《Monstrous Apartments: short stories》 Intro The following collection of tales are short snippets into the lives of a dozen roommates, who all share an apartment building. Through worry, laughter, rent issues and training, they all have their own unique stories to tell. And the most interesting thing? Not all of them are humans. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. While one half of the pair can always claim that title, the other half may not. From Beastkin to the Undead, each one has a way of interacting with the world that is both familiar but exotic. A hug here, some eldritch magic done there. A tiny bit of wonder in the setting of the mundane. So if you¡¯ve ever wondered what living with such a creature might be like, then read on. Maybe you can get an apartment there soon. Charging Dock - Android None of the lights were working. This wasn¡¯t unusual. The apartment complex was ancient, and the wiring throughout was prone to mice and water damage. On the rare occasion he visited, dad would test the walls, testing to see if it was up to snuff. It wasn¡¯t, and he expressed constant surprise, that the owner didn¡¯t get pulled up on fire code violations. I didn¡¯t have the heart to tell him about the bribes. It wouldn¡¯t achieve anything, anyway. The owner was generous with the inspectors. Yawning, the first sound to reach my ears was the repetitive thudding of my roommate¡¯s footsteps. Not uncommon, especially during our frequent power outages. A silent prayer left my lips that I¡¯d be able to reach the kitchen before she spotted me. My steps were near silent, and the kitchen door was less than a meter away. Glorious coffee awaited! My last hope was dashed as she stomped into view. My roommate, the android. Slender fingers gripped the long green synthetic strands that acted as her hair, as she stopped facing the floor. Her eyes flickered between blue and yellow as she mumbled to herself. ¡°Not enough power. Can¡¯t think. Won¡¯t be able to move. Roomie will find me.¡± She hadn¡¯t seen me. Were her sensors dulled due to not being charged enough? It was possible. She¡¯d mentioned charging issues to me before, though not for a while. A squeaking floorboard did me in, the same one the grumpy landlord refused to fix. My teeth clenched as she whipped around, her glittered coated skin sparkling in the rays of the sun. Her face was odd, evidently robotic with LED lines running down it, all now off instead of glowing their typical blue. ¡°Myrabelle?¡± My voice stayed low, calm. She wasn¡¯t dangerous. Designed as a domestic unit, she had too many protections inbuilt. That didn¡¯t stop her from destroying herself or her surroundings by accident. She didn¡¯t move at my approach, instead watching me intently. When my hand gripped her to work her fingers loose from her hair, she didn¡¯t resist. Good, that hair fiber was expensive and having seen her finances? Myrabelle couldn¡¯t afford another set. ¡°I can¡¯t complete my charge. Oh. Factory above. I¡¯m going to die.¡± A faulty update had stuck her voice in a constant monotone, an error the manufacturer never fixed before closing down. Not that it mattered. The jerky way she twitched let me know exactly what she was feeling. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Warmth spread through my fingers upon contact with her open palm, heating coils built into her skin, designed to make her pleasant to the touch. She told me her creators had designed it to appeal to children. Upon completion of OPERATION HAIR RESCUE, I answered her. ¡°It¡¯s a brown out. Or the wiring again. Or something. We just need to call¡ª¡± Her interruption was quick, ¡°¡ªI¡¯m going to die. You¡¯re going to be charged to bin my lifeless metallic carcass.¡± She pulled her hand out of mine as she paced around the room. Her arms flicking through the air, filling the room with a light breeze that caused me to move back. ¡°Belle?¡± With a whirl of gears and a metallic shudder, she turned to me. ¡°Please don¡¯t bin me. I¡¯ll be fixable, I promise. I have money if that¡¯s what you need!¡± My eyes flicked to the window to check my expression as she continued to beg. Neutral. That would do. It wasn¡¯t calm, but it was too early in the morning for that. Especially without my coffee. ¡°I¡¯m not throwing you out.¡± This time my voice was firm, direct. Even knowing this wouldn¡¯t be the last time we¡¯d have this conversation, a part of me hoped she¡¯d understand. ¡°Really?¡± Myrabelle asked, with a tentative step forward. ¡°Really, really. I promise you, the power will be back online any minute.¡± It was probably true. Mostly, it went out for five minutes, the longest being around half an hour. If it lasted that long, we had a backup battery for her, charged and waiting. She hated it, though. Apparently, it was uncomfortable and slow. Myrabelle followed directly behind me, not saying a word as I focused on the important question. You could drink coffee mixed with cold water, right? Some group on TV claimed it was better for you, less risk of cancer. The silent machine mocked me with its presence. My preparation time tripled because of its absence. My first sip confirmed all my fears. It was awful. ¡°You promise?¡± ¡°Yes, Belle, I promise. You¡¯re like this every time.¡± Cold sludge swirled around the sink under the full force of the tap. It needed to be punished for its crimes. Metallic footsteps told me she¡¯d returned to the living room. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Roomie.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be. I¡¯d be freaking out too if I couldn¡¯t sleep or eat.¡± Management had been clear of her quirks during the interview for the room. Apparently, her personality quirks caused issues with the other tenants. Rent was cheap, however, and so he accepted my blank eyed nodding as an ascent. He forced me into a year-long lease, which suited me. Besides, how many people could complain they had an android roommate? No sooner were the words out of my mouth, then a familiar hum of the refrigerator started. A grin escaped me as Myrabelle flipped on a light switch, then another. Her laughter rang out as the dormant metallic cylinder lit up with read-outs and colorful glowing splotches. I¡¯d never worked out the reason for the latter, but they were pretty. Hydraulics hissed, as she lowered herself down into her padded section, wires appearing from hidden compartments to attach themselves to her limbs. Her voice sounded out not from her mouth, but from the speakers attached to the box, allowing me to hear her excitement. ¡°Good night. Roomie.¡± ¡°Night Belle.¡± My words vanished beneath the sounds of the sliding glass door. Chuckling, I turned to the coffee machine. At least she¡¯d wake up to working lights. A Silent Question - Banshee Communication had never been an issue between us. This had been true throughout our time together, even though we worked opposite schedules. The feint scent of sandalwood, drifting in the breeze, let me know she was home, and, importantly, alone. Sandalwood, she told me once, was designed specifically to relax. It wasn¡¯t working. My gut continuing to churn with anxiety as I debated on if disturbing her was the best thing to do. With the open door, and no note posted up, it should be fine? My knocking came in an erratic beat before I stepped back to wait for a response. Black painted nails waved me in, even as she gestured for me to wait. Her pale hands flipped a page, and I watched as her eyes widened at whatever scandalous action occurred. With the cover bearing two swarthy shirtless lizard men in suits, I knew I could guess the scene. I took a seat at the dining table and tried to figure out how best to phrase my question. Blunt seemed best, and she would appreciate me getting to the point. She flipped through another two pages before I watched her writhe in laughter. With a shake of her head, she dropped it to the floor and grinned at me. As I stared into her pale blue eyes, I asked my question. One on my mind since the cute barista had smiled at me after scribbling notes with her coworker. ¡°You know sign language, right?¡± Sienna looked at me with her eyebrow raised. Her purple-painted lips quirked upwards, and she pushed a strand of hair out of her face; to more easily shoot a look, asking if I was an idiot. I felt like one. I knew the answer by now. Still, I pressed ahead. ¡°I know we don¡¯t hang out much. What with the different schedules and all. But I was wondering if. Well. If you¡¯d teach me,¡± I raised my hands and waved them in front of me. ¡°Not everything, of course. Enough to say hello or ask her name, or something?¡± She sat up straight and toyed with the upside-down cross that hung around her neck. I hoped she didn¡¯t take my stuttering as desperation. It wasn¡¯t, not really. I could learn other ways. Should I have asked the barista girl? What if she said no? Probably better that I didn¡¯t. A ball of paper hit me in the forehead, breaking my train of thought. She grinned like a loon and nodded emphatically. I picked up the ball before reading the flying message. I can help. Wait here. ¡°Thank you.¡± Her momentary retreat to her room ended with a small thud, and when she returned, she clutched a large folder. Instead of the couch, she took the seat opposite me, smiled, and pushed a crumpled note towards me. I figured you¡¯d ask eventually, so I made flashcards. What¡¯s her name? Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Why do you think I¡¯m doing this for a girl?¡± I tried not to fidget as she smirked at me while writing another note. Because I¡¯ve been to the coffee shop too, dumbass. My cheeks heated. She¡¯d got me. ¡°I don¡¯t know her name yet. She didn¡¯t have a name tag when I arrived this morning.¡± More smiles. I don¡¯t think I¡¯d ever seen her grin as much as she had tonight. It was a little unnerving. Maion. I met her during one of my nightly walks. She¡¯s cute. I did my best to commit the name to memory, though it wasn¡¯t hard. Maion was unusual, but I liked the sound of it. The tidbit about my roommate could be helpful, a possible in? ¡°Huh, that¡¯s cool. What¡¯s she like?¡± Introverted, but not to an extreme. Not into my scene, unfortunately. ¡°Good to hear. Though speaking off nightly walks, you never said where you go?¡± I raised an eyebrow as she looks down at the floor. For a moment, I worried she would leave, but she only shrugged. Nothing interesting. Help the elderly, and the sick. The mental image of her in full goth make up pushing a wheelchair almost made me laugh. I didn¡¯t, however, I still needed the help. She smiled again, and I had the impression she guessed what I¡¯d been thinking. Shall we start? ¡°Oh right, yes, please,¡± I gestured to the flash cards. ¡°Where do we begin, Teach?¡± She smiled and clapped her hands together. Thus, our lesson began. We started with a simple sign, and one I hoped to see Maion use: yes. A clenched fist held upright, and then flicked down at the wrist. As we worked through more, mostly the basics, I asked her questions. Simple yes or no, to more easily see the motions in practice. Once she realized what I was doing, she joined in and made me answer in kind. Did she enjoy living here? Yes. Have I ever been in a car accident? No. Did she have siblings? No. She looked sad when she signed that last one, and so I steered the conversation to safer waters. Which, for me, meant questions about food. ¡°Did you want to share a pizza?¡± That got a yes, alongside a few signs I didn¡¯t recognize. I got the gist, though, especially when I checked the clock. Nine P.M. I blinked. When did it get so late? Even as I grabbed my phone to bring up our options, we didn¡¯t stop the game. Large? Yes. Pepperoni? Yes. Share? No. She stuck out her tongue. I grinned. I felt the same. Once we ordered the Pizzas, we practiced a few others. Hello, goodbye, roommate. The three she insisted I learned when I went for coffee tomorrow. We watched TV while we ate, and I wondered if I had ever spent this much time with her before today. I resolved to make sure the trend continued. Whatever Maions¡¯ response to me was. This was fun. Communication had never been an issue between us. Now it never would be. Frustrated Viewer - Cat girl Her aggravation was palpable. She sat snuggled in my arms, her soft golden fur ticking my bare skin each time she shifted to shake a fist at the screen. Her cursing summoned from the kitchen four minutes ago, to view utter bullshit, as she delicately put it. Given seconds to see her scowl, she pushed me into the aging armchair. The leather creaked as she climbed into my lap and leaned into me. It wasn''t designed as a two-person chair, but that had been its selling point. She liked intimacy, and I didn''t mind her weight in my lap. Her long tail rapidly thumped into my leg twice. It was a sign she wanted attention, and I glanced down to gauge her mood. That was when I noticed the low neckline of her shirt. Another two thumps brought me back to reality. She never told me how she knew, but she always sensed my gaze. She didn''t even have to face me, leaned against me as she was, with her short blond hair tickling my chin. I waited until the TV caught her full attention once more. Then I kissed the top of her head, right between her two flattened ears. She squirmed and hissed lightly. I blinked in surprise. If kisses weren''t the attention she craved, this must be serious. I changed my tactics and squeezed her tighter instead, my arms encircling her small waist. This received a loud meow, her way to let me know I was on the right track. With a glance towards the screen, I tried to spot what had annoyed her. It didn''t take long. The TV was running a let''s play of a retro video game that had surged in popularity. In the corner was a red furred wolvian, in a backwards cap and shades, whose character had fallen to his death. Spittle flew from his muzzle as he ranted about how unfair the hitboxes were. I wasn''t sure why; he had fallen into a hole, not died to an enemy. Another shift in my arms, and a soft growl emanated. This explained the anger. She always hated people making repeated mistakes. This I could deal with. "What''s up, my dearest Cathy?" Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. She shifted in my lap again and growled as she gave a small wiggle. "He''s being dumb," Cathy lifted a furred hand to point at the TV. "I mean, really, look at him. How do you fail that?" As instructed, I did. I refocused my gaze on the TV. The human avatar jumped from wall to wall before it plunged to its death into the same pit. The wolvian went ballistic. Did that make it his fifth or sixth time dying in that spot? It didn''t matter. His reactions made for great TV. "And him being terrible makes you angry?" I tried not to sound patronizing. I grunted in pain at the elbow I received in my ribs, signaling my failure. "Yes. Idiot." She huffed, and her tail flicked against me once again. Another head kiss, this one longer, but it did the trick. Her ears flicked in delight. It was a specific feature of the Catalysia race, that had always intrigued me, from an aesthetic standpoint. However, their sensitivity made swearing under my breath without getting caught far more difficult. My brain drifted back to our previous conversation, and I continued. "We have the game. Hell. You''ve beaten the game. Just... go play it instead? Stream it yourself and show this idiot how to not suck." I twisted enough to dodge the blow. This time, I attacked back. I rolled up the pink T-shirt she wore enough to get my fingers on her stomach. She squirmed, giggling as she playfully thrashed around in my fast, loosening grip. We lost track of the stream as we continued our play fight. Her cute giggles filled the apartment until our miniature war concluded. She faced me, having turned around during our brief exchange. Nose to nose, she grinned, showing off pointed teeth. Her feline features were alien but exotically beautiful. Thick whiskers protruded from her face, and without a second thought, I blew on them. Cathay squinted at me before she buried her head in my shoulder. I forced myself not to laugh as I stroked her hair. "No answer?" I raised an eyebrow as she purred. The vibrations of it sent ripples through my entire body. Better than a massage, and nowhere near as expensive. Another reason to date a Catalysian. She mumbled her response as I caressed the back of her neck. "Don''t wanna." "Stream or Play?" "Both." Her tail poked my cheek. It was soft, and I couldn''t help but nuzzle it. Hell, I''d meow at stuff soon at the rate I was picking up on her habits. "And why''s that?" The answer took a while to come. For a moment I wondered if she had fallen asleep, but no. A moment later, her voice sounded in my ear. "Comfy." She wriggled, moving enough to make sure I felt it. "I bet you are, you butt." I gave a firm pat to the named attraction. It jiggled. Not much, but enough to show she wasn''t skin and bone. "You love my butt. I can tell." She sounded smug, and I couldn''t blame her. It was true. I knew how hard she worked to stay in shape. I sighed as she buried her face back into my neck. Not missing a beat, I returned to running my hand through her hair as I enjoyed the warmth of her breath. "Calmer?" I could sense her grin, smugness radiating off her in waves. We stayed there for a while longer. Though eventually, chores forced my hand, and I had to turf her off me. As I wandered into the kitchen, I heard the familiar sound of a fresh stream starting. The intro hadn''t finished when the cursing started. A soft sigh escaped my lips as the question entered my mind. Will I finish this time? Summer Sales - Dragon I stared down at the banking app on my phone and tried not to curse. Rent was due today, and I found my balance was light¡ªagain. Thankfully, I knew where the money was, and thus could fix it with ease. Though it wouldn¡¯t be as simple as it sounded. With heavy footsteps, I walked down the hall and hung a left. A door stood in my way. Solid wood with white paint and a metallic golden dragon nailed into the front. An obstacle I would overcome. I clutched my phone like a sword and raised my hand high. I paused before I let it fall. Were they live on stream? A quick check online confirmed they weren¡¯t. If she was asleep, she wouldn¡¯t appreciate being woken up, especially if she¡¯d been gaming all night again, But glancing at my balance steeled my resolve. My fist fell onto the surface. Once, twice, thrice. Each knock firm, hiding my nerves. I waited. Then waited some more. I fidgeted as I debated if I should knock again. Enough time had passed, right? I couldn¡¯t psyche myself up to try the door, I understood she didn¡¯t want me in her lair uninvited. It was part of the roommate agreement, but so was prompt rent payments. ¡°Oie. Drasha!¡± My fist pounded on the wood again. ¡°Open up.¡± No response. Annoyance welled inside me as I pressed my ear against the door as I listened for sounds of movement. My cheek burned as I brushed against the golden dragon, and I winced. That girl really needed to crack a window or something. Maybe get an air conditioner? Muffled clicks and taps greeted me, and an annoyed mumbling. So she was awake, probably with headphones on again. Well, I had tried to get her attention. My hand trembled as I grasped the doorknob and found it unlocked. With a shrug, I pushed it open to take a peek inside. I noticed the darkness caused by the blackout curtains first, then the mess. Unopened cardboard boxes lined the walls and sat around the floor. She had no desk, instead using box piles that both her monitor, and her, rested upon. Each bore names from popular online retailers, and I had seen most arrive this last week. I did my best not to shudder as I surveyed her domain. I wasn¡¯t a clean freak by any means, but the food wrappers that peeked out between the boxes looked ancient. ¡°Drasha!¡± That got her attention. Scaled hands removed expensive looking headphones from an unkempt mass of frizzy blonde hair. She scooted around on her box seat and glared at me with golden eyes. As she did, a familiar shiver ran up my spine, and my knees locked up. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Unpainted lips pulled back to reveal sharp teeth, which were almost scary enough to rip my attention away from the massive bags under her eyes. I debated asking her when she had last slept. Before I could open my mouth, she growled at me. Low. Menacing. Kinda hot in a primal sort of way. I was still thinking about that when she spoke in her normal tone of annoyed resignation. ¡°What? Also, how are you in here? I locked the door.¡± She turned back to the screen. ¡°No, you didn¡¯t.¡± My eyes widened as I saw the humongous list of games she had added to her cart. ¡°Are you getting all of those?¡± ¡°Yes, if you must know. Gotta grow my collection.¡± Her single bare shoulder rose in a shrug of resignation. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I live with a hoarder.¡± She barked out a laugh, and I stood confused until it clicked. Dragon. Hoard. Right. I stood nervously in the door as I tried to steel myself for the upcoming conversation. I wasn¡¯t sure how best to broach the topic. Dancing around it was an option, but I recognized she¡¯d prefer me to leave. So, I went with straight forward. ¡°Rents due.¡± I straightened my back and pushed myself off the door frame. It wasn¡¯t a heroic pose, but it would do. ¡°Then pay it?¡± She snarked. ¡°I need your half.¡± There was a pause, and I refused to fill it. She turned again; her face stretched in a wide grin. This was not her usual sarcastic grin, or smug smile, nor a smirk of anger. It almost looked seductive? Combined with the bare shoulder and oversized sleep shirt, it was quite the effect. ¡°You can cover me this week, right?¡± She licked her lips and leaned forward. ¡°Pretty please?¡± ¡°No,¡± I kept my tone firm, even though I wanted to cave. It¡¯s not like I wasn¡¯t interested in her. She was cute, and the snarky banter was fun. But that didn¡¯t mean I would let her manipulate me again. I knew full well, if I did, she¡¯d never pay rent again. It had taken me a month and a half to get her turn loading the dishwasher back on the chore rotation. She pouted, but I continued to stand tall. A knight facing down a dragon! Though none of the books spoke of domestic disputes. An image formed in my head, of a man in armor, arguing with a giant red lizard about cleaning its cave. I did my best not to smile. Finally, her shoulders hunched in defeat. ¡°Fine. Jerk.¡± She whirled around and deleted games from her list. ¡°Aha. Pay your rent. In the next hour, please.¡± She didn¡¯t see my wave as I left to sounds of mumbled insults. As I made my way back to my room, my phone dinged. A transaction. Perfect. Before I paid the rent, I sent a quick thank-you note. Moments later, my phone buzzed again. On my screen was a cutesy, animated graphic of a dragon on a pile of treasure. I watched as a small figure stole from its hoard before the roused beast instantly roasted him. I laughed, even as I wondered. Did that little gnome represent the landlord or me? Roommate Agreement - Fae I had always been one for surprises. The first thing I noticed when answering the knocking were the colors. Morning Light streamed through the wings of my guest, causing an effect not dissimilar to a stained-glass window. It entranced my eyes as I watched the blues and greens ripple across the chipped and cracked bricks. It was hypnotizing, and beautiful, and perf¡ªa smack echoed around the hall. I stood, blinking away my shock as I drew my eyes from the wall and towards the two women who stood in front of me. Butterfly wings flapped behind them both, and that combined with the short statue let me know immediately what I was dealing with, Fae, creatures of the plane of endless Forrest, and will know tricksters. The youngest of the pair wore clothes that were expensive but from around here, a direct contrast to what I guess was her mother. She wore a ballgown the likes of which I hadn¡¯t seen outside a historical drama, all flowing silks and modest cut. A silver circlet nestled into dark hair, and her green eyes narrowed at her companion. For the briefest of moments, I contemplated mirroring the expression. Nobody enjoyed being charmed. I resisted, however, as I knew why they were here. No point poisoning them against me this early. The regal woman spoke first. ¡°You would be the one seeking a roommate?¡± Her regal voice was silky, exactly the type I¡¯d expected from a woman dressed like she was. ¡°Yes. Um,¡± My eyes darted to the circlet, and I figured overestimation wouldn¡¯t hurt. ¡°Your Highness?¡± She gave the nearest hint of a smile, and I swore the younger one rolled her eyes. ¡°Your Lady, or Lady Silkrose, will be sufficient. I would dearly loathe it if my sister thought I was usurping her rank,¡± With a flick of her wrist, she gestured. ¡°And this is my little Waterfall Silkrose.¡± The grimace was plain as day. ¡°Sal Jones. If you would. Please.¡± Not a fan of her name, then? A chuckle escaped my lips as I tried to imagine having to write it on every form they would force her to sign. Though, her distaste of it opened up some possibilities around the house. By the way her eyes squinted, I knew she could sense the direction of my thoughts. I smiled and showed off the barest hint of teeth as I stared Sal down. ¡°Please. Come in, make yourselves comfortable.¡± This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. We sat at the second hand dining table and made small talk as I skimmed through the forms. It wasn¡¯t my first time doing so, but I¡¯d never seen such beautiful penmanship before. As I read, I listened to them talk in what I assumed was Fairianse. Not that I understood a word of it. Whatever words they spoke had a musical quality, and I may have gone over the same section a few times to hear more of it. Eventually, though, I had to stop the pretence. Their conversation cut off abruptly as I pushed the form away. ¡°It looks good so far, but I have a question.¡± ¡°I¡¯m single,¡± Sal¡¯s¡¯ mouth curved up into a smirk. ¡°But not for the likes of you.¡± I chuckled and leaned back in my chair. ¡°Waterfall. Silkrose.¡± The Lady¡¯s face was the picture of calm. Her words, however? A small boat in a tempest. Sal flinched, and it took an effort not to mimic her. ¡°Not what I was going to ask,¡± I raised a hand at The Lady¡¯s apologetic look. ¡°I was most curious. Why here? Not to cause offense, but this place seems beneath you.¡± All three of us glanced around at the dingy apartment. With carpet water stained near several doors, scuffed walls, and the slight smell of cigarettes from the previous owner, I¡¯d never quite gotten rid of. The silence extended long enough that I worried I¡¯d offended them. I watched as Sal¡¯s eyes flicked from the carpet to the door. I smiled. She picked up on that quicker than I had expected. Lady Silkrose was the one who broke the silence, much to Sal¡¯s evident annoyance. ¡°My daughter needs to have a,¡± She paused, lips pursed in thought, before she continued. ¡°An extended break from the courts.¡± I nodded. ¡°Her behavior has been less the pleasing to certain factions, and thus I thought she should come up here and live without her usual fripperies.¡± From my peripheral vision, I watched Sal¡¯s wings curve up to hide her mouth. It did little to hide the hint of a smirk. Whatever she had done, she didn¡¯t exactly feel terrible about it. That could make rooming with her awkward or entertaining. It would depend on how well she could keep up. ¡°Something like what happened outside?¡± I was curious. If she had used mind control, I needed to know now. It was part of the building¡¯s rules that aggressive mental magic didn¡¯t occur indoors, but I had little faith anyone would crack down on it. Not if she was some kind of Fae nobility. ¡°I apologize for my behavior there. That was rude.¡± Sal stood and bowed low enough, her head pressed into the table. ¡°Once the agreement is signed, it shall not happen again.¡± Her statement held an obvious message, her sincere tone couldn¡¯t hide. Sal had other tricks up her sleeves. That was fine, however. She hadn¡¯t caught all of mine. ¡°When would you want to move in? Stuff wise, I mean.¡± ¡°Immediately,¡± both women answered at the same time. ¡°I can have my daughter¡¯s possessions here within the hour,¡± Lady Silkrose rose from the table. ¡°I take it that means you¡¯re agreeable to this arrangement?¡± With an unnecessary flourish, I signed with one hand as I raised my other to Sal. ¡°So you ready to sort out the chores list, then?¡± Sal smiled, and we haggled. Her mother strode out with the form as our conversation turned to kitchen duties. I hoped she liked surprises. Appropriate Headwear - Gorgon Hearing knocking at my bedroom door at this hour was unusual. I lay still on my bed with my book in hand as I decided if I wanted to answer. The hero was moments away from facing his deadliest foe, and it had been a four-year wait before the author had released her newest installment. Got to love dashing pirate fox men, and their crazy shark girl sidekicks. Still, only one person would knock, and it would be rude to ignore her. Besides, if she was coming to me for help, it would be urgent. Hopefully, the shower head hadn¡¯t broken again. ¡°Come in!¡± My door creaked open, and a familiar face peered around the wood. Then another. Then another. Until a human face joined the writhing mass of smiling snakes. Reptilian pupils stared down at the floor, and I could see a flush on her tanned skin. ¡°Yes?¡± None of my impatience made its way into my voice, as I watched her stare burn a hole into my carpet. I tried to keep my face passive, unsure if she could see through the snakes. Asking about her hair was one of those topics I avoided, an assumed cultural landmine. Lost in my internal tangent, I almost missed when she mumbled something, and the snake that acted as her fringe gave a gentle hiss in time with her words. Its emerald form swayed, as though buffeted by its own personal breeze. I¡¯d always held a secret desire to pet them, to see if they felt like hair or regular snakes. They had never shed, or if they did, she had cleaned it up with remarkable speed as I¡¯ve never stumbled upon them. ¡°Sorry, come again?¡± She bit her lip, her hands balled into fists. ¡°You. Um. You make clothes for toys, right?¡± I blinked and looked over at the clutter that filled my desk, all clustered around my most recent commission; a doll¡¯s gown. The layers of frills and lace hung loose on a tiny dressmaker¡¯s dummy. Pride filled me as I studied the careful stitching, allowing wings to poke through the back. That had been the hardest part. ¡°Sure, it¡¯s how I pay the rent.¡± ¡°Do¡­ do you make hats?¡± I paused in the face of her blushing visage and tried to remember all my past orders. The most recent had been a sunhat for a minotaur action figure. ¡°Sure? Rarely, but I can find a pattern.¡± I shrugged as I carefully put my book down to make sure I didn¡¯t lose my page. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. My reserved roommate¡¯s sudden interest piqued my curiosity. She hadn¡¯t ever shown an interest in my work before. Even as I sat up, she kept her gaze firmly on the ground. I knew the rumors, of course, but if that was true she¡¯d wear specialty glasses or something, wouldn¡¯t she? I¡¯d hope so. But if she turned me to stone, where would she store me? The closet? Put me out on the lawn? I hoped it wouldn¡¯t be the latter; I didn¡¯t want birds to poop on me forever. My over-active imagination continued to dream up scenarios, and it took me a moment to realize I had missed what she had said. ¡°Sorry, can you repeat that?¡± ¡°I asked if you could put straps on them?¡± She reached up and patted one snake that fell past her ear. ¡°They move a lot, you see.¡± That¡¯s when it clicked. ¡°You want hats for your hair? Why? Can¡¯t you just wear a big one?¡± She looked scandalized, and I cursed myself. Me and my big mouth. ¡°I. Well. I look bad in hats.¡± I didn¡¯t believe her. In my experience nobody looked bad in a well-made hat. Store bought basic ones could be tacky, sure. But one designed specifically for the wearer, paired with the right outfit? You could never go wrong. ¡°But I wanted to give them something. So I thought small hats might be cute? You¡¯re right, its dumb I¡¯m sorry.¡± The snake that formed her fringe looked annoyed, and I raised my hand before she fled. ¡°It¡¯s not dumb. I¡¯m sorry. Yes, I can do it. Did you have a style in mind?¡± She grinned and showed off two small fangs. ¡°Top hats?¡± I blinked, and I could see it. A mass of those adorable snakes in tiny top hats bouncing in her wake. Would she wear a suit? I¡¯d hope so. Nothing beats a woman in a suit. At least I thought so anyway. Besides, fancy hats with such casual clothes would look strange. ¡°That¡¯s easy. We need what?¡± I paused as I did a quick headcount. ¡°Twelve in total?¡± ¡°I only have 11.¡± I gave her a smile. ¡°I think you¡¯d look good in a top hat. Trust me, an even number is better than an odd one, right?¡± She turned red once more and hid her face in her hands. My breath hitched in my throat. Was that one too far? Her shoulders weren¡¯t shaking, so I took that as a good sign. ¡°Yes.¡± It came out a whisper. I thought I heard the faintest hint of a giggle, and I rolled with it. ¡°Excellent. I¡¯ll get started, for free, if I can post some photos of the snakes. My clients will love it.¡± I stretched out a hand, and she shook it. ¡°Only a few, though.¡± A few of her snakes reached out, hoping for the honor, perhaps? ¡°Of course. Two¡­ three at most.¡± I nodded emphatically. ¡°Maybe one in your bigger one if you like it. I¡¯d never done something people sized before.¡± She squeaked and mumbled before she scurried out of the room. I swore one snake that trailed down the back of her neck winked at me. With a chuckle, I retrieved my book. As I sunk back into the adventures of dashing pirate captains, I stopped to consider how things would change. I supposed a knock at my door would no longer continue to be unusual. Clipped Wings - Harpy I found my partner on the roof¡¯s edge again. We had gotten an apartment near the top of the building for this explicit purpose. Flyers always wanted a direct route to the skies. Thunder boomed as I pushed open the heavy door against the pouring rain and exited the stairwell onto the concrete expanse, no longer littered with cigarette butts and aged wrappers. She was exactly where I thought she would be, straddling the railing as she leaned precariously into the wind. The downpour plastered her short hair to her skin, though the tight fabric of her flight suit needed no help in that regard. Green and gold, marked with the symbol of a box with wings. I hadn¡¯t seen her don it in a while. I couldn¡¯t lie¡ªthat worried me. She shifted her position, her sharp claws gripping the rain slicked metal with ease. My heart raced as she lifted her arms and the wings that sprouted from them. Wings that no longer held the majestic plumage they had only a year before. They rubbed against her face, and adjusted the silver banded flight goggles her old company had gifted her with. A reward for excellence in service to the company, a cold comfort now. We talked about her old job frequently. As a courier, she had stories that ranged from her interactions with citizens to the coworkers who gossiped and showed off tricks. Stories of faces as she landed on balconies, railings or sometimes upside down if she really wanted to show off. But her favorite was one she had told me repeatedly. One of a little girl who thought she worked for Santa. How she would describe that little girl¡¯s expression as she pulled presents from her bag. How the parents had to stop themselves from laughing, as the girl listened wide-eyed to stories about the North Pole. It had made her late for the next delivery, but it had been worth it. Not that her boss agreed with her. One story we never discussed was her dismissal, nor about the storm that raged that day. I moved forward and splashed through puddles as I did so. She didn¡¯t turn, but I knew she heard me. Harpy senses had to be sharp, so they could maneuver in a way ground bound humans didn¡¯t. A fact she delighted in reminding me of¡ªfrequently. Not that I minded. I shivered as I moved next to her and looked out over the city. Lights bloomed all around us, and I watched with a silent fascination. What were they doing? Would they worry if they could see us? You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. My mind threw up images of her flying through the city. Her lithe form twisting as she dodged billboards, flyers and buildings. The people in those lit windows were oblivious to her presence, all except one who would stop to stare¡ªjealous. It was a desire that overwhelmed me occasionally. To see the city from such a unique vantage point. Feathers brushed against my nose as she swayed to close, and I let out an involuntary sneeze. That got her attention. Her eyes snapped open, and she glared down at me. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I shrugged and gave her a brief smile before I turned my gaze to the city. ¡°Enjoying the view.¡± She huffed, and I heard the rustling of feathers. ¡°It¡¯s raining.¡± Another burst of rustling. ¡°You¡¯ll catch a cold.¡± ¡°Says the girl sitting on a railing in the middle of a storm.¡± ¡°Harpys¡¯ have¡ª¡± ¡°More resistance to weather. I know.¡± I gave a small wave as I cut her off. ¡°You¡¯ve mentioned. Doesn¡¯t explain why you¡¯re here now.¡± We both knew, of course. It wasn¡¯t exactly hard to guess. We never talked about the storm. Her friends had tempted me to ask, of course. To push my way towards those answers, but each time I saw the missing feathers, I couldn¡¯t force the words. I side eyed her as she went back to her closed eyed swaying. Rain dripped down her body, and when the thunder boomed again, I could see it. The shiver¡ªnot from the weather. I knew I should pretend I hadn¡¯t seen it and stay by her side like this. Instead, I took a risk. My hand found her wings, and I clutched it with care. The reaction was unexpected. Tears mingled with rain as she leaned closer, her other wing spreading out as far as it could go. With delicate movements, I stood behind her and grasped her waist, and her other wing spread out as well. Then she bent into her flying pose and leaned forward, further than she ever had before. I don¡¯t know how long we stayed like that. I could feel each of the miniscule shifts in her muscles now, as she swayed through winds only she could feel. As I closed my eyes, I could imagine her carrying me through the sky. Her face displayed that smile I had only seen once as we danced and tumbled through the air. My daydream broke at the sounds of her sobs, and I pulled her back. Talons went loose, as she came away from the edge, and into my arms. She continued to sob, audible to me even over the boom and crash of the angry sky. The intensity of the rain increased, and with careful steps, I led her back into what little shelter the stairs provided. I doubt we¡¯d disturb the other residents, not with the howl of the wind that surrounded us. As her sobs died down, I considered what to say. One thing came to mind, and I wasn¡¯t proud of it. But no better ideas came, so I breathed out the words into her ear. ¡°Are you alright?¡± I knew the answer I¡¯d receive, something flippant, as per usual. Though maybe dismissive? I readied a few retorts, so I¡¯d have something. Instead, I got something else. A tired voice filled with pain that told me that last story. Fever Brain - Ice Elemental Everything seemed unreal, like a nightmare I couldn¡¯t escape. My head throbbed, and my throat felt like sandpaper. The leather of the crappy couch stuck to my sweaty skin as I shifted back and forth. A small moan escaped my lips, and I regretted it instantly. It was a sign of weakness, and they capitalized. Whenever I had a fever, I¡¯d always imagined tiny fire wreathed imps digging into my brain. Petite, portly things, with pickaxes that screamed and shouted as they excavated my self-doubt and fears. They were so loud that the explosions echoing from the television didn¡¯t drown them out. I would have cried, but I couldn¡¯t. The demons had evaporated all the moisture in my body, and prevented me from getting more. So I lay there and tried to tune out their high-pitched ramblings. I closed my eyes against the bright light that surrounded me, but that just gave them another avenue of attack. Visions of people and places, horrible lies that felt so true. My eyes snapped open. I didn¡¯t need to see that. I tried counting the cracks in the walls instead, and they counted my failures alongside me. Failed job interviews, past girlfriends, anything and everything they could find with their digging. It hurt, everything hurt so much. I heard footsteps, quick but soft. Bare feet on carpet that were running? They differed from the ones in my head. Those let out enormous booms with each step, causing my head to throb. Suddenly, the temperature dropped, and I sighed. Bliss! Momentarily, the imps shrank before they rallied their forces and came back strong. With an increased pace, they did their best to ward off the chill with more memories and insults. A hand touched my forehead, cold as ice. It hurt too, but an unfamiliar pain. I could sense a chill radiate through my body, and the voices subsided. With an effort, I cracked one eye open to stare up at my rescuer. They had sharp yet delicate features with two piercing blue-gray eyes. I wanted to pull away from those frozen lakes. I knew if I stared into them too long, I would drown in a chilling darkness, lost forever. ¡°You should have said something.¡± I flinched at the crack of her voice. My gaze focused on her prominent cheekbones as I tried to parse what the words meant. She sounded offended? I had done something wrong. What it was, I wasn¡¯t sure. Had the voices said something? ¡°Sorry.¡± Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. It took effort to get my throat unglued long enough to say it. The voices returned with a vengeance, screaming that I was a pushover. Weak. Worthless. ¡°You have a fever.¡± Her voice was gentle, and I moaned as the hand retracted from my forehead. Thankfully, its retreat was brief. It returned to my cheeks, then my shoulders, until it rested along my neck. I let myself relax, enjoying her icy embrace. My mind filled with images of her laying on me. Her cold skin against my overheated form. Was that arousal? I heard her sigh, and it drove all thoughts from my head. ¡°Sorry.¡± I hoped she hadn¡¯t seen what I had been imagining. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. Probably. Can you stand?¡± I tried, but the couch acted as though it was made of webbing, too strong for my feeble muscles. The sound of tearing occurred on each attempt, and I wondered if I had lost all my skin. Arms encircled my shoulders, and soon I found myself in a seated position. My head swam. My stomach churned like I was going to vomit. I heard the sounds of howling snow and cracking ice as the ambient temperature dropped more. She was using her powers. That was always fun. I loved watching her work. I felt guilty as I vomited into the newly formed bucket she shoved into my arms. Her sculptures were expensive. Would I miss meals, paying for this one? Oh god, what about rent? ¡°I don¡¯t have any money.¡± She would yell at me, I was sure. Like the voices had. ¡°It¡¯s not... Forget it. You don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, do you?¡± ¡°True?¡± She sighed again, and I watched her blurred form move around the living room, cleaning up the space. ¡°Come on, time to stand. We¡¯re going to your room. I can cool it down easier than in the living room, anyway. You won¡¯t puke again, will you?¡± I took a moment to consider before I slowly shook my head. I didn¡¯t let the handle of the bucket go completely, however. It bumped against my leg as I rose to my feet and leaned on her shoulder. So cold. She smelled good, like crisp winter air. I told her, which got a grunt. ¡°You mostly smell like puke. But thanks, I guess?¡± The walk lasted for five minutes or five years, or possibly an eternity. I stopped to rest against a few walls as my head spun. But Mr Bucket didn¡¯t need to help me. A door opened, and I felt my foot snag on something hard. Hands shoved me as I fell, and I grunted as I landed on my bed. With effort, I pulled up my legs until I was properly on the bed. I debated getting under the covers, but didn¡¯t have the energy. The ticking of the grandfather clock I had rescued was loud, but the steady tick, tick, tick, was a straightforward thing to focus on. I felt the bed groan as someone laid next to me. A soft pressure against my back, as hair tickled my neck. The voices died down as she hummed. A Christmas melody, though it was the wrong time of year for it. As the song ended, she whispered in my ear. ¡°Sleep. I¡¯ll keep you safe.¡± And I closed my aching eyes and snuggled deep into her embrace. My final thought, before the darkness overcame me, was is this a nightmare? If so, I wanted more of them. Warriors Blade - Lizardfolk My heart pounded as she circled my position, her blade held at her side. She wasn¡¯t fooling me, though, and I held my training sword in a guard position. I knew how fast she could get a weapon to my throat. As she moved, I watched her emerald scaled tail flick calmly back and forth. Long, muscular, and flexible in both terms of attack or defense. Bruises covered my back to prove that lesson. A flash of pointed teeth was my only warning. Her yellow eyes were wide as she darted in. I changed my stance and raised to block¡ªa feint. As quickly as she came, she ducked backwards and lashed out with her tail towards my ankles. I jumped, feeling the wind pass underneath me from the force. She had enough control not to break my bones, but she wouldn¡¯t be gentle. My mind raced as I ran over that various vectors of attack until I remembered the words she had drilled into me. Strike Hard! Strike Fast! Strike Suddenly! Words her family had lived by in the waters of the northern swamps. Expert advice too, considering how many lingering threats hunted in those waters. I blocked another feint as I looked for a way to counterattack. Her defense was excellent, and she was more practiced. So I decided going for trickery might be my best bet. I feinted with a simple thrust, hoping to catch her off guard. She didn¡¯t block, instead she swayed backwards so far she faced the sky. A mistake? I moved to capitalize before the doubt could well up inside me, and sprang forward to deliver an overhead chop. She dodged it, using her tail to push herself to the side. Appreciative clapping came from the neighbors watching from balconies. A distraction and one that nearly cost me. I threw myself back, dodging a swing that I heard more than saw. ¡°Good work,¡± Her words ended in a snakelike hiss. ¡°But do pay attention.¡± ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am.¡± She glowered at that, and I gave her a swift salute with my sword. I already saw her forming ideas on retribution, and that it would hurt. No matter, worth it for now. She blocked my thrusts. I dodged her parry. We circled around the courtyard to the sound of our cheering neighbors. It didn¡¯t surprise me to hear them anymore; they had gotten bolder in letting us know of their presence over the last few sessions. A couple had asked for lessons themselves. Sarlaxx had turned them down, though. She said she had her hands full teaching a talentless human. I didn¡¯t take it too personally. She always laughed when she said it. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. It was an interesting business idea for when we returned, something I¡¯d need to remember. She had said she was looking for work outside her dreary office job. My ear stung, and I refocused on the figure who stuck out her tongue towards me. I sighed and readjusted my stance once more; I wanted to be certain it didn¡¯t happen again. The way she fought changed as she forced me to move. She forced me around our makeshift arena, and I could do little but give ground as I dodged the occasional swipe of her tail. The gravel under our feet crunched, and the clacking of our wooden swords filled the air as the crowd went silent. My sword arm felt heavy, and I looked around for an opening. If I could get her talking, maybe she¡¯d let her guard down? I needed time to breathe either way, and so I asked a question. ¡°Think I¡¯ll survive in the swamps then?¡± It was the question that had gotten me out here four weeks ago. Her mother had written to invite me to a family gathering in her hometown of Rookmort, and she had told me, bluntly, I would die if I accepted. Couldn¡¯t back down after that. She snorted at me, and the colorful frills around her neck extended. ¡°No. Not without me to protect you.¡± ¡°Aww, come on,¡± I gave her my best smile. ¡°You don¡¯t think I could take one of your cousins?¡± That got a full-throated laugh. ¡°Yes, I believe you could survive against Tharax. Maybe.¡± Tharax was the newest member of Rookmort, 6 months old, with the cutest little frill. He¡¯d been gifted his first sword recently, though it was more of a knife. ¡°Hurtful.¡± ¡°Truth can be,¡± She said as she readied her sword. ¡°Enough talk. Shall we continue?¡± With a shrug, I copied her motion. I was still breathing hard, but it was better than nothing. She lowered her frill flat against her neck once again and charged. No tricks this time. I could see it in her eyes. She wanted to show me how far I needed to go. I threw myself out of her way and attempted to roll as she taught me. My shoulder flared in pain, but there was no time to stop. She pressed forward with a vengeance, her swings precise and deadly. There were no lessons here, only pure brutal combat. Her blade hit my side with a thwack when it snaked around my guard. I cried out and did whatever I could. Block? She swept it aside with superior strength. Dodge? Her tail came out of nowhere to trip me up. Parry? She ducked and weaved like a champion boxer. When the point of her wooden sword rested against my throat, I was already on the ground. She grinned as our audience applauded. Even though I was sore, I smiled too, couldn¡¯t help it. Something about combat was exhilarating, even the mock kind. ¡°I concede.¡± ¡°I know.¡± She helped me to my feet and sheathed her sword as I dusted myself off. ¡°That means you¡¯re buying dinner.¡± My sigh got a laugh from my the watcher. I should have known this was coming. As we walked back inside, her tail thumped lightly against my leg. ¡°You did better today. Well done.¡± When she turned to smile at me, I could feel my heart pound in my chest. This vacation was going to be fun. Morning Rainbow - Moth I hoped I could finish the set-up before she arrived. The ladder wobbled violently underneath me as I drilled the last screw into place. With a jump, I hopped down and ignored the crash as I looked at my handiwork. Curved strips of LED lights ran along the bedroom ceiling, culminating in a circle around a group of smart bulbs. Iskra had asked about these weeks ago. Her antenna had quivered as she clasped her four hands into pairs, and in her soft voice, she¡¯d asked if I could help her with a small project. Some lights for her room, she¡¯d told me¡ªnothing major. That was half true. Not that I minded the challenge. I had one request though; she had to assist me. She had agreed faster than I had expected, and a trace of a smile graced her face when I asked. The following weeks were more fun than any in months. Dinners were spent discussing patterns and arguing with second-hand stores over speakers. Sleepless nights getting the programming to work once we¡¯d gotten all the electronics. Now, though, it was complete. Only the last few checks remained, and she would have her system. A sense of loss flushed through me at the thought, and I dismissed it. It had been fun. That was important to remember, and I gained more skills during the process. With a swift poke, I tested the four miniature speakers hidden in the corners of the room. Solid. Good, I knew she wouldn¡¯t exactly be blasting rock music, but better to be safe than sorry. I checked the oversized lamp on her desk and smiled as the disk tray slid out silently. My friend had loaned us his 3D printer, and this was the design she wanted. Place in the disk, pull the cord, and wallah. Music and lights. Or so I hoped. My hand trembled as I grabbed one of her meditation CDs at random and placed it into the tray with care. Once it had sat inside, and I heard the soft whir of the fans, I yanked the cord. Nothing happened. I cursed and tugged the cord twice more. Still nothing. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. She would be home soon, so I started the process that any good tech geek followed when fixing things. I turned it off at the wall and tried it again. Still nothing. Onto the next plan, unplugging everything and trying it again. I found it after fifteen minutes of annoyed grumbling. We had gotten a large hanging light cheap off a guy online. It had worked at his house, and neither of us had bothered to recheck it before we¡¯d installed it. But now that I held it in my hand, I could see the issue. One wire had frayed enough it wasn¡¯t getting a signal. As the centerpiece, we¡¯d coded it as a starting point, and if it didn¡¯t work, nothing else would go. I was no electrician, so no tools in the house to fix it. That might mean I¡¯d need to check the code. The clock read four pm, and I knew she¡¯d be home by five. I should be able to manage it in an hour, and I guessed I¡¯d have to. Light in hand, I hurried to my room and booted up the computer. It was time to get to work. At five to five, I was ready, or so I hoped. With my fingers crossed, I tugged on the cord. A drum softly played behind me as it spread out across the room. My gut stopped churning as I watched a pale blue light run along the various strips to join in the center. Laughter bubbled up, and I let it out with abandon. It worked! Weeks of effort, and it worked! The door opening caught me off guard, and I spun to catch sight of my roommate. She paused, her white hair bathed in color as she stared up at the ceiling. As though in a trance, her wings partially unfurled, and she moved to my side. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about the center lamp. I¡ª¡± Her top left hand covered my mouth as her other hand clutched at mine. Together we stood, and I felt the fur brush against my arm as she swayed to the music. I moved along, and each time the bell chimed, we gently bumped into each other. When the song ended and the light faded away, she turned to me. I wasn¡¯t sure what to say when she squeezed me into a hug. I hugged back as her white and black splotched wings encircled me, and together stayed as the next song started. Light bathed us, and her eyes refracted it as no human ever could. My forehead itched as her antenna tickled my face, and I heard her next whisper as though she''d shouted it. ¡°Thank you.¡± The room darkened before exploding in color as LEDs brightened without warning. I couldn¡¯t tell if she was blushing or if it was the lights. I knew mine wasn¡¯t, and I hoped she knew. ¡°No problem. I¡¯m always happy to help.¡± I tried to keep eye contact as I spoke. She giggled and pulled away from me. I stood, awkward, until she laid down and gestured for me to join her. My mind raced, wondering what she was implying, until I saw how focused she was on the spectacle. Together, we lay on the floor and watched the colors drift. It was nice to relax for a change. My vision blurred as the music mixed with the lights and her soft breathing. Her hand retook mine, and I gave it a small squeeze involuntarily. I smiled as I felt her return it. My eyes closed as the late nights caught up with me, and even through my eyelids, the colors danced. Soon they faded away until morning, when I opened my eyes to see three sets of rainbows. One on the ceiling and two in her eyes. Cosmic Reminder - Shoggoth As I studied the ledger before me, an idea prickled at the back of my brain. I knew I¡¯d forgotten something. Something important. A birthday? No, that wasn¡¯t for a month. I chewed my lip and shook my head. The memory vanished, and I knew from long experience that worrying about it wouldn¡¯t help. My thoughts scattered as a gentle aroma of a new blend of tea wafted through the house. It wasn¡¯t the first time she¡¯d experimented with brews, and I still bore the scars of her last attempts. A silk concoction that tasted of strawberries and memories of my childhood. It brought back memories of my mother, and I had nightmares for weeks. I spun away from the ledger I had opened and leaned back in my chair. My smile widened in time with the opening door. A woman stood there and curtsied as she recognized I had preempted her arrival. Tentacles pushed up her skirts, and even as she lowered herself, her mask stayed locked onto my face. It was a farce of sorts. The Victorian maid skirt she spread was nothing but her own amorphous body, recolored to mimic a design in a book I had lent her. I observed as eyes blinked in and out of existence along the pristine white apron, each a different size with a varying display of pupils. Without thinking, my hand moved to the pewter necklace, and stopped on the small ruby that rested on my throat. It was warm, a side effect of the spell that stopped my sanity from leaking out of both my ears. The warmth in my smile at her appearance was genuine, however, and her mask shifted to mimic it. I watched in fascination as it redrew itself, as though by an invisible hand. A small nod was all the incentive she needed to enter, and I sat still as more tentacles sprang from beneath her skirt. Four reorganized my shelf, and others remade my bed, but it was her hands that poured the tea. They were small and delicate, dwarfed by the over-large teapot she had crafted herself from her brief excursion into pottery. Both trembled, but the concoction went into the matching cup without a single spill. ¡°Thank you, Sho.¡± She curtsied once again, her tentacles never stopping their work as she backed away from me. Two spiraling red spots appeared on the cheeks of her mask. A blush? That made me wary. She could do odd things if she got overexcited. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. I looked down and hid a wince. The tea looked like boiling tar. I stared in concern as it slowly shifted around the cup in ways no liquid should ever move. As I watched both, entranced and disturbed as sections of the liquid lightened. Before my eyes, a pattern emerged, two tentacles that flipped and swirled until they created a heart. That was impressive. She¡¯d never shown that ability before, and I had a suspicion I knew where she had gotten the idea. ¡°Were you spying on the coffee shop again?¡± Her blush deepened. Without a word, she turned her mask away and focused entirely on my books. I chuckled. ¡°You know if you want a shift or two I can probably arrange wards?¡± I gestured to the table, where several sets of polished engraving tools sat scattered about. ¡°They have had weirder things than you come through their doors, I bet.¡± My ego rose, knowing that I was only responsible for some of those. Her mask changed rapidly as the eye lines widened into circles, and the mouth gaped wide. Her hands remained clasped in her lap, as she used her tentacles to gesture at me. That would be a no. Truthfully, I hadn¡¯t expected her to answer any differently. Shoggoths were incredibly territorial, over both places and people, so Shog not wanting to serve someone else made sense. As I rested my hand on the wheels of my chair, I remembered it had been one reason I had summoned her. ¡°I won¡¯t force you, of course. Simply an offer.¡± That calmed her down, and her mask returned to her regular smile. With a single hand, she gestured towards the tea on my desk. I looked down at it again; to find the heart had vanished back into the dark, swirling void. With a murmured incantation, the gemstone chilled for exactly two seconds, meaning my spell was still present. Satisfied I would be safe, I raised the cup to my lips and drank. The texture hit me first. I had been preparing my gag reflex for perfumed sludge, but what I got instead was smooth. It massaged my throat as it flowed deeper down, more under its own power than any small gravitation pressure. My stomach churned, and I could sense its wraith as pressure built behind my eyes. Tentacles cupped my face, and I could feel the gemstone heat as I stared into the smiling mask. I tried to thrash, to grasp the wheels of my chair and move away, but she held me firm. The walls darkened, and the ceiling vanished to be replaced by stars in patterns I¡¯d never seen. With a gentle pop, she released my face as she stepped back, leaving me trapped in place. I floated within the star field, my limbs tingling with each twitch of my body. My eyes locked on to her mask as she stood there, surrounded by a mass of swirling stars. Bile churned in my throat, but the tea rose to quell it. As the heat of my necklace became unbearable, everything stopped. Shog stood proud, her mask a picture-perfect smile. Tentacles waved around her and formed hearts before my eyes. Both of her hands spread outwards and gestured towards the message written in stars all around us both. Thank you for 10 years of companionship. The niggling in the back of my brain vanished. I would plan a party when she let us return. Play Fight - Wight Murmured whispers filled the air from the crowd below. I lounged against the balcony, watching as the multitude of people trickled in. A majority of them waved cameras, making it was hard to tell the journalists from the crazed fans. Though, I figured I could assume any holding the overdone signs covered in hearts were the second category. Probably. My fists gripped the railing as I scanned for drones. I spotted two? No four, each hovering in the foliage of some nearby trees. Professional models, with sleek black cases. I grimaced and turned away from them. Better not to stare, especially considering what was coming next. I took a deep breath. It was showtime. When I was certain everyone was paying attention, I raised a single finger and waved it back and forth in front of the crowd. People jeered, and cameras flashed. With exaggerated movements, I staggered back and rubbed my face, yelling insults that would make a sailor blush. The creak of the back door opening stopped my commotion and silenced the crowd. Blinking, I hurriedly moved aside to let the woman of the hour saunter into the light. I scowled at her, and she waved me off as she stepped into my vacated space. With a bow, she took off her oversized sun hat and waved it at the crowd. They chanted her name in response, along with her characters¡¯ various titles. ¡°Vanessa. Vanessa. Vanessa. Queen of the dead! Crypt Keeper! Wight Widow!¡± ¡°You all make me sick!¡± I shook my fist at them, which had the effect of their volume increasing tenfold. With a growl I hoped they could hear, I turned to Vanessa. ¡°This is all because of you!¡± I stabbed my finger in her direction as I spoke. ¡°They¡¯re here to see you!¡± Her smile grew into a vicious grin as she gestured at her admirers. ¡°Not a fan of my admirers?¡± She posed, a hand sweeping up her neck to brush a strand of her long white hair behind her ear. My eyes scanned her pristine skin, and I sighed in relief when it showed no signs of any marks. That could start some rumors. Her pale skin picked up bruises like no one¡¯s business. With a shake of my head, I refocused my scowl, and aimed it as much towards the crowd as her. With a grunt, I threw up my hands. ¡°They¡¯re loud and annoying. Just because you¡¯re in the revamped Crypt Lord film¡ª¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°¡ªOpening night this Saturday at 5:00pm!¡± She twirled, and I watched the figure hugging, sequined monstrosity sparkle in the light. The Cameras went nuts. I hoped they got some good ones. She looked stunning in that dress. ¡°Right that one. Besides, now they¡¯re going to chase you to our local theater. The one on Molden street? I liked that theater.¡± I leaned against the railing. ¡°Red carpet treatments are going to ruin it. We will have to turn up early. ALL BECAUSE OF YOU IDIOTS!¡± I directed that last part down below. Her eyebrow raised a touch, and I tried to restrain myself. No need to overdo the scene. ¡°Well, they can hardly blame me for that!¡± Her tone was downright irritated, and I took another step back. ¡°I¡¯m allowed to have fans!¡± ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean I need to suffer for your new fame!¡± I stomped around the balcony, throwing my hands up again. ¡°It¡¯s not fun being photographed all the time.¡± That got her to smirk, and she let the audience see it. She slumped onto the corner of the balcony, and I was sure I saw her eyes go towards the tree line. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t mind. Why not show off when you look this fantastic?¡± Before I could say anything, she blew a kiss into the crowd. One guy fainted after a desperate bid to catch it from the air. Pathetic? Yes. Unexpected? No. ¡°Well, why wouldn¡¯t you?¡± I gestured at her. ¡°In a designer dress like that. The Silk Spider does fantastic work. Isn¡¯t that right, folks?¡± Cheering exploded from below as I watched Vanessa strut around from the corner of my eye. When the crowd finally died down a little, I let loose the perfect retort. ¡°It¡¯s just a pity you need so much help to look that good.¡± I leaned back on the railing and flipped her off. The lingering cheers turned to Boos and a couple of death threats. I sneered down at them and gave them the finger, too. It was fun, dangerous, but fun. More cameras flashed, and I could almost see the journalists scribbling in their notebooks. I wondered what headline they¡¯d go with? High-rise jealousy? Beauty and the Bastard? Vanessa¡¯s next action knocked the thoughts straight from my head. In two strides, Vanessa was at my side, hand raised. I braced myself for the slap, and all went quiet as she struck me. As my head flung sideways, I let out a loud, pained gasp, and I staggered back the final two steps. My butt hit the railing, and I tilted. Someone down below screamed, while others cheered. I scrambled for purchase and grabbed the rail before I went any further back. With an outraged huff, I marched back inside, slamming the door behind me. As the sounds of flashes and voices intensified, I smiled at the empty room. Before I slumped on the couch to wait, I slipped off my shoes and grabbed a drink. She would only be another ten minutes. I watched her for a while, as she played to the crowd by shouting down random movie lines and waving until I was sure her arm would drop off. Finally, she slipped back inside as we closed the windows, and shut ourselves into the furthest room in the house. Once the door clicked shut, we collapsed on the bed. We let silence fill the air as we stared at each other. Her lips twitched, and mine followed suit. Then the laughter started.