They called us monsters part 16

Chapter 16: Demon eaters

A week had gone by and Yaju had done nothing but kill small time demons around the capital, collecting various organs. He quickly came to realize the extent of information Fern kept from his own family, as well as the rest of the team. The hunter disposed the organs in the secret underground basement beneath the crazy doctor’s clinic, coming face to face with her more times than he would like, as well as with others who partook in the ‘’bet’’, as leader Reglis liked to call it. This time though, he would get to see them all at once, as they would delve in the first experiment. The whitehaired leader of the band of blood had informed him prior to the meeting that he and two more would get to eat some of the flesh. The doctor had been comparing the physiology and characteristics of the remaining captures with samples of her own, carried by half humans and regular humans.

When the hunter entered the underground clinic, his eyes fell onto doctor Maha’s pair of blue ones as her expression shifted, showing pleasure upon seeing him again. Yaju stiffened and took his place leaning against one of the walls. Another half man, Drako leaned right beside him. Drako had been living in the capital for nearly a decade and had lost his wife and kids from a demon attack in a village outside the Failands. He was a passionate demon hunter, desiring nothing but to purge the world of these monsters. Soon enough, eight more half men and three regular human soldiers entered the room. The last person to join the little meeting was the leader of the band of the blood, Fern Reglis. Yaju’s gaze traveled around him, taking in the people who had agreed to give their lives for Fern’s curiosity and thirst for power.

‘’Doctor. Let us begin at once.’’, Fern spoke and his emerald eyes scanned his soldiers, six women and seven men. ‘’Please step forward Tess, Kolt and Yaju.’’, he announced and the hunter approached the center of the room, along with a young female with a tight brunette braid and a bald, middle aged man. The three of them were going to take place in the first part of the experiment. Kolt was a regular human warrior, while Tess was a half human, half demon who had joined a few months back. The black-haired doctor checked them one after another, making sure to give some extra attention to the middle aged hunter, much to his disdain. She gave them her back as she fetched a bowl for each one of them, a few pieces of raw bloody organ sitting in the middle of it. The hunter focused on it, failing to notice the rest of the group as they circled around the three of them until he lifted his eyes to meet Fern when he took his position at his front, hiding the doctor behind his back. Sounds of weapons being unsheathed echoed in the dimly lit room and the hunter realized that they were preparing to attack at any given moment.

‘’Please consume as much of the flesh as you can.’’, Fern ordered and Yaju took a bite sized piece of lung from his bowl, mixed feelings boiling inside him. He took a deep breath and plucked the piece into his mouth, chewing it with determination, the metallic taste and tough texture of the organ being the only things in his mind as his demon side took over, fueling his hunger. It made the piece of food in his mouth taste like the best thing he had ever eaten. Unable to help himself, he took piece after piece and chewed it with excitement, saliva building up in his mouth, his breath coming out hard, just like a hungry animal’s. Soon the meat was gone and his eyes, now painted red, lifted to face leader Fern, taking in his stern expression as he gazed over each one of the three soldiers. Yaju felt oddly in control, though hungry. He could eat more if he was provided with it. His body felt strong, unbreakable. Before he was able to open his mouth and announce the results, a grunt was heard beside him.

‘’Kolt! Kolt!’’, Fern exclaimed and took two steps near the two hunters beside Yaju, making him focus on them as well. The bald human was laying on the floor, clutching at his stomach, producing grunts of pain. Blood drooled from his mouth and he was unable to form words. The doctor run to him, trying to take his pulse. Even though everyone seemed to focus on the dying human, the black-haired hunter’s attention was caught by the woman beside him. Unfazed by the whole situation, Tess had her head stuck into her bowl, licking every last bit of blood in frenzy.

When the female half demon removed the bowl from her face, her crimson eyes were glowing, but there seemed to be emptiness behind them. She turned towards the doctor and the man who coughed blood again and again, failing to react to the doctor’s efforts to keep him alive.

‘’There is no saving him, Fern.’’, she muttered, a frown of despair altering her features.

The hunter acted out of instinct and moved faster than anyone else in the room, when he charged towards Tess who bared her teeth with a snarl against the kneeling doctor and dying elder male. He jumped at her and pinned her hands to the ground, fighting back her increased strength. Her crimson eyes were void of humanity and she showed teeth, drool running down her cheeks.

‘’What the…’’, the doctor was heard behind him, barely audible over the snarls of the female.

‘’She has turned crazy. What should I do?’’, Yaju spoke up, clearly talking to Fern, noticing him when he stepped beside them. The whitehaired human knelt down, a faint interest in his eyes as he observed the scene. His hand darted towards the female and he grasped her chin, forcing her head to move towards him, staring into her eyes.

‘’He is gone…’’, the doctor was heard behind them. ‘’The demon flesh killed him.’’

Yaju observed as Fern pressed his lips in a thin line, a deep frown causing wrinkles to aggressively show on his forehead. Suddenly, he released the female who hadn’t yet stopped growling.

‘’Kill her.’’

His order was absolute in Yaju’s ears. With a swift move of his right hand, he released one of hers and before she managed to attack him, he had gripped a dagger from his belt and pushed the blade through the center of her forehead, killing her instantly. The tension was released around them, replaced by the heavy sensation of failure and loss. The hunter stood on his feet, still feeling as strong as ever and in complete control of his functions, something he was more than glad for. The leader of the band glared at him with interest.

‘’You are all dismissed.’’, he announced, his eyes staring at Yaju. ‘’We shall discuss how to further progress in tomorrow’s meeting.’’

The hunter nodded and went to leave the room when a broad hand grasped his arm, forcing him to stop.

‘’You must stay, hunter Yaju.’’, he added and the black-haired male narrowed his eyes, yet kept his ground, well aware of the fact that he was the only one who had been successful in the experiment. Feeling everyone’s eyes on him, the hunter waited for the room to nearly empty, leaving only him, the doctor and Fern in it. When the door finally shut, the leader of the band finally broke character, letting his strict and borderline statue-like composure break into sorrow and anger at the sight of his fallen comrades.

‘’I would like your thoughts on this matter, doctor Maha.’’

‘’Failure was a strong possibility, Fern. Don’t act like this is a surprise.’’, the female sternly replied and approached a desk at the corner of the room, scribbling down words with impressive speed.

‘’And yet this man still stands and seems fully aware of his abilities.’’, Fern commented and glared at Yaju, a hint of distaste in his expression.

‘’Yaju, describe your feelings and thoughts for me please.’’, Maha asked kindly, completely out of character, while ignoring the elder male’s scornful gaze.

‘’The first time it had happened I had lost control of my actions, yet knew that I only had to attack demons. This time I did not feel my sanity slipping away from me. The difference in strength and senses is tremendous compared to my human side.’’, Yaju replied and Maha simply wrote down a few more lines.

‘’Did you crave the flesh when it was presented to you?’’

The hunter tightened his fists as the mere thought made him taste bile under his tongue. The metallic tones of the raw organ were still coating his taste buds.

‘’Yes.’’

His answer made both humans in front of him lift their brows in surprise. Maha sighed.

‘’There is no other way to progress this project.’’, she mumbled and focused on the hunter. ‘’I must examine you and compare your physiology with the ones who failed the experiment.’’, was her announcement and Yaju felt already violated at the mere thought of letting the doctor perform tests on him.

‘’You will agree to it. We have no other choice.’’, Fern pressed on demandingly, forcing Yaju to wear a frown. He knew he had no choice but to accept. There was no reason to sacrifice more soldiers, if the result was going to be the same. It seemed that he was the only one able to use demon flesh to increase his powers and that was valuable to the band of blood.

Suddenly, the door opened wide and Drako run in with a flustered expression, beads of sweat building up on his wrinkled forehead, just below his balding head.

‘’Report.’’, the leader ordered, concerned with his soldier’s composure.

‘’There is someone… Someone who sent a message from outside the gates. They want to work with us they said.’’, he began and Yaju couldn’t help but wonder why he was panicking.

‘’I see. I shall speak with them in our main hall.’’

‘’Sir they cannot enter as they are fugitives.’’

Fern smirked and let out a loud chuckle.

‘’So they want to trick us? Make us smuggle them in with the promise of cooperation? I have no interest in them.’’

‘’Sir… she… the woman.’’, Drako tried his best to explain. ‘’She is a pure demon of old. One with an impressive bounty in the Failands. She wants to speak with you.’’

The room fell silent at his words and Yaju’s mind screamed of the possibility.

‘’Let me join you.’’, he exclaimed at once.

‘’I don’t think it is a good idea to show yourself….’’

‘’Fern. If she really wants to cooperate we can use and then discard her. If it’s a trick…’’, Yaju insisted, staring right into the leader’s eyes, mimicking his own frowning expression. ‘’… I shall rip her to shreds with my own hands.’’

The male kept staring back for an entire minute. Finally he scoffed and grabbed his cloak, throwing Yaju’s to him as well.

‘’Let’s go.’’