Page 45 of Our Little Monster
He offered me a kind smile before closing his door, and I did the same.
14
Serina
Iwokewiththekind of soreness that seeped into your bones, a reminder of the turmoil I had been through. My mouth felt as parched as a desert, and without hesitation, I snatched the glass of water sitting on the nightstand, gulping it down in one go.
The room swam slightly as I stood, my side screaming in protest. My weapons laid next to the bed. Surprise rippled through me as to why they would let me keep them.
I leaned down, grabbing a stake and clutching it close for support more than defense before shuffling out of the room.
Padding down the stairs, every step incurred a wince, but I couldn't help noticing the streams of sunlight pouring through open windows. The guys were gone, and the silence left room for a strange normalcy to settle in.
This place, this supposed Vampire lair, was disarmingly nice—clean lines, plush couches, a kitchen that smelled faintly of cinnamon. It was all so... homey, the complete opposite of the dark, gothic havens I had envisioned like you’d see in movies.
Should I leave? The thought buzzed around my mind like an annoying fly. They wouldn't expect it.
I had told Bastian I would stay until I was healed, but none of them were here to stop me. Yet a shiver ran through me at the thought of being alone again, vulnerable to whoever wanted to scare me, someone ballsy enough to leave that message on my mirror.
I wasn't keen on admitting it, even to myself, but I wasn't ready for a fight. Not yet. I needed to heal first, then I'd take off.
Lost in these thoughts, I barely registered the sound of the front door opening until laughter spilled into the living room. Bastian, Nox, and Thorne sauntered in, their camaraderie palpable as they shared private jokes, acting for all the world like any group of friends returning from a morning out rather than a trio of monsters.
The mood shifted instantly when they caught sight of me, barefoot, stake in hand, standing in the middle of their living room.
Conversations tapered off, three pairs of eyes locking onto mine, each reflecting a different emotion—amusement, concern, curiosity—but none of them fear. It was so bizarre, this moment, standing there with creatures of the night who laughed and joked like they weren't part of the darkness that had chased me for the past year. Actually, all my life.
“Easy, Serina, we won't bite... unless you ask nicely,” Nox teased, his impish grin contradicting the Vampire lore that painted him as a predator.
His voice broke the tension, and I almost wanted to laugh at the absurdity. Almost.
“Serina,” Bastian began, nudging Nox for his comment. His tone held a careful blend of warmth and caution. “I didn’t know you’d be up already. You look like you could use some more rest.”
I hadn’t caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror, but I was sure if I looked as bad as I felt, I would probably agree with him.
Thorne followed close behind them both, a paper bag from Mickey's Diner clutched in his hand. I’d recognize that bag anywhere. The rich aroma of steak and eggs wafted from it, hitting my senses hard enough to elicit an involuntary growl from my stomach.
My cheeks warmed with a mix of embarrassment and something else; was it gratitude? They knew.
Somehow, they knew my favorite comfort food, and it was here, in the hands of a Vampire, three Vampires who thought to get it?
Was this some sick and twisted dream?
I lowered the stake slightly, unsure whether to be on guard or to give into the strange sense of safety that seemed to wrap around me like a warm blanket.
The normalcy of it all, the joviality in their voices when they walked in, the domestic scent of breakfast—it was disarming. It felt like some half-remembered dream, a life where monsters didn't ruin my life, and mornings started with laughter and good food with my dad instead of aching wounds and overflowing sorrow.
“How about we all eat first, and then we can give you a tour of the place before you get back to bed?” Thorne suggested as he moved to the dining room table and set down the bag of food. He cast me a raised brow. “Unless you’d like to eat in bed? We could do the tour later.”
“Uh, no, this is fine. I need to move around. The sooner I’m better, the sooner I’m out of here,” I said, taking my seat.
“I’ll grab your meds,” Thorne chimed as he walked toward the bathroom that I had seen Nox in last night. Nox and Bastian both took their seats.
“So, any leads?” I asked, opening the to-go plate and not waiting for their response before I dug in. It was delicious and something I hadn’t had in so long. I almost wanted to cry at the memories that shot to the forefront of my mind from this meal.
“No,” Bastian said plainly, Nox and him both digging into their own plates of food.
I could feel Bastian eyeing me, a tension settling over the room again. I knew I wasn’t ready for a hunt, but maybe we could do some research?
