"What would an ocean be without a monster lurking in the dark? It would be like sleep without dreams."
-Werner Herzog
Nicole never asked how I'd gotten her number, to which I was thankful. She never asked how I found her at the airport and knew which plane she'd be on. She didn't even ask how I got Frogu to fly beside her plane so I could say goodbye.
My plan worked out better than I had hoped.
After I sent her the picture and message talking about Misrey, she responded with, I'm sorry. I knew what she meant, but didn't tell the others she had sent anything at all. It made me less angry at her and more need to see her safely away from here. Then, Frogu flew up beside her window and I saw the wonder in her eyes as well as the sorrow. When she waved, I knew she was going away for good. I knew it when she spoke harshly to me in the city the night before, but at that time, I didn't want to believe it.
Behind me, near a tree, Rhas and Tracy were having an argument over something to do with territories. Tracy had shown up offering her assistance in scaring a human who was rumored to be fearless but hadn't gotten lucky since Nicole was home by now and the Ichchadhari had missed her chance. I really could care less about it, I knew Tracy wouldn't scare Nicole. Tracy was too...soft in her attacks against females who were of no trouble. She would toy with them first before killing them cleanly. Men on the other hand...
Celiana walked up to me and crossed her arms. "Why wouldn't you let me tell her where Hannah was?"
I shrugged, unsure of my answer. I certainly did not do it to spare Nicole the pain, but maybe I just didn't want her to know I was there...
"Hannah is probably better off dead, you know?"
"Why is that?"
"She's a no-good soul who has ideas for only herself. She hasn't thought about Nicole's wellbeing since they met two months ago. It was always about Hannah."
I look down at the woman. "And you're telling me this why?"
She shrugs. "To lift some guilt?"
I give a grim chuckle and shake my head. "I don't have guilt, Celiana. I only have hunger."
She hums a bit. "Hunger? For what?"
"You know what."
"Ezra, you and I both know you are hungry for more than just children's blood or plant juices."
"And I know exactly what you are thinking, and I'm telling you right now that you're wrong."
"Am I?"
I glare at her. "Yes, Celiana, you are." She holds up her hands in defeat and I go back to staring at nothing. "Don't you have clothes to weigh and souls to sort?"
"Maybe," she said, but left anyway.
I sighed and thought about the green-eyed human who wouldn't back down from me. she didn't do a thing in the presence of any of the scary monsters I brought out to her. She heard my words of me being dangerous but was defiant all the same. Nicole was, if anything, stupid, but brave. This thought led to the conversation Hannah had with her the night the girl died, how she said Nicole was afraid of monsters. Yet, nothing Nicole did showed signs of being afraid of anything. It was Hannah and the men Nicole was with that showed signs of fear. The only time I heard or saw fear in Nicole's eyes was on the phone and when I confirmed her friend's death.
It's been weeks now, a long day followed by another that turned into weeks where I did nothing but hear from other creatures who stood guard of the Gate tell me of how she hadn't shown up yet. Misrey even went to the college to see if she could find Nicole, but there was nothing. I was frustrated at myself and at Nicole for this predicament I was in now. I was more bored than ever and Nicole was the only even I looked forward to since the first I met her. She was easy to tease and fun to play with. In short, she was what I would have considered mine if she hadn't gone home so quickly. I had no idea if I'd ever see her again or if there was a chance of trying to find her in the human world, but I was beginning to get restless.
"Ezra, we have a major problem," Trumthor announced one morning.
"What is it?" I ask, not entirely interested.
"There is a shadow outside the Gate."
I narrow my eyes and think for a moment. "A shadow?" He nods. "When did it get out?"
"A few weeks ago?" he said hesitantly.
"Why did no one tell me?" I hissed and glared up at him. "Where is it?"
"We're not sure, but we think it's across the country by now. Its movements are sketchy at best."
This makes me confused. "Across the country? As in at the other coast?" He nods and steps back. "How did it get that far? No creature outside of the Gate is supposed to live this long, and so far..."
Trumthor runs one of his six hands over his bat. "It isn't exactly the most harmless shadow either. It's one of the ones with the touch to kill."
"Where are the other shadows?"
"Where they're supposed to be. In the darkest place of our world."
I begin to think carefully and then think back to Nicole's plane schedule. Getting out Hannah's phone—now mine—I text Nicole if she's seen any monsters since being home then wait. "Is there anyone else from here who can last a while in the human world?"
"Maybe."
"What?"
"Well, several if they don't go berserk first. That's the biggest problem, everyone goes berserk after a period of time outside the Gate and end up killing a bunch of humans."
"Screw the humans!" I hiss harshly and go towards the book of all the creatures documented to be inside the Gate. The first thing I see that might have a chance is the Adar Llwch Gwin. "Send one of them! Tell it to find Nicole Simmons and alert her of the danger."
"You want to alert Nicole?" Trumthor asked in shock.
I glare at him. "She is the only resource I have on the outside. If she sees it, she can contact me easily and I can send something else to fetch it for me."
Trumthor holds up his hands and walks away. I glance at my phone again and see Nicole sent me a message. I open it and read:
Nicole Simmons: I'm always in danger Ezra. Be specific. What am I looking for?
I text her back.
Ezra: I'm serious, Nicole. This isn't for you. It's not allowed out!
Nicole Simmons: Are any of you allowed out? You all terrorize us, humans, whenever you do come out, so what's the difference with this particular monster?
I give a low growl and nearly break the phone.
Ezra: I'm just asking if you have seen anything abnormal in your part of the country, that's all. Why is that so hard to answer?
Nicole Simmons: Because you aren't specific with what you want. If you don't tell me what I'm looking for, I'm not going to answer you. I have my own priorities to handle, my own life to live. I am trying to live without all of you entering my life at every turn I take.
Ezra: I didn't enter your life at every turn you took! We met twice! You left over a damn roommate who could have cared less about you! Don't tell me I ruined your life when I've only seen you twice out of your whole life!
I wait for a response, but no message comes. I am expecting a long lecture about her life and how I ruined it when my phone buzzes and it says she's calling me. I walk away from the others and off into the woods alone. When I answer the call, she asks automatically, "What did you say about her?"
"What are you talking about?" I hiss.
"Hannah cared about me, Ezra. Just because you don't know something doesn't mean you can assume shit!"
"I'm not assuming, Nicole. She isn't going where you think she's going. If anything, she's going the opposite direction and as far as I'm concerned, it's good riddance."
I heard her gasp before she cried, "How do you know when you've only ever seen her once?"
"Celiana told me."
"Who's that?"
"She's a Datsue-ba who tests souls to see if they're innocent or deserve something extreme. She proclaimed Hannah as unworthy for a good afterlife, so she sent her begging."
"But she cared!" Nicole growled.
"No, she didn't! Celiana does not lie!"
"Then you do!" she said and hung up. After a moment, she sends a text back.
Nicole Simmons: If you don't tell me the dangerous being that is terrorizing my world, then you can forget about this connection.
I growl.
Ezra: A stalker. It hides in the shadows and you won't know it's there until it's too late. I have Edna on her way with more information. You'll know who that is when you see her. If something happens between now and the time she finds you, tell me. This is important for not just your world, but mine. I can't have this one going insane because it won't be pretty. Just keep me updated and if you need anything, SAY SO! I'm always available.
I waited for her reply, but after an hour, I figured I wouldn't get one. Nicole is too stubborn for her own good and it's going to put her in danger one day if it hasn't already. I don't know why I am concerning myself, but I am. Nicole just isn't your average human, she's different and that's what draws me to her, I think I know the others see it, and maybe they feel the same way about her, but this was becoming overwhelming for me. When I'm around her, I need to clear my head. But when I'm away, I can't stop thinking about what the next conversation we'll have will be about. It's unnatural for me. Scary in its own way.
"Adar Llwch Gwin is on its way, sir," Trumthor announced.
I nod my acknowledgment and close my eyes again, my body relaxes and my hands stop twitching into fists. I breathe out a long-needed breath then carefully look back at the Gegenees. "Be prepared for anything that comes our way."
~~~
Adar Llwch Gwin (Edna)
Definition: It is a bird-like creature with different parts of other animals. Mine has legs of a lion, head of an eagle, and talons for feet.