{"id":782,"date":"2021-04-04T15:55:05","date_gmt":"2021-04-04T22:55:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/?p=782"},"modified":"2021-04-04T15:55:05","modified_gmt":"2021-04-04T22:55:05","slug":"slow-burn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/?p=782","title":{"rendered":"Slow Burn"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote><p>A young woman becomes cursed and changes into a demon<br \/>\n&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;<br \/>\nFrom my Patreon!<\/p>\n<p>You can find my page at: https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/markgraham<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The bus screeched to a stop with a hiss that went unnoticed by the unruly children riding in their seats.\u00a0 Waves of laughter echoed through the vehicle along with the muted sounds of videos playing on phones.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fatma slipped her arm through her backpack&#8217;s strap while stepping into the aisle.\u00a0 She carefully made her way through the chaos, moving around splayed legs and bags until she reached the driver.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; she told the driver with a smile, as she had every day.\u00a0 It was a substitute today, an older woman she didn&#8217;t recognize but the other woman smiled and nodded back at her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Holding onto the thin metal railing, the young girl stepped onto the street and then up to the sidewalk.\u00a0 The bus&#8217; door closed behind her before it pulled away onto the empty street.\u00a0 As she walked down the block, she adjusted her hijab around the straps of her backpack.\u00a0 Her scarf was black today to match her black trousers and the slate gray blouse she wore.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Habit forced the girl to glance up at the yellow house adjacent to her own.\u00a0 Her father, a baker with his own modest shop, often gave food to the elderly in the neighborhood and he took her with him whenever he could.\u00a0 Ms. Maiben was their neighbor and she was old enough to have trouble getting around by herself.\u00a0 The woman was her father&#8217;s special project; he made extra time to care for her grounds as well as bring her food.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The old woman&#8217;s curtains covered her windows, as they usually did &#8211; even during the day.\u00a0 She was odd.\u00a0 Quiet, seemingly resentful of the attention but unwilling to turn away the extra help.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As she took the first step to her front door, it opened and her father stood in the doorway.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Fatma!&#8221; he said, bending to gently kiss her forehead.\u00a0 His dark beard tickled her exposed forehead.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Papa, why are you home?&#8221; she asked in confusion.\u00a0 Her father worked late, despite having several employees who could run the business without him.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Bah,&#8221; he told her, taking her hand gently to lead her inside.\u00a0 &#8220;I haven&#8217;t been home to greet you in a while and a I thought to myself, I am the shepherd to my own little flock and-&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You forgot your laptop again, didn&#8217;t you?&#8221; she chided him as she removed her shoes.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I forgot my laptop again,&#8221; he agreed.\u00a0 &#8220;I brought dinner for you.\u00a0 And Nora?\u00a0 Is she visiting with you today?\u00a0 I have extra for her if she wants it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;ll be here soon,&#8221; Fatma said.\u00a0 &#8220;If you fatten me up so much, I&#8217;ll never find a husband, papa.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;La samah Allah!&#8221; he told her as he followed her through the living room and into the kitchen.\u00a0 &#8220;How was school today?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It was fine,&#8221; she sighed.\u00a0 It was <strong><em>not<\/em><\/strong> fine.\u00a0 She&#8217;d not done well on her calculus exam.\u00a0 She&#8217;d told herself she would study for it but had lost herself in the short story she was writing for English composition.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;And your &#8211; math, wasn&#8217;t it?&#8221;\u00a0 He asked, standing respectfully at her bedroom door.\u00a0 &#8220;You had a test today?\u00a0 Or is that tomorrow?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Today,&#8221; she answered, laying her backpack against her bed.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Ahh, not so good?&#8221; he asked in sympathy.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll find out Friday.\u00a0 I should&#8217;ve studied more.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a smart girl,&#8221; he told her.\u00a0 &#8220;Perhaps you&#8217;ll be surprised.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The doorbell rang, interrupting both of them.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That will be our Nora.\u00a0 I&#8217;ll let her in.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fatma watched her father go before digging through her backpack to find her composition book.\u00a0 She set it aside on her nightstand.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Good afternoon, Mr. Amin,&#8221; her childhood friend said.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Nora, good to see you!&#8221; came the reply.\u00a0 &#8220;And it&#8217;s just &#8216;Faizan&#8217;, please.\u00a0 You&#8217;re like family.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Forgot your laptop?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Yes, yes!\u00a0 I forgot my laptop.\u00a0 Go.\u00a0 On with you.\u00a0 Fatma is waiting in her room.\u00a0 I&#8217;ll set out food for the both of you.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I have no idea how your father runs a business,&#8221; Nora said as she stepped into her friend&#8217;s bedroom.\u00a0 She turned her head to settle a few strands of loose black hair behind her as she threw herself down onto the other girl&#8217;s bed.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As always, Fatma felt envious of her friend.\u00a0 Nora wore blue jeans and a black t-shirt with the word &#8220;Badlands&#8221; emblazoned along the top and skeletal hand covered in roses in the middle. Her hair was uncovered and loose.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;s waiting for you to finish school so you can help him,&#8221; Nora continued.\u00a0 &#8220;I&#8217;m jealous, to be honest.\u00a0 You can stay here, take some classes at community college and inherit his business.\u00a0 I&#8217;ll have to go to college and find a rich boyfriend.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh, stop,&#8221; Fatma said, rolling her eyes at the conversation.\u00a0 It&#8217;d been repeated in some form or another over the past two years.\u00a0 &#8220;You know I&#8217;m applying for colleges out of state.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Your father would d- waste away without you,&#8221; Nora said.\u00a0 &#8220;He&#8217;d never stop you but he&#8217;d be so sad.\u00a0 What&#8217;s wrong with community college, anyway?\u00a0 You have a good job waiting for you.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve lived here my whole life!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Okay, I don&#8217;t care about your job.\u00a0 I just want you to stay because I want to see you and Duncan married.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That will <em>never <\/em>happen,&#8221; Fatma said, blushing as she toyed with her hijab.\u00a0 &#8220;Papa wouldn&#8217;t-&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think your father would steal the moon for you,&#8221; Nora interrupted.\u00a0 &#8220;And have you seen the way Duncan looks after you?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; she lied.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re blind,&#8221; her friend said, throwing her hands up in exasperation.\u00a0 &#8220;He&#8217;s been after you since our Freshman year.\u00a0 Do you know Elina asked him out to prom.\u00a0 Again!\u00a0 And he said no.\u00a0 Elina, Fatma.\u00a0 He&#8217;s going to ask you out.\u00a0 He&#8217;s stubborn.\u00a0 And handsome.\u00a0 <strong><em>I<\/em><\/strong> should ask him out.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You wouldn&#8217;t!&#8221; Fatma said, suddenly upset.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Why not?&#8221; the other girl said, her expression serious.\u00a0 &#8220;If you won&#8217;t, why should I let him get away?\u00a0 You&#8217;re so stupid sometimes, seriously.\u00a0 I was talking- just talking! &#8211; with Matt.\u00a0 Last month Duncan was applying Stanford, UCLA and, well, somewhere else in California.\u00a0 Until he heard you talking about east coast colleges.\u00a0 Guess where he&#8217;s applying to now?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fatma sighed.\u00a0 The boy was handsome with his dark skin and brilliant smile.\u00a0 But, it was more than that.\u00a0 He was always kind.\u00a0 He wouldn&#8217;t graduate at the top of his class and was mediocre, if not enthusiastic, in sports.\u00a0 But, he volunteered at the soup kitchen on the weekends and was a Big Brother as well.\u00a0 And tall.\u00a0 With the smoothest voice.\u00a0 And his dimples every time he smiled.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Hello?&#8221; Nora asked, waving her hand in front of Fatma&#8217;s face.\u00a0 &#8220;Anyone there?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know where he&#8217;s applying,&#8221; she answered.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Uh-huh.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Girls?&#8221; Faizan called out from the kitchen.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Yes, papa?&#8221; Fatma asked, grateful for the distraction.\u00a0 She pushed herself out of her bed to go to her father.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I need to go back to work,&#8221; he said, scratching at his beard with his lips turned up at the corner.\u00a0 He looked concerned.\u00a0 &#8220;Ms. Maiben hasn&#8217;t answered her door the past few days.\u00a0 I&#8217;m worried about her.\u00a0 Would you take the time to check on her, please?\u00a0 If she&#8217;s home, I have a dish covered in the fridge that you can take to her.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Now?&#8221;\u00a0 Fatma asked, turning to look at the woman&#8217;s house through their windows.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Yes, please,&#8221; her father answered.\u00a0 He kissed her forehead again.\u00a0 &#8220;I&#8217;ll be back late tonight.\u00a0 Your food has your name on it.\u00a0 Just warm it up.\u00a0 Study well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She watched him go while clutching her right arm with her left.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not-&#8221;\u00a0 Nora called from the bedroom.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re coming with me!&#8221; Fatma interrupted, ignoring the groaning of her friend.\u00a0 &#8220;Let&#8217;s just do it now.\u00a0 I don&#8217;t want to go there when it&#8217;s dark.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You owe me for this,&#8221; her friend said as she stomped loudly on the hardwood flooring.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>They stepped into their trainers, bending to tie their shoelaces.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Do you have any more kanafeh?&#8221; Nora asked as she knotted the strings.\u00a0 &#8220;I&#8217;ll take some of that as payment.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Yes, you cow,&#8221; Fatma said, poking her friend&#8217;s side.\u00a0 The other girl batted away her hand.\u00a0 It was a joke as Nora was embarrassingly perfect. She was still growing into her figure but her narrow waist curved into firm hips and she&#8217;d already had to buy a new, larger bra this school year.\u00a0 &#8220;Let&#8217;s just go.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Tapping her back pocket to make sure her old phone was there, she grabbed a set of house keys from a dish by the door, closing and locking it behind the both of them.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s just <strong><em>so<\/em><\/strong> old, you know?&#8221; Nora said as she followed her friend to the house next door.\u00a0 &#8220;My grandmother was horrible to my mom but turned into the sweetest old lady.\u00a0 That&#8217;s just natural.\u00a0 Ms. Maiben &#8211; she&#8217;s mean.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;No she&#8217;s not.\u00a0 She&#8217;s just not used to people being nice to her.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Mean,&#8221; the girl reaffirmed.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>They both stopped in front of the woman&#8217;s door.\u00a0 It&#8217;d been red at some point but the paint had almost all chipped away.\u00a0 Shaking her head, Fatma adjusted her hijab before knocking.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Although she didn&#8217;t knock hard, the door opened on surprisingly quiet hinges.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The two girls shared a look but Fatma&#8217;s hand reached to push the door open.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t,&#8221; Nora said, grabbing her friend&#8217;s wrist.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;She could be hurt,&#8221; she said, pushing through to step over the threshold.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The house was as dark as she remembered with a strong scent of myrrh permeating everything.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Ms. Maiben?&#8221; Fatma called out.\u00a0 &#8220;D- Dorothy?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve never been inside,&#8221; Nora said, looking around the living room.\u00a0 An old paisley couch faced a fireplace and a stained mantelpiece.\u00a0 A single, faceted vial was centered on the shelf.\u00a0 Light flickered within the vial, drawing the young girl&#8217;s attention.\u00a0 &#8220;What is <em>that<\/em>?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t touch anything!&#8221; her Fatma whispered.\u00a0 &#8220;Help me look for her.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ignoring the other girl&#8217;s advice, Nora gently took the glass bottle, turning it to observe the bouncing light.\u00a0 It glowed red before fading to dark yellow and back again.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Ssst!\u00a0 Put it down!&#8221;\u00a0 Fatma said from the other end of the living room.\u00a0 &#8220;That&#8217;s disrespectful!\u00a0 She could- Ms. Maiben!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The old woman was stretched out in her hallway.\u00a0 She feebly reached for the young, hooded girl with her right hand.\u00a0 As she grew near, Fatma realized that the left side of her face was drooping.\u00a0 Spittle lined the old woman&#8217;s lips but her throat moved as she tried to speak.\u00a0 Yet all that came through was a stuttered &#8216;k- k- k-&#8216; sound.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Lie still!\u00a0 I&#8217;ll call for help.&#8221;\u00a0 She grabbed her smartphone from her pocket,\u00a0 waking it with her fingerprint while pulling up the dialer.\u00a0 &#8220;Nora!\u00a0 Get in here!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Coming!&#8221; Nora said.\u00a0 She set the bottle on the mantel and walked away.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The light inside the bottle slammed against the side.\u00a0 The little vial lay precariously on the edge of the shelf, already rocking slightly in the still air.\u00a0 Again and again, the light pounded on the glass, pulsing with each strike.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Poised as it was, the bottle tipped over.\u00a0 It landed heavily on the floor but the smokey lead glass held as the slim stopper began to slip free.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m here,&#8221; Nora said, crouching to touch the old woman&#8217;s left arm.\u00a0 &#8220;Is she alright?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think she had a stroke,&#8221; Fatma said before leaning into her phone.\u00a0 &#8220;Yes?\u00a0 Yes, I&#8217;m calling from 320- umm, 3203 Swallow Lane.\u00a0 It&#8217;s my neighbor&#8217;s house and I think she had a stroke.\u00a0 Yes, I&#8217;m with her, yes.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The old woman&#8217;s glazed, distant eyes focused with a sudden intensity.\u00a0 She stared past the two girls as her mouth opened in a silent scream.\u00a0 She convulsed, eyes rolling back in her head.\u00a0 The frozen side of her face moved glacially to match her right side until it became of rictus of horror.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A raspy wheeze escaped the woman&#8217;s lips as her hand fell to the floor beside her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t- wait,&#8221; Fatma said.\u00a0 &#8220;How do I-?\u00a0 I think-\u00a0 I think she&#8217;s not breathing!\u00a0 How do I tell if she&#8217;s breathing?!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Nora placed two fingers against the woman&#8217;s wrist while leaning in until her cheek was an inch away from the woman&#8217;s mouth.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Fatma-&#8221; she said quietly while sitting back.\u00a0 &#8220;Fatma, she&#8217;s dead.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;But, she was just- I was just-&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Give me the phone, it&#8217;s okay.\u00a0 Just give me the phone.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The girl took the phone from her friend&#8217;s hand.\u00a0 &#8220;Yes, hello.\u00a0 I checked for a pulse at her wrist but there&#8217;s nothing.\u00a0 And I can&#8217;t feel her breathing.\u00a0 At her temple?\u00a0 Okay.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fatma sat back, staring sightlessly as the emergency operator ran Nora through a few simple tests.\u00a0 Just blocks away, the blaring sound of an approaching medic unit cut off as they received the updated call.\u00a0 She eventually felt hands around her as one of the responders led her away from the body.\u00a0 They sat with her, checking to ensure she was alright until she heard a familiar voice.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Fatma!&#8221; her father called out, rushing to her side.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>He spoke to her gently, soothing her as he walked her out of the house and into their own.\u00a0 She leaned against him until he brought her to her bed.\u00a0 They sat together and she cried into his chest while he patted her back, his hand rubbing in little circles until she was exhausted from crying.\u00a0 He pulled her blanket back as she lay down and then brought it up to her shoulders before kissing her forehead.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The young girl stared at the ceiling.\u00a0 She saw <strong><em>her<\/em><\/strong> face in the flat, white paint.\u00a0 The way she looked at the end &#8211; terrified as she breathed her last gasp.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>it&#8217;s your fault<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She shivered, blinking away tears.\u00a0 It felt like her fault.\u00a0 If she&#8217;d just been faster when calling emergency services.\u00a0 If she&#8217;d taken the first aid workshop her school had offered.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>she died because of you<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Her conscience tugged at her insecurities, taunting her as the worm of self doubt began to gnaw on her mind.\u00a0 The old woman&#8217;s visage was lodge into her mind&#8217;s eye.\u00a0 Never, in all of her eighteen years, had she seen anyone look like that beyond some melodramatic actress in a horror movie she&#8217;d watched through the gaps in her fingers with Nora laughing next to her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Whether the woman felt her end drawing near and the realization frightened her or she caught sight of the gates before the abyss of Jahannam, she&#8217;d been terrified.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>fire and eternal slow torture pain until they dream of it welcome it to feel alive<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>I seek refuge in Allah,<\/em> she intoned mentally, closing her eyes while touching the tip of her pointer finger with her thumb on her right hand.\u00a0 <strong><em>She<\/em><\/strong> was alive and she hated the feeling of relief that it was Ms. Maiben dead but not her.\u00a0 The thought tortured her as an image began to form from the fragments of her dreams.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The visualization of Hell felt incredibly real to her.\u00a0 She could see Maalik roaring at her, the fiery winds stripping away her flesh to reveal bloody red muscle beneath.\u00a0 Behind him, the heads hanging from Zaqqum turned to see her.\u00a0 And they <em>nodded <\/em>as if recognizing her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Her thumb pressed against her index finger as she continued her litany, tapping each finger in sequence.\u00a0 <em>I seek forgiveness from Allah.\u00a0 I seek refuge in Allah.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>As she repeated the small prayers, a headache formed behind her eyes.\u00a0 It began as an annoyance but grew in intensity until she stumbled with her prayers, forgetting the words.\u00a0 The relief was almost instant.\u00a0 She sighed, pressing her palms against her temples, rubbing them in slow circles.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>consumed her soul sent below to what she deserves trapped but free now free<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Despite the lessening, the pain consumed her and she knew she deserved it.\u00a0 Her guilt trapped her and she knew she wouldn&#8217;t be free until she could clear the black mark on her soul.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A flickering red flame appeared above and behind her head as she nestled her face into her pillow.\u00a0 It cast no light and made no shadows as it descending.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>blessed blessed blessed blessed blessed blessed<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>It lowered until it rest less than an inch over the middle of her forehead.\u00a0 She sighed, stilling herself while it flattened against her, spreading to cover her brow.\u00a0 Her headache faded and she sighed once again at the relief.\u00a0 As the fog cleared, she realized how blessed she was.\u00a0 Alive, safe, loved.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She rubbed the sore tips of the fingers on her right hand as she finally opened her eyes.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The veins stood out in the sclera of her eyes until the white held a red tint.\u00a0 They twitched as if tiny tentacles, pushing and pulling against her iris.\u00a0 The pressure compressed her pupils, crushing it until they were subtly ovoid.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>weak hungry<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Sweat welled from her skin.\u00a0 She felt feverish and weak with her head still throbbing and her joints aching.\u00a0 Worse, she felt empty.\u00a0 The girl thought back, realizing that she hadn&#8217;t eaten since her light lunch.\u00a0 She remembered her father saving food for her but the thought of eating food made her nauseous.\u00a0 Tossing back her blanket, she lay in the cool air with her fist against her stomach.\u00a0 Her hunger confused her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Turning her head, she opened her mouth, nearly panting as she overheated.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The rounded circumvallate papillae at the back of her tongue quivered.\u00a0 They lengthened into rough points that massaged the roof of her mouth when she swallowed.\u00a0 Dark violet coloring tipped each of the new papillae.\u00a0 The color streaked down like miniature lightning strikes until it coated the small, previously pink flesh.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Sleep took her.\u00a0 She twisted and mewled with her dreams.\u00a0 They were formless.\u00a0 Primordial things existing as flashes of color (red, so many shades of red, muscle and blood and fire and-) and emotions (anger and hate and guilt and shame and-) and desires (lust and power and pleasure and violence and-) that left her groaning and clawing at her stomach.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure you&#8217;re feeling okay?&#8221; Nora asked, her eyes darting over Fatma&#8217;s exposed face.\u00a0 &#8220;Your eyes are still really red.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m fine,&#8221; Fatma said, rubbing at her eyes.\u00a0 She hadn&#8217;t believed her friend until she looked at herself in the girl&#8217;s bathroom.\u00a0 Her eyes were bloodshot and she&#8217;d received a few strange looks as well as snickering jokes about her hotboxing marijuana.\u00a0 But she felt fine.\u00a0 In fact, she felt great.\u00a0 Rested and alert.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>lie hide hungry too hungry yet<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Just hungry.\u00a0 She rubbed at the roof of her mouth with her tongue, relishing the odd scratching at the back of her throat.\u00a0 Her jaw was sore, from the roots of her teeth to the joints beneath her cheeks.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I wish you&#8217;d stop mentioning it.\u00a0 I was just restless last night,&#8221; she lied, rubbing the sleeves of her arms.\u00a0 She carried the brown bag her father had made for her for lunch while they hunted for a free seat in the crowded lunchroom.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>They sat far in the back and Fatma tugged at her hijab to hide her irritated eyes.\u00a0 She opened her bag, taking out the food one-by-one until she found a small folded note in the bottom.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Her father&#8217;s neat handwriting covered the scrap of paper:\u00a0 <em>Daughter, I wish you&#8217;d stayed home but I admire your courage for going.\u00a0 La Hawla Wala Quwwata Illla Billah!<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>As she finished reading, her hand cramped, crumbling the paper in her fist as pain formed behind her eyes.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>lies simpering excuses<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>La Hawla Wala Quwwata Illla Billah!\u00a0 There is no might nor power except with Allah.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She felt herself bristle at the sentence.\u00a0 It felt weak, as if to excuse her own strength in dealing with Ms. Maiben&#8217;s death.\u00a0 A lie told as a crutch to deal with the emotional pain of the situation.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Nearly invisible wisps of smoke curled between her fingers as the edges of the paper within her hand turned black before flaking away under the pressure of her grip.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>No,<\/em> she told herself, pinching the bridge of her nose with her eyes squeezed shut.\u00a0 <em>It&#8217;s just this headache that keeps coming back.\u00a0 Papa means well.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Nora chatted while Fatma picked at her food.\u00a0 Her father&#8217;s home cooked meal was excessive and rich but she found she had no appetite for it, despite the angry void growing within her body.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh.\u00a0 Eh-<strong>hem<\/strong>,&#8221; Nora said, glancing up before studiously looking back down at her food.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Hey, Fatma,&#8221; came a deep, smooth voice from behind her.\u00a0 &#8220;I heard what happened.\u00a0 Are you okay?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She turned to find Duncan to her side.\u00a0 His face oozed concern as he held his lunch tray.\u00a0 She admired him as he stood there, from his trim body, his large hands and his wide shoulders.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>And the- her eyes dilated as more blood vessels burst within her sclera.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>hunger so very hungry<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A gray haze radiated from his body, vanishing before reappearing.\u00a0 Over and over.\u00a0 It almost appeared to be a trick of the light or a problem with her eyes as the gray light &#8211; no, white now and almost completely transparent.\u00a0 It faded but she found herself inhaling deeply as if tasting him.\u00a0 The void inside of her shifted, seemingly attaching itself to her spine so that she felt the ache throughout her entire body from between her thighs to the back of her neck.\u00a0 It was a numb, thrilling pain that made her wriggle in her seat as hairs stood up on the nape of her neck.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>want need devour<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I wish everyone would stop asking me that,&#8221; she told him, searching for the aura that had surrounded him.\u00a0 She wrapped her arms around her chest, subconsciously pushing her breasts out as she scratched her elbows and the backs of her arms.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A fractured sequence of images filled her mind.\u00a0 His zipper.\u00a0 Her hands on him.\u00a0 On his dick.\u00a0 Her mouth.\u00a0 Wet.\u00a0 Hardness.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The girl&#8217;s eyes shrunk to vertical slits as she pressed her nails hard into the tingling skin above her elbow.\u00a0 Spit filled her mouth and she found herself swirling her tongue against the inside of her mouth.\u00a0 The angry violet coloring crept forward from the back of her tongue in striated lines, halting before spreading too far.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; the boy said, fidgeting in his spot.\u00a0 He opened his mouth to say something before frowning and looking down at his shoes.\u00a0 &#8220;I- I&#8217;ve gotta go sit with Jason.\u00a0 But, if you want to talk about anything, I&#8217;m here.\u00a0 And the counselor is good.\u00a0 The school counselor.\u00a0 I talked with him when my mom left a couple years ago.\u00a0 And I- I&#8217;m sorry.\u00a0 I&#8217;ll just be over there.\u00a0 If you need anything.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Poor boy,&#8221; Nora said with a sigh as Duncan left.\u00a0 &#8220;He has it bad for you.\u00a0 Why won&#8217;t you go to prom with him?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Papa wouldn&#8217;t accept it,&#8221; she answered, returning to pick at her food.\u00a0 Her arms throbbed from the tips of her fingers to her shoulders.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Because he&#8217;s black?&#8221; her friend asked.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Fatma said.\u00a0 &#8220;Well, I don&#8217;t know.\u00a0 Maybe.\u00a0 But he&#8217;s an atheist.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>fool fool fool fool<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He lets you hang out with me,&#8221; the other girl replied.\u00a0 &#8220;And <strong><em>I<\/em><\/strong> don&#8217;t believe.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Your parents do,&#8221; Fatma said, finally spearing a piece of meat.\u00a0 &#8220;And I know you do, too.\u00a0 At least a little.\u00a0 He&#8217;d think Duncan was a fool for not believing.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Psh,&#8221; Nora snorted.\u00a0 &#8220;Your father loves you more than anything.\u00a0 He&#8217;d want you to be happy more than anything else.\u00a0 As long as you kept your faith, I think he&#8217;d be fine.\u00a0 Prom is tomorrow night!\u00a0 Even if you didn&#8217;t start dating, you could at least just go with him.\u00a0 He&#8217;d be happy to dance with you whatever you&#8217;re wearing.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fatma opened her left hand, absentmindedly flicking the pile of black ash away from her table.\u00a0 She pushed around her food as her friend ate until a bell chimed and they got ready for their next class.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The noise from the bus rattled Fatma as she lay her head against the slim window next to her.\u00a0 She&#8217;d woken with energy but, as the day progressed, found herself growing weary.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>food so many so young taste them draw from them<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She closed her eyes, trying to rouse herself but the exhaustion held her down like weights.\u00a0 Yet, all around her the other teenagers burst with energy, rattling her nerves with their loud voices and shouts.\u00a0 She could almost taste the hormones flooding the bus and she found herself drawing it in.\u00a0 Drawing from their youthful vigor to remind herself that she was fine.\u00a0 That she was strong and young.\u00a0 Oddly enough, it seemed to work.\u00a0 And even better, the raucous noise quieted slightly around her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The girl&#8217;s hijab shifted as she sat up straighter.\u00a0 She opened her jaw, pushing it forward as pressure filled her temples.\u00a0 Her ears slowly tilted back in a slight angle while the ridges beneath the rounded tops flowed outward, pulling at the skin.\u00a0 The scarf moved around her as the sharp tips of her ears slid through her hair.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fatma scratched at her cheek before pressing her thumb against the joint of her jaw.\u00a0 The pressure subsided as she massaged her face.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She hummed to herself and then stretched, raising her hands above her head.\u00a0 The exhaustion was gone, not completely but she felt awake again.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Tiny flecks of black coloring emerged beneath the skin of her nostrils.\u00a0 She rubbed her nose and then pressed a finger against her mouth as similar dots appeared in the cracks of her lips.\u00a0 They swelled at her touch, the thin, pink skin becoming full as they bulged outward.\u00a0 Her short canines, rounded and dull and flush with the incisors next to them, grew to thin, sharp points.\u00a0 The enamel reshaped until the tips jutted beneath the surrounding teeth.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>changing becoming<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>She smiled, lightly scratching at the sensitive side of her belly.\u00a0 Ever since Duncan spoke with her in the lunchroom, she&#8217;d found herself distracted.\u00a0 Odd touches made her jump as she felt her body become more sensitive.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Reaching back, she scratched along her spine while biting into her full lips.\u00a0 She couldn&#8217;t stop herself from writhing with her forehead pressed against the seat in front of her as the feel of her nails sent hot pulses down her body.\u00a0 It was a welcome change from the lethargy she felt earlier.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Beneath her blouse, dry, dead skin flaked away.\u00a0 The more the scratched, the more came free until, pressing hard while hissing in pleasure, she cut deep beneath her flesh.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A ridged, black protrusion lay exposed in the small tear of her skin.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Duncan,&#8221; she whispered.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The girl was chaste; her seclusion, religion and shyness kept her from the moral corruptions that existed on the Internet and among the small group of her friends.\u00a0 She knew what a naked man looked like, had rough ideas of how it all worked but seldom imagined it.\u00a0 It had always seemed wrong.\u00a0 Her nightly routine was established years and years ago with her father.\u00a0 The Isha and Dhikr prayers at bedtime made the rare, sexually curious thought feel wrong.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fatma shivered, digging her nails into the backs of her arms as she moaned quietly in her seat.\u00a0 She lay against the window again as Duncan came to mind.\u00a0 Again.\u00a0 He would be warm.\u00a0 Gentle and kind with her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>rough slapping choking forcing taking<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Guiding her, showing her what he wanted.\u00a0 Pushing her hand down to his zipper until she freed his manhood.\u00a0 She imagined it as dark as he was.\u00a0 And large.\u00a0 Large enough to choke on.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Choke on it? <\/em>She wondered as she pressed her thighs together.\u00a0 She felt warm between the legs and, as she tensed, the muscles of her pussy clenched and slipped, wet with her arousal.\u00a0 <em>Would I kiss it?\u00a0 Taking it in my mouth as he forced my head down.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Her breath was hot and fast as she struggled with the image.\u00a0 Imagining herself not going to her knees.\u00a0 It felt wrong.\u00a0 And dirty.\u00a0 To put her mouth on his penis.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In her mind, he slapped her and she gasped, clawing at her right elbow while thrusting her hand between her thighs.\u00a0 Duncan&#8217;s face was twisted with absurd need as he slapped her again.\u00a0 The rough treatment forced a moan from her lips as she pictured herself being forced down.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Blood suffused her tanned cheeks until they were reddened in shame, guilt and the desire for more.\u00a0 The blood appeared to leech into her cheeks until her very skin was tinted crimson.\u00a0 It spread along the bridge of her nose and down her jaw, reaching halfway down her throat.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She felt drained again, her mouth dry as she rubbed the edge of her hand between her lips.\u00a0 Her pants were wet and she shuddered each time the sawing motion rubbed her clit.\u00a0 She could feel Duncan&#8217;s hand in her hair, clutching her painfully tight.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The light red coloring covering her sclera began to leak into her brown irises.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>But <strong><em>that<\/em><\/strong> started to feel wrong.\u00a0 She frowned with her eyes closed.\u00a0 Her inexperience had her picturing herself kissing his cock but she suddenly saw herself digging her claws into his belly, forcing him down as she wrested control away from him.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The bus screeched to a stop, forcing Fatma out of her reverie.\u00a0 Her thoughts vanished in smoke, leaving her confused.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She was-\u00a0 she thought-\u00a0 She rubbed her eyes as she spread her legs.\u00a0 A scent wafted to her nose.\u00a0 Pulling her hand away, she inhaled and brought it closer.\u00a0 A light fog formed in her brain as she smelled the heady, sweet scent covering her hand.\u00a0 She blinked slowly until the bus driver called her name, pulling her back once again.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The girl grabbed her backpack in a rush as she barreled through the bus and outside.\u00a0 Her heart pounded as she hefted her backpack to walk down the sidewalk with her head bowed.\u00a0 She remembered most of the ride but-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Oh, was I really thinking of Duncan in that way?<\/em>\u00a0 she could see him again, guiding her hand and the shame of her excitement made her clutch her backpack harder.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Electricity coursed through her body.\u00a0 She froze and looked up to find herself standing outside Ms. Maiben&#8217;s home.\u00a0 Fatma licked her lips, taking a half-step towards the concrete stairs leading up to the front door.\u00a0 The void clinging to her spine trembled and she snarled without realizing it.\u00a0 She could almost hear the old woman, far in the distance at the back of her mind.\u00a0 Screaming in agony to match the expression she died with.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>free consumed and owned ours now<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fatma&#8217;s tongue slipped free from her pouty lips.\u00a0 It narrowed as it slid forth and the tip flicked as the purple coloring continued to spread like ink spilled in a cup of water.\u00a0 Swirling and racing and curling along her narrow, long tongue until not a single spot of pink remained.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She played and replayed the final moments of the woman&#8217;s death and the faint, echoing screams continued.\u00a0 The memory of the night before, lying in bed while feeling guilty was alien to her now.\u00a0 She&#8217;d done what she could and the woman had deserved it.\u00a0 She was old.\u00a0 Past her time.\u00a0 Taking up space the younger generation needed.\u00a0 That she needed.\u00a0 The the hunger demanded.\u00a0 Holding her back.\u00a0 Restraining her.\u00a0 Bottling her up until she broke free to take her payment.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Anger flared within her as she struggled to understand why.\u00a0 She stared at the door, feeling the unnatural emptiness beyond.\u00a0 She&#8217;d visited the old woman many times with her father but, overlaid on that was decades of time.\u00a0 She couldn&#8217;t shake the oddness of it, the double echo of the times she&#8217;d brought food with the strange feeling of raging restraint.\u00a0 The girl snarled, opening her mouth to show her small fangs as her tongue flicked out.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The soft, tanned skin of her neck burned bright red as the coloring spread to her shoulders.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Finally, the young girl continued on, lightly jumping up the steps to her own home as she hummed a tune to drown out the nearly inaudible howling.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Once past the threshold of her own home, a weak headache bloomed at the center of her brain.\u00a0 She ground her sharp teeth but forced herself onward.\u00a0 There was time for her to work on her homework before the Maghrib prayer and she needed to focus.\u00a0 Her teacher had sent her home with her calculus test to revise for extra credit.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>After more than two hours of sitting in her bed, working slowly through her test, Fatma slammed her book shut with a cry of frustration.\u00a0 Her headache beat a nasty rhythm in her brain and she found herself distracted.\u00a0 Uneasy.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Her back was sore.\u00a0 She reached around to press her fingertips beneath the band of her pants to massage herself.\u00a0 It felt inflamed and sore at her touch.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Her anxiety built until she glanced at her windows.\u00a0 Had she missed pra-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>distract resist pain pain feed need to feed<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The girl grunted, pressing the palm of her hand against her temple as the void growled in her stomach.\u00a0 Wavy clear lines vibrated in her eyesight until she squeezed her eyes closed.\u00a0 Beneath her eyelids, brown vanished to leave nothing but the black slits of her pupils centered in pure, deep red.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She swung her legs over the bed, wobbling to her feet as she made her way to the bathroom.\u00a0 They kept bottles of headache pills in the medicine cabinet and she knew she&#8217;d need them if she were going to keep studying.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The light flicked on and she screamed as she caught her own reflection.\u00a0 Her lips were jet black, full and soft against a face the shade of pure blood.\u00a0 Sharp little fangs protruded and her tongue, a pearlescent purple, writhed behind them.\u00a0 She covered her mouth and her eyes widened, the vertical slits opening to full ovals.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>awake<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;s there?!&#8221; Fatma yelled, slamming herself back against the wall as the strange voice filled her head.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>we are one<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Blood welled at the edge of the girl&#8217;s eyes, falling against her cheeks as she lowered herself.\u00a0 An uncomfortable pressure stabbed into her lower back and the band of her trousers bulged to contain the rounded nub of her tail.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>feed we hunger<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Go away!\u00a0 Go away!&#8221; she screamed, pressing her palms against her ears.\u00a0 It was impossible to block the sound but she pulled her knees up to press her face against them with her hands firmly against her ears.\u00a0 &#8220;What did you do to me?!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>host we are one soon<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;No, please, no,&#8221; she sobbed, blood dotting her dark blouse as she cried.\u00a0 &#8220;I&#8217;m- I&#8217;m good.\u00a0 Allah-&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Pain exploded behind her eyes, cutting her off.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>not his tainted blessed forever<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; she whimpered.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The girl&#8217;s mind swam as she felt the wall moving against her back.\u00a0 It knew she sat stationary on the ground but the sensation confused it until tiny, invisible hooks dug deeper into her soul.\u00a0 It knew, then, that she still sat and it was simply her tail moving against the wall.\u00a0 Growing.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fatma gasped, reaching back to grab it.\u00a0 It was slick, slimy and thick in her hand and she yelped before releasing it.\u00a0 It felt warm and strong.\u00a0 Worse, the tip was sliding against her bare back.\u00a0 Bumping against-<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She stood, sniffling as she turned and raised her shirt.\u00a0 Her short tail pulled free.\u00a0 The tip bulged at the sides like a club but she focused on her back.\u00a0 On the tears in her skin over her spine.\u00a0 On the black ridges that those gouges exposed.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;La hawla wala quwwata -&#8221; she spoke out loud, the pain in her head increasing with each word until she couldn&#8217;t bear it.\u00a0 She collapsed to her knees, her hands tearing at her hijab as she bent forward with her short tail flailing behind her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>anger rage<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She screamed, flinging the scarf as anger filled her.\u00a0 She hadn&#8217;t asked for this.\u00a0 It had started when her father sent her to Ms. Maiben&#8217;s house.\u00a0 The doubt and guilt filling her.\u00a0 Everything was fine until then.\u00a0 She hadn&#8217;t wanted to go.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>An image of the bottle was forced into her mind&#8217;s eye.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Nora!<\/em> she snarled in rage.\u00a0 <em>That <strong>bitch<\/strong><\/em> <em>did this to me!\u00a0 Cursed me!\u00a0 And that old hag!\u00a0 Kept the- the <strong>fucking<\/strong> thing trapped!\u00a0 The flame in the bottle.\u00a0 The demon!<\/em>\u00a0 <em>I can&#8217;t live like this!\u00a0 I can&#8217;t be seen like this!<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>hide conceal yourself<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;How?!\u00a0 How, damn you?!&#8221;\u00a0 she yelled, panting on her hands and knees.\u00a0 She could feel the muscles and skin moving on her lower back as the tail pulled at her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>feed<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Another image.\u00a0 Her father.\u00a0 Asleep with her standing over him.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Dark pink filled her red cheeks.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; she whispered.\u00a0 &#8220;No, I won&#8217;t.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Another image, her hiding as a mob chased her.\u00a0 As her father cursed her name.\u00a0 But, suddenly, it shifted.\u00a0 Her father, telling her to go to Ms. Maiben&#8217;s house.\u00a0 His face was knowing.\u00a0 Smirking.\u00a0 Sending her to her doom.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It wasn&#8217;t-&#8221; she struggled.\u00a0 &#8220;It wasn&#8217;t like that.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>feed<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She clutched at her stomach, snarling.\u00a0 Her fangs lengthened.\u00a0 She was hungry.\u00a0 Weak.\u00a0 She could feel it now, the difference of it.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Keys jingled in the doorway of the living room.\u00a0 Fatma&#8217;s red eyes widened.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Papa!&#8221; she gasped.\u00a0 In a blur of speed, she leapt for her scarf, snatching it from the ground before running to her room and closing the door.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Fatma?&#8221; Faizan called out.\u00a0 &#8220;Are you home?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She turned, her back to the door until she felt her tail sliding against the cool sheets.\u00a0 The girl panicked, grabbing it and pulling it between her thighs.\u00a0 It resisted but she clamped her legs together, trapping it.\u00a0 As short as it was, the tip lay against her sex.\u00a0 She held it with one arm while starting at the wall next to her bed.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Fatma?&#8221; her father asked gently, knocking on her door.\u00a0 &#8220;Will you join me for evening prayer?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>lust desire sin<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Her tail calmed and she breathed a sigh of relief until the head began rocking slightly back and forth.\u00a0 She gasped, biting her lips painfully as the thick head pressed into her clit and between her lips.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Daughter?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Nooo,&#8221; Fatma moaned.\u00a0 Duncan, on his back.\u00a0 Waiting for her command.\u00a0 His cock huge and erect.\u00a0 Blood pounded between her thighs and her ass moved.\u00a0 She clawed the bed with her free hand as her hips rocked back and forth in time to the movement of her tail.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Her slick, pink pussy lips darkened as they became engorged.\u00a0 Her wrist pushed at her restrained tail, guiding it to press where it felt best.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Are you still- does her-&#8221;\u00a0 her father said, uncertain of what to ask.\u00a0 &#8220;I&#8217;ll prepare some food for you before I go to bed.\u00a0 I love you, Fatma.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Yessss,&#8221; the girl groaned, biting at her blanket.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>lust pleasure lust pleasure lustlustlustlust<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She clawed at her pants as her suddenly freed tail arched back.\u00a0 She unzipped herself before shoving her pants down to expose her throbbing, aching sex.\u00a0 Muscle flexed in her back as the dark hooks sunk deeper.\u00a0 She turned, laying on her stomach while she brought her tail between her legs.\u00a0 It obeyed her command as she found the fine motor control needed to move it properly.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fatma could feel the burning heat from her pussy against the smooth skin of her tail.\u00a0 It slipped between her wet lips and she buried her face into her pillow to hide her moans.\u00a0 Her long ears vibrated as strong muscles forced the tail to grind against her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>profane fuck inhibitions<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In her eyes, she lay astride Duncan, his cock pinned against her body as she slid against his thickness.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Yet it wasn&#8217;t enough.\u00a0 Not fully grown, her tail couldn&#8217;t flex enough to enter her.\u00a0 She reached back, grabbing the slick head.\u00a0 Without hesitation, she shoved it inside, screaming as she took her own virginity.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Grunting, groaning and growling, she worked the bulbous tip in and out of her tight pussy, feeling the growing pressure build.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Smoke issued from her black nose.\u00a0 She turned her face to breathe and her lust-filled mouth opened wide to expose her tongue.\u00a0 It lengthened further, the tip growing to a sharp point as rough bumps formed along the top.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fatma bit into her pillow, shaking her head like a predator taking down its prey as her first orgasm exploded through her body.\u00a0 She kicked her aching feet while lifting her hips and screaming through clenching teeth.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>more joined more need more lust unfulfilled tainted more tainted<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>we need more<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Yessss!&#8221; Fatma gasped in agreement.\u00a0 She released her hand as her tail grew longer and it plunged deep inside of her as she raised herself to her hands and knees with her head bowed, lost in the depths of her own pleasure.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Silence filled the house.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>feed<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fatma shook her head against the voice.\u00a0 She lay exhausted, her bed sheets soaked with her juices.\u00a0 Burn marks dotted the sheets beneath her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>conceal feed hunger<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I- I can&#8217;t,&#8221; she gasped.\u00a0 The pain of the void was nearly intolerable.\u00a0 Her feet ached and her forehead throbbed while her joints flared in agony.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>must<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>anger lies<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The demon wanted her to feed from her father but the thought sickened her.\u00a0 <strong><em>She<\/em><\/strong> sickened herself, laying in the remains of her sin.\u00a0 Brought low by lust and using her own profane body to do it.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A spark of anger ignited.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A body she wouldn&#8217;t have if she hadn&#8217;t gone to visit the old whore.\u00a0 The door had been open.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The spark fanned into flames.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Her father sent her on purpose!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She growled, pushing herself up.\u00a0 She was bare from the waist down but the cool night air didn&#8217;t touch her.\u00a0 Her crotch and legs were covered with her own dried juices but he pussy was still wet.\u00a0 Ready.\u00a0 Aching.\u00a0 Hungry.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>He <strong>knew<\/strong><\/em>, she told herself.\u00a0 <em>And he&#8217;d sent me in his stead.\u00a0 Abandoning his charity because he knew what would happen.\u00a0 Instead, he sent me as sacrifice.\u00a0 The pain is his fault!<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fatma sat up.\u00a0 Her tail lashed angrily behind her, thumping against the bed.\u00a0 The movement split the skin just above the base of her tail.\u00a0 A single drop of blood coursed down her ass as a shiny black lump began to harden in the cool air.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The girl walked through her room, her long, wine-reddened tail hung low behind her.\u00a0 The mace-like tip waved as her hips rocked.\u00a0 She opened her door, listened for her father&#8217;s snores and stepped into the hallway.\u00a0 His door was ajar.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She snarled at the sight of him, sleeping peacefully.\u00a0 His dark black beard and short black hair framed against his olive skin.\u00a0 From his doorway, she could see him outlined in pure white.\u00a0 The light hovered from his body.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>pure unlike us his fault<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The voice filled her and the flames of anger roared.\u00a0 Smoke rose from around her feet.\u00a0 Her fangs grinded together as the red bridge of her nose wrinkled in distaste.\u00a0 She would <strong><em>never<\/em><\/strong> be clean again.\u00a0 Not after what happened to her.\u00a0 Not after what he did to her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>With a step, she crossed into his bedroom and her head throbbed in pain.\u00a0 The faint silhouette of a footprint was burned into the floor where she&#8217;d stood.\u00a0 She took another step, leaving yet another ghost of a footprint until she was by his bedside.\u00a0 The second footprint showed two large fused toes as her big toe merged with the thin toe next to it and the three beside it joined together.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Her head pounded until she felt nauseous.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>feed<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The voice was powerful and commanding but, as she raised her hand, she hesitated.\u00a0 Her father turned fitfully, his brow crinkling as his dreams took a sudden, dark turn.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>feed conceal<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Her outthrust hand shook as the light began to pull towards her.\u00a0 It touched her fingertips and she gasped, eyes wide.\u00a0 Her earlier masturbation paled in comparison as she began to consume her father&#8217;s soul.\u00a0 It filled every pore, lighting every nerve ending as she was forced to the tips of her toes.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The bottom of Fatma&#8217;s shirt slid against her smooth, flat stomach.\u00a0 It pulled up as her slim breasts began to fill out.\u00a0 They swelled, pushing against the blouse until gravity pulled them down.\u00a0 She could feel the smooth skin sliding against her chest.\u00a0 Red descended from her shoulders, the taint of her body flowing to cover her still-growing tits.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She groaned as liquid welled between her pussy lips.\u00a0 It fell, attaching to her thigh in a clear string as more began to form.\u00a0 Smoke wafted from her body as the crimson coloring reached her hips.\u00a0 She moaned, her violet tongue flicking out as her ass began to expand, the skin over her waist stretching.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Her father gasped, arching his back as he scrabbled at the air above him.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fatma stumbled backwards, panting.\u00a0 Crackling gray light surrounded him now.\u00a0 The voice within was silent.\u00a0 Sated.\u00a0 She swallowed and turned, leaning against the doorframe before going to her own room.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As she reached her door, thick lumps formed over her shoulder blades.\u00a0 They itched with an insane intensity but the girl ignored them as she slammed her door shut and collapsed into her bed.\u00a0 Her fused toes began to harden into hooves as she dug them into the bedding.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She burned from within.\u00a0 Her fingernails darkened as keratin formed and grew from the tips of her fingers until her dense, curved claws tore into her bed.\u00a0 Every touch of the sheets drove her wild.\u00a0 Her tail wrapped around her thick thigh but she grabbed at it, pulling it until it came free.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Fuck me!&#8221; she cursed, shoving the bulbous head into her waiting, dripping cunt.\u00a0 &#8220;Fuck!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She pushed her hips upward by digging her heels into the bed.\u00a0 Her huge breasts pulled down toward her face as she screamed out in pleasure.\u00a0 With a swipe of her claws, she tore her shirt open to expose her breasts.\u00a0 She squeezed one of them, pulling it closer as her tongue wrapped around her fat, erect nipple.\u00a0 Her areola darkened over her bright red skin until it was a dusty black that began to leech into the nipple itself.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Skin ripped over her shoulder blades and along her brow.\u00a0 She hissed and then screeched as her tail plunged deeper than ever.\u00a0 Hardened bone stood out from two points on her skull but she rolled as wet, dark flesh pushed out from the large slits along her back.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Turned to the side, her tail still pumping furiously into her hungry, needy sex, her new wings spread weakly with a single flap.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Tch,&#8221; Faizan said as he sat at the breakfast table.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fatma glanced at him while she ate her food.\u00a0 Gray hairs mixed with the black of his beard and along his temples and deep wrinkles lay against his eyes.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The girl&#8217;s clothes clung to her.\u00a0 Late in the night, she&#8217;d found how to change her form but she&#8217;d decided to keep her hips and breasts how they were.\u00a0 It wasn&#8217;t exactly shape shifting, she&#8217;d found.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>To <strong><em>her<\/em><\/strong>, she felt her wings pressed against her back with her tail laying quietly behind her.\u00a0 That was one reality and the one she felt.\u00a0 But in this reality, she appeared how she wanted.\u00a0 As Fatma to all who saw her and to everything that existed in the world.\u00a0 Her clothes only knew that she was larger now.\u00a0 Her midriff showed beneath her blouse and her nipples pressed against the blouse.\u00a0 She wore no bra.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Problems, papa?&#8221; she asked.\u00a0 Beneath it all, she seethed with anger that wouldn&#8217;t go away.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sore this morning,&#8221; he said, rubbing his knuckles.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>You deserve it,<\/em> she thought at him.\u00a0 <em>This and more.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I hope it passes,&#8221; she lied, pushing back from the table.\u00a0 &#8220;I&#8217;m full.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Her father looked at her and his eyes narrowed in concern.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Fatma,&#8221; he said, squeezing his hands together.\u00a0 He noted her shirt and his jaw muscles flared.\u00a0 &#8220;Are you alright?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m fine,&#8221; she lied again.\u00a0 Her lips trembled as she forced back a snarl.\u00a0 His soul still coursed through her but she could already feel it fading and the energy it provided dissipating.\u00a0 She studied him for a moment, licking her lips quickly as she wondered how many more times she could feed from him.\u00a0 Not many.\u00a0 Maybe two.\u00a0 <strong><em>His <\/em><\/strong>fault.\u00a0 &#8220;I have to go.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>He stood, reaching for a hug and a forehead kiss.\u00a0 She moaned as the shredded soul within her touched the remnants he held.\u00a0 Grabbing his head, she opened her mouth and her purple tongue licked his cheek.\u00a0 She closed her mouth over his.\u00a0 He froze until she stepped back, wiping her lips with a smile.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The man&#8217;s eyes were glazed.\u00a0 He fell to the floor, his back against the wall.\u00a0 Fatma sighed happily as the bit she&#8217;d taken from him spread through her body.\u00a0 Her nipples pressed against her blouse as she grabbed her backpack to walk to her stop.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Classes were dull.\u00a0 She found herself ignoring the lesson while focusing inward.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The voice no longer spoke to her.\u00a0 That had frightened her at first.\u00a0 And moreso when she realized why: it <strong><em>was<\/em><\/strong> her now.\u00a0 Its knowledge lay at the edges of her mind, waiting for her to touch and <strong><em>remember<\/em><\/strong> them.\u00a0 She&#8217;d learned how to control her form from that wide pool of knowledge.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>And so much more.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A thrill tickled her side.\u00a0 She turned to find James staring at her.\u00a0 Staring at her breasts and the bumps her nipples made.\u00a0 She smiled at him while casually caressing herself.\u00a0 His lust flowed to her.\u00a0 It was small but enough and she arched her back as it pooled between her thighs.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The bell chimed and students grabbed their books to rush to their next period.\u00a0 Fatma left hers and, instead, turned to her friend behind her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Nora, I need help,&#8221; she said with the most pleading expression she could conjure.\u00a0 &#8220;Will you come to the bathroom with me?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Of course,&#8221; the girl said.\u00a0 &#8220;Let me just grab-&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Fatma said, caressing the girl&#8217;s jaw.\u00a0 &#8220;No.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;O-okay,&#8221; Nora said, blinking away the haze that had filled her.\u00a0 She followed her friend as they walked out of the bathroom, through the busy hallway and towards the bathroom.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fatma fed from the students as she walked.\u00a0 Jealousy from female students, lust from most of the male students and some of the females until she was nearly full from it.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Jennifer stood alone in the bathroom as the two girls entered.\u00a0 Fatma touched her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Leave,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The blonde girl dropped her makeup kit and left, leaving her purse and backpack behind.\u00a0 After the door closed, The hooded girl pressed her palm against it, sealing in a flash of red light.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; Nora asked, rubbing her arms in the middle of the bathroom.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t sleep last night,&#8221; Fatma said.\u00a0 &#8220;I couldn&#8217;t.\u00a0 I was learning.\u00a0 And thinking.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve killed me, Nora,&#8221; she continued.\u00a0 Her friend&#8217;s eyes widened in alarm.\u00a0 &#8220;And cursed me.\u00a0 I&#8217;m damned for eternity.\u00a0 And I&#8217;ve seen it.\u00a0 I&#8217;ve seen what the abyss looks like.\u00a0 The multitudes of it.\u00a0 A great clash of realities.\u00a0 A Christian demon rides my soul.\u00a0 We are one now.\u00a0 Because of you.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The bottle,&#8221; she said as she began unwrapping her hijab from her head.\u00a0 Nora backed away at Fatma&#8217;s approach.\u00a0 &#8220;I<strong> <em>told<\/em><\/strong> you to leave it alone.\u00a0 I told you.\u00a0 It&#8217;s too late.\u00a0 It&#8217;s too late now.\u00a0 I&#8217;m-&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Smoke escaped Fatma&#8217;s lips.\u00a0 She flickered between human and demon before resting on her larger demon form.\u00a0 Hard muscle in her thighs flexed her bent knees and her cloven hooves clacked loudly on the linoleum.\u00a0 Her hardened abs tensed as her heavy, rounded breasts shook from the impact.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m still learning,&#8221; she moaned.\u00a0 &#8220;Where was-\u00a0 Ah.\u00a0 I&#8217;m not sure I&#8217;d change it, to be honest.\u00a0 But, Nora, I can&#8217;t just let it go.\u00a0 There has to be a punishment.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;P-p-p-please,&#8221; Nora moaned, the whites showing in her eyes.\u00a0 &#8220;I- I- I-&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fatma&#8217;s violet tongue flickered, tasting the girl&#8217;s panic.\u00a0 Savoring it.\u00a0 She balled up her hijab in her hands, bringing it over the girl&#8217;s head.\u00a0 She crossed her arms and Nora grabbed at the scarf.\u00a0 Muscles bulged beneath dark red skin as the scarf tightened.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Kek-&#8221; the panicked girl said, grabbing and pulling at the fabric.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fatma leaned in, her mouth opening over her friend&#8217;s lips.\u00a0 She forced the other girl&#8217;s lips apart and her tongue wrapped around her friend&#8217;s tongue.\u00a0 Smoke rose around both of them as Nora screamed.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The other girl&#8217;s struggles lessened as a flame flickered fitfully to life over her brow.\u00a0 She wrapped her arms around Fatma&#8217;s neck, leaning into her until Fatma pushed her gently back.\u00a0 A line of spit connected them briefly.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Flame-red hairs sprouted around Nora&#8217;s belly button.\u00a0 She groaned, rolling her head with a huff.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I need you awake for this part,&#8221; Fatma said, touching the girl&#8217;s forehead.\u00a0 &#8220;I need you to feel this happening.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Nora blinked as awareness took hold.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;F- Fatma?&#8221; the girl said.\u00a0 &#8220;What&#8217;s-\u00a0 Augh!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She collapsed to her knees on the bathroom floor.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I thought of draining you completely,&#8221; Fatma told her.\u00a0 &#8220;Or just killing you.\u00a0 I don&#8217;t mind it now.\u00a0 I see Ms. Maiben&#8217;s face and I <strong><em>laugh<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 Old and weak and stupid.\u00a0 Bottling me.\u00a0 Caging me.\u00a0 I still hear her screams and I laugh.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Flame jetted from Nora&#8217;s mouth.\u00a0 The girl roared, clawing at her neck as thick veins stood out against her skin.\u00a0 Sweat sizzled from her body as she tore at her shirt.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fatma changed once more to her demon form.\u00a0 Her huge wings spread as she sat back against one of the sinks.\u00a0 The girl&#8217;s thick claws toyed with her clit slowly while she enjoyed the show.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I decided, mmmm,&#8221; the demoness moaned as her claw entered her sex.\u00a0 &#8220;I would keep you as a pet instead.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Nora pulled, tearing her shirt from the collar down.\u00a0 Black and red fur grew in a line down her stomach.\u00a0 With a grunt, the girl snapped her bra one-handed.\u00a0 Already the skin over her bicep was tight and hard from thick muscle.\u00a0 Her breasts shook as her hands roamed her body.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;What are youuuu doing to meee?!&#8221; Nora groaned.\u00a0 Her ears began to travel along her head, flowing along with the skin as her black hair fell around her.\u00a0 The ears lengthened as they rose and thickened, flattening against her skull.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A loud crack filled the air, forcing Nora to her hands and knees.\u00a0 She arched her back as her spine pressed against her skin in a wave.\u00a0 Her torso stretched as thick red hairs sprouted from her skin.\u00a0 She growled, shoving her face forward as her jaw broke.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Teeth clattered to the floor to make space for her canines.\u00a0 They thickened as her jaw pushed forward.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;H-h-hurts,&#8221; Nora gasped.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; Fatma replied as her fingers quickened their pace between her thighs.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The changing girl fell to her side with a grunt before rolling and pushing her hips up in a bridge.\u00a0 Her breasts pulled to her face, the skin stretching as red fur began to emerge to cover them.\u00a0 Flame shot from the girl&#8217;s mouth and the smell of sulphur filled the room.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Small dark spots appeared appeared in two lines down the girl&#8217;s stomach.\u00a0 Ducts and tissue formed as her teats grew erect.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;S-s-stop!\u00a0 Please!&#8221;\u00a0 Nora begged.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>No answer came for her as her pants strained to contain her bulk.\u00a0 Her shoes bulged and then exploded, separating from the soles to show swollen toes.\u00a0 She pawed at the ground and her toenails came free.\u00a0 Beneath the nails, the flesh hardened into sheaths.\u00a0 Still her feet widened and lengthened as fur began to spread over them.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The screams stopped when her heat took root.\u00a0 The seams of her pants split to reveal hard lines of muscle.\u00a0 She clawed at her crotch.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Stooop,&#8221; Nora groaned as she clawed at herself.\u00a0 Her tongue lolled from between huge, sabertooth-like fangs.\u00a0 &#8220;I- I don&#8217;t want this.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Fatma moaned, her head back.\u00a0 &#8220;You do.\u00a0 And you always will, Nora.\u00a0 Always.\u00a0 Until I allow you to die.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The changing girl roared as her jeans erupted into flames.\u00a0 Her thick hand plunged between her furred thighs.\u00a0 She pressed the leathery pads beneath her fingers into her clit as her other hand squeezed her breast.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The tip of her naked tail emerged over her swelling, straining ass.\u00a0 Bones broke and re-formed in her hips to accommodate the growth and her still-lengthening body.\u00a0 Her tail grow wolf-like, thick and bushy with red and black fur.\u00a0 Tiles blackened beneath the girl as she roared sulfurish flame, her legs kicking and taking out a chunk of the wall as a powerful orgasm rocked her body.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Nora&#8217;s pink labia, hidden behind thick black fur, turned bright red.\u00a0 The lips pressed together before folding and bulging away from her body.\u00a0 She grunted, muscles straining as she ached for another release.\u00a0 The bones beneath her mound clicked and moved and her pussy raised while her clit slid forward to press against the labia.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fatma came as Nora&#8217;s transformation completed.\u00a0 She groaned, raising her claws to her full lips to suckle at them.\u00a0 When her pet raised herself to two feet, the demoness frowned.\u00a0 The other girl towered over her, a jet of blue flame pulsing with each exhalation.\u00a0 Her sheathed, cat claws were a strange counterpoint to her wolf&#8217;s body.\u00a0 The girl&#8217;s tail whipped behind her and the tip ignited into black flame that filled the room with a powerful stench that made Fatma moan.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Down,&#8221; she commanded and her friend whimpered, lowering herself to hands and feet.\u00a0 The hellhound shoved her ass back against the edge of the wall behind her while rocking her hips.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Can&#8217;t.\u00a0 Get.\u00a0 Enough,&#8221; Nora rumbled.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll stay down until I order otherwise,&#8221; Fatma said.\u00a0 &#8220;If you please me.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Yessss,&#8221; the hellhound said, licking her wide muzzle.\u00a0 &#8220;I- I can please you, Fatma.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Now, come with me.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fatma walked ahead of Nora.\u00a0 The other girl fingered the thick black studded collar at her neck before her hand strayed to her crotch.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;P- please,&#8221; Nora begged.\u00a0 &#8220;C-can it- can it stop- when I- I&#8217;m human?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re not human,&#8221; Fatma told her.\u00a0 &#8220;You just look it.\u00a0 And, no.\u00a0 It never will.\u00a0 Be thankful for that.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Yes!&#8221; Nora cried out before grabbing her own breast.\u00a0 A large wet patch spread from the girl&#8217;s crotch.\u00a0 &#8220;Yes, I&#8217;m thankful!\u00a0 Yes!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Cars parked around them as they made their way to the school&#8217;s gym.\u00a0 People followed, glancing at the pair before heading into the school.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Nora!&#8221; a young boy called.\u00a0 &#8220;Nora, hey!\u00a0 I&#8217;ve been looking for you!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh god, no,&#8221; Nora moaned.\u00a0 &#8220;Please, no, no, no.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Take him,&#8221; Fatma commanded.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The girl dropped to her hands and feet with a growl and then stood to run on two feet.\u00a0 She tackled the boy, dragging him away from the crowd.\u00a0 Fatma followed.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>He was unconscious as Nora licked his face.\u00a0 She kissed him while her fingers pulled at his jeans to expose his cock.\u00a0 The girl groaned and quickly slipped out of her own pants.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Take him, whore,&#8221; Fatma said.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Yes!\u00a0\u00a0 Yes mistress!&#8221;\u00a0 Nora yelled, shoving her sopping wet pussy against the boy&#8217;s cock.\u00a0 He groaned, clawing at the ground as he grew hard.\u00a0 She didn&#8217;t wait for him.\u00a0 As soon as he was hard enough, she grabbed him to shove him inside her folded cunt.\u00a0 She frantically bounced on his dick while kissing him, leaning back to growl and pull her shirt off.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Red hairs sprouted from the boy&#8217;s chest.\u00a0 He coughed and sputtered as a flame erupted from his mouth.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Join me when you&#8217;re finished,&#8221; Fatma said, releasing the girl&#8217;s true form.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The demoness walked to the entrance of the gym.\u00a0 She spied Duncan standing by the doors and he smiled when he saw her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Fatma!&#8221; he called out, waving.\u00a0 White shined along his body and she felt a brief stab of pain until she focused on her own power.\u00a0 He walked over to her and she smiled at him.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Follow me,&#8221; she purred.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Emotions fled the boy&#8217;s face until it was a mask.\u00a0 He followed behind her, closing the gym doors as she entered.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Music blared from loudspeakers as seniors danced on the floor.\u00a0 Teachers and parents stood at the sides, talking while watching the kids.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fatma drank it in until her body roared with power.\u00a0 The lust.\u00a0 The hormones.\u00a0 Everything.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>It didn&#8217;t take much.\u00a0 A push.\u00a0 An exertion of power.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A bearded father slammed his drink before letting the cup fall.\u00a0 He walked into the crowd to shove a boy away from the class president &#8211; brunette with long, curly hair.\u00a0 He grabbed the girl&#8217;s skirt, pulling it free while shoving her to the ground.\u00a0 She screamed until Fatma&#8217;s power hit her and then she taunted him, raising her bare ass while spreading her pink pussy open for him with two fingers.\u00a0 The father slapped her ass and guided himself into her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Another boy slammed his date against the wall as she struggled with him.\u00a0 He lifted her dress to shove his fingers inside of her and she rolled her head back with a moan of encouragement.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>An Asian girl grabbed a boy&#8217;s partner and the two girls began to kiss while shedding their clothes.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The wife of the bearded father grabbed at a man next to her.\u00a0 She unzipped him, pulling his cock free before shoving her mouth down on his dick, bobbing up and down while the man&#8217;s wife kneeled behind the woman, pulling her pants down to suck on her pussy.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The room devolved into an orgy that fed Fatma.\u00a0 She turned to Duncan and he opened his lips to her kiss as her form changed.\u00a0 She wrapped her wings around him.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;No slave to me, Duncan,&#8221; she purred as she burned his clothes free.\u00a0 &#8220;But my mate.\u00a0 I know the spell of summoning and you&#8217;ll make a beautiful host.\u00a0 Not these lessers.\u00a0 Not these thralls.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A bulge appeared on the bearded father&#8217;s ass as he skin darkened to red.\u00a0 Beside him, a\u00a0 young black girl screamed for god to save her as horns pierced the skin over her skull.\u00a0 She tore her dress to show huge breasts and her scream turned to a snarl as she shoved herself against a frantic boy next to her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Two beasts entered the gym, a male on two legs with a female on hands and feet next to him.\u00a0 They scented the scene before them before the female offered herself to the male with a shuddering groan.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Join me,&#8221; Fatma whispered to Duncan as a flame took shape over the young man&#8217;s forehead.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A young woman becomes cursed and changes into a demon &#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212; From my Patreon! You can find my page at: https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/markgraham The bus screeched to a stop with a hiss that went unnoticed by the unruly children riding in their <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/?p=782\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Slow Burn<\/span><span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4],"tags":[287,94,60,360,445,285,444,21,30,54,9],"class_list":["post-782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-story","tag-corruption","tag-curse","tag-demon","tag-domination","tag-hellhound","tag-hypnotism","tag-islam","tag-magic","tag-mental-changes","tag-succubus","tag-transformation"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p42NMN-cC","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=782"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/782\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":783,"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/782\/revisions\/783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}