Chapter 4
Willow
Three days. It’d been three days since the night my monster saved me and ate the bad guys.
Yes, he was my monster. Whenever I got scared, I would imagine him floating in the air around me, ready to appear and protect me from danger.
His hoodie was my new favorite item of clothing. Because I needed to show off the stuff I sold in the shop, I tried not to wear it while I was working. Sometimes I pulled it on anyway because I needed the comfort.
After dealing with that horrible woman, I was tempted. I eyed the spot behind the counter where I had it tucked away just before she walked in. Maybe I could put it on for a few minutes.
Before I could grab it, a familiar customer walked in with her daughter.
“Lisa! Robin!” I greeted them. “I got more of those blouses you liked in new colors.”
I couldn’t have asked for better customers than Lisa and Robin. They were both bright, cheerful people who loved finding unique items and, best of all, didn’t mind paying for them.
By the time they finished shopping, it was almost time to close. I decided shutting down ten minutes early wasn’t going to do any damage. I locked the door, turned the sign off, and shut off all the lights at the front of the shop.
I looked around the store I opened a year ago. It’d taken so much hard work and sacrifice, but the shop was doing well. I might even reach my five-year plan a year early!
Normally, thinking about that made it easy for me to clean and get the shop ready for opening the next day.
Except right now, I couldn’t concentrate.
I wandered around touching things. Over the last three days, I constantly saw movement out of the corner of my eyes.
I’d turn my head expecting to see my monster, but there was never anything there.
Maybe I was developing schizophrenia. People who were going crazy didn’t realize it, did they? Their hallucinations seemed perfectly real to them.
Except I had the hoodie. It was real so my monster had to be real.
“Get to work or no dinner for you,” I grumbled to myself.
I needed to do a little restocking, check the daily totals, and all the other stuff my small shop required.
I’d forgotten to pack food, so except for the bagel I ate this morning and the stale pack of cookies I found in the back, I hadn’t had anything all day.
I was starving and after such a busy day, I deserved a meal out!
I was only halfway finished when I felt a familiar warmth in the air around me. I turned in a slow circle but didn’t even see a shadow move.
“I don’t know if you’re here, but I won’t scream if you show yourself,” she said. “I promise.”
One moment there was nothing, then suddenly he appeared.
I startled but managed to keep from making any noise.
He was dressed in black cargo pants, black boots, and another black sweatshirt.
The hood was up so I couldn’t see his face, but the slight glow of his ice-blue eyes pierced the darkness hiding his features.
“It’s you,” I breathed. “You’re real. Really real.”
His head tilted. “You asked me to show myself.”
I couldn’t help the nervous chuckle that came out. “I did, but I didn’t think you would. It’s been three days. I wasn’t sure… I thought maybe… no, never mind. You’re here now. That’s what’s important.”
“I was here earlier,” he said. “But I had to leave for a little while. I try not to leave you alone for too long. Anything could happen.”
My heart sped up, but not because of fear. “You’ve been watching me?”
“Watching over you,” he corrected. “What are you feeling? I taste sweetness.”
Did he taste emotions? “I guess I feel safe and maybe a little happy.”
He seemed to be considering my answer. The silence stretched between us, and I wasn’t sure what to say.
He finally spoke. “I’ve never made anyone feel safe before. I want you to feel safe. And content. And happy. You taste good when you feel those things.”
How do you respond to a statement like that?
Thanks, so do you.
I almost laughed. “I have your hoodie,” I said but didn’t move to get it. “I washed it.”
“You can keep it,” he said. “I’ve noticed you like to wear it.”
My face got hot at the comment. “If I asked, would you make yourself visible more often? Can you do it when other people are around, or am I the only one allowed to see you?”
“Anyone can see me,” he said. “But most don’t choose to.”
Well that was as clear as tax law.
“Does that mean we could go out somewhere together?” I asked. I thought maybe he could meet Jina, then I’d know I wasn’t crazy. I could still be making this all up.
“You wish to be seen in public with me?” he asked. “You want to be observed with me?”
He sounded cautious. Was he in some kind of danger?
“Are there people out there that might try to kill you?” I asked. “Are you in hiding from some kind of hunter?”
“There are no hunters of my kind,” he scoffed. “I’m an apex predator. No one is my match.”
I couldn’t help but grin at his arrogance. “Do you mind being seen with me? I’m only a lowly human.”
He must not have heard my teasing tone, because his answer was serious. “You are not a lowly anything. You are special.” I could’ve sworn I saw the tip of a snake-like tongue flick out from the hoodie. “No one tastes like you.”
I was going to need to ask him more questions about the tasting emotions thing. After a shot of something that gave me the courage.
I could have invited him back to my place, but Jina deployed on the USS Essex that morning.
She wouldn’t be back for four days. I wasn’t afraid to be alone with him, but I really wanted to introduce the two of them to find out if she saw him.
Taking him to an empty apartment wasn’t going to work for a sanity-check.
“Can I take you out to dinner?” I blurted out. There was a diner not far away. The food wasn’t amazing, but it was cheap and open 24/7.
“You want to sit down and eat a meal with me?” he asked, sounding excited. I swore I saw his eyes glow a little brighter. “Like a date?”
“Sure,” I agreed. I liked the idea of going on a date with him. We could ask each other questions. If the servers looked at me like I was crazy, then I’d know I needed to check myself in somewhere! “There’s a place only a street over.”
He stepped up close and crooked his elbow. It took me a moment to realize he was offering me his arm! It was old-fashioned and charming.
“Let me grab my purse,” I said, touching his sleeve. “I’ll meet you outside.”
He vanished without a word. Swinging my head around, I saw his tall frame appear outside the glass door. Right, I was going to need to get used to that.
Rushing behind the counter, I grabbed my purse and shoved the hoodie inside it. Then I pulled the keys off the hook and hurried out. I’d do all the work tomorrow. It would mean more work at opening, but I didn't care.
Tonight I had a date with a monster!
Vie
“What should I call you?” she asked as we walked down the street. Her small hand was tucked in the crook of my elbow. I kept my strides short so she didn’t need to struggle to keep up.
“My brothers call me Vie,” I said. Should I tell her that Vie was short for Violence? No, probably not. Or at least not yet.
“Brothers?” she said. “You have siblings? Are they all like you?”
“We are the same, but different,” I answered.
For some reason, my answer made her chuckle.
Maybe I was better at dating than I thought.
I’d never done it before, but I’d seen many humans go out on dates.
I knew it was important to make her laugh, pay for everything, and encourage her to consume whatever she wanted.
I was confident I could do all of that.
When we got to the diner, a server called out for us to take any empty spot. I let Willow pick the place. Normally, I wouldn’t frequent a restaurant of any kind. If I did feel the urge to be indoors, I would sit or stand where I could observe but not be noticed.
Willow picked a booth right at the front. Not only were we close to the doors, but we were seated in front of the large windows that ran the length of the diner’s front.
I felt as if I was out in the open, but as usual, people around me averted their eyes. Humans couldn’t articulate it, but my presence always made them uncomfortable. Not long after we sat down, the family in the booth behind me got up and left.
“Here,” Willow said, plucking two laminated menus from behind the condiment holder and handing one to me. “This is my treat so order whatever you want.”
Oh no, I hadn’t thought of this. I was going to need to eat. I’d done it a few times in my life, but eating regular food never tasted or felt right. But I would do it for her.
“I’ll pay,” I insisted. “And I want to pay for the clothing that woman stole earlier today.”
Startled eyes looked up at me over the top of the menu. “What? Someone stole some clothes?”
“The woman in the green dress,” I explained. “She came in right as you opened and took several of those pants you have folded on the table near the back.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Damn it, I told Lucy to stop doing that! I’ll talk to her sister again.”
I expected anger, not mild annoyance. “You know this person steals, but you still let her in the shop?”
“Lucy is actually really sweet, but sometimes she doesn’t behave,” she explained.
“She didn’t smell of deceit,” I commented. “Her emotions were like a child's, otherwise, I might’ve done more than observe her.”
“More?”
I didn’t answer. The silence stretched again, interrupted when the server asked what we’d like. Willow ordered, then I felt the server's eyes on me.
“The same as her,” I said without looking at the server. I didn’t want to accidentally scare her and cause a disruption in Willow’s food order. I should’ve realized that going on a date was going to be a problem if we interacted with other humans.
The server shifted uncomfortably. “Do you want—”
“Exactly the same,” I said.
“Right, great,” she said before hurrying away.
“You said you would’ve done more to Lucy if she wasn’t like she was,” Willow pressed. “What did you mean?”
“I feed on bad people,” I said. “Like the men who attacked you.”
She bit her lip and fiddled with the menu. Then she seemed to take a fortifying breath and tucked it back behind the condiments before looking up at me. Her anxiety tasted unpleasant, but not as bad as her terror.
“Do you ever accidentally eat people who don’t deserve it?”
This was an easy question to answer. “Never.”
She looked relieved. “Because you can taste their badness, right?”
“Yes,” I said, then glanced around to make sure no one was looking at us. The nature of my magic meant that humans found it uncomfortable to look at me. At most, they might run their eyes over me but then quickly look away. No one stared.
I leaned over the table so she could see through the darkness of my hood, and I flicked out my tongue. She sucked in a breath but didn’t jerk away. Her anxiousness was replaced by… was that fascination?
“Show me again,” she demanded.
I opened my mouth and extended my forked tongue as far as it would go for a split second before pulling it back in and pressing my lips together.
She smiled wide enough to show teeth. “That’s impressive.”
A savory taste filled the air. I flicked the tip of my tongue out to draw in the taste better, I couldn’t help myself. I almost moaned. It was faint but distinct and tantalizing.
“What are you feeling right now?” I asked.
Her eyes dropped to the table and her face flushed. “Um, I, uh, nothing.”
“Be honest,” I demanded. “I’ve never interacted with a human like you before. I need to know what emotion I’m tasting.”
“I might be feeling, um, interested in you,” she said.
I reached across the table and put a single, long finger under her chin to lift her face. Her gaze met mine. My magic swelled. My eyes started to glow. There was no fear in her scent. All I could taste was the rich, pleasing aroma.
“Do you mean you’re interested in me like you might be interested in a human male?
” I asked, my voice going otherworldly. The people in the booth behind Willow suddenly got up and left.
I ignored them and the server that dropped a tray of food as they walked by us to another table.
I didn’t care if I caused the entire diner to empty out.
All that mattered was Willow’s answer.
She licked her lips, her pink tongue slowly rolling over her lush upper and lower lips. Then, finally, she said a single word in a soft, but confident tone.
“Yes.”