Chapter Seven of Astrid the Devil (written by Trey Briggs with art by @freemechanism) has launched! See it at www.astridthedevil.com.
Here’s an excerpt for your face: (TW for violence)
I stared in the mirror. My reflection was speaking to me, it was touching my face, but I wasn’t moving.
“It’s just practice, Jukel. Just practice. I just want to get a feel for your body. It’s hard to navigate on land sometimes. If you stop trying to move it’ll go by quickly. Go to sleep.” My lips moved but I couldn’t figure out why. I wasn’t talking. I didn’t think I was talking.
I stared at myself until my vision blurred.
“It’s easier this time. Go to sleep Jukel. I just want to look around.” I nodded, at least I thought I did. Nothing was responding correctly. Chaunce walked up beside me, glancing over the counter to see me in the mirror.
“Not Daddy. Get out of his room.” I kept staring at myself. The sound of Chaunce’s voice was grating. I wasn’t here to talk to her.
“Not Daddy,” she stated plainly, pouting up at me. I turned and knelt down to look at her face-to-face.
“You’re too observant. Do you belong to my son as well?” Chaunce opened her mouth wide, letting her jaw crack, but I stuck my fingers deep into her throat, bending them until she gagged. I kept them there while she heaved against them. “That’s not necessary, brat. I’m just practicing. It’s not time.” I pulled them out slowly and she fell back, crying and coughing.
“You’ve been helpful to Eric in the past. I don’t need you. I’m tired of you now.” I pulled her over to the bathtub by her tiny foot. “You’re a weak one. Can you breathe underwater? Or are you bound to land like my useless children?”
“Stop it right now!” Chaunce choked. I tried. I really tried. Even as my hand turned the knob on the tub faucet, testing the water for temperature, I tried to let her foot go. I could see the freckled Mr. David standing in the position I’d just been in in the mirror, still my reflection somehow, watching with glee.
A small brown hand appeared suddenly, slow and careful, and turned the water off.
“Unc. Let go of her before I kill you.” My head turned and there was Moose, just a small boy holding a shotgun almost the size of his body. I felt myself laugh.
“What does that thing do, hybrid?”
“I can show you if you want to know.” He cocked it without taking his eyes off of me, unbothered by the size.
“A weapon, I’m guessing. You’ll kill the baby, too, won’t you?”
“Only one way to find out.” My hand let go and Chaunce scrambled over to Moose, still choking. They backed out of the bathroom, Moose’s holding the shotgun steady, and he closed the door.
I got back up and stared into the mirror.
“They’re not who you want, Jukel. We want the resource. The meal. We can kill them later. For now, let’s just practice. Let me have control.” I felt myself nod.
You can find more at astridthedevil.com. Thank you for your time!
