The greatest power is not feared but respected.
Fire Within
I glanced at my phone as a new message popped up on the screen. It was from Geri.
Most Irritating Drunkard Ever: [Willingham is on the case]
Hm, interesting choice.
My phone buzzed again.
Trouble's Chauffeur: [Hey Shay! It seems you've decided to disappear from the face of the earth. Are you in hiding from dark mages, or just perfecting the art of invisibility?]
I couldn't help but smile at Lil's playful banter. I think this was the first time that she made the first move. Shall I give her space more often?
[Sorry for vanishing, Lil. Things got a bit chaotic. Jelal has managed to possess Alex's body.]
The reply came quickly, her concern evident. Trouble's Chauffeur: [What?! Jelal doesn't act on a whim—what did you do to make him go this far? This is dangerous, Shay. Are you handling it alone?]
I paused, considering my words carefully. [Well, I didn't exactly plan for this. Jelal's interest was a result of some complicated circumstances.]
Trouble's Chauffeur: [Be careful. Jelal is not someone to provoke lightly. If you need anything, I'm here. Don't face him alone if you don't have to.]
[Actually, Lil, do you have a bit of time? I could use a chat if you're free.]
Her reply was swift.
Trouble's Chauffeur: [Just got home with some new artifacts, so yes, I'm free. Do you want me to come over?]
Hm, now or never.
[Actually, I'd prefer to come to you if that's okay. I think it might be better to talk in person at your place.]
There was a brief pause before Lil's response came through. Her usual quickness was replaced by a noticeable delay. Finally, her message arrived, and the change in her tone was evident.
Trouble's Chauffeur: [Alright, I'll send you my address.]
I read her message and couldn't help but feel a jolt of surprise. Did she just agree?
The next message was indeed an address.
[I'll be there soon.]
The evening air was crisp as I made my way to Lil's address. Her directions had been straightforward, but the sense of unease I felt was anything but. I approached her house, a charming old cottage nestled near a quiet little forest, just outside of town. The exterior exuded an air of history and mystery, much like Lil herself.
I knocked on the door. Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing Lil standing there with an expectant yet guarded expression. She wore a loose, dark sweater paired with ripped jeans that hugged her figure just enough to be distracting.
"Shay," she greeted, her tone warm but laced with an undercurrent of tension. "Come in."
I stepped inside, removing my coat. Last time I wasn't in the mood to map her place so this time I made sure to catch every detail.
The interior of her home was just as intriguing as the outside—walls lined with shelves of curious artifacts, old books, and strange trinkets that seemed to whisper secrets of their own.
"Nice place you have here," I remarked, though I could sense a lingering awkwardness between us. "It looks like a museum."
Lil gave a soft laugh, though her eyes remained serious. "Thanks. I've been collecting for years."
As she led me to the living room, I took in the details—the room was cozy, with soft lighting and an inviting atmosphere, but there was a distinct feeling of apprehension that I couldn't shake. Lil motioned for me to sit on the plush sofa, and she took the armchair across from me.
"I wasn't expecting you to come over," Lil said, her gaze steady as she studied me. "What's going on?"
I leaned forward slightly, trying to gauge her mood. I noticed that Lil was more reserved than usual, her posture slightly tense. I tried to keep my tone casual, though I could feel a strange electricity in the air.
"So," I began, leaning forward slightly, "I need to ask for your help with something specific."
Lil raised an eyebrow, her gaze steady. "What's on your mind?"
I took a deep breath, attempting to focus on the task at hand. "I'm looking into creation magic. Specifically, I need to increase the hunters' success rate in catching Pitou. Do you have any literature or resources on that? Anything that might help us?"
Lil's eyes widened slightly. Then she seemed to study me for a moment, her gaze lingering a bit longer than necessary. "I might have a few texts that could help. Let me check my collection."
As she rose and walked over to one of her bookshelves, I couldn't help but notice the way her movements seemed both deliberate and graceful. There was an awkward yet palpable tension in the air as if we were both trying to navigate uncharted territory.
"So," I said, trying to break the silence, "have you ever worked with creation magic yourself?"
Lil paused, her back still turned to me. "A little, though I wouldn't call myself an expert. It's tricky and requires a delicate touch. Why do you ask?"
I leaned back, attempting to appear casual. "Just curious."
When Lil turned back around, holding a thick tome in her hands, I saw a glint of something unreadable in her eyes. She handed me the book, our fingers brushing briefly.
"Here," Lil said softly, her voice almost a whisper. "This should have some useful information."
I accepted the book, feeling the warmth of her touch linger on my skin. "Thank you, Lil."
She nodded, her eyes meeting mine with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity. "If you need more help, just let me know."
I smiled, trying to mask the awkward tension that was settling in between us.
"Fancy a drink?" she asked and I nodded right away.
As she led me to the kitchen the space between us seemed charged with unspoken words and unresolved feelings. I could sense the unease beneath her composed exterior. It was small, but cozy, with mismatched mugs hanging from hooks and an assortment of herbs drying by the window.
I watched her move around the small space with easy familiarity, pulling out two mugs, filling one with water and one with milk. I took a seat on one of the stools, trying not to seem like I was studying her every move. She had this unguarded calm about her, and I couldn't quite decide if it was because she was at home or because she was deliberately trying to put some distance between us.
Lil reached into a cabinet and pulled out a small sachet of cocoa mix, then set it on the counter without a word. The sight of it threw me off for a second; it was the same brand she'd seen me drinking once before, a minor detail I never thought she'd notice.
"Cocoa?" she offered, her voice casual, but there was a hint of something behind it—something knowing.
I watched her as she put a tea tea leaves and the cocoa in the mugs, stirring the cocoa with a slow, deliberate rhythm.
"Didn't know you stocked this kind of thing," I said lightly, my eyes meeting hers when she looked up. "Or did you buy it just for me?"
Lil let out a small laugh, but I could tell it was a deflection. "Don't flatter yourself, Shay. It was on sale."
She slid the mug over to me. I accepted it, feeling the warmth seep into my hands, but my mind was stuck on the idea that she might have bought this just because she knew I'd like it. It wasn't something Lil would ever admit to, but the thought lingered between us, unspoken and heavy.
I took a sip, savoring the rich, familiar taste. "It's good," I said, almost too casually. "You've been hiding some hospitality skills."
She smirked, leaning against the counter with her own mug. "It's just cocoa, Shay. Don't read too much into it."
But, well I already was. There was a tension here, simmering just below the surface, and I could tell she felt it too, even if she pretended not to.
"So," I said, leaning back slightly. "You mentioned you picked up some artifacts. Snatched them from a few dark mages, right?"
Lil's posture stiffened slightly, but she kept her voice steady. "Yeah. It was a little... impromptu acquisition. Most of it is junk—cursed baubles, enchanted trinkets. You know how it goes. But a few things..."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the way her voice trailed off. "A few things what?"
"A few things are worth the trouble. For example," she said, conjuring a black vial into her hands from thin air, turning it between her fingers, "this is pure, unfiltered shadow essence. Hard to come by, and even harder to keep stable."
"Shadow essence?" I asked, setting my cocoa down. "What were they doing with that?"
Lil's eyes flicked to mine, and for a moment, I could see the calculated caution there. "From what I gathered, something nasty. But that's the thing with dark mages—they always think they can control what's beyond them."
She made the vial disappear as if it didn't even exist. I watched her, noting the tension in her posture, the way her guard seemed to flicker between letting me in and keeping me at bay. It felt like there was more she wasn't saying, but pushing her would get me nowhere.
"Impressive," I said. "You're getting bolder. Stealing rare stuff from dangerous dark mages all the time."
She finally met my eyes, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Sometimes, you have to be, Shay. Especially when you're dealing with people like us."
I couldn't help but chuckle, feeling the tension between us thicken, sharp and electric. "You sure you're not just trying to impress me?"
Lil laughed, a sound that was both light and heavy at once. "Please, don't flatter yourself."
But the way she looked at me, with that mix of challenge and something unspoken, made it feel like more than that. As we sat there, sipping cocoa and tea in her tiny kitchen, surrounded by dangerous artifacts and unspoken words, I couldn't help but think that this—whatever it was—was teetering on the edge of something neither of us quite knew how to handle.
The scent of cocoa mingled with the faint trace of her perfume, a mix of something sweet and smoky that seemed to wrap around me, pulling me in. The distance between us was barely more than a breath, and I found myself acutely aware of every tiny movement—how she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, how her fingers drummed lightly against her cup, almost nervously.
I glanced at her, trying to read past the surface. Lil's expression was guarded, her mouth set in that half-smile she used when she was hiding something. She was always like this—playful, sarcastic, impossible to pin down. But there was a flicker of something else there, just beneath the surface.
This wasn't the first time I'd been here, sitting in her space, sharing moments that felt like they were teetering on some invisible edge. But today, it felt different. Sharper. Heavier.
We both fell silent again, the atmosphere thick with everything we weren't saying. It was easy to pretend this was just about cocoa, just about artifacts, just about anything other than what was really bubbling beneath the surface.
I set my cup down, feeling the weight of the moment hang in the air. The tension between us had grown thick, palpable, like the heavy air before a storm.
"I should probably get going," I said, though the words felt hollow. I didn't want to leave. Not yet. But this felt like a line I was too hesitant to cross just yet, and the way Lil looked at me only made it worse.
Lil's eyes flicked to mine, a spark of something sharp and challenging in her gaze. She didn't move, didn't look away, just sat there with that small, almost imperceptible smile—the kind that always made me feel like I was one wrong move away from losing whatever game we were playing.
"You forgot your own words," she said quietly, her voice tinged with a dangerous edge that sent a shiver down my spine.
I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. "What do you mean?"
She stared at me, her expression unreadable, but I could see the flicker of something deeper in her eyes—something dark and knowing.
"You promised," she said, her tone teasing but layered with something far more serious. "You told me if I let you come here, you'd show me the monster in you."
I remembered the heat of the moment, how I'd baited her with the promise of revealing the parts of myself I kept hidden from everyone else. It was a dare, a reckless challenge to see if she'd let me get close enough to reveal the thing that lived inside of me—the part I usually kept on a tight leash.
But I never expected her to call me on it.
Lil tilted her head, studying me with that same unsettling calm, as if she were dissecting every thought running through my mind.
"You always act like you're afraid of scaring people off, Shay," she said, her voice dropping to a low, almost seductive murmur. "But I'm not easily scared."
She was right, of course. I was terrified—not of the monster itself, but of how it felt to let it out, how liberating it was to be that version of myself. I'd spent so much time hiding, burying those urges under layers of control, that the thought of letting someone see it—of letting her see it—felt like crossing a line I couldn't come back from.
"You think you can handle it?" I asked, voice low, barely audible. There was a challenge in my tone.
But Lil didn't flinch. Her eyes held mine, fierce and unblinking, like she was daring me to do my worst. "Why don't you show me and find out?"
The air between us felt electric, buzzing with all the things we weren't saying. This was uncharted territory, a place where one wrong move could tip the balance and send us both spiraling into something neither of us was ready for. But as I looked at her, at the fire in her eyes, I realized that maybe—just maybe—I was tired of holding back.
I reached out, my hand hovering near her cheek, hesitant but drawn by the pull between us. The faintest brush of my fingertips against her skin was enough and her breath hitched, just for a second, before she caught herself. It was a small reaction, but it was enough to ignite something wild in my chest.
The monster in me stirred, excitedly purring, hungry and eager, and for the first time in a long time, I didn't feel like holding it back. Lil's gaze never wavered, steady and daring, as if she was ready to see whatever darkness I was willing to reveal.
"I don't think you know what you're asking for," I said, my voice rough, barely more than a whisper. But the look in her eyes told me she didn't care, that she was willing to take that risk.
I could feel the monster clawing beneath my skin, restless and eager, begging to be let out. The room seemed smaller now, the walls pressing in as Lil's challenge hung in the air between us. I had spent years hiding this side of myself, the one that lurked just below the surface, ready to tear through my carefully constructed facade at any moment. But Lil… she was the first to ever ask to see it.
"Show me," she repeated, her voice soft, but insistent.
I could hear the steady beat of her heart, slightly faster now.
I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply. The human part of me was a thin veil—a disguise I wore to blend in, to appear less dangerous, less monstrous. But the real me was something else entirely, something that humans couldn't even bear to be around.
I opened my eyes slowly, feeling the change ripple through me, my senses sharpening as the human facade began to crack. My vision shifted, the whites of my eyes bleeding into black. I could feel the shift in my skin, growing paler, almost luminous, and my hair turned a ghostly white. The transformation was seamless and natural, like shedding a too-tight skin.
I caught Lil's gaze, holding it as I let the smallest smile tug at my lips, revealing the sharp edges of my teeth—teeth that were sharper, tougher than any human's, made to tear and rend. Her eyes flickered, drawn to them, widening just slightly as she registered what was now staring back at her.
"This is what you wanted to see," I murmured, my voice lower, threaded with a dark undertone that sent a shiver through the space between us. As I spoke, I let the smile linger, letting her see the full extent of those teeth—how they curved just a bit too sharply, catching the light in a way that was both predatory and unnervingly natural.
I leaned in just enough to close the distance, letting my presence take over the space in the house, pressing in on her, thickening the air. "This is the true 'me'."
Her gaze darted, catching the flicker of movement as I flexed my fingers, revealing the black claws that now extended from my hands—dark, wicked, and unmistakably inhuman. Her eyes traced the curve of the claws, lingering on the dark, deadly tips that were capable of rending through anything—or anyone.
I tilted my head, amused by her reaction. "Consider this a private show."
I flexed my fingers again, the claws catching the kitchen's dim light, casting thin shadows that danced along the walls. The weight of my presence hung heavily in the room, pressing down on everything. I could see the struggle in Lil's expression, the way she fought to keep her breath steady, to not let the oppressive force of my true form overwhelm her. She was so cute, I wanted to take a bite.
"Intense," she finally managed, her gaze flickering back up to meet mine.
Lil's smile shifted, a slow curl of her lips that held a quiet confidence, one that sent an unexpected shiver through me. Her eyes gleamed with a dangerous playfulness, a flicker of fire that I hadn't seen in her before. As she straightened, I felt the atmosphere around us change—tightening, heating up, as if the very air were responding to her presence.
Suddenly, the space between us wasn't just heavy; it was alive, thrumming with her magic. It pressed against me, a palpable force that reclaimed the kitchen, her house, every inch of space I had momentarily dominated. The change was instantaneous and disorienting, a subtle but undeniable shift of power.
I felt my eyes widen as the heat of her magic brushed my skin—a searing, invisible touch that prickled uncomfortably, reminding me that beneath Lil's composed exterior lay something volatile and fierce. Her power wasn't just a presence; it was a living, breathing force that radiated from her in waves, wrapping around the room, tightening like a noose. I realized then, with a sudden jolt of surprise, that she wasn't backing down—she was pushing back, reclaiming her domain with a force that could easily incinerate me if she wanted.
I glanced around, watching as shadows twisted along the walls, bending under the heat of her magic. The air shimmered, wavering like the surface of a sun-scorched road. My skin prickled, and I could feel the distinct burn of her power licking at me, hot and unforgiving. It wasn't just energy; it was raw, tangible might that surged from her, a warning that I wasn't the only one capable of wielding something dangerous.
Lil's smile widened, superior and knowing, her gaze never leaving me. She looked at me with a mixture of amusement and something darker, something that told me she was perfectly aware of the effect she was having. There was a challenge in her eyes, one that dared me to move, to try and reclaim the upper hand that she had so effortlessly seized.
"You're not the only one who can put on a show," she said, her voice smooth and laced with a quiet, burning confidence that matched the heat in the room. Her magic flared, a sudden spike of intensity that sent a wave of blistering heat across my skin. I could almost hear it, crackling softly, like embers catching fire.
"Impressive," I managed, my voice steady despite the tightness in my chest. I let out a slow breath, feeling the heat of her magic still pressing against me, like standing too close to a wildfire. "I'm glad, you're strong."
Lil tilted her head slightly, her smile never faltering. "This is just the tip of the iceberg, honey."
Lil's magic had a weight to it now, a burning, untamed strength that was no longer content to sit quietly in the background. I couldn't help but smile, my lips curling into a sharp grin.
The monster within me stirred, purring with a newfound enthusiasm, a low hum of approval that rippled through my veins. There was something intoxicating about seeing Lil like this: powerful, unyielding, her magic a scorching presence that set my nerves alight. It made my blood sing in a way that I hadn't felt in a long time.
She was strong. Strong enough that I didn't have to hold back, strong enough that I didn't have to keep the beast within on a tight leash for fear of breaking something delicate. Lil could handle it—handle me—and the realization hit me like a rush of adrenaline, a thrill that coiled in my chest and sent a heated shiver down my spine. For once, I wasn't afraid that the monster inside would devour her. I wasn't afraid of my own strength clawing out and consuming everything in its path.
Lil met my gaze, her smile lingering, but there was a flicker of something sharper in her eyes, a knowing glint that told me she could sense the change in me. She could see the monster peering out, eager, not threatening, but excited. It wanted this; it wanted her—the challenge, the burn, the exhilaration of being around someone who could hold their own. The heat of her magic didn't just sting; it electrified every nerve and stoked the fire in my chest.
The monster didn't have to be caged around her, and that freedom was as terrifying as it was exhilarating.
"You're enjoying this," Lil said, half a statement, half an accusation, her voice carrying a mix of amusement and suspicion. She didn't flinch under my gaze, didn't shy away from the barely contained wildness that I knew she could see simmering just beneath my skin.
I didn't bother denying it. "I am," I admitted, my voice low, almost a purr that mirrored the contented rumble inside me.
Her smile twitched. She could feel it—the monster's approval, my approval. My grin widened, sharp and predatory.
For a moment, we sat there, the air thick with tension, neither of us willing to look away. Her magic crackled in the space between us, and the monster inside me basked in it, fed on the heat, and growled its approval. It was a moment of silent understanding, a recognition that we were both creatures of power—untamed, unafraid, and unwilling to back down.
I hadn't realized how much I'd been waiting for this. For someone who could stand in the storm with me, who wouldn't be swept away by the darker parts of myself. I wasn't afraid of the monster. Not here, not with her.