The very instant my elongated, sharp teeth yanked out of Mary’s torn skin, she collapsed backward onto the cold, unforgiving stone floor of the balcony. She began rolling from side to side on the hard ground, clutching her bleeding arm and weeping violently like a helpless baby. I didn't linger for a single second to see if she was going to be okay, nor did I care. My chest heaved as panic flooded my veins; I absolutely could not afford to make a massive scene right here. If the palace guards or the townspeople came rushing over and spotted fresh, bright red blood smeared all over my mouth, the secret would be out. They would realize immediately that I was a literal monster masquerading as their leader, and they would brutally execute me right on the spot without a second thought.
I scram
