It seems like she doesn't intend to tell me her name. That's probably not a good start for our passionate romance, but I know how to stay positive. A little drama is an essential spice to a long-lasting relationship.

It will work out somehow. I've just had some temporary setbacks. The universe will provide.

I start to get bored while waiting for her to decide between 'Supreme One' and 'Decider', and my eyes wander.

Something in the corner of my eye attracts my attention. Thin wisps of blue mist is swirling around her heart area as she continues mumbling about names, and I peer closer in interest.

She hasn't said anything so far that explains what I'm seeing, so just I'll keep it secret from her for now.

The deeper I look at the mist, the more I notice how each individual particle has a slightly different color, with its own personality. And that as some particles fade away and disappear, more replace them as they spontaneously release from Halloween's chest.

Wait, no, that's wrong. The particles are coming out of a spherical organ that seems to occupy the position in the chest that normally belongs to the heart. I can see the outline of the sphere even though it's inside her body, because it has a very thin halo of light mist around it. The light generated mist seems to have a high ability to penetrate matter, making the halo visible even behind opaque objects. I should be able to see it as long as I'm close enough. The organ seems to be faintly pulsing within her body.

I really want to get closer to see it better, but frankly I'm a bit nervous about having my fingers chopped off. Maybe if she ever falls asleep nearby, I'll be able to look closer. I'll postpone it til later. It's not like I have any creepy ulterior motives like seeing her sleeping face.

The pulsing light is hypnotic. It exudes an aura a bit like a lava lamp. After a while, I start to have an inexplicable feeling of familiarity and closeness with the light, as though I can really touch it without even getting close.

I used to like going to the museum every once and a while to see light shows at the planetarium. It's not like I really understood the science, but I liked those flashing lights.

I hope she doesn't interpret my vacant gaze as me staring at her chest, though. It's not like that, I swear, my intentions are pure. Her chest just happens to lie in the same direction as some very fascinating lights.

Suddenly, a giant insect that can only be described as a very large mosquito with shiny puppy-dog eyes flew in through the window. The combination was nothing other than nightmarish.

It only lasts a split second before Halloween made a short motion with her hand, like sweeping something aside, followed instantly by a heavy wall of air pressure splattering the creature against the wall. It probably felt something like an invisible sledgehammer.

Not that I actually see it clearly, because my attention is caught instead by what the shining organ did in response.

The halo around the organ goes through a rapid series of changes in both color and shape before returning to normal, coinciding perfectly with her hand motions. But there is actually something else that is more eye-catching.

A series of characters coalesce on the surface of the organ, formed from that faint light. It obviously wasn't English. The letters look vaguely runic. Yet, somehow, I am able to reproduce the sound they represent, even though I have no idea whatsoever as to what it meant.

"Xiuhcoatl... Zyanya?" I read aloud, puzzled. What does it mean?

But I didn't have very long to wonder. Almost immediately after I finished speaking, the round organ started to shine so brightly I almost had to close my eyes.

Along with the light, a thick tendril of mist flew out toward me. I reflexively try to avoid it, but it's completely pointless. All I get for my trouble was a couple nasty bruises underneath my safety harnesses.

Before I know it, the tendril of mist sticks securely to my own heart, then rapidly starts thickening, hardening, and condensing. After another moment, it resembles a solid iron chain with a slight transparency.

Then, the process abruptly stops.

This entire series of events, from when the nightmare mosquito entered until now, had occurred over the course of barely 3 seconds.

Unable to understand what happened, I unconsciously lift my gaze to meet with Halloween's. Both of our mouths were currently hanging wide open. She looks like she's not used to making that expression.

"Did you see that?" I ask.

"How do you know my True Name?" she asks, simultaneously.

Neither of us attempts to answer the other immediately. Finally, I break the silence.

"So, uh... Xiuhcoatl... Zyanya... was it? That's your name? Can I just call you Anya instead?"

I hope I pronounced it correctly.

"How do you know my True Name?!" she repeats, her surprise transitioning smoothly into anger.

This time I caught her strong emphasis on the word 'True', but I still don't know what she's getting at. I am also somewhat distracted by her murderous glare, which makes it difficult to think clearly.

"Well, I don't really understand it myself..." I say helplessly. "I was hoping you could explain."

Suddenly, she lunges at my throat, hands first.

"Don't hurt me! Please!" I yell uselessly, as her hands start to close around my throat.

You sound pathetic, Jonathan. 'Don't hurt me,' I said. If those are my last words...

Jonathan Orville

1995 - 2015

"Don't hurt me. Please."

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

But inexplicably, she stops pressing down on my throat, her hands trembling. Sweat starts popping out of her skin, and her face turns red, like she's trying to lift something really heavy. Finally, her hands slowly release their grip, and return to her sides.

Oh, I see, she was just joking for some reason. Wow, she really had me fooled.

"Can I kill you with just a little bit of pain, then?" she asks, in a carefully controlled tone. Does she think the problem is with her approach? "Almost no pain, I promise. It'll be really, really fast. All you have to do is say it's okay, and I'll take care of the rest."

"No, don't kill me either." I respond. "Obviously I want to live." Sorry, I'm not going to say that, even though it's a joke. We have to value our lives to live positively.

In response, she screams something unintelligible and punches a gigantic hole in the wall. The tree on the other side of the wall abruptly catches fire. Then she goes around flipping tables, but unfortunately there are only two. Her rage has hardly subsided at all.

I hope she can discover the joy of positive thinking.

"So, Anya," I attempt. She stiffens, but I forge ahead. "Might I ask why you wanted to kill me just now?"

"Why you say... obviously because you said my True Name," she responds bitterly. "But it's too late now to do anything about it. Do your worst. Sigh... if only I'd killed you sooner."

"I don't understand. It's not that bad of a name. Is it a custom here to only use your full name when you know each other really well? Is that how it works for, uh... demons?"

I can't really understand killing over it, but there are some similar cultures on Earth, after all. Minus the killing part, I think. Mostly.

A rapid series of extreme emotions passes over Anya's face before she finally shows me a broad smile with plenty of teeth.

"Yes, you are exactly right. To tell the truth, True Names are only used between lovers. Otherwise, it's a grave insult. Worthy of killing over. But since we're such good friends, I have magnanimously decided against murdering you."

"Didn't you say that demons think friends are gross?" I ask.

"Oh, I uh.. well, while choking you, a strong feeling of friendship suddenly welled up within me. Sometimes things happen mysteriously like that."

That's true. The world is full of happy mysteries.

"Oh. Well, I agree that it's better when friends don't murder each other. Is Anya still okay to use?"

"Yes, that will be fine."

"Are you sure? You had a lot of other names you were tossing around before..."

"I don't care about that anymore. Let's move on. Call me whatever."

"Great!" I respond. This is good. She's letting me use a normal name now, seems like our relationship is improving. It bothers me a little that I've possibly been friend-zoned, but maybe I'm misunderstanding something.

"But I have to warn you now. Never, ever, ever say that other name aloud again. If anyone else hears it, I would definitely... feel a lot of embarrassment, for sure. And I'd be forced to rip out your spine in spite of our new friendship."

"No problem," I respond. To be honest, I've forgotten it already. Too difficult to say.

"On the next topic, don't ever phrase anything you say to me as a command in the future. I've let it slide until now, but the next time you command me I'll add another 100 years onto your term of service, despite our... deep friendship supported by trust and equality and talking as little as possible."

"That would be bad. I'll be careful."

Seems like I've really been friend-zoned, this is frustrating. To be honest, I forgot the rest of what she said. This is a big shock. No, wait. This is fine, I can work with this. She's clearly just too embarrassed to admit her attraction.

"Actually, now that I mention it, I'd prefer if you said nothing at all in the future unless I ask you a question first."

"...I'll do my best."

"I didn't ask you a question." This statement is accompanied by a motion mimicking the slicing of fingers.

Anya's really angry, huh. I'm sure she'll get over it soon, though, since this is just a lovers' quarrel. I'll keep my mouth shut for now. I can show her that I value her needs.

"Better. Now you can go ahead and stare at a wall while I go out and take care of some business in town. Go to sleep if you get tired. Go ahead and die if you get sick, I don't mind cleaning up later as a one-time service."

Not waiting for a response, she runs out out the door.

I wave at her, keeping my mouth shut. She doesn't even look back. I can't really understand why, but I guess saying her name was really embarrassing.

Unreasonable things keep happening to me, but that's no excuse to treat people badly. They have my best interests at heart. It would be good if I could apologize sometime to show my caring side.

3 hours later, I start to get really bored of staring at the wall. I wonder if there's anything else to do.

Oh, looks like I can still see that chain still. It's extending toward the direction Anya left. Jeez, this thing caused such a big problem for me, messing up my budding relationship with Anya. She was just about to fall madly in love with me. I can't help tugging on it a few times in annoyance, but nothing happens. I start twirling it around my fingers in boredom.

What am I supposed to do when I need to use the bathroom?