Page 35 of Demon Rejected

“It’s always the same with you young pups. I give you good news, and you guys don’t believe me. If I was be a bloodsucker, would you be more inclined to believe me?"

Ziggy opened his pocket and pulled out a phone. He tapped on an album and gave me the phone. He was right.

“This could be Photoshopped or a guy who looks like you."

A smile tugged at his lips. “Pup, believe me if you like. If not, then don’t. You will meet others, and they’ll confirm what I said."

“What would I have to do?"

“We work a lot undercover. The secret of SN must be kept at any cost. We infiltrate people from our organization into the system and follow leads. Now and then, we have to stop a werewolf who decides he’s the law and goes on killing rampages. When people live as long as we do, some of us don’t fare that well. Some lose their shit, and then it can turn ugly."

“And then are you guys, what, killing them?" I leaned closer to my plate. My eyes opened wide as if that would make me hear better.

“Listen, it’s not as if we have shifter prisons. We have places for the ones that need only some help, but some, sadly, need to be put to peace.”

I stuffed some more food into my mouth. Damn, I killed a human. Who was I to judge? I killed him because I knew I couldn’t get help. I tried talking to my social worker. She ignored the signs because the little girls didn’t have bruises and would not say a word. They ignored everything because he was an intelligent monster who knew how to cover his tracks.

Ziggy looked at me. His eyes had a strange intensity to them.

“I understand."

He nodded. Did he know that I killed a man?

“Scarlett, you will have all expenses covered and a generous income. And let’s be real, we are different, we can’t be with a human, not long term at least."

I nodded.

“Is there a trial time, or are you guys like the mob? Once you're in, you only leave in a casket?"

“No, the only condition is to keep quiet about us after you leave. No one outside of shifters is allowed to know about SN.”

“I understand. Sounds fair. How about benefits? And do I have to ride a bike?"

He laughed again.

“You get benefits and a six-figure payment, but as a shifter, you don’t get sick, so there’s that. The bike is an upgrade reserved for cool cats like myself."

It was my turn to giggle. “I believe you now."

“What do you mean?"

“I believe you’re eighty-two because no man that is the age you look would say ‘cool cat.’"

“Fair enough. Deal?"

“Deal. I’m a badass, and I want to give this badass shit a shot."

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