Returning Hero

We were sitting together on a park bench. I put my arm around her, inhaling her delicious scent. I hate perfume; I think people have their own naturally wonderful aroma. The cloudy sky, the moon hidden behind it, the lamp giving off warm light, and the trees. And she, still young, even for a human. I was so excited, so hungry for all the places I could get to, that I had to be careful not to let my claws pierce the skin I'd put on this morning. She muttered something to me, and I licked my sharp teeth. "Careful," I mentally scolded myself. I didn't want her to be frightened. It was tempting, though, to think I could chase her through the entire park until she lost her breath, her senses, and her will. Then I would catch her, crush her, and gnaw her beautiful flesh, bite by bite, down to the bone. But not today; now I was tired and hungry. I approached her slowly, inch by inch, delaying the moment when I would devour her face in a long kiss. With a soft smack, his tail pierced the skin I wore, but she didn't notice. She was equally aroused; I could feel it. Just as our lips were about to touch, I felt his presence. I raised my head. He must have had important business to have dared to come to the human world.

"Sir," I stood and bowed. "I didn't expect you here."

His cloak fluttered angrily, his hood falling back, revealing his face.

"He's in this city. You must find him," whispered the bloated worms pouring out at his feet. Certainly, the Fifth wasted no time in greetings. Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at the girl, who began to shake and her teeth chatter. Thick streams of dark blood trickled from her nose. Most people don't tolerate his presence well.

"Whatever you command, sirrah." I bowed again, wanting to end the conversation as quickly as possible before the girl fell apart completely. However, he noticed her presence and looked at her. She began to mutter, her eyes flashing white.

"Humans... They're disgusting," the worms rasped. Saliva flowed from the girl's mouth. When I looked away from her, no one was there anymore. I growled at her, frustrated. In her dull eyes, I searched in vain for even a trace of her former self. In an instant, she ceased to be appetizing. I'll have to find new meat.

I knew the hero had been in the city for a long time. I couldn't protect him any longer. Since the Fifth had already learned about him, I'd have to make a decision. I must admit, this one was smart. Not like the last one, Jeremi. The Master found him without any effort. He entered his apartment and waited for him to return. I, too, waited, sitting within the walls of the house.

"Jeremi. Do you have any idea who I am?" he took the form of an older man. "Sit down, Jeremi."

I heard chairs move and the hero sit down at the table.

"I have a gun. Don't try any tricks, I'll use it," he threatened. But he sat down. The questions were probably bothering him too.

"I know you can use it. You're brave." I think I was the only one who heard the mocking note in his voice.

"I... I dreamed. About you too," Jeremi said, not quite knowing where to begin. "

I'm here to help you, Jeremi. You dreamed. That's good. It means I might have found the right man." The fifth spoke the last word with disgust, but Jeremi ignored it.

"She said that people might be looking for me. And that she'd give me a gun." His voice broke, as if the man were about to cry.

"Yes, that's what I'm here for. I just need to be sure I found the right man. Look me in the eye, Jeremi, I need to know." I heard movement; someone rose from the chair. The Fifth continued:

"Oh yes, Jeremi... I saw you slaying the gorgon... I saw the same eyes in the man who tore off Grendel's arm... Look at me, Jeremi." A chair tipped over, and the man groaned.

"She was talking about you," he choked out. "

I saw you tearing off the fleece, killing the Cyclops..." I heard the crack of bones breaking, and immediately smelled the sweet scent of blood. One short scream, and then sounds that sent saliva running down my chin as the Fifth devoured the hero. After he left, I waited a long time in the wall before daring to leave. I cautiously approached the body, but there was no doubt that what remained could not live. I began to chew the remains. There were no eyes, which was a shame; a lot of essence resided there. But that was nothing; even the little that remained in the mangled corpse was enough. Immediately after the meal, I began to feel unwell. It was the essence coursing through my body. Painful spasms racked me for a brief moment, until I coughed out a soft, golden ball. I quickly threw it into my bag and fled as fast as I could.

I'd known for some time that Jeff was a hero. I'd often watched him train at the city police training center. I'd climb the walls to the roof and hang from the tops of the windows, or when I wanted to hear what he was saying, I'd squeeze into the walls and prowl around the center. Always close to him. He was brave. Sometimes a strange feeling overcame me, perhaps admiration... Maybe that's why I wanted to warn him. Besides, there were fewer and fewer heroes, and more and more of us. In that gym, he met Angelina. She was the chief's wife. Petite, but very appetizing. It started with joint training sessions, which gradually became more frequent. I'd watch them grind against each other on the mat, under the guise of training, allowing themselves to do more and more. I watched them for a long time, letting my excitement and appetite grow. Only his tail, stretched to its limits and saliva dripping down his chin, would drive me out to eat. I overheard them talking at the party at the police station when he suggested they go for a walk together.

"Please don't get too familiar, this isn't a training room. I'm here with my husband," she said firmly, but it was only diplomacy that needed to be heard by those around her. I could feel her tension as she approached Jeff.

"Don't be afraid," he whispered. "What can they do to you?"

Angelina moved with him to a more private spot and whispered,

"They can drag me down, destroy my life and my husband's." She hissed nervously, but she didn't push his hand away when he placed it on her sweet cheek.

"They're all alone on the steep roof, entangled in their own dark affairs. They're more afraid than you are," he whispered to her. I heard her shallow breathing, watched her moist lips, and longed to place a bloody kiss on hers.

"Maybe..." she hesitated. "Maybe... Let's meet tomorrow."

Jeff smiled. Angelina left the party. I watched her go all the way to the exit, and then from the rooftop I heard her say to her tipsy driver.

"Let's go home, Jared. I've told you so many times not to drive drunk women around.

They were seeing each other more and more often. Finally, I felt new life sprouting inside her. Inside her belly, something small and alive. That was when I had the greatest appetite for her. But I did nothing; I was afraid of the hero. He already had his blade from Athena and had killed more than one of us. Now I had to warn him or sell him out.

Following him, I went to the subway. I had to choose the right place for our conversation. The subway was perfect for that. I sat down nearby in the compartment, watching his face through my tinted glasses. I was sure I was being cautious. Maybe it was his skin that gave me away; the fat man I'd gutted was already in bad shape. Maybe it was his unruly tail. He stepped out of the subway and waited for me. As I approached, I saw him draw his weapon. I didn't even have time to dodge. The bullets ripped into me, tearing away the human skin in flakes. The pain bordered on ecstasy; I couldn't stop my tail, throbbing in time with the pulsing waves of pain. I was truly afraid only for a moment as he reached for his holy blade, the klaive, but I guess he decided there were too many people around. He ran toward the exit. I rose a moment later, trailing a thick trail of brown pus from his wounds. A day later, the Fifth arrived again. I helped him ambush the hero one cold night. And again, I ate the remains the Rider had left behind. Remnants of essence. A fragment of an eye remained. I vomited the golden bullet into the sack, which was now quite heavy.

Angelina was home alone. Joanna, the child of her and Jeff's love, was sleeping in her crib. I waited in the walls for a long time until sleep overtook everyone. Then I emerged and approached the crib. At the sight of the small pink body, my stomach growled. I leaned over the crib and pulled out the bag of essence. The girl played with the ball, chatted, and allowed the essence to seep into the nooks and crannies of her body. She would be a brave woman. Stronger than her father. I slipped out of the house; if I had stayed any longer, I would have had to eat. I thought about Angelina for a moment, but something wouldn't let me touch her. There were so few heroes left. When the Fifth Horseman devoured the last one, the gates would open. More like me would come. Perhaps they would even summon the World Eater. And there would be much less jumping, squealing human flesh. Just for me.