Although I know I could easily rip through the sound barrier, or, better yet, fly so fast I simply crash through the walls, I choose not to. No, instead, I keep about the same pace as Mr Dork, the terrified nitwit running from me with all his tiny, scrawny might.

That’s right, cower before my overwhelming might!

To an outside force, this might very well be a horror-movie scene. My dear underlings, the underlings I have spent so long cultivating, flock and huddle so closely that the walls simply fill with them, and if I take a look back, I can only see a black void.

A black void that fills my heart with joy.

Oh, could I ask for anything grander, any better situation to place myself in??

I’m chasing a terrified, panting and wheezing man down a corridor, knowing fully well I could easily catch up to him! It’s delightful!

“Mr Dork, is that-, HOLY SHIT!”

A nurse rounds a corner, recognizing Mr Dork but not this squirming, disgusting mass behind him. In his sheer panic, he has opted not to inform her of what is going on, but to instead push her aside and run further inside.

Ah, fresh meat! I’ve already filled up with Blood, so… Thieves! Lift her up, let’s bring her along for the ride of her DEATH!

“EEEEEEKK-¹!”

-How satisfying! A quick look behind me ensures that she has, indeed, been picked up by a swarm of Thieves, all carrying her as easily as a human might carry a chihuahua. Why, have I ever seen a more perfect hostage?

Sure, she’s hardly wearing anything unprofessional, but that isn’t important!

Come, my darlings, let us catch up to Mr Dork before he reaches the outside!

A myriad of happy buzzing enrapture behind me, and I grin at the thought of how the world might treat me once I emerge from the hospital. They won’t fear their new overlord at first, no-no! They’ll resist, oh, they will, but their resistance will be meaningless in the face of overwhelming might such as mine!

Soon, I and my buzzing blackness emerge into the waiting area, just in time to see Mr Dork shove the door open in the face of some random invalid.

A fair few sickly men and women stare up at me, their faces freezing in shock.

“...You may be wondering why I gathered you all here today,”

I say, initiating the herding of the cattle. The very sight of me, of hearing this smooth, sharp voice of mine sent them all into a frenzy. Some ran for the door, some stood still in shock, and one brave, brave security guard stood his ground. His terrified eyes hopped over the entirety of my being, the Thieves, the Vampires, the Bloodsuckers, the Mosquitos… his eyes took in all of them with a crazed fervour like that of a rabbit only now noticing the alligator behind it.

“-I would recommend you take to flight, my little friend.”

Saying so, I let my hoard of mosquitos, a hoard he surely believed to be one entire creature, move in on him. Mr Dork and the other bunnies were of no use to me. I had a new toy.

But, unlike what I had previously thought, he did not, in fact, sprint for dear life, throwing his loyalty and safety away. He stood his ground. Teeth clenching, molars grinding he raised a firearm I didn’t notice he had at me. Or, well, rather, an unspecified place in my being.

Ohohoho no you don’t!

Thieves, take to the front! The rest of you, stay back. Now, form an impenetrable wall, lay your backs against each other tightly!

The Thieves executed my command within seconds, turning my amorphous black shape into a smooth, light-brown surface within seconds.

Bang!

The officer took quick, shallow breaths, hands shivering as he observed my new form.

A few mental commands prompted a form to take shape once more. Four limbs, a large, hunched back, a long, whipping tail… I only took the form of a drake for intimidation, and it worked like a charm.

I let my face part in two, twisted the edges of it, and formed a grin.

“Run.”

He obeyed.

Which is very good, since otherwise, this might get awkward, which is the bane of any true villain.

I cackle, mostly to myself but also for effect and run after him as he scrambles out the door.

Now, I could just fit through the door, it wouldn’t be too hard, a bit of a tight fit, maybe, but…

Oh, who am I kidding? I crashed through the wall, of course!

Hm? Ohohoho, seems like that alarm did more than just wail incessantly!

Indeed, before my very eyes, a swath of policemen and armed officers stand behind a wall of protective police cars. A barrier to keep me from mauling them. Really, considering that I can easily throw myself through walls with the slightest command, I don’t think a line of defence this weak will do anything to stop me.

But… this is exactly how I like it.

I grin further. With this many Thieves, making a humanoid shape out of them and them alone will be easy.

A single thought commands my entire swarm of underlings to disperse slightly, all members ranking below the Thief forming a black, moving and buzzing cloud while about half of the Thieves form my body and the rest form a few decorative details, such as a long, flowing cape (made of mosquitos and not silk, sadly), billowing below me majestically, but in an intimidating way.

I spread my arms. From within my swarm of mosquitos, I let them bring forth the nurse.

Wow, she… she really isn’t moving much, is she-? I can tell she’s alive and all, I can smell the fresh blood coursing through her, but… maybe she went into shock? Either way, it’s time.

“Dear detestable darlings!”

I boom, spreading my arms wide.

About two dozen guns point at me. Alright, not off to a great start…

I command the underlings to prop the glaze-eyed nurse up beside me, as a sort of mantel-piece.

“You wouldn’t be so uncouth as to attack an unarmed woman, would you?”

“H-, hands behind your head!!”

One of the police officers squawked through a megaphone, an older, robust gentleman who seemed just a bit more uniformed than the others.

“Ah, I’d rather not.”

I smirk, but it’s probably not very visible since I don’t have much of a face. The superior officer’s grip tightened on the megaphone.

“If you do not surrender immediately, we will raise fire!”

Oh? Really now-? Why, my dear policeman, that would be-,

Shoot, out loud, frick-,,

“-Are you deaf or daft? Would you like me to invade your ear canals to take a look?”

He swallowed.

“-Please-,”

And then, someone arrived. Wearing a sloppy mask and a hoodie and a pair of shorts. His legs and arms sprouting fire as he landed in front of the officers. His face was mostly obscured. But not enough to hide his identity.

My breath hitched.

Brother-?