“So, you and Faas, huh… I’m not sure if I like that, to be honest,” I say to him.
“I understand that, but I believe he can help me with all of this and understand what’s happening. No one else seems to have the answers, except for him.”
“Also, you and Hako, that was pretty amazing, and a little terrifying when he opened that big maw of his with those rows of sharp teeth,” Fynn chuckles, shifting the conversation.
Hako is still close to me, no longer intertwined with my shadows, but he doesn’t lose sight of Fynn. His lips remain curled up, revealing the multiple rows of teeth, and his tail lashes from side to side in agitation. My little shadow beast has never trusted Fynn since the beginning. Humans are anything but his favorite species, except when he’s hungry—then he especially favors their livers and ribs.
“If shadow beasts want to, they can fuse themselves with their chosen ones. In my case, as I wield shadows, Hako can merge himself with them. A shield sort of.”
Fynn gulps down the remains of his cup and puts it on the bar. He gives me another grin, the boyish grin, the one I’m familiar with. It’s almost as if the curse has burdened him with two personalities. It appears the barbaric, bloodthirsty one fights for the upper hand, and he doesn’t even realize it. I watch him leave through the door to his new best friend, it seems: the dhampir, Faas. A development I’m anything but happy about. This time, I lied my way out of it; however, I have no idea what other things this monstrosity will feed Fynn. I need to find a way to keep him connected to me and maintain his special interest.
Hako purrs as he headbutts me, and I gently caress his large, smoky ears, his black whiskers trembling with delight.
“I might be in serious shit,” I whisper to my shadow beast, who nudges his nose against mine.
For the rest of the day, I am in a state of simmering dread. Being constantly on edge, I nearly jump out of my skin every time the door opens, the sounds too loud. With each dark figure that enters, the hairs on my neck prick up. I’m convinced Faas will take advantage of Fynn’s split personalities, especially his tempestuous side, which he seems to share with his twin sister. Even if Faas isn’t aware yet that Fynn struggles with his unpredictable and volatile mood swings, where his vicious side often takes over, he’ll catch on soon enough.
Still, I have no idea what Faas wants from me, and I don't want to discover what the dhampir desires. His interest in Fynn is already a hurdle, making it more challenging to keep him on my side. I almost choke on my sip of tea when both of them enter the establishment. Within minutes, the space is empty; everyone flees at the sight of the creature standing in the middle of theroom. Tall and broad, with those unnatural green eyes that lack a flicker of a soul. Fynn, standing right next to him, is slightly shorter but still tall, with wide shoulders as well. His light gray eyes cut right through you, and his hair is raven black—the male equivalent of his twin sister.
Both are strangely beautiful in their own ruinous way. If only one does not seek my death, and the other hesitates to condemn.
Within a few minutes, Reiner arrives, panting from the rush to get to me, keeping his promise that I will never face this freak by myself again. He ignores both of them, passing them by to take up a position in front of me.
Fynn watches Reiner like a hawk.
“Come on, Caria. I brought a friend here, and your… whatever he is, is acting like we’re here to hurt you…” Fynn says, his tone almost sad.
“It’s not you I’m worried about, Fynn… But your friend… Our last altercation wasn’t exactly friendly,” I say.
I keep my eye on the dhampir, who starts to snicker. Everything’s just a game to this bastard, and I bet it was his idea to come here, to entice me.
“Oh, youngling, let bygones be bygones. Fynn and I are here to get a drink and catch up. This place seems to be the only one where someone is still standing when I enter who can actually fetch me a drink.”
Again, that nasty chuckle.
“Now, will you take our orders? It’s not like you’re busy anymore. Or would you prefer that I shout at you?” the dhampir continues, and I notice Fynn smirks.
Reluctantly, I shuffle to their table and take their damn orders. I refuse to acknowledge Fynn, loathing that he broughtthis bastard along. He knows I am afraid of the creature, yet he chooses to do it anyway, as if he, too, is toying with me.
Reiner stays nearby, and I feel the furious energy radiating off of him.
“Darling, you’re back!”
Hearing her voice makes me queasy, but catching her scent makes my skin prickle with unease. She smells like magic—the wrong kind. I pretend like none of this is a big deal, but in reality, Reiner and I are trapped with beings that have the potential to rip us apart and burn us to the ground, and they wouldn’t break a sweat doing it. A cold ripple slides down my spine. I do my best to keep the tremble in my voice at bay and my hands steady.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Jodelle closing in on me, and reaching with those fidgety little fingers of hers, and I jerk away. The last thing I need is those hands of hers on my skin. She can test her newfound magic on someone else, but it won’t be me. Reiner pushes me behind him as he glowers at her.
“Don’t you fucking touch me, you bitch,” I snarl.
She lets out a childish giggle. “How delightful, to have a powerful witch like yourself cower for me.”
I want to wipe the smirk off her face, but Reiner wraps his fingers around my wrist.
With a sudden burst of motion, Fynn leaps out of his chair, strides over to Jodelle, and backhands her across the face. Blood flies through the air, splattering onto the wooden floor beside her as she falls down. Stunned, she stares up at him through a haze of tears, her hand pressed tightly over her throbbing cheek, which has already begun to swell. Faas appears unaffected by the sudden violent outburst, watching the scene unfold before him with a detached air; maybe he’s grown accustomed to Fynn’s fickle behavior. Reiner and I are both astonished, and he pullsme behind the bar, as if the wooden construction can protect me from Fynn’s violent acts.
“How many times do I have to tell you to leave Caria alone?”
Fynn drops to one knee and grabs Jodelle’s chin, squeezing her cheeks together as she whimpers in fear.
