Cindy ducked her head under the hot water scrubbing furiously to remove the foul mess she had been left in. Physically, she felt fine, strong even, but withdrawn as if something were missing or being pulled away from her. Still nervous despite the collars sedating effect, she kept the shower curtain half drawn and the bathroom door open so she could watch the hall.
Her last walk through the house had found nothing out of sorts. The windows locked, doors firmly shut, everything the way it should be. But why did she feel like she was not alone?
Finally, feeling clean, she turned off the water, grabbing a towel and wrapping it tightly about her. In front of her mirror, the black collar was a stark contrast to her skin. Touching it gently, it felt dry despite the shower, the subtle vibration sickeningly comforting.
Stepping out to her bedroom, she quickly dressed, feeling the hair on the back of her covered neck and arms standing on end. Pulling on her jeans, she turned, falling on the bed with her legs tangled in her pants.
"No!" she yelled, expecting to see someone behind her. Wide eyed, she saw nothing but the wall. What was that? With a shudder, her bare back still felt the tracing of fading heat between her shoulders, like strange fingers caressing her.
Standing again, she quickly dressed before racing out of the room and the odd breath of heat following her. In the hall, she opened the closet door and grabbed a scarf. Back in the bathroom, she wrapped the scarf around the collar, trying to hide it.
As she draped the scarf over her shoulder, she noticed a faint glow in the reflection above her head behind her. Spinning in place, she felt the brush of warmth and watched the flash of eyes fading.
Breaking for the hallway at a run, she raced for the door. Panic stabbing her heart as the hall seems to stretch away, the suddenly heavy cold air dragging at her as the collar flexed.
"No, not again," she whimpered as she fought her way down the hall. Reaching the door, the sun faded in the window, a deepening chill enveloping her. Pushing against the weight bearing her down, arm stretching for the door now impossibly far away.
A breath of warmth caressed her ear, but she could not scream despite the need burning in her lungs. The collar growing warmer, the vibration increasing, as the constriction eased.
Two forms floated through the hall, closely watching. Attracted by the draw of the collar around the Cindy's neck, they approach hungrily. Twin sisters, witches from ages past, killed long ago by the people they tormented. One killed by flame, the other ice, a last curse empowering their return to haunt humanity. The sister of flame, always the first to touch, took her pleasure in teasing their victims. Edging them on as she built their passion, enflaming emotion while drawing their victims' strength.
The sister of ice, cold as the frozen water that took her life, driven by a hatred so powerful in her presence the stain lingered wherever they passed. Leave her sister the gentle teasing fanning the flames, for her the desire was to feed from fear as she crushed her victims.
"What is this?" Cindy whispered. Trying to turn her head to catch a better look at the red glow just on the edge of her vision.
"You don't know?"
The voice was so light she could barely make it out, drifts from the empty air, seductive in its emptiness. The air felt warm in its wake, a contrast to the chill pressing against her.
A glowing red outline shimmered into existence, hovering just to Cindy's side. The glow took form and Cindy could see the woman beside her. Long hair that fading to flickering flames revealing a gentle face with burning eyes. Afraid to speak or move, Cindy felt herself trembling as the apparition brought up a hand to caress her face.
The touch was soft as it traced her cheek to grasp her chin. Moving close, the vision's head turned slightly sideways, holding Cindy's eyes. The moment stretched forever as she felt the thing crawling through her mind, fiery strands rooting out her secrets, thoughts, everything about her.
"She doesn't know!" The fiery apparition laughed cruelly, shrilly, hand holding Cindy's head still. "But why would you? It's not like we explain things to our prey. Sad almost," she said mockingly, floating backwards as her fingers trailed away.
"She has the mark of ownership upon her. He has already claimed her."
Suddenly, icy hands grabbed Cindy, slamming her hard enough against the wall to knock the breath out of her. The vibration in the collar increased, the now familiar tingle spreading under the chill. A blue shape, identical to the red one, snapped into existence in front of her, the edges sharper than the other and painful to look upon. The apparition glared with a glow of hatred Cindy would never have felt possible. The silence oppressive as Cindy felt the icy hands scratching under her sweater, gentle yet feeling as if they were fighting the urge to rip her apart. Her belly tightened as the sweater rose to just under her breasts when, with a violent lurch, the blue apparition ripped the sweater from Cindy and hands cold as death drag sharp nails over the bare skin.
"Not just for you, sister," the other said softly, appearing by Cindy's side. "Let's sample this treat and be off for now. If it survives, we can return to claim the remains."
Warm lips took Cindy's ear to bite harshly while warm hands followed the cold to caress her body. The collar's vibration continues, drawing her will away and feeding from her fear, covering her in a feeling like static under their hands.
