It was indeed peculiar to find complete absence of an essential organ."What bit me that time?" I wondered, finding no sign of a cakehole."I change upon circumstance," he said and it was very strange to get a final nail in the fact that he did not speak with a mouth."Is that something else you wish to hide?" I asked cheekily, ever the predator of insecurities. Gripping monster's lack of head caused another quiver run down my neck. I suffered an urge to pull him in for kiss, but it was impossible.From so close I heard something wet peel off and pinpricks touch upon my skin. The sensation was revolting. I tentatively maneuvered a thumb to probe a tooth. Found a fleshy edge – a mockery of actual lips. Unrestricted finger hovered over and was unable to explore any further. The ancient horror was correct, something felt intrinsically wrong about this. Perhaps I did imagine the monster more like us than I had the right to.I let go and tensed to move away. His teeth and three hands released me in tandem. Not unsettling at all. I took a step back and chilly wind suddenly made me miss them. Monster was always so warm."Thank you," I said almost without stammering and had nothing to add in the awkward silence. This time it was truly uncomfortable. My gut twisted with all sorts of conflicting emotions."You dislike yellow?"I quirked an eyebrow. Smalltalk from a demon? Sure, why the hell not. "Nah, it's just... ordinary, I guess. That's the colour of fire over here. Well, mostly... the animals from your hellhole burn in different hues." I looked at one such torch in the distance. It was a little green. Glanced back at the monster beside me. I would ask what colour fire is in their world, but alas – demon had no eyes. Work, stupid brain. What kind of place was it anyway?"Do you even have fire over there?" I finally forced out. Stupid. Why wouldn't they have it?"Under certain conditions, yes, but it's an ocean.""Oh," I said, mentally patting myself on the back for being an actual genius. "Oh," I reiterated with far less enthusiasm. His real appearance must be completely different over there. How fundamentally different their existence must be. Was he even a vertebrate? Does that matter for shapeshifters?"You people are majorly missing out on late night barbeque parties," I concluded."That's disgusting," monster hissed out and it sounded eerily genuine."What is?" I found myself confused.The demon has lost a few growly ticks either in an irritation or bewilderment. "All of it. The smoke. Ruined tissue. And if I want to suffer diminished capacity I can just slice parts of my brain off."Did somebody piss in his plate in one of those? "Picky eater much?" I huffed at the negative, grisly Nancy. I knew human things would be of no real interest to the alien creature, but it was polite to at least pretend."Very," he confirmed and my gut churned nastily at the reminder. This asshole preferred the partygoers to the grilled treats. And I was it. I should do a better job dancing around dangerous topics. Did not need a constant reminder of things to come.Backtracked. "Not a place humans can go, then?""Not for the lack of trying," monster grated out as though he had to sweep a pile of corpses off his welcome matt every morning. "Do you want to?" he asked unexpectedly.I swayed on my heels back and forth. Couldn't even begin to process what he might have meant by that. As his future dinner, that was my final destination anyhow. Before braving alien worlds in form of mince or otherwise, I had other places to be. Raked my overgrown mane, rubbed at the eyes and decided to risk bringing it up. Bargaining hadn't worked with this creature yet, so I just went for it. "I have... somewhere to be. To talk to somebody. After that I'll do whatever you want."Silence hung and I had an urge to ask whether he'll eat my friends on sight even knowing how easy it was to lie. I had no intention of believing promises anyway. Kept my trap shut. Perhaps I spoke out too hastily at all? Fuck, maybe I should have just asked Priest to relay to them that I'm fine. That alone might not convince Ruby but perhaps at least dull the urgency and let him heal."Your... mouth is taking me there, so it's all safe and dandy and under supervision... I'll even be back here as soon as I possible," I lied, but he didn't need to know that. I was genuinely desperate to be fully believable anyway. "It'll be of no inconvenience to you."Suddenly and for no rationale this felt like a big ask. Should I grovel? The body part man did that for some reason. Horned deity did look imposing and the wheezing art installation made me very conscious of that fact.Do I use my feminine viles for persuasion? Demon had no sex drive to be manipulated over. Fuck. Should I promise to clean up the garage or something? I heard the kids who were actually housed beg so of their keepers. Witnessing that I was always glad to be unattached. Free. Few people who might have cared where I end up were always with me anyhow.Feelings of suffocation swirled inside of me again. I hated the leash over my neck. But one way or the other I always ended up in these situations. Such was fate of the weak.Before I could resort to some drastic idea, monster decreed, "We'll go."We? Will go?"You... will fit in a car?" I turned my head to re-evaluate the ostentatious coiling adornment. Right, I forgot again – he could probably contort in some way."No," monster growled and it sounded like nails on rusty metal sheet.The bikers had to have some of their old life stashed away in some shed still. "Motorcycle?" I asked even more tentatively."No." Voice sounded far less harsh this time.The smell and probably the noise. Right right. "Are we gonna... pedal there on bicycles?" A sight to see."No," was all the monster had said in reply again and it felt like he looked forward to more of the stupid suggestions."You just don't know how to," I accused knowing full well it probably wasn't it. I mean, the monster in all likelihood did not circle around his neighbourhood on a small wheeled contraption as a child, but there were other things to consider. Like his public image. He didn't reply. I probably should have phrased it as a question. "Do you?""I do," he let out a short hiss."You do?" I gaped. "That's... It's harder than it looks," I said because I've tried and I was yet to succeed myself. So if the mode of transportation was it, I'd be screwed. Luckily at this point it was just morbid curiosity."I've consumed multitudes with the ability," monster stated as though that's how it worked. It didn't... did it?Crossed my arms. "That's not how it works. I've eaten a lot of pigeons but I'm yet to fly.""You've no wings."I scoffed - as though that was the main problem here. Perhaps it was. But I felt like I'd be pointlessly flapping around on the ground even with them.Demon's head tilted and he relented, "The way you and I eat are fundamentally different." So what, did he just needle me back? For fun? How mysterious.I sighed heavily and had to agree. He was an alien organism with far superior control over his – and others' – bodies. "You extract memories... or something?""Something," demon had not elaborated. Very convincing."Aha. We'll shop around for a tricycle for you when we're back in city, then.""You mean, for you?" Before I could get any brattier, monster went on gratingly, "Because you don't know how to ride the big boy rides."Any scraps of my good humours evaporated and I felt the full force of night's chill. Those were exact words the kids with parents had said to me years and years ago. I could bet both of my arms it was not a coincidence.The faceless emptiness bore straight into me. I knew because the hoodie was askew and perhaps that was the point. Minute detail to be noticed if I cared to. Well, I did. My stomach roiled and I wanted to be violently sick. Preferably all over his beloved shoes.Should have gone down grovelling route. I felt like each time I tried to poke at the demon, he came out on top. This was way out of my league. He was not my pal. Not an overconfident client. This was a god damn unknown life form from another world. Unlike with the spoiled snoots from the nicer streets, I would not be able to solve this situation by going over the bike in question with a crowbar. Torching things wouldn't help here either.I did not delve into further implications of whatever display of power have just happened there, but this had to have been what dead-eyed warlord meant. It was far too late for me to escape. Perhaps I should just cease testing the boundaries. I had general idea of permissible things. It would be enough.Without saying anything else, I just stepped backwards and left. What was there to say in face of total defeat? It was probably time to try Priest's suggested tactic and just become plain obedient slave. Maybe he'd get bored of me.Quietly I seethed. Fuck them demons. Mean asshole, casually flexing mindreading. This is why nobody wanted to speak to him.Just off the beaten path a stocky pale silhouette stepped forward as though to meet me. It would have been unsettling, but I saw paleness extend to the haircut too and smiled. Almoner's eyes were wide with worry or fear. Or both. I grabbed his palm and tugged tense man after me towards his cosy sunken house."Are you... okay?" he stammered out right after the door closed. If only he knew how little privacy that has given him. Or me. I will never again have a peaceful shit all to myself, will I? I probably wasn't alone in my head anymore either. Fucking outstanding."Of course," I smiled warmly in response to his abject terror. It's like the kid has never seen intestines hanging off a living thing. How embarrassing for him."What has happened there?" he whispered and pointed at the door. Could tell he was more than just a little unsettled. Perhaps questioning the entire joining of the demonic cult thing. Comparing pros and cons of living in the countryside with the horrors.I shrugged as casually as I could, "The guy trampled monster's little shrine. He must have gotten upset." From the boy's expression it was wrong thing to say. I was way off my game today. I palmed his bruised cheek with icy hand. The problems I caused don't go away simply because I'm not there anymore. "Did you perhaps want the military to come in?""You think they should... have... had..." Almoner's speech turned to weak whisper as he recalled quieting clatter of gunfire just a while ago. Yes, it was far too late for that whether they've had good or bad intentions.I shrugged not knowing and not caring. "You're asking the wrong guy. I'm an amalgamation of questionable choices.""But..." he expressed a vehement emotion with no follow-up.I kicked the shoes off and began undressing. Glanced over my shoulder. He watched, but the boy was far too worked up over the wrath of demons for sex. Another sleepless night chuck full of incessant thoughts awaits, but I was determined to spend it in a comfortable bedding anyway. I had serious misgivings about camping in near future."There's never a right choice," I said, falling face first into the pillow and digging myself in. "You're not the one who makes them, anyway - the ones with power do. So don't worry about it," I grinned back into the room and watched him watch me with bewildered eyes.