Turns out, the brooch was worth a fortune.

Like a whole lot.

I found that out a week later at a reputable jewelry store in the city.

The old jeweler nearly fainted when he saw it as he referred to it as a lost artifact.

A cursed blood diamond.

“The Crimson Thorn,” he had whispered, like saying it too loudly might actually kill him.

According to him, it didn’t belong to any single culture but has appeared in it all.

And it always was the same object that caused a disaster.

But I didn't care anyway about the mythology of how people died to create or to even own it.

Even the jeweler looked at me like I should already be dead but I didn’t care.

All I heard was one thing.

Money, money, cha-ching!

And lots of it.

.

.

.

By the end of the week, I was no longer the broke high school senior as the brooch sold at auction for a crazy price.

Rich people were that eager to die or try fate I guess.

I also graduated with distinctions and now I'm in the university with my amazing boyfriend and a proposal mere days away.

Everything was perfect, and for me, it could mean that something would soon go horribly wrong.

Or maybe it's just nerves.

.

.

.

.

That night, I was walking home right after picking up the black diamond ring with the thorned band that screamed goth.

Zach would love it.

And I'm sure he would frown at my spending even though he liked the luxurious things in life.

What a strange guy.

I was smiling to myself when it happened and a shadow of wings covered my vision.

I had a smile on my face thinking it was Maya until I looked to see an owl.

Even worse, I couldn't seem to understand the bird as it looked and felt like… it was dead.

Then it spoke.

“In twilight’s glow, a vessel waits…”

I froze as the voice was coming from inside my head.

“Mystia, the key to shifting fates…”

The owl blinked as the mechanical feel only got worse to me.

“Mystia… the key… to shifting fates…”

It repeated that line three times before flying off into the dark.

I stood there for a long moment with Maya on my shoulder.

“…Okay,” I said slowly. “That’s new.”

Maya was silent, which was this moody bird’s way of telling me not to ask her.

“You’re certain you want to marry Zach?”

She finally speaks after a moment.

“Maya,” I said, “why are you suddenly spiritual today?”

She didn’t answer the question but I continued walking regardless.

“I love him,” I said anyway.

“Not what I asked,” she replied inside my head.

I sighed. “He’s my boyfriend, I’m proposing. That’s how it works.”

“There’s a difference between love and attachment Sia.”

“That sounds like therapy talk from you Maya.”

“It is merely an observation.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re a bird.”

“And you’re emotionally avoidant.”

“Wow, low blow Maya.”

I gasped with a hand to my chest.

We argued for the rest of the walk mostly on my emotional avoidance but I refused to take marriage advice from a bird obsessed with Tom Hardy.

By the time I got to three alleyways away from the bus stop–

“You’re really doing this,” Maya said quietly.

“Yes,” I replied.

“Even after everything?”

“There’s nothing wrong with Zach.”

Maya hesitated, that's a new occurrence.

This bird was not one to hold back her thoughts.

“Are you in love with him?” she asked.

I stopped walking.

“…What kind of question is that?”

“The important kind Sia.”

I exhaled with annoyance , praying for patience.“Of course I am.”

“Or you just planned a life with him in your head without thinking that?”

“That’s literally what marriage is.”

“No,” she said softly. “That’s what safety is for you.”

I didn’t respond to that because I didn’t like where that conversation was going.

I play with the ring in my pocket.

“You’re overthinking things,” I told her.

“I don’t think about enough things,” she replied.

I snorted.

“Also,” she added in a teasing tone, “you’re still a virgin.”

I almost tripped from my outrage

“That was unnecessary!”

“It was a factual statement especially if you're about to be married.”

“You enjoy saying that too much.”

“It’s efficient information I need to always remind you of.”

“I hate you.”

“Well you don’t have any other alternatives than me Sia.”

We kept walking as I bristled over my virginity.

I never had the chance to lose it even though I've tried really hard.

I even–

A loud and sharp scream cuts through the silent night coming from the alleyway.

I stopped with Maya also puffing herself up in anticipation.

The logical thing to do would have been to walk away and call the cops.

Instead, I moved toward it.

“Don’t,” Maya warned but I ignored her and kept walking.

“It’s probably nothing.”

“It is never nothing Sia, especially for you!”

“Then I’ll just check.”

“That’s how horror movies start you nitwit!”

“I don’t watch horror movies.”

“That is far much worse!”

I ignored her and walked right into the dark alley.

It's like a fog is lifting from my vision as I finally see them.

Two bright figures that were glowing oddly even without any light.

At first, I thought it was a violence crime until I realized it wasn't, it was something else entirely and I just barged in on them.

The taller one had a hand wrapped around the woman's throat and was lifting her like she weighed nothing with his member.

The only thing that connected the both of them was that.

The much smaller woman was gasping, shaking as se looked like he was caught between pain and something that didn’t look like fear.

It was… pleasure.

Uncomfortable and unfiltered one.

I know now that her shoutings were not one of pain or help, it was of pleasure.

The taller man moved like something possessed in a controlled but hungry pace.

“Nghh–!”

Wow.

With the size of him, I can understand why she was screaming for bloody murder.

I should’ve left immediately when I saw them but like a pervert, I stayed and watched.

Finally, I stepped back slowly.

“…Okay,” I whispered to myself as I turned to see Maya had vanished. “This is not my business.”

A sound came from behind me and I turned around too quickly and collided with something, no someone, who's really solid.

“My eyes are up here, fledgling,” he said as I was staring too long.

“Raise your head,” he said softly. “Let me see the face of my peeper.”

RHYDSTORM’S POV

That fucking piece of shite!

Oh Mateo was going to die when I got my claws on him and I mean it this time.

He had one job, one job to take care of my nightclub and now I was staring at my bar, Eros, with disgusting guy feeders in my bar!

The Alp-luachra were not typically allowed in bars or supernatural hangout spots because if you fell asleep in front of one, they'd crawl into your stomach and feed from you.

They were slow killers that were truly disgusting and now I have a riot of them in my bar!

I exhale sharply as around me, patrons are staggering and vomiting not noticing they are being drained from the inside by these leeches.

Eros was not supposed to look like this, it was supposed to be my feeding ground not an avenue for people with eating fetish.

And now it's useless.

“Mateo…” I mutter under my breath with anger.

“When I find you, I’m going to rip your wings off and decorate the ceiling with them.”

I pinch.the bridge of my nose as the irritation and exhaustion was getting to me.

I haven't fed in days and out here in the human realm, that could be fatal especially with my regeneration slower compared to when I was in hell.

I need release and sex right now.

Without hell’s magic or life force, this is what I'm now reduced to.

Feeding like a lowly incubus surviving in carnal pleasure.

Pathetic.

And if I didn’t feed soon, I would stop being selective and become aggressive.

And I cannot risk any aggressive behavior especially not with the Accursed Games coming up really soon.

That is the only reason I tolerate this world. I need to win trials and return back to hell so I can reclaim my heritage and look my bastard father in the eye.

Eros, the demon sin of pleasure that banished me, his son for being born half demon.

Like it's my fault and not his, so I named this nightclub after him in spite knowing he hates humans.

Four hundred years of exile and being called a mistake and a halfbreed abomination.

My horns ached faintly beneath illusion magic on my head like a phantom pain after they were cut off by my step brother as a reminder and a warning.

I will have my revenge but I need to feed first.

.

.

.

I scanned the bar for options but the population was not satisfying.

Vampires?

No. They were emo parasites pretending sadness was a personality trait for them.

Witches?

Absolutely not! The last one tried to bind my “essence” mid stroke.

I am not ready to be a father.

Werewolves?

Tempting, but with the full moon out, I'm not interested in being bitten mid release.

Elves?

Too much talking.

Dryads?

No, I am not repeating that botanical disaster.

Demigoddess?

I paused as I looked at her once more.

Demigoddess are rare as they come and for one to be here?

A boon for me!

.

.

.

.

We are fucking real hard and slow when I catch a scent.

It's warm blooded and… a human?

I slowly inhale as my cock reacts even before I do in hunger.

Who is that?

“…What is that?” I whispered.

The scent isn’t just present, it's alive and thrumming in my veins.

I turned slowly and scanned the alleyway but she's no longer there.

I exhale slowly and focus to find the source.

.

.

.

.

Then, I find it!

It's near the alley exit so I move with inhuman speed right in front of her and there she is.

A mortal.

She bumps into me and falls backwards before her eyes widen with shock at the sight of my still stiff member.

Oh right, I was interrupted mid stroke.

I stared down at her before finally asking her something since she's just content to stare at my naked self like a pervert.

“My eyes are up here, fledgling,” I remind this perverted human.

Seriously, who looks at a hungry incubus with desire?

And when she goes red and looks away in embarrassment, I internally regret telling her off.

Her face was definitely pretty too.

“Raise your head,” I say softly. “Let me see the face of my peeper.”

But as she does, the wind carries her scent straight to my nose causing me to stumble in my posture and nearly lose control.

“Who are your parents?” I ask, holding a hand to block my nose.

She e doesn’t answer but instead she's staring at me like I am a mistake or she's hallucinating.

Oh right, the horns and my hooves, I'm still in my partial demon form.

I inhale greedily again as my whole body tightens.

Oh… this mortal is dangerous.

I crouched down to her level on the ground and tilted my head.

“You’re the peeping Tom from the alley,” I say slowly as she finally shows fear and embarrassment.

I inhale again and something shifts wrongly inside me causing me to frown.

“…Impossible.”

Because I now understand what I am smelling now. She isn't just merely a human, she's something else.

Something pure that hasn't been tainted by any other supernatural.

.

.

.

She is a virgin.

The realization makes me think whether today is my birthday as the odds of a virgin female mortal still having a strong life force is practically harder than finding a celibate incubus.

“…How are you still alive?” I murmur as I assume other supernaturals would have surely tried to have her.

“I–uh–I think I’ll just leave now.”

She tries to sidestep me but I merely hold her in place, careful not to break her as I remember she's a human, and mortal

“Kiss me…”

I command using a tiny bit of the compulsion magic incubus are famous for, wanting to test something.

I already know how this all would pan out.

She'll blink, smile and come closer and closer to me until she kisses me.

I let out a cold smile as she moves closer and closer.

Just as I prepare to kiss he–

A punch from nowhere greets my face with a snarl from her.

“Die and go to hell you pervert exhibitionist!”

She instantly turns and runs for her dear life, running away and leaving me in confusion.

What the hell just happened?!

SIA’S POV

The walk back home should have calmed me down but it didn't, it only made it worse.

Every step away from the alley felt like I was walking from a dream that I couldn’t fully wake up from, except I was awake.

Oh from seeing the size of that exhibitionist, I was definitely awake.

I checked my phone twice just to confirm that I got no calls from Zach and I can't find Maya either.

“…Maya?” I called under my breath.

But it's silent without the usual flutter of wings, nothing.

That's odd.

“Okay,” I mutter. “So now I’m officially talking to myself.”

That should’ve scared me more than it did but I am still stuck in what just happened.

The alley, his voice, the man–

I stopped walking as I realized something strange.

I couldn't remember him anymore, if I even tried to, it all seems like my mind is covered with fog.

That didn’t make sense at all, I just saw him.

But when I try to recall his face, it's blurry. Like fog has settled over it.

I blinked.

“No, that’s completely stupid,” I say out loud. “I literally saw him like five minutes ago.”

I try again to focus.

A tall man cosplaying as a demon with horns and an intense voice

His face–

That's it. That's the extent that my memory will allow me to remember.

His face kept shifting at the edges of my memory like smoke blowing from the wind.

“…Why can’t I remember your face properly?”

By the time I reached my apartment, my thoughts had turned into tiredness as I locked the doors behind me and dropped down onto the floor with my keys.

Something in me feels okay but at the same time it all feels… wrong.

I could feel like my skin was listening to things it shouldn’t be able to hear or understand so I pressed my hand to my chest.

I need to calm down. So I walk into the kitchen and grab a cold glass of water and chug it down.

My reflection in the window catches my eye, making me pause and stare.

It's nothing wrong, but I no longer feel myself any more.

“Get it together, Sia,” I say quietly after trying to pinpoint the difference in me

But when I turned away, I could've swore I felt something watching me longer than I did.

I turned back quickly to see it was nothing but my reflection.

My phone finally rings, and it's Zach.

I almost smile without even thinking about it.

“Hello Zach.” I said.

“Where have you been? You said you’d call earlier,” he says.

“Sorry,” I replied quickly. “Busy day for me.”

I didn’t know why I said that but I imagine telling my boyfriend that I saw a tall 7ft dude choke a girl with only her throat and use her as an onahole isn't a good conversation starter.

Zach laughs softly like he didn't mind.

“You sound weird,” he says.

“I’m fine.”

Then he says once more, “You’re thinking too much again.”

That made me exhale slightly.

“Yeah,” I admitted as I looked outside at my reflection.

It's all pretty normal so maybe it's just the proposal jitters getting to me.

But for a split second–

I see something behind me in the glass.

A shadow that didn’t belong to the room smiling at me.

I turned around sharply but there was nothing there.

Zach was still talking.

“…Sia? Are you listening?”

“Yeah,” I say quickly. “Yeah, I’m here.”

But I wasn’t really, especially with this thing disturbing me.

I tried to picture him, the man from the alley again only to come up short.

Like something is actively refusing to let me see him clearly.

My grip tightened around the phone.

“Zach,” I said suddenly.

“Yeah?”

“…Do you ever forget someone’s face even when you just saw them?”

Silence before she laughs out in that sweet voice of hers.

“No,” he said. “That’s not normal.”

Right.

That should maybe reassure me but it didn't.

After the call ended, the apartment fell into more silence as there was no Maya or Zach.

It's just me and the presence with me giving me a headache.

I check the window again but there's nothing there.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that the air inside the room had changed like something was passing through.

I sit on my bed to relax and think about the ring and the proposal about to happen.

My graduation and a chance of normal life with–

The alley.

I shake my head to try and get it out of me but then later with frustration.

“Why can’t I see or remember you properly?” I mutter.

The room stays silent until I look down and see that my hand is shaking.

Not out of fear, but out of something even I can't recognize.

I stare at my palm with confusion and faint fear.

“…What is wrong with me?”

With shock, I'm in for a surprise when a new and strange voice pops up in my mind.

“You’re remembering incorrectly.”

I freeze as my breathing stops halfway.

I look around just in case but I can't find Maya.

That talk is from inside my head.

I swallow and ask even though I know it's not feasible especially with male voice in my head.

“…Maya?” I call again but this time there's no response or answer.

The silence that follows my question feels heavier than the one that happened.

And then, for the first time since the alley–

I couldn’t tell if I was alone in the room or if my memories finally stopped showing or popping out hallucinations for me.

I try one last time to remember his face but instead of the fog, I'm met with a calm and insipid voice.

“You were never supposed to remember him, you're not even real.”

“Who are you?!”

I yell back in my empty room, screaming and demanding answers like a lunatic screaming to himself.

Who is this person talking in my head?