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She had been so accepting of me. Though she still didn’t know what it all entailed, being with a hellhound—how I was bound to the underworld, and had a past with other creatures who weren’t so fond of me…
I’d have to tell her of the risks soon, before she became too entwined with me. And I’d have to make sure that she understood that most humans themselves weren’t all too accepting of mixed monster-human relationships.
Her grandmother, for instance. Being from a time long before the Great Unveiling, her views regarding monsters were likely to be a bit old-fashioned. Could Zoe handle that if someone so important to her disapproved of us?
I opened my eyes again and looked around her bedroom. There were several framed photographs on her walls—landscapes, animals, and portraits.
In particular, one photo stuck out to me, which depicted a much younger Zoe standing beside her parents. They appeared happy and healthy, with big smiles and bright eyes. They were an attractive couple; her mother had long, flowing brunette hair, much like hers, while her father sported a bushy black beard and matching eyebrows. Both seemed kind hearted. But what would they think?
“Lucian! Breakfast is ready!”
I pushed myself out of bed and threw on my pants and shirt before wandering out into the kitchen. The heavenly smell of bacon wafting from the stove made my stomach growl.
Zoe beamed at me when I came into view. Her hair was piled atop her head in a messy bun, her cheeks flushed rosy red, and she wore an oversized t-shirt that almost drowned her curvy form. It nearly made me want to pick her up and carry her back into the bedroom for another session.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Better than I ever have,” I replied with a smile.
“Good. Come sit, help me eat all of this.”
I followed Zoe’s command gladly, taking my seat beside her at the small table. She slid over a plate full of steaming scrambled eggs, four slices of crispy bacon, and a few slices of fresh buttered toast. My mouth watered at the aroma that permeated the entire apartment.
“This looks great,” I remarked, picking up the fork and immediately cutting into the eggs. “Thank you.”
“It was no trouble at all.” She leaned over and kissed me gently on the cheek.
A warmth blossomed in my chest; I loved the affection from her. It felt so natural.
We ate in silence for a few minutes, enjoying each other’s company and indulging in the delicious meal she’d prepared. After a time, Zoe leaned back in her chair and took a sip of coffee before asking, “So what does the rest of your day look like?”
I remembered then that I had some extra administrative work to do at the station. Nothing terribly exciting, mostly writing incident reports, processing new recruits, and handling requisition orders. Still, it was important stuff.
“I need to get back to work later today.”
Her face fell slightly. “Oh. Yeah, I figured. I gotta get back out there too, try to repair what little is left of my reputation.”
I reached a hand across the table and reassured her, “It’ll take time, but I know you’ll get there. Your food is too delicious to not get word of mouth. Just… focus on the long term and try not to let the bad press get you down.”
She forced a smile. “Thanks, Lucian. I know you’re right. I won’t let it get to me. I’ve got people I want to make proud. Grandma. Annabelle.” She paused. “Now you. I’m feeling more motivated than ever to make this business what I think it can be.”
We both were interrupted by a knock at the door. Zoe frowned, mumbling to herself, “Who could that be?” She set down her napkin and headed for the front door.
I pushed aside my empty plate and watched from the table. I wasn’t particularly worried about the unexpected visitor, but my instincts told me to stay alert.
Zoe approached the door with caution, peering through the peephole before turning the knob. “Oh, hey Annabelle,” she said, trying to keep the door open only a few inches.
But the greeting was all the invitation her blonde friend needed, as the woman rushed in before Zoe could say otherwise. Annabelle seemed bubbly, and I could sense with little doubt that she was a good person, but she seemed a little too exuberant for her own good.
“Oh, just come right in, I guess,” Zoe commented, shutting the door behind her.
Annabelle hadn’t glanced my way yet, her focus entirely on her friend. “How are you holding up? Jacob didn’t try anything else, right? I hope you’re ignoring what he said on social media.”
Zoe groaned and rubbed her face. “I hadn’t even looked.”
“It’s okay. He deleted his snarky comments after I called him out. He’s a total twerp, I swear.”
That was when Annabelle finally noticed my presence at the dining table. “Oh, shit!” she said, jerking back, wide-eyed. “I mean… Hi. How are you?” She straightened out her blouse. “I’m Annabelle.”
