Beyond the Dawn (Life and Death, Book II)

5. TALENTED

We stayed on the island for an entire month for our overextended honeymoon. Eventually, we were reluctant to decide it was best to make our way home now due to the depleted hunting supply. It was a bittersweet feeling to leave. I could give all my life just to stay another month in this place.

On the morning of the day we left, the housekeeper's small boat approached, and the scent fried fish hit me. I was surprised at how the smell of something that was such a staple of my human diet wasn't even slightly appealing now. It didn't smell bad in any way, just not edible—no different than smelling a flower or freshly washed clothes. There was no desire to put it in my mouth.

"She brought us lunch. How thoughtful," Edythe said.

"Just for you," I laughed.

I couldn't imagine how this woman actually thought Edythe was human, especially when she was so keen to the supernatural. No one looked like that without something other-worldly going on; even I'd guessed that much the first time I'd seen her.

I guessed that bringing the food was just an excuse to check in on Edythe. Maybe she wanted to see if the monster had harmed her yet. Edythe had found another reason to end our stay when she'd gathered from the woman's thoughts how she had been raising suspicion with some superstitious locals.

But with the human here, we wouldn't be able to step outside and risk being seen. So we stayed put for now. The woman stopped just shy of the doorway, beckoning for Edythe to come outside. Edythe disagreed politely in French, but the woman wouldn't take no for an answer. That's when they started to argue.

I didn't know what either of them was saying. I had to rely on inflection in tone to get the gist of the conversation. The woman's voice sounded full of concern. It was almost like she was pleading with Edythe to come with her. Edythe, however, was very reassuring. I could only assume how she was insisting that I wasn't any danger.

When the woman didn't relent, Edythe suddenly got harsh in the way she spoke. She said something in an annoyed tone, and as soon as the woman started to argue again, Edythe grabbed her gently by the arm.

The woman flinched away from the contact like she'd been shocked by static. Her eyes bulged open in disbelief, and that's where the conversation ended. She got out of the house so fast it was almost funny.

When we were on our return flight, I asked her about it.

"What was the housekeeping lady arguing with you about?"

Edythe chuckled quietly. Then she whispered so that only I could hear. "She was trying to convince me that you were a blood-drinking demon, that you were surely planning to kill me soon."

I shook my head. "It's crazy how certain she was."

"Oh, you have no idea. She was adamant. I didn't think she was going to let me go with you. She insisted that I come with her, that she could get me away from you. I promised her I was perfectly fine and I trusted you. And when she wouldn't relent, I grabbed her arm to let her feel. That was when I told her it was none of her business."

I stifled a laugh. "So that's what shut her up."

"I almost made a mess for us. I was worried she was going to have a heart attack when she realized you weren't the only demon."

"You're terrible. She'll have nightmares the rest of her life."

Her face was pleased with my satisfaction. "She's not working for Carine again, that's for sure."

When our plane landed in Seattle, Edythe smiled mischievously. "There's a surprise waiting for us here."

I looked at our surroundings. "What do you mean?"