I stood upright by sheer will. I turned my face from Samael.
"What?" he hissed. "Am I too wretched to look at?"
I shivered, leaning against the wall, my back turned to him. Blood slicked the floor, necrotic black. Samael slithered towards me, tail cinching around my ankles.
"God didn't make us in your image," I whispered, voice cracking. I choked down sobs.
"Shannon..."
"No!" I looked at him, my eyes like open wounds. "I thought part of you was human. But you're not - none of you are!" I slumped to the floor, frantically smoothing my hair. "My god. My god. What have I sold my soul too!"
He sighed, sinking to my level. "You're right," he said. "I am not." His hair snaked across my brow. I recoiled. He was bare-chested, his robe of shadow now fused to his form in skins of serpent flesh. The gash across his heart shone in the feeble morning light.
He reached out a tentative hand. I flinched. "Are you scared?" he asked. I nodded yes.
