Among Demons : Succubus Divine

Ch. 21 : Pulling Rank

There are two things that can happen to a Demon if they lose total control of their Demonic Core.

The first and obvious one is that they lose control of their powers and are driven to do anything and everything to alleviate that hunger/need. In a worse case scenario a few suffer at the hands of the weakened Demon but they return to normal soon after. It doesn’t last long, and while painful, it isn’t an extreme pain that still allows the Demon to go about their day if they’re unable to feed for whatever reason. It could even be compared to the ache Humans get when very, very hungry or the throb of a bad sprain.

But if that Demon had willingly allowed themselves to weaken, urging their Demonic Core to surface and fighting against their instincts to regain control… then they need to be killed.

Demons that do this have only one possible goal in mind and that is to completely shatter their Human conscience. To remove and destroy the half of them that resembles our Human counterparts that some have claimed to be our true weakness. And they do this by pulling and forcing their Demonic Cores to the very surface of themselves moments before attacking, killing and eating another Demon.

This is why we call them Flesh-Eaters and why they are the one and only real monsters that will always unite every race of Demon together.

This cruel ritual is done by a few who go against everything involving Human or Demon law. The crazed few that have snapped for one reason or another that no longer wish to stand shoulder to shoulder with their own. And from what I was able to learn about these beasts, the Demon they choose to kill and eat to complete that step and become a monster is usually someone close to them.

A long time friend, a loving family member, or the patient mentor that looked after them. No one was safe from the corrupt monsters that willingly let their entire mind, body and soul be consumed by their Demonic Core. And it is that Bond they share with those closest to them that increases their strength and hunger for Demon flesh. Their minds become tainted without any morals to speak of and all boundaries cease to exist after they erase someone that loved them from the world.

It doesn’t matter what race they had been before turning either, because once they complete the ritual they then go through a f****d up verion of a metamorphasis.

First, they’re bodies go into shock, collapsing after having eaten one of their own and slipping into a deep sleep that Humans would call a coma. Because of this, the killing and ‘feast’ they plan is typically done somewhere isolated. Then, while they sleep, their Demonic Core begins producing this tar-like slime from their pores that some claim smells like burning flesh and bile. This hardens once their body is completely covered and acts like the cocoon of a butterfly, shielding the dreaming beast from those of us that would want to kill it.

Inside this onyx boulder, their bodies change in drastic, terrifying ways that make it impossible for them to blend in, especially in this world owned by Humans.

Their skin turns a sickly gray color, with their nails growing into thin pointed claws that hold a gross green tinge to them. Their eyes are a murky black as well, losing their dual rings and gaining pinpoint pupils as bright as fresh blood. And their teeth look like those of a monster from a child's nightmare, jagged, sharp and pointing in all manner of directions. Some have even been known to come out with a horn or two on their head or body. And the most regrettable thing about these beasts is that they rarely wear clothes. So one is forced to swallow their vomit while dealing with them as they move about in their grotesque leathery bodies.

The last and final step is the awakening of the monster who breaks their black shell after a day or two. It’s from that moment on that they are Flesh-Eaters, hunting and eating Demons and Humans alike, though Demons are their preferred prey.

I had been in the presence of a Flesh-Eater only once in my life, and that was when I was a child. But the one memory is enough to curl my body into a fighting stance to protect myself from becoming their next meal. It’s a visceral reaction that all Demons have when it comes to dealing with those monsters. So my shoving the book away after only reading their Latin name is nothing compared to how I would get in front of one. Our instincts tell us that they aren’t right. That they’re dangerous and deserve nothing but death. Some of the weaker Demons have been known to turn extremely violent around Flesh-Eaters as well, even if they never once raised their fists against another living person.

And here I am learning that those walking nightmares have dared to enter my territory.

“Are you sure this is safe?” Asked Danny again, looking at me as I rapidly texted my brother about our situation. “Shouldn’t you just stay here while we go?” He continued, looking at his comrades for back up. “You just said that they eat other Demons… it’ll be safer if you stay here once we find them.”

I shook my head hard, still staring at my phone as I paced and waited for my brother's reply.

“That doesn’t mean they don’t eat Humans.” I told him, pausing for a moment to look at them as they stared back. “Plus, you’ll need bait to lure one out.”

“That doesn’t sit right with me.” Danny muttered, scratching his head.

“Do we really need to use bait to bring them out?” Questioned Detective Izaak, surprising me with his concerned tone. “Can’t we just find where they’re staying and ambush them?”

“You’re not cleared for the field.” Detective Marcus’ voice was firm and I stopped walking again, glaring up at him as he stared coldly back. “We can handle this ourselves.”

“No, you can’t.” I snapped back, enunciating my words sharply. “Flesh-Eaters aren’t some petty Human criminals, Detective. They HUNT and EAT people an–”

“I get that.” He cut in, making me clench my teeth. “But you’re an employee of this precinct and while working on any case you are to remain in this building since you haven’t been cleared for field work.”

I scoffed, “So, what? You’ll report me if I don’t do as you say?”

He stepped closer to me, using his height to his advantage while I continued to glare.

“If that’s what I need to do to keep you safe, I will.”

My anger climbed even higher at his words while my attraction and physical reaction to his closeness fought for control of my mind. But I quickly peeled away the heat that was burning with the urge to touch this man and straightened my shoulders. Without a word, I turned on my heel and went towards my satchel that I had left on the loveseat, digging through it until I found a black leather, mini folder looking object that I haven’t had the need to use in a long while.

“You leave me no choice then, Detective.” I then turned back to face them and opened it, showing them the credentials they no doubt would recognize. “As Lieutenant of the City of Seattle, Under the command of the Matron of the NorthWest, I invoke my right to attach myself to this investigation as I see fit.” I then made my way back to the stunned Detective whose steele gray eyes were bouncing from me to my Identification card, offering him my phone. “Feel free to challenge this right if you need to. You just have to call the Head Lieutenant and right hand man of the Matron to remove me.”

He hesitated at first but took my phone, looking down at the contact information that was on the screen before looking back at me with anger and annoyance in his eyes.

“Your brother is the Head Lieutenant?” He questioned, grinding out the words as if they tasted bad.

I simply smiled and shrugged, taking my phone back from him while feeling all sorts of smug.

“What can I say?” My eyes scanned the shocked looks of the others before returning to Detective Marcus, smiling even bigger at the defeated yet pissed off look on his face. “It’s a family business.”

The tension in the room was cut a second later when my phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID and felt that smug energy drain from my body as I clicked to answer, fully returning to the seriousness of my current situation.

“Nick.” I spoke first, hearing some rustling sounds on the other end. “You on your way?”

“Yeah.” He huffed, the sound of a car door slamming shut following his word. “I’ll be there in five.” His truck roared to life as I returned to my bag, gathering my things and running a hand through my hair. “You're playing the bait, right?”

“Who else would?” I chuckled out, catching Detective Marcus’ grim look as he watched me. “Oh, and I’ve pulled rank here so I wouldn’t get booted off.” Nick’s laugh helped me relax a bit before a sudden thought crossed my mind. “Nick… Novum extare?” The eyes of the men in the room all returned to me as I spoke in Latin, their curiosity filling the room.

Nick and I had long ago learned a few Latin words and phrases that we could use to speak in code since not many people understand the language. And being a Demon, learning certain Latin words was crucial so that I could welcome all races and do my best to understand each and everyone of their needs. The phrase I had just used translates to ‘new clues’ in Latin and alerted my brother that I wasn’t alone so I couldn’t ask outright. And knowing him, Nick had more than likely connected the dots between the Flesh-Eaters, my aunt, and the Hunters like I had. It was just too much of a coincidence that so many enemies looking to kill and harm my people were gathering in my territory out of nowhere.

Something was happening to bring them all here, and I was going to do everything in my power to stop it.

“No.” He answered, sounding impatient. “I still have our people watching them but nothing new has come up at all.”

“Ok, thanks.” I nodded, hanging up and tossing my phone onto my bag. “Since this is a serious situation for us Demons, my brother will be joining us as Head Lieutenant.” I forced myself to sit back and calm my body that was still coiled up for a fight, rubbing my eyes a bit to try and remove the lingering urge to attack something. “He works directly with the local Matron and it has long been established that any and all Flesh-Eaters are supposed to make their presence known if they move into a new city.” I exhaled heavily and rolled my head to the side, watching the three Detectives as they did their own things to prepare themselves while listening. “So the fact that there is even one within the boundary of her territory that hasn’t identified themselves in any way, that makes them an invader, or Invasor in Latin.”

“Invader?” Danny questioned, sounding confused and amused.

“Yeah.” Nodding slowly, I leaned forward and propped my elbows on my knees, staring at my hands. “It means their life is forfeit since the Matron has labeled them as targets.” I straightened up to look at them, locking eyes with them just as my phone pinged a few times. “So you can shoot on sight, and aim to kill.”

They nodded in agreement after I second as I grabbed my phone again, looking to find texts from my brother telling me that he was here and coming up.

“My brother’s here.”

I got up and left the room, making it halfway out of the long hallway when the elevator dinged and opened, revealing my brother in a long dark green coat, worn boots and faded jeans. A smile pulled at my lips once he saw me and he dropped his bag at our feet as we hugged.

“How much do they know?” He asked me, picking up the bag again and following me as I turned and led the way.

“For the most part? Everything they need to know.” I told him, pausing by the door. “I showed them my credentials as a Lieutenant and told them that you were the right-hand man of the Matron.”

He chuckled and groaned, rubbing his neck before smacking my shoulder.

“Right. So they don’t know that you’re the one working as your own right hand or that you’re the Leader of this entire region.” I shrugged, smiling a little sheepishly as I turned the doorknob. “Next time you’ll tell people that you're nothing more than an Informant or minor Operative for the Matron.”

I smacked him back as we entered, knowing that he had a bit of a point. I always tended to identify myself as someone that doesn’t work directly with the mystery Matron, unless I’m working with nothing but Demons.

“Everyone.” I called out, waving at Nick who stood close behind me. “This is my older brother Nick, the Head Lieutenant for the Matron of the NorthWest.” I felt my brother's hand slide up my arm, pinching me over my elbow and making me jump a bit. “Nick, you’ve already met Detective Marcus, and that’s Detective Danny, Nyla’s boyfriend, and Detective Izaak.” I pointed to each man as I named them and slyly elbowed Nick in the ribs for pinching me.

“Nice to meet you guys.” He smiled, nodding to each man before leveling his gaze at Detective Marcus. “Let’s not waste time and get things started.”