Ruthivan glared at Claire, his chest heaving. He could slaughter her here, but no, she had a child in her. He would calm himself enough not to rip out her insides like he had her father. It was a fight. He grabbed her around the neck and squeezed hard, to the point he knew she was ready to pass out, then pushed her against the wall, holding her in a standing position. "You liar," he snarled in her ear. "You fooled me once, but you will not ever again. You'll do everything I ask of you and never question it. I don't care if you dry up and rot, you'll dry up and rot as a pure blooded Esper devoted to her family, and so help me if I don't see adoration and devotion on your face-" he gave another squeeze.
He let Claire slump to the floor in a coughing fit and turned around to the body laying on the floor. He roared as he leaned down and began to devour the body. He knew as he crunched the bones, the magic in Eladrim, in Claire's father, would saturate him. He thought nothing of the consequences or the putrid nature of what he was doing. He did not stop to think about the madness that would consume him even more than his own. The blood dripped down his face, the magic quivered in his stomach before radiating outward in pulses, causing him to shiver beneath the power.
He shuddered back into his Esper form and looked up into the faces of his horrified children who stared at him from the doorway. "Children..."
"You eated him..." Desmaren whispered before suddenly breaking into sobs.
"Claire," Ruthivan snarled. "Your duty begins now. Take your children to their rooms and tell them how you brought this upon yourself and our family."
Ruthivan stood up and wiped his mouth. All that remained of Eladrim was a puddle on the floor, and he would force Claire to clean it. For now, he had to find Seranfrit. If she feared him, all the better. He would force his family back into the tribe, and he would rule them as he saw fit. He caught Claire as she walked past him and forced a kiss upon her lips, smiling at the blood that smeared itself on her. "I love you," he grinned and walked out the door, slamming it behind him.
