Blacken

  But that was short lived.

  In the breath of that same moment, Rhulle dropped from the trees, his dark figure standing intimidating—blood littering his upper body, as he landed a few feet in front of them.

  “Oh shit—!” The blond reached for his gun, tucked into the back of his pants. Avie had strength now, seeing the movement, she rushed, shoving his arm away, stepping in between the both of them.

  “NO!”

  The gun flew out of his hands in an arch, gleaming in the pale moonlight before buried—lost in the field of snow. Owen turned to watch it fall, Avie using the moment to hurriedly approach Rhulle.

  “Please-please-please, please don’t hurt him,” she begged, face virtually pressed into his chest, hands also buried there, gripping the scarlet plumage in an attempt to hold him put.

  There he stood under her touch, immobile, shaking his mighty wings and glaring down the man in green. Rhulle wouldn’t look at her, keeping hard rust eyes on the man that drew a weapon on him.

  The two males observed each other, the woman caught in the middle watching each breath and twitch. Refusing to break eye contact with it, the librarian quietly called out, “Avie, come back here, get away from that thing.”

  “Owen, please, don’t. It’s bad enough you were going to shoot at him.” She took a step towards him, one hand staying on the feathered chest, the other outstretched in his direction, stained red.

  “Excuse me? That thing is a monster! What the hell else would I do?”

  Rhulle was growling in an undertone. But he still had not attacked…

  “He is not a monster! Stop it, the both of you and just listen for a moment, alright? I can explain everything,” her head swiveled back and forth to speak to both of them, frantic to get them to listen before acting.

  “Avie,” the blond called in a low voice, “what the hell is going on here?”

  She looked once again at them from where she stood between. Both parties had their eyes on her instead of on the other. Avie let out a shaky sigh.

  “You were right, Owen. There really is something in the manor.”

  CHAPTER 12

  Inside the dwelling may have been out of the wind, but it was just as ice cold in the space. Rhulle and Owen gave Avie the benefit of the doubt and agreed to listen to her, heading inside to talk things through as civilized beings.

  It was unnerving to still see the truxen drenched with blood. Before they walked through the threshold, he took scoops of the snow, using that to preen the grime from his feathers. In a matter of seconds, he was done, washed away any evidence of a meal on himself.

  Avie did the same to the stains on her hands, walking into the frigid space, sitting with Owen on the old chesterfield.

  “I will start a fire,” Rhulle spoke just as coldly. The blond cast a confused look at hearing him speak, still very on guard with the whole situation.

  She stopped the man from retrieving his gun, absolutely refusing him the opportunity. Already intruding on Rhulle by bringing an unwelcome guest, best friend or not, Owen shouldn’t have come here until she had the chance to smooth things over at the very least. He expressed his concerns about being defenceless, Avie assuring him that they would just talk, everything would be alright.

  The fire crackled to life, warming the guests and the atmosphere. In the light of the blaze, Rhulle took a seat as well across from them both.

  The woman didn’t know where to start, rather how to start. A silence filled the gap instead.

  “So… How long?”

  “I’m sorry?” she asked, unsure what he was referring to in this instance.

  “How long have you known about this, how long have you been playing ignorant with me and this investigation?”

  He was frustrated to say the least, keeping an eye on the feathered being, cerulean eyes flicked between Avie and him.

  “It is not like that; this whole thing was accidental. That night I came to you freezing and a little roughed up… that’s when I first met him. I didn’t actually get to know him until later, he came to me, we were both curious about the other and it just so happens that we have become friends.”

  “Friends?” he laughed incredulously, looking back over at the copper coloured stare that bore into him, “Avie, I need to have a word with you before this continues, alone.”

  She wanted them to talk, having all of them present in the area to listen and understand. Already the librarian wanted to separate, uncomfortable with occupying the same space as Rhulle. She knew it looked bad, essentially lying to him for the better part of a month, however this was the chance to explain everything. It didn’t feel right to speak in hushed whispers excluding a member.

  Avie also didn’t want Owen to turn and run, if she had to clear a few things privately, so be it. She looked over at Rhulle, he nodded in agreeance with soft eyes.

  They left to the adjacent kitchen and subsequently into the dining room, murmuring out of range of hearing.

  “Aves, what the hell do you mean ‘friends’? That thing isn’t even human, it’s killed hundreds of people! It’s the one causing people to die, you’re smarter than this!”

  “He doesn’t do it just for the sake of it, he needs to eat just like all of us. I agree, it’s terrible that he needs to feed on us, but I can’t condemn him for it. I thought you might understand that too…”

  A few seconds of silence fell between them, Owen holding back with saying something, uncertainty and hesitation evident across him.

  “He could be saying anything, how do you know that’s the truth? He could kill you at any moment, you know that, right?”

  “Of course I know that, you think I haven’t thought about it too? I don’t know if it’s an if or a when, and I certainly don’t know if he has even thought about it… but I trust him. I trust him not to, just as much as I have certainty with you. All I’m asking is that you believe me on this.”

  Owen scratched the back of his neck; caught in the middle of a situation he never saw coming, “I do believe you; I just don’t know if I can trust him.”

  “He is part of the mystery, we almost have all of the pieces, we just have to line them up.”

  “And then what? What do we do when we have the answer? We know why people are dying now, how many people have to keep ‘disappearing’ in the meantime? I don’t think I can remain quiet on that, Avie.”

  Her heart skipped a beat as it dropped to her stomach, for whatever reason, she couldn’t picture the future without Rhulle. She hadn’t thought very much about what exactly would happen, but it was never ‘he was caught or killed’ scenario. The truxen became a close friend as they bonded in secret—a completely different connection than what she had with Owen. There was a way, she knew it, a way to keep everyone alive.

  “Owen… You can’t. W-we-we would—we just need some time. We might find an alternative for him.”

  “It’s not right, if I can stop an innocent person from dying, then I can, and I will.”

  She could almost feel the anger bubbling in her body, why did he not see that it was still unfair to Rhulle? His only crime was staying alive. Avie’s words expressed themselves, coming out before she rationally thought about them, “If he goes then I go too!”

  “Aves, c’mon, this is stupid. Think about what you’re saying please.”

  “No! It would be the same for you. I don’t want anyone to get hurt, believe me, I don’t; but that doesn’t mean he should either.”

  “Don’t compare his life to yours, you shouldn’t even have to think about this! He’s changed you in some way, brainwashed you into thinking like this, you need to wake up!”

  “Owen, I’m serious. I won’t let him be caught… I need to know; can I trust you?”

  She felt awful in that moment, manipulating the blond into staying quiet. But she couldn’t let him out Rhulle’s existence, this whole situation wasn’t fair to either of them. She hoped, maybe, Owen would be as excited as she was to discover an out of this world b
eing, but all he could see was a monster, not who Rhulle was, not his mind or soul—just what was, to him, a killer.

  Avie knew that Owen didn’t want to lose her. He knew she was serious.

  How serious?

  He sighed, low and through his nose, “Yeah, Avie, you can trust me. We’ll figure this out, together.”

  Relief coursed through, her temporary stern face melting back into a smile, “Thank you, Owen, thank you, thank you!” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, embracing the lanky man.

  They returned to the sitting area, finding the truxen sitting patiently and reading a book.

  “I suppose you have some questions for me,” he stated without looking up.

  Sitting down, they returned to their previous seats, “I suppose you should have some answers,” Owen said, eyes meeting Rhulle’s as he finally looked up.

  Despite conversing in another room, his feathered self could hear the exchange, taking in every word. It seemed that they did not even try to be as quiet in some parts. Avie may trust him, but he would be keeping his eye on Owen.

  The tension would not budge in the room. She knew him, this male did not. And Rhulle most certainly did not know or have an interest in the annoyance. The stars above knew how long it took for the truxen to warm up to her, and then in came this male to his property; interrupting, cutting a feeding short and waving a gun at him... Not the best first meeting.

  Owen asked about what he was:

  “By your terms, I believe it was ‘alien’?” His cool, smug tone was back, having a bit of fun while Avie observed the conversation. She asked all of the basic questions previously, already knowing each answer. Her eyes never wavered while locked with his.

  Why was he here:

  “Just felt like leaving, and this was the place that I could function on that was the closest.”

  What he was called:

  He looked over to his friend and smirked, “Only a select few I deem worthy may have that privilege.”

  What he does here:

  “Reading, mostly. Painting, sketching, creating. I have found a pastime in movies that I also quite enjoy. Oh! And dancing.”

  That earned a doubtful look cast to her, with her shrugging in response, a light nod accompanying.

  Why he doesn’t need to eat every day:

  “I do not eat as you would, I only need the blood. My system is a bit more complex than yours, but I too need to feed for energy to keep my body going, much in the same way.”

  Owen turned green at the thought; it was an amusing sight.

  Avie interjected, changing the subject, “You know, Owen, he actually really helped me out a few weeks ago.” She fiddled with her ring; an eyebrow raised from him for her to elaborate. “When the police were scouting the area, he kept my jacket hidden. If they found it, there’s no way I wouldn’t have been viewed without partial involvement.”

  “But you were involved, he was using that man as a meal when you got there, wasn’t he?”

  “No,” Rhulle interrupted, “that man escaped, I never got to him.”

  “He was found dead, bled to death,” Owen spoke coldly, his head snapping in his direction instead.

  His friend piped up, “We discussed this, the police didn’t find a struggle, you know he had nothing to do with it.”

  They both looked at Avie while she continued, “We don’t know why Garret did what he did, and I can’t speak for him, of course, but maybe he felt it like I do, every time. And if he was experiencing anything like this, his mind and body would have been exhausted from the constant drumming inside. If he was out here to do what he did, he must have been terrified at what he accidentally found. He didn’t know if you were going to chase after him, if he was going to have to be on the run, if his body would even carry him any further... It’s just a theory, anyway.”

  “So, what you’re saying is that Garret was so scared of what was chasing him, he would rather die instead?”

  Rhulle shuffled, “No, he could not withstand the pursuit, unknowing if his pain would ever stop. It is probable, I have read about humans doing that.”

  Owen turned back to him, “You can’t possibly understand humans or what we think and go through. We aren’t your kind.”

  Rhulle laughed once, a coy smirk gracing his features, “Then you could not possibly understand mine.”

  The male stood up with intent and he was quick to follow.

  “Stop it, stop! Hey! We were just getting somewhere!” She blocked Owen, moreover, used her body as a buffer between the two once again, “Look, it’s late, we’re all tired. Why don’t we get some rest and pick this up another time?”

  They both agreed without hesitation.

  Owen went to leave but hung back in the doorway when he realized Avie was not following him. He turned to watch her interact with the creature, she was smiling up at him with the expression mirrored back at her. They were close, talking about something he couldn’t hear, seeing the sight caused a pang of disgust to twang in his core.

  “Aves, we should go.”

  She turned to him, looking sheepish, “Could, umm, could I have a moment? Just to say goodbye?”

  It rubbed him the wrong way to see her so friendly with what was essentially a serial murderer. But he nodded regardless, crossed his arms and leaned into the door frame, watching intently. If that thing tried anything to hurt her—well he may not be a fighter, but he wasn’t a coward.

  The creature straightened up; eyelids lowering, brows raised with his stare locked in his own. The blond recognized that look… it was almost a challenge, an act of superiority. It was waiting for what move Owen would make next.

  “Uhm, I was hoping for a moment alone.”

  His eyes snapped back to her… Damn it… On one hand it was fair because they had conversed alone, but on the other, he couldn’t trust the bastard-no-name.

  “Right, right, yes I’ll just wait in the other room,” he said, speaking slowly.

  Owen did his best to make it sound as if he moved far away, absolutely certain that thing had super hearing. But he remained a few steps away after backtracking nearly silently, hidden by the pony wall, intending to listen carefully.

  “Thank you, oh my gosh, thank you so much,” she gasped, relief flooding her voice. “I’m so sorry, I know this was sprung on you so suddenly and I never wanted to have this situation come out like that. Just… Thank you for trusting me.”

  Her words were muffled at the end of her sentence, Owen imagined she was hugging him, she was affectionate in that way but the worst also filled his mind… What if it wasn’t the case?

  “You sounded so distressed; I feared you were in trouble. I am partly to blame for the unwelcome introduction… Do you really trust him as well?”

  “Yes, I do, I know it was a bad meeting, but I think he will come around. We were both trying to solve the mystery that seems to interlock with you after all.”

  Owen heard her speak again, which was great to hear, however that did confirm her being affectionate with the monster. He felt slightly nauseous.

  The thing hummed in agreeance, “He will not always come with you, after this, will he?”

  Like hell he wouldn’t!

  “No, there can still be times where it’s just you and me.”

  The librarian almost spoke out, she shouldn’t be alone with the monster, who knew when it would use Avie as a meal instead? He knew deep down it was only a matter of time… Couldn’t she see he only wanted to protect her from it?

  “I would like that, Avie.”

  Silence passed. He was almost worried they would be walking out and bump right into him.

  “I should get going now, Owen will be coming back to see what the holdup is.”

  “Yes, go and rest, and come back to me whenever you would like.”

  “Goodnight, Rhulle,” she sighed.

  Rhulle… So that’s the thing’s name?

  “And goodnight to you, Avie.”

  She started wal
king, Owen hurriedly moving towards the open dining area where he was supposed to be. Her rounding the corner just in time for him to pretend being busy browsing various items collected amongst the book piles.

  He turned, thinking she may have known and was about to call him out, yet she smiled.

  “Let’s go home.”

  CHAPTER 13

  “So, what exactly brought the both of you here the other night? It could not have been to just see me,” Rhulle asked with a charming smile, expressing his ease to see Avie without company.

  “Shouldn’t this be a discussion that all of us should be present for?”

  He sighed, leaning back, “I suppose we could, but you are already here.”

  Thinking with a smile, she pulled her legs down from where she sat, “You’re right, I should go get him, he wouldn’t want to miss out.”

  She watched amused as he straightened in his seat, hasty to decline, “Oh no, not necessary. I had figured; it would be easier to talk with you about it. That man does not want to be around me, let alone communicate.”

  “Owen is… Owen is pretty eccentric. He’s a man who gets answers and plays to his strengths to find them. He wasn’t expecting you, and he certainly wasn’t expecting me to know you.”

  “What was he expecting when he came here?”

  She laughed, about to explain the blood that they had followed and the absurdity of it, when she paused. The blood brought them. The blood that leapt out of her body and raced against the night air to the manor… to Rhulle… The blood that drummed in her veins seemingly whenever Rhulle fed, or was it only when he needed to?

  Her eyebrows creased, observing her hands and falling silent as she started putting pieces together. The people who went out into the forest…

  “It is not in my best interest to kill for the sake of killing.”

  “I have never had two show up at the same time before.”

  “Some humans tasted wrong.”

  “You may have some sort of mutant blood there, Aves!”