Despair

Damien sat in his office with a half-empty glass of whiskey in his hand. The rest of the bottle was nearly empty. His body felt completely numb and heavy.

With every heavy breath he took, his claws and fangs released and retracted. His beast was angry and there was no soothing it.

The screams of his handlers replayed over and over in his mind. He had forced them to their deaths to bring back Zia knowing they stood no chance against the darkness. They were innocent men and now they were dead.

Visions of Zia being ripped apart and devoured by the darkness haunted him. There was no way she could survive the dark stalkers, not on foot and not alone.

She had taken her own life rather than stay with him. He caused her to hate him to the point that she chose a gruesome death over him.

How would he explain this to Nerezza? She was waiting for her, and the full moon was nearing. Nerezza would kill him for sure. He had run out of time with no excuses left to give.