Shaina

The night air carried the scent of rain and pollution, creating a fitting cocktail for this wretched city. Perched on the edge of the rooftop terrace, Shaina dangled her legs forty stories above the chaotic streets of Makati, watching the city lights flicker like dying stars. Her black wings stretched behind her, occasionally twitching with irritation as car horns and distant sirens blared from below.     The moonlight caught the horns protruding from her forehead, casting small shadows across her face and her black sports bra that hugged her large breasts. Her black trousers were worn and faded at the knees, comfortable enough for her to move freely when she needed to break someone's jaw.   Her serpentine tail swished lazily behind her, scraping against the concrete ledge. This form—her true self—felt both liberating and disgusting. Neither heaven nor hell would claim her, and Earth served as a temporary playground for her twisted amusement.     Shaina exhaled slowly, watching her breath form small clouds in the cool night air. After thirty-two years of existence, what did she have to show for it? A fortune built on blood money, an empty penthouse, and a collection of traumatized tenants who paid their rent on time out of fear.   The cool night air prickled against her exposed midriff, but Shaina hardly noticed—her hybrid nature made her less susceptible to temperature extremes.   "Fucking pathetic," she muttered, reaching into her pocket for her cigarettes. The pack lay nearly empty—she would need to terrorize the convenience store clerk for more tomorrow. Her fingers, slightly trembling from withdrawal, extracted a cigarette and placed it between her lips.   The flame from her lighter illuminated her pink eyes momentarily as she inhaled deeply, feeling the familiar burn in her lungs. Smoke curled from her nostrils as she gazed at the city sprawled beneath her feet.     "Another day in paradise," Shaina sneered, flicking ash into the void below. "I wonder how many souls I'll crush tomorrow." She took another long drag, letting the nicotine calm her restless demon blood. The angel part of her—the part she despised most—whispered faintly of redemption, of purpose beyond cruelty.   "Shut the fuck up," she growled, silencing the whisper with another deep inhale of toxic smoke. Boredom began to set in, that dangerous state that always led to someone's misfortune. Shaina's lips curled into a cruel smile as she remembered the new tenant in 3B—some self-important professional who had moved in last week. They had the audacity to complain about the building's water pressure yesterday.   "Time for a proper welcome," she murmured, crushing her cigarette under her boot heel.   Standing up, Shaina stretched her arms above her head and cracked her neck. She would need something scary, maybe a rusty knife—the one that looked more frightening than it was sharp. Perfect for intimidation. The thought of the tenant's terror made her heart race with anticipation.     With a roll of her shoulders, Shaina folded her wings neatly against her back and made them vanish. Next, her horns receded, and her tail disappeared—the human disguise settling over her like an ill-fitting coat. The transformation always left her feeling constrained, but it was necessary among the cattle.   "Let's see how brave 3B is when they wake up to find me standing over their bed," she chuckled darkly, heading toward the rooftop access door. "Maybe I'll just mess with their electricity tonight... or perhaps I'll let them see just enough of what I really am to give them nightmares for weeks."