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Cerberus

Chapter 4: Mating Rituals

Sneak Peek

***Cerberus***

The hellhound snarled as he paced the streets, his massive boots smacking the pavement as he huffed and snarled. No little bitch was going to keep him tied down, not like this. He needed to ditch this chain before HE found out. If he knew about this kind of weakness, it would only be a matter of time before he strikes.

Flames licked at Cerberus' lips as he silently snarled, keeping his hands in his vest jacket pockets. He didn't care if the magic leaked out. Not like anyone could really see him unless he willed it. Simple cloaking spell he got from…

“No…" Cerberus gripped his gold chain, the crown that read “KING" on one side. He flipped it over to look at the intricate runes etched on its back. “They wouldn't help me twice, would they?"

Cerberus pondered things for a moment. He either had to deal with him, or them. He wanted to slice him from dick to lips, they only hated him for what he did to their mother. Not like they were known for holding a grudge, those vindictive bitches. Enough time has passed though…right?

“Hopefully my leash is long enough," Cerberus scratched at his neck where he felt the runes demanding his obedience to the pact. Cerberus stumbled as he bumped into someone.

“Yo tall ass! Watch it!" Some meerkat shot at him. “Don't go disrespecting our turf-"

Cerberus snapped, his hand coming down to grip the five foot little shit by the neck and slamming him so hard against the brick wall that his claws sank into the brick.

“You really don't want to fuck with me today," Cerberus snarled. “I've had the worst week so far, and I'm not in the mood to deal with filthy street trash that thinks it's tough shit!"

Bang!

Cerberus felt a tickle on his chest. His head snapped to look at a group of random guys, all of them wearing the same green bandana in one fashion or another, same as the meerkat's headband. In the hands of a tall, lanky buck was a smoking gun.

“Did you just fucking shoot at-"

The alleyway filled with the sound of that buck emptying his clip at the hellhound, the bullets nothing more than annoying slaps against his skin. The last one ricochet off his brow and landed in the meerkat's arm reducing him into nothing but a screaming mess. Cerberus just gripped the meerkat's neck until he heard a wet crack, the screams stopping as he let the limp body of the punk fall to the ground.

“You fucking done?" Cerberus snarled as he took a step towards the buck and his punk posse. “Cuz I think it's my turn," The hellhound cracked his neck once, then twice, on the second crack demonic horns flashed into existence, burning with blue flames.

They all whipped out their guns and started shooting like mad. Mismatched bullets flying through the alleyway and echoing off the walls as Cerberus lunged. He was seeing red, the only break in the curtain of rage were the flashes of those gunshots. Blood dripped from his claws, bones crushed beneath his feet, and their screams were silenced one at a time until only the buck remained.

“Dude…please let me go…" the buck pleaded as he tried to limp away, his leg bent at an odd angle. Cerberus just chuckled and gripped him by the shirt and lifted him up.

“Fat chance, fuck meat," Cerberus snarled, bringing the buck closer until he could smell the sweat and fear radiating off him. “I got something special planned for you."

The buck tried to struggle, but with a flick of Cerberus' neck, his teeth were sunken in on the buck's neck. Cerberus groaned as that buck kicked and flailed while his teeth sank deep into that neck. He could taste the buck's heartbeat, his fear, his anguish. Cerberus rumbled lustfully as he sank further, breaking through critical arteries and causing his mouth to fill with the taste of copper.

As soon as it started, he was finished. He tossed the buck to the ground, the wound on his neck sealing up instantly, but a glowing bite mark glowed in its place. The buck was still thrashing, clawing at his own throat as though he couldn't breathe.

“How does it feel to choke on the smoke of your own burning mana?" Cerberus chuckled and slammed his foot down on the buck's broken leg. He tried to scream, but only pained gargling came out.

“I hear it's worse than drowning," Cerberus smiled darkly as he ground his heel onto the shattered shinbone. “The only thing that comes close is Greek Fire, sailors diving underwater only to realize the flames couldn't be doused. Drowned while burning to death."

The buck's body was limp and motionless long before Cerberus finished his thought. The burning mana ebbing as the buck's body seemed to dehydrate and shrivel up as he slipped from this world to the next. Cerberus watched with satisfaction as that soul was sucked out of that body by those flames and plunged down into the earth, plummeting to a hell where his hellhound brats would gnaw on that punk's bones for all eternity.

“Freeze!" a voice came from the far end of the alleyway. “EC Officer, don't move!"

Cerberus rolled his eyes and looked at the officer. A ferret, a very familiar looking ferret. He was much older than that bitch at Flynn's apartment, but he knew the smell of a family member. Maybe an older brother or father?

Cerberus' grin widened as he took a step forward, his claws dripping with the same blood his boots tread on beneath him.

“Freeze or I'll open fire!" The officer warned. Cerberus only chuckled, he should have just shot. It was already too late. Cerberus lunged.

And was clothesline back, his feet flying out from under him as he slammed down onto the unforgiving ground. His collar glowed intensely, a burning cold biting into his neck as the command screamed in his ears.

Don't hurt Nathan!

“Fuck!" Cerberus snarled.

Bang!

Cerberus let out a loud yip as he was shot, the blessed bullet sinking deep into his gut.

“Oh fuck," the Ferret just saw the hound lunge and shot, first bullet flying over the hound before he corrected and shot down, thinking his attacker was ducking to attack again. He quickly holstered his gun and ran forward while shouting orders into his talky. Cerberus didn't hear much, his vision was swimming and his gut screamed in pain. He lifted his hand, his paw tinged crimson with his own blood, blue sparks popping in it from how much mana he had gorged on earlier.

“Keep pressure on the wound, don't move," the officer demanded.

“Get off of me!" Cerberus snarled, his hand pushing the officer away. The motion lacked lethal intent so he could do so. The problem was that the officer spiraled and smacked against a dumpster.

Cerberus' collar screamed, the magic giving a loud, high pitched sound only dogs could hear. It rang out loud and burned Cerberus' neck with a cold so deep his flesh blistered.

Don't hurt Nathan! Don't hurt Nathan! Don't hurt Nathan!

The command was on a loop in Cerberus' head, demanding obedience and punishing him for harming Nathan. The command was so vague that even harming someone Nathan cared about could be considered hurting him.

Cerberus bolted, running as the collar felt like it was going to sever his head with how tight it was digging into him, his voice coming out as yips and screams, snarls and yelps. Cerberus didn't know how long the command was cutting through him, but when he came to, he noticed the pain in his gut wasn't from the collar. He snarled, the bullet like a rapier lodged in his gut, the holy energies from it burning him from the inside.

He only had one option here. He had to go to them. They were the only ones who could heal him now. At least the only ones he knew that wouldn't turn him over to him.

“Fuck," Cerberus gripped his abdomen, trying to stem the flow of blood. “Those bitches better be open."

***