Chapter 1
Work at the diner has been harder than usual. Toby is giving me a hard time because he's grabby. I had to put out two fires because of this piece of shit fire demon. It is times like these that I hate being a human in a world of the supernatural. I’m not too fond of this job, and I hate my life now. This had me reflecting on what my purpose in life is. Today was my breaking point when Toby grabbed my breast painfully, and I instantly gave him a straight right, knocking out the fire demon. I quit a few minutes ago and headed toward my secret cabin, cloaked with disguise magic so no one could find or follow me.
My parents gave it to me as an inheritance gift before passing. It has been five years since I lost them to a freak accident coming home from a trip. I was staying at my little two-bedroom house in the suburbs when I got the call from my aunt telling me my mom and dad died during a rainstorm. I was numb through all the preparation for the funeral and hadn’t eaten in days until my aunt force-fed me and snapped me back to partial reality. Not for my health, but for her takeover of my parents’ restaurant.
I began functioning somewhat like a human, and six months later, I’m in college and working at this stupid piece of wreck diner owned by Milly, another human, but she was a bitch to me too for the past five years.
I inherited this cabin from my parents before they passed away. It’s been five years since I lost them in a tragic accident on their way home from a trip. The news came when I was staying at the cabin, and my aunt had to deliver the heartbreaking message. Amid the shock and grief, I was barely present as we prepared for their funeral. I couldn’t bring myself to eat until my aunt intervened, forcing nourishment upon me and helping me regain some semblance of reality.
Slowly, I started to function again, though the pain lingered. Six months later, I found myself enrolled in college and working at a rundown diner owned by Milly, another human. However, she has even been unkind to me over the past five years.
She dismisses all the inappropriate, aggressive, and harassing behavior of her patrons, chalking it up to ‘boys will be boys’. Today was the final straw when one of them crossed the line, touching me inappropriately. I reacted by knocking him out cold and fleeing the scene.
I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with the woods, but my home within them is my sanctuary. It welcomes me with open arms every time, offering solace and security. It’s as if the property itself knows me, anticipating my needs. Everything is magically replenished by the time I return, from food to cleaning supplies. It was unsettling at first, but the warm, comforting breeze that envelops me reassures me.
My home has become a source of healing, soothing the aches from long nights at work and the stress of unfinished homework. As I drove home, still trembling from the encounter with the fire demon, a sudden earthquake-like vibration shook the earth. I froze in fear, but then a bright streak of light pierced the sky and connected with my heart. I gasped as it seemed to beckon me forward, pulling me towards something unknown.
Tears streaming down my face, I stumbled out of the car, compelled to follow the light. But instead, I found a man lying injured on the forest floor, illuminated by the moonlight. Panic surged through me as I realized he was badly hurt.
I had no idea what to do; my phone was in the car, and I knew nothing about treating fractured bones. As I leaned in to check his breathing, his intense blue eyes met mine, and he uttered a single word, “Mate,” in a hoarse voice.
“Can you walk?” I asked, my voice trembling. “I can’t lift you, you’re too heavy for me. You look like an overlord, anyway. Can you manage to walk just for five minutes so I can get you to a hospital?”
“N-n-no hospital,” he stammered, and my eyes widened in disbelief.
“But you’re badly injured, sir,” I argued, concern evident in my voice.
“No,” he insisted, wincing as he struggled to sit up. “Go. Now,” he ordered, and I hesitated before offering him my support as he began to set his bones back in place.
The sound made me wince, and I fought back the urge to vomit as I helped him up, his scent now a mix of sweat and blood. He groaned in pain, but we pressed on, stumbling out of the forest together. Finally, we reached my car, and I settled him in, accidentally falling on top of him in the process. I heard him sniff audibly, causing my nerves to skyrocket.
“I have to take you to my home,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “Please don’t be a murderer and harm me,” I muttered to myself as I drove to the safety of my sanctuary.
I glanced nervously at the imposing figure in my back seat, his pain palpable. A fall like that could prove fatal for someone of his stature. The drive home was tense, and as soon as we arrived, my haven sensed the unusual presence and flickered with unease.
“Please, Haven, help me help him,” I pleaded, and the door swung open, urging me inside. The flickering lights guided me to the second bedroom downstairs. With a mirror in hand, my only means of communication with Haven, I followed its instructions without hesitation.
“Thank you, Haven. Let’s hope he’s not a criminal,” I murmured.
He’s no criminal, Haven reassured me. His attire suggests he’s of high rank. He could be royalty.
Gasping at the revelation, I closed the door behind me and retreated to the bathroom, shedding my bloody clothes and washing away the day’s horrors. Exhausted, I collapsed on the couch in the living room and drifted into a fitful sleep.
