Rochelle saw off another set of customers, the sales of the day going rather well. She had heard the noise of the drills going off and on since Nyx had started in. She hoped that it would help that she was carving and taking her time on something again. Nyx could never make the same thing, even when she tried, it just got better each time. She did not want to disturb her, but she knew it would be a good time to try and get her to eat something. She checked the door as she moved to the doorway of the back of the storefront and looked into the craft shop. Nyx was hunched over, carefully carving a block with a blade, and trying not to cut herself as she went. It seemed like another water creature; it had been her recent string of totems that she had been making for some time in the past month. It was not because she wanted to get ahead either. Was she having something happen? Was it from her last embrace with being attacked by that unseen force?

  “Don’t just keep staring, dude.” Nyx called to her as she looked up and placed down the piece and blade, stretching her body of the ache that was now starting to set in.

  “Sorry, bruh. Didn’t want to disturb you and have you reaching for a band-aid.” She laughed and stepped into the doorway. “I’m going to be getting out of here in a minute, what would you like me to bring?”

  “A quiche? And something warm? A spiced tea sounds nice.” She nodded, her gaze seeming to once again veer off.

  “That’s it?” Rochelle was getting worried about her being so off. Nyx was sometimes scattered, but this was something different. This was something calling to her and not knowing what it was caused her to become a bit anxious.

  Nyx sensed it and smiled, “Relax and go enjoy your lunch. Please.”

  She gave get a side eye before leaving the doorway and getting her purse under the register.

  Steven walked in with his short raven curls somewhat tamed and his intense blue calcite stare was bright. His strong physique complemented with his rugged style of flannel over a t-shirt with jeans and work boots. His sharp jaw was hidden among his well-kept beard as he pushed his black frames up his nose and looked to Rochelle. “Hey, is she hard at work? Usually, you guys are rearranging things by now.”

  “Yeah, she’s diving into some new stuff.” She took a breath, knowing he sensed something. “You can bother her a minute, it won’t mess with her seeing as you’re not on her shit list.”

  He gave her a look as he made his way over to the same doorway Rochelle had just slipped out of. “Hey, Miss Nyx.”

  She looked up from her work and smiled, “Hey! Good that you came in!”

  “Why?”

  “I’ve a lot to do and it’s not going to be a busy day.” She waved at him, “Take your time with keeping her from the shop. I won’t have a pick-up coming until later today, probably around close and she should get more time with you before things pick up. Before the holiday season.”

  “Right…what’s going on?” he eyed her, knowing she did not say things like this if she was not upset.

  She shook her head, “Nothing. Just one of those days.”

  “Rochelle is going to tell me, isn’t she?” he asked.

  She nodded, “Probably.”

  “Alright, I’ll get her back in a few hours then.” He left the door and looked back to Rochelle, “You’re going to tell me what the hell is up with her.”

  “Yeah, I definitely will.” She took his hand and dragged him to the door, not wanting to upset Nyx further, nor distract her from letting herself mourn.

  Steven noticed this and looked at her as they got in the car, “Okay. Start talking.”

  As she heard the engine turn over, she turned the radio down and took a long moment before she opened her mouth, “Remember how you said ‘I don’t like that guy. I like his work, but not him.’”

  His face looked at her with the stare of a hunter, “That fucking bastard.”

  “She caught him.” Her tone of ‘called it’ causing his jaw to lock as she continued, “She walked home last night from wherever the hell they were. Not to mention she took a detour along the way.”

  “Detour? Detour where?”

  “Seems we have a house of vamps down the way from us. I’m more upset at that at the moment than the fucktard that she has been with for so damn long.”

  His demeanor changed as he looked at her, turning to skeptical confusion. “Wanna run that by me again?”

  “You heard right. A. Coven. Of. Vamps.” She watched him look back out of the windshield and blink before putting the car in reverse and checking before backing out of the spot he was in before making his way to the café.

  Rebekah saw the pair as they came in and smiled wide. Her deep merlot lips and bright teeth with her classy goth aesthetic would make the queen of darkness herself proud. “Thought I wouldn’t be seeing you again. What are you thinking? Chicken cobb salad? Panini? Both?”

  “I’ll be making an order to go, but as for now, I have no idea.” Rochelle shrugged.

  Rebekah looked at Steve, “What about you?”

  “Sorry, Miss Rebekah, I’m not sure today either.” He beamed at her, knowing she was able to read through anyone.

  She narrowed her eyes at them before tossing her hands up and placing them back on her narrow hips, “Alright! Go ahead and take a seat, I’ll get a pot of something and a coffee with a sugar container and I will be right over.” She shooed them as she went to start a tray.

  Rochelle moved to go to a small table that was in the corner where she could see out of the windows and watched as the skies were off and ongoing from light to grey with the overcast. She noted that the place was not as hopping as usual for the lunch rush. The place was pretty modern and bright for such a spot. Yes, the color scheme was black, lilac, white, and grey; but it was very subtle, calming, and relaxed. Even with the alcoholic drinks they served, they never had an incident of anyone getting out of hand. Rochelle chalked it up to the way Rebekah used her siren song tones to keep everyone calm. It also helped that her husband was an incubus and had a sister that would come in and clear the place by feeding off the negative energy of the place. It was quaint and deceptively large. She had a dwarf lemon tree in one corner in a box that Nyx had designed, as well as an orange tree with another box that served as the match to the other one. The floor was walnut, the bar was an acrylic pour of amethyst and silver pigment that ran through burl. Carved in a poured in pearlescent white was the name “Macabre Café” in script, the bar would be turned on when the evening crowd came in and the place would be filled with good conversation and the smells of good food wafting out of the doors.

  Rochelle looked out of the large windows and wondered if it would once again rain tonight, only to feel the stare from across the table at her as Steven pushed to know what was going on. She took a breath, “Yesh?”

  “What happened to her?”

  She took a breath and told him of her experience she spoke of the night before, unaware that Rebekah had walked up with the tray and placed it on the edge.

  Rebekah started to unload the drinks onto the table, “Well, that does sound a little…”

  “Weird? Off? Batshit?” Steven asked, his eyes not leaving Rochelle’s as he was trying to process what he was hearing.

  “Sounds kinda normal to me,” she shrugged, “But as for that bastard…I hope karma kicks him in his tiny balls.” Her smile returned and she tucked the tray under her arm, “Now, what are we getting? I have a great special for chicken stew and paninis with your choice of meat and fixings.” She then pulled out a pen and a pad, looking from one to the other.

  Steven snickered, “I’ll have the special.”

  “There we go,” she wrote it down and looked at Rochelle, “I’ll get the to go order before you leave, but what are you thinking of today?”

  “That chicken buffalo salad,” she smiled up at her.

  “Wonderful,” Rebekah squeaked, “Have to remember to thank whoever came up with that for my menu.”

  “I’m the only one that gets it?” she asked.

  “No, but you are the only one that I give an entire bottle of ranch to.” She wrote it down and laughed, “Anything else for just the both of you?”

  “Not yet.” Steven shook his head, his eyes still boring into his girlfriend.

  Rochelle stared back, “What?”

  Rebekah looked from one to the other, “I’ll have these out and, in the meantime, please play nice.” She walked back to put in the order as they kept their eyes locked.

  “So, she is going alone? And you are going to let her?” Steven’s lips pursed as he fought to keep from snarling physically at her, “Are you actually insane?”

  Rochelle shrugged as she poured out some of the tea into the cup before her and started to toss in four teaspoons of sugar into it. Sipping her overly sweet tea across from him she leaned back and placed it back down onto the saucer, “Nyx can handle herself, she gets into trouble, we will come running to help her.”

  “I don’t like it and after that idiot…” he blinked, taken a bit back to see her smile, “What?”

  “You liked him.” She reached back out to the cup, “I get it. I did too and it is okay to be wrong.”

  “Yes, however, I like her more and no one deserves that, most of all Miss Nyx.” He sighed, “I don’t care of his status either. That isn’t any excuse to be such a disappointment that you’re able to start to believe you can use someone like her to help your career resurge.”

  Rochelle grinned at him, “I’ll never tell her you said it.”

  “Right, we have a reputation to keep.”

  She laughed, knowing better than that. “Well, at least she is making the rebound attempt, even if she is going into a very dangerous situation.”

  He took up his coffee, “You’re curious about it.”

  “Well, yeah.” She crossed her legs, “The timing is also part of the entire thing.”

  “Her…’attack’?” he glanced to his cup before finding her face in a dangerous tone.

  She shot him a look as she leaned forward and lowered her voice, “You have no idea how that has affected her. The game that this…thing has played with her. But I am going to support her moving on from him. He made the choice for his own selfishness. He made the choice to be stupid and at least she could find happiness, even if it is only brief.”

  “And that seems to be all she can have,” His tone was one of sympathy as he rested his large hand next to his drink.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  “At least it is something.” She felt the pang of guilt momentarily at her saying it out loud. She truly wanted her best friend to have what she deserved. Happiness, success, and to feel complete and safe for once. She knew it was not all Nyx’s fault. She only knew how to be used and then tossed to the side like a broken toy. There were still things she knew would go to the grave with Nyx. Her best friend never asked for anything, unless there was no other choice, and would give whatever she could to help someone out.

  Steven could tell she was contemplating over what she had just said and instinctively took her hand in his and squeezed it. “Hey, I am sure this will come out smooth somehow. Nyx doesn’t tolerate stupid, and I am sure that she will come back from this outing.”

  Rochelle smiled, “Yeah. I’m just not liking the timing.”

  His thumb absently rubbed the side of her hand, “Think it is some kind of trap?”

  “Possibly is, that is what the last one was. I really want to be wrong though.” She moved her hand to lace their fingers together and placed the tip of her thumb to his own.

  “Keep your phone on you and do what you have to.” He shrugged, “I would do that.”

  Rochelle looked down to the cup in front of her and thought over the conversation, as brief as it was, from the previous night. Could the fates have changed their path for her? Might this really be what they had hoped for years that she would find?

  Rebekah returned with their food and gave them a smile, “I’ll be back to check on you and then get that order.”

  “Thanks,” Rochelle smiled at her and watched her go before turning back to see his stare was back on her. “What?”

  “Are you guys looking for another case?” his tone quizzical.

  “And if we are?” she challenged.

  “I would like to go,” he smiled at her as her jaw almost dropped.

  “You want to go?” she blinked, “Really?”

  “Just tell me when.”

  “Okay…I’ll tell you when we have the date set.” She released his hand and took up the bottle of ranch and rocked it side to side over the bowl in front of her. “Just don’t get freaked out if something happens.”

  “You guys already said that it is nothing like the movies.”

  “It’s not, but there is always some truth to some of the things that the spirits can do and sometimes things can happen.” Rochelle took a forkful of the greens into her mouth and tried not to wonder what happened to her boyfriend.

  Nyx studied the small owl in her hand, she thought of what stones to use for the eyes as there was a ‘ding’ at the door. She placed it down and moved into the front of the store with a smile. “Hello, welcome. Anything I could help you with?” she looked around to realize that no one was there, but the bell had rung. She shivered. The entire store was warded from anything dark, how could something have attempted to just step in? She turned back to her shop and walked in, looking around and not seeing her equipment tampered with. It struck her as odd. The next thing was her watch and phone going off and making her jump.

  ‘Will be coming back with food. Steven has questions.’ The notification read on her watch. “Damn it, woman!” she shook as adrenaline rushed through her. What was that? There was no way that something got passed her barrier. She locked her phone and returned to her place to finish up on shaping and doing a few more cuts, hearing the bell once more, and flying out to be facing her now ex face to face.

  “Hi, love.” His perfect bright smile and hazel eyes turned to fear as a fist hit him in the stomach and his knees hit the floor as he griped the spot. “Good to…see you…too…” he gasped.

  “You fucker! You should have just stayed on the other side of the pond!” she shouted at him as she stood in front of him in a boxer’s stance, her feet planted firm.

  “Nyx! Christ woman! What the hell?!” he attempted to stand back up, only to be hit with a fist to the left side of his face.

  “I should be the one asking that!” the tears brimmed as her Georgia accent got stronger, “You fucker! You had a side bitch and she’s your coworker of all fucking people!”

  His face dropped.

  “Yeah! I saw the both of you! Were you gonna sneak her in after a few drinks and my going home? Or was it for a pregame you fucking bastard?!” she saw him go to move and stopped as her fist twitched, “Go ahead…stand up…see what happens…”

  He raised his hands in surrender, “You’re right…I failed you. But you are the one that caused this.”

  Her eyes widened, “Wanna run that by me again?”

  “Did I stutter?”

  “Dumbass!” she kicked him back and put her instep to his throat in warning. “I am responsible? No. I told you I was loyal, but this breaks that! You fucked up! You don’t get to blame your stupidity on me asshole!” she grabbed him up by the neck with her left hand, striking him again with her right. “After everything and you still manage to do this! This is why I have trust issues!” she went to hit him again, only for him to catch her fist.

  “Alright! You’ve done enough!”

  “Far from it.” She snarled, twisting her hand out of his grip, and giving him an uppercut with her left. “All the bullshit! All the lies I had to tell myself! And you just do this to me?! With a damn two by four lookin’ like a teenage boy?!” she kept her breathing slow, fighting the tears even with them falling down her cheeks. “You think my sisters were dicking around when you first came into my life?! No!”

  “I’m too well known for that!”

  “Oh, bullshit!” she laughed, “Your dumbass can’t even pick yourself up without someone kicking you in the ass because of fear! You wanted us to be under the radar, which I was fine with, but only for you to do this? I should call Iris and Marie now so they can make good on that promise to you!”

  “They wouldn’t!”

  “They would! And they would make your hooker disappear too!” she picked up a wooden bat, only to use it to open the door as she stepped over his six-foot six height to get to the door and drag him out.

  He grabbed her leg and pulled her down causing her to drop the bat, dragging her back to him and pinning her to the floor, “You’re still bound to me! You’re always going to be here whether you want it or not!”

  “No! Even if I have to chew my own foot off, I will break the chains!” she moved her leg and used her momentum to toss him and get up.

  “You know I could have you arrested for assault?!”

  “You know that I can kill your reputation?!” she saw his face go white, “Yeah, don’t think I won’t! I’ll sing like a damn canary!”

  He went to strike her, only for her to dodge and hit him in his lower abs again, keeping him down as she picked him up by the back of his jeans and shirt, tossing him out of the door and now doing her best to catch her breath.

  She was not aware of the fact that she had an audience as Rochelle and Steven ran up to her as two men strode over.

  “And I missed it!?” the couple shouted as they got closer to her.

  “He walked in unannounced,” she shook as Rochelle grabbed her by the shoulders.

  Steven knelt next to the downed actor, “Well…you’re lucky it wasn’t us.” He stood and looked over to see the two gentlemen in suits.

  The one that towered was of wide build and reminded Steven of some sun kissed wrestler, though his muscle structure was very lean and smooth, came up. He had a soft dark brown tone to his hair and beard that was seeming to be a rich caramel that was similar to a grizzly in summer. His eyes were like warmed honey with long lashes. Steven watched as this man immediately went over to the ladies as the other went to check on the still breathing body.

  “Miss?” he asked to Nyx with a gentle tone.

  She looked up at him and trembled, “Yes?”

  “We got a call about a commotion and a possible fight, are you alright?”

  “Yeah, for now.” She shook out the adrenaline in her arms, “Who are you?”

  “Officer Jason Vang. Are you the one who did this?” he hesitantly asked, looking over her small stature. She was stocky, but was she strong enough to take out a man double her size?

  “Yeah, was just cleaning up when you showed up.”

  Rochelle pulled her into her, “So who called?”

  He showed the Jaguar that had a dark-skinned woman sitting in the passenger side. “You want to tell me what happened?”

  “This idiot has been cheating on me with her and has made of fool of me. Not to mention thinks that because I am the one he keeps around to keep him above the water, though now I am going to let him drown.” She trembled, “So what are you planning on doing? Taking me in? Let him off the hook?”

  Jason looked at the car, then back to the one laying there and shook his head. “No. You were defending yourself.”

  His partner’s eyes snapped at him, “Can I talk to you?”

  Jason smiled at her and held up his hand to her to wait as he turned and walked over to the side with his partner, “Yes?”

  “What the hell are you doing?” he stared at him.

  “I see her as someone that needs help, not to mention, that’s the woman from last night, I remember the sketch. This is a chance for you and I am trying to help you. She’s hurt. He obviously deserved the beating, and for him to be cheating with a RuPaul knockoff? Lin, if you don’t get in there, I will toss you under her.” Jason smiled, “And she does have style, I can respect that.”

  He grumbled and shook his head, “Let her off. Take her inside so I can get this guy off of her step.”

  “Thank you.” He went to turn back to the two ladies as his partner helped Lexx to get back on his feet and back to his car.

  Nyx looked up at Jason, “Yes?”

  “Let’s go inside so he can finish taking out the trash.” He motioned them in as they stepped back inside, Rochelle taking up the bat and replacing it to its original place.

  “Not taking me in then?” Nyx sighed.

  “No. You were defending yourself and your property, also, who really would believe that someone as tiny as you could do that?” he grinned, his eyes looking up to see some of her totems. “These are nice. Real precious stones in the eyes?”

  “Uh, yeah. Yeah they are.” She exchanged a look with Rochelle, who then turned back to the cop.

  “So, your partner alright with this?” she crossed her arms, still putting herself between the two of them.

  He nodded as he took up a small carving of a salmon with aquamarine eyes, “Officer Mackey understands what can happen with someone of his nature.” He replaced the fish and his gaze fell on another one of a lynx with an amber embedded stare, “Are you still doing well?”

  Nyx felt some pain in her right hand, “I’m still shook up. I’ll be alright, I’ll just be doing stock the rest of the day.”

  Jason studied the small cat closely and nodded, returning it. “I would advise that you close early. Take your time to relax and get yourself back together. Don’t worry about him, I don’t think that he will be coming back.”

  Nyx nodded, “Thank you.”

  “And take care of that before it starts to get bad,” he motioned to her right hand.

  Both of the women looked at each other as Nyx saw the finger marks on her wrists from him pinning her, “Oh yeah…might want to do that….”

  Jason looked to Rochelle, “Please make sure that she does go home.”

  “I’ll close for her and we will make sure that she chills out for a bit.” She looked him over and tried to get a grasp on his energy and he was far from the typical vibe that those of his type would have. He was gentle, he was perceptive, and he came off as a healer. She found that she was liking him. “Thank you again, I honestly don’t know what could have happened if you had not been here. He could have gotten out of control and this could have been a different outcome.”

  He knew then that he was correct in his feelings on the matter and he looked at Nyx, “Miss, would you like to—”

  “No. No.” she looked away from him, “Too much paperwork for me and you.”

  “Okay,” he took a breath and let it out as the door opened to Steven still outside and Mackey coming into the store. “Everything alright?”

  Nyx found herself staring at the man that had walked in. Something struck her as familiar, perhaps it was his bright glacial blue eyes or his borderline soft cinnamon brown waves that were combed back. His jawline was chiseled and his cheekbones were high. His nose sloped and reminded her a lot of the classic actors of the golden age of films but with an 80’s twist. His thin lips were pursed and he made eye contact with her, causing the same paralyzing effect as the night before. She felt warm and oddly calm as the adrenaline washed away from her and she felt herself ease, only to then become nervous as the same rush of lust came over her. The tingling in her gut was becoming so much that she ended up having to fight from being nauseous.

  “Sorry that you had to see my breakup drama,” she instinctively moved her arms behind her back.

  “Are you okay?” he asked with a soft London purr as he searched her face and tried to read her, only to find that she was blocking him.

  Jason looked at him, “Yeah, she’s going to be okay. She’s going to go home and take care of herself.”

  He glanced to Jason then back to her, “You shouldn’t drive yourself, Miss.”

  “I will be fine, thank you.” She smiled, wanting them to leave and stop making a scene with her.

  Jason lowered his voice, “We will make sure that he doesn’t come back to bother you.”

  “Thank you,” she found herself smiling at him, “That I truly appreciate.”

  He glanced at the lynx again, “I might even come back. You have a few things that I wouldn’t mind for myself.”

  Nyx knew that look and gave him a smile, “You are welcome back anytime; I’ll even do a forty percent discount.”

  “Normally discounts are minimal.” Jason was shocked by her.

  “Yeah, but I think it is fair. You do a lot and it is the least I can do to give back.” Nyx found her smile getting a bit bigger.

  Rochelle grinned, “Yeah, she does it for military and medical personnel too.”

  “I have a lot of people that will love you.” Jason grinned, “I know I already do.”

  She flushed, “I am sure that you have other calls. You should get back to it gentlemen.”

  Mackey nodded and looked to his partner, “Let’s go. You heard the lady.”

  Jason handed her his card as he made his way out, knowing very well that she was going through more than they saw.

  As they got to the car, Linnaeus looked at him. “What the hell have you made me do?”

  “She was defending herself. He wasn’t afraid to leave marks on her before, and she lashed out first so she could get the upper hand. Don’t panic if you see her wrists tonight.” Jason looked over to see his partner’s gaze momentarily flash to anger and then worry before returning to his standard look. “There is something about her, though. I do like her, even if she isn’t my type, I do like her.”

  Nyx turned to Rochelle and looked at her arms, “I should start to at least treat these before tonight. And at least now I don’t feel guilty.” She could not stop the emotions and hid her face as Rochelle pulled her in and hugged her tight.

  Steven came in and went to move to them, only for Rochelle to shake her head and let her tiny friend ride out the pain. Steven took in a deep breath, “I’ll take her home. She shouldn’t be driving right now.”

  “Come on, Nyx.” Rochelle cooed and rubbed her back, “Let him take you home, I got this.”

  She nodded, unable to fight it and moved to get her things.

  “I’ll tell Aurel.” Rochelle watched her a moment before looking at Steven and mouthing ‘thank you’.

  He gave her a nod as Nyx made her way to the door, “They have their receipt. You’ll know what one it is.”

  “The one by the garage doors in the back that is already in the large wood crates. Yeah, I know the ones.” She took a deep breath, “Go home, Nyx. Try to get some sleep in and relax.”

  Nyx nodded and walked out with Steve to the car.

  Rochelle knew it was asking a lot for her to leave, but it would not be good for her to attempt the rest of the day when she was going to be having chest spasms and riding out the shock from the aftermath of her PTSD. She pulled out her phone and texted Aurel to call her as soon as he could. She knew he would be upset over it. They knew that it was bad, but they did not know it was to this extent. She thought back on how that officer reacted to seeing Nyx as well when they first pulled in. He recognized her. Rochelle was starting to wonder if he was who she met last night.

  Aurel’s caller ID came through on her phone as she answered, “Hey. Nyx is coming home…I have a lot to tell you.”