Sapphire Spells

I guess I have an unhealthy relationship when it comes to death. That terrifying bitch that in the end no one ever really escapes. One way or another, she captures us all. She is an uninvited guest that strolled into my life only once. The destruction left in her wake buried a part of me six feet under. Now, I visit graves of strangers, taking a daily walk with Luna through the cemetery, feeling oddly comfortable surrounded by the dead. That part of myself that is buried is still somewhere underground and I don't care to dirty my hands with trying to find it. It is gone and I live my life without looking back.

Just as the sun sets and night takes possession of the sky, we embark on our stroll. It is my favorite time to walk her. Luna, much like myself, finds pleasure in the peaceful atmosphere, her tail swaying ever so softly as we continued along our usual path.

We stroll past the stones marking the graves of the lives that no longer visit this world, at least not often. The cemetery is an old one, most of those buried here have long been forgotten by the living. The only sound is that of my boots and Luna's paws scraping along the cement with each step we take. The evening is completely still, void of any sound or movement aside from us. The cemetery is home to a blaring stillness that has an overwhelming finality to it, enough to trigger the hair on someone's neck to stand on its ends with eerie discomfort.

The graveyard does not have such an effect on me. However, I use its otherworldly powers of causing others discomfort to my advantage. This is why of the three houses nestled between two graveyards, I live in one of them. The cemetery acts as a repellant, keeping most of the noise and trouble of the world at bay. Like a fortress it erects a barrier of grass and stone, sheltering me within its peaceful stillness.

It is not that I don't not like people, quite the contrary. I enjoyed the company of others, at times even craved it. Yet those moments when I so wish to retreat, I really prefer not to be bothered.

My phone buzzes in my pocket. Automatically I reach for it. I am the walking symbol of Pavlov's Conditioning Theory, the phone vibrates and my hand dives for it without my mind even thinking.

"Dinner?" The text from Preston shone on the screen.

Though I typically prefer to stay away from supernaturals, Preston is an exception. Fairies are not harmless, far from it. Yet Preston and I have an understanding. To me, he is no threat.

"Not hungry." I text back, a smirk curling my lip. Preston does not actually want dinner, we both know that much.

A heartbeat later the phone screen lit up. "Drinks then?"

He is shameless.

And so am I.

I clicked the screen off and shove the phone back into my pocket without a response. Knowing he is going to get irritated with my slow response after the initial quick reply gives me more pleasure than it should've. I'd let him squirm for a few minutes before ending his torment.

The lightness in my chest does not last, the smile falls from my lips before it ever reaches my eyes. Goosebumps suddenly cover my skin even though the night is warm and unease moves through me. The uncomfortable feeling of being watched is an odd one, and exactly what I feel.

Luna stills beside me, her head lowering beneath her shoulder blades as her attention focuses on something up ahead. A low rumble vibrates through her chest.

Looking up, I stifle a surprised gasp. Every muscle in my body contracts, holding me in place.

A figure is crouched beside one of the graves, looking straight at me.

A stifling power surrounds him, drifting into the air before spreading out. It steals the breath from my lungs. There is a predatory stillness to him, and I find myself strongly feeling like prey. It is not something I often feel.

Our eyes lock, and a chill runs down my spine before settling into my bones. Though the stranger is crouched low to the ground, I feel incredibly small while caught in his gaze. As if I am the one low to the ground and he towers above me. It is an effort not to downright tremble.

Threat. My internal senses scream at me what I already know. Whoever he is, he is not someone I should let get too close.

The figure stands, eyes not straying from mine. I can't look away for to do so seems more dangerous than keeping my focus on him. He has a strong jaw, raven black hair, and lips that look like they want to pull up into a smile even though his face remains neutral. It is a striking face, one I would have recognized if I had met him before. I struggle with remembering names, but faces, I never forget them.

Threat. Again, my senses press the unhelpful word into my mind. There is nothing to do but stare back at him. Turning and running seems too dangerous.

The figure steps forward. His powerful frame shifting with the movement as he makes three long and very much intentional strides toward me.

My feet take too long to regain their function. I managed a single step back for his three forward, stopped only by the tension on Luna's leash as she remains with her paws firmly planted on the ground. The hair on her neck stands and she growls again louder this time. A warning for the stranger.

He stills.

Brown eyes the color of honey move over my body, all the way down to my feet before rising once more. He is tall, wearing dark pants and a gray shirt. Even though his clothing is simple in appearance, he feels expensive. Apart from the predatory vibes, he also feels somehow untouchable.

The moment his gaze leaves mine it is like I am freed from whatever spell had gripped me. My hand flies to my pocket, pulling out a small canister, thumb flipping the lid off.

"Another step and you're going to be in a heap of pain," I say, voice sounding more steady than expected as I lift the pepper spray between us.

Surprise briefly passes over his features, as if my reaction is unexpected. He lifts his hands, palms open, to show that he means me no harm.

"Emma Sapphirus?" His voice is smooth as my name passes between his lips.

My jaw would have dropped in pure shock that this complete stranger spoke my name until his gaze focuses on something off in the distance behind me. My head turns, searching for whatever captured the stranger's attention.

Behind me is nothing but graves, winding walkways, and beyond that trees. Nothing seems out of the ordinary except for the man. The man... I cringe for taking my eyes off of him.

My head snaps back.

He is gone.

I stand there, my heart beating erratically in my chest as my eyes dart around the area. Nothing.

Fighting to keep the tremble from my hand, I lower the pepper spray and turn in a full circle. Still nothing. Even Luna is thrown off. Though she is no longer growling, her eyes and ears remain alert with a vigilance she usually only possesses when stalking a squirrel in the backyard.

Can it have all been some odd hallucination? How can someone just disappear like that?

I glance at my hand, the small canister I still cling to as if it is my lifeline. It is real. Someone I have never seen in my entire life, someone with an outrageously predatory presence just stood before me- my name spoken from him before he vanished into thin air.

Something is wrong. It is a feeling that slithers over my skin, wrapping around every limb until not a single part of me is left untouched by it.

Shoving the pepper spray into my pocket, I take one more look at my surroundings. The always welcoming atmosphere of the graveyard suddenly feels ominous.

"Let's go," I say quietly to Luna with a gentle tug on the leash. Turning to head home, I cut our walk short. Luna falls in step beside me without complaint. We move as quickly as we can without breaking into a jog. My head constantly turns to glance over my shoulder, searching for the silhouette of the stranger who somehow knows my name.

No matter the distance I placed between where he was and where we are going, no matter how quickly we retreat into the safety of home, the stranger's presence clings to me. I can feel those honey eyes sliding down my body. The danger of him follows me, going past the threshold, stalking me all the way into my bedroom before accompanying me into my dreams.

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