Monsters do not fear the dark, they are the dark.
Neither of us spoke as we were walking back to the classroom. Words were unnecessary; we already shared a solid understanding.
After enduring the final lesson, a grueling forty-five minutes that felt like an eternity, the bell finally rang, releasing us from our academic purgatory. With a collective sigh of relief, we were free to go.
Coffee caught my gaze, her eyes flicking subtly toward Jo, who was gathering her things. It was a silent directive, one I understood instantly. Keep an eye on her. I gave a barely perceptible nod, already moving to intercept Jo before she left on her own.
I stepped up beside her as she swung her bag over her shoulder. "Mind if I walk with you?" I asked, my tone casual.
Jo glanced up at me, surprised but not displeased. "Sure, why not?"
We walked together in comfortable silence, the fading sunlight casting long shadows across the pavement. I matched her pace easily, keeping an eye on the surroundings. It felt normal, almost peaceful, but the tension in my chest never quite eased.
"So," I started, breaking the silence, "any plans for the weekend?"
Jo shrugged. "Nothing special. Probably just catch up on some reading." She glanced at me curiously. "What about you?"
I smirked. "Same, I guess. Maybe I'll find a new spot to hang out."
Her laugh was soft, but it warmed the chilly afternoon air. "You always were a mystery."
We reached the bus stop, and I slowed, pretending to wait. Jo waved, her smile genuine. "See you tomorrow, Shay."
I watched as she walked away, her figure growing smaller in the distance. My eyes never left her, tracking every step, every turn she made. Just before she would have disappeared from sight, I moved, slipping behind a cluster of bushes.
The fae ring on my finger felt warm against my skin as I twisted it, activating its magic. A faint shimmer surrounded me, and then I was gone, invisible to the world. I stepped out from my cover, my gaze fixed on Jo's retreating form.
I followed her quietly, unseen and undetectable. Each step I took was measured and silent. The city moved around us, oblivious to the shadow trailing behind the girl who had no idea she was being watched over.
Halfway along the familiar path, the streetlights cast a soft glow, flickering against the encroaching dusk. Jo's pace was unhurried, her mind likely lost in thoughts of the day, unaware of the subtle shifts in the atmosphere. Then, out of the crowd, a boy emerged, his steps light and buoyant, his demeanor bubbly and inviting. He slid into Jo's path with a calculated casualness, his voice smooth, disarming.
"Hey," he said, casually falling into step beside her. "Excuse me, do you have the time?"
His smile was bright but hollow, his voice warm yet somehow calculated.
Jo glanced at him, slightly startled but polite, pulling out her phone to check. "It's 5:30," she replied, her tone cautious yet courteous.
"Thanks," he said smoothly, a friendly smile curving his lips. He hesitated for a moment, then asked, "You live around here? I'm kinda lost and was wondering where the nearest bus stop is."
Jo's steps faltered just slightly, her brows knitting in consideration. "Yeah, there's one a couple of blocks that way," she pointed ahead, her body language guarded but helpful.
The boy's approach grew bolder, his steps closing the distance.
"Are you heading that way?" He gestured vaguely in the direction Jo had pointed. "If so, would you mind if I tagged along?" he asked, keeping his tone light, as if to put her at ease.
Jo, unsuspecting, didn't notice the predatory glint in his eyes. A vampire playing the lost traveler, trying to disarm her with his charm. But as he leaned in, his body language shifting, something in him froze. His eyes darted around frantically, as if sensing a predator even more dangerous than himself.
The vampire's eyes widened in subtle panic, his posture becoming rigid as he realized he wasn't alone. I kept my presence just strong enough for him to feel, like a cold shadow pressing down on him, a silent promise of what would happen if he took one step too far.
The vampire's expression shifted from feigned friendliness to a sudden, subtle tension. His eyes flicked past Jo, as if spotting someone in the distance. "Oh, hey," he said, his voice edged with hurried politeness. "I think I just saw someone I know."
Jo blinked, her cautious expression softening just a bit. "Oh, okay."
"Yeah, sorry about that," he added hastily, already stepping away from her. "I'll catch up with them real quick. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction."
Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and left, his movements brisk, almost anxious. His exit was abrupt, the air of casual conversation shattered by his swift retreat.
I followed his departure with narrowed eyes, watching as he moved further down the street before slipping into an alley, vanishing from sight.
Jo, blissfully unaware, took his sudden silence as a cue to continue on her way. Her pace quickened slightly as she resumed her walk home.
As Jo moved farther away, I made sure to memorize every detail of the vampire's scent, his appearance, the nervous flicker in his eyes. He had tried to prey on her tonight, but he wouldn't get a second chance.
I retracted my presence, suppressing the weight of my aura. I resumed my silent pursuit, keeping a measured distance.
I stayed hidden in the shadows, watching Jo until she reached the front door. My gaze followed her as she slipped inside, the door clicking shut behind her. The weight of the day hadn't quite settled, and yet, there was something that kept me rooted in place. I lingered, my senses still sharp, but I wasn't looking for danger now.
I could see her through the windows, the soft glow of light spilling out into the dark street. She hung her coat on a hook near the door, a quiet gesture that seemed so mundane yet strangely intimate. Her movements were slow, unhurried, almost like she was shedding the weight of the world, even if it was only temporary.
She sat at the small table in the corner of the room. There was no one to share her meal with. I could see her fingers tracing the edge of the plate as she ate, her face soft and unguarded. Without that ever-present smile, she looked like someone entirely different. She seemed serene, yes, but there was an undeniable loneliness that clung to her.
For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something deeper in her eyes, but it was gone before I could fully understand it. She chewed slowly, her thoughts seemingly distant. It was strange seeing her this way—so... untouchable, in a way.
I couldn't shake the sense that I was intruding on something private, something that wasn't meant for my eyes. I'd seen Jo so many times, always smiling, always surrounded by others, but now—watching her alone in her quiet space—there was an entirely different layer to her. And it made me uncomfortable.
I realized I had been watching for too long—like I was stalking her, violating her privacy. I cursed under my breath, stepping back from the window. She didn't need this. I didn't need this.
With a frustrated sigh, I turned away, leaving the darkness of her street behind. I pulled my phone from my pocket. I couldn't get her out of my head—Jo, sitting there in her quiet space, so different from the version of her that smiled at the world. But I didn't have time to dwell on it now. I needed to focus.
I unlocked my phone and tapped out a quick message to Alice:
[Tell Des to find me.]
A minute later, my phone buzzed in my hand.
Alice in Monsterland: [Where are you?]
[It's no fun if I tell you] I replied.
I smirked, my finger hovering over the keyboard for a moment. Then, I tucked my phone away.
I stepped away from the edge of the street, my eyes narrowing as I retraced my steps toward the alley where he'd vanished. The scent of him still hung faintly in the air, a trail I could follow if I acted quickly.
The city streets blurred as I moved swiftly, my senses on high alert, scanning for any sign of his presence. My pulse quickened, a mix of determination and something darker bubbling beneath the surface—anger, maybe even a touch of excitement. Hunting was in my blood after all.
I found the vampire just a few blocks away, pacing under a flickering streetlight. His movements were erratic, uneasy, like a predator who suddenly felt hunted. The tension was thick in the air, and it wasn't just the nervous energy coming from him. Another figure stood nearby, keeping their distance, watching him. They were talking in low murmurs, but the words barely reached my ears. It didn't matter.
I stepped closer, my steps as silent as the night itself.
"You think I'm lying?" His voice was a low growl, the tension thickening in his tone as his eyes darted around.
The second vampire didn't seem to feel the same way, though. He simply watched the first one, amused. "No, but you are clearly exaggerating. It was just a human."
"No," the first vampire snapped, his eyes darting nervously. "Something's wrong. I swear... there's something else. A presence. I felt it when I was with her."
"Maybe you've had too much blood," the second vampire said dismissively, but the tension was still there, lingering in his words.
I decided it was time to end the game.
With a barely audible shift in my stance, I allowed my presence to fill the entire area. It wasn't just a feeling anymore. It became a force. A cold, suffocating weight that was impossible to ignore. The first vampire gasped as the pressure hit him, his instincts screaming that something was wrong. But it was too late. He wouldn't escape now.
The second vampire's amusement faltered.
Before either of them could react further, I appeared in front of them.
The first vampire barely had time to react. His senses were still scrambled from the pressure of my presence, but that didn't stop him from baring his fangs in a last-ditch effort to defend himself.
I was already there, too fast, too close. My fist slammed into his chest, the impact so brutal that it felt like I'd struck metal. His ribs cracked under the force, the sickening sound of bone breaking filling the night.
For a brief second, I felt a sharp pain in my hand, a crack in my own bones as I delivered the blow. But it was fleeting, a momentary jolt of agony. My bones fractured, but I could feel the healing start almost immediately—muscle and bone knitting together at an inhuman pace. The pain was nothing compared to the pleasure of what I was about to do.
His eyes widened in shock, but before he could even gasp for air, I drove my other fist into his stomach. His body folded inward, but I didn't stop there. No, I twisted my hand inside him, claws digging into his insides, pulling at his organs. The warmth of his blood flooded my senses, slick and inviting. I let out a low growl, relishing the warmth as it splattered across my skin.
His eyes, once filled with the arrogance of a predator, were now wide with panic. He tried to claw at my arm, but his fingers were weak, useless. I felt his pulse quicken, his lifeblood spilling out in torrents, his breath shallow and ragged. His body began to twitch and jerk, struggling against the inevitable, but I held him in place, letting him feel every second of it.
I looked into his eyes, and for a fleeting moment, I saw the vulnerability of a creature that knew its end was near. His fangs bared one last time in a futile attempt at defiance, but I was done playing. I yanked my arm back with a savage twist, tearing into his chest and ripping his heart from his body. He gurgled, blood pouring from his mouth as he crumpled into the dirt, his body twitching, spasming in its final moments.
I smiled. The joy was sickening. My hands, slick with blood, flexed as if tasting the warmth that clung to my skin, feeling every drop seep into my being. The smile didn't falter. It only deepened.
My smile grew, stretching wider and darker, until it felt like my face could barely contain it. A feral, bloodthirsty grin that bared teeth like sharpened daggers, gleaming in the dim light.
It was the smile of a monster, born of blood and violence.