Chapter 10 #3
“And demons are…” I trail off, unsure. There’s really not an inoffensive way to tell someone you think they’re evil. “What I mean is you seem normal, and you’ve been very helpful. But aren’t demons supposed to be, er, the opposite?”
Huxley’s burst of laughter is so loud it makes the people at the next table over jump in surprise.
“Sorry,” he wheezes around another bout of hysterics.
“Oh damn, I needed that.” He takes off his glasses to swipe away the tears forming at the corners of his eyes, grinning like a fool.
“Sorry, sorry,” he says, putting his glasses back on while I frown.
“I’m not laughing at you, it’s just living here makes it easy to forget the wild theories humans have about us, about all supernaturals really.
But you were raised human—it makes sense you’d have concerns. ”
My jaw unclenches now I understand that it’s not really me he’s laughing at. “So not evil then?” I ask with a wry grin.
“Supernaturals, whatever the type, are a lot like humans in that regard as much as some hate to admit it. There are some good, some bad—most of us fall somewhere in the middle just trying to live our lives. Demons and some other supes get a bad rep thanks to a few bad apples using their abilities to hurt people. Luckily, here you won’t have to worry about that.
Perks of being in a sanctuary town—the supes here are committed to being good neighbours and keeping the town safe for everyone regardless of their species or abilities. ”
“That’s not the case everywhere?”
“No.” Huxley’s mouth flattens into a thin line. “If it were, there wouldn’t be a need for towns like this.”
Something he said yesterday pricks at my memory. “Before, when you said you were running from demons… I thought you meant some kind of internal struggle, but you meant it literally, didn’t you?”
Shadows darken his expression, and I instantly regret asking. “Yes.” His flat tone and closed-off look make it clear the topic isn’t open for discussion.
“I’m sorry,” I reply, unsure of what else to say. The last thing I want is to upset the one person who can help me, plus if I don’t screw it up, I could see Huxley becoming a friend. God knows I could use one of those right about now.
“Don’t worry about it.” He shrugs off whatever memories were plaguing him, his mischievous grin sliding back into place, although now I’ve seen the darkness underneath, I’m no longer convinced he’s as carefree and easy-going as he’d like people to believe.
Huxley drains the last of his beer. “We’ll start your demon lessons tomorrow after work.
The sooner you get a grip on your abilities the better.
Now you’re aware of the amulet’s purpose, there’s a possibility it could become less effective at blocking your abilities—magic can be tricky that way.
Better to start gaining control of your abilities now than have them leak out on their own before you know how to manage them. ”
I swallow around the lump of dread in my throat. “That could happen?” My fear of accidentally hurting someone comes back tenfold.
“It’s possible but try not to worry about it.
The magic on the amulet is seriously powerful.
Even if it does start to fade now that you’re in on the big supernatural secret, my guess is it would still take at least a couple of weeks for your powers to start leaking out.
We’ll get you to grips with the basics by the Halloween festival. ”
Halloween’s just over five weeks away, and the festival starts on the 24th of October, exactly a month from today. “Will that really be enough time for me to learn to control my powers?” I lean forward, gripping the edge of the table tightly.
Huxley smirks. “No. Not completely. Supernaturals spend years learning to master their powers as they grow into them. You said you’re in your late twenties, right?”
I nod. “I’m twenty-eight.”
“Then you’re already past the age of maturity meaning once that comes off,” he gestures at the chain around my neck, “you’ll have access to your full powers.
You’ll be in for a challenge, but I can at least teach you how to suppress your abilities naturally as well as safe ways for you to leak your power intentionally while you get used to it.
We’ll work together every day for the next few weeks until you have a better grasp of things.
You’ll have enough control to be safe around the humans by the festival. ”
Not exactly the reassurance I was hoping for, but at least it doesn’t sound too dire.
Knowing how to flip my magical ‘off’ switch will be useful, and who knows, maybe I’ll even be able to keep whatever powers I have locked down and live a normal life.
Is that really what you want? Ignoring the little voice in the back of my mind that’s always longed to be a part of something, I refocus my attention on the conversation at hand. “OK. Tomorrow after work. Thank you.”
He waves me off. “Don’t mention it.” Huxley stands. “Are you good here? If I want to have a lesson plan ready for tomorrow, I should get going.”
Wow, he’s taking this even more seriously than I thought. “I’m fine. I’ll probably order some food to take home and finish this while I wait.” Casually, I take another sip of my beer. The brand on the label isn’t one I recognise, but it’s good.
“Alright, see you tomorrow then.”
Watching Huxley weave through the crowded bar towards the exit, I chew over our conversation in my head.
I didn’t get to ask even half of the questions I had for him.
There will probably be time for that during these demon lessons, but I can’t help wanting more answers now.
I’m not even sure what kinds of supernaturals exist outside of demons, witches, and gargoyles.
Is that everything? Or are there more? This is the kind of information I need to know before I accidentally reveal my ‘raised as a human’ status to the town.
While Huxley made it sound like everyone here looks out for each other, I’m not sure that will extend to the new guy in town, especially not if they realise I’ve grown up believing I was human and came to town trying to expose their secret.
I might be a demon, but against a town full of pissed-off supernaturals I may as well be a defenceless kitten for all the good it would do me.
Maybe the town library will have something that will help.
In a magically hidden town, I don’t expect to find a ‘supernaturals for idiots’ guide but maybe there will be a section on magical history that could give me an overview of what species exist. Maybe I can even find more details on what it means to live in a sanctuary town.
After waving down a server so I can order a burger and sweet potato fries to go, I sit huddled in the corner people-watching—supe-watching?
I scribble another note in my rapidly filling notebook.
Add that to the long list of questions for Huxley.
While my attention drifts between the patrons and staff, I take a couple more sips of my beer but don’t finish it.
It’s good, but now I’m alone again, I’m more on edge.
Drinking might dull the jittery unease creeping back in, but that’s a slippery slope and not one I want to put myself at risk of sliding down.
The back of my neck prickles with the sensation of being watched, but when I look around, everyone seems absorbed in their own conversations.
It was probably someone gawking at the new guy—there’s been a lot of that over the past few days.
I’ll have to get used to it until my novelty wears off.
After about twenty minutes, the little buzzer the server handed me goes off, and I head to the end of the bar to grab my order.
Unsurprisingly, I’m feeling overwhelmed and eager to get out of here and back to the quiet of the house.
It sure is busy for a Tuesday night, but I guess the options in a town this size are limited.
That said, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount on offer when I was out exploring on Sunday afternoon.
Maybe living in London so long has warped my sense of judgement, but I wasn’t expecting a town this size to have more than one place to eat out, and there are actually quite a few.
Now I know Crystal Lake is a sanctuary town, it makes more sense—if people are hiding out, it’s important to have everything they need inside the wards surrounding the town’s border.
“Oops, sorry,” a delicate voice apologises right after I take an elbow to the ribs. Wide blue eyes blink up at me while I stare like an idiot waiting for my brain to reboot. Selene. I’m not sure how it’s possible, but she’s somehow even more beautiful than I remembered.
“No worries. Are you picking up food?” I ask. Stupid question really since we’re both standing at the pickup point. For someone who works with words, I’m sure doing a shit job of trying to talk to this woman.
Her smile makes my breath catch. “Yeah, I didn’t feel like cooking tonight, and Garrett’s place has the best food.
” She bites her full lower lip. “Listen. I’m really sorry about the other day.
If I’d had any idea you didn’t—” she glances around, seemingly wary of our crowded surroundings.
“I’m sorry you found out like that is all. ”
“It’s OK. Like you said, you didn’t know.
From what Huxley told me about the town, I can understand why you assumed I was…
already aware. Wards and all that.” I shrug awkwardly and mentally smack myself.
Wards and all that? Bloody hell. It’s been a while since I last dated anyone, but I didn’t think I’d completely forgotten how to talk to an attractive woman.
Then again, attractive is far too mundane a word to describe Selene.
She’s… alluring. Enchanting… And she’s waiting for me to respond to whatever she just said while I was busy daydreaming. I clear my dry throat. “Sorry, what?”
The corners of her eyes tighten with her concern. “I asked how you were doing with everything. You said you talked to Huxley?”
“Yes, yeah. He’s agreed to give me um,” I lean in closer to make sure nobody overhears, “demon lessons.” God, she smells good. What is that?
“That’s great. Um, not to overstep, but I’d be careless not to remind you to keep the dampener on for now. I know it’s probably tempting to take it off, but with an amulet that powerful, there’s potential for some major—”
“Magical backlash,” I finish for her, unable to miss how uncomfortable she looks. “Huxley already warned me about that, but thank you, I appreciate it.”
“Seems like the least I could do after, well, you know.”
“I think you already made up for that by taking care of me after I dropped like a fainting goat in your shop.”
Her tinkling laugh sounds like wind chimes carried on an evening breeze. “Still. I feel bad. If there’s anything I can do for you, please let me know.”
“Here you go, Selene.” My gut twists in jealousy as the handsome bartender hands Selene a bag with the bar’s logo printed on it.
His wide grin and bulging muscles make me irrationally angry.
Only dickheads wear shirts that tight. And what’s he grinning about?
Nobody’s that happy to be at work no matter how much they like their job.
“Thanks, Mav. Isn’t this usually your night off?
” The knot in my stomach tightens further at their obvious familiarity.
Is this Selene’s type? If so, there’s no hope for me.
At 6ft 2” I’m hardly short, but Mav here has at least a couple of inches on me.
Warily, I eye his bulky, tawny-brown arms. I’m no slacker when it comes to fitness, but I’m more of a runner—this guy looks like he could bench press a fucking house.
“Yeah, but the boss offered me time and a half to cover tonight.” Maybe the extra pay is why he’s so cheerful. My eyes narrow at the way he leans over the bar towards Selene. Nope, pretty sure that’s not why the guy’s smiling.
“You Jared?” he asks, hazel eyes locking onto me.
“Yep,” I reply, edging closer to Selene’s side while reaching over the bar to accept the other takeaway bag. His eyes dart between us, then he smirks. “You two have a good night.”
“Thanks,” Selene replies brightly, oblivious to the little pissing contest we’re having.
Just as well, really. I’ve got no right to feel so territorial over her.
For all I know, Mav’s her partner. She fiddles with the handles of her takeaway bag for a moment, looking up at me with an unreadable expression before letting out a sigh so small I’d miss it if I weren’t paying such close attention.
“I should head home. It was good seeing you, Jared.”
“Wait.” The word’s out of my mouth before my brain can catch up. “Did you mean it when you said I could come to you for help?”
“Of course. Did something happen?”
“No, nothing like that,” I assure her. “But I still have about a million questions, and Huxley and I barely scratched the surface earlier. Now that I’m aware there’s more going on here, I’m worried my ignorance will get me in trouble. Would you be open to filling me in on the basics?”
Selene’s worried expression brightens into a megawatt smile. “Of course. It’s pretty loud here, why don’t you come back to mine and you can ask away while we eat?” she suggests.
“That sounds great.”
Part of me is aware I should probably be more hesitant to spend time with the woman who turned my world upside down, but something buried deep in my chest aches when I imagine us going our separate ways.
Besides, my abrupt introduction to the supernatural world wasn’t Selene’s fault.
And the way she took care of me that day…
It’s been a long time since anyone looked after me like that.
We may not know each other all that well, but I can tell she’s a good person.
It’s more than my usual gut feeling too.
When I think of Selene, I’m filled with a sense of familiarity, of knowing, that reverberates through my very being right down to my bones.
Maybe it’s a demon thing, this instinct.
It sure as hell isn’t normal—I’ll have to ask Huxley about it.
For tonight, I’ll put my trust in the mysterious witch and hopefully get some much-needed answers.