You are Princess ArielThe corner of her mouth turned up. “I don't blame you. Not for me either. So, if not rings, how can I help you?"I put my hand in my pocket, but hesitated. Should I give my pendant to some strange supernatural to have it repaired, even if Owen recommended it? Someone tried to kill me, and this woman gave off a strange reptilian smell."Trust issues, huh?" Nodding, she pulled up a chair and sat down. “I am Koko, at your service. Now, since you're a she-wolf living in our beautiful pack... if your scent is any indication of that... I'd guess you're Sam, the owner of the Killed Sheep." With a wink, she asked, "Did I manage?""You've never been to the Killed Sheep. I would remember." Her presence was soothing, which helped calm my nerves."Thanks for the compliment, and no, I wasn't. I quit drinking many years ago, and I read on my tablet. My brother knows someone who works there, so I heard about it." Leaning back, displaying superior strength and balance, she took
Did it happen again?Not wanting to bring the wolf to Koko and my pendant, I decided that I was safer at home and turned the corner. As soon as the wolf was out of sight, I started jogging. I quickly got to the Presidio, but then the path changed. Almost between one step and the next, the bright sunny day faded. Huge trees blocked the light, plunging me into unnatural darkness. Turning around in search of the Presidio through which I had just passed, I found nothing but tall ivy-covered trunks and vine-covered undergrowth blocking my path. As if I turned into Middle-earth.A screech and movement in the nearby bushes made me move again, quickening my pace. Yellow eyes burned, small sparks of light in the dark branches. I ran, trying to overtake my surroundings. Was it like the Kraken?Intimidating, not intimidated. I had to find a way out. A vine wrapped itself around my ankle, pulling on my leg and causing me to collapse onto the forest floor. Wet, fertile ground covered in branches
Lost pendantGlass dust gleamed in the slanting rays of the sun falling through the window.“I had nothing when I was sent here after the attack. Nothing but clothes on me and a pendant around my neck. Marcus sent me to live with Helena, a witch friend of my mother's.” Holding Coco's hand on my knee, I asked what I needed to know. "Was my mother a witch?""I didn't know her, but magic shares harmony with you." She shook her head. "I do not know how to explain it. I see magic, but mostly hear it. The spells in the pendant sound feminine. When you told me that your mother gave it to you, of course I thought so. You share the same magical harmony. A lot of love and fear went into making this pendant. Your mother was worried about protecting you.” She glanced down at the carpet for a moment, lost in her thoughts. "How did she die?"“She…” I paused, trying to remember. I forced myself to remember, but nothing happened. "I don't remember." How could I not remember?"Were you very young? Di
Let's kill everything...Dave grabbed a handful of nuts from the bamboo bowl. When Dave went out in public, he wore glamour, which altered his natural dark red skin and completely black eyes. His skin was a warm brown now, and his eyes were a deep whiskey color. I had become so accustomed to his usual shark-eye that the glamor confused me.Tara set her glass in front of me, crossed her arms on the counter, and leaned forward. Her impressive breasts were on display, but it seemed that her actions were completely unconscious. She did not highlight her feminine virtues. She just took a break and leaned over. This woman was a master."Take them away, Tara. Nobody here is interested,” Dave grumbled. A perfectly manicured nail slid down Dave's arm."I remember a time when you were very interested."A lustful smile flashed across Dave's face. “You were the star of all my youthful fantasies. And until adolescence, too, if you think about it." Her laugh was low and guttural, like a sexual joke
he kissed me againThe annoyance in his voice helped me shake off the sudden surge of adrenaline and keep walking. "And what's it to you?"“Interesting.” Clive turned as I walked past him and walked beside him. “Why should I care about your safety when you should be left to fend for yourself and you immediately decide to wander the streets alone in the middle of the night?”His boots barely audibly rustled on the pavement. “Hey, I’ll take care of my own safety, thank you very much."One vision. He pulled me out of one vision, okay, two, and suddenly he became my guardian angel. A wolf. Think about it. "Yes, sure. You're doing great."A broad shoulder touched mine before he pulled back a few inches. His long black coat seemed to absorb the faint light of the lanterns. It looked soft, though I doubted he would appreciate it if I stroked his coat.We walked side by side in silence for almost two kilometers. I ignored the rich, subtle scent of his cologne. Mostly. "Do you have a destinati
Demon's Lair"Nothing." Clive took her cup and pointed to a nearby table. "Let's sit down and talk."There was fear in Tara's eyes. She seemed at ease, but I sensed her reluctance to lose even a little of the bar's protection. She acted out her fear by lazily twirling a towel around the bar as she skirted around it. I couldn't read the look she gave me as she darted past. What is it?I followed her to the table. The bar was empty, but it felt like there was something wrong. Smell? No. Hardly. More like a feeling that made my hair stand on end. Someone just got here. Someone or something left as soon as we opened the door.Clive forces his back against the wall, Tara opposite him. I took the empty seat to his left. I had a bar behind me, but I trusted Clive. He will look after me. My attention was drawn to the dark corners of the long room.“Tara, I'm accompanying Sam because I'm also very interested in what you'll tell her." He
Who invited Volkov?Someone mentally attacked her. Before you."What do I care what happens to her?" Sitri's words stopped tormenting me. Either he lost interest or heard the annoyance in Clive's voice. It depends on the circumstances, doesn't it?I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. Bile, hot and sour, hit my throat. Having a man take control of my body brought back the memories I had worked hard to bury. I wanted to run away and hide in the Killed Sheep, but first I wanted to hunt down and kill every demon in the room.“If this has nothing to do with your kind, then we just interrupted your poker game. And for this invasion, you have already received your payback, given the games you played with her. However, if I discover that the visions incapacitating her are the work of demons... well, let's just say, for the sake of the health of all concerned, it would be better if it wasn't." Clive's voice remained pleasant, if not bored, but the skin around Sitri's eyes tightened.“I won
Wolves are coming"So bad, right? I asked you to let me write your profile for you. I could... how did I put it? "Soften the edges a little."I like sharp edges. There's nothing soft about me, Sam. Stop trying to humanize me." She knocked over the whiskey and put the glass back on the bar with a thud."Do you know what we need? Dating app for supernatural beings!" I refilled her glass. Alcohol didn't work on her the way it did on most. She drank it like water. "You won't have to waste your time on people who don't suit you.""It's all my fault. Meg mentioned that without her sisters, who currently live on the other side of the world, she is too lonely. I suggested a dating app and we spent the entire evening creating her profile, adding pictures and swapping positions while Dave gave us cocktails.""We've been through this before. It was a dumpster fire." Meg ate another handful of nuts."Why? For me, this is the perfect solution.""You are so young and innocent. I have no idea why I
The both of us ventured to Coco's quaint and welcoming shop, a place filled with the comforting aroma of incense and the soft tinkling of wind chimes. It was a sanctuary of serenity amid the chaos of our enigmatic quest, a place where we could share our deepest concerns and seek solace in each other's presence. Coco greeted us with a warm smile as we entered her shop, sensing the gravity of our visit. We settled into the cozy nook by the window, surrounded by shelves adorned with mystical trinkets and ancient books. With a blend of unease, I began to recount the unsettling visions that had plagued me – the spectral girl, the waterlogged bodies, and the nightmarish river. Coco listened attentively, her eyes filled with empathy and understanding, as if she could feel the weight of my experiences.
Amidst the disorienting maelstrom of her vision, as Sam was inexorably drawn closer to the enigmatic river's depths, she glimpsed a figure emerging from the shadows. It was the same ethereal girl, the one she had encountered before in her unsettling dreams and visions. Her presence was as eerie as ever, a haunting specter in the nightmarish tableau. The girl's features remained elusive, obscured by an otherworldly aura, and her eyes held a depth of knowledge that seemed to transcend time and reality. She watched Sam with an inscrutable expression, her presence both disconcerting and strangely familiar. As Sam's journey down the dark river continued, more macabre elements of her vision began to manifest. The waterlogged bodies that had previously appeared in the waters of her bookstore bar now floated eerily around her, their lifeless forms suspend
Further into workout time at the bookstore bar, I stood behind the counter, gazing out of the window as the last traces of daylight faded into the evening. The tranquil atmosphere of my shop was shattered once again when I heard a scream. I rushed to the window, my heart pounding, and my worst fears were confirmed. There, in the dim twilight, I saw the silhouette of a lifeless body floating in the water. Dread washed over me as I realized that Randy wasn’t the one behind the rape and killings. He must have been sent if bodies keep appearing Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized that whoever was after me wouldn’t quit torturing innocent women. Anguish and rage coursed through me, but amidst the turmoil of emotions, I knew one thing for certain – I had to find the person responsible for this sinister chain of events. My mind raced as I tried to connect the dots, searching for any clues or patterns that would lead me to the elusive enemy. I retraced the moments leadin
As I waited anxiously on the couch, I knew I didn’t have to worry about forgetting anything. Clive always had everything meticulously prepared for me, down to my underwear. The thought of his thoughtfulness brought a small smile to my face, even in the midst of my fear. When I heard a knock on the door, my heart leaped into my throat. The uncertainty of whether it was Gulther or Clive sent shivers down my spine. I hesitated, frozen in fear, until my phone buzzed with a text from Clive. Relief washed over me as I read his message, confirming his presence at my door. I rushed to the door and swung it open, my heart pounding. Seeing Clive’s familiar face filled me with a mix of emotions—relief, gratitude, and a deep sense of trust. I hugged him tightly, feeling safe in his embrac
The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across Clive’s face as he lay beside me. I watched him sleep for a moment, his chest rising and falling with each peaceful breath. The world outside felt distant and unimportant in this fleeting moment of tranquility. My fingers traced the contours of his face, memorizing every detail—the strong jawline, the delicate curve of his lips, and those piercing, crimson eyes that had captured my heart. I marveled at the way love had brought together two beings from opposite sides of the supernatural divide. As I leaned in and gently kissed his forehead, Clive stirred, his eyes fluttering open to meet mine. A soft smile graced his lips, and he pulled me closer, our bodies entwined in the warmth of the sheets. In that embrace, we forgot about the complexities of our respective worlds—his as a vampire and mine as a werewolf. All that mattered was us, here and now. But, as it often happens, the peace was abr
"Sam, I can't even begin to imagine what you've been going through," Clive said softly, his words filled with empathy. "But I want you to know that I'm here for you, no matter what." His unwavering support was a source of comfort, and I found myself opening up to him about my fears, my doubts, and the unsettling suggestion of black magic that Coco had introduced. Clive listened intently, his presence on the other end of the line a lifeline in a sea of uncertainty. After discussing the nightmarish vision and Coco's insights, Clive made a suggestion that surprised me. "Why don't I come over, Sam?" he proposed. "It might be easier to talk in person, and we can explore this black magic idea together." I agreed to his suggestion, feeling a mixture of relief and anticipation. Hav
In the nightmarish vision that held me captive, the boundaries of reality and unreality blurred further, leaving me ensnared in a grotesque and surreal landscape. The relentless figures, their forms twisted and nightmarish, closed in around me like vengeful spirits hungry for my torment. Every attempt to move, to escape the paralysis that bound me, proved futile. The weight on my chest was an invisible vice, crushing the breath from my lungs, and my limbs remained immobilized, as if shackled by unseen chains. Panic coursed through me, and I could feel the cold sweat on my brow as I struggled to regain control over my body. The whispers grew louder and more insistent, their words now forming a sinister narrative that echoed through the twisted void. They spoke of ancient curses and malevolent entities, painting a chilling picture of the supernatural forces that held sway over this nightmarish realm. The erratic flickering of the neon lights above cast eerie, dancing shad
Coco's story had cast a shadow over our conversation, leaving a lingering sense of unease in its wake. Her eyes held a mix of compassion and concern as she leaned closer, her voice lowered to a hushed tone. "Sam," she began gently, "I know it might sound unconventional, but considering what you've been through, have you ever thought about exploring the possibility of using black magic to find answers or to protect yourself?" Her suggestion hung in the air, a palpable shift in the conversation's tone. I hesitated, my thoughts a tumultuous whirlwind of doubt and uncertainty. The idea of delving into the arcane and the unknown was both alluring and terrifying. Coco, ever the persuasive friend, began to share stories of individuals who had turned to such practices as a last resort, finding
In the days that followed the unsettling events and revelations, my life settled into a somber rhythm, marked by a cautious return to a semblance of normalcy. Before I resumed working at my bar, there was a period of introspection and support from my friends. Each morning, as the sun cast its gentle rays upon my apartment, I would awaken to the gentle sounds of the city outside my window. The memories of my recent ordeal still haunted my dreams, leaving me with restless nights and moments of reflection in the quiet hours before dawn. My days were often spent in solitude, grappling with the myriad emotions and unanswered questions that swirled within me. The city outside buzzed with its usual activity, yet I felt detached from the bustling world beyond my doorstep. The weight of the pendant's mystery and the looming threat of unseen adversaries cast a shadow over my every thought. Throughout this period, Clive, Dave, and Dr. Underfoot remained unwavering pillars of supp