Page 40 of Their Pretty Little Monster

I hurry toward the doors since I can’t see anyone else in there and step inside. It takes my breath away. The air is warm and humid, like a hidden paradise. In front of me lies a small rock pool, with plants in deep purples and reds growing around the perimeter, along with large-petaled flowers floating on the water’s surface, glowing a golden color. They are the only light in this room, giving off enough brightness to chase away the complete darkness. The water shimmers, reflecting the glow, and it’s spectacular.

Without another soul inside the room, I push the doors shut, needing me time.

Removing my shoes, I crouch down by the water’s edge, the pond not deep as I can see the silvery glitter bottom. I dip my feet inside the cool water, watching it for a moment, ensuring nothing’s going to attack me. When nothing does, I settle down, swishing my legs around, enjoying the coolness.

The tears I attempted to hold back flow more freely now, mixing with the sweat and the humidity of the room. I’m not just crying because of discovering a truth about the heritage I’m struggling to accept, but because of how lost I feel, how alone, as though I truly don’t know where I belong.

I don’t fit on Earth, I see that clearly now, but is this place my permanent home? Where it feels like I’m walking around in a nightmare?

Forgotten by a father who either knows nothing about me or refused me in his life, I keep circling back to my mom. Did she lie to protect me, or was she ashamed? I consider the idea that she had no idea my father had been a monster… then why refuse to talk about him? Why play down the strange silver hair when the rest of Nightingale Village noticed it?

She had to know the truth.

I lean forward, closer to the water, my reflection distorted by the ripples. For a moment, I don’t recognize myself until the water settles and turns mirror-still.

My eye color has changed from that pale blue to violet.

Staring back at me is a girl I barely recognize. I gasp as a cold chill runs through my veins. My gaze darts to the ends of my hair, noticing the stronger, more pronounced violet hue that covers the bottom half of my strands. It falls down my back and around my shoulders, shimmering under the light of the glowing flowers.

I lift a trembling hand to my face, tracing the lines of my now smoother skin and the more defined cheekbones. My reflection shows someone I barely recognize, someone transforming before my very eyes. A wave of panic hits me, and I wonder—will I turn into a monster, too? What will I look like?

Goose bumps rise on my arms, and I rub them, trying to ward off the cold fear feasting on my insides.

The crunch of foliage behind me crackles, my heart leaping into my throat. I half expect it to be Killian, but it’s someone else entirely.

I scream at first, seeing the creature that drags itself into the room. Uncertainty climbs to my throat, terror choking me.

The figure is lanky, with thin legs and arms that seem more like wings. Its face is pale white, and darkness sweeps from his hairline back, merging with his clothes, making it difficult to tell where he starts and ends. Its hands are stark white like his face, long feathers dancing underneath the length of his arms.

“No need to be scared,” he murmurs in a gravelly voice that leaves me startled. I start to pull back, but he adds, “You don’t need to leave on my account.” Nothing about his voice matches his appearance.

“I’m s-sorry. Is this your room?” I stammer.

He shakes his head. “This is a communal room for everyone to share. Everything in here is made to calm you—from the air temperature to the pond to the soft sounds of trickling water.” He walks with long steps toward the far edge of the water, at least eight feet from me, and climbs up on the ledge. Planting his feet on it, he crouches down, bony knees sticking out on either side of him, his feathery arms dipping forward, sinking into the water just as I’ve done with my feet.

“Ahh, that’s better. Something about this water always settles me. Please, stay. I’ve had a shit day myself and could use the company.”

I settle back down, my feet dipping back into the water. “Of course, you’re welcome to join.”

The monster’s not large, maybe five-foot-eight or nine. As he sits there, I keep telling myself not to scream again. He is a thing from horror stories. When he glances my way, his mouth partly open in what I think is a smile, with crooked teeth showing, I tremble.

Except I’m like him now, right? And if this is where I’m going to be until I work out how to go see my mom and check on her, ask her about who my real father is, I have to try to fit in.

“So, what brought you here?” he asks, breaking the silence again.

“Running,” I admit with a smirk. “From a lot of things, but mostly from myself.”

He nods as if he understands completely. “We’ve all had those moments.”

I sigh, my gaze drifting back to the glowing flowers. “I think I’ve been doing it most of my life.”

After a long beat of silence, he clears his throat. “You’re the new human,” he says, more a statement than a question, and just like the girl at the ritual said, I’m the talk of the town on the vessel.

“That’s me,” I answer softly, unsure what else to say as I’m still trying to make sense of it all.

“I’m Clay,” he states, his birdlike head twisted, staring at me. “The captain of this vessel.”

“Wait. I assumed that Wolfe…” I’m stunned.

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