Page 46 of Satan's Priest
“Incubus and succubus demons can feed off our victims while they’re awake, but we have more luck when they’re asleep because we can change our forms into the person they lust after. Later on, when you have more control over your hunger, I’ll show you how to enter someone’s dream and appear as the person they want.”
Grace leaned back, and I watched as everything weighed down on her shoulders. The excitement I saw moments ago disappeared.
“Tell me what’s on your mind, succubus.”
“I . . .” She returned to pulling at the skin on her cuticles. Her eyes shone with unshed tears. “I don’t know how to feel about being a demon. This wasn’t something I wanted. I thought after I died, I would go to Heaven and not have to worry about anything.”
I kept quiet as she rambled.
“I was raised to believe in God and that as long as I did so, I was promised paradise. I prayed daily, hoping to be forgiven for all my sins and not punished. Now that I’m back, I haven’t felt like myself. It feels like the weight of the universe rests on my shoulders, and I can’t shake it off. It feels like I’m being tortured.” A tear trailed down her cheek. “I’ve been paranoid a lot more lately, and I’ve had so many panic attacks.”
I frowned and twisted the toothpick between my teeth. “Paranoid more than usual?”
Grace blinked back the tears and swiped away the escapee. “Never mind.”
I plucked the toothpick from my mouth and leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “Tell me, succubus.”
“Will you stop calling me that? ” She shook her hands by her sides.
“What do you mean, you’re more paranoid than usual?” I persisted.
Grace shook her head and jumped off the bed. She walked past me, and I snatched her wrist as I stood up, towering over her. She tried to yank her hand away, but I held on.
“What’s the matter, Grace?” I asked, my voice strained.
“Just leave!”
I stared down at her as she struggled to release my grip. The girl was clearly upset about something but didn’t want to tell me. I put the toothpick back into my mouth and rolled my tongue around it as I released my hold on her.
“I’ll leave you alone, but I’ll be back. Until then, behave and don’t fuck anyone.” I narrowed my eyes as she glared at me. “You won’t like what I’ll do if I find out someone touched you.”
I stepped past her and walked to the door.
“I don’t want you to come back,” Grace warned.
I huffed a laugh and turned my head to look at her over my shoulder. “Too bad you’re not the one in charge.” I opened her bedroom door and walked out.
“My family is out there!”
“No, they’re not. They’ve been gone since early this morning.” I chuckled and walked away.
“You jerk!” Grace slammed her bedroom door.
“I know, but it’s better this way.” I scoffed and descended the stairs.
26
GRACE
“Can I get my phone back?” I asked Dad from my spot at the table while I pretended to eat my breakfast.
Dad leaned against the kitchen island, not caring about the chipped corner scratching against his back. It couldn’t have been comfortable. He sipped his coffee, annoyance flashing across his face.
“No,” he growled.
I didn’t know when I last saw him in a good mood. He was the worst in the morning because he was half-asleep. I couldn’t count how many times I heard him say he needed coffee before anyone talked to him.
His loud slurping was like nails on a chalkboard, making me wince. I tried to ignore it while I faked chewing with my mouth closed. My family knew I couldn’t stand the sound of them eating or drinking, but they never did anything to stop being so loud while they did it.