"I will meet you at work, okay, Rishi?"
My roommate glanced up from her tea. "Where are you going?"
"Dakota invited me to get some coffee."
"Okay. Please don't be late."
"Don't worry—I will be at work in forty-five minutes." She nodded and went back to drinking the steaming liquid. I slung my bag over my shoulder and left our apartment.
Rishi is one of the most beautiful girls that I have ever encountered. Her long, ebony hair never fails to shine in the sunlight, and her dark eyes pull you in and entrap you there. Not to mention, her smile can take anybody's breath away. Her kindness drew me in initially—she cared for everyone and everything.
She and I dated back when we were sixteen. Rishi was the one who got away, though. She and her family moved about five months into our relationship. It shattered my teenage heart—she was my true first girlfriend. But we reconnected in college, and now we run a bookshop/café.
The theme of the bookshop leans more toward a Wiccan-metaphysical vibe. We have books that talk about people's auras, various crystals, and its functions, the body's chakras, and how to heal them—all that good stuff. We also sell crystals, jewelry, and some herbs.
When I stepped into the coffee shop, my best friend, Dakota, waved me over to her table. Dakota and I have been friends since elementary school. She has long, honey-blonde hair, sparkling, sapphire eyes, porcelain skin, and petite everything—a tiny waist, and a height of only five feet and four inches. And she consisted entirely of excitement.
Dakota's fiancé of three years sat next to her. His name is Landry. He has wavy, clove-colored hair with forest-green eyes. He is a bit domineering, but that comes from being the CEO of a rather prominent business. His height, build, and attitude can sometimes be intimidating, but he loves Dakota with everything inside of him—so I tolerate him.
"Ethan! Hi!" Dakota smiled as we embraced. I haven't seen her for months since she moved to Scotland after she finished college a year ago. Dakota is so smart; she double-majored in law and business. Once I took my seat, she passed a coffee across the table.
Okay, storytime. My name is an odd one. My name is Ethan—short for Ethana. The doctor made a mistake with my mother's ultrasound and declared me a male. Well, I am very much a female. So, my parents scrambled to fix the pre-embroidered blankets and such. Thus, Ethan—short for Ethana—became a thing.
Luckily, my mother hates the color blue—she believes it's too depressing—so my room didn't have blue items.
"Oh, you didn't have to pay for this!" I said, frowning.
"We didn't, but we did it anyway."
"Well, thank you."
"Don't mention it. We wanted to ask if you would like to go to dinner with us tomorrow."
"Oh, of course! What's the dress code?"
"It's more formal—wear that emerald dress that you and I bought a few months ago."
I nodded and checked the time. "All right. It's getting late—I have to go to work."
We all stood, and Dakota hugged me. "Love you."
"Love you more."
We parted, and I headed to my bookstore. I unlocked the door and waved to Rishi, adjusting a book on a shelf. You're probably wondering why I co-own a Wiccan bookstore. Well, it's because Rishi is a witch.
How, you wonder, do I know that? Here's where things get complicated. I just know . I see a person, and their species' name pops into my head. This gift is something that runs in my family—through our maternal line. In my family, only the females get the gift.
My family doesn't know why we have what we do, but we call ourselves Seers. We are close to what people think of witches as. We can't cast spells, but we use crystals, we meditate, we scry, and we use herbs for things. So far, my family is the only known tribe of Seers. Unfortunately, my only other sibling is my brother, Carlito. As morbid as it sounds, my family prays he has a daughter.
Because of my ability, I spent my childhood studying different types of supernatural and mythical creatures—their attributes, their weaknesses and strengths, and their environments. It took me a few years to learn about all the different creatures, but I have a good handle on it now.
By the way, Dakota and Landry aren't as they seem. They resemble normal humans, right? Incorrect. They are a couple of vampires. I have been aware of this fact since the first day that she and I met. Imagine my shock as a six-year-old, seeing a girl my age, and recognizing that she is one of the most dangerous predators.
We grew close after I realized she was pretty nice—and she didn't kill me. Rishi doesn't know what I am—neither does Dakota or Landry. Rishi just thinks that I am a witch who isn't particularly deep into the craft.
I dug through my closet, searching for the emerald dress that Dakota wished for me to wear. It had an off-the-shoulder neckline, and the hem brushed my ankles. I loved the fabric, especially—it was chiffon. When I located it, I paired the dress with some black heels.
At precisely six, I heard knocking on my door. I opened it and caught Dakota—who flung herself at me. I laughed. "Dakota, you saw me yesterday!"
"I know, but I love you!"
"Dakota, you have a fiancé."
She playfully glared at me. "Come on! Let's go eat!"
I told Rishi goodbye, and we moved out to their car. I greeted their chauffeur—who's worked for the Coronams for at least a decade. As we drove, I noticed something. Dakota kept giving Landry worried or anxious glances. He would respond by squeezing her hand or something of the type. They tried to hide it, but they have always been lousy at lying.
What's wrong? Is it something about their wedding?
Is something wrong with Landry's company?
Or their family?
I hope that they are all right.
When we arrived at the restaurant, I realized how formal this place truly is. They took me to one of the ritziest restaurants in the city! I can't afford to eat here!
A hostess greeted us when we stepped into the room. Recognition flashed in her eyes when she saw Landry. I swept my eyes around the elegant setting and noted something: This place contained at least ninety percent vampires.
The hostess led us to our table. Stares burned into my back as I moved through the room, and fear sparked inside of me as I spotted many vampire eyes on me—mainly the men, too. They honestly looked at me like I am a piece of meat. As the hostess stopped, I couldn't help but notice how secluded the spot is. We were nearly in the kitchen with how far we were into the place.
My concern for the couple grew throughout the meal. Dakota refused to sit still and continued to cast anxious looks at Landry. The last time she got this bad was when she announced her engagement to Landry—Dakota gets nervous at the drop of a hat.
In the middle of the dinner, Dakota set down her fork. "We... we have something to announce."
I heard the anxiety in her voice, so I cracked a joke, "Dakota, I already know that you're engaged."
She laughed. "Thank you, Ethan. I needed that refresher. But that's not what I wanted to say. The thing is... Landry and I aren't human."
Well, here goes nothing. "I know. You two are vampires."
I wish that I could've taken a photo of her expression. Dakota's jaw dropped to the floor—whereas Landry's face took on a guarded expression. "What? How? How long have you been aware?"
"I have known since we first met. I will tell you more when we are out of listening ears." I'm the only identified Seer family in the world. I have to take some care of my safety.
Dakota nodded hesitantly. "But, um, that's not all. Do you remember how Landry is the CEO of a business? Well, that's a partial lie. He is actually the future king of vampires. The CEO thing is just a cover for the wealth and the bodyguards."
"Wait, really? That's so cool! Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"It was a matter of security," Landry spoke.
Ouch. That stung. "You thought that I would try to hurt you once I found out?"
Dakota's eyes widened. "No! Of course, not! It's just we have to take every precaution possible. I knew you wouldn't ever hurt me."
"Wait... if Landry is a king, does that mean you are a queen?"
She grinned and nodded. "Yeah, I've been preparing ever since our engagement."
Suddenly her spending every summer in Scotland and her newfound sense of etiquette made sense.
For the rest of our meal, we talked about everything and nothing. I did the most to avoid the elephant in the room—which would be me. As the meal came to a close, I dreaded the check. I ordered a simple dish, but I knew it would still be double what I usually pay.
"I've got it," Dakota said once the waitress laid the book on the table.
My eyes bugged out of my head. "Are-are you sure? I—"
"It's no big deal."
"Oh, um, thanks. I will pay you back—"
"No, you won't—it's not that much." As they paid, I took out my lipstick to put on a fresh coat.
"Darling, I love that dress," the waitress said once she returned the bill. She gave me a wink and tapped the checkbook.
The waitress was a very stunning woman, and it surprised me that she would want me. "Oh, thank you," I said, smiling.
On the back of the slip of paper, she wrote down a phone number. I typed it into my phone and stood up—the rest of the table joining me. As we moved away from the table, I remembered that I never put my lipstick back into my purse.
"Oh, shoot! I forgot something; I'll be right back."
I spotted the lipstick on the table. The waitress was there, too, collecting our dishes. She smirked. "Back so soon?"
I winked, playing along with her teasing. "Of course."
I picked up the black tube, but the waitress grabbed my arm. She yanked my body towards her, wrapping her arm around my waist. She put her lips on my ear and dropped her voice so low that I had a hard time hearing her. "Beware of your surroundings. These men speak of suspicious things."
I drew back, shaky of her warning. "Um—"
"Go, darling. Your friends await you."
She released me, and I nodded, still not sure of what just transpired. I joined Dakota and Landry outside, a little shaky yet.
"Let's take a walk, and you can explain how you recognized us as vampires." Landry's tone told me that it wasn't really a suggestion. I pushed the warning to the back of my mind but made a note to remain aware.
We strolled down the sidewalk until we reached a point with no one around us. I took a breath. "Okay, storytime. Do either of you recall a rare group of people called Seers?"
"Those women who can see through the veil masking supernatural creatures from humans?" Landry asked.
"Exactly. Well, I am one."
"Woah," Dakota breathed. "You're even cooler than I am! What gifts do you have?"
"I can't do anything else except identifying mythicals."
"Interesting," Landry muttered.
A minute later, their chauffeur pulled up across the street. I felt eyes on me again, and I scanned around me, remembering the waitress's caution. A way away, in one of the parked cars, a man peered at me. He immediately looked away when we made eye contact.
Well, that's not suspicious.
As we crossed the street, the man started his car. I tracked him with my eyes. He gunned it, and I realized too late his intentions. "Dakota, move!"
I sprinted forward and shoved Dakota out of the way of the speeding car. It is true what people say in the movies—everything does move in slow-motion.
My hip hit the hood with a sickening crunch, and I bounced up over the windshield. The cold air whipped my hair around my face, and someone screamed. A girl, I think. Oddly enough, I couldn't feel any pain.
But maybe that's not a good thing.
When I hit the ground, I couldn't move. Or breathe. Or hear. Everything was eerily silent. Way too quiet...
Or is that my body going into shock?
Gravel pressed against my face; the road was warm. Footsteps pounded toward me as I watched the car drive away. The bumper was the last thing that I saw before the nothing overcame me.