Page 17 of An Anomaly of Sunlight

Just like that, the walls I built around my heart crumble down. For too long I’ve only seen the paranormal as dark. Wicked. A witch’s curse, a shifter’s hunt. An angel’s punishment, and a demon’s haunt. A vampire’s bite. Enzo clouded my vision. Solidified the resentment I had harbored.

Still, the darkest nights have stars. Skyler is a light in the shadows. A shining thread of clarity in my mind. How have I managed to forget a human’s greed. Any one person can choose the path they walk. Perhaps their species was never the defining factor; their hearts were.

“That’s beautiful,” I breathe, meaning the words wholeheartedly. Skyler grins, “I could show you sometime. The moonlight on the lake is astonishing, and I have a front row seat.” There’s nothing I’d love more. But I can’t control the way my body flinches, remembering the bites. The blood.

If Skyler noticed my reaction, he didn’t acknowledge it. He holds a hand toward the stairs beside the cigarette case. “Come with me to finalize this paperwork. I doubt we’ll have more customers, but we’ll see on camera if we end up with one or two.”

I straighten my shoulders, nodding as I brush past him. Memories be damned. Perhaps a bit of exposure therapy is just what I need. The office is small. The defensive part of my brain calls me a fool. As Skyler gestures for me to take a seat, my body sings with our close proximity.

“I can show you how to do the closing paperwork,” he mumbles distractedly, “in case you ever want to promote up.” I lean closer, “Alright, sure. You never know.” He studies me for a moment. My skin heats from his attention. Daringly, he places a hand on my knee. His thumb traces tiny circles across the fabric of my jeans.

He opens his mouth, assumingly beginning the lesson, and I squeeze my thighs together. In an attempt to control the desperate need in my core, I swallow, clearing my mind. But in lieu of paperwork, Skyler asks on a whispered breath, “Are you afraid of me, Amethyst?”

I freeze, my eyes blowing wide. No! I want to scream. Not of you. Never of you.

I want to run — do anything other than have this conversation. I’m not ready to face it. If I say it out loud, it becomes real. Tangible. If I just keep it in my mind, I can pretend it doesn’t exist. Pretend I’m not damaged.

Seeing the war in my eyes, Skyler reaches for me. His hand hovers just below my chin, seeking permission. I lean into his touch, resting my cheek against his palm. My tense muscles relax, as my body curves into him. With a soft sigh, I answer, “No.”

I don’t want to run. Not from Skyler.

“I’ve never been afraid of you, Skyler.” I suck in a steadying breath. “I spent the last six years in Angel’s Rest. I was a content creator. I did it for the money… I just didn’t realize I was selling my soul. My autonomy.” A tear glides down my cheek. I haven’t allowed myself to feel the pain. Not really.

“Just days before I met you, I was almost killed by a vampire. Truthfully, I don’t know how I’m alive. I was certain I had died.” My gaze falls to my lap. I thread my fingers together, fidgeting under the weight of my words. “It wasn’t my first negative encounter with the paranormal. I’d been bullied all through my school years. Minor scrapes and bruises, hair pulling.

“Once, a witch with illusion magic even made me appear to be wearing a trash bag dress in front of the whole class while I was giving our final presentation of the year. The laughter distracted me enough that I lost ten points and scored a B instead of an A. It was easy to believe them all to be monsters.”

I pull my hands apart, placing one atop Skyler’s. “You have only shown me how far from the truth that is. Anyone can have evil in their heart. Species has nothing to do with it.” His grip tightens on my knee, a reassuring squeeze. “I went by an alias and curated an entire backstory for her. With any amount of luck that vampire and everyone else will believe I am dead.”

I look up at him through hooded eyes. His expression is a mixture of pain and rage. Another tear falls. Skyler’s eyes soften and he pulls me into his arms. I rest my head against his chest and listen to his heartbeat as his fingers weave through my hair.

“Amethyst, I am infinitely sorry you had to endure that. Thank you for telling me. I can’t fathom the amount of strength and bravery you’ve had to put forth. You’re not alone, I’m here with you.” He pulls back, eyes blazing with certainty. “No one will hurt you ever again. That bastard deserves ten times the pain you suffered, and I would love to be the one to deliver it,” he growls, sounding more wolf than man.

“Anyone working here?” An irritated voice calls from below. Shit, we forgot to watch the cameras. Skyler leaps up, “Be right with you!” Looking down at me, he adds, “You stay here. I’ll take care of them and lock up.” I nod, wiping my eyes on my sleeve. “Thank you, Skyler.”

At the stairs he looks over his shoulder, stealing one last glance at me. “Angel,” I whisper, winking to add a hint of comedy. His demeanor relaxes, and he heads down the steps. I know there’s no humor in the nickname. He is an angel; sent straight from the heavens for me.

I pull out my phone to check my notifications while he’s taking care of the customer. Only one text is shown on the screen. A surprising one.

Nitasha

Hey Ame meet me at GGs tonight? 11pm

Nitasha calling me Ame makes me want to vomit. I also don’t want to explain why I hate being called that, which makes me just leave it be.

I am exhausted after working most of the day, but I don’t want to miss out on a chance to make a friend. It’d be nice to have someone to talk to.

Someone who isn’t a parent or a love interest.

The knot in my stomach is telling me to say no. Or is it telling me I’m hungry? Probably the latter. I hear Skyler’s footsteps heading back up the stairs, and I type out a response.

Amethyst

Sure, see you then :)

Eleven

Skyler