Chapter 38 THE CREATURE
AT A COFFEE SHOP
Shadow pushed open the heavy glass door of the cafe, the bell chiming softly above him.
Alina was already there, twirling a teaspoon between her fingers. She looked up, a playful glint in her eyes as she watched him slide into the seat opposite her.
"Here comes my favorite cat" she said teasing.
Shadow rolled his eyes, leaning back against the leather cushion with a sigh. "I’m a human now, and I don’t see myself transforming back anytime soon"
"Seems you’re enjoying the attention" Alina noted, leaning her chin on her hand.
"Obviously" He nodded toward a waitress across the room who was staring so intently at him that she completely missed the cup she was supposed to be filling. Hot coffee splashed over a customer’s lap, leading to a loud shout of protest.
Alina and Shadow shared a quick laugh before the girl frantically apologized.
"I missed you" Alina said, her tone softening just a fraction.
"I doubt that"
"You don't expect me to talk to a cat, right?"
"Get out" Shadow said flatly, though the small smirk on his face gave him away and Alina laughed.
"What about the human girl? Anya?" she asked, her expression turning serious.
"Turns out she's not human after all" Shadow replied.
Alina didn't look surprised. "Suspected that already. Then what is she?"
"I don't know. Even Nikolai doesn’t know yet"
"Intriguing," Alina mused, staring into her cup. "I just like her, and I don’t know why"
"We both know why" Shadow said. He reached out and took a sip of the coffee she had ordered before his arrival.
"Apart from that" Alina insisted, her gaze snapping back to his. "I just like her. Not because of her"
Shadow grew quiet for a moment, the atmosphere at the table shifting from playful to somber. The ghost of a memory seemed to pass between them.
"What if she comes back?" Shadow asked.
Alina reached across the table, her hand briefly covering his. "She’s gone forever, Shadow. We just have to accept that"
"Yeah," Shadow said, giving a light shrug as he pulled his hand back, his eyes fixed on the dark swirl of his coffee. "I suppose so"
Alina reached for her bag. "Don't dull the spirit. I heard there's a party tonight at the campus, we're going"
Shadow took another slow sip, a mysterious glint appearing in his eyes.
"I have a date" he said, the corner of his mouth twitching into a grin.
Alina paused, her hand halfway to her purse. She blinked once, twice, and then she couldn't help but burst into laughter. "A date?" she managed to get out between giggles.
Shadow leaned forward, his expression mock-offended. "Can't I go on one?"
"Okay, okay, fine," Alina said, wiping a stray tear from her eye. "With who?"
"Just a random college girl, I can't even remember her name," Shadow admitted, leaning back casually. "I just want to do what humans do. Like go on dates, shop, go on vacations. The first step is going on a date, and then the kissing part... I want to kiss a human"
Alina laughed even harder this time, leaning back against the seat. "A kiss? You, of all people? Good luck not scaring her off with that 'cat' intensity of yours. Just try not to break her heart or her neck, humans get attached easily"
Shadow rolled his eyes, a bored expression settling on his features.
"Whatever" he muttered.
•••
NIGHT, BACK IN THE WOODS
Anya has been here for hours now. Nikolai left since this afternoon and is yet to come back.
Unable to sit still any longer, she grabbed her phone and pushed open the heavy wooden door.
The night air was freezing, biting at her skin as she stepped on the damp earth. She clicked on her phone's flashlight, the thin beam of light cutting through the darkness. She checked the top corner of her screen—No Service.
She began to wander. The tall trees looked like jagged teeth reaching for the sky. Suddenly, a sharp snap of a twig echoed through the clearing.
Anya froze, her breath hitching. "Who's there?" she called out, her voice trembling.
No reply. Only the low whistle of the wind through the pines.
She turned around, the light of her phone swinging wildly, and stumbled back. Her breath left her lungs in a silent gasp as she slowly tilted her head up.
Standing directly in front of her was a nightmare made flesh. It was towering with eyes that glowed red.
A demon.
Anya let out a blood-curdling scream, her phone slipping from her numb fingers and hitting the dirt. She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the end, her body shaking so hard she could barely stand. But the attack never came.
"Irina?" the creature rasped.
Anya’s eyes snapped open. The spot where the demon had stood was empty. The forest was silent again. She scrambled to pick up her phone, her hands fumbling in the dirt, her chest heaving with terror.
The sound of heavy, rapid footsteps approaching made her spin around, ready to scream again.
"Who asked you to come out?" Nikolai’s voice cut through the dark, angrily. He emerged from the shadows.
"I was bored! You left me alone!" Anya cried, the adrenaline finally turning into hot, frustrated tears. "There was something here, Nikolai! It... it called me a name!"
Nikolai’s expression didn't change.
"Let's go back" he said. He didn't offer her a hand, he simply turned on his heel and began walking toward the house.
"Wait!" Anya scrambled to follow him, sticking so close she could almost touch his coat. She didn't want to be left in the dark for even a second longer.
As they walked away, a pair of glowing eyes emerged from behind a massive oak tree.
The creature stood there, watching Anya’s retreating back.