Linnaeus grumbled as he rolled over from his right side to his left as he turned off the alarm on his phone. Louis’s French press brew hit him hard as the scent permeated through the house. He was going to need it to get through. His energy was off. He had dreamed of her, which was strange for him. He felt like he wanted to chase her, but not as prey. A jolt came as a small knock was on the door.

  “Are you up, Lin?”

  He gave a smile at Beth’s soft voice. For a ghost, she kept her child-like innocence. “I am, kid.” He called to her, “Tell Louis I’ll be down.”

  “Okay!”

  He heard her giggle and then silence, meaning she had probably wisped herself into the kitchen. A shriek came from Louis, causing Linnaeus to heartily laugh. Louis would never get used to it. Fighting his way to stand, he saw a text come in that stated: “Payment due.” He ignored it. He would have to do it another way, he could not continue on like this.

  Another text, only it was his partner asking him for a breakfast order. Of all the people he had worked with, he liked Jason. He was a quiet gentle giant, and when it came down to it, he was not the resting bitch face asshole everyone made him out to be. Linnaeus considered him a true friend and the best partner a fellow cop could ask for.

  His phone notified him of a follow up text from Jason: ‘Nancy wants to know so she can make the run, she’s starving and said you will too if you don’t tell her.’

  He replied, ‘The usual.’

  No more replies. Seemed like it would be a typical day. Hopefully uneventful and smooth as he needed to get back on time so he could get those cuts and make sure to clean up a bit for her.

  As he started to dress, he wondered on what exactly he was thinking…overdressed might be better than under, but would he even be there to join them? It should not matter. He had questions and he needed to know how far to keep her. He had himself too deep into this and he had to tread careful or he may drag an innocent with him.

  He looked to his reflection, he would need to feed, he was too worn down for a date—dinner! He scolded himself again. “She doesn’t even like you, Lin.” He said directly to his reflection. The question was more of could she, more so then does she? Why was this even affecting him?

  He finished getting ready before slipping down to the kitchen, one wall covered in photos of design ideas. He regretted showing them modern technologies, but at the same time it helped. A lot of the choices were for more counter space, more storage, and a more open farmhouse aesthetic. Mostly at the request of Lottie, who had taken the most to the technologies, as well as Margret being a close second.

  “They keep adding more, and all I want is better appliances.” Louis brought him over a plate of eggs benedict with a small plate of toast and bacon, “Coffee?”

  “At least you’re practical,” He rubbed his face, “and gods yes.”

  Louis looked at him with large dark eyes that went with his deep chocolate skin tone. “I am a gourmet chef stuck in this….”

  “Time capsule?” Linnaeus offered.

  “Yes! That! I did not come here just because I was sure I could have a spot of my own and make the best plates in town. Damn me for being stupid.” He handed him a mug of his fresh pressed dark roast.

  “Louis, I appreciate you.” He smiled immediately taking the offering.

  “At least someone does,” he turned back to flip a sausage patty, “oh and for tonight?”

  “Not sure, but when I get back, I will get it for you.” He took a drink before moving onto the plates in front of him.

  “Then I can work on the appetizers and bake,” he cracked another egg and gently rested it into the pan before tossing the shells on a paper plate to dry.

  “How are things at the restaurant though? I mean, I know it is hard. Small town and all.” Linnaeus took a bite of the toast; it was nice to feel normal in this house once in a while.

  “Ah, it isn’t so bad.” He plucked up another egg, “Just miss being able to be appreciated for things a small town does not care for.” He cracked another egg and rested it next to the first one, letting the bacon grease do the work.

  Linnaeus wiped the corner of his mouth, “Maybe it would change with a fine dining spot.”

  Louis thought on this, “Maybe so. There are a lot of up-and-coming places, but still.”

  “Anything else?” he glanced once again at the wall of ideas, listening to everything that Louis was not directly saying.

  “Nope, once you go, I am going to my cot and rest up a bit before another double.” He smiled, turning over the eggs with care.

  The vampire took another drink, “Once I get that room done—”

  “Ah. No rush. I have my habits.” Louis waved at him, keeping his eyes on the stove, and making sure to get that perfect fry on the eggs.

  “Suppose so.” Linnaeus thought on himself when he said that. How long had it been since he himself turned into some rabid beast over an insignificant human?

  His dark eyes glanced to the clock on the stove, “You should get moving, tell Jason and Nancy ‘hello’ too.” He smirked, “Remind them drinks are on at Macabre at the usual time.”

  “Yeah, I will.” He moved out of the door and to his car, going off to see if today would at all be in his favor.

  Perhaps she was a blessing to him. She was probably able to shove off the curse on his back, however, was it worth it? Even if it was only for a short time.

  Nyx stirred as her phone alarm and her watch went off. She took a breath, letting it out slow. She grabbed her dream journal to try and get it all down and try to recall new details, only to spot nothing. She sighed and moved to get up and make herself ready for the day. She grabbed her bag for the gym and took off down the stairs to get her water bottle filled. The rest of the house was quiet as the other two were either sleeping or gone.

  Her mind returned to a faint memory of when she was younger. Her first astral projection, or at least that is what it seemed. She tried to relax her mind to recall the voice of the man that spoke to her. As brief as the encounter had been, it had caused her to change her mind about her need of feeling a piece was missing in her. She felt safe as a strong arm was around her curved waist. The bed was large with the foot of it facing a white door. The home felt old, familiar. The bed was a four poster, dark walnut with white drapes. Before she could move, he pulled her into his firm, warm chest and whispered a growl of sleep, “I’ve got you, love. Go back to sleep.” She did just that, the feeling of warmth and safety easing her anxiety and slipping back under.

  She woke in her own bed and not next to him. Her oak sleigh bed faced her dresser, not a door and it greatly confused her. She could feel the loss and the loneliness, but there was no way to keep the pain at bay in her chest that this was where she was supposed to be. And worst of it was the fact she felt him. She felt his energy still on her and could not cleanse herself of it, nor did she wish to release it from her. Oh of course she did after a time, but the memory always remained, as did his voice.

  Time truly could change perceptions of experience; however, she could not recreate it, nor did anything change the fact that something happened. She was sure that her most recent ex was that man, though now she doubted it and had to once again move on. What even was loyalty anymore? This stupid Cosmo bullshit of this era caused her irritation, nor was she ready for something to move to. She wanted to heal, to take the time for herself. Perhaps this dinner was a step to mending.

  She grabbed her keys after she finished refilling her water bottle with a hint of lemon juice and ice.

  “You heading out so early?”

  Nyx turned to see Aurel coming in from the backdoor. “Have you been up all night?”

  “No. I had a weird dream and thought it would be a good script, so I went up to the studio and got to work on a script and some notes. I will have you both look at it. I think it will work well for both of you. I also would like to see some sketches for it maybe?”

  “I’ll get on it when I get back,” she smiled, “Wanna go with me?”

  Aurel shook his head, “Nope, not me. You did me in last time, you gym Nazi.”

  “Oh! You stop it!” she laughed, “Not my fault you didn’t tell me where your limit was!”

  His face was stricken with audacity, “Dude! You’re deceptive!”

  “I’ll go easy on you…I swear, nothing crazy…” she fought to not grin.

  “No. I will see you later.” He made his way over to start the coffee maker, “And when are you going to be back from work?”

  “I think it will be a full day, I have a lot of orders to fill, and I have a pick up too. Why?”

  Aurel shrugged, “Someone has to make sure that you look good for tonight.”

  “Ugh!” she tossed her head back, “I forgot about that.”

  He looked at her over his shoulder, “Bullshit. Utter bullshit. You can’t forget about something like that and not want to go back.”

  She lifted her finger and took a deep breath before letting it out and sighing, “Yup. Yeah, I didn’t forget…I just have no idea right now as to what I am going to wear.”

  He scooped out the coffee and tossed it into the filter. “I’ll be here, I have a virtual meeting with one of the producers this afternoon. Just send me a text and let me know when and if you close early.”

  “Alright. I’ll let you know, let me know if you need more things for set too.” She eyed the filter.

  “Nothing on that front yet.” He paused and looked back to see her stare down at the powdered black gold, “I will make sure there is still enough for you when you get back.”

  She grinned, “Thanks buddy!” She bounced out of the door and to her car, not seeing him shaking his head at her as she left.

  Jason’s warm honey eyes glanced over the local paper as his partner came in through the double doors, his Cincinnati sass almost unable to be contained as he asked, “Hey, rough night?”

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “You could say that.” Linnaeus placed down his bag in his chair and started to slide off his coat to place it on the coat rack in the corner. “Nancy back yet?”

  “Still hungry?” he asked, his eyes still scanning over the pages in front of him. The shift from just the distracted pause confirming what Louis had texted him earlier that morning.

  “Yeah,” he sighed. His hand going into the coat pocket to take out his phone and glance at it, “Anything going on?”

  “No. Nothing a small talk can’t handle.” Jason saw he was more distant than usual as Linnaeus placed his phone in his pocket, “Are you alright?”

  “No. I am not.” The vamp cursed himself under his breath, seeing that he could not hide himself from his partner. He did his best to keep his collected demeanor, “I met someone last night.”

  “She married?” Jason did his best to keep his poker face, knowing it had been for some time since his partner was in the dating scene and immediately looked at him and folded up the paper, tossing it down on the top of his desk.

  Linnaeus realized then that he did not look for a wedding ring seeing as he was more entranced by her intense green stare, “I don’t believe so.” He plucked his bag from his desk chair and placed it on the floor under his desk next to his foot. His thoughts were encompassed with the tiny pin up.

  “And?” Jason pressed, now fully aware that his partner was distracted.

  He realized he was unfocused and cleared his throat, “I—”

  Jason leaned forward with his arms on his desk, resting on top of the paper and lacing his fingers together, “Tell me you asked her out.”

  His eyes cut at the stupid grin he was receiving from the man across from him, “No.”

  Jason’s eyes dilated, “What? Was she—”

  “No, no.” Linnaeus shook his head, “And she’s…average.”

  The giant leaned back in his chair, knowing full well his partner was in denial, “Then what has you hung up on her? Personality off putting?”

  “No, the opposite.” His lips gently curving up at the corners, “She has a great smile.”

  His jaw dropped in disbelief before arching his dark brown brow, “The rest?”

  Linnaeus swallowed, “Average. She’s not…not a…”

  Jason’s eyes narrowed with that mischievous smirk, “Bombshell?”

  “Yeah.” He snapped his fingers, “That.”

  Bullshit. You’re caught up. “Least you could do is have an excuse to escape the spooks of the house,” he shrugged, “You should make it a regular thing.”

  “Yeah, suppose so.” Linnaeus moved to pick up his bag from the floor. He wanted to ignore the interrogation, but he knew that would be useless with someone like his partner.

  Jason lightly tapped the desk with his strong fingers as he thought it over, “Why don’t you talk to Nancy?”

  “Suppose I could.” He pulled out a few files and notes from his bag, placing them back on his desk.

  “She may scold you,” he warned, “but at least you will have another perspective, possibly a better one than I could give.”

  He snorted his laughter as he felt the tension break, “Thanks, buddy.”

  Jason returned to the paper with a swift movement and leaning back as he continued to scan it.

  Linnaeus looked up at him with a stare of loss, “Why do you read that thing?”

  Jason smirked, “Because, sometimes I find things.”

  Nyx looked over her large planner for the day and into the rest of the week. Things seemed to be running smooth as she finished up going over the numbers and seeing that things were on target. She smiled and found herself thinking on the house, wondering if perhaps she could do more to help with getting the place closer to its original glory. Linnaeus creeped in and the way he seemed to look through her, what if he would refuse to finish her as the coven had wished? How she had wished? It was probably not the best of ideas, but it was something to distract her from turning on herself and going down a possible spiral.

  “Got your coffee, a tea for me, and doughnuts with fruit cups.” Rochelle smiled as she came into the large shop. The shelves gleamed prisms on the walls from the light that came in through the large windows. The scent of stain, wood, and Palo Santo wafted in the air. She could tell that her best friend was on the edge and she was determined to keep her from going over it.

  ---

  Nyx smiled at her, “Thank you bunches, I need it. Last night took a lot out of me as did this morning.”

  “Where you trying to get your mind off of it or warm up for later?” she placed down the box of Bill’s doughnuts and Macabre drink tray with the fruit cups.

  “Really, bruh?” she looked up at her and blinked, “Really?”

  Rochelle gave her an evil grin and laugh, “Yeah…OH! Steven is picking me up for lunch, want anything?”

  “I’ll let you know later,” her eyes back down at the spread of the book and papers before her.

  “We will be going to Macabre, so….” Rochelle poked, seeing that she was trying to seemingly ignore the coming evening. She put the coffee in front of her, watching her take it and her eyes never leaving the page she was staring at.

  “Let me get through breakfast,” she took a long drink, “Ask me then.”

  She laughed, “What’s the plan for today?”

  “Totems, need to order more stones, and a pick-up order. Nothing major so take your time.” She waved at her as she looked up and grabbed the box, plucking out a bear claw from the box and taking a bite out of it.

  “You sure?” Rochelle leaned her head to the side and watched as Nyx seemed in a trance.

  “Yeah,” she answered in a breath before then coming out of it and her eyes going bright again, “and check with Rebekah, see if she’s got anything for us.”

  “Okay, you going to get straight into the totems?” Rochelle watched her, knowing that there was something going on, even in a way that possibly Nyx was not even realizing was taking over her.

  “No, I wanna eat first.” She took another bite of the pastry and gave a playful growl.

  “Well, yeah.” She laughed, “And about tonight?”

  “Oh…” she looked away, “Almost forgot….”

  “I don’t believe you,” she arched her brow and tilted her chin down to look at her over her frames.

  “Perhaps it was more of a ‘I want to forget’?” she gave a cheeky grin, knowing full well that her best friend was not buying it. She gave in and her shoulders slouched, “He’s…I don’t know.”

  “Hey, it’s Lexx’s fault, not yours.” She took one of the closest stools and sat down, keeping eye contact with Nyx, “That piece of shit made his choice. Granted, it’s a stupid one, but maybe this is not a bad move for you.”

  “Maybe,” she took a small bite, slowly chewing it.

  “And, damnit! I need answers.”

  Nyx laughed, almost choking. “I am still just as hurt.”

  “But are you though?” she squinted.

  “Kinda.” She swallowed the bite and started to peel off a small piece, “I am scared though. It’s been a minute since I have had chemistry so strong.”

  “Are you not wanting to go because of Lexx?” Rochelle leaned in, “I know you still have that connection to him but still…you deserve to move on. And you need to tell him that you know and that it is over between the both of you.”

  “No…” she took a bit of the bite, “…a bit” she drank it down, “…should I close early? Take my time with getting ready?”

  “I think you’ll be fine.” Rochelle took out her tea from the holder as well as a fruit cup.

  “Right,” Nyx looked down at her hands as she ripped off another piece.

  “Look, you can SOS if something happens or just poof yourself out of there.” Rochelle opened the cup, getting a plastic fork.

  The sweet bouquet of the melon with the grapes took over Nyx’s nose and took her to think on his own fresh scent. “That’s not my concern.”

  Rochelle sighed, “You don’t want to be like him?”

  “And I don’t want to feel that way.” Nyx looked at her, “I know that I am not him. But for me to ask him if he was going to be popping in and knowing that his answer was a lie and instead finding him like that…I would rather tell him that it is over and I will have his assistant pick up his things and then I can feel free to pursue something new and find a way to once again get myself up off the ground…and be alone.”

  “Have you told him that you know?” Rochelle asked, taking a bite of a honeydew.

  “No, and…I don’t think it would matter. I just need something else to concentrate on. Maybe doing this will help.” She placed another piece into her mouth and taking the time to process how to be curt and not be a bitch to her now ex.

  It had been so long, but even Rochelle knew she could not fix her pain, like a curse was on her and she could not break it. Just to have her shop was a battle and being alone her entire life did not help. She had hoped that Lexx would have been the one to save Nyx, only now to do this. “Just know that it will be okay, even if doesn’t feel like it.”

  “Yeah,” she finished off the claw and licked away the sugar glaze from her fingers. “I’d better get started.”

  “I got this,” she motioned to the front of the store, “You go do the thing.”

  “Yeah,” Nyx made her way to the back with her large coffee in hand.

  Rochelle watched her go before standing and taking the spot that her friend had previously been, closing the large planner and moving the rest of the papers to their shelf under the sales counter.

  Nancy strode into the tiny sheriff’s office that was very outdated, however, it was filled with the latest tech. Her slender form and luscious deep chocolate locks and hazel eyes gave her an 80’s supermodel flair. A grin came upon her plump natural lips as she saw her boys at their respective places, Linnaeus’s back to her. “Okay, we have two egg and sausage sandwiches for you.” She placed one of the two bags down on Jason’s desk. “And we have a bacon, egg and sausage croissant with home fries.” She placed the other bag on the desk across from his, “And two black coffees with extra Cuban espresso shots, largest possible.” She placed down the carrier on Jason’s desk so she could serve them their correct orders.

  “Nance, you’re amazing.” Jason grinned at the young woman.

  “I know, I have to take care of you two.” She patted his head and looked over to see Linnaeus deep in thought as he stared at his screen, his jaw clenching off and on. She leaned down next to Jason and whispered, “What did I miss?”

  “Someone has a date tonight.” He responded with a whisper as his eyes stayed on Linnaeus as did hers.

  “Oh! Is she hot?” she found herself starting to grin.

  “He said she was average…but he is obsessing over her.” He tapped a pen to his perfectly formed lips.

  “Soooo…there is something?” she muttered before biting her lower lip.

  Jason nodded, “Yep.”

  She sat on the end Jason’s desk where she would be able to look from one to the other with ease, “I think someone is nervous.”

  “Don’t push it, Nance.” Linnaeus glanced up from his screen, “And can you please be a little more professional?”

  “What? I am sitting.” She waved her hand like a game show model.

  “Off the desk, please.” His tone firm and slightly strained, his British charm wavering a bit.

  She scoffed and moved to get a chair, “Someone is extra cranky.”

  “Don’t test me,” he fought to snarl with clenched teeth.

  Jason shook his head at her, “Don’t try, Nance. He doesn’t want to play.”

  Nancy sat down next to Jason’s desk in the same spot as before, only now it was in a rollie chair that squeaked when someone rocked it, “Oh…she has you by the balls.”

  “Stop.” Linnaeus commanded as he continued to keep his eyes on the screen, “She does not.”

  Jason stared at him, “Lin. You are not yourself and it seems to be from this.”

  “I have never seen you like this,” Nancy smiled, “You’re cute when you’re flustered.”

  His phone again dinged and only said “Payment due.” He ignored it, “Can we not focus on my personal life?”

  “Fine.” She groaned.

  “Thank you.” He hissed.

  Nancy looked over to Jason, “We still on for Macabre tonight?”

  “Looks like it, paperwork is done and nothing left to look into.” Jason looked back over to his partner, “You coming later after your date?”

  “No, but Louis will be meeting you beforehand. That man will never miss a happy hour, regardless if he has to cook a four-course meal or not.” Linnaeus continued to try and find her picture through a search of her description and continued to fail at it. The woman might be plain, but she was one that he could not get out of his mind.

  “Did you even get her name?”

  “No. I didn’t, Jay. I didn’t get her name, number, anything.” The snarl was creeping back into his voice.

  Jason exchanged a glance with Nancy, “That’s why he’s upset. He got distracted.”

  “I wasn’t distracted.” Linnaeus knew that was far from the truth, this damn woman practically erased his mind with just looking at him.

  “Give us the description. Nance, get your pad, let’s get a render of this ‘Plain Jane Doe’ and see what has our boy so caught up.”

  She quickly got up from her chair and got into a drawer of her desk to take out a sketchbook and her pencil tin. “Talk to me, Goose.” She said as she plopped back down in the chair and placed her case on the edge she had just been sitting on and picking out a 3H pencil. “I need to know every detail that you can give me. What was her face like?”

  “Heart shaped, but her jawline was rounder and smaller, not much definition, but it was there.” He took a breath, “She was Caucasian, very pale, her eyes were piercing green and fit her face. I would say, rounded almond? Her nose was sloped, there was a bump, so she probably wears glasses on occasion. Her cheeks were high, but not defined. And her lips were plump. She had a lot of piercings in her ears, one in her nose, and had her hair up in a…well,” he pulled up a photo to show them a v-roll updo, “Like this, but she didn’t pin her bangs, she let them fall to the side like Veronica Lake.”

  Nancy had been sketching as he had been talking, “Her cheeks were round or more sunk in?”

  “They were full, but there was some light definition.” Linnaeus continued to try and look for photos online.

  “And her lips were plump?” Nancy scratched away lightly at the pad, Jason looking over her shoulder.

  “The bottom lip was just shy of full, she didn’t have a cupid’s bow, but it was still balanced with the bottom.” Linnaeus answered.

  Jason’s brows raised, “She’s not my type regardless, she doesn’t look bad though.”

  Nancy took a few more pencils and began her fine detail work of shading, “Did she have on any makeup?”

  “She was in a rockabilly style.”

  She scratched some more and when she was finished her eyes widened a bit. “She’s not bad looking. She might be plain, but at least she knows how to cover up that fact.”

  Jason nodded, “Was this her?”

  Linnaeus looked to them for the first time and to the now presented sketch, swallowing hard and taking a breath, “Yeah…that’s her.”

  “At least now I know who to look for.” Nancy grinned and bounced off to check the records.

  “Do you think that she could be a criminal?” he asked his partner.

  Linnaeus shrugged, “I have no idea. In this day, no one seems as they are.”

  Jason leaned back again in his chair, “Careful. You’re reminding me of my mother.”

  “Sorry.” He sighed, “While she’s doing that, the least we could do is get her lunch and do a run as we do. When I said I wanted a sleepy town to patrol I didn’t mean this.”

  Jason laughed and stood, getting their coats, and going out into the autumn air.