Just a Quick Snack

Her stomach rumbled and churned, roaring loudly and ringing in Kyra's ears. Unfortunately for her, Medeia was watching. In fact, everything here was Medeia's plan. Starving Kyra out for a few days and dragging her along to this village by any means necessary. Of course, those means were not difficult in the slightest, the cannibal Velkhomme never even having a thought of mutiny cross her mind as the angel led her on towards whatever the plan was. Kyra was somewhat curious, but at this point, she was more hungry than anything. What use was curiosity when what she said would fall on deaf ears? There was noting that Kyra could do to bypass the whims of her next kidnapper. Kyra thought she had managed to get away from the insanity for a moment after Jen's disappearance. As soon as Jen left, even before Kyra could breathe a sigh of relief, Medeia had taken the Velkhomme into her clutches. She was just being passed around from person to person, it seemed, but she supposed it was the only thing she was useful for. Being used as an experiment.

Kyra wondered at this point exactly what Medeia's experiment was. She had grabbed Kyra away from her maid training and locked her in her room, which admittedly was no different from the norm, save for the door well and truly being locked. She would occasionally come into the room for checkups, but never with any food. Within the first few hours, Kyra was peckish. By the end of day two, Kyra had to do her best to not attack and try to eat Medeia on her visits. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, Kyra had managed to repress the thoughts of eating Medeia over the course of the week of starvation. Now she was dragged through the snows of a mountain - Kyra was unsure of what mountain, she just knew it was not one that was close enough to Errings Rising for them to be immediate tributaries to Saraphina - for reasons that Kyra could not even fathom asking. Medeia had completely held the God Slayer in her clutches for the entirety of this past week; Kyra was powerless to stop her, even without the effects of hunger driving deep into the pits of her stomach.

Coming upon the crest of a hill, Kyra saw what she believed might have been Medeia's destination. A small collection of buildings, snug within the heights of the mountain. The scent of hunted wildlife - elk, moose, even a few vulcans - wafted into the empress's nose. Even more scintillating was the second scent that began filling her mind with a euphoric wave of desire. Humans. The overbearing scent of the beast's favorite meal fill mind. Man-flesh made itself known in taste buds of animal. Stomach churn. Mouth water. Hands clench. Lips yearn for moisture. Hunger overbearing!

Kyra held herself back, hoping the angel would not see the momentary lapse of demeanor that the young Velkhomme had. "L-Lady Medeia?" she asked. A silence hung into the air for a moment, Kyra wondering if she should ask her question, wondering if she should make her request. "N-no, s-sorry."

Whether or not Medeia would grant her request for a hunt was irrelevant. Kyra could never bring herself to simply ask her kidnapper for anything. In fact, Kyra could never ask for anything. She was incompetent, she was weak, she was the worst thing possible. Asking any questions would just lead to annoying others, and her weakness certainly did enough already. Nonetheless, body change on its own. Feet move without Kyra wanting them to. Spittle drop out of mouth and upon the thick snow beneath their feet. Angel good flesh? No, Kyra could never eat Medeia! She would be crushed in an instant, and then Medeia would use it as a way to control her more! But need flesh! Need food! Hunger roar! Die if not fed!

Kyra dipped her head, sinking herself into her sweater and hoping that she would be able to get away from the call of the beast.

Kyra's whole demeanor seemed to perk up at Medeia's prodding. "Y-you mean it?!" she excitedly chirped. She then, just as quickly as her excitement rose up, it immediately dipped back down. "S-sorry, I-I shouldn't be s-so e-eager... I-I'm probably p-presuming too much..." Of course, her shift in demeanor once more did not last long as the scents began permeating through her nose. Her stomach roared, definitely loud enough for Medeia to hear, and the young girl was getting antsy. She was never one to retain the satisfaction of not being hungry. Even since before getting the lacrima fused within her body, she ate light and got hungry soon after. It was a blessing, then, that Hammermne was so good at cooking. He always had boxes of snacks for Kyra to eat when she got hungry, and the maids back at the Velkhomme estate knew exactly the favorite foods and preparations of those foods for Kyra, always having some in stock for her multiple light "meals" per day. Now, with the lacrima implanted, that hunger rose quicker and quicker, and the week long fast did little assistance for the matter. She was starving, and there was, just as Medeia had said, an entire village of people, an entire buffet of fresh, still moving meat.

"W-We're n-not destroying the v-village, a-are we?" Kyra meekly asked, hiding the hunger her mouth showed by digging her face into her sweater. Of course, this did little to hide away the hunger her eyes clearly showed, the rambunctious nature her body quivered and shook in, the faintest scent of the beast's power rising. Her arms flashed in spurts of dark bone gloves, unstable from both the weakened power of the hungry cannibal and the mental strains to keep everything within. She wanted that food so bad. She hated her cannibalistic nature, but the food smell good. "I-If i-it's f-fine with y-you, L-Lady Medeia, c-can I g-grab a s-snack f-from the village? J-Just a quick s-snack, Lady M-Medeia..."

Kyra fidgeted slightly at her new mentor's coaxing. Kyra's stomach rumbled, her mouth drooled, and she-

"Th-thank you f-for letting me e-eat something, M-Med..." she muttered. A beat passed with nothing happening. Finally, the heiress had a smile cross her face. Not an intense one, but a genuine, soft smile. "I'll listen to you, Medeia, th-though can we please not d-do this again?" She gave a lighthearted chuckle before slowly making her way to the village. Each step brought her closer and closer to that scintillating scent, that wild desire for food. She neared closer and closer, the smells of meats of all kind, man and animal, wafting into her nose.

"Oi, milady!" a jovial voice chirped. Kyra was stunned when she looked up and saw a boisterous mountain of a man, with a thick beard, plaid shirt, and jeans. "Some 'un as fancy as you oughtn't be 'round these parts, eh? Welcome to Etimuk, the only village on this entire mountain. Why don't I bring you into my house, and we can get'cha set up for headin' back to your home. You must be awful cold, even wit' that sweater. C'mon now, milady!"

The man offered a hand. Heavy scent of human flesh enter nose. See bones moving beneath. Mouth yearns for bone to gnaw. Eyes dart across mountain man. Strong muscles. Strong muscle mean tough meat. Girthy frame. Wide frame mean much food. Clothes annoying. Bad taste in mouth. Live on mountain. Strong organs. Strong organs good food.

Kyra's eyes finally snapped back to reality, and she saw that her arm was elbow deep inside the man's gut. Blood trickled down his face, his expression merely a call for help, a desire for a God to come and save him.

But all that answers is one who kills Gods.

Kyra's hunger could not remain unsatiated. She pulled back, tearing the man's spine out of him, sending him crumbling to a heap upon the reddened snow. Bone was thick. It look good food! Beast munch! Bite of bone! Rip at marrow! Drink of life force!

The beast looked up to see a look of horror crash upon the faces of all within the village. Two men, similarly as strong and tall as the one Kyra had just murdered, aimed bows. Fire darts of wood and steel. They cannot pierce one who pierce Gods! They cannot strike down the eater of all! Drop spine. It serve no use. New meals arise. Feet pound on snow! Legs dance upon mountaintop! Claw of black bone slice at weak flesh! Bone slice through flesh! Rend body! Rain of red ichor splatter and sputter! Delicious drink flow from weak beings! Desire grows! More drink! Thirst! Hunger! Satiate! Quench! Rejuvenate!

Kyra's mind managed to take control once more, seeing herself pummel an already dead man further and further with her Claws of the Flesh God. Each punch sent more and more blood flying into the air, each satisfying crunch causing the cannibal's stomach to rumble more and more. This now faceless man... looked delicious. She heard the crunching of snow behind her, rolling forwards out of the way of an axe wielding man. Before he had the opportunity to recover, Kyra was upon him, tearing out his throat with her teeth. The delicious taste of his final moments slid down her throat, and she wanted more. Not the beast, Kyra wanted more. Was this was Medeia was planning? Was Medeia trying to turn her into even more of a monster? Kyra pondered this as she nibbled at the now severed head of the axeman. She was still hungry. She wanted more food. She needed more food.

And the beast needed more play.

Flesh of head tough! Cheekbone hard! Eyeballs squish and squelch! Juice of nerves, tug of muscles! Delicious marrow, slide down throat! Corpses delicious! Consume! Consume! CONSUME!

Loud noise impact ground. Turn head, look! Prey scatter on wind. Where noise come from? Curiosity strike. Drop meal. It lose taste. New taste wander around, new hunt begin. Prowl on snow, feet dig through red life juice merged with white heaven spawn. Blood still on own face. Taste of blood satisfying, ecstasy! Prey shut themselves in habitation. Prey fear. Fear good. It pleasing, it wonderful!

Approach habitation. Knock on opening. Burst open! Explosion! Fire! Tear through flesh of self! Stumble back. Prey dare resist? Is untowards! Cannot accept! Lunge at prey! Down falls prey! Tear at face! Tear at bone! Tear at flesh! Paint room in blood red, destroy what was lost and regain again! That which is lost to explosion of steel comes reborn again with flesh consumed! Screams of women paint ears in euphoria! Cries of children wetten lips! Yes! Fresher meat! Suppler meat! Charge at woman! Claw through neck, splatter paint of ichor upon canvas of wood! Little ones provide excellent snack! Cut through necks! Cut through heart! Consume the unfatigued innards! Rip and tear upon growing muscles!

This food not enough. They provide mere annoyance. They merely sideshow upon grand scheme. Need fuel of fun, not fuel of food! Hunger satiated, yes! Hunt not done! This not for sustenance, no. Fun! Tear through bones, rip apart limbs, remove life from food!

Remove self from completed hunt. No more fun, no more food. Approach of more prey. Youthful face. Feet tremble in fear, yet prey retaliates. Prey swings blade at hunter, hunter cannot accept. Prey must learn place in world. Prey exist for consumption. Prey not accept consumption, prey become useless. Prey deserve existence of lowly beings. Prey stepping stone for predator. Human not learn of prey. Human believe it predator. Humanity believe it is apex. No! Humanity is not apex! Humanity is prey, humanity is nothing but fodder for the true predators!

KYRA IS APEX. KYRA IS TOP OF FOOD CHAIN. NONE CAN STAND IN WAY OF THE APEX. LOOK AT PETTY HUMAN. HUMAN FAILS TO SEE ITS WORTH. KYRA IS BETTER THAN HUMAN. KYRA IS BEAST. KYRA IS GOD SLAYER.

Feel fear upon face beneath grasp of palm. Whimpers of pain escape from weak lips. Prey cannot fight upon face of beast. Look upon eyes of fearful prey. Orbs of brown tremble and shake. Dilated. Ripe for consumption. Reach hand to side. Remove rib. Rib provide good skewer. Pick eye from skull. Screams of pain shiver through skin! Bumps of pride, bumps of cold! Consume tasty candy of head. Prey provide little more fun. Prey has exhausted fear. Prey does not deserve life. Crush skull with hand. Pop like balloon. Spill of ichor upon canvas of white flakes. Body limp. Twitches of soul attempting to escape. Smile come across face. No use in carrying yet. Let body collapse upon ground. Provide little more use. There yet more prey, there yet more fear, there yet more food, there yet more fun!

"KYRA SHOW HUMANITY ITS PLACE. KYRA HARBINGER. KYRA CONSUME OF FLESH, CONSUME OF BONE, CONSUME OF BLOOD. UNSTOPPABLE BEAST IS KYRA."

Ichor spill upon ground. Drip like syrup. Paint of red bathe upon white canvas, glint of glimmering sun reflect into eyes. Hands sticky with sap of human life. Hunger rumbles, yet more food is needed! Humans cowardly, humans flee and panic! Weaklings! All of them! They wish to escape their fate as mere prey to the apex predator. No, cannot allow. Is impossible.

What if they tell the world about me?

Ears perk up. Flower cries in dismay. Delicate one fears exposure? Not allowed! Protect Flower, is must needed! Boot of bone collect around foot, slam against white! Vision upon those who flee, they cannot be allowed to escape! Flower does not wish for them to spill secrets!

Animal spill guts! Yes!

Closer to prey she comes! Fear seep into nostrils, flavor of knowledge succulent! Pounce upon those who run, rip and tear into flesh with claws! Slash! Rip! Tear! Consume! Humans fear predator, humans fear their superior. Humans are weak. Humans fear death. Animal roar, paint land in flood of life essence! Flesh! Bone! Blood! Pierce and stab, consume and overwhelm, wash and drown! Scent of death ring in mind. Crooked smile crawl upon face. Flower not worry of runners. Animal turn, see buildings ablaze. Angel of Control certainly reason. Animal rush to return, see where more flesh lie!

Hunt is more fun than feeding. Know scent of humans, know where prey hide. See tracks upon white. Enjoy thrill of hunt, enjoy thrill of sinking feelings of fear upon prey. Crunching shoes upon canvas alert prey of predators approach. This is not hunt of stealth, this hunt of dominance. This is hunt of impression, this is hunt of training. Impressions upon Angel of Control! Impressions upon Flower! Training upon Flower!

Sounds of fear resonate in ears. Cowardly prey hides behind pyre. Meat of prey more appetizing if embroiled in hopelessness. Humans must learn place. Humans must learn of apex predator. March into pyre. Heat upon skin warm, fires upon flesh and cloth burn! Unacceptable! Flower does not like burns of flesh and cloth! Flower does not like destruction of self. Unacceptable. Animal provide for Flower. Animal protect Flower. Keep Flower fed, keep Flower's appearance pristine. Is what Flower wants. Shell of dark bone entomb beast. Spin and weave into latticework of armors. Sinew and flesh layer above Flower. Flower shall not burn, is assured. Flower shall not be harmed. Scent of human draws near. Scent of flesh and fear fill with euphoric wants and desires. Smile of power rest upon face. Break through weakened wooden walls! Hand grabs upon neck of woman. Screams choked by hand, twist and snap! Dive! Rip and tear cowardly pack! Den of pathetic humans fall and fall! Consume of flesh! Consume of bone! Hunger quelled! Scent hang in air, scent of human. It falls deeper and deeper upon flesh, hang stagnant. Hunt nearly done, yet Flower deigns for all to fall. Animal protect Flower. Angel protect Flower.

Soon, scent of Angel arrive. Smell of black haired controller. Follow scent. Lead to center of town. Angel waits. Prey beg on knees for forgiveness from Angel and Animal. Animal does not allow. None can know. No survivors are allowed. It would displease Flower. Step towards Angel, rage in eyes. Tear spine through neck flesh of human. Prey crumble to ground. Stare at bone. Yes, effective tool. Animal see prey use more than just fists. Animal see Angel use more than fist. Morph spine to blade. Cut down prey with blade. None can live. None are allowed to know of truth of Flower. None are allowed to spill word of Flower. None. Is Angel to be trusted?

Step towards Angel, cut down each prey. Remove heads from bodies! Let red paint of life scatter across the snowy grounds! Approach Angel, come face to face with Angel. Does not smell of human. Scent is foreign. Scent is alien. Flower has not provided scent for Animal. Animal... enjoy scent of Angel. Animal taste face of Angel with tongue. Appetizing. Hunger churns.

S-stop... Animal perk up. Flower speaks? P-please... s-stop...

Animal takes heed. Flower trusts Angel. Flower does not wish to see Angel consumed in great feast. Flower sees Angel as Family. Family. Animal think Family strange. Many humans Flower call Family. Flower trust Family. Flower share blood with Family. But Angel is different Family. Angel not share blood. Yet Flower treat Angel as Family. Animal does not understand. Yet, Animal concedes. Flower wishes for control. There is no threat. Angel is Family. Flower says Family is not threat. Therefore, Angel not threat.

A tear ran down Kyra's face as she regained control of her body, the demonic beast within satisfied with its work. She dropped to her knees, cold wind blowing against her face. She looked around, seeing the havoc the beast within caused. Corpses littered the ground, mangled and bloody, the white sheet of snow painting the mountain stained red. Medeia did not let anyone escape, even if someone managed to get past the beast's grasp. They were all dead, and most by her hand.

Fear welled within her. Regret bubbled like a potion in a cauldron. Self hatred burst through the dam walls, flooding her entire body in a haze of inner despair. Was Medeia trustworthy? Was the Angel that kidnapped her from Jen truly an upgrade? Jen had her own hangups, but Jen at least ensured Kyra ate. Medeia was not like that. Medeia starved her to unleash the demon. Even at her strongest, even with the beast in control, Kyra was a puppet of a puppet. Medeia easily handled the beast with ease, and the beast could control Kyra. Kyra was so much weaker than everyone. She was a failure to control herself, and she was too easy herself to control.

Tears streaming down her face, she looked up at Medeia. "A-am I weak?" she asked straightforwardly. "I-I'm scared, M-Medeia. W-why would you do this to me? I-I don't like the beast. I-I don't like doing this, h-honest! Please, t-tell me why you w-would do this, M-Medeia..."