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Spraying a liberal amount of dry shampoo onto the head before me, I work a brush through the matted brown hair. It’s tough work, as some of the knots have been there for a long time, but I keep up with it, knowing the results will be worth it. Pulling the hair back, I braid it into a simple plait, tying the end off with one of my spare hairbands.
“See, Tracey, if you brush your hair and put on a little bit of blush, you look gorgeous!” I comment brightly, smiling at the female I’m standing behind through the mirror.
Tilting her large head to one side, she leans forward to study her reflection, blinking her small, brown eyes. Many people are afraid of Tracey, so when we first began talking, it took some convincing to let me do her hair. She didn’t understand why I would want to be friends with her when no one else did, thinking I was out for something. Really, I just spotted someone just as lonely in here as I was.
“You think?” she asks, reaching up to touch her new hairstyle, twisting her head from side to side to examine my work.
I snort and wave my hand. “Oh, I know. When you get out, you’re going to have all the male ogres at your door.”
She pulls me off the chair I’m using as a ladder and moves me so I’m sitting on her lap. Sometimes I feel like a doll around her, and she forgets her own strength, but I don’t really mind it. Besides, the ogre has been a huge support in the last week. She’s quiet, protective, and surprisingly funny, which is exactly what I need, and it turns out, I’m just what she needs too.
Standing at just over double my height, she catches the eye. Her thick skin is a greyish colour and is covered in battle scars, which she is very proud of. I’ve discovered that if you want to offend an ogre, all you need to do is make a bad comment about their scars, since their pride is directly attached to the marks. I had seen her around the facility, but I didn’t share any classes with her. Apparently there is a separate part of the building that houses the larger individuals or those who need more space, which is why I hadn’t seen her in the units upstairs.
Sitting with her now in quiet companionship, I lean my head against her arm, a gentle sigh escaping. Turning her large head towards me, she frowns. It’s a scary look, and I’m glad we’re friends.
“Why sad?” she asks. Her grip on our language is good, but the tusks that extend from either side of her mouth make pronouncing some words difficult.
I don’t know how to even begin explaining the mess of feelings I’m experiencing right now. The conversation we had when I told her about Gabriel and how he betrayed me was bad enough. She wanted to storm through the facility and tear his wings off, so I had to talk her down from that. I’m sure that’s one of the reasons why Gabriel hasn’t tried to speak to me in the last week, because I have an ogre bodyguard.
“I guess I just miss my mate and my friends,” I tell her, not bothering to try to convince her there’s nothing wrong.
My new friend snorts. “You have Tracey now, no need for other friends.”
I laugh and lean back against her, not a hundred present sure if she’s joking or not. It’s true though, I don’t need those men when I have Tracey and Tina. I’m sure the two of them would get on like a house on fire once Tina has gotten over the shock of me having an ogre as a friend.
One of the things that has been going through my mind since the assessment is that I never had the chance to properly say goodbye to her. We were so sure I was going to be released that it felt like we would jinx it if we had a long goodbye. I’m so glad I was able to see her then, but if anything, it’s made me miss her all the more. Has someone explained to her what happened?
It’s been a week since my assessment and my release was cancelled, and I decided to make the most of my time here—being on time to all my classes, taking notes, attending counselling, and signing up for extracurricular activities. Currently, I’m trying to learn how to speak ogre, but my mouth just doesn’t move in the way it needs to for their harsh words. I’ve only been able to see Zane once during that time, and it was only a short meeting to allow our bonds to be together. No other visitors have been allowed, not even with Jack as my sponsor to help me get through this. To be honest, it’s been eating away at me, the tightness in me getting worse and worse. I’m waiting for it to snap, and when it does, I don’t know what’s going to happen.
Packing up our bits and pieces, we leave the room we commandeered for a little beauty session and walk back through the hallways to the common room.
“Why are you in here anyway?” I finally pluck up the courage to ask. Ever since I first saw her, I’ve wondered this, but until now, I’ve not wanted to ask in case she felt offended. I think I know her well enough now, though, to know she wouldn’t lash out at me for asking.
Most would assume that a huge ogre with overprotective instincts would be locked away for a violent crime, but that’s simply discriminating based on her race. Thanks to my class in introduction to the supernatural, I know you shouldn’t assume anything about someone because of what they are.
Tracey shrugs and rolls her eyes. “Tax fraud.”
I can’t help it. I burst out laughing. That is certainly not what I thought it would be. It just goes to show, don’t judge an ogre by her size.
We’re just about to pass through the reception to get to the common room on the other side of the building, and I can’t help but tense up, just like I have every time I have to go through here. I can almost hear Gabriel calling out my name, his voice full of hurt and concern.
“Emmy.”
Jack’s voice rings through the room, a smile already on my face as I turn to look at him. He’s just going through security and is still wearing his police uniform, looking just as handsome today as the last time I saw him. It’s so good to see him and with such a bright smile on his face too. Jack is like sunshine, brightening up the room with his presence.
This past week has been really tough, and my emotions are a rollercoaster. Things feel so uncertain at the moment, and it’s making me crazy. Being away from my mate won’t help with that, and avoiding Gabriel instead of airing my grievances is just running from the problem. I won’t admit it aloud, but I feel so fragile. Not physically, no, since I am stronger than ever thanks to my new vampire abilities, but it’s left me feeling vulnerable on the inside. I don’t know who I am anymore. Seeing Gabriel might be the final thing that pushes me over the edge, so I hid and befriended the largest creature in the facility.
Jack is a balm to my soul, calming the raging uncertainty and making everything feel possible while he’s around. I hadn’t realised just how much I missed him until now. His eyes are locked on me, smile fixed in place, not bothered by the routine search as he’s patted down.
“Who is he?” Tracey asks beside me. She attempted to lower her voice, clearly wanting all the gossip, but it carries through the room. There’s not a chance he didn’t hear her.
Still, I lean over and whisper, “He’s the cute officer I was telling you about.”
“Oh.” With her attention now fully on Jack, she turns to face him and looks him over with a critical eye. “Too skinny. Nice eyes. The animals are always good in bed.”
I have no idea what she means by that last comment, but I give her arm an affectionate pat and walk over to where Jack is now waiting for me.
“I’ll see you later and fill you in,” I say over my shoulder, chuckling as she attempts to wink at me but actually just blinks with both eyes.
