Before she lost her nerve, Nico looked away from Den and turned her focus inward, sinking down into the pit of her soul. The demonseed leaped to meet her with a vigor that turned her stomach, but she ignored the discomfort and opened her arms, pulling the creature in with a lover’s embrace. Power, strong and addictive, flooded her mind. She took it all and held it as hard as she could, letting the slimy black water wash over her, the black teeth bite into her skin and become her own.
When Nico opened her eyes again, she was no longer afraid.
At the edge of her coat’s shell, Den froze. He whirled, finding her instantly, but Nico didn’t even try to run. After all, it wasn’t her killing intent he’d used to find her this time. He was no longer fighting blind, for even a blind man couldn’t miss her eyes glowing like lanterns in the dark. She spread her tainted spirit like claws, pushing the demon’s fear forward. But Den did not flinch when the fear reached him, not even when she shoved it down his throat, and despite herself, Nico was impressed.
“Are you not afraid?” she whispered, wincing at the horrible sound of her own, two-toned voice.
“I have no need for fear,” Den answered simply, looking her up and down. “You are a demonseed?”
“I am Nico,” Nico said. “I am a monster, but I am also myself.”
“A good answer,” Den said, stepping into his stance. “I am also a monster. All men are who know no fear. So, monster Nico”—he grinned wide—“why don’t you make me remember how it feels to be afraid?”
Nico returned his grin, her mouth opening wider than a human’s should to reveal four jagged rows of black teeth, and vanished into the dark.
Den held his stance, waiting.
He didn’t have to wait long. The first blow came from above, a black claw reaching down to grab his head, the razor-sharp talons hooking under his jaw. Den grabbed the hand with both of his, but before he could rip it away, another claw appeared from the ground and lashed up, digging into his leg above the knee.
Den grunted and kicked down, spinning sideways out of both claws. The moment he was free, he grabbed the claw from above and ripped Nico out of the shadows. The claw from the ground vanished as she landed in a crouch. The second her feet were on the ground, Nico sprang up, her body shifting back and forth between solid darkness and smokey shadow as she wrapped her arms around Den’s shoulders, locking herself to him.
Den’s hands went up immediately, but it was too late. She was clutched around his neck. Den froze, his fingers sliding over the black, stone-hard flesh of her arms.
“It’s useless,” he said, his voice tight and calm despite the pressure she was putting on his throat. “You can’t eat me, not without my permission. I am the king of my soul.”
“I know,” Nico whispered, her dual-tone voice dry as dust. “But I’m not trying to eat you. The demon eats souls. I don’t. I’m a human monster, just like you.”
“Really?” Den sneered. “Then what are you trying to do?”
The darkness in front of him shimmered and Nico’s face appeared, her golden eyes narrowing as she smiled wide. “Hold you still.”
Den’s eyes widened in surprise as Nico’s hold vanished and he looked down to see her black claw buried elbow deep in his chest.
Den coughed, but he did not stumble. Instead, his hand shot out, grabbing for her throat. But his fingers passed through her body like water through sand.
“How,” he whispered, hand falling limp at his side.
Nico looked down at her black arm buried in his chest. “Even fortresses have weak points,” she said, her voice wafting like smoke. “Your ability to will your body to absorb any damage has held off the ravages of battle and age, but you’re still human, Den, with a human’s blindness. Blind, you built your fortress to defend against attacks from the outside. Attacks you could see. But in the dark, all shadows are mine, even ones inside your body.” She wiggled her claws in his chest. “All I had to do was hold you still long enough to reach them.”
Den bared his bloody teeth and began to laugh. He fell to his knees in the sand, still laughing as Nico’s claw ripped free. His laughter dissolved into coughing as he collapsed onto his side, looking at her with fading eyes.
“I always knew this was how it would end,” he wheezed. “I knew nothing human could kill me.”
“You’re wrong,” Nico said, her glowing eyes narrowing. “I am still human.”
“No,” Den said, his voice trailing off as the last of his breath left. “You’re not.”