Misinformed: Chapter Four

The doctor ripped the paper and handed it off to Silas. “I think things are alright,” she replied as she hung her chart back on the wall. “You’re in a good place, but that prescription is just me being a worrywart.” She then slid her glasses off her nose and eyed Silas. “You will get it this time, correct?”

Silas glared slightly then sighed. “Perhaps.”

“No excuses, you’re still a young man. There are things you need to take care of now.” She scolded him. She was one of the few people in the world who ever talked to him like that, which was why he continued seeing her.

“Any changes?” She asked as she sat back down. “Any discomfort with your-”

“No, that’s fine,” he clipped. “I came here because you kept pestering me, you don’t need to keep poking around with my other medical abnormalities.”

She sighed and leaned back in her chair. “Just a concerned party.”

Silas smirked at her. “Concerned about your wallet.”

She grinned and winked. “Isn’t everyone?” She handed him the prescription paper as he was heading for the door. “Mr. Hark?”

Silas huffed as he snatched the paper. “Fine,” he grumbled.

“You seem in high spirits,” she tacked on as she clicked her pen.

“Your hour is up, Doc.” He snarled with a smirk at her. “My insurance won’t pay another one. You know this.”

He had been going to Doctor Brothers for a long time, she came highly recommended. Both her and her sister. The Brothers sisters, he had heard people laughing. He chose the elder sister, due to history with patients who suffered from trauma and PTSD.

Doctor Brothers eyed him up and down. “You aren’t telling me everything, Silas.” She then sighed and shrugged. “Oh well. I’ll bring it up in the next session.”

Silas frowned after her. “Fine,”

She perked up and then motioned to the couch. “You’ve missed your last three sessions,” she replied. “I won’t tell your insurance about this hour if you don’t.”

Silas sat back down and huffed. “There’s this...girl.”

Brothers looked a little shocked she had to collect herself for a moment. “A woman?” She asked. “Are you attempting to date? That’s great Silas, I’m proud of you for taking this step towards your-”

“No!” Silas snapped, cutting her off as quickly as he could. “She’s my new neighbor,” he grumbled.

“The apartment above you?” She pointed her finger up.

Silas nodded and huffed. “She’s…” He shook his head and stood up. “Never mind, I should just go.”

“Whoa! Now hold on here,” Brothers grabbed his hand. “You started this, something is obviously bothering you. I won’t force you to stay, but if this is weighing on you enough to actually bring it up to me I want to hear it.”

Silas pulled his hand back and walked across the room and back, pacing. “She has connections to my boss.”

“The lawyer?” She pursed her brow. “The satyr?”

“Yes,” he snarled under his breath. “She’s smart, going to school and shit. Has her head put on straight, apparently comes from rich stock-”

A smile that blossoms on Brothers’ face makes Silas clam up again. “You seem awfully invested in this young woman. Are you developing feelings for her?”

“That’s fucking asinine!” Silas blurts out, heated and feeling like a cornered animal. “I’m simply telling you what I know! It’s my job to collect information like that!”

Brothers didn’t flinch when he barked at her, instead, she continued writing in the ledger. “Your work, of course.”

He scoffed, rubbing his chin hard. “I’m simply stating…” he huffed and then ran his fingers through his hair. “I think she’s in trouble.”

She looked up at him. “And you want to protect her.”

Silas grimaces and slams his palms down on the table in front of him, rising off the sofa a bit. “Stop putting words in my mouth!”

“Well it’s true isn’t it?” Her voice was calm and even.

Silas sat back down, holding his head in his hands.

“Who seeks who out?” Brothers asked, quiet now. “Do you go to her? Or does she come to you?” She inquired.

Silas sighed, lifting his head and looking at her. “She comes to me.” He answered, but he wasn’t sure. “She also has this dog and I take care of it while she’s gone all day.”

Doctor Brothers tilted her head to the side. “She asked you to do this?”

He was silent for a long pause. “No.”

Brothers cocked her brow up slightly and held in the sigh she wanted to let out. “Silas, are you taking her dog without her knowledge?”

Silas’s mouth opened then closed again. “No!” he then rolls his eyes. “She knows...now.” He cleared his throat. She figured it out,” he grumbled, rubbing his arm. His hand came down on his knee, his fingers seeming to feel along an edge. “She said it was alright. She didn’t mind I kept the dog during the day.”

Brothers nodded, scribbling in her book. “Go on. Why do you think she comes to you?”

Silas shrugged, “hell if I know,” he grumbled. “Do I look like I know anything about women?” He held his hand out as if she would answer him. He scoffed and continued rubbing his fingers along his knee.

“I can tell she’s scared sometimes,” he admitted. “I’m a big frightening Orc and she’s this pretty elf-” he stopped himself from going further.

Doctor Brothers glanced up at him, adjusting her glasses after they had slipped off. “Do you believe you could make her feel safe if she asked it of you?”

Silas was pensive for a moment, his finger clenching along his knee and gripping it. His good eye darkened and he lowered his head slightly. He then stood up. “That’s all.”

She smiled up at him. “That was good,” she stood with him. “Get your prescription this time. I’m calling it in as soon as the door hits your ass.” She scolded as she walked him to the door.

“Whatever, Doc.” Silas’s heavy brow pinched together as he opened up the door.

“Don’t forget this!” Brothers held up the prescription to him, the one he had purposefully left on the couch.

Silas grumbled and snarled and took the prescription she had given him, something or another for anxiety. He scoffed, he would pick it up just to get her off his back. Then he would toss it in the back of his mirror to be forgotten about.

Silas had a job that night, and he needed to get ready for it when he got home. Unfortunately, the line at the pharmacy had other plans. 

“A line of old ladies and their husbands,” he thought to himself as he stood at the back of the line. The store around him busy with what looked like college kids picking up lunches and supplies for school. He grumbled under his breath, cursing Elder Brothers’ prescription as he waited.

From across the store, eyes were spying on him. Sophie and Melody were standing a few aisles away.

Melody was grinning bright and eager, standing on a shelf so she could look at him. “So is that him?” She giggled.

“Melody you’re embarrassing me,” Sophie scoffed as she pretended to be interested in boxes of bath salts, keeping her head ducked down and low.

“He’s a big lunk isn’t he?” Melody cooed. She then whistled. “That back! Looks like a sack full of angry snakes.” She turned to Sophie, smirking. “The scar makes him look kind of dangerous huh?” She giggled, pinching Sophie’s rear. “Well I mean, all Orcs look that way, but he looks like a car chase away from an explosion and a good time.”

“Do you ever turn off?” Sophie yanked at Melody’s Selkie coat, making her jump down from the shelf.

Melody bit her lip, turning back to her spying. “I can see why you’d wanna live in a house with him,” she murmured. “Big scary, muscular, hairy, brute like him would even scare Leo away.” She then hesitated. “Well…” she thought for a moment. “Maybe scare him a little. But he likes that with his bears.”

Sophie huffed. “Yes, Silas is big and hairy,” she bit her tongue when she said that. “But he’s not living with me. And I don’t want him tangled up in my shit. I feel bad enough using him the way I do.”

Melody scoffed. “You two live in the same building. He deserves to know if shit is going to fuck with his house.” She tilted her head, still watching Silas. “And I think you’re using him wrong. You need to stop feeding him and start giving him a treat you’d both like.”

“Shut it!” Sophie tugged her down off the shelf she was standing on, this time by her purse.

“I’m just curious,” Melody dusted her jacket off and took her purse back from Sophie, adjusting it on her shoulder. “You just tell me you share the place with ‘some guy’ and then never tell me anything about him.” She pouts while she scowls.

Sophie rolled her eyes. “I don’t know much about him,” she huffed, kicking at the ground.

Melody frowned and crossed her arms against her full chest. “What does he do?”

“Play with Persephone,” Sophie placed a bottle of lemon scented bubble bath in her basket.

Melody rolled her eyes and made a face. “No! What does he do for work?” She hits Sophie’s elbow. “How does he make his rent?”

Sophie shrugged. “I haven’t asked.” She sighed and chewed her lip. “I mean, I’ve tried to be friendly and everything. But he doesn’t talk about himself at all! He’s frustrating and mean and-” she grunted and tossed something else into her shopping basket.

“I bet his dick is huge,” Melody clicked her tongue.

Sophie coughed and sputtered, grabbing the soft supple underbelly of Melody’s arm and squeezing hard.

Melody yowled and tried to pry her off. “That fucking hurts you ginger bitch!”

A store employee cleared their throat at them and they ducked into another aisle.

“Why did you say that!” Sophie whined. “Now every time I see him I’m going to be hearing you voice yelling at me ‘Huge dick! Huge dick! Huge dick!’” She hissed in a hushed tone at Melody. Her whole face from the tips of her ears to the base of her neck blood red.

Melody was rubbing her arm where Sophie pinched. “Good!” She scoffed.

“Good?” Sophie scoffed back.

“I mean…” she waved her hand in the air and sighed. “I’m not saying you should have a ‘9 and a Half Weeks’ situation or anything,” she huffed. “But you should totally have a ‘9 and a Half Weeks’ situation’!”

Sophie scowled at her, brows raised and eyes a little wide. “You’re my superior. You’re my mentor.” She grumbled.

“And I am the shit at what I do.” Melody laughed. “But just because I’m the top of my class doesn’t mean I can’t have a little fun.”

Sophie shook her head. “That’s not my style.”

Melody jabs her finger into Sophie’s cheek. “No, you’re the ‘Princess Bride’ dying for the day someone says ‘as you wish’ and whisks you off your feet and away from the horrible Prince Humperdink.”

“So I should start banging the office janitor?” Sophie smarts at her.

Melody grins. “Maybe! It’s fun.” She then huffs. “I’m worried about you. You’ve not really gone out or done anything since you broke up with William.”

“Is that bad?” Sophie murmurs.

Melody sighs and shakes her head. “Don’t give up just because the first prince didn’t work out.”

Sophie bit her cheek, running her hand over a glass bowl on the shelf. “I need a good mixing bowl,” she mumbled under her breath in an attempt to change the subject.

Melody scratched the back of Sophie’s neck. “It’s a pretty bowl. But I have some at home you can just have.” She looped her arm around Sophie’s waist. “Let's pay for this then go get something to eat.” She smiled brightly.

Sophie smiled back, grateful she had a friend like Melody who knew when to lift her spirits at the right times. “Thanks,” she sighed with relief.

Melody’s arm squeezed around her waist then released as they headed towards the front. Her brown eyes going from warm, pleasant hot cocoa, to frost-bitten earth in a second as she turned to study Silas one last time. Sophie slipped ahead of her, going to the counter. Melody lingered for a moment, her eyes making quick work of Silas. Her lip curled slightly as she noted the scars on his face, the way he favored one leg over the other.

“Not war,” she thought to herself, calculating. “An accident, maybe. A fire. A car crash.” She ticked off things in her head. “Cruel intent seems likely to me.”

Silas turned slightly as if feeling her sharp gaze slicing him to ribbons. He saw her briefly as she walked away. The click of her high heels the only real thing he caught of Melody.

Silas retrieved the prescription and then was gone. Back at home, he went into his bedroom and opened the safe at the back of his closet. He pulled out the canvas bag, taking out from inside a camera and several lenses. He laid them out in a row on his dresser, checking the bag for a pouch full of memory cards, a spare cell phone, and three bandanas.

He then pulled out the spare set of keys and placed them in the canvas bag. He then took out the leather holster and attached it around his chest, adjusting it so it fit comfortable when pulling the gun out from under his arm. He checked it and aimed it, then placed it back in the holster.

He returned to the camera and the lenses. He checked each lens in the sunlight before placing it back in the bag in its protective slot. He went over the camera, checking the battery life, replacing the memory card, and then putting it back into the bag.

He took his bag and hauled it to the kitchen. There, he prepared a full pot of coffee. He pulled from the cabinet a large, metal thermos and set it down for when the coffee finished brewing.

Persephone was before him in an instant, wagging her tail  and prancing her front feet up and down as she looked up at Silas with longing eyes. He stared back at her for a moment before opening the box beside him and tossing her a treat. She caught it and wagged her tail, trotting over to his sofa where she laid down and made herself at home.

As he listened to the sound of the coffee pot bubbling and hissing, along with Persephone crunching away on her treat. Persephone suddenly sat up. Her ears twitching, flicking back and forth. She jumped from the sofa and raced upstairs in a hurried state.

Silas frowned, never seeing her act this way. He followed behind her, stepping up the stairs and peeking around. He saw Persephone standing at the door, the fur on her back standing up, her lips curled, a snarl escaping her throat.

Silas stepped into the kitchen, and Persephone relaxed some at his presence. He went to the window by the door and parted the curtains. Outside he saw a car parked out front, deep blood red, a golden stag as the hood ornament. It sped off as he appeared, but he recognized it just the same.

Silas had tailed that very car for months during one of his first jobs when he moved to Winter Falls. How strange it should appear back in his life now.

He recalled the bouquet Sophie had received, the strange reaction she had gotten when she read the card attached. He was putting pieces together, and some things suddenly made sense about the master.

Silas pet Persephone’s head, rubbing her ears and massaging her cheeks. “Good girl,” he growled to her. “Good girl.”

He returned downstairs, Persephone refusing to leave the front door. With the coffee finished brewing, he poured it all into the thermos and sealed it tightly. As he was packing it he heard the master's return upstairs, she was earlier than normal. The click of her heels on the floor and then the thud of her bare feet after she took them off. Silas turned his ear, listening for anything strange.

He heard her leave, but a moment later there was a knock on his door. It was her.

“You could’ve come down the stairs,” he snarled at her, leaning in the doorway.

“I didn’t want to intrude,” she swallowed, her hands clinched along the hem of her shirt. She seemed nervous, but not the same kind as a few days ago.

“What is it?” Silas asked, leaning against the doorframe.

“I’m having a study party with some of my friends and classmates tonight,” Sophie finally spit out. “I just wanted to let you know incase there’s noise.” She blushed as she looked up at him. “We’ll have tons of food...so you can come up and help yourself if you’d like.”

For some reason, he felt better. She wouldn’t be alone in the house that evening. “I’ll be working tonight.”

“Oh-” she seemed to be pleased to hear this. “You work nights?” She asked, bouncing on her heels slightly.

“Sometimes.” He then remembered the gun under his arm and he zipped up his hoodie.

Sophie bit her lip then smiled, chuckling softly to herself. “What? Are you Batman or something?”

“Something,” he grunted.

Sophie pressed her lips into a tight, firm line. Melody had cursed her and she was stuck wondering what Silas looked like naked. She had heard stories of an Orc’s prowess, and Melody had even hinted at it. Her eyes cut down then quickly bounced back up to Silas’ eyes.

“Ok then!” She laughed nervously. “I just wanted to give you a heads up about tonight. But uhm, I guess it doesn’t matter.” She starts to walk away.

Silas huffed, regretting what he was about to ask. “Does one of your friends drive a red car?” He asked.

Sophie stiffened and a gasp escaped she tried to cover up. “Re-red car?” She asked.

“If not, next time they come around I’ll tell them to fuck off,” he growled and he saw her eyes light up. “If they’re trying to bother you, you tell me.”

Sophie sniffled, rubbing her eyes and laughing to cover it up. “Oh wow uhm-” she let out a mix of a sob and laugh. “Yeah. Please. I don’t have the guts to do it myself. It would mean a lot if you did that.”

“Fuck off it is then,” he growled as he let her come inside.

Sophie was walking towards the stairs then she stopped. She turned and gathered her courage, biting her cheek. “What do you do?” She asked. “I just…” she chuckled. “I have this ridiculous idea in my head.”

Silas sniffed, “what if you’re right?”

Sophie blushed, trying to hide her cheek behind her shoulder. “They say truth is stranger than fiction.” She then shook her head. “Never mind,” another nervous laugh. “None of my business.”

“Tell me,” Silas couldn’t help but smile. “I’m curious now.”

She huffed, her whole face turning bright pink. “Well!” she coughed and covered her mouth. “Well, Mr. Beauchamp mentioned you had worked for him.” She looked into his eyes and for a moment her heart fluttered, but she chalked it up to nerves.

“Mr. Beauchamp is good at his job, but there are a lot of rumors so when I first met you I kind of-” she fidgeted to delay herself. “I kind of assumed you were a-” she wanted something to happen to keep her from saying what she was going to say. She also wanted a glass of water. She was burning up, her throat painfully dry.

“A hitman,” she squeaked out her answer.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Silas held his hand over his face and shook his head as he tried to hold back his laughter.

Sophie busted out laughing. “I told you it was stupid!”

“I’m going to have to kill you now,” he snarled as serious as a grave.

Sophie’s mouth dropped open and it flopped for a moment. Her pink blush draining and her skin went pale. Her hands raising up as she tried to assess if he was kidding or not. If he wasn’t, could she run? Could she save herself?

Silas then bust out laughing and Sophie’s look of bewilderment turned into embarrassed anger. Her face going from pure white to blood red.

“Not funny!” She stomped her foot. She really wanted to hit him, but was a little afraid to do so.

Silas laughed then shook his head. “You knew I worked for Beauchamp, why not ask him?” He sniffed, catching his breath.

“I’m just his intern right now,” she replied. “I didn’t think it would be professional.”

Silas furrowed his brow. “Intern?”

“Yes,” Sophie huffed, wiping her face. “I’m a law student, he’s a lawyer.”

Silas was actually shocked. Of all the things he had imagined for Sophie, a law student had never crossed his mind. “Law student?”

Sophie’s eyes bugged and she squeezed her lips tight together. “Yes! What did you think I was?” She knew as soon as she asked it. “Did you think Mr. Beauchamp and I were-?” She stopped as the horror struck her.

Silas grumbled in embarrassment. “Truth is stranger than fiction, girl.”

Sophie reached for the thing nearest her and tossed it at him. “Then pray tell what are you if you’re not his hitman!” She snapped.

“Private investigator,” he growled.

Sophie stopped from tossing something else at him. “Really? So you kind of are like Batman?”

Silas smirked. “You don’t think I could be a P.I?”

“I assumed you were a hitman,” Sophie scoffed, snapping her hands to her hips. She felt relieved like a huge weight had lifted from her shoulders.

Silas looked Sophie up and down. “You don’t strike me as a wannabe lawyer.”

She frowned. “I’d guess not if I’m someone’s secret lover!” She shook her head. “I haven’t even dated anyone since I got into law school. So get any notions that I’m some sultry seductress out of your head.” She then laughed. “I am far from that! Trust me. I make things awkward real fast.”

“Oh trust me,” Silas grinned. “I know that from experience. And believe me, I had no misconceptions of you being anything close to a sultry seductress,” he sneered at her. “That’s all Persephone.”

Sophie snorted, covering her mouth and nose with her hands. “Well, I’m glad we got all that cleared up.” She waved her hands out. “I’m not Jessica Rabbit, and you’re not Batman.”

Silas bit his cheek. She didn’t have the curves of Jessica Rabbit, but he could easily picture her in a dress with a slit to her waist, showing off her long, lovely legs. “Where the fuck are you getting Jessica Rabbit?”

“You know what I mean!” She snapped. She folded her arms across her chest and looked up the stairs. “I have to go get ready.”

“Then don’t let me stop you,” he smirks.

“If the food is ready try and eat before you go.” Her shoulders pinched up. “I mean. I don’t care or anything.” Only, she cared a great deal.

Silas shrugged. “Maybe I will, maybe I won’t.”

Sophie smiled, biting it back. “I won’t expect you either way.” She made her way back upstairs, Persephone still at her post by the door.

Sophie began working, preparing snacks she had bought earlier that day. Frozen treats and a plate of cold cuts. She also made her special lemon cakes, the entire upstairs smelling like a dreamy pastry shop.

Melody let herself inside and Persephone gave up her post and going back to her bed.

“You’re early,” Sophie said as she wiped her face off with her apron.

“Good,” she smirked, walking over and taking a few piping hot pizza bagels from the tray Sophie was setting. “I have news from work.”

Sophie furrowed her brow. “From work?”

Melody had a mouth full of bagel. She nodded, eyes widening to show how exciting the gossip and intrigue was. She swallowed and coughed, “well-” she reached into the fridge for a drink. “Ok so, you know how Thomas only inherited the firm because the twins were god knows where?”

Thomas was the youngest of his family. His two older siblings were twins who were used to having life come easy for them. “Paris, I believe, but go on.”

“Well!” Melody smirked, popping her hands to her waist. “Pretty boy Alex was in the office today.”

Sophie’s jaw dropped. “So does that mean Ana-?”

Melody flipped her arms in the air and shrugged. “No idea. All I know is that Alex comes in, flirts with me a little, then Thomas comes out and gets this look in his eyes. It was scary for a moment. That’s why Beauchamp let me leave early.”

“I wonder what’s going on.” Sophie murmured her mind elsewhere just then.

“That explains the red car at the very least,” Melody shook her head, clicking her tongue. “What if it’s not the little blonde peckerwood pestering you?”

Sophie’s look went grim. “What do you mean?”

“What if Ana is going mama lion?” She asked. “Considering she wasn’t around much during the whole ordeal.”

“No!” Sophie laughed. “Ana wouldn’t dirty her hands like that.”

Melody was eating something and licking her fingers. “Isn’t her ex-husband your dad’s best friend?”

“Greg?” Sophie nodded. “Yeah, but he’s been hunting in Canada for the past…” she calculated in her head. “3 years.”

“Maybe that’s why she felt safe coming back.” Melody reached for more snacks and Sophie slapped her hand away. “You don’t need to worry, though. Beauchamp is still in your court, not to mention he still has all the evidence from your case stored away.”

“Evidence,” Sophie reflected. “I know he had gotten some footage and photographs from an anonymous source.” She licked the corner of her mouth, tasting bitter, sour lemon. She then gasped as it clicked in her head. “Do you think Mr Beauchamp used a private investigator for that?”

Melody nodded. “Oh yeah! He would have to. That’s how Beauchamp makes his bread and butter. Cheating spouses, fraud, blackmail.” She glanced over Sophie, seeing her eyes light up and mouth drop open. “You look like you know something juicy.”

“Oh?” Sophie snapped to attention. “Oh, the cakes!” She gasped, kneeling down and opening up the oven.

Melody eyed her, smirking slightly. “Beauchamp has all sorts of people on his payroll.” She replied. “How else do you think he has his fingers in so many pies.”

Sophie placed the tray of lemon cakes on the cooling rack and sighed. “We all knew that.”

Melody dusted her hands off and walked into the living room, turning on the TV. “So where’s that neighbour of yours? Did you invite him like I asked?”

Sophie scowled at Melody. “I did. But he has work.”

“Unh,” Melody shrugged, turning on a music station. “I was hoping to see how he acted around you.”

“You’re creepy looking when you read people,” Sophie huffed. “You look like some evil pomeranian.”

Melody scoffed and clasped her hand over her chest. “That hurts my feelings.”

Sophie stuck her tongue out at her, taking off her oven mitts to answer her phone. She checked her messages and huffed. “The others are running late,” she grumbled. “Apparently they don’t know how to make left turns.”

Melody giggled then turned as she heard footsteps come up the stairs. Her eyes widening as Silas came through the door. She hid her smirk behind her hand.

“I thought you were having a party,” he growled.

“Everyone is running late.” Sophie sighed. “So feel free to eat what you want.”

Silas’s gaze locked with Melody’s and they watched each other for a long moment.

“You don’t wanna help us study do you, sir?” Melody teased.

“Not really,” Silas growled as he looked over the spread Sophie had set on the counter. He reached for one of the lemon cakes. “I don’t care much for lawyers, law students don’t seem like a step up either.”

Melody smirked. “Students, in general, are not a good lot.”

Sophie gave her a dirty look and she pulled out a Tupperware container. She filled it with food and handed it to Silas. “You can take this with you if you want.”

Silas glanced back at Melody then looked back to Sophie. “I don’t need it.”

“You’re going to tell that face no?” Melody chided, teasing and poking them both.

“Better to have it and not need it than not have it and need it.” Sophie urged, wanting to turn around and throw hot food at Melody.

Silas snarled and took the container. “I’m not going to eat any of it.”

“Then don’t.” Sophie shrugged.

Melody watched closely, knowing how Sophie felt all along. What she was wanting to see was what Silas felt. Silas was doing his best to hide. Melody, keen-eyed and perceptive from birth, saw right through him.

Silas turned, feeling the back of his neck prickle. He glanced at Melody who then turned away from him and pretended to be looking at her book.

“I have to go,” Silas said. He knelt before going to the door to pet Persephone.

“Be safe,” Sophie chirped before he left.

“Be safe,” Melody mocked.

Sophie turned and glared to her. “Oh hush,” she said as the sound of Silas’s motorcycle roared to life.

The rest of the study group arrived not long after and soon Sophie was wrapped up in her work.

After several hours Sophie yawned and stretched her legs, standing up from the floor where her books were all spread out. “I’m going to make some coffee.” She grunted as she stood up.

Melody watched her for a moment, shutting her book and rubbing her eyes. All their friend’s who joined the study group had left already. She and Sophie were finishing up homework before calling it a night.

“Coffee this late?” Melody grumbled as she placed herself on the sofa. “You won’t sleep.”

Sophie shrugged. “I’ll be fine.”

Melody propped her head up to watch her. “He probably won’t be back until morning, so you can go to bed now and wake up early.”

Sophie’s hand slipped and she spilled grounds all over the counter. “What?” She laughed. “No! I just want coffee is that so wrong?”

“Mm,” she smirked, tucking her arm under her chin. “You’re so transparent.”

Sophie frowned, turning towards her. “No, I’m not.”

“He was a little harder to read,” she yawned, stretching out and rolling onto her back. “Even if he couldn’t see out of one eye, all eyes are on you.”

“Silas is just a neighbor.” Sophie grumbled despite the smile threatening to spread across her lips.

Melody scoffs and goes over all her papers. She neatly stacks and organizes them then slips them into her perfectly correlated binder. He yawned, stretching her arms above her head. “Well, I’m exhausted. You coming to bed?”

“Not yet,” Sophie guided her to the bedroom. “I’m going to finish my paper then I’ll be right there.” She cleared her clothes from the bed and gave Melody a night shirt.

“Don’t stay up too late,” Melody smiled as she flopped down on the bed.

Sophie smirked and turned off the lights.“I won’t,” she closed the door and returned to the living room and sat back down around her books. She huffed, exhausted and irritated by the work. She went back to her essay, feeling herself nod off as she did.

“Oh right,” Sophie smacked her lips, “I made coffee.” She walked into the kitchen and Persephone lifted her head from her bed, groaning that Sophie was still awake.

“I know girl, I just gotta finish this assignment,” Sophie yawned as she poured her mug of coffee.

She added only a dash of cream and dunked a lemon cake inside it. She would be glad when this semester was over and winter break would start. She could rest, relax. Snuggle up in warm sweaters and not have to worry about anything.

She bit her lip, admitting to herself it would be nice to snuggle up with someone. His big hand on her back where she was always cold. Her arms wrapped around him, her cheek pressed against his chest. She would whine when he wanted to get up to use the bathroom and make him feel guilty for leaving her alone and cold on the sofa. When he’d return, his hands would go up under her sweater, having washed his hands in ice cold water just to torment her. She would squeal and fight, but ultimately give in when he kissed her neck and his hands pushed up her bra.

Sophie coughed and sputtered, pulling herself out of her fantasy. “Dammit Melody,” she huffed, gulping down the coffee. “She’s getting in my head.” She walked back to her work and found she wasn’t able to focus on it at all.

She stretched out on the sofa, pulling the fluffy afghan around herself. She scanned through her phone, her email. Messages had built up during the study group. She began nodding off, her head lolling onto her shoulder.

There was a loud bang and Sophie woke up instantly, throwing herself onto the ground and covering her head. Persephone rushes over to her, laying down beside her and nosing at her face, whimpering. After a moment, she realized it was thunder. The rain was thrumming on the tin roof. She looked out the window at the downpour.

Sophie sat up and wrapped her arms around Persephone’s neck. “Thank you, girl,” she relaxed as Persephone nuzzled to her and rested her body weight against her chest.

Sophie started another pot of coffee and she sat and waited by the front window, feeling like a cold stone was sitting in her gut. Silas had gone out on his motorcycle, Sophie reminded herself.

“He must be soaking wet,” she thought to herself. “And cold.”

She felt silly, waiting up for him like they were dating. “We aren’t and me probably never will,” she chastised herself. Persephone pushed her head into Sophie’s hand. “He’s good to Persephone,” she corrected, “that’s enough reason to worry.”

A beam of light cut through the heavy rain and she heard the purr and roar of the motorcycle. She jumped up, making a speedy cup of coffee. Her hand shaking as she stirred in the splash of cream. She stood at the top of the stairs, Persephone racing down before her. She waited, listening.

The door opened and shut. Silas’ low, rasp of a voice greeting Persephone. She descended then, taking cautious steps down the stairs, a touch afraid, and a touch excited. She stood at the foot of the stairs, watching Silas peel away his sopping wet shirt. His chest broad and furry. Her jaw dropped against her will.

He had a slight pooch to his belly, but he was all hard, all muscle. He wasn’t the glamour and pretty muscle she had grown up around. He was the kind of built that pulled buses with their bare teeth or threw truck tires around like playthings. He was like solid oak, you wouldn’t be able to move him no matter how hard you tried.

The shirt splat against the floor and that’s when Silas saw her. He jumped back. “Fuck!” He gasped, grasping his chest. “Girl!” He snarled at her, getting legitimately angry. “The fuck you doing sneaking up on me?”

Sophie caught her breath, her cheeks looking splashed with berry juice. “Oh!” She held the coffee mug up. “I thought you’d be cold when you got in.”

He scoffed, shoulders slouching. “Why are you even awake at this hour,” he sighs exasperatedly.

“The thunder earlier,” she admitted. “I don’t care much for loud noises like that.”

He took the mug and she stepped back, the backs of her ankles hitting the stairs. She watched as he drank, her eyes lingering on his bare body for longer than she cared to admit. So much to touch and feel. Was his skin soft? Was he warm? Would his breath shudder as her tongue lapped along his hip bone?

“Girl?”

She snapped to attention. “I wasn’t-” she cleared her throat. “I uhm…” she caught her breath, trying to steady herself to ask him the big question.

Silas has an awful grimace on his face. “Your coffee is shit.”

She frowned. “Is that how you tell someone thank you?” She balked.

He smirked, noticing her nipples were erect through her shirt. “For shit coffee, it is.” He was stalling so she would linger.

“Then you don’t have to finish it,” she held her hand out for the mug. “I’ll take my shit coffee back and never offer it again.”

He laughed. “I am freezing to death. It may be shit coffee but it’s at least hot.” He takes another drink of it. “My cock is about to fall off, my underwear are so wet and cold,” he grumbled under his breath.

Sophie’s mouth flopped open and closed for a moment. “Then take them off.”

Silas cut his eyes at her. “What was that?” He snarled.

Sophie quickly shook her head and kept her mouth sealed shut.

“If you have something to say, save it,” he growled as he moved towards his bedroom. “I need a hot shower.”

He still held the coffee tight in his hand as he disappeared in the back.

Sophie cupped her hands arounds her cheeks, the heat radiating off them enough to light a match. She made her way upstairs and sat back on the sofa. She picked up her bag and searched through it, pulling out her planner. She looked through it and nodded, biting her lip as she wrote down a note for herself.

She felt nervous like she was when she was young and in high school. Her first kiss in the empty auditorium. That of course, was just the first step that led her down a nightmarish road. She had given her heart to a spoiled tyrant who still seemed bent on haunting her.

Sophie tried not giving him the power, of never thinking of him or allowing him to delay her dreams and wants. That’s why she decided to become a lawyer, that’s why she decided to move out on her own. Her ex didn’t own her, no matter how much he claimed he did.

She tried to date after him. During her freshman year, she met Melody who became her best friend and mentor. Through her, she met her brother, Willam. They dated for two years before it ended. Since then she focused on her studies. She grew up from that little girl who swooned over young men. Or at least, she thought she had.

Sophie touched her lips, thinking of the feelings she got staring at Silas. It was all new, all fresh. A high school girl with more names written in her notebook than actual notes. She smiled, setting her planner aside.

“What are you smiling about so early in the morning?” Melody growls like a witch leaving her hut.

Sophie almost screamed, having forgotten Melody slept over, as well as how bad she looked in the morning. She hadn’t washed her face before she went to bed, her makeup smeared and blurred all over. Her hair was a writhing tentacle-esque mass on her head.

“What?” Melody snarled, lip curling.

Sophie shook her head. “You’re just...so beautiful.”

“I hate you so much.” Melody pointed at her and flicked her finger in the direction of the kitchen. “You better make me feel like a princess when I get out of the shower.”

“Yes, dear,” Sophie watched as Melody slithered off to the bathroom, knowing that once she emerged from the steam she would be glowing and new again.

Sophie went to the kitchen, making new coffee and standing before the open fridge as she decided what to make for breakfast. She pulled out a few things then took the scrunchie around her wrist and tied up her hair in a sloppy bun. She then glanced at Persephone’s bed, noting that the scoundrel had never come up from Silas’ with her.

Downstairs, Persephone was wallering on Silas’s bed as he sat on the edge, going through the photos he took that night. He saved them to one memory card, then he replaced it with a new one, duplicating the files. He placed the camera and duplicate files in the safe hidden in his closet as well as his gun and his spare keys. He took the first memory card and sealed it in a manila envelope.

Silas reached for the coffee mug on his nightstand and when he tipped it back, found it empty and cold. He grumbled, Persephone sitting up as he stood. 

Silas held the coffee mug to her. “Take this to your master.”

She tilted her head at him, tail thumping against his mattress.

“What good are you?” He snarled, rubbing her ears before stalking out of his bedroom. He stood at the foot of the stairs, looking up them as Persephone returned home. As he went to take the first step his phone rang. He set the mug on his counter and answered.

“What is it?” He snarled his greeting.

“Good, you’re there,” Beauchamp replied from the other end, sounding not the least bit surprised at all.

“I have your dirt,” Silas answered without being asked. “You don’t need to helicopter parent me, Beauchamp.”

“You want to get paid don’t you?” Beauchamp’s voice snide and irritated.

Silas huffed, “I’ll deliver it to you later, once the rain lets up,” he glances out the window at the fog and grey beyond it.

“Oh don’t worry about that.” Beauchamp murmured. “Just give it to your lovely, little neighbor.”

Silas furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?”

“She works for me.” Beauchamp chuckled. “Just give her the memory card and have her deliver it to me. Save you all that time and hassle.” He then clicks his tongue in a mock concerned tone. “You must be exhausted.”

Every word out of his smarmy mouth sounded patronizing. “She’s not involved with this,” Silas growled. “I’ll bring it by myself-”

“Just send it with the girl.” Beauchamp growled threateningly. “There’s nothing wrong with it. You both have my name on your paychecks.”

Silas shook his head and grunted. “This is crucial evidence, I’d feel better-”

“I’ll call her and let her know you have something for me,” Beauchamp cut in before Silas could finish. “I’ll send her with you check,” his smirk was palpable through the phone. “Good day, Mr. Hark.” He hung up.

Silas set his phone aside and pushed his hair away from his face. He was unsure how to feel about this. Beauchamp was particular about the delivery of the photographic evidence. Why trust the girl? He felt as if something was chewing on a raw exposed nerve.

Silas trudged upstairs, clutching the coffee mug in his fist. But as he looked around, all he saw was the selkie girl from the previous night. Her sharp brown eyes dissected him as if trying to find all the pieces and put them back together.

A calculating smirk crossed her lips. “Well look what the cat dragged in.” She tipped her steaming mug to her lips.

Silas grimaced at her, not sure what to make of her at all. He’d not dealt with many selkie, but the few he had met in his line of work were more cunning than anyone gave them credit for. “I came to return this,” he placed the cup on the counter, “that’s all.”

“That’s all?” Melody chuckled. “Sure, sure.”

He frowned at her, unable to read her.

Melody set her mug down and picked up a spoon, stirring the yogurt and berries before her. “You busy Saturday night, big boy?”

He sneered. “What?”

Melody pointed off to the bathroom where Sophie was getting a bath. “For her.”

He started walking away from Melody who grabbed him, her manicured and pampered hands gripping his arm with an unrelenting power Silas had only ever felt from other Orcs.

“Hey, hey, I’m just trying to help my girl out.” She released when he stopped and she snapped her fingers, pointing for him to stand on the other side of the counter.

Silas, of course, remained where he was.

“Saturday night,” she replied. “Wear a clean shirt,” she licked her lips. “I assume you only have one pair of jeans so.” She frowned at what he was wearing then looked back into his eyes. “I dunno know try and wash the grime off them,” she flicked her fingers in a dismissive fashion.

“Get to the fucking point,” he snarled, lip curling, nostrils flaring.

“Mm,” she nodded, spinning around on her stool. “She’s going to cook you a steak. You will eat it. You will make small talk. You will flirt, if you can.”

Silas shook his head, shoulders slouching. “I still have no fucking clue what you’re talking about.”

Melody clicked her tongue and sighed, her eyes rolling. “Have you never been on a date before?” She asked.

He was twice as confused now.

“She wants to ask you out, so I’m preparing you.” Melody’s eyes cut to the planner sitting on the kitchen counter. “I think she planned it last night when I went to bed. She tends to do that, plan everything out I mean.”

Silas furrowed his brow and opened his mouth to talk but she stopped him.

“She is beautiful,” Melody replied, her voice gentle and soft now. “But she isn’t lucky.” She sighed, shoulders heaving as she did. “First boyfriend was a horrible trainwreck. The second boyfriend was good to her but he was as boring as your favorite pair of socks. I say that with love,” she added, “he was my brother.”

His mouth opened to speak again and she cut him off a second time.

“She’s been so focused on school to compensate. She gets this place to finally relax and she finds she has a neighbor who doesn’t make her want to go running for the hills.” She points to her eyes then points to his eyes. “I see it, I know you see it too.” She frowned as she lowered her pointing fingers. “She feels safe for once. Don’t fuck that up.”

Silas was quiet, frowning hard at Melody as she laid down the law for him. His hand twitched, raising to touch his scars, his bad eye, but he stopped himself. His hand instead touching against his right thigh, feeling along something hidden.

“I’ll only continue her bad luck,” he says with a low, cautious voice.

Melody’s eyes cut to the floor and she sighed. “You think so?”

“I know it,” he snarled.

“Then why do you care?” She asked. “If you didn’t care, you’d do it. Get kissed by the pretty girl and then let the bad luck crush her.”

“I’m not a monster.” His voice was more of a plea than the growl he wanted.

Melody looked up as Sophie came out of the bathroom. “Feel better?” She asked, turning back to facing the counter.

“Mhm,” Sophie sighed as she came out, wrapped in a mint colored robe. She then jumped when she saw Silas standing there and she clutched the robe closed around her chest. 

“Oh, Silas!” She chuckled with relief. “Good, you’re here.”

“I brought your cup back,” he tried to escape to the stairs.

“Oh, that too,” Sophie smiled. “Mr. Beauchamp said you had something for me?” She asked. “He said he needed it delivered today so you were going to hand it to me.”

Silas frowned and huffed. “I’ll bring it back up later.”

“Would you like some more shit coffee?” her voice full of hope.

Melody smacked the stool next to her. “Yeah, come sit down with us girls.”

Silas was unsure on several things, but he was certain about one thing that morning; he didn’t like Melody.