Seeds of Corruption

Chapter 4 - Monsterous adjustments

Alice was pulled from her sleep by the shrill ringing of her phone. Opening her eyes made her realise just how much her head was throbbing. Bleary eyed she reached over grabbing her phone from the side and saw it was Julia's name, she debated declining the call but figured it would just ring again.

Alice answered the phone holding it tentatively to her ear as she all but whispered. "Hello?"

"Did I wake you? When did you end up getting to bed?" Julia's voice came through far louder than Alice anticipated.

"I don't know, maybe about five? My head is killing me though, what's up?"

"Sorry it's two so figured you would be up. How did last night go, you found out what you needed too?"Julia spoke gentler but just as loud. Alice huffed a laugh as the events of last night slowly filtered back to her.

"Yeah I did, I don't need to tell you what I was told though, do I?" Alice said sardonically.

"Sorry about that, I really felt like it wasn't my place to tell you ya know?"

Alice had already thought about this last night walking home, should she have felt betrayed that her friend didn't let her in on what was happening to her? Maybe. But she also recognised that without Levash's history lesson and sincerity she probably would have gone completely off the deep end had she found out sooner. "It's alright, thanks for pushing me to go regardless, Chris was dead set against it and without your encouragement, I probably would have flaked." Alice heard Julia let out a relieved sigh in response, it would make her feel better to believe it was in relief.

"So what happened? You texted me pretty late in the end, how did it go? What is going to happen now? Can he stop it?" In response Alice gave Julia a rundown of how the night went, aside from the history lesson, and the reservoir.

"Jesus." Was Julias only comment.

Alice laughed. "Actually quite the opposite."

"Ha, ha." She could practically hear Julia roll her eyes. "So, what happened when you got back?"

"Two things, one I kinda freaked out at Christina and she locked herself in her room." Alice waited for the reproach but Julia spoke at the same level in response.

"Okay. What else?"

"I started growing horns."

"Fuck. What are they like?"

Alice considered Julias question, having all but avoided them since they appeared. Sne slowly reached up feeling for them, her hands wrapped around them and they had grown considerably through the night, she guessed they might have been about five inches long and had started to curl around the top of her head growing backwards. She was slightly more shocked to realise they felt quite sensitive. As her fingers rubbed up and down the smooth ridges on the horn it felt. Weird? "They're horns? And they're growing fast, which I guess is good because they seem to have bled over most of my bed in my sleep.

"Welcome to womanhood." The joke forced a loud laugh from Alice, quickly making her wince at the pain. "Anything else this morning?"

That was the million pound question. Slowly getting out of bed, Alice trudged into the bathroom for her daily checkup.

"Okay so, horns are horns, my face is covered in streaks of blood which is very Carrie but sadly halloween has passed." Pausing to take stock of herself. "Face is the same as yesterday, minus bags, guess feeding has given me energy like he said it would." Looking down her body seemed, maybe more curvier? It was hard to tell from sight, maybe she should start measuring each morning. "Body looks fine, or well nothing new. Touch wood, that's all for today."

"Okay well in that case, get a shower and clean off all the blood, get dressed I'm on my way over." Julia said definitively.

"You don't need to do that, I'll be fine, I'm going to try and avoid leaving the house today, hell my room even if I can help it." In response though, Julias tone became considerably more serious in an instant.

"I'm not coming round for you, Christinas already called me in tears, you terrified her last night. We need to talk." The line cut off after that, Alice just staring at the wallpaper on her now silent phone.

"Just stay calm, that's all I need to do."

---

The shower had revealed no new changes except that she had slept funny last night and her lower back had an awful twinge in it. Sucking it up she continued getting ready and just as she finished throwing on a white sundress she heard the front door go, soon after followed by Christinas door opening as well. A familiar chill shot up Alice's spine before she could leave.

"If you need to remove yourself from the situation at any point do so, do not be forced to stay by some dog. Your control is more important right now than a human's feelings." The voice rang in her mind. Well, the sentiment was in the right place, all Alice had to do was ignore the voice's casual disregard for, well just about everyone else.

Entering the living room she found both girls sat on the sofa together, Christina looking much the same as she had last night.

Julia spoke up for the pair. "Please take a seat Alice."

Alice laughed trying to break the tension in the room.

"Why do I feel like I'm on dateline?" Neither of the other parties found her joke funny. Sitting, Alice waited for either of them to start the conversation. Christina surprisingly was the one to break the silence.

"Tell me that what happened last night won't happen again."

"Levash told me--" Alice was quickly interrupted before she could finish.

"I don't care what the Demon said, I want you to tell me that you blowing up at me last night won't happen again." Christina insisted. Alice couldn't gauge Julias position in this, she had been cold at the end of the phone but had still checked in on her first. Christina seemed nervous as Alice hesitated before responding

"Me shouting back at you was a heat of the moment thing, a lot happened last night, I found out a lot. You jumping down my throat kind of rocked me when I was already very, shaken. I have been told that our -- Demons' tempers are more volatile while they -- we are changing, but that can be controlled still." Alice thought for a second and then added. "I've been advised that in stressful situations it would be best to remove myself if I feel overwhelmed. I think that would be good advice to follow to avoid it happening again." Julia looked back to Christina but didn't jump to add a comment waiting for the brunette to respond.

"Would it be better if one of us moved out while this is going on?" Alice's eyes went wide, they had both lived together since they started University, they had lived next to each other growing up, basically never being apart.

"No. No I mean, it was one time and it won't happen again, I think. Regardless I won't let it get that bad Chris, I was just so, so out of it and. It doesn't justify it but--" Alice trailed off seeing Chris was deep in thought and as the seconds ticked by Alice grew more uncertain while sat in limbo, the idea that on top of everything else her transformation would scare off her closest friend. Julia broke the silence, speaking up.

"Weres can have quite a temper Alice, we have to learn to control our anger growing up, having it thrust on you now, I can imagine would be a lot. If it would help we could talk about the ways I control myself." Alice nodded as she ignored the voice in her head.

"Whatever breathing exercises they teach each of the little pups won't change anything for us. Whatever they feel, whatever you felt as a 'human' is nothing compared to the fire you felt last night in your veins, how can it be? They can only commit sin, wrath. We are sin incarnate." Alice took a deep breath before responding to Julia.

"I'd like that a lot, please." Christina finally spoke up and put Alice out of her misery.

"Julia has already offered to let me stay at hers if I need to, but I don't want to. Alice I'm sorry I blew up last night, I know it was a lot for you, but I was freaking out all night and I just couldn't help thinking that, maybe you were just being manipulated like, like I had." Alice noted the first tear start to well on Christina's face and without hesitation she moved across the room embracing the girl who all but collapsed in her arms. Julia looked ready to intervene before noticing Christina holding on tightly back.

"I'm so sorry for scaring you, or for making you think about that arsehole again. I promise it won't happen again." Alice consoled as both girls stayed together for a moment, Chris's tears staining through Alice's dress before she pulled away. Wiping her eyes on her sleeve Chris sat back and gave a weak smile that gave Alice far more relief than she could have ever imagined.

Julia stood with a clap.

"Well one issue has been resolved. Alice, don't slip up again. Chris, don't poke the bear." Both girls nodded as Julia continued. "Second item on the agenda though, the show starts on Wednesday, and Alice is very clearly not human anymore. Now not the biggest issue, we just need to get you new ID's to show you're a Demon and we can get your contract updated and all be set to go, right Chris?"

Chris sat still, her eyes getting wider. "Oh shit.." Alice faintly heard Christina mumble as her eyes darted between the two but Julia seemed just as confused as her.

"That's not reassuring Chris, does it take a while to get a new contract? Why do I even need a new contract anyway, I'm still me." Alice questioned growing more concerned. Julia spoke first, shaking her head.

"Not in the eyes of the state. It's odd, like not many groups can actually make a supe out of a human, yeah? But like with vampires, and the few Were creatures that can turn more, the state treats it as if the human died, so effectively all contracts you had are null and void, your items are divvied out as inheritance etcetera. The only reason the council isn't pushing to repeal it is the vamps are having a bit of a population issue, everyone wants to be immortal right? So like The Council's idea is let your assets be stripped when you're turned to stop the rich just buying immortality."

Alice just looked at her dumbly. "But I'm not a vampire, I didn't die or anything. Why would they do it like that?"

Julia just shrugged again, looking slightly more exacerbated. "Supes, us. The state isn't exactly tripping over itself to get our rights in check. For as much as the little hate groups think we're taking over, everything is made as difficult as possible for us. FYI, make sure your next of kin is trustworthy or they can just keep your money."

"Are you joking?"

"Sadly not, prepare to pay inheritance, and gift tax when they send you your own money back. It'll really make you appreciate paying for all the public services that aren't available to you by the way." Julia said as Christina continued to silently think.

"What do you mean they aren't available?"

Julia's laugh echoed in the room almost startling the concentrated brunette next to her. "You've never watched any of the debates on the news have ya?"

"Not since I was a child anyway." Alice shook her head as she responded.

"Well in which case, enjoy not being entitled to any form of benefits, pension, schooling or healthcare as the Gov decided The Council should be providing all that, they didn't decide to reduce our tax bill so we can pay it into The Council instead though. And don't even get me started on the police, what a joke. But hey, at least your student loans will be cleared."

The entire time the pair had been speaking Christina had been sitting working through something in her head and finally decided to speak up.

"Alice, did the Demon tell you if you can hide your horns?" Surprised at Chris finally speaking up, Alice thought back to the previous night.

"Not exactly me but he said we can, Succubi and Incubi can change forms, and he never has any of his demonic features on show so I guess why?"

Chris looked at her, her eyes already full of pity. "You know all the meetings and late nights I've been having?"

"Sure?--" Alice spoke again, feeling tension and anxiety pool in her stomach.

"We, the theatre, are being sued for discrimination. The new showrunner, in her infinite wisdom, decided she wanted no one visibly supernatural as part of the performance, saying it was too distracting. We rejected a siren from joining and she sued us." Christina rushed out towards the end as Julia grew more outraged and Alice sank into the sofa processing what this meant.

"Are you joking? Visibly supernatural? She's fucking Undead! I'm sorry I've seen the old corpse and you'd think she's just been rolled in off the gurney. She's so obvious." Julia shouted as she rose, Chris shrugged before Julia's eyes locked onto hers and narrowed. "Wait, you've been in on it, you're helping the theatre defend itself?" Chris clearly shocked to be in the crossfire stammered out.

"Well I mean, it's all our legal team not me, I've just been consulted to get information from when she's worked with us in the past."

"So providing them the ammo to say she's shit and it's not discrimination then? What the actual fuck Chris?" Julia all but shouted only being interrupted as Alice stood up her hands out in front of her as she tried to control the storm raging within.

"Look, I can talk to Levash, see how I hide them and then just keep using my human ID's right Julia?" Alice questioned receiving a shrug from Julia in response before noticing Alice staring at her wanting more affirmation to which she nodded.

"Yeah plenty of supes don't report their status, barely any of us trust the government." Julia said offhandedly. Alice turned back to Chris who looked as overwhelmed as she had last night.

"What's the actual odds if I can't hide them that they can replace me in three days?"

Chris thought about it before responding. "We have one violinist that's on our books we could call, whether they can do it or not is another question. Also I'm not being biased when I say this but she doesn't hold a candle to you." Putting the plan together in her head Alice turned back to Julia.

"What did you tell management when I left yesterday?"

"Just that you were ill, why?"

"Good, then if I can't hide them I'll call in sick tomorrow and Monday, show up Tuesday and give them twenty four hours to call the replacement, I'm not giving them any more notice than that. No offence Chris." The brunette quickly shook her head.

"None taken, I obviously won't say anything." Alice stood as the other two waited in silence. The club wouldn't be open until eight tonight, so she had about five hours to wait to see Levash, okay make it six she didn't want to seem too needy.

"Right, I'm going to withdraw all my money from the bank, do either of you have a beanie to cover these?" Alice motioned to the horns.

Julia nodded. "Smart, I have one at home. I can meet you back here by half past if I leave now?" Alice did the maths in her head for how long it would take to get to the bank, closing at five she would have maybe twenty minutes in the branch to withdraw them today should she need to apply for a new ID tomorrow before work.

"Go now please, I won't have long to get it out today." Alice said, receiving a mock salute in response from Julia before she quickly made to leave the flat. "Chris, can you run to the chemist and get some bandages to wrap around the horns, I can't go into the bank looking like I'm in a vamp metal band."

"Yeah just let me get dressed and I'll run now. I, I am sorry about last night, if you say he's not doing anything malicious I'll believe you. Just please watch out for yourself." Alice nodded, going in for a quick hug with the girl.

"I'll watch out for the pair of us, no matter what we stick together right?" Chris nodded and the girls parted. Alice leaving for her room. Waiting to hear the front door shut as Chris left she realised she had about half an hour to do her part of the plan. Speaking aloud to herself, she spoke loudly and sternly.

"Right, I think we both need to talk." The shiver down her spine let her know she wasn't alone.

---

"I know you can hear me. You'll sit there making snide comments all day, well now's your chance, get whatever you want off your chest." Alice could feel the presence, she knew the owner of the voice was listening and yet she now sat in anticipation waiting for a response. Five minutes had passed since her original declaration and the presence never faded away as it usually did, but still no response came. Alice knew her time was running out, Chris would be back in the next half an hour at most, and she didn't particularly feel like sitting in her room talking to herself while her already once scared friend listened to her. Finally the voice spoke.

"You're not going to give up are you?" Alice practically sighed in relief.

"Not bloody likely I have questions. Most importantly, who are you?" The presence remained silent for a moment, Alice almost asked again thinking it had decided to ignore her again before answering.

"My name is Lilith."

"And who are you, why can I hear you?" Again the conversation paused, the voice clearly considering its words carefully.

"I am-- An ancestor of yours. I was also a powerful Demon, once. This is why you can hear me speak even now." It wasn't any more insane than anything else she had learned in the last week, but the idea that some dead ancestor was stuck in her head was, disconcerting. The idea that the ancestor in question was a Demon, was less than appealing.

"So, I'm. I'm assuming that it's being related to you that has caused, well all of this." Alice gestured to the horns on her head.

"The taint of my blood could not be diluted no matter how many generations pass. Once corruption and sin had entered your mortal body, I was able to manifest once again on your plane. I nurtured that corruption so that you would see your true potential." It took Alice a second to digest the words before she snapped back.

"So this is your fault then? Levash was right, him leaving should have starved the process." The voice responded more agitated now.

"This is no more my fault than the colour of your eyes. It's simply genetics, you descend from me, so we share common DNA. I know humans have become more learned in this topic in my absence so do not act as if it's a mystery to you."

"But if you hadn't done whatever you did, then it wouldn't have finished. I'd still be human."

"Incorrect, your body creating the pool from whence the corruption could grow was nothing to do with me. This isn't possible on Earth, your transformation was purely down to your genetics, and this corruption would not have died out in your body. You're very blood carries the taint of my existence. It would have fuelled it and completed your transformation without my assistance. I merely sped it up and ensured the more painful aspects of your transition would occur as you slept."

Alice thought back on the dreams, the first time she had heard the voice, the dreams all remained hazy, except for the last one. Thinking of it she remembered briefly, a vision of a statuesque woman, the feeling of fire burning something, the comfort and safety she felt.

"What did you do to me?" The voice sighed within her mind and when it spoke it sounded, exhausted.

"Nothing that was not destined to occur the second you allowed sin to manifest within you. What you felt on the night before you awoke hearing my voice was the last of your humanity being peeled away like a shell to reveal what is truly you within. Your companion was incorrect to refer to this as a transformation, as if what you are was caused by him or any other being in that club. You were not 'corrupted' to become a demon, you always were a demon, corruption merely made it possible to remove the human veneer you had been unknowingly trapped within." Alice was silent considering the words, none of it made any sense to her but the voice continued. "The process would have been vastly more painful had it occurred while you were aware, I have been pushing you along to ensure each of these changes happens while you rest where I can numb your mind. I wished to do the same with your physical changes, however your emotions last night spiked the energy within you causing it to start when I could not control it." Alice finally snapped back.