THE ALPHA’S DESTINY 2 (Fulfilling The Prophecy) - Chapter 96: Chapter 96

???'s POV
"Ahh, if it isn't my favourite – um, what exactly are you? You can't be a werewolf because your wolf is dead. Nor can you be a vampire. Your heart is beating too fast," Lucifer mocked Zoey. He was trying to get her riled up.
"Lucifer, just leave Ignatholon alone."
"It's King Lucifer, but I'll let this slip-up slide this time." He grunted, turning to Igna with a smile. "So, you have a name, after all. Ignatholon," Lucifer recited, saying the dragon's name and enjoying how it felt on his tongue. "I like it."
Igna scowled at him, his dragon wanting to come out and play, but he knew it was too weak.
"You are a handsome thing," Lucifer admired. "Isn't he a handsome thing?" He asked Amy.
"Yes, but not as handsome as my love," she grunted.
They grew distracted by the wizards, who were bringing in tables and chairs. "What is this?" Zoey demanded.
"Why, young Zoey, I feel awful about not properly feeding you all for the last several days," Lucifer paused, inspecting the hybrid. He noted her hollow eyes and skinny neck. She seemed near starvation. He cleared his throat. "Don't fret, from now on I'll ensure you're fed like royalty."
The next thing Zoey saw were women with chains on their feet, lugging their course inside with plates and cutleries in their hands. Zoey's eyes enlarged. Their auras were distinct, they were not of mythical origins.
"Humans!" Ozone whooped, treading out of the shadows to have a better look. The men quickly blanketed the dusty old table with white tablecloths before they set it for a meal.
"Ah, welcome merman. Come sit," Lucifer grinned, trying to look and sound friendly. Ozone didn't move. Instead, Lucifer gestured to his goons who basically dragged Ozone to the dinner table and forced him to sit. "Perfect, now that wasn't hard." Lucifer laughed. "Now, the rest of you, sit." He ordered, but no one else moved from the shadows. Now this made King Lucifer pissed, in a flash he stormed up to one of the human females. "What's your name, dear?" He passed a finger down the surface of her cheek.
"Ma-Mary sir."
"Ah, Mary is such a pretty name. You would have made a pretty drink, too." He exhaled when he remembered Major Skully was dead. Lucifer was sending deceased humans to Dead Man's Cave as one of the many payments for Skully's services. Lucifer found amusement in their drink ingredients. Poor Mary was quivering, knowing what would transpire next, but it was a basic human instinct to beg for your life when you were in danger.
"Please, spare me, I'll do anything," Mary pleaded, but before she could shed another tear, Lucifer picked up a knife and made a clean swipe at her neck. The poor woman choked on her blood while she tumbled to the ground. The deafening cries of the other humans enslaved next to Mary were repulsing.
"I'll kill another if my guests refuse to join me for supper," Lucifer groaned. "Tell you what, I'll let the others go, unscathed, if you all feast with me."
"And how can we know you're telling the truth?" Titus inquired as he slithered next to Zoey.
"You don't, Snakeman, you'll just have to trust me." Titus established his way and snatched a chair next to Ozone and one by one the others did the same. "Zoey, what about you, dear? Don't you wish to save these lovely ladies?" Lucifer taunted.
Zoey's views fell on each of the captured humans, and she saw the fear and desperation in their eyes. With great difficulty, Zoey conducted her way to the table and planted herself in the seat next to Igna. "Now let them go as you promised."
"Very well." Lucifer snapped his fingers and the chains on their bodies disappeared. "Hansel, make sure they get home safely. And don't worry, ladies, you will all forget this little adventure as soon as you get home." Hansel and some others took the humans away. Lucifer was true to his word.
"What about the dead one, Your Majesty?" One goon asked.
"Leave it there for today, it shall be our entertainment," Lucifer's eyes sparkled as he spoke. "Now let the feast begin."
Titus would not lie. The food was exquisite. The gooey goodness of the chicken that he ate was unlike any other poultry he had tasted. Ozone couldn't get enough of the sauteed fish, and Freya and Prudence were stupefied by the curried goat. Lucifer was picking at his plate, turning up his nose at Amy, who was tearing into her meat over on the floor. She refused to eat at the table, and he understood the redhead was more beast than human. Even the giants were disgusted with her. The evidence was in their faces.
"OK, you came, and you fed with us. What's next?" Zoey wanted to know. "Are you gonna kill us now or what?"
Lucifer laughed. "This isn't the Last Supper, my dear." He chuckled. "You haven't touched your meal."
"I'm not hungry."
"I thought we had a deal." His eyes went to the dead body on the ground.
Zoey growled, but lifted her fork and knife and cut into her meat. The tenderness and enticing aroma made her tummy happy. Zoey was about to deposit the food in her mouth when Titus rose to the floor. "Barnabas," his voice was raucous as he spoke. He worked the tip of his tail to smack the scrap of flesh from Zoey's hand. The steam hovered in the air, showcasing that it was prepared not long ago. That was when Zoey saw it. Barnabas's tattoo. An eagle being crushed by a serpent was burnt in the middle of the flesh. "Everyone, stop eating. This isn't fish or chicken." Everyone froze.
"Well, I wanted to take this recipe to my gra — well, it's not like I'm going to die. But I guess the cat's out of the bag." Lucifer took a bite from his plate. "Hmm, all these meals are delicious, but this snake-man is the best of the bunch."
"You sick fucker. I'm gonna kill you," Zoey yelled, running up to Lucifer's seat and throwing the plate from in front of him. He quickly used his magic to freeze her in place before she could get her paws on him.
"My mother always told me not to feast with dogs because they don't know manners." He wiped his mouth with the napkin. "I wasn't done with that," he fumed at Zoey. "I guess I'll just have to ask my chef to make more." He snapped his fingers and his goons grabbed hold of Titus. "Take him to the slaughterhouse."
Titus fought and cursed, but his strength was no match for Lucifer's goons.
The others sat in silence, scared and helpless, as they watched yet another being carted off to their death.
Zoey was screaming, trying to break free from Lucifer's restriction spell, but it was too powerful. "Malia, please, I need you. Don't let them take him." She tried to reach her wolf. Malia's ears perked. She heard Zoey loud and clear.
"But I'm afraid."
"Don't be. If we die, we get to see the great Moon Goddess."
Zoey's remarks were enough to console her wolf. The muscles on her back were the first to snap improper. Her wails burst at her ears as her body throbbed. It had been years since she had transformed. But something about this felt different. Her hands didn't sprout her usual paws, but instead, her fingers gained inches and claws that spiraled like daggers. She never went on all fours. Lucifer's smile was gleaming in wonder at the humanoid beast.