Everyone in the world is crazy, just in a different way.
A soft knock came at the door of the smokehouse. I didn't budge. Another knock, louder this time. Still, I had no intention of answering.
"Shay..." A hoarse voice called. "Are you here?"
I stayed silent. He knew I was.
A deep sigh followed. "You're not going to let me in, are you?"
Finally, I sighed, realizing I wouldn't be able to rest any longer. With a forceful swing, I threw open the door—just missing hitting Alex. Barely. Unfortunately.
His hair was a tangled mess, falling into eyes that barely stayed open. A trail of blood smeared from his nose, down his chin, mixing with the stains on his face. His body was covered in bruises, bleeding in places.
I stood frozen, watching as he took a slow step forward, then another. He was only an arm's length away when he moved again, pressing his head against my shoulder. His breath was shallow and heavy, and the sharp scent of his blood mixed with the salt of his tears.
I sighed deeply and clumsily patted his back, hoping he would stop crying—he was wetting my clothes with his tears. That seemed to give him some courage, because in the next moment, his arms wrapped around me with surprising strength.
My eyes widened as my patience reached its limit. I was careful of his injuries, but I tried to pry him off me. Of course, it was a lost cause—he just clung on tighter. I sighed in frustration and, fed up, walked back into the cool, dark smokehouse—dragging him along with me. The door slammed shut with a loud bang behind us.
"My whole body aches, my head is pounding," he groaned, looking up at me in agony. "Tell me... am I going to die?"
I shrugged. "Who cares?" Finally, he let go, and I pushed him onto my makeshift bed.
"You stink," I muttered, grabbing some clothes and tossing them in front of him before handing him the water basin.
Half an hour later, he sat on the bed, smelling less offensive and with bandaged wounds.
"Seriously, you're pathetic," I said, shaking my head. "It's unbelievable that simple humans can beat you senseless. You bring shame on monsters."
"But they're three times my size!" he puffed, looking defensive. "And they're scary!"
"If you're afraid, you just have to defeat them," I retorted.
He looked down, his voice quieter now. "If... I can't beat them next time... will you come and help me?"
I stared at the boy, my eyes wide. I wanted to refuse him, but there was something in his gaze that made it impossible.
"Can you cook?" I asked suddenly, surprising both of us.
"A little," he replied, nodding slightly.
"Then, until you're strong enough, I'll protect you—but only if I'm satisfied with your cooking."
Alex's face broke into a goofy grin that I found both terribly pathetic and disgusting, yet I liked it. I hated it, yet somehow, I liked it too.
"It's a promise," he said, his voice full of determination.
From then on, anyone who dared mess with him, whether human or monster, was left beaten to a pulp.
I lifted the spoon to my lips and took a sip.
"How is it?" the wolf asked, his grin widening.
"Disgusting," I replied, watching his smile falter.
Still, I finished every drop and handed him the bowl.
He breathed a sigh of relief and gave me a soft smile, but all I could do was sigh deeply in return. Idiot.
I will protect you.
The words echoed in my mind as I glanced up.
Until you are strong enough, I will protect you.
I pressed my lips together, trying to shake the thought. Why am I remembering this now?
It's a promise.
I took a hearty bite of my fried egg as Alex placed a mug of cocoa in front of me. The other one was for Rolo—who, upon seeing me glance at him sharply, shot me a cheeky sneer over his phone.
"Hmph," I muttered, turning away, and he took a contented sip of his cocoa.
After breakfast, we headed to school. Of course, the damn demon cat nearly had a heart attack at the thought of us leaving without preparing at least three portions of food for it. Alex immediately groaned his apologies for almost forgetting, then offered it some of its favorite tuna delicacies as an apology.
All the way to school, Alex whined non-stop about how he couldn't study for the biology test this weekend, complaining that genetics was bloody difficult and that if he kept it up, he'd fail.
As soon as I arrived at school, Jo jumped into my arms and kissed me with all the urgency of someone whose life depended on it. I slowly pushed her away—not because I didn't enjoy it, quite the opposite. I was tempted to drag her into one of the empty classrooms...
But I could feel Coffee's sharp gaze on me, and I was relieved that her vampire abilities didn't extend to killing with just a look—because I would've been dead... for the sixth time in a minute. Jo must've felt it too, because she giggled and intertwined her fingers with mine, and we headed upstairs together.
Of course, after Jo and I got together, Coffee wouldn't speak to me. I suppose she was afraid that if she opened her mouth, something her friend wouldn't appreciate would slip out.
Alex, on the other hand, wasn't bothered. Elsie still hadn't returned to him, but they called each other regularly. I told him that no woman was worth waiting two months for. But as much as I didn't like the idea of them living their best lives together, there wasn't much I could do about it.
Lately, Alex and Alice had become quite close, perhaps because they both had to spend so much time apart from their sweethearts. I appreciated this, at least because it meant Alex didn't feel the need to discuss his heartache with me constantly.
Des had become the head of the family, so he had a lot of work to do. Although he was finally settled in Pécs, he still had to visit the foreign branches of our family and attend Crosspherat meetings every six months. He was away on one of those trips again.
As for Unfortunate Mose, he continued working to change his luck—though the success was minimal. Of course, after I told him that Rolo was starting to get a handle on his magic, he became a regular visitor. Yesterday, they had a hushed conversation about some silly amulet that might finally appease Fortuna enough to stop taking out her anger on the boy.
Mose came up to me later and asked if he could come over again this afternoon. I pursed my lips but said nothing—whether I agreed or not, he would be coming anyway.
I slept through most of the class, thanks to Hajnal working me to the bone lately. I only bothered to wake up during lunch when Jo casually announced she'd made me pancakes. By the time I finished and sprawled out on the table, she was absentmindedly playing with my hair.
"Got any plans for the weekend?" she asked sweetly.
I looked up at her.
"Shall I come over?" she smiled, her eyes sparkling.
A pleasant shiver ran down my spine at the way she looked at me. I'd never loved anyone like I loved her.
"I second that idea," I said, planting a tiny kiss on the tip of her nose.
"Really?" Her eyes lit up.
"Definitely," I grinned, brushing my lips over hers, tasting her.
Coffee slammed her thermos onto the table so loudly that the noise could probably be heard two floors up. She was a little embarrassed but said nothing. Jo giggled, and I could tell she loved her friend dearly. At first, she'd been embarrassed by Coffee's jealousy, but now she just found it amusing. We even had fun teasing Coffee sometimes.
I had never felt so content, almost happy, in my life. But still, something nagged at me. I couldn't pinpoint it, but every time I tried to smile from the heart, something held me back.
Every time I felt Jo's delicate lips on mine, there was a bitter taste in the kiss. Every time I touched her, a faint ache tugged at my chest. I tried not to focus on it, because for the first time in my life, I felt truly satisfied. I felt like I had the normal life I'd always wanted—because Jo was here with me, even after discovering the dark side of the world.
I told her that's why she shouldn't stay with me—that she would always be in danger. I even made up my mind to erase all her memories of me with the help of the first mage I could find. I remember the slap that tore me from those thoughts—as if Jo could read my mind with a single glance.
She just sobbed as she hugged me, begging me not to take away what had given her the greatest joy in her life. And then she told me she loved me and kissed me. When I kissed her back, we both knew it was a wordless vow.
I had everything I'd ever wanted—so why did it feel like something was missing? Was it the approaching full moon?
After school, Jo and I walked around the city. We sat in a café, just talking. At first, it was about small, trivial things, but then she started asking me questions about my world, saying it was time she got to know the real me.
I fed her the information slowly, answering only three or four questions at a time. She didn't mind—she didn't ask for more, and she'd savor my answers for days. I always answered her honestly, even when I knew it might scare her.
As I shared stories from my life, she asked for a slice of fruitcake and ate it sweetly, her big green eyes full of attention. I leaned back in my chair, enjoying the last, weary sighs of summer. The breeze danced along the streets, lifting leaves and brushing against my hair.
The street buzzed with activity, though the sun was dipping just below the horizon. Somehow, it didn't bother me—in fact, it made the outdoor tables at the little café feel cozy. I took a deep breath of the pleasant air and glanced up at the sky, where the sun's black disk was slowly sinking.
When I got home, Alex was waiting with lasagna—my favorite meal, after a perfect date. It couldn't have been better.
"What's wrong?" Alex asked with a confused grin. "Did I put too much salt in it?"
"No, not at all," I said.
"Then what's wrong?" he asked, looking at me as I set my fork down.
"I'm a bit tired," I replied, "I'm going to bed early today."
"Okay," he shrugged, taking the bowl.
As I turned away, a wave of unease swept over me, a shadow creeping into the corners of my mind. I headed into the bathroom, trying to shake off the feeling, but it clung to me.
I filled the bath with cold water—something about it always grounded me. It had a calming effect, clearing my mind every time. I sank into the fragrant water with a deep sigh. My muscles relaxed, my senses dulled by the coldness—I could feel sleep creeping up on me.
I blinked slowly, but then something odd caught my attention: the tub seemed to be growing. The thought briefly crossed my mind to get out before I drifted off completely, but I couldn't summon the strength to move. Maybe a quick nap wouldn't hurt. Just a little one.
I closed my eyes, the water caressing me. At first, it lapped gently at my chest, then my neck, and soon it reached my lips. Had I forgotten to turn off the tap? No, I distinctly remembered doing so.
Yet the water continued to rise, surrounding me entirely. Strangely, I didn't feel a lack of air, even though I should have. My body was paralyzed, as if the water was draining me of every ounce of strength. I couldn't open my eyes anymore, but strangely, I didn't mind. It was as if the darkness was becoming a welcome companion.
My consciousness began to fade, and I no longer fought it. Thoughts slipped away, leaving only peaceful nothingness.
But something lingered, a forgotten feeling.
I will protect you.
The words echoed in my ears. Was it... my voice?
Until you are strong enough, I will protect you.
It's a promise.
The voice felt so familiar, like I'd heard it countless times before, yet I couldn't recall who it belonged to. For a fleeting second, that realization brought a pang of sadness, but it disappeared just as quickly, replaced by a strange calm.
Life sucks—whose voice is that?
Remember, Shaytan, there is one thing you always choose...—who is speaking?
You can choose to stand up, fight, or run away, the mysterious voice continued, Everyone faces obstacles. When Fate puts a wall in front of you, what do you do?
What do I do? I wondered. What do I do?—Destroy it?
It doesn't matter whether you break it down, go around it, or climb over it. The important thing is that you get past it. Most people collapse when they face a wall that's too high. Right now, you stand before it, wondering how to get past it. It's up to you whether you break... or keep going.
Who are you... and why are you telling me this? I don't understand...
My consciousness was slipping away faster now. I couldn't even form coherent thoughts—just the pull of the darkness, drawing me deeper. An endless, dreamless void.
From the edge of my fading awareness, I heard a whisper so soft it was almost imperceptible:
This time, the obstacle placed in front of you is your reflection... yourself.
My... self? The realization washed over me just before I was completely consumed by the darkness.
I pressed my lips together, steeling myself, and plunged into the ether-like void that nearly consumed me. I fought, clawing at the suffocating walls of my prison, but they refused to relent. Then, through the inky blackness, I saw it—a tiny pinpoint of light, flickering like the last breath of hope.
I reached out toward it, my fingers trembling as the darkness tugged me back with a force that seemed to pull at my very soul.
Undeterred, I stretched my hand again, desperation tightening my chest. "Here!" I commanded, my voice barely more than a whisper against the suffocating void.
The tiny speck of light darted toward me, but as it neared, the tendrils of darkness slithered, wrapping around me like chains. I clenched my fist around the point of light, the warmth of its energy burning against the cold.
"Get out of my head!" I screamed, my voice breaking the silence of the void, the weight of the darkness pushing back against my every word.