Blacken

  “It’s my lucky day! Thank you so much, I can’t believe it.” The blonde handed her the dress, Avie admiring the silk slip sleeves, the soft material of matte black, “Can I try it on?”

  “You have to! I’ve never seen that dress on anyone besides the display. Here,” she led her towards the curtain change room, “my name is Kelly if you need a hand.”

  The redhead nodded in thanks, starting to change as soon as the curtain closed. The piece zipped easily on the side, fitting a little snug, but looking beautiful on her. The material hugged the shape of her body, sheer sleeves wore off the shoulder and looped around her upper arms, showing off more skin than she was usually accustomed to. Avie felt truly beautiful in the dress, spinning around; trying to see every angle with a smile on her face.

  She came out, showing off the dress to an excited Kelly.

  “Wow! It looks perfect, like it was made for you, how do you like it?”

  “I love it, Kelly. It’s a definite purchase, I almost don’t want to take it off!”

  “That man is very lucky,” Kelly smirked, eyebrow raising in a coy manner at seeing the mark on her shoulder, “I’ll get you rung up whenever you’re ready,” she said with a wink.

  Avie almost wanted to cover it, having a wave of embarrassment, before she laughed quietly. It wasn’t abnormal to have love bites and hickeys, and Kelly was young enough that she acknowledged that. She was glad someone older was not working, they most assuredly would be looking at her in disdain upon seeing her mark.

  She took one last look at herself in the mirror, the dress had a lot of power—that, or she herself willed it to look so beautiful on her. Either way, it was perfect for the evening she was planning, another birthday gift to herself! Grabbing the giftbox holding the dress, Avie thumbed over the periwinkle case.

  “Thank you so much for your help, Kelly.”

  “It’s no problem! I hope you have fun on your date!”

  They both shared a smile, saying their goodbyes.

  Arriving home, only a few minutes from the boutique, she started right away on a dinner to take to Rhulle’s later. It would take a few hours for the pot roast to cook, wanting everything to be ready and perfect for the night, excitement vibrating through her instead.

  She flicked on the television as background noise while she set off to work, the time flying by in her craft.

  With everything finally prepared, Avie applied the umpteenth bobby pin into her hair, keeping the curls tucked into an elegant updo as she affixed some well-placed jewelry. Stepping into black tights and heels, she was about to slip on the little black dress, when a knock on the door interrupted her. Cursing, she threw on a silken robe, jaunting to the spy hole and peeking through; not expecting anyone.

  It was Owen.

  The woman still didn’t want to see him quite yet; she accepted that he may no longer be a part of her life as her once good friend. Seeing him still hurt, she was not ready to let the person she knew leave.

  Regardless, she opened the door, “What do you want, Owen?”

  The man in question held up a small box, wrapped in purple and pink, “It’s still your birthday, even if you don’t want to see me, you should have this.”

  He was gruff, Avie speculated he didn’t want to be here either.

  “Thank you, you shouldn’t have,” she reached out, grabbing the small gift, eyeing its ribbon. It was truly appreciated, but Avie didn’t want to come off as inviting or welcoming until she saw some actual changes.

  She looked up, seeing him open his mouth as if to say something—mouth ready to form words with breath drawn, but before he could his eyes flicked down. There they sat focused on something, something behind her with a disturbed expression glossing over him.

  The woman turned her head to look back, feeling the bite mark tense slightly from the movement.

  Crap.

  He had been staring at her exposed love bite. She turned back to him immediately, covering it back up the best she could with the collar of her robe.

  “You still think he has the best interest for you? When that monster is feeding off you like that?”

  Avie hated hearing how much Owen talked down Rhulle, he didn’t even know the whole story. Yet if he did, it may only bring more reason to dislike him.

  “Were you here just to deliver my birthday gift or was there something else?”

  “I want to solve this goddamn mystery! But you can’t accept me anymore, your partner, your friend. I’ve been replaced by that beast in the woods. I’m at least giving you the courtesy of knowing that I plan to do something about it.”

  “I’ve told you that no one else will be dying, if you kill him, you kill an innocent,” Avie said, scoffing, her eyes hard.

  “And all of the other killings he did, there’s no moral question in your mind that you’re okay with that?”

  “I can not dictate whose life matters more, it’s in the past. What matters now is that we have stopped it.”

  “You’re crazy, Avie, absolutely crazy! If I asked anyone else, they would see I’m the sane one. He’s controlled others through their blood and now he’s done the same with you,” Owen raised his voice, gesturing to the bite on her once more.

  She had enough, he insulted her and Rhulle with no regard to see things from another perspective. She snapped, words leaving her quickly in her retort, “Actually, this was from when I slept with him. Thanks for the gift,” she stated in a rather matter-of-fact tone, slamming the door in his face.

  The redhead sighed against the door, getting back to work on dressing up for the evening, planning to enjoy the night, nonetheless.

  It didn’t take too long for Owen to be heard banging on her door, shouting at her to open up and talk. She figured her words finally registered. It was curt of her to say what she did, but damn it felt good, after all, the librarian wouldn’t drop any of his accusations. Becoming more and more insufferable each time. Avie hated that she was still closely attached to him, letting him get too far in instances such as this, then getting fed up, coming up short with her responses.

  Really, she should just cut him off to stop further arguments.

  Her dress finally slipped on, makeup touched-up, and a silk shawl wrapped around her shoulders to complete the look. Avie checked herself out in the vanity’s mirror, making sure she was all put together.

  “You seem to have a visitor at the front door, I do not know if they will be going away too soon.”

  Rhulle entered through the usual window, drinking in her appearance. She was sure the noise Owen caused could be heard down the street at this point. A smile broke out while seeing the chestnut plumed truxen perched there, walking over to kiss him.

  “It’s just Owen, for some reason he won’t drop the mind control theory, or what’s happened to me with you.”

  “And so, he is going to be there all night because of that?”

  She paused, “Well no. He saw the love bite. He might know about my intimate relationship with you.”

  “You are no longer worried about how he may act due to that information?” He cocked his head, fully entering the room.

  “If he wanted to do anything, he would have by now, we would have seen someone poking around in town or in the woods.”

  “This is true, you look ravishing by the way!” Rhulle twirled her around, catching her entire look, “If you can not leave out the front, then I will have to sneak you out.”

  “Sneak me out,” she laughed. “How? Down the fire escape?”

  He looked over his shoulder, unfurling his wings and flapping them once for good measure.

  “Better.”

  “No… You don’t mean—!”

  The truxen nodded, confirming her thoughts. Avie essentially squealed with delight, grabbing a coat to keep her warm as well of her bag of things to bring on the date. Rhulle cradled her in his arms, she balanced the fabric carrier on herself, one hand gripping onto the handles, the other holding onto the feathered body for good me
asure.

  He jumped, her breath leaving her when his wings caught the wind, her stomach dropping and feeling weightless in the first moments of flight. The night air struck her, demanded her attention to the cold, yet she could only focus on the feeling of flying, wrapped up tight in Rhulle’s arms, landing in the trees once they reached the forest in record timing.

  Rhulle used the canopy of trees to leap instead of attempting to navigate through with his flight, the branches too close together for him to weave through. They arrived outside of the manor, Avie being kept in his arms once again as he carried her through the home, letting her stand once the dining room was reached.

  “Rhulle… Thank you, that was astounding.”

  “I thought you would enjoy it. We had to start the night with a little excitement.”

  “I’m excited to have this night,” she spoke while setting up the table, placing dinnerware, candles, the roast with veggies, and red wine onto the rich oak. She lit the beige candles with a box of matches brought, showing off the ensemble to her partner.

  “Dear Avie, it all looks so enticing, shall we?” Rhulle pulled back the chair at one end, gesturing for her to sit.

  Sitting across him at the long table, the woman started to sip at the wine. The truxen copied her, staring at the glass with a wary look before trying the strange liquid.

  “This is… different. I wouldn’t say I particularly like it.”

  Avie smiled, “You don’t have to drink it, I thought you may want to try it at least.”

  “Thank the stars.” He pushed glass far away from him, causing her to laugh.

  With trying the roast, Rhulle expressed his approval of the food Avie had cooked, happy to try some Earth food at last. They conversed as two lovers would at any dinner, laughing, exchanging stories, in general getting lost in the other. It almost felt like she was at a fine dining restaurant with him. As they ate and conversed, the scene made it easy to imagine soft music playing, idle conversation chattering in the background, soft ambient lighting and even dreamy thoughts of him wearing a suit.

  It felt so real. A real date.

  After dinner was dancing, Rhulle held her close, her head resting on his chest as they swayed with the music. Her eyes fluttered closed, soaking up the affection.

  “I couldn’t ask for a better birthday…” The words slipped out in an appreciative soft voice, riding on the waves of joy.

  “Birthday? Yours is today?” he sounded caught off guard, looking up Avie could see that his face matched.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t say something, I didn’t think it mattered.”

  He paused their dance, “It matters because it is you. I am honoured you agreed to spend the night with me, I would like to have given you a proper celebration or even a… Wait here.”

  Rhulle suddenly broke away, strolling off to fetch something, coming back to reveal it in front of the firelight. A golden band caught the light, wrapping around a stunning diamond reflecting the flames tenfold.

  Avie gasped, not expecting such a thing, “This isn’t because I said it was my birthday? Where did you even get this?”

  “I was planning on giving you this ring soon regardless. It has been mine for a while, lost in the forest, but now it is yours to show, or to think of me whenever you look.”

  He slipped on the ring, her finger accepting with no resistance, it fit slightly loose but sparkling while she played with it in the lighting. It was beautiful. He was beautiful.

  “Rhulle, I—” She didn’t know what to say, her throat tight with emotion from the grand gesture.

  “Delahara incu.”

  “Delahara incu…” she repeated, looking up from the ring to watch him bristle with excitement, eyes and smile wide. His hands tightened their grasp around hers with the ring. “That sounds familiar, what does it mean?”

  Rhulle pulled her closer to him, making it easy to lean down. A soft kiss on the shell of her ear was matched with an equally soft whisper, causing chills to run up and down her body.

  “I love you.”

  Owen’s fist still rapped at the door, it had been forever, he was tempted to just kick open the door and make her explain herself, possibly shake some sense into her.

  A neighbor opened his own door, the old man short in stature telling the blond to piss off or the cops would be involved. He stopped the noise, questionably looking back at the door. There’s no way she would be leaving without bumping into him, so he just would wait it out… or break in.

  He decided on the latter, trying to pick the lock with supplies in his pocket.

  To his surprise, it worked, and he was in. He closed the door behind him, locking it. Owen called out for Avie; searching the space before finding she was not there.

  He must have snuck her out. Taken her to his manor in the woods.

  The librarian was pissed. He could maybe rationalize that she was confused and thought she had feelings for the monster. But… sleeping with him? It was disgusting, an unholy thing to even imagine. It made him absolutely sick to his stomach to think about.

  He needed to kill before it caused further damage to her, she really was gone.

  Owen didn’t have his gun with him. He cursed himself, wishing he brought it. He had to strike. It had to end. His hands balled into tight fists as he stood in the darkness of the apartment.

  He had let it get too far—but things will be fixed.

  “You do not have to respond now; think it over, take your time.”

  Avie was left speechless, hardly expecting a ring and a confession. She really did care for him, had been enthralled with him since the first time he decided to visit and communicate with her. He had every opportunity to kill her, but he didn’t. It was a long shot, even then, but on that simple note alone, she felt that there was more to him and that the woman wanted to know as much as she could.

  Of course, this wasn’t a traditional dating scene, his species moving seemingly much quicker in comparison to humans. However, nothing really felt rushed. She never felt pressured to reciprocate his intimate feelings, only by her own ego pushing that it was too soon by society standards.

  Rhulle was the most incredible being, he filled her with praise and made her feel so…

  Two hot tears streamed down her face, catching on his thumbs. Instantly his demeanour changed.

  “Oh no, Avie, I have upset you.”

  She shook her head, smiling, “No, I’m not upset. I’m so happy!” Avie kissed the palm placed on the side of her face, seeing him wash with relief.

  “You make me happy too, dear Avie. So very happy.”

  He kissed away the streaks, landing on her lips. He kissed her individually, three, four, five, six, seven, landing in quick succession before bringing her in to deepen it. Keeping her in his grasp, her face was delicately held between his gentle claws, connecting her to him.

  “I just. Cannot. Get. Enough of you,” he spoke between more pecks, moving to lift her up above him, twirling her around as though she weighed nothing. Placing her back down, he finally let her break away from him. “Stay with me again tonight?”

  Avie smiled, ready to say yes, but she had other responsibilities.

  “I have to be up early in the morning for work,” she answered sadly.

  “Right, yes. It would be easier with your things at home,” he sounded nearly as disappointed.

  “I can still stay, for a little bit longer at least.”

  His feathers bristled in an excited manner, “Wonderful.”

  She yearned to stay, the hours falling away far too quickly as she spent passionate time with the orphic truxen. He was the one to comment it was time for her to return, needing a good night’s rest. Rhulle flew her back home, hesitating in her window, leaving her a longing kiss goodbye.

  “Goodnight, my love.”

  Her hands still caressed his face, reaching up to his height in the sill, “Goodnight, Rhulle.”

  They held a smile, before he turned and disappeared into the night. H
er hand reaching out, similar to the fashion of the night she reached out after him, not wanting their first real conversation to end.

  Avie didn’t want this night to end either.

  Her hand glittered in the low light of the streetlamps, her gaze finding the ring once more. She drew it back to inspect, twirling it around as she gazed over its beauty. Avie knew it, the feeling rushing in at full force, she knew that she too, loved him.

  Nothing else could cloud her feelings, no worry about what others may think, no worries about the implications of the taboo—just Rhulle. Just his love. It filled her; the overwhelming feeling of needing to tell him. Should it wait? Could she wait until she saw him next to tell him?

  No. She needed to tell him now, caught up in the feeling.

  Regardless of coming from his place barely minutes ago, she decided to go back. To tell him, to say fuck it to the obligations of early morning rising. The woman needed to be with him tonight.

  Her smile was wide still glancing at the ring, still looking it over and thinking of him, rushing, all but throwing open her bedroom door.

  Her heart dropped.

  The door opened up to reveal Owen on the other side, the barrel of his gun pointed straight at her.

  CHAPTER 19

  Rhulle found it strange that Avie had not come to visit him after her workday. He waited for hours, trying to occupy his thoughts as he huffed, wondering where the young woman was. The light of the sun eventually disappeared, leaving dusk and nightfall, yet still no Avie.

  He could wait no longer, as the darkness came, he slipped out into the night, going out to see her instead. When he arrived at her place, however, he found it surrounded with a yellow ribbon, no lights on, and the window locked tight. It worried him. It wasn’t like her to not be home at this hour at least, and he would have seen her if she was on the way to him.

  The thought occurred that she may have been over at the other house—at Owen’s. The stars above knew why she would be there, but he decided to check as well.