Creatures of the Night

Chapter 31 - running in every direction devoted

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(TW: arguing/yelling, mild violence, blood)

(The title of the chapter comes from "The Pardoning Hour" by Khaty Xiong)

Logan woke softly, his eyes fluttering open. He was curled in on himself, facing the wall. He stretched, an enormous yawn taking him over for several seconds. Coming out of it, he shook his head, blinking away the sleep. The dull, full-body ache that had appeared after his first night sleeping on a floor of branches tied together with vines and insulated with clay still hadn’t disappeared. Logan wondered if it would ever lessen, or if he’d simply get used to it. Looking to his right, he found himself alone in the hut, Daveigh’s woven sleeping mat empty on the opposite side.

Creatures of the Night

Chapter 23 - the world of shut doors and countless walls

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(TW: graphic depictions of violence (stabbing), blood, mild panic)

(The title of the chapter comes from "The Ruins of Bam" by Garous Abdolmalekian.)

Roman sliced and buttered Dorian a piece of bread from the loaf Patton had baked just before their whole word had flipped around, pretending not to notice Virgil stand with his back pressed against the pantry door, right where he could see both Dorian and Remus.

The demon sat innocently on one of the kitchen stools, waiting for his food. Roman glanced over at the hobgoblin, who was nonchalantly blowing snot bubbles to entertain himself. Remus didn’t seem all that concerned for his own safety. Either he didn’t care about his own well being, or was confident Virgil would petition for his survival.

Creatures of the Night

Chapter 20 - as in the midst of battle

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(TW: toxic relationships, mild gore/fighting)

(The title of the chapter comes from “Sonnet XXV” by George Santayana)

Roman led his friends back into the forest, trying to ignore the sour feeling growing in his gut. It was high noon, and the sun filtered down through the trees in broken rays. The woods looked so different in the daytime. Almost beautiful. Despite how upset it would make them both, and the points to the contrary they’d posed, Roman still thought Patton and Logan would be safer away from the fight. Roman had learned to deal with dangerous situations with nothing but his own skills and quick thinking. Three more people, two of which that were far more vulnerable, increased the number of things he had to think about tenfold. Not to mention their plan was rather half-baked and incoherent at this point. Roman simply hoped that by the time they got to the meadow, the ideas would start coming. Ursula could show up at any moment. They had to be ready to act.

Creatures of the Night

Chapter 18 - to get burnt by an imitation

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(TW: pain, verbal abuse, mild violence)

(The title of the chapter comes from "A Promise" by Ernestine Northover)

So many variables, Logan thought, knocking the back of his head against the wall. He’d been sitting on the floor outside the cellar door for who knows how long now, mulling over the plan Virgil had proposed.

“She’ll be back any day now,” he’d explained. “After doing strong magic like that again, I’d be surprised if she wasn’t curious. We’ll have to ambush her. As far as she knows, the curse is still active. She doesn’t have any reason to suspect that Dorian will be on our side.”

Creatures of the Night

Chapter 8 - secrets, running over my soul without sound

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(TW: mild violence, panic attacks, and negative self talk)

(The title for this chapter comes from "Secrets" by Lola Ridge)

"Life went on like that for years," Dorian muttered, staring into the fire with his knuckles resting against his lips. Roman's eyes hadn't left the demon's face in a dozen minutes. It hadn't changed. It hadn't so much as twitched aside from his mouth moving as the words flowed. It was inhuman, though Roman figured that would make sense. Dorian wasn't exactly human himself.

Anymore, at least.

Still, Roman didn't see how this related to himself, or his curse, but he didn't dare interrupt. Somehow, he knew that if he stopped him now, he may not start again—tonight at least. Roman glanced at the mouth of the cave. They had maybe an hour until his curse would lift.