Page 11 of Hollow Nights

“Libra?” I tensed, hearing her name drip from another man’s mouth.

“Yes? Oh, Barret? Hi!” I barely turned my head, glaring as a ginger-haired man with a small beard, dressed like a lumberjack, hugged her tight, his hands moving along her ass. Something about him felt off, and I didn’t just mean the way he looked. I didn’t like her being near him. Libra’s eyes met mine, shooting me a warning as I scowled, forcing my eyes away while still listening like the well behaved monster she wanted me to be.

“Wow, you’re even prettier than Sterling mentioned.” I scoffed at his words.

“Oh, stop.” Libra laughed sweetly, seemingly enjoying the man’s compliment. “So, I’m sorry, but how do you know Sterling again? You just don’t, well, you don’t look like most of the guys in his circle. ”

“Oh, well,” the man wheezed a laugh, nervous, “I actually worked for Sterling a while back. I did some contract work down at that crystal shop, fixed some shelves and busted pipes. Come to think of it, I’d almost forgotten all about him until we ran into each other last week at the store. I was surprised he remembered me.”

“Oh yeah, Sterling is really good with names and faces. He remembers everything,” Libra giggled.

“It seems so. But yeah, we got to talking, and he was heading to a party and asked if I wanted to go. I turned him down ‘cause, as embarrassing as it sounds, I was planning on going home and sulking over my breakup. Sterling and I chatted for a bit, and then I guess he had this idea to set us up. I have to admit, I was hesitant, but now,” he paused, “I have to say, I’m excited. You seem pretty cool, Libra.” I made a gagging sound as Libra shot me a fast glare over her bare shoulder.

The two humans continued to chat, awkwardly trying to find a casual groove in their conversation, their date bleeding late into the night. I had tuned them out, my focus solely on my claws as I played with the long chain that connected me to Libra, tracing the metal links with the tip of my claw. I was bored, and the idea of being bored annoyed the shit out of me. Libra didn’t want me messing with her life, fine, but who was she to stop me from fucking with another?

My eyes carefully searched the many faces of the restaurant, landing on a young waiter nearby. He was smiling, completely full of life, unaware of what I was about to do to him.

I slithered from the chair and shadowed the young man. Libra’s eyes followed me as her smile faded. She tried to pretend she didn’t see me, but I knew she was watching.

Good. Keep those eyes on me, fleshbag.

My tail tugged the tied strings of the waiter’s apron, causing it to fall. He fumbled for a moment, catching it as he apologized to a nearby woman for bumping into her.

“Excuse me for a moment.” That ginger, Barret, left the table as Libra tried to snap my attention to her.

“Axelle!” she whispered loudly, snapping her fingers. An older couple walked by as she forced a quick smile, pretending not to be yelling at an invisible demon toying with the waiter. I blatantly ignored her, pleased with her frustration and attention while knocking the pen from the waiter's hand as he tried to take a nearby table’s order. “Axelle!” she called me again, this time hiding behind the drink menu. I rolled my eyes and stalked to her side as he left the room.

“You rang?”

“What the hell are you doing?” Her eyes frantically bolted around the room, hoping no one could hear her. “Leave that poor man alone!”

“Oh no.Yousaid I had to leaveyoualone. And I am. He’s not off limits… They all arein limits, including that lumberjack you’re dining with.” My eyes rose, watching the male waiter as he re-entered the room carrying a tray of glasses.

“Look, you’re my monster, right? Then listen to me and leave him alone!” My tail wagged at her words.

“Or what?” I raised a brow, personally enjoying this new, threatening side of her. “You going to punish me, Libra? Show me just how bad of a monster I’ve been?”

“Knock it off!” She dropped her menu as Barret approached the table, smiling like a smug and arrogant asshole.

“I’m waiting,” I poked the glass of water on the table, slowly moving it toward Barret as he sat down. Libra watched, pretending not to notice. The man was too busy resuming whatever benign conversation they were having, unaware of what was happening. “Or what, Libra?” She dropped her mouthopen to speak, unable to form words. I sighed. “Too bad.” My claw flicked the glass into the man’s lap as he reacted. Libra gasped, offering to help as I bolted to the same waiter from before.

“Sorry, fleshbag. I may be chained to you, but you don’t own me.” Libra’s eyes met mine as she watched me stab the man’s heart with my claw, twisting them deep into his skin. He clutched his chest as I released him, dropping the tray of glasses, falling over as his body began to convulse. All eyes in the restaurant turned to him, a few people rushing to his aid, including Barret.

“Someone call an ambulance!” The commotion drew everyone’s attention away as they desperately tried to help the poor man.

I dallied to Barret’s now-empty chair, propping my feet up on the table as Libra glared at me, mortified. “What did you do to him?” she demanded, tears swelling in her eyes.

“Nothing that can’t be undone.” I stabbed a piece of bread with my claw, raising it to my widened mouth. “Humans. He’ll reach the hospital and the doctors will save him.” I ate the whole slice in one bite, licking my claw clean. “I already broke the rules and killed one human for you, Libra. I won’t be making that mistake twice. But us sleep demons are easily bored. We need to be busy, or else we—” I waved my hand in the direction of the fallen man as the sound of sirens played in the distance.

“You play with people’s lives as if they were pieces in a game. That’s sick, Axelle.” Libra shot from her chair, throwing her napkin on the table as she grabbed her things. I quickly bolted to her side, hissing into her ear as she tried to ignore me, heading for the exit.

“Sick?” I threw my head back as I laughed. “I’m a fucking sleep demon!” Libra shoved through the growing crowd and outthe front doors of the restaurant. “Toying with lives is my sole purpose! You are my sole purpose?—

“I didn’t ask for this!” she screamed, nearby humans glancing at her like she was crazy as she wiped her eyes. “Please, it’s just,” she covered her face with her hands, “just find someone else to haunt.”

“I already told you, there is no one else!” I groaned, annoyed with how upset she’d gotten over nothing. “I don’t understand why you’re getting so worked up over a fucking waiter?—”

“You really don’t get it? Axelle, murder is wrong!” She growled the statement through grit teeth.

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