Damien got up from the chair at once and approached Tora, worry written all over his face.

"Is this about what's been happening recently?"

"You've noticed, huh."

"Given all that's been happening, I'm not sure which one you're referring to. Ross giving you hell lately, you and her falling off a roof, your little odd episodes... or something else?" he said in a dry voice, but Tora failed to even muster a smile.

"I don't even know." She sighed, running a hand through her fringe. "I don't feel like myself."

Damien waited for her to elaborate. She didn't know where to start. Images and emotions whirled through her mind like a tornado; sounds echoed in her ears but none made sense. Cyrus's face and voice, so familiar yet so alien, was there throughout, an eerily benevolent existence that chilled her to the core.

An icy finger touched her temple and she jumped, her eyes flying open. Damien dropped his hand.

"What?" she whispered.

Damien shook his head, blinking.

"No, I must be imagining things..."

Tora's heart skipped a beat. Had he realised with just a touch what she really was?

Tora glanced up the stairs.

"Ross is yelling at Carlos."

She took a deep breath and met his eyes again.

"Things are bad. I... I..." She faltered, staring with crossed eyes at the ground. Her mind was a storm of emotions, colliding like bumper cars. Words faded away on her lips.

"Let me try again." Damien held up his fingers against his temple. His other hand reached to touch Tora's forehead. She flinched at his icy fingers.

A chill trickled into her mind. Damien didn't go far; just to gauge the surface of her thoughts. Calmness settled over the chaos. She eased a breath out, her eyelids fluttering. The storm slowed. Memories leaked out. Scenes started to play.

She relaxed some more. The images came into focus.

She was on the hospital roof again

"Don't forget your promise," said Cyrus.

She was falling.

The desperation as she plunged to her doom was becoming dimmer and she found herself watching the scene from a calmer perspective.

Her hand stretched in front. The flesh bubbled and darkened. The fine hairs dissolved, becoming smooth and thick. Her short, bitten nails lengthened, becoming yellowed and curved, deadly and sharp. Her dark brown hair rippled, turning golden like the energy flowing through her. Hitting the ground with a crunch that resembled an egg hitting concrete, the resonating sound made her wince and then shudder.

The figure lying on the parking lot wasn't human. Her point of view slid back, revealing a creature with smooth leathery skin clad in a tattered and stained t-shirt. Strong muscle bulged beneath the surface. Its ponytail was long and thick, exploding from the hairband, resembling a handful of wheat. Animalistic gurgles emanated from it as it struggled to breathe through numerous fractured bones.

The vision faded. The next thing that came into view was the same golden-haired, dark-skinned creature dressed in Tora's clothing, sinking its teeth into a human man's neck. The scream from him was weak, as though they were listening through water. The blood splashed all over the man and monster.

Gleeful growls floated through the minimally-lit air. Then the monster let go. The man fell in a heap, stuttering nonsense.

Damien's cool mind pressed further against hers.

As if sensing his presence, the creature looked up. Golden eyes with black vertically slit pupils stared back, devoid of humanity and emotions.

With a gasp, Damien tore the connection between them, panting. Cold sweat trickled down his face. Tora leant against the wall, heaving with each breath. Her mind spun like a caught prey in cobweb, the images still vivid in her mind.

Mute, she rose her eyes. His bewildered green eyes indicated he knew little more than she did. He clutched the doorframe to the laundry room, shell-shocked.

"What's going on?" he whispered.

"You tell me." Her attempt at humour sounded false even to her own ears.

"Does Markl...?"

"Hell no."

"He has to know."

"I know." Her voice trembled a little.

Damien reached out and clasped her hands. A shiver coursed through his little body.

"Things are changing."

"In me?"

"Everything. There's a storm brewing." His eyes glimmered. "I can feel it."

And once again, Tora knew he wasn't just talking about her transformation.

"You need to be strong. There's something unsettling there."

He knew.

Damien's eyes flicked up at her. Her heart skipped a beat, but it was sincerity, not accusation, and it calmed the storm.

Two years. Two years of memories was all she had, and she knew nothing of herself before that. What she did. Who she was. What she was.

It seemed she was about to find out.

And despite all the uncertainties, Markl always welcomed her with open arms.

I believe in you.

And Damien. And Carlos. She couldn't let them down. Even Ross.

"That means a lot," she said with a small smile.

Hey, you were there for me when I was in a rotten place. It's only fair I repay the favour. What are friends for?

I wish I could tell you, but I can't even...

It'll be okay, Tora.

I don't want to hurt anyone.

I know. Tell Markl. We can sort it out. Together.

"We need to go!" Markl barked from the door. Damien squeezed Tora's hand and turned to go.

It was as though her consciousness floated above her body, leaving her on autopilot for the entire journey as she scouted out the shopping centre and its security cameras. Evacuating this place during the day would be just a little bit of a nightmare on sticks.

It was just a typical weekend morning. Small families wandered around carrying shopping bags. Young teens bounced around in the latest trends, their curls bobbing and squealing at the posters of hot celebrities. Sweet old couples shuffled by at their own paces, talking in low voices. Tora's usual demon-detecting intuition went out of action, her mind occupied with what she had seen with Damien's mind. Did that mean she wasn't really human? She was reminded of when she'd seen her own reflection ripple in the bathroom mirror. It was the same smooth leather-like face with the golden eyes.

I guess it wasn't a trick of the eye, after all.

"And me?" Tora awaited her orders as Damien slipped to the security room to disable the cameras and replace the guards' memories.

Markl hesitated, his dark eyes meeting hers.

"You stay with me and scout out the main exits. I'll need you to seal them after we get all the humans out."

"I can do that myself."

"No, I want you to come with me."

"What's going on, Markl?" She followed him when he marched on ahead, brushing past the groups of giggling girls who threw him flirtatious looks and whispered amongst themselves as they came out of the nearby boutique.

"I need to talk to you."

"You could find a better time when there aren't human lives at stake," Tora replied, glancing at a hideous low-cut cropped top and shorts combo on a plastic model, where the shorts were so tiny that butt cheeks would no doubt be hanging out by miles on a real person.

"No time like the present."

Tora sighed.

"That demon, Cyrus – has he been in contact with you since that hospital break?"

"I told you: I would let you know if he had."

"Any more information about him or about these recent breakthroughs?"

She thought about the images Damien replayed to her and about the attack on the man during her run.

"I attacked a man when I went out last night."

She kept her eyes locked on the large red 'SALE: up to 80% off' sigh on one of the large windows on the floor above. Markl stopped, using both hands to grip the metal barrier that went around the balcony. His face turned towards the fountain in the middle of the bottom floor. Tora eased out a breath. The silence was comforting: no rush for more details, no judgement passed.

"I think I'm losing control of who I... who I am. I didn't want to attack the guy. I was just running, and this creep came up to me and I just wanted to tell him to piss off." She frowned, trying to make her fuzzy brain engage. "And the next thing I remember is half the guy's blood on my face and he was screaming like a little girl. And it was me. I did that to him."

She snuck a look at him. His thick brows were knitted beneath his curly dark hair, a look of utmost concentration on his face. His fingers were interlaced beneath his chin, his elbows resting on the metal handrail.

"I don't know if that has anything to do with demons or Cyrus, but it's really screwing with me. I..." I don't know what to do, was what she wanted to say, but couldn't get the words out. "It doesn't help that I still don't know what the hell I am. Could be alien, for all I know."

Markl's mouth twitched.

"We'll sort it out," he said, still evidently deep in thought. "I'm glad you told me."

"Well, it's not like I was going to tell Ross."

"Ross will have to know."

"It'll be nice if she doesn't want to skin me when she knows, though."

"She's got a mind of her own, but she's got good intuition."

"Yeah, well, her intuition is probably saying 'Go kill that mouthy little witch'."

"Ross does what she thinks is best for the group. You know that."

Tora snorted.

"I know you're not best of friends with her, but her way works, and I trust her."

"But she doesn't trust me!"

Markl's jaws clenched.

"We'll have a discussion about that. Ross can be a bit... stubborn. But I know you mean no harm," he said with a small smile. Tora's nerves eased somewhat. Markl always understood. "We've survived two years together – what's to say we can't survive another two or more? You're a feisty wotsit, but you've a good heart. I think you just give yourself too touch a time sometimes. You'll never hurt us – willingly, anyway."

If only you knew, she thought, thinking of the glee she felt when hot blood gushed over her mouth. A moment of indiscretion?

Yeah, I didn't know what came over me, Markl! I accidentally chomped this guy's neck and liked it. I wouldn't do it again, I swear! Oh, whilst I'm at it, I also accidentally ripped off Ross's head and ate her bowels. she mocked herself, sighing.

Disabled, said Damien telepathically. Markl's head jerked up. Tora followed his gaze. Ross – illusion or real, it was hard to tell – was looking down from two storeys above. Ross nodded. Markl cleared his throat and pushed himself back. Tora came back to reality. Oh, the cameras.

"Let's get the party started," said Carlos from nearby, cracking his knuckles. Tora flexed her fingers, feeling uneasy. The heaviness of demons in the air got stronger.

Glass splintered from the fire alarm nearby. All at once, a cacophony of warning sounds blared, bouncing off the windows and walls.

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