The cold air from the freezer section washed over me, but it barely made a dent in the heat burning through my body. I’d been feeling off all day—windows thrown open at work while everyone else bundled up, their curious glances making me grit my teeth. But the worst part was the hunger. It gnawed at me relentlessly, making me devour my lunch as soon as I got to work, then sneak out for a massive order from the taco truck nearby. 

Now, I was at the grocery store, staring at frozen dinners, my cart overflowing with food I couldn't stop myself from grabbing.

"Ugh, I’m going to spend half my savings on groceries this week," I muttered to myself, glaring at the loaded cart. My stomach growled loudly, drawing a few looks from people passing by. I forced a smile, but inside, I cursed myself for shopping on an empty stomach.

After paying, I hurried to my car, shoving bags into the trunk, when a voice interrupted my thoughts. 

"Need a hand with that?"

I turned and found a guy about my age, maybe a little younger, with a casual smile on his face. He looked like a college student, probably some frat boy, but good-looking nonetheless. 

"No, I’m fine," I said, though something warm spread in my gut—a feeling that was more than just hunger.

"That’s a lot of food for one person," he said, his eyes flicking to my cart. "Having a party or something?"

A laugh bubbled up from nowhere, light and flirtatious. It wasn’t like me, but I couldn’t stop it. 

"No party. Just meal prepping," I replied, surprising myself with how easily I flirted back.

"Meal prep, huh? You work out?" He flashed a grin.

"Yeah, I do," I found myself saying. 

What the hell was I doing? 

"You must too," I added, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

He nodded, his smile widening. "Yeah, gotta stay in shape. Where are you headed now?"

I hesitated, feeling a strange pull toward him. 

"Just running errands... you need a ride or something?" I asked, the question surprising even me.

"Actually, yeah," he said, eyes lighting up. "I’m meeting some friends at Cal Anderson Park. You heading that way?"

I wasn’t.

"Yeah, I can drop you off. Hop in."

He gave me a grin that sent a thrill of excitement through me as he slid into the passenger seat. As I drove, we made small talk that bordered on flirting. The more we talked, the more I felt this strange desire simmering just beneath the surface, overriding the warning bells in my head.

We hit traffic, and he suggested an alternate route. His directions sounded odd, but the longing inside me made me ignore my instincts, so I followed his words instead.

As we wound through unfamiliar streets, unease started to creep in. 

"This doesn’t seem like the way to Cal Anderson," I said, glancing at him.

He smirked, a dark edge to his expression. "Thought of something else I wanted to show you."

The unease grew as he guided us down a narrow alley that came to a dead-end. 

"Oops, wrong turn," he said, placing a hand on my thigh and sliding it up slowly.

A pulse of warmth spread through me as he leaned in to kiss me. 

At first, the kiss felt electric, igniting something deep inside, but then it turned into panic as I realized I couldn’t breathe. It felt like he was stealing the air from my lungs. I tried to push him off, but he was too strong. Desperation surged, and I bit down on his lip hard.

He pulled back with a smirk, blood trickling down his chin. 

"Feisty," he said, his voice thick with amusement. 

When I looked into his eyes, they weren’t human anymore—they were a terrifying shade of red, with black pupils staring at me like a predator sizing up its prey.

I shoved him away and tried to get out of the car, but he grabbed me, pulling me back against his chest. His grip was ironclad as he whispered in my ear, "Where do you think you’re going, sweetheart?"

All the desire I’d felt before vanished, replaced by sheer terror. 

"Let me go!" I demanded, struggling against him, but his hold tightened.

He forced my head back toward him, kissing me again, his hand roaming over my body. 

"You don’t taste as sweet when you fight, but it’s still a rush."

Panic clawed at me as he leaned in for another kiss. 

"Please, stop!" I begged, my voice trembling.

"Stop?" He laughed darkly, pressing me harder against the seat. "You led me on, sweetheart. Don’t pretend you didn’t want this."

His words cut through me like a knife, but before I could respond, his hand brushed against the dragon pendant around my neck. A searing pain shot through him, and he recoiled with a scream, clutching his burned hand.

"What the fuck?!" he yelled, staring at his palm, now branded with the pendant’s imprint. I didn’t waste a second—I flung the car door open and ran.

I barely made it a few steps before he grabbed a fistful of my hair and pulled hard, yanking me to the ground. 

Pain exploded through me as I hit the pavement. I looked up, my heart pounding in my chest, and saw something out of a nightmare. Standing above me was a creature of red skin with black horns, wings, and a tail.

"Where’d a human bitch like you get dragon ore?" he snarled, showing me his burned palm. He then stomped on my stomach. I gasped as I felt something crack.

Struggling to breathe, I curled into a ball, but he pinned me on my back, crouching over me with a wicked grin. 

"You’re gonna pay for that," he said, licking my face with a grotesque tongue.

"Please," I whispered, tears streaming down my face. "Please, let me go."

He laughed, leaning closer. 

"Force isn’t the best way to get your Aether, but damn, it’s stronger this way," he said, forcing his mouth on mine again. His tongue invaded, draining my strength with each passing second.

Tears blurred my vision as I stared up at the darkening autumn sky, the colors of dusk bleeding together. I closed my eyes, preparing for the worst, when suddenly, a loud swoosh filled the air, followed by a powerful gust of wind.

The weight on top of me vanished, and I heard something slam into the wall with a sickening thud. I opened my eyes, disoriented, and saw the man lying on the ground, dazed from being thrown against the concrete.

Relief flooded through me as I recognized his dark hair and steel-gray wings. It was Argento.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous. His gaze never left the creature on the ground.

No, I wasn't okay, but I was alive. 

I nodded, too shaken to speak and still struggling to breathe. 

The force of his attack had left a crater in the wall, a testament to the sheer power he wielded. It should have been enough to kill—hell, it should have at least left the beast twitching on death's doorstep. But the creature stirred, letting out a low, guttural grunt as it pushed against the rubble.

I watched from where I lay on the cold, unforgiving ground, every breath a jagged edge slicing through my ribs. When Argento glanced back at me, something in his eyes softened, a flicker of emotion that belied the cold, lethal exterior he projected. Despite the agony coursing through me, I managed a weak smile, trying to assure him that I wasn’t completely shattered.

But he knew. I could see it in the tension lining his jaw, in the way his eyes lingered on me just a fraction longer than they should have. The beast shifted, growling as it rose from the debris, and Argento knew he couldn't afford to turn his back just yet.

The creature’s blood-red eyes locked onto Argento, hatred rolling off it in waves. It spat a thick glob of blackish blood onto the ground, the sound wet and sickening. 

"Who the hell are you?" it snarled, wiping the dark residue from its mouth.

Argento said nothing, his silence only fueling the creature's rage. With a guttural roar, the beast lunged at him faster than anything that size had a right to be. Argento barely managed to sidestep, and I felt the rush of air as the creature's claws grazed past him, too close for comfort.

Damn, it's faster than it should be.

The alleyway echoed with the sounds of their battle, the clash of flesh and bone reverberating off the narrow walls. The beast was relentless, its movements erratic yet precise, forcing Argento to stay on the defensive, dodging and parrying with calculated grace. But every time Argento landed a hit, the creature seemed to recover too quickly, its stamina unnaturally heightened.

The creature lashed out with a wild swipe, its claws again barely missing Argento's throat. Argento retaliated with a swift kick, driving his boot into the creature’s ribs with enough force to send it skidding several feet back. But the beast recovered almost instantly, its eyes blazing with fury as it charged again, faster this time, more determined.

Argento's expression darkened as he ducked under a vicious swipe, his hand snapping out to grab the creature by the throat. With a twist of his wrist, he slammed the creature into the ground, the impact shaking the alley.

“Not so tough now, are you?” Argento hissed, his voice low and dangerous.

The creature writhed beneath him, but Argento’s grip was ironclad.  With a growl, Argento tightened his hold and raised his right hand, preparing to deliver the killing blow.

But before he could, the creature’s eyes blazed with a sudden, intense light. A sinister smile curled its lips as it unleashed a torrent of fire. The flames roared to life, a blinding wall of heat that forced Argento to release his grip and leap back.

“Shit!” Argento cursed as he rushed toward me, shielding us from the inferno with his wings.

The fire raged around us, a searing barrier that obscured the beast from view. And then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the fire dissipated, leaving only charred remnants in its wake. The creature was gone, vanished into the night.

Argento cursed again, more violently this time, his wings unfurling with frustration. He turned back to me, his expression a storm of fury and concern. I could see the tension in his posture, the way his fists clenched and unclenched at his sides. But beneath that, there was something else—a raw, unspoken fear that I hadn’t seen before.

“Are you alright?” 

His voice was rough, more a demand than a question, as he crouched beside me, his hands hovering just above my skin, unsure where to touch without causing more pain.

I nodded, though the movement sent a fresh wave of agony through me. 

“I’ll live,” I managed to choke out.

Argento’s eyes softened for a moment, a flash of vulnerability that quickly vanished. 

“We need to get you out of here. Now.”

He scooped me up in his arms, and despite the pain, I couldn’t help but lean into the warmth of his chest, the steady beat of his heart grounding me in the chaos. As he carried me away from the alley, I glanced back at the spot where the beast had disappeared, a shiver running down my spine.

"What was that thing?" I managed to ask through the pain.

Argento didn't answer right away. It looked as if he was contemplating whether to tell me the truth or lie. 

"It was a Fiend." 

I wanted to ask more, but the pain had become unbearable, and just breathing felt like a herculean feat. 

I had a sinking feeling that whatever had just happened was only the beginning.