The heat between my thighs radiates out from within and all thought evaporates from my mind as I feverishly tug at the elastic of my panties while my fingers dive in deep to my hot center, hitting just the right spot with each pass, pressing harder until it feels almost too much. But then it’s just enough to bring on that sweet agony of pleasure that only intensifies as I imagine Shadow’s presence enveloping me again.
My thoughts are tormented by his voice, how his eyes shine bright with that secret knowledge I’m so desperate to possess.
Why did he leave?
Or rather, why didn’t he come back?
I know why he left after that blood-soaked night.
I furiously rub my needy, desperate clit. Images of Shadow dance around in my head as I think of how an ephemeral being can somehow move like a caged animal trying to break free from its confines.
He’s right. I have matured, and my need for him has too.
Am I the stupid girl who fell in love with a reluctant protector, a monster she dipped in blood?
My breathing picks up and becomes more ragged as the sensation intensifies until I can barely hold back from screaming out his name. A pulse starts beneath my fingers as an orgasm builds within me and it doesn’t take long before it bursts through every nerve ending in my body, wave after wave crashing over me until I am completely spent.
When it passes, tears prick at the corners of my eyes as a yawning, empty feeling settles in place of where there was once pleasure. Shadow is gone again, and he left a hole inside me that only he can fill.
I close my eyes and whisper to myself, "Tomorrow."
He’ll come and I won’t let him leave until he explains.
The Dance of Snarp
5 Years Old
Icry every night. I miss a mommy and a daddy I’ve never met. I wish I could make my foster mommy happy, but she’s never happy with me. I drop too many things. I’m never careful enough. The other children do their chores better than me.
If I don’t get better, I’ll never build character. But I don’t understand. I work hard, so hard, until my body hurts and I’m scared I’ll fall over. Still, Mother Mary clicks her tongue and tells me I’m failing.
How will I ever make my new mommy love me if I can’t do anything right? The other kids only talk to me when they are pointing out something I do wrong. I think they feel better when they tell Mother Mary I’ve done something wrong. She’s nicer to them.
The circles under my eyes are starting to match theirs.
If I don’t do better, the new mommy will send me away.
My silent tears have soaked Snarp’s head as I clutch my stuffed parrot to my body tightly. Everyone else is asleepwhen I hear a noise. Half between a scratching sound and a growl.
I open my eyes. A smoky tentacle waves there, creeping toward me. My heart jolts in surprise as I gasp. But then I realize it’s my friend from under my bed. The tentacle gently brushes the tears from my cheek. It’s surprisingly soft, warm, and it kind of tickles.
"Hello," I say softly.
A second tentacle rises up and slowly encircles around Snarp.
The tentacle tugs Snarp out of my grip, and I let my beloved parrot go, though the hole in my heart widens the moment I do.
But then Snarp begins to toddle along the edge of the bed, his wings flapping up and down like he’s dancing. Something lightens in my chest as I watch. Snarp turns to face me, his wings flapping harder to show he’s excited to see me.
"I love you too," I whisper to the bird. The wings fall and Snarp’s head tilts to the side before he waddles forward on the bed. Then he flies up and kisses my cheek once, twice, then a bunch more, making sure to give little sweet pecks to my neck until a giggle bursts out of me.
"Shut up," Georgia groans angrily from her bed.
My laugh is cut off abruptly as I slap my hands to my mouth. Snarp falls to the bed, the smoky tendril gone.
Pulling Snarp into my chest, I carefully lean to look over the side of the bed. I miss my friend, the shadow monster, and wish Georgia hadn’t scared him off.
With a quick glance over my shoulder to make sure no one is watching, I crawl over the side of the bed with Snarp. The floor is cold under my bare feet, but I still get down on my knees and drop my head so I can look under the bed. A hulking Shadow waits there, two misty bright white eyes blinking back at me with what I can tell is surprise.
