Adagio in D minor blared from her speakers as she turned down Ross Avenue. The warm air felt wonderful against her cheeks. She had been running errands all morning for her father. Celeste snagged a spot between two cars and walked into her favorite coffee shop Downtown. A double espresso with a shot of vanilla was calling her name. She smiled, thinking about the date that she and John would get to go on tomorrow night. They had purchased tickets months ago to go see Beethoven’s Triple Concerto at The Meyerson Symphony Center. She handed the waiter an extra tip and grinned at their surprised face. Sometimes she left a 100% tip, knowing that most of the people at the shop didn’t even make half of what she did in a year. To be fair, she hadn't always thought that way, but after several years of hearing stories from her students (many of which worked in the service industry), she had a swift change of heart. It wasn't much, but, it was something. She braved the cold again and lifted her scarf up to her nose, blowing hot air into the fabric. Just as she dipped into the driver’s side and pulled on her seat belt, her phone went off. She pulled it from her purse and frowned at the screen. Daddy.

“Hey, I told you I was on lunch, what’s up?” She asked briskly.

“Girl, don’t you take that tone with me. You’re not too old to bend over my knee.” She chuckled and softened her voice.

“Sorry, it’s been a rough day.”

“You take a rest as soon as you drop the contract off at Benson’s place, OK?”

“I will, Daddy.” She answered, “So, what’s going on? Why did you call?” She took a sip, and sighed at the warm, bittersweet flavor.

“I wanted to talk with you about John.” She tensed, squeezing the phone between her fingers.

“Dad─”

“Just, hear me out.” He interrupted.

She sighed and put the cup into the cup holder. “Fine,” she snapped. His words came out annoyingly gentle, “Honey, listen. I know you really like this boy. But there are some things you need to understand.” She rolled her eyes at his tone. “Daddy, I’m twenty-three years old. Come on, didn’t we have this conversation when I was, like─ sixteen?”

“Celeste.” His tone quieted her. “I’m through playing around. You know as well as I do that I married for love. And I could care less if you found your prince charming driving for pizza hut.” She ground her teeth and glanced out the window. A kid waved as his mom pulled up next to her. She smiled, waving back.

“What I mean to say is,” she cringed, realizing that he was probably pacing. She was fairly certain there was a groove that ran parallel to her father's desk. She knew that pause, all too well. “Baby, this boy is different. I don’t know how else to say it to you. He’s going to─” “Hurt me?” She finished. Her voice took on an aloof tone, and she fought to keep control. His voice shot out, “Girl I am trying to get you to see reason. When you first brought him in, I told you no. I have my reasons.” He finished. “Yes,” she quipped, “reasons you’ve failed to enlighten me on.” She went rigid, gripping the steering wheel. “Daddy, did you─” she trailed off, not wanting to anger her father further. She swallowed and then continued, “Are you spying on him?” His silence said it all. “You are, aren’t you?” Her voice raised several octaves. He answered softly, “Celeste, please─” She hung up the phone and threw it into her purse. Why was she not surprised? It was just like him. She whipped into traffic and sped onto highway 75.

* * *

Celeste climbed the stairs to her living room and gazed longingly down the hall. Bed sounds so good right now, she thought as she shuffled across the room. Thankfully, Benson hadn’t been too demanding. Normally she would have to explain things to him for hours, but today his lawyer was there. She thought about turning in for the night, but changed her mind, and sank into the couch. She flipped on the T.V. And went straight to Videoflix. Totally binge watching that new crime series, she thought. Today had really taken a turn for the worse. Why did her father insist on meddling with her love life? John had his faults, but he wasn’t some deranged killer. Celeste picked up her phone. Two missed calls. She sighed, seeing her dad’s number both times. It was only ten, maybe John was still awake. She giggled and pulled herself up from the couch completely forgetting about watching the show. She rummaged through her closet until she found his gift. It was a black rabbit hat with long ears, and pink lining. She snapped a picture of herself as she gazed big eyed at the screen, forming a pouty face. She drew little pink hearts on her picture. Miss you, she captioned at the bottom. Perfect. Giddy, she sent the pic, waiting for his response.

She set down the phone and crossed over into the kitchen. Celeste filled a teakettle and set it on the burner. Opening the pantry, she leaned down and scanned all the different tins. Her eye caught chamomile and she grinned as the chime went off on her phone. She hastily dropped the tin on the counter and skipped toward it. Curling up on the couch, she gripped the phone and pushed the home key. Celeste frowned at the unfamiliar sender. Sender5hi has sent you a snapPic. That’s strange, how were they sending her something? She scanned her friend's list and frowned. No one that she knew was listed with that username. She pressed down on the sender’s name, waiting for the picture to appear. It was incredibly blurry. She squinted at the photo as the seconds ticked by. It only allowed you to view it for ten seconds and the photo was really dark. Her face got closer to the screen. It looked like a driveway. The image disappeared and she pursed her lips. What was that? More importantly, whose driveway was it? She rubbed her arms and glanced uneasily at the front door. Had she remembered to lock it? Celeste tiptoed over to the top of the stairs and peeked down at the front door, the breath she had been holding escaped. Thank god.

Still. She walked over to the panel by the stairs and turned on the alarm. Better safe than sorry. Someone hacking her account wasn’t anything new to her. It had happened a few times. She would have to change the account again and give John the new one. Why couldn’t people just leave her alone? It took thousands of dollars, just to hide where she lived. There had been a huge scandal at Daddy’s company a few years ago. Her Father had been tormented by it ever since. It was nothing that he could have controlled. None of them could─ but it hadn’t made him feel any less responsible. She sighed to herself. She really needed to call him back and apologize. After all, he was just thinking of her best interest. She knew that. But she just couldn’t stand the way he treated John. After all, he wasn’t a bad guy. He was just─ reserved.

Her mind returned back to a few years ago. One of her father’s employees, a man that had just gotten his job, had thrown himself from the roof after being cut from the company. They were going through a rough patch, and had to let some of the new hires go. She knew Daddy was just following normal procedure, and had genuinely felt bad. He had stayed up the entire night, dreading the talk he would have to have with fifty of the employees the next day. Most of them had understood and accepted their severance package.

Not Don. She still could remember his warm eyes, and the fiery red hair that matched his spirit. He had been searching for three months to find work before her father had found him. That man had worked his fingers to the bone. His wife had passed earlier that year, and he had lost his job shortly after that. Daddy had talked proudly about how promising an employee he was. When the time came, her father had fought hard to keep Don on board, but upper management wouldn’t agree to it. Even after Scott had offered to cut his own pay. It was just business, they said, maybe next year we can bring him back on. It still choked her up. The man had left behind a young boy. Celeste’s father had taken full responsibility for it and took care of the funeral. The child that was left behind had family in upstate Louisiana, so her dad had flown with him and saw to it that the boy had a proper fund set up. He still called every now and then to check up on the boy. Clayton, if she remembered correctly. Little Clay. The press, of course, had had a field day. It had stopped for a while, and she had been hopeful that the public had lost interest. Maybe she was wrong. Two more chimes sounded. Her hands shook visibly as she picked up the phone. Don’t. Ignoring her silent warning, she pressed and held down her finger to look at the first picture. This time, it was between two buildings. It was hard to make out, but then she saw it. The white camellia’s in her back yard. She snatched the curtains shut and ran into the kitchen, hiding.

She gripped the phone and pressed the next image. Celeste knew she shouldn’t be entertaining them. She should just call the police, but she wasn’t about to let some idiot with a camera phone spook her. It’s just a prank, some college kid getting a thrill, she reassured. The picture came into view, and she gasped. It was a video of her walking across to turn on the alarm. The phone fell from her hand and she gripped her mouth. They were right outside. Celeste scooped up her phone and quickly dialed 9-1-1. Before she could press send, the screen lit up and a message appeared. She clicked on it, and let out a huge sigh. It was John standing outside of her front door. He had a pouty face and it was captioned, It’s cold out here. Her whole body relaxed and she let out a frustrated yell at the picture. Oh that─ that, asshole. Celeste stormed down the stairs and ripped open the door.

“You better have a damn good reason for─” she was cut off as he swept her up in a hug. His lips hungrily found hers, as he closed the door with his foot. He only paused between kisses to bend down, lock the door, and pick her up. She sighed, her anger melting away. He was halfway up the stairs when the alarm sounded. They laughed as her phone went off. She answered, giving them the code that let them know it was a false alarm. I’m sorry, he mouthed. She threw the phone to the ground and wrapped herself around him. Their clothes were peeled from one another, as they walked in tandem down the hall. Each too lost in the others’ tangle of arms and warmth.

* * *

She groaned as the little chirps filled her room. She flicked her hand across the screen to turn on snooze and rolled over to snuggle John. Her arm found pillow and she cracked open her eyes to find an empty space. Celeste sat up, rubbing her eyes. Where was he? She looked around and relaxed when she saw his wallet and keys. Then the most delightful smell hit her nose and she sighed, snuggling into the blankets. For once, he was making breakfast. That sounded wonderful, until─ she sat up and tilted her head to the side. Had she ever really eaten his cooking? She made a mental note to force it down, no matter how bad. It smelled tasty, that was always a good sign, right? She stretched and reached for the nightstand. Grabbing the remote, she flicked on the TV. Nothing like yoga in the morning. She started with sun salutation, went down to a plank and was just bending into downward dog when John walked in.

“Oh, that’s nothing like what we did last night. Can we try that?” Without skipping a beat, she pulled her right leg under her and went back into sun salutation. “You wish.” She quipped. He set the tray of food down on her bed and stalked toward her. The slow grin crept along his face as he slunk in a crouched position. “John?” “Shh,” he purred, “Let us just live in the moment─ you, me, and the yoga.” He drew the word yoga out like it was a tasty morsel. She didn’t get a word out, he pinned her to the floor, turned her over and pinched her butt. Giggling uncontrollably, she fought to turn back over. She cursed herself for telling him about her one ticklish spot. He laughed, and then finally relented as she crossed her arms and huffed at him. He plopped down in front of her, crossing his legs. In one quick motion, he reached up, and pinched her cheek. “Awake and ready for breakfast?” He grinned. She lost it and laughed for several seconds. He always knew how to get her in a good mood.

* * *

After breakfast, John had left to take care of a client for the day. He was selling a big piece today, a sculpture that he had spent the better part of three months on. It made her sad to see him go, but it gave her time to get ready. She loved wearing pants, but there was just something amazing about slipping into a dress. Especially, a fine dress like this one. It was a rare that she got to dress up, but when she did it was typically a charity event, or part of a business arrangement for her dad’s work. Nights like these were something to just look forward to? it made her feel so feminine. Celeste had purchased a 1960’s pea coat to go with her Priscilla dress. It was made by a company that designed their clothing after vintage dresses. The one she chose was a deep blue with long sleeves and a pencil skirt style fit. The dress plunged pretty low, even for her, but this was a night she wanted to look good for John. It was pretty tight, but she loved the way it hugged her hips. After showering, she walked down the hall to the kitchen. She was halfway across the living room when she paused in mid-stride. She stared out of the window, peering down at the open field and lush gardens surrounding the property line. It was more of her father’s handy work. She often wondered if he doted on her because of the adoption.

Her mother had been a frail, sickly woman unable to bear children of her own. All Celeste had known from her past was that she was adopted in Tokyo, and that she was abandoned. She was barely four years old at the time. Her investigations and research had all came up empty. Celeste had tried for years to find her biological parents, but finally gave up trying two years ago. If it was one thing Celeste learned, it was that fate had a way of showing her things when It wanted to. If she never knew her parents? so be it. Her foster parents loved her as their own, and that was all she ever needed.

Celeste remembered the move to the US with her new family. It was a long and scary trip to New York, but Mama and Papa made her feel like all was right in the world. Anytime she had tried to protest their gifts, they would simply wave and laugh. Celeste smiled as she heard her Father’s booming voice, “As far as I'm concerned, you are my flesh and blood, child. Never forget that.” Her adoptive mother, Kotone, was a native of Japan and kept Celeste fluent in their language. Mama told stories of Kyoto and explained that she later moved to Tokyo for a career change. That's when she had met Scott, her father. He had arrived from overseas on a business trip when he first stumbled across Mama in NHK Hall in Tokyo. Celeste would sigh in contentment as she listened to the story of how they met.

Father’s eyes would light up and sparkle every time he spoke of his wife and the way she could play the piano? Japan's finest at the time, Kotone Inoue. She had done several tours, and though their time together was often brief, Kotone had always made time for Scott. She would tell him stories about her walks in the forest while she strummed on the piano for him. It was a dream, almost something out of a love song and after nearly two years of dating, Scott had proposed to her. They had built a life together, the two of them, but Kotone always had felt a deep emptiness and longed for a child. They finally made the firm decision to adopt and Celeste was warmly welcomed.

She had thought nothing of the fact that she couldn’t remember her past as a child, her therapist had explained that many adults couldn’t remember before the age of five or six. But something about all of it had always gotten beneath her skin. Not only could she not remember her childhood, when she tried her head would ache for hours? a deep, dull ache that would sit behind her eye and put her out of commission for the remainder of the day. She hoped that one day, the mystery could be put to rest, but for now accepted that the universe simply wasn’t ready for her to.

Scott had finished his time in Tokyo for business and brought the two of them back to New York with him. Kotone played in small gigs around the city, but after a time, she began to develop horrible pains in her wrists and joints. She would get tired from just walking across a room. After her father had insisted, Kotone went to the doctor. She was devastated when she learned that it was rheumatoid arthritis. It may have brought her down, but Mama was an amazingly resilient woman. She switched to a life at home with Celeste, and dedicated herself to teaching the piano instead of performing on stage.

Eventually they moved from New York to Dallas when Daddy’s consulting business boomed there. The weather in Texas was a great change for Mama’s aches and pains. The heat was hard on her, especially in the summer, but it was much better than the cold, biting Winters of New York. With one trade off seemed to come another, however, and they soon found out the worst possible scenario? the fatigue had been more than arthritis. It was cancer. Many times in my youth, I had questioned why so many things often seemed to go wrong. It was as if the world were punishing us for being alive. Especially anything that was unfortunate enough to be near Celeste. Her parents had always told her that was a silly notion? bad things happened often, it was just the world’s way of balancing itself out. Celeste had never bought it, even as a child.

Though the treatments had gone well, and Father was sure that Mama would get better, she was bedridden for many months at a time. It was the combined effect of arthritis and chemo. Mama had even started using a walker, and Celeste and her father were filled with hope. She remembered watching from the bedside as her mother, barely thirty-five at the time, quickly transformed into an old woman.

Celeste would mourn from the hallway, listening to the fine pianist play as if she were a three year old touching the keys for the first time. For five agonizing years Mama slowly got better. She could never play like she once did, but still managed to teach Celeste. In turn, Celeste would teach the students as her mother tapped her foot in time. After the first three years, there were no more traces of cancer. Kotone stopped going to the doctor, and her strength seemed to return. They were all so elated, a happy family again? and in the end, it was probably Kotone’s undoing. Celeste remembered it so vividly? they were planning a quiet evening. Her father had called to tell her that he was on his way back from picking up the cake. She didn’t have many friends then, her parents had become her world. They would sit and watch the biographies of kings, or tyrants? see the wonders of Nova, or the scantily clad flappers of the 1920’s.

It was a world within itself, and they the discoverers. Her mother had chosen a very special one that night: the Gods of Norse Mythology. It was one of her favorite subjects, and one she had spent several hours poring over any books that she could get her hands on. It had been the longest day in history at school. She was so desperate to get home that she had even forgotten her bag at school and had to circle back impatiently. She was sure that by the time she got home, half of the cake would have been missing. Dad could never could wait when there were sweets involved. She rounded the last bend and pumped her little legs as hard as she could. Celeste flew across their yard and flung open the front door, eager to hug her mom and whisper, ‘I love you’. Instead, she stared at the cold, lifeless body clinging to its precious piano and smiling? the eyes glassy, yet still holding their deep amber glow. Even in death, mama was a vision of beauty.

Celeste and her father had later learned that the cancer had spread throughout the lymph nodes in her chest. She had to have known, the doctor said that she must have been in excruciating pain. In only two years, the cancer had spread that far. What if Celeste had never been adopted? Would Mama still have her life? As she got older Celeste thought of herself as cursed, like a poison that slowly sucked the life out of others. Dad had always corrected her, but she wasn’t so sure that he was right. Every person that had gotten close to her would lose something dear.

It made her weary to love anyone. The only person it hadn’t affected was John. Anytime she brought it up, he would laugh and tell her that she was being paranoid. Maybe he was right, over the past year nothing had happened. She was thankful for the change of pace and even started making friends at work. Things were finally looking up. To be fair, her sense of dread never really went away, it just─ quieted down. Her best friend Anna, the only true friend she had growing up, lost her eye in a freak accident nearly two years ago. Anna was barely twenty-two at the time and engaged. She never spoke to Celeste again after that. No matter how many times she had tried getting in contact with her, Celeste was always greeted by an answering machine.

At the time, she had tried swinging by Anna’s apartment only to find a deserted space. A year had gone by before she finally found out what had happened. Frustrated and desperate to know the truth, she had waited outside of Anna's parent's house. She finally spotted Gabe, Anna’s brother, and waved to him. He was hesitant, but finally walked over to her car.

What Celeste learned then, still haunted her today. Gabe explained that Anna had seen Celeste leap from a car and sit on the back of a semi-truck full of rebar. Anna then insisted that she saw Celeste rip the rebar from the truck, and then thrust it into the driver’s side windshield. No one else had seen that but her. According to witnesses, a piece had come loose and flew into the car. He could barely meet her eyes as he said it. She could tell he didn’t want to say anything that would make his sister sound even…crazier. Smiling softly, she had reached out and squeezed his arm. “Please, let me know how Anna is from time to time,” she asked. His reaction broke her heart. It was a weary smile. He must have been relieved that she didn’t call him a liar or make fun of his sister.

She was crushed that even Gabe thought that she would do something like that. Celeste and Anna had been friends since they were little girls. It was a sobering moment, something she would never forget. Gabe explained that Anna had been missing because she was placed in a mental health clinic. She had been released about a month before Celeste had stopped by. To make matters worse, Anna’s fiancé, David, had left her. Anna now lived at home with her family, and stayed locked inside, working from home. Poor Anna. Celeste couldn't help but somehow feel responsible. The hardest part of the conversation had been asking Gabe if she could just see Anna. The look he had given her said it all. He shook his head, and managed a quick, “I don't think that's a good idea” before apologizing and heading inside. It had stung at the time, but in retrospect, he was probably right.

Her attention shot back to the present as a gust of wind jarred the French doors. The dinning of various wind chimes outside stretched on, their sounds muddling together like a dissonant choir. Celeste watched intently, waiting for some unseen force to leap from behind the drapes. The blinking, subdued light beneath the curtains had always unnerved her.

She paused at the hall's entrance, glancing uneasily to her warm and inviting room. The crackling fire and duvet were calling her name. She took an unsteady step toward the hall, then stopped, looking down at her mother's piano. The lure felt akin to a moon collected by Jupiter's pull.

Going against her own judgment Celeste sat down and began to play. She began timidly at first, then with more gusto as her feelings grew. Swaying to the music, she hummed along softly. Time was lost, as if it were only her and the glorious music at her fingertips. Visions of mother danced through her mind as the tears flowed. The years that passed had done little to ease Celeste's sense of loss. Each time she played, she felt a little closer to Mama. It was as if the piano was an extension of the late Kotone─ so vibrant, so lovely. Her smile could light the darkest of rooms. Celeste strummed the last chord, and the silence pressed in upon her. A tingle ran along the length of her neck and spine. She fought the strong urge to flee. She couldn't shake the feeling that a presence was lying in wait.

Seconds after she thought this, a blur of movement streaked to her right, and she fell to the ground. Celeste gawked up at the glass doors, and then instantly became ashamed. Cupping her mouth with her hand, she burst into fits of laughter. She felt like the biggest idiot in the world. You seriously watch too many horror flicks, she thought. A few last chuckles came out as she stood, brushing herself off. She gazed at her own image behind the sheers, her face scrunching at the corners and hair a tangled mess. She reached up and straightened her hair back in place. You’re losing it, she chided herself.

Celeste turned to leave and stopped dead in her tracks. From the corner of her eye, she could see that something was wrong. Her reflection had remained perfectly still, and it was staring at her. Everything inside her screamed to run. There was danger here, real danger. Not just some imagined sense of it. It was─ black. It felt black. This experience, like many before it, was something that was exceptionally hard to explain to others. For example, how scared, and I-already-defecated-in-my-pants scared were two very different things. She was currently feeling the latter. It was as if the earth had opened a portal to blackness itself, and it had devoured every bit of color in its path. She desperately wanted to run, and yet some odd fascination kept her at bay. She had always felt drawn to the supernatural, as if she were a part of it. When Celeste was a small girl, she remembered talking with creatures that others couldn't see. Some had been very small while others were the size of buildings. She once spotted stationary creatures that would stand near homes and emit a low drone. Curious, Celeste had stood near one and watched it each day it. It would appear to her at the same time each evening and bellow. They were tall and humanoid with large, black eyes and mantis-like maws. Their feathered chest would bow like a frog’s belly, and they would stay like this for days. Sometimes she would even spot a few that never left. She did not like being near them, something about the energy around the creatures made her want to sit and do nothing─ just fade from existence.

Celeste had once sat still for nearly eight hours without realizing it. The only thing that had given it away, was the sun dipping below the horizon. She promised herself to never get near one again. Each of these beings had a unique scent, appearance, and disposition. She noted that some stayed in packs and were hive-minded, while others flew or even walked alone.

Once when she was nine, Celeste had nearly fallen out of her chair giggling at one that had decided it would make a home of her father’s head. For two solid weeks, the thin, fox-like creature perched there─ quiet and content. No matter how much she scolded, it twitched its ears and wiggled its nose at her. Inevitably, it would face its backside to the young Celeste and go to sleep. At the end of the two weeks, It had left Its nest and Daddy’s financial worries had disappeared with it.

He had taken a risk by opening a consulting firm with all of their savings. Mama had backed him and they’d barely scraped by. The joyous news finally came, and her Father’s business was booming. That very week, they packed their things and moved to Texas. She always suspected that it had something to do with the fox. It had left as mysteriously as it had come─ leaving Celeste to wonder where the little guy had disappeared to. She had searched the entire house, but it never turned up again.

There were so many creatures she came across in fact, that she began to lose count. Celeste had tried her best as a child and even kept a diary of everything that she saw. But every time she turned around, there was another─ and another. Now that she thought about it, what had she done with that journal? It must have gotten lost on one of the moves, or stuffed into a box. She should look for it again, maybe it held some sort of answers.

Though their move was very sudden, it couldn’t have come at a better time. Children had hounded her mercilessly and she had little to no friends in New York. Granted, their teasing was nothing like what she endured in Japan, but still it stung none-the-less. Celeste never told her parents, it was one more worry her father didn’t need. She had spent much of her time in Central Park composing music. She drew inspiration from the little bit of green, it was like a mini retreat in the bustle of the city.

From time to time she would run across people with wings sprouting from their back, or horns. Some had tails, or a combination of all three. The creatures ranged in color from pure white to the deepest black and each sported a different texture. They were the most wondrous things Celeste had ever seen. She hastily pointed this out to her Mama, tugging on the woman's dress and giggling. Kotone had given her the strangest look and from that moment on, Celeste learned quickly to keep such things to herself. Dr. Heisman, her therapist, had told her to chalk it up to a child's imagination. And she had─ until now.

Firm in her resolve, Celeste’s mind returned to the present and she turned to face her reflection. Her eyes searched the glass, surprised to find that her image was replaced by another. The girl on the balcony covered her mouth and she shook from laughter. Her short, dark hair bobbed up and down glistening in the light. She was young in appearance, no more than seven years old and her flesh was a ghostly white. They stared across at one another, the young girl perched atop the outside railing. She giggled again, but this one sounded different─ almost menacing.

With one long blink of an eye, the girl had leaped from the balcony. She floated gracefully behind the banister and down to the ground below. She waved at Celeste, smiling the whole way down. Her feet were glued to the floor. Was this thing evil, neutral─ there was no way it was good. She knew that much. She swallowed thickly, and then drudged forward, inch by agonizing inch. Finally, her hand grasped the French doors. She was aware in an instant, how alone she really was. And she knew, that the entity did too. Celeste opened the doors, steadied herself, and peered over the ledge.

The girl stood in the backyard, smiling her wicked grin. She wore traditional mourning garb, a black mofuku kimono. It was only worn in Japan when a loved one had passed. The white family crest was plainly visible above her breasts, shining like miniature beacons in the soft light.

“Anata─ dare?" Celeste slipped into her native tongue without realizing it. She shook her head, pressing her eyes closed as she tried to form the words in English. Her voice crackled like the fire─ how she longed for its comforting flame.

"W-who are you?" Celeste choked out. The girl merely grinned, her face shifting and contorting. She morphed into what Celeste could only call a demon, its eyes and mouth becoming nothing more than hollow black pits. She had seen many things in her lifetime, some frightening, or mischievous, but nothing like this.

The creature’s short bob of hair grew down to its now gargoyle-like feet. Razor-sharp talons extended from its long, slender appendages. A series of eager clicks and pops reverberated from its maw, infiltrating her mind. Celeste wanted it out─ its phantom limbs groped its way across, slithering slow and methodically, searching for what she knew. Molten ooze spewed from its back, the black snaking around its legs and then down to the ground. From the pools of ink formed two reptilian wings that congealed, and then solidified upon the thing's back.

A beastly sound bayed from the creature, so loud it knocked Celeste to her knees. She joined in the scream as the wails invaded her mind over and over─ raping her into unconsciousness.

* * *