The chair creaked a little as I leaned back. I had to be careful. It was actually old, and weathered. It’d break if I let my full weight lean onto the chair’s backrest.

I was getting a little tired of sitting here. And not just because I couldn’t get Renn’s body out of my mind.

“They’re our people, Vim,” Brandy told me.

“They are,” I accepted that fact.

“They did attack him, however. Merit witnessed it. As did Renn. So this may still end… regrettably,” Lawrence said.

“Their attacks were of no danger to me,” I once again brought up that fact to the three of them… but I really hadn’t needed to.

These three knew that. They knew it well. Out of everyone here in Lumen, Merit, Brandy, and Lawrence knew what I was capable of best.

All three of them had witnessed it themselves. Back during that Monarch incident in the south.

“Although that’s the truth, you can’t ignore the fact that they still attacked you Vim. It means they’re willing to kill. They had no way of knowing they couldn’t harm you, which means they had attacked with the intent to kill. That’s not a good mindset for our kind,” Merit said.

We were sitting alone, in one of the empty rooms in the Societies Houses. No one else was around. Which was probably why Merit’s tone sounded so hard and serious. She wasn’t afraid to remind me of how she used to be.

“Only for you, Merit. A few of our other members becoming more lethal would be a good thing,” I said.

Merit glared at me from her large chair, and I looked away from her as to look at Brandy and Lawrence. Their chairs were like mine, more reasonable.

“You believe they hadn’t been trying to attack you, originally… but that doesn’t mean they meant no ill will. What if instead of killing Renn, they had wanted to kidnap her? Or something like it? We must take that into account,” Lawrence argued.

Brandy nodded, agreeing.

I leaned back again, and had to stop. Damn thing almost broke more.

Stupid chair. I glanced around the room, at the other chairs and couches. Maybe I should just swap mine…

“If we allow Vim to chase them, to hunt them, he’d likely find them… but what if his encroachment into their territory only further escalates the violence?” Brandy asked.

“Vim’s not so bloodthirsty he’d just start attacking them, Brandy,” Lawrence said to her.

She nodded. “I know but still. Now they’ll be on guard. React harshly. As we would, if our positions were reversed,” Brandy said.

“We would, Lawrence. I’d attack him on sight had our situations been reversed,” Merit took Brandy’s side.

Lawrence sighed, but nodded. He couldn’t really keep arguing that point. He knew they were right.

“I say we let them have the first move. Let one of them return again. If they come baring fangs, then we let Vim do his thing. If not, however…” Brandy suggested.

“I’m more than willing to try any and all methods to find an amicable solution,” I suggested.

Merit ignored me. “I agree, Brandy. What do you think, Lawrence?”

He nodded, also ignoring me. “I agree. If they really are our brothers and sisters, we must give them refuge.”

“If that is the will of the Society,” I said simply.

The three nodded, and Brandy stood. She patted me on the shoulder as she walked past, leaving the room.

Lawrence sighed as he too stood. “Far too many votes lately. I enjoy your visits Vim, but prefer it when they’re quiet ones,” he said as he too patted my shoulder and walked past me.

As he left, I glanced at Merit. She was still sitting there. Would she try to pat my shoulder as they had? She’d find it difficult, and not just because of her height, so I was looking forward to her attempt at it.

“What?” she asked with an annoyed tone.

“What yourself?” I asked back.

She huffed, and glanced behind me. She watched as Lawrence left the room. Once he was gone, she looked around… as if to make sure we were really alone. We were of course.

Merit then hopped off her chair, only to grab it and drag it closer to me. Once it was almost touching my knee, she clambered back onto the large chair and scooted closer to me.

“Hm?” I waited for her to tell me what was going on.

“Did you sleep with her?” she asked me.

I blinked. “The Stalker girl? No… I might have killed her though,” I said.

“Vim this isn’t the time to be like that,” Merit growled at me.

“No, Merit. I’m not that stupid. If you must know, I simply took a bath with her. That was it,” I said. So it had been Merit who had walked near the bedroom door.

“That was it?” she asked, not believing me.

“Her entire reason for wanting to bathe with me was to see if I had any non-human traits, Merit. She wanted to see me naked, so she could find out what I am. You should have seen her disappointed face,” I said.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Merit sighed, and leaned away from me. “You’re such a blind idiot,” she complained.

Blind? “I have great eyesight,” I said.

Merit ignored my poor attempt at playing the fool, and she scratched her head. Her thick locks of hair sounded oddly heavy as she did. “Probably best you didn’t… I’m worried for her mental state. Renn’s blaming herself for all this ruckus,” Merit said.

“Still is,” I said. Part of the reason I had accepted that bath was for that very reason. To distract her, if even for a few moments.

“Then maybe you should sleep with her?” Merit suggested.

“Why don’t you go sleep with her? If you’re that concerned with who shares her bed,” I said to her.

“Hmph,” Merit huffed at me.

Staring at her as she looked away from me, upset, I wondered what her problem was.

Did she care for Renn that much already? And Merit thought Renn was depressed? Over the recent events? She had blamed herself, to a degree… but it honestly hadn’t been that bad.

“This is all happening because I like her, isn’t it, Vim? My friends always die,” she then said softly.

“Says you Merit? Do you not recognize who you’re sitting next to?” I asked her, speaking just as softly.

She sighed. “We’re all a bunch of curses… slowly poisoning the things we love.”

I didn’t like the fact I was agreeing with her. “Slowly? Feels real fast to me.”

Merit groaned as she leaned back. She leaned against the large chair’s backrest… which made her look very uncomfortable. She was so small she was almost able to lie down on her back on the chair itself. “Usually you show up, and then leave again. Then show up and leave again… All the while with nothing really happening. Why all the drama now? Why all of a sudden?” she asked me.

“I’ve been wondering that myself,” I said honestly. It was odd.

“Is it her? Is she a Saint, Vim?” Merit sat up quickly, as if realizing it was possible.

“If she was, do you really think the Chronicler would have let her out of her sight? She’d have been locked into the Cathedral had she been a Saint,” I said.

“That’s true…” Merit mumbled.

“Fate has just… decided to be busy lately,” I said. Sadly I could hear in my own voice that it was clear I didn’t believe what I had said at all.

“Fate,” she feh’d at me.

Still…

Maybe Merit was onto something.

Renn was unique. Maybe not entirely, on her own. She was strong, but not so strong that it was a shock. She was wise, but not so smart that it made others feel uneasy around her.

And she was strangely affectionate. Not just she herself, but the world around her. People liked her. She had made even Merit her friend. Someone who had vowed years ago to never befriend anyone ever again.

Then of course… there was me.

She was attracting even me.

Maybe that was why I was attracted to her. Maybe fate was messing with her, and thus my…

No. I couldn’t blame my feelings on that. It wasn’t just fair to Renn and myself, but it was an insult too.

After all I couldn’t, and wasn’t, affected by fate.

But that didn’t mean she was immune too.

“My life has been a little odd lately, since she’s shown up,” I admitted.

“Oh?” Merit seemed willing to hear more details, but I wasn’t in the mood to tell them.

“What’s your idea on why they targeted Renn?” I asked Merit.

She blinked, and seemed oddly upset that I had changed topics… but allowed it all the same. “Likely exactly what everyone’s been saying? She’s a real predator, Vim. Her scent alone makes her stand out. Which by the way, was why I suggested you sleep with her. Maybe if you two do the nasty you’ll erase her scent, allowing her to stay safe from such things from now on,” Merit said.

Although Merit had a weird smile as she spoke, I couldn’t help but take her words to heart.

Was that possible?

“Jeez Vim! Don’t actually consider it!” Merit reached over to thump me. Her small hand wacked me on the arm, and a tiny static shock passed between us.

“Was just wondering if it was possible,” I said honestly.

“Is it…?” she asked.

“Might be. I’ve never cared to notice if I eliminate the smell of those I have sex with,” I said.

She sighed, shaking her head.

It was a thought, at least.

“I just worry,” she mumbled.

“I agree with you… but everyone’s forgetting something,” I said.

“What? That you’re too old to get it up anymore? I bet it’d work again if I zapped you a bunch,” A wild smile planted itself on her face as she lifted up a hand, letting her electricity dance across her fingertips. It sparked and zapped as it did.

“I’ll remember that offer for when I really do get too old, and need help. But no… I mean everyone’s forgetting how rare those like Renn are,” I said.

Merit frowned at me. She wasn’t sure what I meant.

“Who’s the last real predator you’ve met?” I asked her.

“Other than Renn…? Well…” Merit went into thought, and it took her longer than I figured it would have before she remembered. “I guess in the south, Vim. The one who brought that Monarch. The rest I’ve known, or knew about, thanks to the Society,” she said.

I nodded. “That’s what I thought. And that was what? Two hundred years ago?” I asked.

“Almost three now,” she whispered, as her eyes went dull. She was remembering the event.

Reaching out to tap her on the knee, to keep her from ignoring me, I nodded. “Exactly, Merit. Those on the roof earlier yesterday… One of them had been young. The bird girl. With the feathers,” I said.

She nodded. “I noticed. Probably only a few dozen years old at best,” she said.

“Right? What if they had all been that young?” I asked her.

Merit frowned, and then her frown deepened as she realized what I meant.

“Renn’s the first real predator they’ve ever met. Which is why they haven’t even noticed any of us. Her scent is so strong, so pure, they don’t even realize we’re like them,” she understood quickly.

I nodded. “I bet that’s the truth. I’m not sure what they mean by master, but it’s likely just an older member. Someone like us,” I said.

She nodded too. “I agree. Most of the new generation doesn’t realize that those like themselves exist. Renn hadn’t even realized how many of us existed until she met us. She thought there were only a few of us in all the world.”

“Right?” I nodded some more.

“They had looked young. Even for our kind,” she said.

“Says you?”

“How many are like me, Vim? Those like me aren’t born anymore,” she said.

That was true… I’d not be able to tease her about that. She had sounded so sad because of it.

“Don’t you let her suffer, Vim. If you let this or anything else ruin her, I swear I’ll do everything I can to kill you. I won’t succeed, but I know I’ll be able to annoy you enough to make you regret it,” Merit said.

I smiled softly at her. “She’s not the one you should be worrying about, Merit.”

Merit blinked, and little sparks danced around her... and I knew why.

She was shocked.

Shocked I’d admit it.

Which oddly didn’t shock me at all.