Chapter 1 #2
She smiles, the wrinkles around her eyes deepening. “Of course. It’s good to see you, Skylar. How are you doing?”
I wrap my free hand around my coffee cup, chasing the warmth it offers and trying to keep myself grounded. “Surviving,” I say with a shrug.
“And that’s something to be proud of. Don’t forget that.”
“I know.”
“How are you sleeping?”
I wince and run a hand through my hair, jonesing for a cigarette. “Not great. I’m not having nightmares about what happened so much anymore. But my sleep’s been restless. It’s like my body’s on edge all the time, like I’m waiting for another attack at any moment.”
Dr. P studies me with sympathetic brown eyes. “It takes time for your body and mind to recover from the kind of trauma you experienced. What you’re describing is frustrating, I know, but it’s normal. Have you been using the sleep aid medication I prescribed?”
I shrug again. “The pills make me groggy the next day, and I need to be alert or my anxiety spikes. So I stopped.”
“Once you get settled somewhere new and establish a daily routine, some of these issues may resolve on their own. Or at the very least, you’ll feel more comfortable taking the medication.” She tilts her head. “Have you made it to the place you were telling me about?”
I nod. “Just arrived a bit before I called you.”
She smiles brightly. “What do you think? First impressions?”
I consider that. “It’s pretty. Lots of trees. I’ve never seen so much nature outside of Central Park. And it’s super quiet compared to the city. So far, I kinda like that. Makes me think I can work on figuring my shit out in peace.”
“I think you made the right call going there. You deserve to experience the safety of a Sanctuary Haven. They’re truly special places. You haven’t known much safety in your life, but you’ll be able to find it there.”
“That’s pretty much the reason I hopped on a bus. Now I just need to figure out how to stay here. I’m broke as hell and jobless.”
She frowns. “Are you still meeting with someone to discuss options?”
I fiddle with my mug. “The agency that put out the ad arranged an appointment with a local contact. They’re meeting me here in the coffee shop in a little while.”
Am I super fucking anxious about that?
Yep.
Cue the damn nicotine craving once again.
We spend another fifteen minutes going through some of the grounding techniques she’s shown me and then Dr. P signs off, reminding me to keep writing in that damn journal.
After we hang up, Cumar appears at my table with a coffee pot in hand. “Free refill?”
I blink. “For real?”
He chuckles. “Drip coffee refills are on the house.”
“Thanks, man.”
Once he refills my mug and heads back to the front counter, I sip the steaming brew and try to ignore the growling noises my stomach has decided to start making. I haven’t eaten anything since last night, but I need to conserve the last bit of cash I have until I know what’s what.
Glancing at my phone screen, I see it’s almost time for the meeting that A.S.S.E.S. set up for me here in town. My leg jiggles nervously under the table. The receptionist had been super vague about who I was meeting, let alone what this meeting would involve.
I look up as a mysterious woman approaches my booth and do a double take.
She’s gorgeous and also intimidating as hell, with long black hair tied up in a slick, high ponytail and electric blue eyes almost the same shade as the nail polish on her long, deadly-looking nails.
Her outfit consists of a pair of skintight jeans, thigh-high black leather boots, and an off-the-shoulder red sweater.
When she stops at my booth and grins at me, sharp teeth on display, I can’t hold back a shiver. I’ve gotten good at sensing who’s got the kind of aura I don’t wanna mess with. And this woman’s power is rolling off her in waves. I’m pretty sure she’s not human.
I’m also absolutely certain she could kick my sorry ass.
Shit.
“You must be Skylar,” she says, holding out her hand. “I’m Astraea. Welcome to Mystic Hollow.”
I shake her hand with my own damp one and she takes the seat across from me.
Although I can sense her power, her body language is nonthreatening for now, and I relax a little.
Her eyes gleam. “Just so you know, you’re the very first person to respond to the ad I had A.S.S.E.S. put out. I’d call that destiny, wouldn’t you?”
I stare at her in surprise. “Really? That ad was pretty tempting. I’d think more people would’ve jumped on the opportunity to move somewhere safe that’s looking for business start-ups.”
Maybe other people aren’t as desperate as I am?
She tosses her ponytail over her shoulder and winks. “I confess, that advertisement was just a tiny bit bewitched. Only the right kind of people can find it.”
My brain is about ready to explode. “You mean magic?”
She chuckles. “Of course. Someone needed to take action to bring new residents to this town. I decided to step in when no one else did.”
I frown. “This place doesn’t seem like it’s in an economic downturn or in desperate need of new people.”
She crosses her arms and leans back in her seat.
“You’re right. The town is doing well, but it does need some new businesses, especially ones like yours, that fill gaps in the infrastructure.
And there are other reasons we need fresh blood coming in here too.
” She waves a hand dismissively. “But no need to get into that right now. Maybe after you decide whether you want to stay here.”
I smile and hold a hand over my stomach when it growls again.
Astraea favors me with a warm look that’s almost motherly, and the last of my earlier wariness fades away. “So, Skylar, tell me more about what brings you to Mystic Hollow. My ad must have resonated with you. Why?”
I gulp. Time to get real. Well, without dumping my fucking trauma tale on her.
“Well, the last year’s been real rough for me for a lot of reasons. Let’s just say a fresh start sounded too good to ignore, especially if it meant I might be able to open my own hair salon.”
She looks me up and down with a shrewd gaze. “And why Mystic Hollow versus somewhere else?”
I ponder that for a second and go with my gut instinct. “The safety this place offers. I’ve spent too much of my life not feeling safe, and I’m f—real tired of it.”
That’s definitely what spoke to me the most when I read that ad.
Leaning her elbows on the table, she steeples her fingers under her chin, eyes alight with interest. “I helped create Sanctuary Havens for precisely that reason. Everyone deserves a place where they can be safe. It’s especially important for many Otherkind in this realm, but humans can also benefit from the security of these special towns. ”
I stare at her wide-eyed. “You helped create Sanctuary Havens?” That must have been hundreds of years ago. “Who the hell are you?” I whisper.
Her eyes shift from electric blue to an opalescent color as smoke drifts out of her mouth. “I’m the dragon goddess of the Celestial Realm.”
Not gonna lie, I pinch myself. After I can move, that is.
Ow. Yep, this is real.
“Whoa.” I swallow hard. “Why are you here in Mystic Hollow?”
She smirks with amusement. “It’s a long story. When I came back here for the first time in centuries, I didn’t plan to stay long, but I fell in love with the town and its residents, so I’ve extended my stay.” She clears her throat. “But enough about me. Tell me more about your business proposal.”
The moment of truth has finally arrived.
You can do this, Skylar.
With shaking hands, I open my duffle and pull out the plastic folder holding the business proposal I typed up and printed out at the public library.