Darkness awaits
He stood as stone. A sentry along the sidewalk on the dark moonless night. They strolled past, unaware of his presence, but he was finely aware of theirs. He was hungry — thirsty, and needed to feed.
Before he saw her, he felt her dark desires swimming in the air around her. Coloring her aura, her passions were opaque to the humans that shared the sidewalk but starkly plain to the demon set in stone.
Stony eyes tracked her, the red pinpricks of his irises invisible in the gloom. He followed his target even as she turned a corner and disappeared. He tracked her.
His stone limbs tensed, his wings melting from stone to leather, and with a suddenness that masked his ascent from the other mortals walking their paths, he leaped into the air, spread his wings, and extended his talons. Moments later, his companion on the column beside him met him as he soared, tracking his prey.
He tracked as she turned and walked along the park, past the hedges and bushes, the leaves falling from limbs creating distractions in the air. He descended into the garden and transformed into a human form. But his evil lurked behind his dark burgundy irises.
Stepping out of the park, his smile appeared kind as he caught the girl he’d bumped into. His grip was firm but gentle, not letting her fall to the ground.
“Oh, Hey, sorry… Didn’t see you.”
“Jesus,” she cursed, her body shivering with fright from the sudden collision, “No… sorry, I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
He had been.
“Where are you headed?” he asked, letting go of her arm.
She pointed, and he nodded, “Me too. Do you mind if I walk with you? I’d hate for you to be alone on this night. I only want to help.”
“That’s fine,” she crossed her arms across her chest, hugging her long coat around her, her eyes flicking up to his and finding a warmth that she didn’t expect, “It’s just a short way.”
“Not a problem,” he said and started a stroll that matched her pace, “I’m Dave,” he said as they traveled together, the other shadow pacing behind them, waiting for the darkness to deepen along the dim trail.
