Devour Me

The Devil Likes Red Ch 1

"Over the river and through the woods....better watch out, here comes Little Red Riding Hood..."

What if Little Red Riding Hood could take care of herself? What if she was one of the creatures of the dark? Feared but also respected? What if the wolf was really a devil in disguise? And what if the devil was willing to risk it all for just one taste?

Avalon rules the dark forest. Ever since she became her own darkest nightmare, she has ruled without mercy in order to protect those she loves. When her world is threatened by ancient dark forces, she makes a deal with one of them. Her body for his sole allegiance to her.

Avalon (Red)

What wouldn’t I give to keep those I loved from ever experiencing the deep, gut-wrenching pain of loss? Of looking in the mirror and no longer recognizing yourself? Of being haunted by the nightmare you had become?…Nothing. There’s nothing I wouldn’t give to spare them.

No one…not even my dear grandmother knew what I had sacrificed to keep them all safe. And now….their lives are being threatened once more. So here I was, deep in the woods that I called home. Tall trees that reached their branches to the sky were painted black with the shadows of night. The only light came from the full moon. It illuminated the clearing I now stood in. I wore my black cape, hood up, along with my metal mask that shielded most of my face from the nose down. Leaving only my eyes to be seen.

The black leather of my fighting gear was like a second skin as I moved without a sound. He was here…waiting….one of the ancients. The very thing that had come to destroy our world as we knew it. A being that had stood the test of time. In fact, it was a being before any other being, both human and creature alike, were ever created. His power…the very essence of him was overwhelming and even had my own internal system on high alert.

Coming to a stop, I took in the dark figure who stood not a few feet away from me. I couldn’t see his face since he hid in the shadows, but he was tall…well-built. His power flared then reached out to caress me. It whispered promises of pleasure, revenge, anything my heart desired. The lull was tempting, but I knew it was a false sense of security. Giving into it would mean certain death.

“Do not try to tempt me,” I rasped, my voice low behind the mask. “It will not work on me.” A soft chuckle filled the space and the very sound of it seemed to promise sweet ectasy.

“You say this, and yet I can feel your body’s response to me.” I would not lie that the darkness in me longed for the darkness in him. That although my heart was beyond repair and long gone….my body still craved.

“I know who you are. I know what you offer. And I know that you are my only salvation for those I love.” Silence followed. A silence so eerily disconcerting that I held my breath. Waiting for his answer. Suddenly, he was behind me. His chest pressed into my back and his hand caressing down the side of my mask.

“If you know who I am…then you know my price.”

“I do.” Two words. They would seal my fate. But I was willing to do anything…anything for my family.

“You will give me your body for my sole allegiance to you.” It wasn’t an option or a bargain he offered. It was a contract. A trade. I nodded my consent.

“I will not be gentle with you. I will not be kind. Rather I will take what I want, how I want it, when I want it. You do not get to deny me.” I nodded again. That silence encompassed the world again. My breathing hitched when I felt the ground shift….and then there standing before me was the most magnificent creature I had ever beheld. A wolf larger than I, sat before me. His midnight black fur gleamed almost blue in the light of the moon. His eyes were the color of honey, but they did not hold the warmth of that color….no…they were cold, hard, calculating. And within their depths swirled malice, ruthlessness, and hate.

A smile tugged at my lips as I felt my soul shiver. Those eyes reflected my own. They understood.

“You will not see my face unless I want you to. Otherwise, I will appear in this form or in my shadow form. Now, my sweet Avalon, strip for me.”