The Consuming Heart

There is beauty and love in everything, even in death. Susan Hill knew this, and it made her smile.

The adonis sitting across her in the Gold Lounge, a well-styled restaurant sure did mistake her smile as a reaction to what he said to her. But all she thought about was what would happen if she made love to him here and now. Could he manage it? Would he be able to please her?

A waiter arrived, distracting Susan's carnal thoughts, he took their order.

When the waiter left, the adonis said, "I was quite surprised when you agreed to my offer."

Susan sent him a charming smile. "Why is that?" she asked.

"You're, which I'm certain, the most beautiful lady I've ever come across in my life, and ladies like you are usually hard to find, and don't just say yes to any guy. I mean, clearly, you don't look like someone who can be driven by wealth. You look well to do on your part. It's just, I'm amazed, and I feel like the luckiest guy in this world tonight."

Susan kept on smiling. "Thanks," she said.

Without looking, Susan was aware of the glances coming her way from different tables occupied by men, women, and couples. They sure had seen a beautiful lady before as some of the ladies who were here, were, and for the men, they were with a few themselves tonight, but Susan's beauty was unrivalled, and she had a habit of attracting unwanted attention to herself.

The waiter arrived with their orders, and they ate their meal.

After their meal, Susan said with a smile, "Why do you keep looking at me that way?"

Her adonis grinned. "I'm sorry. I hope it doesn't make you uncomfortable?"

She slightly shook her head. "No," she said.

"It's just, I'm finding it hard to take my eyes off you."

"We've been seeing each other for two days. Surely, by now, you should have gotten used to it."

"And that's the thing. Not a beauty like yours. It looks so surreal, it feels like this is all a dream."

"If it were a dream, would you like to wake up?" she asked.

He shook his head. "No. Not ever."

"Maybe, you're dreaming."

"Are you real?"

Susan smiled. "Yes."

"Good. That's good to know. So if this is a dream, when I wake up, I'll find you."

Susan laughed.

"What's your name in the real world?" he asked.

"Susan Hill," she said.

"And I am-"

"I already know your name."

He asked her, and she told him, along with his surname.

He squinted his gaze at her. "This is odd. You seem to know quite a lot about me, and I barely know a thing about you. Why is that?" He feigned a gasp with a hand to his mouth. "Are you stalking me?"

Susan as usual simply smiled, and said, "You won't believe me if I told you."

He made a head gesture. "Try me," he said.

"Okay," she said. "I am a bloodstone, one actually made from blood, and my heart is a heart of stone. I move at the speed of light, I can split my being into different personalities, and I am a killer. I can kill anyone, it matters not where they are; public, or secret, and even with cameras recording. However, when I leave, every image of me; in the minds of witnesses, and those caught on cameras would be erased. When I kill, I get stronger, and I can call nature at will to fight on my behalf."

After he heard all this, the man with Susan burst into wild laughter, people within the Gold Lounge looked their way.

"That was a good one," he said. "Didn't know you were this humorous. What else? You fly too?"

Susan grinned. "I can move with lightning. Not fly per se." Her smile vanished as she looked to the table surface. "However, I understand love quite well. I am a creature of love," she said, looking up to meet his gaze, for he too now wore a serious stare, "and when I love, I love with every bit of myself. I can't hate evil or good. I can tell the difference, and usually, I run from good, and I'm very much attracted to evil to love it."

"In other words, you like bad boys," he said.

Susan nodded. "I sure do. It's very easy to love them. Loving them comes easy, or cheap, but in the end, it's usually always expensive."

"Who gets to pay?"

"They do. You see, my mother cursed me. I sort of challenged her during an argument, and she cursed me. While my sisters have the blood of our ancestors coursing through their veins, I have to create avenues to keep mine alive."

"And how do you do that?" he asked.

"I kill those I love."

He smiled. "Back to that."

"I wasn't lying the first time," Susan said.

"What makes you think you're a killer?"

Susan slightly shook her head. "I just know that I am one."

He arched a brow. "Well, you don't look like one." Wish you really knew who I was, he said in his mind.

Susan heard him. Both the words of his mouth, and the words of his mind.

She looked down at the table. "I forgot to add."

"What?" he asked.

Her gaze lifted to meet his. "I read minds too."

He smiled.

"And I know who you really are," she said, noting his smile that was to her like a smudge on his face began to disperse, then she grinned, giving him the Devil's stare.

Before he could say the next set of words, Susan moved to kiss him, her hand caressed his hair, their lips played with each other.

Crack.

Her adonis stopped kissing her, cries erupted from all parts of the restaurant, everyone went into a frenzy. Susan broke off the kiss, and looked to the head of her lover whose hair she held firmly in her grasp, and smiled.

What's with the commotion, she thought. You all would surely forget.

"I told you I knew who you were," Susan said to the head, while the headless body just sat resolutely on the chair, blood sipping out of where the head used to sit.

Susan flung the head across the restaurant, she walked out into the cold night, and in everyone's recollection, including the memory of the cameras, there was no record she was there, for all traces of her did erase.

She loved him. And it was for who he was that she did.

She would find more people to kill. But first, she would have to love them.

"There's a killer on the loose in our city," Susan heard a radio presenter say from a distant radio, she tuned down her hearing and focused on the newspaper she was reading by a roadside cafe.

So far, there was nothing on her last night's victim, maybe an investigation was yet to be carried out, or he hadn't been discovered, she closed the newspaper and added it to the pile of other newspapers on the table before her.

Susan took up her cup of coffee, sipped from it, a dark aura settled about her, she looked up to the sky, and adjusted her dark shades. Shaking her head, she briefly looked at both ends of the busy street, briefly noted the faces of the people moving on both sidewalks, and like a magnetic pull, her glance moved across the road to the newsstand that had sold her these bunch of newspapers, and she saw her sister standing right next to it.

"Janice!" Susan said.

In a flash, with the speed of light, Janice was standing before her.

Susan met her sister's gaze, Janice smiled down at her.

"Hello, sister. I see you've been busy," Janice said, and moved to sit in the empty seat on the other side of the table.

"Good morning, sister," Susan said, took her cup of coffee from the table, and sipped from it. "What are you doing in High Town city?"

"The culture, art, civilization, technology." Janice briefly looked around, a female waiter came by their table, her gaze rested on her. "I miss seeing this many people."

"What would you be having?" the waiter asked.

"Beatrice!" Janice said the name inscribed on a blue rectangular crest pinned to the waiter's pink uniform.

The waiter looked at Janice whose gaze left her breast pocket to meet hers.

"I'll be having blo-"

"Tea," Susan interrupted her sister. "She'll be having tea. Or a cup of coffee just like mine. And I'll need a refill. I'm almost done with this." She gestured to her cup.

Beatrice flashed Susan a smile and left to attend to their order.

"Are you insane?" Janice asked. "Mother said to always state your intentions before carrying them out."

Susan sighed, and removed her dark shades to reveal her deadly reddish-brown eyes. "I have a curse, sister. It doesn't mean I'll have to see all humans as threats. Frankly, love is my punishment, and I've been trying lately to limit who I fall in love with. So, stating intentions or not, that's not my problem. Besides, for someone like me, you'll already be dead before stating your intentions. Why not just do it?"

Janice chuckled and leaned back against her chair. "You know, the more you resist what you are, the more likely you'll feel the needful desire and hunger to kill, or should I say, love. You're beautiful, attractive, smart, intelligent, with amazing features, literally everything a guy would need. Once they come to you, you're bound to love them, and then end them."

"Well, at least, I know what I am. You, mind how you request for death in public. That waiter would have pretty much understood you, and you can be almost certain that I won't let you kill her."

"Why ever not? She means nothing to you."

"It's as you said, sister. I don't give a damn about her, meaning I don't love her, or care about her, and the sun won't settle, neither would it be able to tell mother what kind of dark deeds would have transpired here today should you take that course of action."

Janice squinted her gaze. "Are you threatening me?"

"It's a word of caution."

Beatrice arrived with their order, Susan read her sister's deadly intentions quite clearly. Janice was going to kill the waiter, and there would be no saving her after that.

With Susan's will, she turned the tray in Beatrice's hand, the jug of coffee tilted, soiling Beatrice's pink uniform as she lost her balance in her attempt to catch it, the empty ceramic cup in the tray wobbled, fell off, and with a crash...it shattered right next to Janice's feet.

"Apologies," Beatrice said, and stooped down to pick up the pieces. "That's so clumsy of me."

Janice fixed her sister with an angry stare. "I still can do it," she said.

"At least, you'll have the attention of everyone when you do," Susan said, a gleaming dagger appeared on her lap. "Mainly, you'll have mother to answer to for this mindless deed. That's if I've not reaped you in half by then." She squinted her gaze. "Think that's a good idea. Reaping you in half. Would give me the window of opportunity to return you home to mother, and only heaven knows what untold deed I could do. I too I'm curious to know what it will be."

Janice turned to the waiter. "Beatrice!"

Beatrice paused what she was doing and looked at her. "I'm sorry, madam. I'll get a rag to wipe your shoes."

"No need." Janice swung her arm, hoping to slice Beatrice's throat, but Susan was faster.

In a blur, with brisk unseen movements, the dagger that had materialized in Susan's lap went through Janice's hands and pinned them to the table, and still, in the halt of time, Susan set the bunch of newspaper next to her sister's hand and opened its broad page which concealed Janice's bleeding hands.

"Now," Susan said as time unfroze, she leaned back against her chair. "Where were we? Yes. Thank you, Beatrice." She looked at the waiter, and smiled at her.

Beatrice who had been too slow to see a thing, only thought she'd seen Janice briskly raise her hand, then adjust the same time to hide both hands under the pages of a newspaper in an awkward fashion, she took to her feet, and left to deal with the rage of her manager, for he had been giving her the Devil's stare all the way from the entrance.

Shortly after Beatrice left, the muffled shout of a man was heard from inside, but it was too loud for Susan and Janice, they tuned down their hearing.

Susan looked at her sister, and knew Janice wasn't strong enough to take out the blade. No will of hers could for Susan's was stronger.

Janice winced in pain, Susan smiled.

"We don't know when we were born, sister," Susan said. "But we know what we are. You've always had the mindset, the presumption that you are older than I am, but I've passed through a lot, and that, dear sister is what makes me stronger. You live within an ocean of blood, drinking from it all day, I feed on the veins of life itself. Never assume you'll ever have the upper hand. I could destroy you in a second. But for now, I'll spare your life."

"How are you doing this?" Janice wore a look of worry on her face. "Mother said the ocean of blood made us stronger."

Susan grinned. "Mother lied. I'm able to defeat you because I don't hate you. I love you. That, dear sister is terrifying, for my love is death itself."

The dagger vanished, Janice retracted her hands from behind the newspaper with her mouth slightly parted, the broad page of the newspaper closed without a hand touching it, she rubbed her wounded hands which then healed.

"Next time," Susan said, "I won't be too merciful." She took to her feet.

"What are you going to do?" Shear fear was written all over Janice's face.

"To fall in love with Beatrice's manager." Susan went inside the cafe.

Beatrice's manager was still shouting and hailing insults at her in the kitchen, Susan came in through the wall, no one saw her. She saw as Beatrice's colleagues watched, unable to do a thing, she took two steps forward.

The manager turned. "Everyone, back to work."

They all moved.

The manager noticed Susan. "You, what are you doing back here?"

"Waiting for you, sir," Susan said.

The manager looked at her and noted she had a beautiful smile. He gave a single nod and turned to face Beatrice. "You, you know what you're supposed to do if you're to keep working here. Now, excuse us."

Beatrice's head fell, she walked away.

The manager turned to Susan. "How may I help you, miss..."

"No need to know my name. I think you're handsome, and I wish to get down with you."

A painful frown disappeared from the manager's face, surprise graced it, then a smile appeared, and he said, "Let me go to my office. I'll be with you in five minutes."

The manager moved, Susan split herself into two.

Susan turned to her other identical self. "Follow him, and do all he asks of you. Be nice to him, till I return."

Then Susan moved to sort Beatrice out in the bathroom. She found her crying before a mirror, and she was trying to wipe the stains off her uniform.

"I know what he wants you to do," Susan said.

Beatrice turned to notice her, and briskly wiped her eyes. "Sorry, miss. I didn't notice you. I was just finishing up."

Susan got closer, placed a hand on her shoulder. "Look at me."

Beatrice, reluctant, made a slow turn to face her.

Susan examined her for a second, she had to remind herself that she hated her, else, she would impale her in this bathroom now the temptation was high. She placed Beatrice's head on her shoulder, and held her close.

"Do not sort him out tonight, or any other night ever again," Susan said.

Beatrice retracted her head. "I have a criminal record. It would be difficult finding another job. I have to keep this job."

"Just trust me. You won't be getting pregnant for him anymore, neither would he be telling you to abort any more babies."

"How did you-"

"I know things. In fact, how would you like to run this place?"

This made Beatrice smile.

She was beautiful, Susan noted. Not like her anyway. Hers was more surreal, and cloaked with wickedness, and deadly intent.

"I could never," Beatrice said. "Not even if I dreamed of it. Life really isn't what it should be with me. And if I should go back, considering how I grew up, I'll still be making the same mistakes. My father used to sleep with me, too. So, I can't say it's a life I can run from. It's amazing I can still get pregnant, even after my countless abortions."

Susan sighed. "I could fix that. How would you like to leave your toxic neighbourhood to come live with me? I could take care of you."

"There's this guy I stay with. I couldn't even suggest it to him."

"Let me worry about that. Now, pull off your uniform. Let me get those cleaned off."

Beatrice did as Susan instructed, Susan took notes of the purple bruises all over her body.

Susan was tempted to ask who did those, but she already knew. No point to ask and wait for an explanation. No, there was no point at all.

Susan took the uniform from Beatrice, she turned and walked up to the tap. She put on the tap, but didn't put the cloth in the water. What she did was look at the uniform and run her hands through the stains which disappeared. She turned off the tap, moved her body to face Beatrice, she handed her the uniform.

"How did you-"

"Old family trick," Susan said. "I couldn't tell you even if I wanted to. Just know my mom taught me well."

Beatrice smiled. "Thanks. It's so clean and dry, like you didn't put it in the water."

Susan smiled and watched her get into the uniform. "Are you sure you want to keep working here?"

"I really don't have a choice."

"What if you do get to choose?"

"I think I'll like to have a coffee shop."

Beatrice thanked her once more, and turned to leave.

Susan watched her walk out of the bathroom, then she disappeared.

Beatrice's manager had been driving with a duplicate of Susan without knowing. Not that he could anyway.

"My place is just around the corner," he said, and turned the steering, the car rode left into Lang Street, moved a bit forward, then parked between a line of cars parked before a row of houses.

"I see no need why we have to go all the way in when we could just do it here in the car," Susan said looking at the house, then she turned her head and settled her gaze on him.

The manager smiled. "I see what you mean love, but there's enough privacy in-"

Susan kissed him. "Leave the car running, with the air-conditioning on. That way, we won't sweat." Again, she kissed him.

The manager, before surrendering his gaze to her wild kiss noted that the street was quite empty, and his car well concealed between cars, he broke the kiss and moved to the back seat which had tinted glasses.

Susan smiled at him and joined him at the back. She helped him undress, and stroke his hard bulging need, she then put him in her mouth.

He looked up and moaned, the wetness and warmth of her mouth drew him a bit closer to the edge.

She removed her mouth around him, her hands took him and gently fondled him.

"I'm gonna...I'm gonna-" the manager said.

And just as his seed spilled from him, razor-sharp nails sliced deep through his neck, causing his lifeblood to spill all over, a look of surprise graced his face as his hand went for his neck in an attempt to enclose it, so maybe he could scream, but no, he couldn't.

Susan drew back and watched him choke, she looked down and smiled at his need.

"I wanted to do this at the cafe, but nosy police officers and their investigation would have closed it down," Susan said, "plus, I really like that place and the workers you keep there. Sad of you being unfair to them."

The manager fell sideways, unable to breathe, his eyes wide with shock, fear played around him at the sight and warmth of his own blood.

"Not that I care, but that's for all the dead unborn babies you've ordered killed," Susan said. "See it like this. They ordered an unseen hit on you, one I gladly accepted. Or if that doesn't fit, see this as a sentence."

Life left him, Susan noted his body did turn cold, then she vanished into thin air like she was never there.